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Jehovah's Witness..... concern

Discussion in '2005 Archive' started by dianetavegia, Jul 8, 2005.

  1. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    A mother, newly in our home school group, called today. She has a son who is 12 that she'd pulled out of P/S a few years ago because he was so far behind. Her elderly parents had home schooled him last year but grandpa got involved on Ebay and stopped the school work. Her other option was to leave him home alone each day.

    We discussed the child and my expectations with behavior. Nick and her son seemed to enjoy the same things.... I explained the Bob Jones curriculum and she's going to look into it for her son also. I mentioned that her son could just go with us to AWANA on Wed. nights if she'd like. 'We're studying and attending with J/W so I don't know if that would be a problem'. YIKES.

    She told me her family believes she's in a cult and I told her that I do too and that I'd not allow any of their booklets in my home and that her son should be told how we feel about their 'denomination'. I told her that I refuse to talk with J/W at my door. 'Well, we believe almost the same things. We have more in common than you know', says she. 'No, we really do NOT', I told her. I also explained that the other children I keep are a Youth Minister's children and another child from our church and we pray over our meals, for boo-boo's, etc.

    I had already agreed on 4 days a week, the cost and hours. We'd chosen a day to meet and a start date. I went on and on about using AWANA material and the Lifeway material for our Bible Studies, too. Then she tells me!

    If she'd told me this FIRST, I would not have continued the conversation but since everything else was so 'right', I'm wondering if this is a mission field for Nick and me. Then I begin to think about allowing 'Satan' into my home through this family. HELP! Since I had said yes, I ended our conversation with the thought that she should think through how my family views her beliefs and should consider that if her son were to bring up what he's being taught that I would correct him and show him in MY Bible where what he's being taught is wrong..... so she'd need to decide ahead of time if she was willing to accept THOSE conditions too. I told her I would not allow 'untruths' to go unchallenged in my home.

    Hubby is working and can't be reached. Our Pastor is in Brazil. Our Youth Minister is off with our Youth. My Deacon is on a cruise. I don't want to let much time lapse if the decision is made to refuse this child.... and this is one time that I have no clear feeling one way or the other!

    Can I ask for your thoughts and prayers?

    Diane
     
  2. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    Diane,

    I will pray for you. Here are some things to consider:

    1. I am guessing you are a teacher for a homeschool group? Do you require children to have medical release forms, etc...? I remember when I was in college, I was a counselor for our university's band camp. One year, a JW mother came to the registration table with a medical release form telling us we couldn't have her child treated in a medical emergency. The camp director told her he couldn't come to camp if this was the case. The child was taken home.

    2. If the child or his mother cannot abide by your rules and not proselytize at your school, then he can't come. I would make this very clear.

    3. If the mother and child can abide by your rules and don't mind you having her son treated in case of emergency, I say go for it.

    4. Also, do you require immunization records? If you do (which I would hope you would), and they are not willing to provide them, then they would not come to my school.

    Hope this helps,

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  3. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I concur with Joseph.

    I'd gve you more advice, but, in honor of all the other male folks in your life, I'm leaving for Hawaii tomorrow and will be away for two weeks.

    Pray for safe travel for me and the Mrs. I will continue to pray for you in this situation. I think as long as you make your own rules and expectations clear, you probably don't have much to worry about.
     
  4. GrannyGumbo

    GrannyGumbo <img src ="/Granny.gif">

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    If you were the only one involved, I'd might give it a try...BUT, since you have other young, impressionable children, including Nick, to consider...I'd have to say no. I will pray that your final decision will be the right one for all concerned. Either way, God bless.
     
  5. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Joseph, no, I'm not. I only home school Nick and am 'teaching' the 3 year olds some preschool things but that's just on my own. Georgia State Law allows anyone with a GED to tutor (home school) other people's children! (YIKES, EEK, UG). This boy would have to be up to date on MOST of his shots since he was in Public School until 2 years ago. I'd have to check on his 11 year old booster shot tho. If he's not immunized, no way! I had NOT thought of that!

    The grandparents live not far from me but they're NOT J/W. If there were a medical concern, I'd turn them over to him.
     
