It was in response to some things I and others posted about holidays, etc. I don't know where he's an elder, but times have sure changed. I need some quotes from recent articles ASAP. I only answer JW's on that board with quotes from their own literature. Opinion and past experience does no good with these people. Are there recent articles about Internet use? Going to college? HELP???
mimric I have NEVER posted on this site but I have followed for 5yrs and I think its time because of this last post. it burns me when people say as Jehovahs witnesses we dont have fun becaues we dont celebrate holidays like thats the ONLY way you can have fun. I am one of Jehovah"s witnesses and have been since 91 Im 36, I listen to oldsckool hip hop mostly, rock, r&b, reggae etc, I travel, been to six flags in most of the states, go camping, I have probably been to more get togethers than most none witnesses on this site and not just gatherings for witnesses. Im an elder in my congregation and every1 in my congregation knows how I live no secrets. All this garbage about not using the internet and just dealing with witnesses is what it is garbage. I have NEVER heard or read such crap. I have been around witnesses all my life not saying there are not UNBALANCED people in the organization but as a whole that is not how we are. i also have two gay brother in laws that i deal with regularly like they are family. That is for the ones who want to go there. All in all I have much fun with the witnesses and with out I just keep everything in perspective and balanced, like I said its not much my congregation doesnt know about me and Im an elder. One more thing I have a wife and 3 children all baptized of there own will never asked them they came to us and they all are well rounded go to public school, I dont beleive in home schooling, honor students etc. They will also got to school after highschool if thats their choice nowhere has the organization said dont send your children to school. Just my thoughts
An elder just wrote this on the "Prince" board...
by Tatiana 41 Replies latest jw friends
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Tatiana
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Jim_TX
Well, I don't have any quotes for you... but I think I would answer it with something like...
"Just my thoughts"
Exactly! Just your thoughts. Not your organizations'.
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sherah
Here's one on education.
*** w92 11/1 p. 20 pars. 17-18 Education With a Purpose ***
17 If Christian parents responsibly decide to provide their children with further education after high school, that is their prerogative. The period of these studies would vary according to the type of trade or occupation selected. For financial reasons and in order to enable their children to get into the full-time service as quickly as possible, many Christian parents have chosen for them short-term study programs in vocational or technical schools. In some cases youths have needed to be apprenticed to some trade but always with a full life of service to Jehovah as the goal.
18 If additional courses are taken, certainly the motive should not be to shine scholastically or to carve out a prestigious worldly career. Courses should be chosen with care. This magazine has placed emphasis on the dangers of higher learning, and justifiably so, for much higher education opposes the "healthful teaching" of the Bible. (Titus 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:20, 21) Further, since the 1960’s, many schools of advanced learning have become hotbeds of lawlessness and immorality. "The faithful and discreet slave" has strongly discouraged entering that kind of environment. (Matthew 24:12, 45) It must be admitted, however, that nowadays youngsters meet up with these same dangers in high schools and technical colleges and even in the workplace.--1 John 5:19. -
sherah
Here's one on the internet.
7/07 KM:
Question Box
What are the dangers of using the Internet to associate with someone we do not know?
A number of Web sites have been designed for people to meet and correspond over the Internet. Many of these sites allow individuals to create and post their own profile, which may include pictures and other personal information. People who view the profile can then make contact. Such Web sites are very popular among young people, and some youths in the congregation have used them to interact with others who claim to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.
It is easy for a person whom we meet over the Internet to be deceptive about his identity, his spirituality, or his motives. (Ps. 26:4) An individual claiming to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses may actually be an unbeliever, a disfellowshipped person, or even an active apostate. (Gal. 2:4) Reportedly, many pedophiles use such Web sites to find their victims.
Even if we are convinced that those with whom we are corresponding are in good standing in the congregation, conversations in such a setting can easily drift toward unwholesome material. This is because people tend to be less inhibited with individuals they have not met personally. They may also view online communication as private and feel that whatever they say will not come to the attention of others, such as their parents or the elders. Sadly, a number of youths from Christian households have been ensnared and have become involved in obscene speech. (Eph. 5:3, 4; Col. 3:8) Others have included sexually provocative pictures of themselves, suggestive nicknames, or links to sexually explicit music videos in their computer profile.
