When I was growing up as a "devout" JW's I ran into countless of Born-Again Christians(BACs) that would tell me I was going to hell, I was in a "cult", JW's were the "Anti-Christ" the WTS was "Satanic" and we were going to burn in the lake of fire for all eternity. Can you imagine how I felt as a JW's working at a place with 10 BACs telling me this at lunch time. But still I would treat them nice and play cards with them and never openly judge them. I was abit liberal even though I strongly believed JW's and the WTS were Jehovah's organization I just felt that telling people they were doomed was wrong. But now although I am no longer one of JW's since DA'd in the 90's I have been on somewhat of a "crusude" for people of all religions taking their power back and gaining their own independence away from the church or religion. I just cannot stand to see people act like "zombies" for the minister/pastor/priest/spiritual leader. These people or not Jehovah and Jesus who are the only judges we have. I believe(and I could be wrong it is only my interpretation) that Jehovah and Jesus looks at a person's heart and not their religion. But every time I tell born-again christians about the faults on the part of the born-again churches they always shout "Booker why are you attacking us" I just can't figure this accusation out. Born-Agains did not think twice about sending be to hell when I was a JW because I did not believe in the BAC's way but now that I speak up for myself they feel that I am "attacking" them. I remember when I was associated with a Church of Christ after I left the JW's and the COC promised me that "tithing" was not a big thing to them and they did not care if their members tithed or not. So I started attending the church and no sooner had I went to about 3 church services they wanted to know how much money I made so they could figure 10% of my yearly salary. When I asked one of the pastors why did they lie to me about not caring about Tithing he got angry at me and told me that the Bible says you have to tithe. I did not have a problem with giving money I even gave as a JW's but I did not like it the way they lied about it. And when I stood up for myself they got very angry at me. I told them that I would not give the church any money because they lied. And they all but told me not to come back. Every time you mention to a born-again christian about all of the dirt that goes on in some of the churches they will generally say "those are isolated cases". My question to posters out there is are Born-Again Christians a "controlling group" like the JW's and don't want you to have your independence?
I have been told by "born-again christians" Booker, why do you attack BACs
by booker-t 11 Replies latest jw friends
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booker-t
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darkuncle29
My question to posters out there is are Born-Again Christians a "controlling group" like the JW's and don't want you to have your independence?
In essence, yes, but that is a very severe oversimplification.
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Undecided
Old J.F. Rutherford had one thing right, "religion is a snare and a racket". Of course some people fit right in and actually enjoy themselves there. I usually let them alone if they don't bother me.
Ken P.
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Stephanus
Maybe you should stick to wrestling...
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jwfacts
Born Agains is a broad term as there are many different types of group that claim to be Born Again. However, the Evangelical type of Born Again can be cult like and are listed as such on many sites.
A friend I worked with was raised a Born Again. His experience leaving the Church was very similar to that experienced by JWs. He is now shunned by his family, a clear indicator it is a cult.
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El Kabong
BAC's and JW's.
I went to a few charasmatic born again churches after leaving the Witnesses.
It just reminded me of the last line from the song by the Who..."We won't get Fooled Again..."
"Meet the new boss....Same as the old boss..." -
parakeet
***"Booker why are you attacking us" I just can't figure this accusation out. Born-Agains did not think twice about sending be to hell when I was a JW because I did not believe in the BAC's way***
Looks like the JWs don't hold the copyright when it comes to intolerance.
***My question to posters out there is are Born-Again Christians a "controlling group" like the JW's and don't want you to have your independence?***
I think it depends on the group--there's a huge variety of belief with BACs. Some are just as controlling as the JWs; some are not. I find it ironic that the JWs I know who left the WTS to become BACs, they were the most rabid, hellfire-spittin' BACs I ever saw. They just transferred their craziness from one religion to another. -
jaffacake
The term born-again covers a broad range of people and beliefs. The fundamentalist born agains are unwittingly quite unChristian, due to there incorrect over literal interpretations of scriptures.
Similarly, most Christians who describe themselves as Bible-based do not realise that they are quite the opposite, and are possibly almost as mistaken as JWs about what the Bible actually teaches.
Many Christians consider themselves to be born again, because Christ clearly thought it so important to be born again. But that does not mean all born again Christians are judgemental like the ones you describe.
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jaffacake
The term born-again covers a broad range of people and beliefs. The fundamentalist born agains may be unwittingly quite unChristian, due to there incorrect over literal interpretations of scriptures.
Similarly, most Christians who describe themselves as Bible-based do not realise that they are quite the opposite, and are possibly almost as mistaken as JWs about what the Bible actually teaches.
Many Christians consider themselves to be born again, because Christ clearly thought it so important to be born again. But that does not mean all born again Christians are judgemental like the ones you describe.
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kojo
To me, being born-again was a personal thing that happened to me when I was younger. I found myself crying out to God one night,not really sure if He listened or cared, and after getting to the point where I couldn't cry anymore I felt this awesome presence and peace come over me that took all fear and sorrow away. I have never once doubted the reality or love of God since. I later realized this is what many would call a born-again experience.
Since then I have attended many different denominational, non-denominational, home Bible studies, and evangelical churches and found them to be a mixture of good things and bad things disguised as good things. The bigger churches seemed less personal and more driven by ego than by the Holy Spirit. And if you arent married with two and a half children and successful in business it seems you are cast aside and isolated in many churches because they are more about image then caring about people "outside the box".
I love worship with music and instruments and the freedom to express yourself within a church but even this seemed coerced and hyped in many places I attended. And years of going to places like this I saw that almost everyone had skeletons in their closet and secret struggles they couldnt talk about because the atmosphere was one of having to be "warriors for God" all the time and blaming the devil for everything. Anytime someone struggled with anything physical they'd say "its a demonic attack" instead of looking at their poor eating habits,lack of exercise, etc. Everything wrong that would happen to a Christian was caused by the devil or a demon. There seemed to be no acknowledgement that maybe just maybe they caused their own problems or that bad things happen to all people at some point,doesnt make you special.
Anyway, I have come away from my experiences with a lot of wisdom,learning to separate the wheat from the tares. I share a lot of evangelical beliefs ,especially in the Holy Spirit and the resurrection power of Christ but I want to leave any self-righteousness, celebrity preachers, idolization of church or ministers, lack of honesty,inability to confess humaness and weaknesses, etc. Trying to use a fear of hell to get people to convert seems like the wrong reason to come to God. Love should be first and foremost , without that any religion or belief is just a clanging cymbal,all noise ,no substance.