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NOTE: Every specialized form of language is loaded with abbreviations, used primarily in informal speech and writing, and especially in electronic communication. AMOOFLs become a part of the culture of their community of users. One Internet friend has cataloged over 200 theocracentric examples under the title ``WitAMOOFLs (Friendscronyms)'', some of which are covered in this Glossary.
Most persons are sensitive to situations when it is inappropriate to use such terms. For instance, Witnesses communicating by {email} might make a casual reference to someone who was {DF}ed, but on the serious occasion of making an announcement of {judicial action} from the {platform} or in a letter to the Society, the word {disfellowshipped} is always used.
[19] Footsteps and shuffling of papers.
NOTE: A dictionary is not a Bible. Some people regard it as a final authority as though the meanings of all words in a language were predetermined in Heaven and delivered to Noah Webster on stone tablets. In reality, a well-written dictionary, or glossary, is a living document, something that reflects rather than dictates current language practice.
NOTE: Gaining accurate knowledge of God's will is indisputably important. (Joh 17:3) However, as Paul reminded the Corinthians, we know the truth only partially, both as individuals and organizationally. (1Co 8:2; 13:9, 12) Yet some persons attempt to represent themselves as having knowledge greater than the accumulated wisdom of Jesus' {faithful and discreet slave}, often demonstrating themselves to be more concerned with impressing others than they are about Jehovah, Jesus, the brotherhood, or truth. (1Ti 6:20, 21; 1Co 8:1; 13:2) Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization today have God's spirit to teach them the truth, (Joh 14:26) and are teaching it to people. Adjustments, when needed, are shared by everyone at approximately the same time, and in that way the entire organization grows together, while maintaining a united front toward those on the outside. (Pro 4:18; Eph 4:11-16) Regardless of how ``right'' some self-proclaimed intellect may be about some minor point, there is no room in Jehovah's organization for those who {push ahead}. It is far more important to maintain unity and love within the congregation. (1Co 13:8, 13)
NOTE: This card must be signed, witnessed, and dated to be legally binding. At the assemblies in 1993, where the card was used as ID, it was discovered that about 50 percent of the cards presented were not signed. One wonders how many more persons did not have cards at all. Do you have yours? Is it signed?
STORY: {Disfellowshipping} notices are always read by an {elder} as part of the Service Meeting announcements. One night a brother in our area had to read one such notice, and also a more mundane announcement. Somehow he got the names confused, and for ten horrible seconds, until the brother realized his mistake, while she and her unsuspecting family and close friends were all having strokes and falling in the aisles, some poor sister was accidentally disfellowshipped. :-(
NOTE: Apostates are persons who were once among us, walking in the Truth, not merely outsiders who oppose it. They usually know our beliefs, terminology, and organizational ways quite well.
Apostates tend to seek out unwary Witnesses and engage them in dialogue. Often they were once fine people with an extensive {Truth} background. But they tend to be proud of their independent intellectual accomplishments. <<Based on several years of deep research, careful study, and profound meditation I have concluded blah blah blah ...>> They will claim support for their ideas from others who are supposedly pillars in the Truth. <<I know numerous people, including elders, who agree with me that blah blah blah ...>> They will flatter the listener while speaking condescendingly of Witnesses in general. <<I realize that most Witnesses wouldn't understand; but I realize that you are by no means average, but are truly open-minded.>> The speaker condescendingly suggests that most Witnesses are simple, unpretentious, and unsophisticated, but is implying that for the most part we are a bunch of dopes.
Willing association with true apostates, whether in person, by reading their literature, or engaging in electronic debate across the Internet, is itself apostate behavior, and therefore potentially a {disfellowshipping offense}, in addition to being extremely dangerous and outright stupid. It should be avoided entirely.
NOTE: It is not considered appropriate to applaud when an announcement of {reinstatement} is read. Although we rejoice when persons who have been put out of the congregation come to their senses, show repentance, and are restored, they are at that moment weak spiritually, and in need of love and encouragement, but not congratulations, as though they had accomplished something worthy of acclaim.[24]
Jehovah's Witnesses seem to have an infatuation for this word, so much so that it stands in danger of being killed from overwork. One elder wrote to tell me: <<I once visited an {inactive} brother who received me with the words, ``Brother, you are certainly welcome to come in and visit with me. All I ask is that you not use the word appreciate. That word is so overused by most brothers I can't bear to hear it anymore.''>> (Compare {helps us to appreciate}.)
STORY: We had a Service Meeting part in the early 1970s that discouraged the use of archaisms. The brother who was the source of the examples under {pronunciation} presented the part,[26] and in the course of it said, as phonetically transcribed: <<We don' wanna be speakin' no arcake er nuffin'.>>
NOTE: There has been some flip-flopping over the years over whether our large summer festivals are called assemblies or conventions. The Society originally called them all assemblies until the war years, when assembling was declared against the law in the USA. The Society wanted to have a big assembly, but because it was during the war they were not allowed to do it. The only way to have one was to call it a convention, because conventions were not against the law. The name convention has applied to big assemblies ever since. <<A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose.>> The precise term used makes little difference. The usage explained in this Glossary is current as of 1997 to the best of my knowledge.
Often assembly speakers speak quite differently in their home congregations than they do at conventions. The Society sends out strict instructions about how talks should be presented at assemblies. When followed, presentations at assemblies are generally of uniformly high quality. Unfortunately, it can result in a soporific sameness. Not every brother can do it well. Not every brother wants to learn to speak like an assembly speaker, including some who are highly skilled at platform teaching.
STORY: In 1976, when I was serving the Upper Manhattan congregation in New York City, the elder body considered a letter received from an irate householder. I can still remember it almost verbatim. It said:
I do not belong to your religion. I have never read any of your books or magazines, and have not ever been the least bit interested in doing so. I live in an apartment with a crack under the door. Last week while I was at work some of your people came by and slid a copy of your Awake! magazine, something which I did not want, under my door. My dog seized it, ate it, choked on it, and died.
Now don't worry, I am not going to sue you or anything. I have gotten over the loss of my dog, and have bought another one. But I must insist that you please never come back to my apartment again!
The letter was not signed, and there was no return address. I don't think that's what the woman meant who said to Jesus: ``the little dogs do eat of the crumbs falling from the table of their masters.'' (Mat 15:27) Jesus said on an earlier occasion: ``Do not give what is holy to dogs.'' (Mat 7:6) Apparently {spiritual food} is not good for everyone.
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Last modified: Wed May 6 12:21:31 MST 1998
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