To the Houshold of God, Israel... and those who go with...

by AGuest 53 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  AGuest

  I believe the Master's answer would be: "Leave them be ... "

  And that could well be true for you and many others, dear Sylvie (the greatest of love and peace to you, dear one!). Unfortunately, that is not his direction to me... and since MY choosing was due to puredee mercy (because I AM a foremost sinner)... I take no issue with it. He explained to me what he desired of ME... after which he showed me his words recorded at Matthew 5:43-48 (from, the MSB Bible, first), which may make difference "sense" to me than it does to others:

  "You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

  That is a really good version; however, since we're talking about the WTBTS, I must say that I like their version MUCH better (and it is the one our Lord showed me):

  “Y OU heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to YOU :Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU ; that YOU may prove yourselves sons of YOUR Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. For if YOU love those loving YOU , what reward do YOU have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if YOU greet YOUR brothers only, what extraordinary thing are YOU doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? Y OU must accordingly be perfect, as YOUR heavenly Father is perfect."

  My point? Two. First, they are ones who teach that it is sacriligeous to enter into any other place of worship, that doing so automatically represents a "sharing" with idolators. That is not true - it depends on the PURPOSE for such entry. Second, as the Fine Shepherd, our Lord was not only willing to give his life for his sheep, but enter in among wolves do so if that's what it took. To save even ONE. If, then, HE was willing to do so... and did so (for he often sat down in the temple/courtyard, even though that edifice AND the worship it represented had been rejected)... who am I to "beg off"? They are sheep without a shepherd, dear one, because no one has told them the TRUTH about the possibility that they could belong to Christ through a union with him. They have been denied that union and as a result have had the kingdom shut up before them.

  If our Lord decides that, because I choose to enter and bear witness to HIM among them, I should be rejected by him and lose MY life... then so be it. I give it for them, those who could well be his sheep, too. Because I truly believe that that is what he would have done.

  I hope this helps and, again, the greatest of love and peace to you!

  YOUR servant, sister, and fellow slave of Christ,

  SA, who believes she is "set" in the Body just as God wills... and so lives and gives witness to Christ pursuant to that as I can do nothing else...
• 

  snowbird

  Then, dear Shelby, if you must, by all means go in peace.

  It just hurts my heart to think of others sneering at you.

  My prayer for you is an ancient one:

  Numbers 6:24 Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee: 6:25 Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 6:26 Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. American Standard Version of 1901.

  Syl
• 

  wobble

  Thank you dear Shelby for your answers, I now understans how you are able to attend and still give praise to your Lord by so doing.

  I feel that for me it would be to go against my conscience to attend, as everyone present would take it as affirmation that I still support the lies and satanic mis-direction of the watchtower leaders.

  May you have peace and wellbeing.
• 

  AGuest

  It just hurts my heart to think of others sneering at you.

  I understand, my dear sister Sylvia (the greatest of love and peace to you, dear one!). The words you quoted are a GREAT comfort, as are our Lord's words recorded at Matthew 5:10-16 (MSG):

  "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."

  "Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."

  "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

  "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

  for me it would be to go against my conscience to attend, as everyone present would take it as affirmation that I still support the lies and satanic mis-direction of the watchtower leaders.

  Yes, I totally understand that, dear Wobble (the greatest of love and peace to you, as well!) and I would never advise anyone to go against their conscience. Again, this is not an exhortation for everyone, but for me, I know... and those who DO go to that event, still.

  I hope this helps and, again, peace to you, both!

  YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,

  Shel
• 

  myelaine

  dear AGuest...

  you said: Shouldn't SOMEONE, then, care enough to say, "THIS is what you ALL should be doing?" My Lord has taught me that love says, yes, someone should. But who?...(john 6:45)

  will you have the opportunity to instruct them all on why they should be taking the elements? will they all have an opportunity to examine themselves to see if they are indeed in the faith before they take the elements?

