Greetings and peace to you, all!
One of the "tools" to foment "fear" used by the WTBTS is the loss of family. Not in death, but in association and fellowship. Hence, their heinous act of DISfellowshipping, which more often than not results in the loss of relations with spouses, parents, children, siblings, and other blood relations. And it doesn't stop there: in not choosing the WTBTS, one can lose (very) close friends, even one's livelihood. Loss of any of these is, understandably, reason to fear. The loss of ALL of these, which can also occur, can be ample reason for a person to be in fear of even disagreeing with, let alone leaving that harlot. Indeed, it is the WTBTS' greatest tool, this holding the right to familial consortium over the heads of its members.
We must remember, however, that they are not the first to do so, first to use this particular "tool." Many before them have, even in our dear Lord's day in the flesh. How do we know? Because of what he is recorded to have SAID:
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:37
You will notice, he did not include husband or wife. Why do you think that is? We can know: because a husband and wife are ONE, in JAH's eyes, and thus in Christ's. And so we can KNOW that if we follow HIM... the "other half" of our flesh will, TOO, to the extent that person considers themselves indeed our other half (they may not but may, unfortunately, allow themselves to be used by the Adversary as yet another source of opposition - Job 2:9
And so just before that he also said:
"I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household." Matthew 10:35, 36; Micah 7:5-7
He did NOT say he came to turn a man against his wife... or wife against her husband. Remember, what JAH has yoked together, let no man put apart. Including himself.
And so, while children and parents may be parted because of him, what of spouses? What if it is losing a spouse that causes us fear? Dear ones, that's where faith comes in. That's where we have to remember that even though Job's wife initially opposed him, EVENTUALLY she came around. Had to, right, because they had 12 more kids? LOLOL!
There's also the wise admonition from Paul that says we don't leave, so long as the spouse is agreeable to dwelling with us. Couple that with "he who is not against you is for you," and we don't have to WORRY as to whether our spouses ACCEPTS our beliefs or not. If we love them MORE than we love Christ, however, we could find ourselves in an "Ananias and Sapphira" situation where, for the love of one another OVER Christ, the TWO worked falsely against holy spirit. Did it TOGETHER. Had only one spoken up and stopped the other... or remained true to Christ and refused to go along with the plot... BOTH might have lived!
IF we trust in Christ, we can be ASSURED that either our dear spouse will come on the journey toward him WITH us... or JAH will make the way out FOR us. If we choose others OVER him, though... even out of fear... then we can't say we truly are in union with him. Why? Because we are DIVIDED. Our HEARTS are divided.
Which is a violation of the "first" commandment: that we must love JAH with our WHOLE heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Give to God and Christ FIRST out of our "stores" of love, dear ones. Let that love CONQUER the fear, throw it OUTSIDE (of ourselves). Else, we might find ourselves "outside" (of the Beloved City). Because we weren't WORTHY to enter (through the Door - John 10:9).
As always, peace to you all!
YSSFS of Christ,
Shel
|