  6. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

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    Diane,

    I will share my thoughts. I have 2 uncles in the JWs. My mother blamed herself for years for she was the one that let the JWs in the home after her mother and father died. My mother was the "homemaker" of the house at age 17 raising 4 boys till they left home. She was strong in the word and had gone to bible college on her own and was not afraid of them. But the JWs came back when she was not there and 2 of her brothers fell for their lies.

    having said this....i have witnessed to many in my days..not only my uncles. Its like God just keeps sending them my way. I have hired 2 at my work..not knowing that they were. they stop at my door more then most i talk with. Even with the scares my mother placed in me..i look at them as a lost souls needing Christ. I do not run them off. If they want to have a bible study, i have one. i would even let them in my house if my wife would let me.

    Many teach that Gods word says do not let them in your house. In the greek this is saying the house of God. do not let them in your church to teach. So i feel i can. but...to keep peace with the wife..and just to be safe i do not let them come in my house.

    I do meet with them after hours at my office. one time at a park. anywhere they want to meet. why? i want to tell them about Christ. but i never go to their house. the reason why is this...

    i want to do the bible study myself...not them. like when we go to my office..i say..ok this is my office..so let me start the bible study. I lead the study...for i do not want them misleading. then i always.....ALWAYS go to hebrews. JWs do not have a anwser for hebrews. i read and point out as god the father calls the son god. everytime thier mouth drops open. every single time.

    hebrews one is rich in Christ as God. no better passage in the bible for this. take your time and look at each OT verse that is repeated in the 1st chapter. there are like...i don't know...like 15 verse from the OT. each time before the statement say..."now this is God the father talking and he is talking to his son"..then read...thy throne oh God.... this is the father calling Christ God. and...God the father ask this..."to which angel have i said....? always remind them it is God the father saying this. and what angel has He said this? none..Christ was not a angel...but he did say it to his Son...who is God.

    well...i think you get the idea. make sure you study. make sure you control the meeting. have them look up the verses and read them OUTLOUD from the OT.

    and...pray...pray..pray

    they need Christ. talk with them


    in Christ...james
     
  7. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

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    ok..well..i was in a rush as i read and wrote this....cuz i had to run and pickup someone.

    sooooooooooooooo

    most of what i said does not apply.

    sorry...but..maybe something will help

    i too will pray
     
  8. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    I got through to my husband and we have prayed and decided that since we would not go into the home of a J/W nor socialize with them that it would be wrong to expose these children and even ourselves to a daily dose of Satan.

    Matt. 12:43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."

    Now, we've not had 'demons' but we do strive to keep Satan out of our home and this could be an opening.

    I've called and told the mother that because of their being Jehovah's Witnesses and our beliefs about their denomination being non-Christian and a cult that it would be wrong for me to bring their child into my home and it would be unfair to that child. She pretty much just didn't say anything. I told her if she'd like to talk further, we could, but I would not change my mind on this matter.

    BTW.... I wanted to clarify that I attended college. Didn't want the GED remark to have anyone assume I was a h/s drop out.

    Diane

    [ July 08, 2005, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: dianetavegia ]
     
  9. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    I think that you are very right to respond to that lady that the JW"s are in no way "nearly the same" as Christians, that is the hook they use to ensnare people, to normalise what they do.

    As for the schooling of the child, I just dont know, I would suggest that you go and get the advice of the elders of your church on what the best course of action would be in respect to that situation.

    I would however get along to a Christian bookstore and get as many books on the JW cult as you can afford and give them to her to read. You may well save her from hell!
     
  10. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Ben, my husband and I decided NOT to do this. My husband had NO doubts that NO was the answer.
     
  11. TexasSky

    TexasSky Guest

    I think we should respect the wishes of Diane's husband, and of Diane, not to bring another doctorine into their home.
     
  12. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

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    I disagreee with the decision, but I respect their right to make it.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  13. Watchman

    Watchman New Member

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    Diane's husband made a firm decision here and she honored that, just as she should and that is very commendable. I was about to say that I thought that she should proceed (The child would hear the truth from someone, and that truth MAY lead to a conversion later). On another thresd about JW's I posted that only those that are rooted and grounded in their faith should take on JW's and Diane is about as rooted and grounded as they come.
    Diane, don't take this as a lecture, but a suggestion: print out a statement of faith and everyone you associate with MUST sign off on it, and they WILL NOT advocate any other teaching.
    Problem solved.
     
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