In view of the foregoing, parents should monitor their children’s activity on the computer. (Prov. 29:15) It would be dangerous to invite a stranger into our home or to allow him to be alone with our children. Similarly, it is dangerous for us or our children to make friends with strangers over the Internet, even if they claim to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.—Prov. 22:3.
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sherah
Here some more on the evil innanets!
Watchtower '04 - 15th Feb"How can we guard against being deceived by apostates? By heeding the advice from God’s Word, which says: “Keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17) We “avoid them” by steering clear of their reasonings—whether in person, in printed form, or on the Internet."Watchtower '04 - 15th Sept"Seeds of doubt can be sown by the media, through the Internet, and by modern-day apostates."Watchtower '06 - 15th Jan
"Because of listening to the Devil and not rejecting his lies, the first human pair apostatized. So, then, should we listen to apostates, read their literature, or examine their Web sites on the Internet? If we love God and the truth, we will not do so. We should not allow apostates into our homes or even greet them, for such actions would make us ‘sharers in their wicked works.’ (2 John 9-11) May we never succumb to the Devil’s wiles by abandoning the Christian “path of truth” to follow false teachers who seek to “introduce ruinous ideologies” and try to ‘exploit us with well-turned phrases.’—2 Peter 2:1-3."Watchtower '06 - 15th Sept"We ought to keep far away from all immoral influences, whether they come through music, entertainment, the Internet, or books and magazines."
Watchtower '08 - 15th Feb"...snares still claim victims among God’s people. For example, the click of a mouse at a computer in the privacy of one’s own home may be all that a curious or unwary person needs to ruin his good conscience. How sad it would be if a Christian were to be enticed by Internet pornography!"
Watchtower '08- 15th Dec
"At Psalm 101:3, we find David’s words: “I shall not set in front of my eyes any good-for-nothing thing.” There are many opportunities today to set in front of our eyes good-for-nothing things, particularly when we are alone. Access to the Internet has presented many with a challenge in this regard. It is easy to be lured into looking at suggestive, even pornographic, material. But is doing so an act of obedience to the God who inspired David to pen those words? Pornography is harmful, for it inflames wrong and greedy desires, damages the conscience, erodes marriages, and degrades everyone involved."
'GOD'S LOVE' book'08
"You can also absorb that evil spirit through objectionable literature, pornographic or apostate Internet sites, unwholesome entertainment, and highly competitive sports—really, through anyone or anything that conveys the thinking of Satan or his system."
'TEACHER' book '03
"Where do people learn a lot about violence and improper sex and spirits and ghosts?— Isn’t it from watching certain television shows and movies, playing computer and video games, going on the Internet, and reading comic books? Does doing these things bring us closer to God or closer to the Devil and his demons?"
Kingdom Ministry Sept '02
"Bear in mind that our heavenly Father has an appointed channel of communication, “the faithful and discreet slave.” That “slave” has the responsibility to determine what information is made available to the household of faith, as well as “the proper time” for it to be dispensed. This spiritual food is available only through the theocratic organization. We should always look to God’s appointed channel for reliable information, not to a network of Internet users.—Matt. 24:45."
Kingdom Ministry Jan '03
"Being surrounded by Satan’s world, we must exercise self-discipline, avoiding anything that could contaminate our mind or corrupt our heart. (Prov. 4:23; Matt. 5:29, 30) Christians are admonished that they “cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and the table of demons.” (1 Cor. 10:21) This requires that we guard against unwholesome entertainment, bad associations, and dangers on the Internet. It also calls for our shunning apostate material." -
baltar447
I call "California Witness" on this guy.
