Tolerance is the virtue of a people who stand for nothing. ~G.K. Chesterton

I never thought I'd do something like this, but I guess it was time to stand up.

Prior to the Memorial of Jehovah’s Witnesses this year, I had made some fliers and put them on cars in the parking lot at my old Kingdom Hall and mailed out a few also. I still had about 20 of them left.

My husband and I were driving to our monthly clown club meeting (in our jeans, not our clown clothes) when I asked him if he'd mind stopping at my old Kingdom Hall parking lot. This was about 6:30 p.m. on April 5th, Memorial night. There were about 10 people in the parking lot. We pulled right into the center and a young man I didn't recognize approached the car as I got out. I said,

"Good evening, I'm just out sharing an encouraging message with my neighbors tonight. Are you familiar with the March 1, 2012 Watchtower on page 17 where it says who may take the wine and bread at the Memorial? You see, the Watchtower says that you're not in the new covenant..."

 

Then his wife came and rescued him. I did recognize her. She was not married when I left back in 2003. Then her father came over and I extended a flier to him, but he raised up his hand in refusal and said, 

"We don't want to hear it!"

So I replied,

"Well now you understand your neighbors when you knock on their doors. They don't want to hear what you have to say either."

And as I got in the car, I said for all of them to hear,

"Jesus is Lord! Good night."

Then I asked my husband,

"Do you mind if we hit the Kingdom Hall in the next town too?"

He suggested we get to our clown club meeting first and then go to the Hall when the Memorial was in progress. Our clown meeting began at 7 p.m. and was still going on when I left my husband there and drove to the Hall about 8 p.m.   

The parking lot was full and I ran out of fliers but prayed over the cars. I began to walk the parking lot praying silently and then noticed 3 men on the steps in front, so I raised my voice and prayed out loud,

"Lord Jesus, deliver them from the snare of the enemy; set these captives free, in the authority of the blood of Jesus…"

I walked to my car. Then drove back to the clown club. 

What was I doing? Was it rude? I merely spoke with them until they refused to listen. They go door-to-door to speak with people until they stop listening also. In my experiences as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, the people I found at home were much more polite in allowing me to have my say.

Did you know the Witnesses used to hold up picket signs that read, "RELIGION IS A SNARE AND A RACKET" and walk around church parking lots on Sunday? Trust me, I have no desire to be that rude every Sunday morning at the Kingdom Hall, but if they did that on the day other people sought to worship in their respective places, I figure ONCE A YEAR I can do the same as a wake up call to them on their special night. Besides, they even knock on people's doors on Easter morning, Christmas morning, Thanksgiving, etc... NOT TO MENTION BREAK UP FAMILIES, HOLD PEOPLE CAPTIVE TO FEAR, AND LET CHILDREN DIE DUE TO LACK OF BLOOD!

Who's being rude here then?

Whether I walked on to their parking lot or not, I'd still be considered an opposer and given over to Satan. So what difference does this action make? I could sit quietly at home and still be thought of as an evil slave by them. I suppose by being so bold, it merely confirms what they already believe about me.

For me to visit the Hall on any regular basis would be futile then and only add to their assumptions. But I am very glad I did it this one time to stir them up. Let them see. I did nothing illegal, immoral or even in poor taste. In fact, the most I said was to quote from their own magazine! If any in there know my reputation and character as a reputable person in my community, hopefully the demonic picture they paint of me (which has surely stepped up a notch now) will not sit right and perhaps it will turn out for good. Let it pierce the consciences of many.

I don't generally feel motivated to push my way into someone else's religious ceremonies as the Memorial is to the JWs, but at times, I feel like Jeremiah who said God's Word was like a fire shut up in his bones. He had to confront apostate Judah. I felt I had to confront the Jehovah's Witnesses on Memorial night which insults the spirit of grace according to Hebrews 10:29.

As a Christian, I take very personally what this deceptive religion is doing in the name of Jesus Christ. I personally believe that if God's fire is on you, you need to go with it. It doesn't mean it's a calling for every moment after that, but it is what He wanted me to do on THAT night. I've never been too comfortable just sitting in a pew on Sundays. Christianity means following the Spirit God gave us. That looks different for each of us. And well, that's where I was led for that moment.

6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity (2 Tim 1:6-9)

Keep yourself in God's love, Julie