I received an email from a young brother that is trying his best to figure it all out. It is below, along with my response:

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Thanks JJ

I’m just a kid. I need a lot of advice. I just don’t understand anymore how to please God. I do understand that Jesus is the way to Jehovah. There is no org. that will save us. A bit of background. I came to my own conclusion that the Jesus is not God, but the Son of God. Most Bible I use, have Jehovah in it. So I know his name, I know his Christ.

Where to go now? JW are the one that makes sense. But I can see certain thing that are not clicking with me. Like today’s study. Sept. 15, first article, par. 7. To me it felt like they are pushing out the Holy Spirit out. I can not pleased Jah, if first I don’t pleased men? How is it that Jehovah can not grant me understanding to His Word. Only through them?

My struggle is, what happens if they are right. Everything they say. Then I’m dead, all the people I love are going to perish. Of course I don’t want this. But JW are making me sick, literally. I have suffer panic attacks, I almost got fire from my  work, since I can not concentrate. So I can’t continue with them. But they are so sure, I will die if I don’t hold on. The matter is that people I respect, and I see how much they love God, are saying these things. How is it that they can’t see what I see. Of course they tell me that I’m weak spiritually. But I feel now as an idolatrous.

I like to believe that this battle of being perfect now is for the heavenly call. But if you decide to ignore God, you will still have 1000 to make up your mind. But if this is true, then I can just go around and do whatever I want. And I feel that’s just one big excuse for my failure.  I hope Jehovah can hear me. I don’t trust the JW. And that alone according to them is enough for me to be cast to the second death. All I want to do is please God. If He told me exactly how to do it. I would do it. But I don’t see this. And He is not given it to me in a big way. So I have to believe that JW are oppressing Jesus sheep. He can see their heart. That includes people that are not JW. All I want it is to have a heavenly Father. Nothing more. I don’t care about doctrines, I don’t care who is right or wrong. Don’t care about dates.

Thanks for listening.

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Dear [Name removed]

God and Christ read our hearts- and the very fact that you are struggling with these issues shows that you are trying hard to be a faithful Christian. Do you agree that’s the case? I hope you do! Because this means then that you don’t have to “sorrow just as the rest also do who have no hope” as Paul wrote. (1 Thes 4:13)  And Jesus said to his apostles “Do not let YOUR hearts be troubled. Exercise faith in God, exercise faith also in me.” Because of their worry and confusion and all the changes taking place in their lives they didn’t know what was going to happen next and so they were afraid and distraught.

But Godly joy and peace comes from within- Proverbs 17:22 says “A heart that is joyful does good as a curer, but a spirit that is stricken makes the bones dry.” So that peace comes from knowing that you are trying your best and striving to be more than just a sinful person of the world that dotes upon themselves. Do you pray every day? Do you read God’s word and try and live by it? Ecclesiastes 12:13 says to “fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man“. If you are doing these things you don’t need to feel guilty. And you certainly don’t need to fear men, as “trembling at men is what lays a snare”. (Prov 29:25)

Attending meetings at the KH will give you structure, fellowship, and direction.  Is this the ONLY way and path that is right for you as a young and sincere Christian? I used to think so, but I don’t any longer. On the other hand, does that mean I think it’s a bad life and a “lame sacrifice” (Malachi 1:6-8) to serve Jehovah at the Kingdom Hall? No I do not.

The recent WT study, paragraph 7, bothered me too (WT 9/15/2010 page 8, par 7) because we have come to learn that the “Governing Body” since the time of Rutherford’s takeover of the Watchtower Society does not have Jehovah’s spirit.  We don’t have to believe the man-made doctrine that we cannot know God without these men as our mediators. Others would possibly give you different counsel, and that’s alright. I want to give you more encouragement than “advice” because it’s not about what I think, it’s about what your Christian conscience is telling you, and what YOU feel is right. Just don’t give up and don’t fall victim to discouragement, which is really what Satan wants.


Your Brother,

JJ

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We must try our best not to “allow place for the Devil” (Eph 4:27) and roll over and give up, or become so embittered that we fill up with hate. I am going to pray for this young brother that he doesn’t do this. In fact I just stopped typing this and said that prayer. Perhaps we can all start trying to include one another in our prayers more. We need it…

Thanks JJ

I’m just a kid.

