What difference does it make?

by JeffT 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  JeffT

  Looking at the thread on dates for the Big-A reminded me that I've wanted to ask this question of a JW. Sometime one's going to come to my door and go on their thing about how we get to live in Paradise and it's coming soon etc. So my question is: What difference does it make when it gets here? If you found out is 1000 years off would you change something? If so what and why? Same question if you knew for sure it was tomorrow. As Christians (or for that matter anybody else) isn't it the important thing to live the best life you can?

  As Blondie likes to point out, they say the issue is "universal sovereignty of Jehovah" but their litereature stresses the reward of living forever, not the reward of knowing you did the right thing.

  Your thoughts?
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  jaguarbass

  As Blondie likes to point out, they say the issue is "universal sovereignty of Jehovah" but their litereature stresses the reward of living forever, not the reward of knowing you did the right thing.

  Your thoughts?

  It sounds like a bait and switch con game to me.
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  Honesty

  The JW Paradise appeals to people because it gives them a sense of superiority... they have some inside 4-11 from the Watchtower god that no one else has.

  They can play with some really BIG animals and eat some really BIG fruit and have a really GREAT marriage... if they don't die before the BIG A and Paradise.

  That's why they get a firm grip on the unreal life the cult holds out to them.
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  Guest with Questions

  As a Christian I’ve never understood the JW thinking regarding Armageddon. (though I admit that I was scared for a period of time in my 20's when my parents talked about it - 1975)

  I know that some in my church say the possibility exists that the end could come soon but we don’t know when and Jesus said that we wouldn’t know. It could be in 10 yrs or it could be 50 yrs, though I do feel that the Jews going back to their homeland in 1948 is significant.

  I feel that as long as I’m doing Gods’ will and try to live a decent life I’m not going to be concerned about it. My own life will end eventually and that is what I need to focus on. JW’s beliefs are based solely on fear. With Jesus there should be no fear.
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  zack

  Jeff,

  As an elder, I would ask the very same question from the platform. What are you going to do any differently the day AFTER Arnageddon that you weren't doing the day BEFORE? God will still be God and his expectations will still be the same, etc.....

  The emphasis on the "end" is just a tool of fear. JW's aren't taught to LOVE God, they are taught to be afraid of Him. His judgement is something they need to escape, rather than something to welcome. Doing good is a not reward in itself, but rather the means to a reward: ESCAPE. This is a selfish religion based on survival so far alainated from the love of God that they are pathetic. I feel sorry for the average dub. Their leaders know better.
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  Open mind

  This is one thing my dub-Dad had right even back in the insanity of the early 70's. He would say, "Would you still serve Jehovah if you were Abraham? Or his 5th cousin?" That's the key. The hope that we might actually live through the Big-A is just icing on the cake. We should be serving Jehober because we love him. Period. Dad never fully bought into the 1975 hysteria and I'm not sure why. Maybe he was thinking about 1914, 1925, Beth Sarim, etc. He's still hard core dub-loyal though.

  Anyway, to answer your question, it would make a difference short term if you KNEW the Big-A was coming in 6 months. Then it would make sense to sell your assets and move where the "need is great" so as save a few more souls from Genocidal Sky God. And in the process, you'd be showing Sky God that you were 100% on board with his wholesale plan of slaughter, thus increasing your chances of squeaking through the Big-A.

  It all makes perfect sense when you KNOW it's coming by October 1975. See?

  Open Mind
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  Undecided

  Where in the bible, especially in the Hebrew scriptures does it seem that love of God is the main trait of worshipers rather than fear of him. How can you love someone who says if you don't follow my every whim I will kill you. An example, eating a piece of fruit means you will die and everyone of your children will too. It's kind of hard to love someone like that.

  And what about Christendom and their hell fire forever deal? The way religion protrays God doesn't make him seem a God of love. I'm beginning to wonder if religion isn't a bad thing for God's image.

  Ken P.
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  choosing life

  I got so tired of the Witneses saying the new system was just around the corner. I finally started asking them, Do you really think so? Always got a sideways look and the conversation stopped there.

  It is kinda like a mantra for them. The more times they say it, the better. I think they are trying to convince themselves sometimes. To even question it makes them very uncomfortable.