by brotherdan 98 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Jesus directed his followers to lose or sacrifice EVERYTHING in order to follow Him.
So, approach the question from the opposite direction: When I stand before the judgement of God, what reasons can I give for STAYING in a religious organization that is actively promoting falsehood? Family? Riches? Social reasons?
Jesus' example was one of putting his Father's will above all of those concerns.
However, my advice would be to do what is right FOR YOU. My advice doesn't jive with Jesus' advice.
Don't stop there Stephen. Spell it all out. You probably believe if people don't believe in YOUR version of Jesus they are going to be tormented forever in hellfire. I hope more people here wake up to the contempt people like you really have for X-JW's and your attempts to recruit people into your cult.
Think About It
And as usual believers in the Bible disagree.....so much for the HG unifying anything
This is great isn't it.
brotherdan ... this is a tough question for me too.
Scriptures that used to mean one thing to me take on a very different meaning now.
Blind man following a blind guide.
"Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for YOU yourselves do not go in, neither do YOU permit those on their way in to go in..
For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man's enemies will be persons of his own household. He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and he that has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me.
Get out of her my people if you do not want to share in her sins.
Scriptures like these make me wonder. As an active witness, preaching, giving the appearance to others that you go along with the teaching, would one not be a hypocrite like the Pharisees?
Along similar lines
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Blessings,
Stephen
Which Jesus...the six versions of the Trinity floating around, or how about the Jesus of the Nestorians and Monophysites or the Jesus of the Oneness followers and the Unitarians and Arians etc. etc. etc........
Take your pick
Otherwise, anyone "conscious" who wanted to be able to live in Christian freedom in the way Jesus and the NT writers actually recommended would be best advised high-tale it out of the Org.
I share the same position.
Was I to have a lot significant family members and friendship in the org, leaving would have been a lot harder than what it is now. But I feel at odds with the organization, I don’t feel free to express my thoughts and feelings about some JW’s position and doctrines, I feel that I need a healthier Christian fellowship and association, and time is too precious to wasted at “broken cisterns” (Jer 2:13) that the KH and assembly halls have turned into. So, I realized that I can’t stay.
Also, I feel a calling in my heart to be of better service to my community and Christian brother and sisters, in the JW organization… my “talents” will be wasted, as I promised myself to never set a foot at the platform/podium again at a KH (not even for reading). I enjoy teaching, I would like to teach the gospel and lead others to Christ; as a JW…that will be almost impossible.
However, I believe that the decision to leave or stay have to be a purely personal. But don’t fool yourself, staying won’t be easy, and you’ll have to give up some of your Christian freedom. Even for the conscious class…staying comes with a price.
As to the salvation of the “conscious class”; this is all I have to say:
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:12, NIV).
brotherdan: Have you already decided what the consequences will be if you're not saved? It seems to me that knowing what the punishment is will help you to determine how important it is to answer your initial question. Eternal Death and Eternal Torment are two very different things. You were dead for millions of years before you were born, and it didn't bother you. However, being alive for millions of years, while being tormented, would be much different.
Agreed.
I was just about to post this so here goes.
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Blessings,
Stephen
Dan, if you are concerned about your salvation, take a look at this passage.
Romans 10:9-13
9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