I need a lot of advice.

I just don’t understand anymore how to please God.


I do understand that Jesus is the way to Jehovah.

There is no org. that will save us.


A bit of background.

I came to my own conclusion that the Jesus is not God, but the Son of God.

Most Bible I use, have Jehovah in it.

So I know his name, I know his Christ.

Where to go now.


JW are the one that makes sense. But I can see certain thing that are not clicking with me.

Like today’s study. Sept. 15, first article, par. 7.

To me it felt like they are pushing out the Holy Spirit out. I can not pleased Jah, if first I don’t pleased men?

How is it that Jehovah can not grant me understanding to His Word.

Only through them?


My struggle is, what happens if they are right. Everything they say. Then I’m dead, all the people I love are going to perish.

Of course I don’t want this. But JW are making me sick, literally. I have suffer panic attacks, I almost got fire from my work, since I can not concentrate.

So I can’t continue with them. But they are so sure, I will die if I don’t hold on. The matter is that people I respect, and I see how much they love God, are saying these things.

How is it that they can’t see what I see. Of course they tell me that I’m weak spiritually.

But I feel now as an idolatrous.


I like to believe that this battle of being perfect now is for the heavenly call.

But if you decide to ignore God, you will still have 1000 to make up your mind.

But if this is true, then I can just go around and do whatever I want. And I feel that’s just one big excuse for my failure.


I hope Jehovah can hear me. I don’t trust the JW. And that alone according to them is enough for me to be cast to the second death.

All I want to do is please God. If He told me exactly how to do it. I would do it. But I don’t see this. And He is not given it to me in a big way.

So I have to believe that JW are oppressing Jesus sheep. He can see their heart. That includes people that are not JW.

All I want it is to have a heavenly Father. Nothing more. I don’t care about doctrines, I don’t care who is right or wrong. Don’t care about dates.


Thanks for listening.

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7 Comments on Help For Those That are Discouraged

  1. Amos says:

    Yet another of the Lord’s sheepfold who is being called out of BTG. It really does bring tears to our eyes when we see such oppression of truth that causes grief in one who is Loved by our Father. Doesn’t this show how the WTS is a cult, & not a dispenser of truth?
    When some body goes for help, to be told they are weak, is worse than no help, as this only creates more despair for the one asking, & making them think they ARE weak, when in fact they are just starting to find the REAL truth of God’s word.

    Excellent reply & choice of scriptures bro. JJ.

    I would also recomend a good NKJV or RSV study bible (these are easy to understand for beginers) with marginal references & that this young person could perhaps start reading the NT, & then check every reference to other verses until the chain stops, then come back & continue with the next verse, etc. As we know, this will then allow the Holy Spirit to guide the reader into comfort & truth, which is something that is impossible for any organization to do.

    I personally went through a terrible time (like many others) for about three years or so, with my conscience in a spin, until I started my own bible study plan, as I outlined above. I then began to see things that I had read, but never understood before….the lifting of the scales from my eyes had just begun, & my heart has continued to rejoice ever since.

    Just a few thoughts that may help this young one.

    WCL,

    Amos

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  2. rus virgil says:

    As I am not “englishman” I will try to put in simple words what I think regarding the situation this young Christian is.
    We (and he) want to serve Jehovah/ that means we have to obey Him
    and He commands us.. Matt. 17:
    “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.
    >> Listen to him!”
    so, obeying this Father’s command means to read and study the words of Jesus Christ.
    It is important to do this because it is written (John 1 : )
    17 For ….; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
    and 2 John
    9. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God;
    whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

    In order to have life , Jesus tell us to have faith in Him/ that means to receive His words
    He says (John 6: )
    51. I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
    Whoever eats this bread will live forever.
    This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
    No , it’s not about a “literally” eating His body, because at that occasion He said:
    63. The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.
    >> The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.
    This means that while we manifest faith in the “ransom” his life provided , we have to learn from Him that the “willful sin” is not covered by this “Heavenly bread” , after receiving ‘the knowledge of the truth” (Hebrews 10:26)
    this is why Jesus command us to clean the inside part of the vessel
    Mark 7:
    14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.
    15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
    20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them.
    21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,
    22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
    23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

