by AGuest 28 Replies latest jw friends
"Let anyone hearing say: “Come!”
And let ANYONE thirsting come.
Let ANYONE THAT WISHES... take life’s water... FREE."
Having just got back from a week hiking in the Welsh mountains, I am certain that this scripture is an invatation to come to Wales and drink its free refreshing mountain spring water. I recommend it to all who are thirsting.
Let ANYONE THAT WISHES... take life’s water... FREE.
Not exactly free though is it? It will require adopting a particularly degrading perspective of your own humanity. You will need to acquire an attitude of sycophantic supplication to god and thank him eternally for being so kind as to not torture you for all eternity. Profound gratitude for human blood sacrifice on your behalf will be essential.
Personally I chose to get back up off my knees and live life - this life, the only one you or I will ever have.
I recommend it to all who are thirsting.
Yes, but like the water from Jacob's well, dear Trev (peace to you... and welcome back!), those drinking from your Welsh source WILL get thirsty again. And again. And again. And... well, you get my drift.
Unlike the "water" offered by Christ. One who drinks from that will thirst NO MORE. I don't disparage the... ummm... "tasteful" qualities of your Welsh water. But me, personally, if I could get water that I only needed to drink from ONCE... and no longer need water or to drink every AGAIN, call me crazy (hush, BP - I'll get you in a sec)... but I'd go for that kind.
Now, BP... why are you here?? What is it, again, that you're looking for? If it's me, you're starting to feel like a "stalker" so I must ask you to cut it out. If it's truth... well, that's what I'm sharing, so carry on. If it's THE Truth, Christ... well, he isn't here, chile. But if you would condescend to open up that itty bitty heart of yours... you MIGHT find him in YOU. Slim to none, based on how you're doing right now, but the Most Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies, DOES show mercy to whomever He wishes... and particularly to Israel (which is who you might be, considering the threads you can't help from opening, reading, and commenting on).
Peace... to you both!
A slave of Christ,
SA
Not exactly free though is it? It will require adopting a particularly degrading perspective of your own humanity. You will need to acquire an attitude of sycophantic supplication to god and thank him eternally for being so kind as to not torture you for all eternity.
Wrong "God", dear Cofty (peace to you!). Sounds like "Allah"... or "Jehovah". Maybe even "Yahweh". But it is not the Most Holy One of Israel, JAH of Armies. No matter what anyone tells you to the contrary.
Profound gratitude for human blood sacrifice on your behalf will be essential.
Well, okay, a little gratitude for a guy you don't even know giving HIS life... so that you can have life. Long before you were even a thought. Heck, we do THAT all the time for soldiers and other "heroes." It's natural. So, what's the big deal here?
Personally I chose to get back up off my knees and live life - this life, the only one you or I will ever have.
No one's asked to get down on their knees, dear one. And... when everyone finally does, it will be purely by choice... as a result of some more of that gratitude.
Good lordy, man... if you don't want to believe/serve/worship God... a god... or whatever... so be it. Why, though, try to remove that RIGHT from others? Why ridicule what they believe... want to believe... in FREEDOM... and not by compulsion by some religious organization? Where is the harm to you... or them? And how are you any different that such organizations if you continue to ridicule those who don't think/believe as you do? Your comments are NO different than the WTBTS' labelling of those who don't believe as they do "goats." Cut it out.
Again, peace to you, truly... but seriously... cut it out. It was palatable when you first started but now they're just becoming smarmy potshots. I know you can do better than that.
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA
Good lordy, man... if you don't want to believe/serve/worship God... a god... or whatever... so be it. Why, though, try to remove that RIGHT from others? Why ridicule what they believe... want to believe... in FREEDOM... and not by compulsion by some religious organization? Where is the harm to you... or them? And how are you any different that such organizations if you continue to ridicule those who don't think/believe as you do? Your comments are NO different than the WTBTS' labelling of those who don't believe as they do "goats." Cut it out.
Cut it out? This is a discussion forum and you declared your thoughts and opened them up for debate/discussion by putting them there.
I doubt Cofty goes from church to church or from believer to believer denouncing people. He is not trying to remove anyone's rights. He is not telling those who disagree with him to "cut it out."
If he is ridiculing by his disagreement with you, how many times have you "ridiculed" by starting off telling people, "Wrong" and flatly insisting that your view is right?
Preach your message all you want and stop being "holier than thou" by insisting that others are WT-like for doing what you yourself do.
Good lordy, man... if you don't want to believe/serve/worship God... a god... or whatever... so be it. Why, though, try to remove that RIGHT from others?
Where have I ever tried to remove anybody's "right" to believe any silly thing they may wish? I do claim my right to challenge those who peddle this superstitious nonsense in a public discussion forum.