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elderelite
***
w0111/1p.6SafeguardYourConscience***
Much popular music also corrupts the conscience. A singer whose songs have shot to the top of the charts in a number of Western lands makes “a special effort to shock,” warns a report in the Australian newspaper TheSundayMail. The article states that “his songs glorify drugs, incest and rape” and that he “sings about killing his wife and throwing her body in a lake.” Other lyrics mentioned are too vile to be repeated here. Yet, his music earned him a prestigious award. Would you like to sow in your mind and heart such noxious thoughts as those mentioned above, even if they are sugarcoated with music? Hopefully not, for those who act in such a way defile their conscience and ultimately create within themselves “a wicked heart,” turning them into enemies of God.—Hebrews 3:12; Matthew 12:33-35
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***
So it seems that there are benefits that can be attributed to the power of music. However, there is the danger that corrupt or greedy people may use the power of music as a deadly tool. Some studies have shown direct links between antisocial behavior and certain types of music.
In support of such claims, PsychologyofWomenQuarterly reports: “There is some evidence to suggest that viewing rock videos has the same effect as viewing pornography in that men who were shown violent rock videos expressed more calloused and antagonistic attitudes toward women than did men who were shown nonviolent rock videos.”
This effect is not limited to men. Women can also be affected. That same report adds: “Men and women alike may begin to accept the negative messages these songs present concerning women’s lack of worth.”
The journal SexRoles agrees with this conclusion, stating: “A recent study . . . found the combination of being from an unsatisfactory family environment and having had heavy exposure to music videos was significantly associated with sexually permissive attitudes and behavior among adolescent females.” The graphic violence and sexually explicit lyrics of some rap music caused one U.S. district judge to rule that a certain rap album was “obscene by community standards.”
Was the judge being extreme? By no means! The journal Adolescence reached the conclusion that “both the adolescents and their parents report significantly more turmoil in the lives of the adolescents who listen to heavy metal and rap.” Such turmoil is linked with “aggressive and destructive behaviors” and low academic achievement.
***
THE capacity to enjoy melody and harmony appears to be programmed into all of us. And for many youths, music is a must-have. “I can’t live without it,” says 21-year-old Amber. “My music is almost always playing—even when I’m cleaning, cooking, running errands, or studying.”
Rhythm may be based on simple math, but music transcends cold logic and taps straight into our core emotions. Just as “a word at its right time is O how good!” a song at the right time can be so consoling! (Proverbs 15:23) “Sometimes you think that no one else understands your feelings,” says 16-year-old Jessica. “But when I listen to my favorite band, I know I’m not the only one who gets depressed.”
Battleground
orCommonGround?
While you no doubt love your music, your parents may have a different viewpoint. “My dad says, ‘Turn off that noise! It’s hurting my ears!’” comments one teenage boy. Tired of the hassle, you may feel that your parents are making a big deal out of nothing. “What about when they were young?” argues one teenage girl. “Didn’t their parents think their music was bad?” Ingred, 16, complains: “Adults seem to be stuck in the past. It would be great if they recognized that our generation has some taste in music too!”
Ingred has a point. As you may know, throughout history, older and younger generations have tended to clash over matters of personal taste. But such differences don’t mean that the subject of music must always become a battleground. The key is to see if you can find some common ground with your parents. If your parents respect the Bible, you have a real advantage. Why? Because God’s Word can help both you and your parents to discern what is definitely unacceptable and where there is room for personal taste. To do this, you need to analyze two key factors: (1) the message of the music you listen to and (2) the amount of music you listen to. First, let’s consider the question . . .
What
IstheMessageofMyMusic?
Music is like food. The right type in the right amount is good for you. The wrong type in any amount is bad. Unfortunately, with music it’s the bad stuff that can be the most appealing. “Why do all the good tunes get saved for the really ugly lyrics?” laments a youth named Steve.
If you love the sound, does the message really matter? To help answer that question, ask yourself: ‘If someone wanted to make me swallow poison, how would they coax me into taking it? Would they dip it in vinegar or coat it with candy?’ The faithful man Job asked: “Does not the ear itself test out words as the palate tastes food?” (Job 12:11) So rather than just swallowing a song because you like its beat or melody—the candy coating, so to speak—‘test out the words’ by considering the title and the lyrics. Why? Because the lyrics embedded in the music will affect your thinking and attitudes.
Regrettably, a great deal of today’s most innovative music features lyrics that promote sex, violence, and drug abuse. If you don’t feel that listening to such lyrics affects you, then you’ve already started to succumb to the “poison.”
