@DorkySupergirl Said 
I am not meaning this in a rude way but because it might seem so, I want to make it very clear. You speak of following the bible and the preachings and this is what we will be judged by but obviously you were not doing that yourself if you were shunned or whatever the proper term is in your religion. If your religion kicked you out, you were obviously not doing what the word of your religion stated but you have the nerve to imply that anyone who is Catholic will not be going to heaven or whatever it is your religion believes in.
Don't worry I rarely take things that way unless it is obvious that is how they are meant.
I always appreciate honesty, whatever the reason behind it, and whether or not I feel it is fair. I would rather people tell me how they really feel that try to flatter me.
I have made no secret on here of the fact of my state, and that is because I have nothing to hide.
I have given various reasons for it, all of which are basically true, but which have changed slightly as I have got a "handle" on it more.
It's very true that there have been times when I have not lived as I should, or even as I wanted to, and that in itself made matters worse because I hated myself intensely for what I was doing.
I have, as I have mentioned before, certain Mental Health issues, which have, as it turns out, been lifelong and undiagnosed despite a visit to a Psychiatrist, at my adoptive Father's behest, when I was 15. That is a long story of itself, but suffice it to say for now, that I was definitely "off my head" and so angry that, knowing what my adoptive father was doing, I was mad enough to convince the Psychiatrist there was nothing wrong with me.
It was almost a further 35 years before it was finally discovered that I had been working under this problem for all my life.
The biggest aspect of it, as far as my life ahs been concerned, is a powerful self destruct mechanism which, at times of deep depression drives me to do anything that will harm myself, usually psychologically but occasionally physically and has led to 4 suicide attempts, all of which, I am pleased to say, failed despite the amount of medication I tool. It even manifested itself, for awhile, in the fact that, to punish myself I shaved my head and kept it that what for about 10 years.
The ironic thing is that though there were many events I should have been disfellowshipped for, I was, in the end, disfellowshipped for something which I am absolutely convinced not only didn't happen, but couldn't have happened. Since it was done completely according to scriptural guidelines, I accept it and did not appeal the decision, though I could have. Though I had n understanding of why Jehovah would have allowed it to happen that way, I accept the fact that He did, and that He must have ahd his reasons, which would inevitably have been as much for my good as the Congregations.
In more recent years I have realised that there has been much more to my "illness" than I had realised, and had I been allowed to stay in the Congregation I would probably only have ended up causing problems and disruption, despite never meaning to.
I have always believed that Jehovah knows the truth of it all, and my lack of intent in any of it as well as how I have felt about myself because of it all, and that knowledge has kept me from being embittered about it. I just accepted it and have one along with it, in the complete confidence that one day, some how, it would get sorted.
Having finally got a "line" on at least most of it, I am making the first move to get re-instated by writing to the Elders in the Congregation. I see it as a long and difficult road back, but one I know will be worthwhile to endure.
To me it has simply underlined my conviction all along that the disfellowshipping arrangement is intended to benefit all concerned if we accept it as it is meant to be treated. I have learned a lot about myself because of it, and hopefully the Elders will also.
Mental Health issues are a big problem for the Congregations and are the most difficult to understand. I know that since I have had many years of dealing with people with mental health issues myself either as friends and acquaintances or professionally, as a carer. All of which has, slowly, helped me to help myself.
I'll never be cured. It is not that kind of problem. It is caused by problems at, and immediately after birth which prevented my brains from developing in certain ways, and therefore have caused permanent brain "damage".
I won't go not the anguish it has caused me at moment in ym life when I simply had no idea why I was reacting the way I did, but it certainly led me to decide, in my youth, that I simply wasn't "wired up right" As it turns out that is a very good analogy. Certain brain connection have not, and never will be, made.
@DorkySupergirl Said
I'm sorry but when I meet God when its my time, he is not going to tell me, Dorky, you had me in your heart and lived in a way I am most proud of and you followed my word but because you identify with being Catholic, you can't get into heaven. Heaven is only for JW's. Off to hell you go.
well, it is true that there is only one path. There has only ever been one path and God has changed that path as needed. It started of with the Patriarchal system where it consisted of one, expanded family line and those who were associated with it.
It then was moulded into a Nation, the Hebrew/Jewish Nation, but when they rejected His son it was made not a smaller series of Congregations formed with faithful Jews as a basis, called the Christian Congregation. As Christ predicted it went Apostate and was left to it's own devices for a while (almost 2,000 years) (Revelation 22:11) "He that is doing unrighteousness, let him do unrighteousness still; and let the filthy one be made filthy still; but let the righteous one do righteousness still, and let the holy one be made holy still." Simply because it was not yet God's time to take action
However, when the prophesied time came, Christ acted on His behalf and once again called a faithful remnant, or at least one whose hearts were faithful, out of Apostate Christianity, and formed yet another new "people for His Name". They are now known as the JWs.
There are three very important scriptures you need to remember at all times.
(Matthew 7:13,14) “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.
(John 4:23)) Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.
(John 17:3) ) This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.
Unless you are taught the right things, by the right group you cannot possibly comply with any of those three scriptures, so finding the right group is vital, and those three scriptures give us the clues.
Not being taught the right things makes it impossible for God to accept your behaviour because it is done in ignorance of truth. You simply cannot please God well.
The entire reason that Christ initiated the Preaching Work is so that those who wish to listen and do things God's way will have the chance to listen and learn. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do so will have no excuse when Armageddon arrives and will not enter into the Kingdom that Christ promised us.
It is completely fair because all are being the opportunity to listen if the wish to know what God really requires of us.
@DorkySupergirl Said
And I am not any religion really but my father was Irish Catholic. So I guess if I had to pick a religion, that is the one I identify with.
And though Jonnythan used the word, I actually for some reason giggle at the word heathen and love to use it, I've never been kicked out or shunned from my heathen religion. You have so I really am sorry to say, you are not one to talk about who is going or not going to heaven when its proven you do not follow your own religion or all the scriptures you post or you would not have been shunned. And that is not to be snarky or to embarrass you or to fight, just how I feel.
I still have the authority of scripture, which is all I need, to talk about what scripture tells us. and one reason I know I will be back when God feels I am ready, is that He has never left me, and I still have the inestimable privilege of Holy Spirit to help me stay strong.
Don't worry, I don't take things that way, unless it is very obvious that is how they are meant, and I rarely react even then. Another benefit of Holy Spirit. I am given the fruits of the Spirit as a by-product. Galatians 5:22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires.
Oct 22, 2012 @ 21:40:30
