I went to a meeting at a new church today
The women were lovely and talkative, I got to talk to a young woman who lives close to me and she said it's great if I start going there because there's a lot more young people like me in that congregation. I also got to talk to three 50-60 year old sisters (yes they were sisters) and it was like so obvious when they said it, they looked so similar but I didn't know if it was because of their age or not (old women tend to look more similar) 😂 I will not underemphasize how valuable women are to any church, like they're the bread and butter of what makes going there fun and enjoyable, because they're talkative, friendly, and open minded almost without failure.
However, two older men there... Oh man... 🤦 The second I walked in, this old man was staring at me like "who is this person and what trouble are they up to?" until the moment I left. While I was talking to other people he literally stood next to me the entire time, just looking at me. And then another old man joined him, and they were like quizzing me who I am. Shit like that bothers me a great deal, because us Jehovah's witnesses are supposed to be loving, welcoming, and friendly minded. It just reminds me how often us humans can not possibly live up to that expectation and end up treating each other like any other person we met on the street would treat us: with unpredictability that necessitates caution and putting up your guard. It saddens me every time...
This experience I had brings up a few important topics to the forefront of my mind, topics that my family is particularly experienced in dealing with, as we have a particularly good ability to read people and their mental state, and I feel like I have some valuable insight on. I've also noted that these are the top 3 concerns that is make or break for a lot of people when it comes to believing in the bible.
1. How should human attitudes and behavior affect your impression of God?
2. In what way should you trust humans that follow God's words?
3. What is the true importance of other humans in the equation of you following God's word?
My answer:
Humans can not perfectly follow the ideal that is put forth in the bible of how we should love one another or in any other way it tells us to behave. No matter how hard they try; no matter how much they claim that they are following it. You should always trust a person who says they try, or are striving to do something that is said in the bible above someone who claims they are doing it. The same person can use both phrases, mostly when they forget that they are indeed trying yet not achieving the state that they want, it happens to the best of us, but you should never let yourself be deceived by the latter way of phrasing it. Remember that they are indeed trying, yet not achieving what is supposed to be achieved.
Why is that such an important distinction to make? Because once they inevitably fail to that standard that is put forth, you will already not be holding them to that high of a regard. It makes it easier to forgive people, and it allows you to realize that this person might actually not be that good of a person, despite their ties to what you believe in to be pure and true. They are not some kind of example set for your faith, nor are they what keeps you connected with God and other people holding your faith.
So what is the correct attitude to have towards humans when they're so unpredictable, yet they're still tied to your faith in some way? You have to separate their good side from their bad side. When they say something valuable, you take that to heart, separate it from the speaker, and keep it. When they say something worthless, you discard of it instantly, and do not let their behavior near your heart. Good human connection is a blessing, and bad human behavior is disallowed to interfere with you to the greatest degree that you can manage. In the end, if humans were perfect and followed God's words, life would be a paradise, alas it's not, and we have to treat all humans as fellow sinners.
However, two older men there... Oh man... 🤦 The second I walked in, this old man was staring at me like "who is this person and what trouble are they up to?" until the moment I left. While I was talking to other people he literally stood next to me the entire time, just looking at me. And then another old man joined him, and they were like quizzing me who I am. Shit like that bothers me a great deal, because us Jehovah's witnesses are supposed to be loving, welcoming, and friendly minded. It just reminds me how often us humans can not possibly live up to that expectation and end up treating each other like any other person we met on the street would treat us: with unpredictability that necessitates caution and putting up your guard. It saddens me every time...
This experience I had brings up a few important topics to the forefront of my mind, topics that my family is particularly experienced in dealing with, as we have a particularly good ability to read people and their mental state, and I feel like I have some valuable insight on. I've also noted that these are the top 3 concerns that is make or break for a lot of people when it comes to believing in the bible.
1. How should human attitudes and behavior affect your impression of God?
2. In what way should you trust humans that follow God's words?
3. What is the true importance of other humans in the equation of you following God's word?
My answer:
Humans can not perfectly follow the ideal that is put forth in the bible of how we should love one another or in any other way it tells us to behave. No matter how hard they try; no matter how much they claim that they are following it. You should always trust a person who says they try, or are striving to do something that is said in the bible above someone who claims they are doing it. The same person can use both phrases, mostly when they forget that they are indeed trying yet not achieving the state that they want, it happens to the best of us, but you should never let yourself be deceived by the latter way of phrasing it. Remember that they are indeed trying, yet not achieving what is supposed to be achieved.
Why is that such an important distinction to make? Because once they inevitably fail to that standard that is put forth, you will already not be holding them to that high of a regard. It makes it easier to forgive people, and it allows you to realize that this person might actually not be that good of a person, despite their ties to what you believe in to be pure and true. They are not some kind of example set for your faith, nor are they what keeps you connected with God and other people holding your faith.
So what is the correct attitude to have towards humans when they're so unpredictable, yet they're still tied to your faith in some way? You have to separate their good side from their bad side. When they say something valuable, you take that to heart, separate it from the speaker, and keep it. When they say something worthless, you discard of it instantly, and do not let their behavior near your heart. Good human connection is a blessing, and bad human behavior is disallowed to interfere with you to the greatest degree that you can manage. In the end, if humans were perfect and followed God's words, life would be a paradise, alas it's not, and we have to treat all humans as fellow sinners.
26-30, M
