Q: I know that you encourage us to stay in the organization and not leave. But I find it very difficult to keep going to the meetings. Often I feel worse for having gone to the meeting than if I would have just stayed home and read the Bible by myself. Not only do I find the meetings very boring but also hardly anyone talks to me when I’m there. It’s like I have been marked or something. Maybe my comments haven’t been exactly what they should be for I don’t get called on anymore when I raise my hand. What should I do? Should I keep going anyway?
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A: Belonging to God’s household does not mean that we must of necessity be present at the meetings. God’s temple is not the Kingdom Hall but rather Jehovah’s worshipers themselves, as Paul clearly states: “Do you not know that you people are God’s temple, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you people are.” (1 Cor. 3:16,17) God’s spirit is at the meetings because his worshipers, who have his holy spirit, are gathered there. But one does not miss out on having God's holy spirit simply because he is not in attendance. There are many who cannot be present at the meetings because of health problems, distances they would have to travel, their job schedule, or any number of other reasons.

Also, such as in your own case, some might experience severe discouragement because of belonging to a congregation that is very cold; feeling worse for having gone than if they had not attended at all. That becomes the case when there are enough members in the congregation who do not have God’s spirit; and the lack of the spirit becomes apparent by the absence of its fruitage, which would account for the situation you describe. (Gal. 5:19-23) A person will lose God's spirit if he has become an unrepentant sinner, perhaps being guilty of some hidden or secret sin(s). (1 Tim. 5:24; Heb. 4:13; James 5:14-16) One might also lose the spirit over time if he were to continue “grieving” it by persisting in stubbornly going contrary to its leading. (Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19) Although still attending the meetings and participating in its activities, perhaps even being viewed as "spiritually" mature by others, such a person may be in danger of no longer being accepted by Jehovah as belonging to his household. They may "have the name that [they] are alive, but [they] are dead," as was the situation with many in the Sardis congregation. (Rev. 3:1-4; compare Ezek. 33:31; Mark 7:6,7; 2 Tim. 4:3,4; Matt. 13:41) As to our deplorable situation in this time of the end, we should expect it for Jehovah foretold it. (2 Tim. 3:1-7; 1 Peter 4:17,18; Jude 4, 12,13, 17-19)

The apostle Paul explains that the purpose of the meetings is to encourage one another, to “stir one another up to love”
the love that Jesus said would identify his true disciples. (John 13:34,35) In this way the meetings should assist us in producing fine works, not just in the preaching work but especially in our every day life, encouraging us to put on the new personality, and helping us to show a genuine interest in the welfare of others. “Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. Let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us cheer each other up with words of hope. Let us do it all the more as you see the day coming when Christ will return.” (Heb. 10:24,25, NIRV) When Jehovah’s spirit dwells with his people you will find the meetings to be as encouraging as Paul says they ought to be.

Whose responsibility is it to provide meetings that cheer us up and build us up spiritually, encouraging us to love and do good works, the very purpose for attending them? Does the Bible not put that responsibility on those who are “taking the lead,” the elders! (Heb. 13:7, 17, 24) And yet, to a great extent, the elders themselves are limited in what they themselves can do to make the meetings interesting or more meaningful. For the sake of unity, the Society prides itself that in all the congregations around the world the same program and material is “enjoyed” by all. That means that all of the meetings are scripted, everyone reads and answers from the same pieces of paper, even to the extent of reading or not reading certain Scriptures. There is very little room to adjust the program for local requirements, and certainly every congregation has it own unique needs, weaknesses and strengths. There is no place for spontaneity, no place for God’s spirit to operate as it did in the First Century.

When we deviate even in seemingly minor things from Jehovah’s way, there are sure to be major negative consequences to follow, given enough time. (Luke 16:10) It was never Jehovah’s purpose to have a few of his people elevate themselves above their brothers and dictate to them every aspect of their worship, as is the situation within God’s household today. (Matt. 20:25,26; 2 Thess. 2:3,4) This has resulted in God’s sheep, as a whole, being starved and consequentially becoming “lean.” As Jehovah himself foretold, the “very best pasturage” that he has provided for his sheep is being withheld from them by the wicked self-serving shepherds who have no regard for the well-being of his sheep. (Ezek. 34:2-6, 17-22) He has put the “valueless shepherd[s]” on notice that they will be held accountable by him for the condition of his sheep, as is evident in the many congregations. (Ezek. 34:10; Zech. 11:15-17)

And yet, there are still congregations where you can enjoy the warmth of loving brothers and sisters, where you feel truly welcome; for Jehovah’s spirit is still upon his faithful people. He has not deserted those who are loyal to him because of the ones who have rebelled against him. (Rev. 3:4; Rom. 8:38,39) It seems that the ratio of loving versus discouraging congregations is about the same as it was at the end of the First Century, when Jesus wrote his letters to the elders of the Seven Congregations in Asia Minor, and found only two of them worthy of his commendation. (Rev. 2:1-3:22)

In your own case you might want to seek out such a loving congregation in your area, if there exists such a one within a reasonable distance. Do not worry about attending one outside your “territory.” The whole earth belongs to Jehovah. (Psalms 24:1) If that is not feasible, perhaps you can listen in on phone hook-up. Some are “attending” the meetings in this way. Of course, another issue is the spiritual “food” that is being presented, or rather the lack of it. In this regard we must be patient until Jehovah replaces the present “theocratic” arrangement with the one our master, Christ Jesus, will put in place upon his arrival; even though we may suffer through boring meetings and be spiritually “lean” in the meantime. To be sure, being among the lean sheep will prove to be a blessing at that time, as indicated in Ezekiel chapter 34, a chapter dedicated to his sheep.

Not attending meetings does not mean we are not part of God's household. Many isolated brothers and sisters are very much spiritually alive, for Jehovah takes good care of them. He knows every single individual who belongs to him. (2 Tim. 2:19) We do not want to separate ourselves from that wonderful bond we have with Jehovah. Our meetings are a provision from him to help us, but as a good friend of mine is fond of saying, when talking about meeting attendance (a variation on Jesus' words regarding the Sabbath): "The meetings came into existence for the sake of man, and not man for the sake of the meetings." (Mark 2:27) In other words, attending meetings is not an act of worship in itself, as it is being presented to us, but rather they are a provision to help us strengthen our love for each other, to solidify our faith in God's promises, and encourage each other to endure patiently while we are suffering.

When I mention those who remove themselves of their own accord from God's household, I am not referring to those who are not attending meetings but rather the many who have stumbled and no longer acknowledge that God has a household. I know some former Witnesses who no longer believe in a Creator. Paul mentions some former associates of his in this regard: "For there are many, I used to mention them often but now I mention them also with weeping, who are walking as the enemies of the torture stake of the Christ. . . and they have their minds upon things on earth." (Phil. 3:18,19) I am sure that you are aware of the many on the internet who were formerly our brothers and sisters but now tell us that God does not have a people, that we must flee from the Watchtower, while attacking and scoffing at God's people who are still loyal and enduring, even though they themselves up until fairly recently were zealous worshipers of Jehovah.

I hope this has somewhat addressed your concern. 

 



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