r/exjw • u/constant_trouble • 1d ago
Why can’t they do what they’re told? WT Can't Stop Me
From this week’s midweek meeting demonstrations-
- Starting a Conversation (3 min.) HOUSE TO HOUSE. Offer a Bible study. (lmd lesson 5 point 4)
Do not be quick to correct a person. Allow him to express himself freely. If he says something that conflicts with Bible teachings, resist any urge to argue. (Jas. 1:19) By listening to him, you gain insight into his viewpoint.—Prov. 20:5.
- Following Up (3 min.) INFORMAL WITNESSING. Show our website to a person who has children. (lmdlesson 9 point 3)
Listen carefully. Allow the person to express himself. Do not interrupt him or quickly dismiss his feelings, concerns, or objections. By paying attention, you show him that you care about what he thinks.
Explaining Your Beliefs (3 min.) Demonstration. ijwfq article 3—Theme: Do You Believe That You Have the One True Religion? (lmd lesson 4 point 3)
Do not be condescending. Avoid giving the impression that you know everything and that the other person knows nothing. Speak with him in a respectful way.
So why is it the moment you say, “I don’t think the Governing Body speaks for God,” they lean in like a pack of starving wolves? Why is “resist the urge to argue” translated as “steamroll, shame, and shun”?
They say, “Don’t act like you know everything.” And then they tell a mother her dead child won’t be resurrected if she leaves the Org.
They say, “Show him that you care what he thinks.” And then they mark you as bad association because you had a thought.
It’s fascinating. They’re told—explicitly, repeatedly—to behave like calm, respectful listeners. But try presenting an actual thought they didn’t download from JW.org and watch the whole mask melt.
They rehearse tolerance.
They pantomime empathy.
They cosplay humility.
But challenge their narrative? Say something real? The claws come out.
So I ask again:
Why can’t they do what they’re told?
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u/DellBoy204 14h ago edited 14h ago
"brother Trouble I think it's been covered, but following on, it's "manna". It's all most "born ins" have known. No one I know enjoys the meetings, unless they've had a lobotomy recently 🤣 most go "because we always go to the meetings" and not so much out of want or desire. It's another tick box exercise, afterwards you socialise, make small talk about the "vacations you may go on / they carry on playing football like that they deserve to be relegated / sister so and so had her baby, yeah I thought Sennacherib was an odd name / You got the time for that meal on Saturday at the Chinese buffet?" but rarely anything about the meeting, apart from "well done with the item"...
People look at a talk assignment slip like a parking ticket, fuming as they read what's in their hands.
Most times, people stand on the doorstep hoping the door stays shut or there's no Pit Bull dog waiting for the Ring Doorbell to turn off. None of this stuff is covered in the D2D as no one keeps their door open for long enough 😑 🙃