Was there new light with early Christianity?

by purplesofa 3 Replies latest jw friends

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  purplesofa

  When I was studying, I remember my teacher and I talking about the beginning of The Watchtower. She told me about how they celebrated Xmas, smoked, the cross, etc, pyramid stuff. It was laughed off, and how Jehovah was guiding them to keep figuring things out in the way Jehovah wanted them to, cleansing his people and the organization

  Actually, I was ok with that reasoning until the blood issue. When they said it was ok to take fractions. I thought of all the people that were denied what they needed and were faithful and loyal when they needed this information. I thought of the people that did what they thought was right, against the society and were outkast. It was all ok, as they would be rewarded with Jehovah remembering them in paradise.

  The denial of education, playing sports, military, blood transfustions, I don't know, the list goes on and on. How it destroyed peoples lives while they were figuring out the new light. I often wondered how people would feel if they sacrificed something for so long, only to find out the WT was wrong. Of course, now coming to the board, learning and thinking for myself, I am free now to make my own decisions. I always was free to do that, but always with consequences.

  Is there any evidence that this is how things were in the OT, or with early Christians, where they believed something and then kept getting new light or understanding while under Jehovahs direction?

  I know when people were in error they were punished. But I don't see that happening with the direction coming from the FDS. Only the R&F, or those that are blatently apostate.

  Could Jehovah(God) be actually using a group of people in this way?

  I am interested in your comments and ideas as I think we all at one time made excuses for the nonsense of the demands and twisted thinking we were taught. But I would like to add, we all thought we were doing the right thing.

  purps
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  dedpoet

  Hi purps,

  I guess that there was, in a way. The Jews lived under the Law for many centuries
  before the birth of Jesus, who came to,as the scriptures say, fulfil the Law. Once
  he had died, there was no further need for Jewish Christians to adhere to the Law
  code. This would be new light for such ones.

  Could Jehovah(God) be actually using a group of people in this way?

  I don't see how the jws version of "new light" really compares to this. The changes
  they make, like the generation doctrine or the gathering of the anointed, are forced
  on them by circumstances, to save themselves the embarassment of having to
  explain yet another failed prophecy. If god exists, which I personally don't believe,
  he wouldn't be using the watchtower
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  Narkissos

  Good points purps.

  But as far as the Bible is concerned I suspect all Christians believe in something as "new light" (which they usually call "progressive revelation"). At the very least, they construe the New Testament as "new light" over against the Old Testament. Discuss circumcision, sabbath, dietary laws, sacrifices, priesthood with any Christian and the explanation will be strongly reminiscent of the JW "new light". Only Protestants will assume that the process ended with the so-called "apostolic age" -- but it then gave way to the era of infinite "interpretation".
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  purplesofa

  I think part of this process in my thinking is with JW's and Mormans, they both feel like they believe that they are bringing back true Christianity. That Christianity did indeed, become apostate, and now is the time for it to be restored.

  So considering this, would God's "people" not make many mistakes on their path?

  Does the organization need to have all the correct answers as they are learning.

  Dedpoet

  The changes
  they make, like the generation doctrine or the gathering of the anointed, are forced
  on them by circumstances, to save themselves the embarassment of having to
  explain yet another failed prophecy.

  I suppose this is the best arguement that would proove the WT is not that organization. But even when Christ was on Earth, he was looked over as the Messiah.

  How is Linda? Send hugs to her from me please.

  purps