SC,
I was baptised in Jan of 1969. I left in 1993. I am well familiar with the truth book. I used it for years.
So, yes I know about their teaching but the WTS is just a "man" trying to teach the Bible to people.
Oh, so very true; it is men's conscience that controls the WT. The WT usurps the position of Jesus Christ and does not understand the action of the Holy Spirit upon the Christian.
I go to the kingdom hall on Sundays sometimes, but I feel that they are just repeating what is in the WT mag...
So very true again SC. JWs are kept repeatedly in the 3rd grade spiritually every year and they never grow up in Christ. What they learned in their first two years, they repeat decades afterwards. They never reach the breath and depth because they follow the conscience of men.
...and is it really in their hearts to love Jehovah and His kingdom? I have found love not to be in JWs, like most of this board have found.
Absolutely yes, if I were to got to a Sunday meeting, very little real learning would be there about the Bible, and any extension of love would not allow real familiarity of the inner person. The concentration of the lesson and talk would be about the churches, the WT, some moralizing, and so forth. It is a place to learn to hate everything not of the WT.
But, I feel also that we are incapable of the love like in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
These scriptures on love are the very prime movers that allowed me make a decision to quit the WT. I have found the application [to any real extent] of these scriptures to be possible only with the help of the Holy Spirit in a person's life, which the WT does not teach about, as such. This is when we are to forgive one another, in love; and also ask and receive forgiveness from the Father, and also forgive ourselves.
I have found in this world that there is not love for women like there is for men.
SC, the WT view of love for whomever is twisted. The world's view of women is sick. The love a women should really appreciate is that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All else misses the mark. This love is one that provides the "peace of God that excells all thought. In the WT there is never this type peace.
The love shared with a Christian spouse is a wonderful thing, as well as tough road that becomes less rocky as the two develop in Christ together. People in the WT are not taught a relationship with Christ. This is only for their 144,000, which also have not found Christ, so it seems.
SC, I see you as in a state of transistion. You are bored, tired, and disgusted with the things heard and the general association at the WT. Their Bible food has become tasteless like cardboard. The WT says you have no place to go. Well, you don't go anywhere, except to escape and then grow-up in Christ. This is a difficult transformation for many. But the result brings real joy and peace and love.
I suggest to start with studying what the Body Of Christ is and what the relationship between Jesus, his Father, and the Holy Spirit is, and finding out who a Christian is in their relationship with Christ.
Do not use the WT literature; but rather, use a non-witness Bible and go to Bible reference volumes at a library. Also pray for the H.S. to open up your mind and help you see what there is to realize and know. Then you will start to know the "freedom in Christ" that you may have.
Email me if you like, and I will send you the scriptures that explain a Christian's position in Christ. These scriptures are a real eye opener.