Folks, SO what, I believe it and it really works for me thus I dissent.
1.) My wife and I have never gotten along better than we do now since becoming Baptists and by orders of magnitude.
2.) I have 100’s of friendly friends
3.) that don’t spy on me in book stores or the library in case I pick up a Christian book by another religion.
4.) My son has a dozen friends his exact age and over a hundred nice kids in the youth group. In five years in the WT he had 1 friend visit per year on average.
5.) My disabled wife gets out of the house to do crafts with other people.
6.) My wife makes things for people in need - she was always giving, now she is in a group that lets her do this.
7.) I am free to study ANY religious material without restriction.
8.) I go to Catholic Mass or Synagogue whenever I want to and there are no “Elders” committees to answer to for it.
9.) We go to weekly dinners.
10.) I go to a weekly men’s breakfast and can do a devotion on my choice of subjects.
11.) I go to a monthly Men’s dinner where we discuss projects we choose to do.
12.) Last year The Men’s group hosted “Let’s have a ball where we set up games and gave out hundreds of balls of all types free.
13.) My son goes on outings such as one where he hung by ropes and stuff.
14.) My son goes to basketball camps put on by Church members that can play.
15.) My son goes to monthly Christian Roller Skate nights with hundreds of other kids.
16.) My son can go to summer camps, college, professional sports, the music industry, into the military - our choice.
17.) My son is getting Bible study - not indoctrination.
18.) Our Pastor goes to Presbyterian services on Saturday evenings.
19.) I go to any other Church, any time, for any function with impunity.
20.) I feel I can trust people again.
21.) I am respected.
22.) I am loved as I am and actually really feel loved.
23.) I do not have guilt over sin. Guilt would actually tell me that I am not putting full faith in Jesus payment for my sins.
24.) Christianity is a relationship with a person.
25.) Religion is based on rules and procedures.
26.) God is OK with procedures if they make you feel closer to him.
27.) God is real and interested in me.
28.) Jesus is real and I know I feel his presence.
29.) I can choose which discipleship class I want in any subject offered.
30.) I can request a class on another subject and can lead the class myself.
31.) I sing in a men’s quartet where one of our ladies (She sang in Carnegie Hall) plays for and teaches us.
32.) I can choose to sing in a choir, play in the band, why is the WT against that?.
33.) I can do holidays or not.
34.) I believe in defending my country and my fellow man.
35.) I am allowed to tell my politicians that I am displeased and to do it differently.
36.) I can choose to sing on stage and choose any song of tens of thousands in the sacred music genre.
37.) We have a family of hundreds of people that I feel a part of.
38.) I can go to Church in sneakers and jeans with a tee shirt and do.
39.) I can go to church in a suit and tie and do.
40.) The ladies have “Cinderella’s Closet” where they give away dresses, shoes, accessories for prom and hair dress and makeup the girls.
41.) I no longer see the world in the black and white world of the Watchtower. Saying that means one is still seeing me through that set of eyes.
42.) I know the WT religion better than 99 % of JWs and can disprove ALL their major doctrines.
43.) Watchtower doctrine creates contradictions.
44.) Watchtower doctrine is based on proven editorial dishonesty.
45.) Watchtower doctrine is arbitrary.
46.) The New World Translation is corrupt and dishonest and I can prove it.
47.) I am not told weekly that I am in the “truth” and destruction otherwise.
48.) The Baptists organize to support charity not to control members.
49.) I am not feared into feeling like a “Bad little boy.”
50. The Watchtower religion is the antithesis of Biblical Christianity thus I don’t have any of the same old JW religious stuff in a different name.
51.) Christmas is not a pagan holiday because Jesus is not a pagan deity.
52.) Jesus was not born on Dec 25 but the Magi did visit Jesus on Dec 25 (See bethlehemstar.net for that).
53.) The Romans knew the solstice to the day (Stonehenge like) Christmas is several days later.
54.) Where’s the love in leaving children in every port of call to fend for themselves?
55.) Saying there are no absolutes requires absolutes.
56.) Having other moral codes requires a code giver usually not ourselves even though we think so.
57.) Saying there are no superior ideas is a superior idea.
58.) I am not required to have perfect doctrine or much doctrine to get salvation.
59.) Accurate knowledge that changes?
60.) Accurate knowledge gaining to get saved is against Jesus own statement.
61.) Jesus did not say that it was within OURSELVES to know how to predict outcomes, it was within HIMSELF.
62.) If I move, I will choose to go to any Church of any denomination which works for my family.
I am really happy in my local family of Christians whichever Church they attend. I have friends in many denominations. Baptist dribble is based on thousands of scriptures listed in The Baptist faith and Message which has very limited explanatory notes. I fear nobody and nothing because I fear only God.
What’s to not like?
Witches, homosexuals, evolutionists, atheists, liars, thieves, are always trying to force others into their mold to be what they are. That is not free. And those groups have progressively and intentionally altered society to allow their ideas but not Christian’s ideas. Those type of people are bullies and I really don’t like bullies. I will pray for you and your happiness.
Blessings,
Paul