Think
forYourself
Your peers may put tremendous pressure on you to listen to degrading music. There’s also pressure from the music industry itself. With the help of radio, the Internet, and television, music has become a powerful, multibillion-dollar industry. High-powered marketing experts are hired to shape and control your taste in music.
But when you let your peers or the media dictate what you listen to, you lose your power of choice. You become a mindless slave. (Romans 6:16) The Bible urges you to resist the world’s influence in such matters. (Romans 12:2) So you would do well to train your own “perceptive powers . . . to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:14) How can you use your perceptive powers when choosing music? Consider the following suggestions:
Examine
thepackaging. Often, one look at the packaging or promotional material is enough to determine the content. Violent, sexually explicit, or occult images should be a warning. The music inside is probably objectionable too.Check
outthelyrics. What is being said? Do you really want to listen to or repeat those ideas over and over again? Are the thoughts expressed in harmony with your values and with Christian principles?—Ephesians 5:3-5.Notice
theeffect. “I found that a lot of the music and lyrics I listened to made me depressed,” says a youth named Philip. Granted, music may affect people in different ways. But what mood does your music nurture in you? Ask yourself: ‘Do I find myself dwelling on wrong thoughts after hearing the music or the lyrics? Are slang expressions that are used in the music starting to creep into my vocabulary?’—1 Corinthians 15:33.Consider
others. How do your parents feel about your music? Ask them for their opinion. Think, too, of how fellow Christians might feel. Would some be disturbed by your music? The ability to modify your behavior out of respect for the feelings of others is a sign of maturity.—Romans 15:1, 2.By asking yourself the above questions, you will be in a position to choose music that stirs your spirit without killing your spirituality. But there’s one more factor to consider.
How
MuchIsTooMuch?
Good music, like good food, can be healthful. However, a wise proverb warns: “Is it honey that you have found? Eat what is sufficient for you, that you may not take too much of it and have to vomit it up.” (Proverbs 25:16) Honey has well-known curative properties. Yet, too much of even a good thing can be bad for you. The point? Good things should be enjoyed in moderation.
Some youths, however, allow music to dominate their lives. For example, Jessica, quoted earlier, confesses: “I listen to music all the time—even when I’m studying the Bible. I tell my parents that it helps me to concentrate. But they don’t believe me.” Does Jessica’s comment sound familiar?
How can you determine how much music is too much? Ask yourself the following questions:
How
How
Is
mymusicinterferingwithmyfamilyrelationships? If so, write below how you might improve the situation. …………………………muchmoneydoIspendonmusiceachmonth? …………………………muchtimedoIspendlisteningtomusiceachday? …………………………Modifying
YourListeningHabits
If music is taking too much of a bite out of your personal life, you would do well to set limits and be more moderate in your listening habits. For example, you may need to break the habit of plugging your ears with headphones all day long or turning music on the minute you get home.
In fact, why not learn to savor some periods of silence? Doing so may help you with your studies. “You’ll get a whole lot more out of them if the music is off,” says Steve, quoted earlier. Try studying without music, and see if your concentration improves.
You will also want to schedule time for reading and studying the Bible and Bible-based publications. Jesus Christ at times sought out a quiet place for prayer and meditation. (Mark 1:35) Is your study environment similarly quiet and peaceful? If not, you may be stunting your spiritual growth.
Make
theRightChoice
Music is truly a gift from God, but you must take care not to misuse it. Don’t be like the girl named Marlene who admits: “I have music that I know I’m supposed to throw out. But it sounds so good.” Think of the harm that she is doing to her mind and heart by listening to what is bad! Avoid that snare. Don’t let music corrupt you or take over your life. Hold to high Christian standards in choosing your music. Pray for God’s guidance and help. Seek out companions who share your convictions.
Music can help you relax and unwind. It can help fill the void when you’re lonely. But when the music stops, your problems are still there. And songs are no substitute for real friends. So don’t allow music to become the big thing in your life. Enjoy it, but keep it in its place.
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teela(2)
How do you have gay BIL. Are your brothers gay or are your sisters married to Gay men
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sherah
I call BS on the gay BIL's too!