?
I am attempting to reconcile your actions with the speech I’ve heard from JW including yourself and others at Kingdom Halls.
Is this man your friend?
Do you love him? (in a platanic way obviously)
What about his existing beliefs do you celebrate?
If he were to get married at his church, would you go?
How do you serve him? I’m not asking preaching at him.
Very honorable and honest questions Jane, thank you for asking me maam. I will say that I am disfellowshipped, so I am not your "token" witness but I will explain it as best I can. As you mentioned, Jesus is mostly seen in association with those who were not strong in the faith. Keep in mind however the only ones he did actually associate with were in the faith maam, but the leaders of the faith considered them amaharets, basically as dust.
Modern day Jehovah's witnesses are encouraged to have only Jehovah's witnesses as their close associates, since most will not associate with me, and we have a great need created into us to be social, then I have to turn outside the congregation for friendship. But to answer your questions, even when I was in good standing, yes this man is my friend, and I take friendship very seriously. I do love him, and have made sacrifices for him, and he for me. I celebrate none of his beliefs. And if I was invited to his wedding I would go, even if in a church. I would not pray with them, nor participate in anything of religious connotation. I associate with him, and have helped him with home projects. Yes I bear testimony to him if the opportunity presents itself, but he does not respond.
I believe most of the studies I have had with others were actually with worldly friends, rather than those I met while in the ministry. It is at least 50% anyway. Unless someone is hateful toward those of my faith, I am perfectly willing to be friends with them, but I will never partake in false worship. This basically describes me, as it should all Christians maam: (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) . . .For though I am free from all people, I have made myself the slave to all, so that I may gain as many people as possible. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew in order to gain Jews; to those under law I became as under law, though I myself am not under law, in order to gain those under law. 21 To those without law I became as without law, although I am not without law toward God but under law toward Christ, in order to gain those without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to people of all sorts, so that I might by all possible means save some. 23 But I do all things for the sake of the good news, in order to share it with others.