by trumind 17 Replies latest jw friends
Hi Tru,
Welcome to the board.
I personally do not feel one needs to belong to an organization. I believe this is what the Bible is telling us when it states "Get out of her my people" To get out of organized religion.
Also, 1st John 2:27 tells us that we do not need that man teach us. Holy Spirit is what teaches us. The Bible also tells us that he gives his Spirit to those asking.
Just my 2
I also agree that one does not need organized religion to "have Jehovah's love", as you put it. Although raised a JW, I have come to believe that we feel spiritual, or connected to a higher purpose, when we get in touch with our goodness, regardless of how we choose to do that, whether it be by means of religion or otherwise. I believe that people become conditioned to interpret that feeling through whatever context, religious or otherwise, that they were raised to accept. Hence, Muslims feel just as devout as Christians, if not more so. I don't think that "God" has anything to do with human religious organizations, which for the most part exploit our desire to be connected to the universe. In fact, I believe that religions mostly serve to block the individual spiritual journey by their self-serving agendas. Continue to trust your heart and be true to your goodness, and I believe that you will find true spiritual growth and happiness.
Hi Tru, like the others posted so far to your question "to have Jehovah's love"... the answer is no. Jehovah's love was never dependent on being attached to an organised religion. Organised religion is mechanistic, established by men apparently ? to meet its members' needs or to be more ? effective ? efficient? ?? to have control over, and direct the masses by those who ??know better as to what God may want from us.
If I'm not reading too much into it, perhaps your question was "Does God have an organised religion to represent him?" When one becomes a child of God you become part of his family - which is not an organised religion but a relationship with God and of necessity brothers and sisters.
Organizations exist for their benefit not yours.
I believe being involved with organized religion actually inhibits your spirituality. I think it is a form of idolatry as people begin to worship the organization rather than god.
My definition of god is different than most people here, but I think whatever god you believe in, you are better off developing a one to one relationship with him.
hugs
Joel
Joelbear,
I feel your comment re organisations is quite a broad generalisation. Organisations, any organisation, political, medical, religious,unions etc. initially start off with the aim or concept of gathering support for a particular issue. As the organisation develops and the infrastructure gets more complex and larger, more and more energy is put into the maintenance of the organisation and it can lose it purpose or promotion of its cause or the support of the people it was supposed to serve.
an organisation, any organisation does not necessarily have to interfere with your relationship with God provided that one keeps God and the organisation distinct. It is when you merge the two that one gets into trouble. It is my experience of 20 years of leaving the JWs that I have been very wary of falling into the trap of another organisation taking over where the JWs left off. Yes, I attend church but am fully alert and aware of the distinction between God and the church where I happen to fellowship at. If the church or denomination would disappear tomorrow, it would not phase me or any of the Christians who attend in the least, as our faith is NOT in the church/organisation/group but in Jesus. It is the Christians within the local church that have provided the critical support, debriefing, learning to trust again, providing a "family" since our disfellowshipping from the JWs.
Hi Trumind: Most organized religions do not teach that you need to belong to them to be saved (or "approved" by God as the JWs say). The vast majority of Christians recognize that organizations is simply for convenience, and has absolutely no bearing on your relationship with God.
Jesus promised that where two or more are gathered in his name, there he would be. So, any Christian may gather anywhere, anytime whether in a church or other place, and Jesus is present.
The Watchtower teaches that if we work real hard, and do all they tell us, we might get God's 'approval' --- maybe, maybe not.
Jesus Christ taught us that we are loved by God as his children. In fact if you carefully read John, Chap 17 you will see that Jesus states we are loved by God 'already' as much as he loves Jesus Christ.
Nowherer in the Bible is anything said about being a member of any group or organized church. Rather, Jesus said that he is the way, the truth, and the life. So, if you remain Christian, then Jesus Christ is the only one you need to go to for a relationship with God ... a relationship already approved at the highest level ... because Jesus paid for that relationship, and not some organization.
Amazing
Hi Tru,
Very interesting thoughts indeed. I agree with Lilacs comment on organized religion. How do we know that the scripture about getting out of her, Babylon the Great, might not apply to ALL org. religions. The JWs since their beginning have always referred to OTHER religions as part of Babylon the Great, NEVER themeselves. But, again, even the JWs were started by a man! So, it may very well apply to JWs as well.
As far as you're mother is concerned, I think it is terrible that the JWs started fading away as she attended less and less meetings. How cold can people be?? I think it is just more of the " punishment " thing, if you don't attend enough meetings, people start shunning you in a sense. JWs seem to think that if you don't attend enough meetings that they have a God given right to punish you for it, by leaving you out of gatherings, not calling to see how you are, etc. just bascially ignoring you. I know, I am inactive and I am really getting it from different ones. Real nice isn't it!
Hope you have success in whatever you choose!
Thanks!
Vita
i have not seen an organization yet that cared more about its mission than about the running and support of the organization itself
inevitably the welfare and growth of the organizaton overwhelms its mission