  "and I would never advise anyone to go against their conscience. Again, this is not an exhortation for everyone, but for me, I know... and those who DO go to that event, still."...yet you would "remind" them? if this very serious instruction came from the Spirit then it wouldn't go against our conscience(s) would it?(1 cor 12:7)

  further to God ultimately leading the people to Jesus and therefore the importance of the elements...the bible says that when the people thirst HE will plant people and set people IN THAT WILDERNESS so that they may all see and KNOW, consider and UNDERSTAND together...isaiah 41:17-20. Nothing here about random attendance at a yearly memorial to show (even) just one. God will plant that all will understand "life giving water" together!...

  thankfully, there is nothing wrong with praying that God would plant "good trees" at the GB level (desolate heights) that they would invite their congregants to take life's water...free...amen.

  love michelle

  p.s. I'm glad that you're recovering well from your surgery...take care Shelby...xo
• 

  designs

  "I am a foremost sinner'....will there be a film or autobiography....
• 

  wobble

  I, for one, would love to read Shelby's full auto-biography, I have so many questions, i.e when did her Lord start to speak to her ? how did she react ? how did she know it was genuine, and not just a voice in her head? and many more.

  I am sure she has stories of when she was in the JW's that would make us all drop our jaws !

  It would make a fantastic film too, I am sure.

  C'mon Shelby, put pen to paper, you could make the biggest witness to your Lord yet !
• 

  designs

  Make sure the movie is a two parter like Cleopatra, that way we can take a break for Popcorn

  Mmmm Popcorn and Movies.........
• 

  LV101

  SNOWBIRD/SILVIA --- AGUEST is SHELBY and i definitely need to slow down a tad --- good excuse for my mental slippage and getting names mixed up which is rude of me, sorry. appreciate your kindness to point out.

  THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL thread and i've learned so much.

  LV101
• 

  AGuest

  C'mon Shelby, put pen to paper, you could make the biggest witness to your Lord yet !

  Funny, my husband keeps trying to get me to go there, dear Wobble (peace to you!)... and I recently received permission from my Lord (I received free so I have always given free as to what he has shared with me, but that was as to "Israel," with whom my assignment is complete. I am permitted to put it out there to the world, now, as a great deal of it is already here... and thus free... so if they want to pay for it, so be it. So, after considering it, I though, "Hmmmm... why not?" and came up with a [tentative] title ("A Modern Revelation") and [tentative] subjects for chapters:

  "In the Beginning" (referring to MY experience with my Lord speaking to/with me, from the first, and not Genesis - LOLOL!)

  "If You Knew What Kind of Woman This Was..." (referring to the unlikelihood that these things would/should have occurred with me, at least in some (many) folks' opinion)...

  "Losing My Religion" (referring to my few religious associations and particularly my WTBTS experience, including discussion with Barber)...

  "A Nobody Doesn't Have to Be Somebody and a Somebody Can Be Anybody" (meaning, it has nothing to do with some uniqueness attributable to me, personally)...

  I know, I know... what that...??? And so, of course, I came to my senses: what has occurred in my life has occurred in my life and is really no big deal. Nothing spectacular, really. In MY community (the African American community), the response would be, "Girl, so, what? The Lawd speaks to folls all the time! Chile, go sit down with that mess!" Really. LOLOLOLOLOLOL!

  And so I've come to the conclusion that I really don't have anything to write about. My life story would be "Antwone Fisher Meets Tina Turner Meets Star Jones"... or something like that. Who in the world wants to hear THAT story? Certainly not me... because it's not a novelty, truly.

  SOOOOOOOOOOoooooo, no book, chickens... or movie (sorry, dear Designs (peace to you!); besides, the Torah should have enough drama for you, dear one). Just not enough "meat", IMHO, to make it interesting. If you want a glimpse, though, I would recommend "The Munsters", "The Addams Family", and maybe a little "Madea". That should give you some idea.

  Peace!

  A slave of Christ,

  SA