    So, the true brothers of Christ , who (prophetically) act as “priests” have to speak a clear knowledge regarding God’s requirements : God’s most important requirement for us is to avoid the “willfully sin” ( which come out of a wicked/unclean heart)
    1 Thess 4:
    7. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

    The Man of Lawlessness (the actual GB) has made (willfully) confusion regarding what “willful sin” is , and taught the people that Jesus blood does cover “all sins”, even the “gross one” if “true repentance” is manifested . That is the LIE he promotes for a long time already.

    The Christian is called to live a “holy life” , and this is the very purpose of Jesus sacrifice
    Titus 2:
    11. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
    12. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
    13. while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
    14.>> who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

    15.>> These, then, are the things you should teach…. .

    I understand that , and so I teach … (as quoted above)
    Hebrews 12:
    14. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and
    >> to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

    Let it be that all of us, and also our brothers who now are fighting for their liberation from under the “beast’s” dominion ,
    do correctly appreciate what is Father’s will for us “Be holy, because I am holy.”

    My prayers are for those who seek God’s righteousness (and His Kingdom).
    in Christ,
    rus v.

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  3. Jayme says:

    This young brother is to be commended for having such incite beyond his years! I can certainly relate so much to what he says about how some of the teachings of the WT are affecting him. For a LONG TIME I felt the same way.

    Bro JJ you said “So that peace comes from knowing that you are trying your best”. For me this was never able to give me peace. Probably because I was constantly aware of my sinful condition before a Holy God. I will tell you what really helped me.

    It was finally putting the organiztion and myself to the side and realizing that it really is ALL about Jehovah and His Son, Jesus. It was focusing on the GRACE of God, something that seems fairly ambiguous to JWs. Fully realizing the great LOVE and GUARANTEED PROMISE of God held out to me as a gift thru the death of His Son. Realizing that thru FAITH my sins are washed clean by the BLOOD OF THE COVENANT and I am now reconciled to God and in a New Covenant(or sacred agreement)with Him. This is what has given me peace and caused me to love Jehovah and Jesus so much. It isnt about what I do or what an organization is doing, its about what God has done. It has been accomplished!

    Today, out of love for Him, I trust and implore His power thru the Holy Spirit, which he promised, to give me the ability to respond to His love thru obedience and in deeds of Godly devotion. My best could never be enough, but His best can accomplish all things, even in a miserable man like me. :) Rom. 7:21-25.

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  4. andrew says:

    I can wholly comprehend the anguish one goes thru in trying to decide what is true. There are brothers who I truly admire and respect, who are so sure that JWs are the one and only true religion and way to God.
    1 Pet. 5:6,7 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”

    I needed to learn (and am still learning) that to be able to deal with anxiety I need to be humble. When I am too worried about my reputation or how others will view me, my anxiety skyrockets. Jehovah cares for us. Would you as a parent reject a child if he was trying to please you but just didn’t know how? Of course not. Jehovah will not reject us either.

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    • jacqueline says:

      Hello Rus virgil,
      You are always so encouraging, and your illustrations are right on the mark as always. Breathing deeply, going for a walk and getting a massage helps with anxiety. Sometimes I’ve had to pray most of the nite. It can indeed be stressfull sticking to the Bible , Jesus and Jehovah when the GB says just the opposite of the Bible. Take care to the young brother. I am old but you are not alone.www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com
      In Christ.

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  5. Amos says:

    Hello Sr. Jacqueline,
    Yes Brother Rus V is always encouraging, we have known each other (via the internet) for about a year now. I agree with your sentiments concerning the GB, & have a new found peace that excells all previous times in my life. Our Father & His Son, really do love us, & if we continue in our study of the scriptures, we will always have THEIR love, guidance & protection.

    Amos

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  6. steamrolled says:

    I have done the wonderful suggestion of cross-referencing every verse-verse by verse in the NT-Done the entire Bible and am on my second go-around and am in the book of Job currently-it allows us to get a very deep understanding of the Bible beyond what any org can provide. I do a chapter a day.

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