JWs do a great job of getting people to deny the things that make them unique. They want you to destory your idenity so that it can replaced with the identity of the group.
A question for those who believe in God and the Bible....
by restrangled 20 Replies latest jw friends
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worldtraveller
Great post!
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Sad emo
Seems, the master wants all of us who were given gifts in any area to use them, which gives back to the "master" and those around us. To bury our gifts and hide them away, has a negative effect on ourselves and the master maker.
Some of us were given more talent than others, but thats ok because we all benefit when it is invested! Think of the great Masters of music, art and the ability to write......We all enjoy and are inspired!
Spot on, restrangled. Now if all those within churches (and JW's too maybe?) used their talents within the body as well - for mutual upbuilding, just think how much different worship would be!
It also comes down to Paul's description of the different members of the body - 'the eye can't say to the ear "I don't need you because you're not an eye"...' when individuals use their individual gifts/talents, the body works properly! This could equally apply to anyone regardless of religion, but who lives in any community/group/team setting.
Unity doesn't always mean uniformity, something the JW org plus a few other groups sometimes miss
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ferret
Great post restrangled I agree with you.
Woody (ferret)
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Qcmbr
Worship can be very enjoyable.
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jaguarbass
II think you make a good point.
So you probaly want to stay out of a church that has 2 or 3 meetings of praise a week and always has some kind of financial crisis going on. Life is a journey full of lessons. Were out of the JW kindergarden now.
Hopefully we can spend the rest of our lifes enjoying the life God gave us.
The reason the Wactower and other religions want their followers to belive the way you describe is, they need workers and we were all recruited at some point to do their dirty work. Now weve seen the light and taken off their heavy yoke.
This life is full of manipulators, our whole society is based on manipulation. The citizens of the United States are all groomed to be consumers, to consume needless products mass produced by multi national corporations that run the United States government.
We spend our days toiling for these overpriced foolish consumer goods and few of us can figure out how to step off the tread mill and relax in the shade of our fig trees.
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whyizit
He didn't make us carbon copies of each other for a reason.
From what I have read in the Bible, He likes relationships. He would like for us to choose to have a relationship with Him. He didn't seem all that keen on "religious" people, with all their rituals and demands.
I have some really cool Christian friends that live it. They don't hammer people with religious crap. They model Christ-like behavior and love. They are the most humble people I've ever met.
They all have special gifts. Artists, equestrians, singers, dancers, speakers, servants to the needy, communicating with kids, helping the poor with heat bills, ....whatever they know or can do, they do it, without any recognition. The only reason I know some of their deeds, is because the recipients of their help have told me.
That's the kind of Christian I desire to be. Not a Pharisee. A friend. I communicate with my Maker as I do with my other friends, and often. I see Him in everything. Using the gifts He gives us is something we want to do. Not something we are guilted in to.
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Junction-Guy
That is why the Watchtower and other extremist groups are sometimes referred to as cults, because they meddle in people's lives and prevent them from using their God given talents.
Most churches allow their members to get an education and to pursue a career, and to develop those talents. -
restrangled
Sad Emo...love this....
Unity doesn't always mean uniformity, something the JW org plus a few other groups sometimes miss
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Maddie
I think you are right, we all have varying degrees of abilities and talents and it is a tragedy that JW's are repressed and made to feel guilty if they want to pursue them. I personally knew a JW who had a wonderful gift of playing the piano but thought it would be vain and conceited to continue so she got rid of her piano. That is very sad IMO.
Maddie