Branding others "APOSTATE"

by Bill Parker 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  Bill Parker

  This is a term that is used quite frequently today. A very hurtfull expression to say the least! One own wife directed at me bofore she left. Of course it gave her a solid reason for doing so or did it?
  For myself I would be deathly afraid to use such an expression. Why? If we identify ourselves as "CHRISTIAN" should we not very carefully apply all of God's commandments in our lives? If we profess to love Jehovah and we know our Bible we know that 1 John 5:2,3 tells us :"This is what the love of God Means by loving God and carrying out His commandments"

  Looking now at one of those commandments in Titus 3:1 we are commanded "to slander no one". Then in Colossians 3:8 we are instructed: "you must rid yourselves of all such things as these anger,rage, mallice,SLANDER"... Then in Colossians 3:8 we read this:"Let your conversation be always full of grace seasoned with salt". We know that salt adds a pleasant taste to many foods. So should not our words be palatable to those listening to us? How long are they going to listen if they are not? Not long eh?

  Jesus words at Matthew 12:36 should serve as a caution for all who use expressions like "FILTHY APOSTATE" At Matthew 12:36 He tells us: "I tell you that men (or women) will have to give an account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken" One other consideration are Jesus words at Luke 17: 1-3 "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks should come but woe to him through whom they come. It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that he should cause one of these littlo ones to stumble" That statement should be enough to smarten anyone up!

  The early Christians were empowered by God to read the heart.Acts 5:1-10 shows this to be true. When the gifts of the spirit ceased so did that particular ability! No one today can read the heart as the early Christians could. So one knows what is really in the heart of any induividual. To term someone else an Apostate is actually saying without saying it "We can read the heart just as Jehovah and His Son can". That is tantamount to "sitting down in the Temple of God professing to be God" That is characteristic of the "Man of Lawlessness" and I might add his followers.

  So good reason to stop using expressions like "APOSTATE" or "FILTHY APOSTATE" Time to start behaving like Christians is it not?
• 

  JT

  Welcome to the board and you post is so correct. but this is the problem. When you have "Belief Systems" be they christian, muslim, buddist, etc. that step forward on the world scene and proclaim themselves as the "Only Way of Salvation" then by DEFAULT the believers in that system are left only with the choice of "Looking" down on those who don't share thier belief- It's no fault of thiers

  it's just the way any Belief System works, esp ones that envoke some type of Special connection with the "gods"

  very few beleivers feel that their way is Wrong- as the WT often has stated "If we believed someone else had the Truth we would be apart of that group"

  and for the most part that is what any real "Believer" is left with

  Why would a Catholic who sincerely believes that the Pope is Jesus right hand man - turn around and say you can be a good Baptist and still be ok

  it's true you have believers who don't want to hurt other folks feeling so they "WATER Down" thier outward attitude toward others by saying WE ALL ARE ON DIFFERENT ROADS

  well that sounds good IN PRINT but the reality is some religions teach 180 Degree opposite Dogmas - so much for being on different roads leading to the same place.

  I asked a guy once who was trying to sell me that Theory-

  If the both of us are planning to go to Disney World in FL and we ask for directions for 2 different folks here in Washington DC

  one guy tells me to take Interstate 95 South and a guy tells you to take 95 North-

  after about 2days of driving and you are almost in Maine and I'm heading thru GA- would you feel that you have spent 2days of gas, hotel money and time on just a Different Road heading to Disney
  He!! no you would be Pi$$ off.

  so i never really bought into the "Different Road" theory when the roads clearly were heading in diffent directions.

  so while i agree with you 100% there should be no name calling a belief system by Default must setup a set of rules and then see who follows those rules so that there can be declare a Wicked person and a rightoues person based on those rules

  it is the nature of having Belief Systems that supposely get thier Info from "God"

  james

  as they say :"It's the nature of the beast"
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  Bill Parker

  Hi J.T.
  I was directing my comments solely at those who claim to know their God Jehovah and His word the Bible. There are those within that organization who may have as yet little knowledge. Others have varying degrees of knowledge. Still others have a great deal. They already know that conduct the like of which I spoke of is condemned in the Bible. Yet they continue doing it. There is no excuse at all for that. What did the Apostle James say about this type of thing? At James 4:17 we are informed:"Everyone who knows what is the right thing to do and doesn't do it commits a sin" Bill Parker
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  cyberguy

  Some good points here Bill!

  The Society views anyone who disagrees with whatever its latest teachings are, an apostate! It uses Society-speak with words like "apostate" to put fear into the ranks (CO's like to use this word throughout their talks to add bluster to some very tiered speeches), to prevent anyone questioning anything the Society says or does. Is this hypocritical based on what the Bible actually teaches? You bet! With regard to your wife leaving you because she claims you've gone "apostate"-- just where is the scriptural support for that view? Even the Society's regrettable comments in some of its literature, about a mate having the right to separate if she sees her spirituality threatened, was probably not meant as an excuse for ending a marriage (unless you prevented her from going to the KH or something like that).

  Thanks for you posts…
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  Bill Parker

  Hi Cyberguy!
  You know there were many times when I tried talking to my wife about things I knew the Society was teaching that were not in harmony with the Bible she would put her hands over both ears. In twenty one years we only studied one Watchtower together. I used to incorporate other scriptures into the study. I guess I should not have done that. That almost started a mini riot. That first and only study ended very badly.
  This idea of not listenening to another person if it occured in the first century would have been a slap in the face to Jehovah.I make reference now to Corinthians where it talks about different one's being given a revelation. We know that Jehovah is "not partial". We also know that both classes were there in the first century. So it was not just to the heavenly calling that he gave those revelations to. In the Revelation by John some three times the words: "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations". Open your mouth today and your told as I was: "Keep your opinions to yourself". No one today "has an ear". Those words would be carved on the tombstone of the one who uttered them. If he were to have a tombstone that is! Perhaps this is why we reach a certain plateau of knowledge and then it stops. They will not allow Jehovahs Spirit to work in the various congregations around the world. That is why they are forever changing teachings back and forth until it becomes very confusing. I was told one time "who do you think you are". Can you imagine that kind of statement being made in the first century during a meeting when some little no account stood up with a revelation? Would not that have been a slap in the face to Jehovah? Has Jehovah now changed? I do not think so. I do not believe that you do either. Thank for replying to my post. Bill Parker