Why ridicule what they believe... want to believe... in FREEDOM... and not by compulsion by some religious organization? Where is the harm to you... or them? And how are you any different that such organizations if you continue to ridicule those who don't think/believe as you do?
I am convinced that religious thinking is harmful. It was not just the particular brand of religion that was the problem in the watchtower it was a way of thinking that values dogma above reason. When people preach to those who are escaping the watchtower they do a harmful thing that needs to be challenged. I made that mistake and think it is valuable to share that experience.
Your comments are NO different than the WTBTS' labelling of those who don't believe as they do "goats."
Telling others that they are behaving like a JW is a depressingly common tactic on this and other ex-jw boards. It is a tactic that is beneath contempt.
Cut it out
No - this is a discussion forum
EDIT - and everything that OnTheWayOut said!
Ahhh, maybe you two are right (peace to both of you!). Then again, maybe not. I am a bit tired, considering my schedule right now and perhaps just got a little "peeky." Then again, maybe not.
The truth is that, whether you will admit it or not, some of you are now picking on other folks because of me. Which is wrong. You don't like me or what I post... but because you haven't been able to bring a stop to it, you're now turning your attentions to others... because of their agreement with or support of me. Others that YOU feel are weaker and so better "targets". But you all really should cut these others a little slack. They're not me and they've done YOU no wrong/harm. If you wanna take issue with them, why not get to know them and find out WHY they believe what they do... rather than spitting on them "just because [you] can"... and primarily because you have a problem with their association with me? As I've recently said to some of you... it really doesn't become you. You're letting your chagrin for ME... 'cause you to slip into being just generally nasty with others... for no real reason.
Otherwise, well, if you can be smart-butts... so can I. Yeah, yeah, I know... it "don't sound 'christian' or 'christlike'." Not to worry - I'm still a christian and slave of Christ. Just a very tired one right now for very good reason... and short on patience with these kinds of attacks on dear ones.
Seriously, Cofty. And I can respond to YOU as I did because (1) you dished it out, and (2) as I said, I know this dear one personally. Trust me... it wasn't the Most Holy One of Israel who brought him to his knees... or asks him to go there. To the contrary, through Christ, that One is trying to raise this poor child UP. Others did that... brought him down... yes, some who claim to love him "in the name of God"... as well as some who never claimed to know, love, worship, or even believe in God.
You might think your sarcastical comments are uplifting... or enlightening... or will bring someone to "think" [like you]. And while it just may for SOME, that's not going to always be the case - it won't work for everyone... and I've grown a bit tired of your elder-like "Oh, so you don't believe as I do, you idiot, you?" way of making your points.
And please... please... don't go there, Jer. I don't TRY to make ANYONE feel inferior. If some do, then they need to ask themselves why that is. And I've never started a thread or response with "wrong." My words are "that's inaccurate/incorrect/an error," "you are in error"... sometimes preceded by "no". Because that is the TRUTH - what was stated was inaccurate, incorrect, or an error. I am sorry if you can't handle the confidence behind what I share... but I can only say such things BECAUSE I am confident... because I know who I received them from... and HE says, "No, that's inaccurate/incorrect/an error." You have a problem with that... you are more than free to take it up with him.
So, now... because this IS a public forum... and I can post what I wish to just like everyone else... and because just like YOU feel you have a right to say what YOU wish... I will say again... cut it out. Of course, whether you do or don't is entirely up to YOU.. But I've said it. Twice now. So... take it for whatever you feel it's worth.
Again, peace to you... and you, too, Jer. Truly.
A slave of Christ,
SA
some of you are now picking on other folks because of me.
I am glad this is not about me.
... but because you haven't been able to bring a stop to it, you're now turning your attentions to others... because of their agreement with or support of me.
Don't get all "Rick Fearon" on us. I don't think you are as important as that sounds.
And please... please... don't go there, Jer. I don't TRY to make ANYONE feel inferior. If some do, then they need to ask themselves why that is. And I've never started a thread or response with "wrong."
They don't feel inferior, but you do come off with your "holier-than-thou" attitude. Forget I said it and go with all the others who have said it.
You are only spinning a technicality. You quote and give a salutation and sometimes some YADDA YADDA then say "Wrong." If it's "You are in error" or something else, who gives a flip? It's still that same attitude.
I am not looking to start a fight. I just noticed you engaging in free posting and getting upset at someone for engaging in free posting. If you dish it out, you gotta take it. I am sorry if you cannot handle that. Have fun responding to my response as I don't give a rat's ass what you say about it. The above discussion can stand on it's own for all to read and figure out who's doing what. Peace out.
Hehe! I just saw what bp wrote :-D That appeals the man in me :-P
Too tired, today, Jer, really. Just don't have it "in" me today to go 'round with you, sorry. Check back with me later?
Peace.
A slave of Christ,
SA
