The Black Sheep
Well-known member
Someone told me that it is a requirement. Is this true of every hall in the US?
Are masks actually required to attend meetings?
- Thread starter The Black Sheep
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The God Pill
Well-known member
No, but they are pushy.
The Black Sheep
Well-known member
Thank you. I might go soon. We’ll see how it goes.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
it depends.
WT does this thing where they say it’s this but then a secret elders’ letter comes in instructing it’s that. it goes such a way with many things inside WT. On this surface it’s this, but if you dig a little you find out it’s that. etc
WT does this thing where they say it’s this but then a secret elders’ letter comes in instructing it’s that. it goes such a way with many things inside WT. On this surface it’s this, but if you dig a little you find out it’s that. etc
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
let’s us know how it goes. (-:
Medi-tator
Well-known member
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
I went to the Memorial and the Sunday meeting two days later. On the Memorial meeting, there were more than a few who did not have masks. On the following Sunday meeting, virtually everyone had masks, except me. People even wore them in the parking lot on a bright sunny morning.
The brothers who got up on the platform would wear their masks as they walked to the podium and then ceremoniously remove it before speaking into the microphone. I am glad I went to the meetings. It made me realize the extent to which their fear of Jehovah is based on commands of men that they have been taught, as it says in Isaiah.
I am quite certain that most JW's go about their lives now with no masks. But because the GB has "recommended" it and the GB speaks with the voice of God, wearing a mask has become part of the solemn obligation of "true worshippers." The GB tells them not to go to meetings for two years. They obey. The GB orders them to stop knocking on doors and speaking with people on the street and they obey. The GB tells them to take the injections, that Jehovah knows they are really good for them. JW's obey. The GB "recommends" wearing a mask in the kingdom hall, and they obey. Parents even had masks on their little children. Masking up has become part of "pure worship" now.
The brothers who got up on the platform would wear their masks as they walked to the podium and then ceremoniously remove it before speaking into the microphone. I am glad I went to the meetings. It made me realize the extent to which their fear of Jehovah is based on commands of men that they have been taught, as it says in Isaiah.
I am quite certain that most JW's go about their lives now with no masks. But because the GB has "recommended" it and the GB speaks with the voice of God, wearing a mask has become part of the solemn obligation of "true worshippers." The GB tells them not to go to meetings for two years. They obey. The GB orders them to stop knocking on doors and speaking with people on the street and they obey. The GB tells them to take the injections, that Jehovah knows they are really good for them. JW's obey. The GB "recommends" wearing a mask in the kingdom hall, and they obey. Parents even had masks on their little children. Masking up has become part of "pure worship" now.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
@Watchman may i ask a couple of personal questions?- are you being shunned by the congregation when you attend meetings? do you attend them over zoom? Are you trying to be reinstated? I’m just wondering what i should do- perhaps try to get reinstated myself,
Dorothea
Well-known member
Hopefully Robert will have an answer for you on this. But I just wanted to give my perspective and hopefully that's okay. I believe you might have to lie to get reinstated. The only reason I'm not disfellowshipped is because almost nobody knows what I really believe. If the elders were to find out, I'm sure they would give me the boot. I'm in a precarious position because if anyone point blank asked whether I believe that the GB are "God's channel" and teaching nothing but the truth, my conscience would not let me lie. So I'm lying very low.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
i completely agree with you @Dorothea and that was the reason i disassociated after having unsuccessfully tried to fade- i knew i couldn’t lie even if i wanted to. i wear my heart on my sleeve and the elders in my hall know me . I could never keep up a lie regarding THIS particular gov body.
Neither could i or would i ever send anybody to the JW website.
Dorothea you’re always in my prayers that Jehovah make things easy for wrt your congregation and other matters. They don’t make it easy for folks who want to peacefully study the scriptures.
I had not been to a meeting in about four years. But in the short period leading up to this year's Memorial, I began to feel God's spirit moving me to go. I prayed about it intensely and just let the spirit blow me where it would. It was not the congregation where I was active. So, they don't know me. I just felt as though I was obligated to proclaim the death of the Lord. How can one make a private proclamation? It doesn't seem reasonable. I just went in as the meeting was starting, partook of the emblems and left as soon as it ended, and avoided all eye contact. lol
The spirit was still strong a few days later so I suited up again and went to the Sunday meeting. I only recognized one person there from the 4 years before, as it turns out the WT booted a neighboring congregation out of their Kingdom Hall and sold it and made them come to the hall where I had gone for a short while 4 years ago. So, there were a lot of faces I did not recognize. Anyway, one young brother tried to introduce himself and I just said "I am disfellowshipped." No big deal. But, after the meeting an elder followed me out to the parking lot and introduced himself and inquired of my status, and asked me if I was looking to get re-instated. I told him I had issues with the WT and that I could never be re-instated. He pressed me further and so I sort of unloaded on him, evil slave, vaccination mandate, bloodguilt and all of that. He actually listened. I could tell he was taken aback. I am sure he is still going over a few things in his mind. I was grateful Jehovah gave me an opportunity to speak to someone.
As for Zoom, no. I have never attended a Zoom meeting. But when my wife's physically and mentally handicapped nephew was staying with us a few months ago he is very faithful to the meetings and so he wanted me to watch with him. I was quite amused that he was kicking back on the couch drinking down a Bud Light and even commented during the WT study. 😂
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
@Watchman i think what you did was fabulous! it took courage and reliance on Jehovah. You followed his direction when you felt it, and followed through.
I respect you so much for going to the Memorial and partaking, and then going to the Sunday meeting, and not holding back when the brother that followed you to the partaking lot asked if you were looking to be reinstated. You gave him a lot to think about.
thank you for sharing. God is with you.
Kim.
I respect you so much for going to the Memorial and partaking, and then going to the Sunday meeting, and not holding back when the brother that followed you to the partaking lot asked if you were looking to be reinstated. You gave him a lot to think about.
thank you for sharing. God is with you.
Kim.
Dorothea
Well-known member
Maybe that brother you talked to was the reason Jehovah wanted you there that day. I hope it has a positive effect on him.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
wow that’s brilliant @Dorothea . it had to be.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
Dorothea
Well-known member
You will have to be strong of mind and heart. Pray for that. It's not going to be easy. Some of the talks are very encouraging, but others are hard to listen to. And the shunning won't be easy to bear. My son is DF'd and it's very hard on him to go. I'm proud of him for going to the memorial anyway.
יהוה_saves
Well-known member
@Dorothea i understand. i don’t know if i can hide my cringe face. (aka resting bitch face but for me it’s resting cringe face). i would only attend the talk not the WT study.
Aw yes that is something to be proud of.
Dorothea, if you never say anything out of line it will never happen. But to give you an idea if this is something you worry about..if you have been a witness for a while did you ever really believe the resurrected ones would not remarry? Probably you didn't. Nor did most people. If you for some reason ever get cornered just say 'I never believed the resurrected ones wouldn't marry and I didn't talk about it. If I have any beliefs that differ from current understanding I don't talk about it' and just let that be the end of the matter.