? about the Lords's Prayer and JWs

by rekless 21 Replies latest jw friends

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  rekless

  I read COC a year ago. I hated the org. from that point on , because I was in the ones that wrote letters to the Malawian Government asking them to please stop pursecuting our bro. and sis.

  Then I read about the mexican bors. at the same time was paying bribes for the cardillia as proof they served their terms in the military.

  Why I am asking about the Lord's Prayer is my fiance' is Luteran and she can't understand why we never used the Lord's Prayer since it in her words is the perfect prayer due to Jesus teaching it to his followers.

  I an serious about getting an intelligent answer. That is all.

  Hell is truth seen too late. H.G.Adams
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  California Sunshine

  *****I an serious about getting an intelligent answer. That is all.**

  I don't have an answer for you. Perhaps someone with more knowledge will pick up on your thread.

  Have a nice evening
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  Alleymom

  Rekless,

  It's interesting that your fiance is Lutheran and this bothers her, because I am Lutheran and it bothered me, too. I've visited a lot of denominations over the years, and not all Christian churches pray the Lord's Prayer as a regular part of the service, but JW's are the only ones I've met who deliberately omit it from all their worship services.

  Marjorie
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  Thirdson

  A couple of thoughts. Mainly the reason for not praying the Lord's prayer as a liturgical piece is the JW fear of praying repetitive prayers. However, there aren't many variations to the public prayers of JWs and even mentioning bits from a rehashed Watchtower article just studied hardly adds anything new to a prayer. Since the basic JW prayer follows a set formula it sort of nullifies the argument. Most churches use the Lord's prayer in addition to other prayers said in a service anyway.

  For me growing up as a JW I would never have learned the Lord's prayer as normally used, derived from the KJV, if not for one thing...my English state school education! When I was between the ages of 5 and 7 I went in to daily school assembly. (Only later would I have to stay out) Each day the assembly included a couple of hymns and the Lord's prayer. I learned the prayer and never forgot it. I too used the Prayer as common ground in field service.

  At least when I first attended non-JW church services, saying the Lord's prayer was not difficult and I didn't sputter the NWT version.

  Thirdson
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  Thomas Poole

  I never recall being told NOT to say this prayer. Perhaps it sounded too churchy, since the Catholics would call it the "Our Father" prayer.

  Also, they like to make Christians into two classes: anointed and great crowd. So if we all had prayed it together, we would seem to be as one class. Also, to give prayer, you had to be qualified, right? I can see it now....Those of you not qualified cannot participate!
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  Smoldering Wick

  Their reasons:
  

  *w88 3/15 6 - As a helpful guide or model, Jesus gave his disciples a prayer widely known today as the "Lord's Prayer." (Matthew 6:9-13) Though it should not be said as a ritual, it does set out the proper priorities. First come God's name and purpose. Next are listed material needs, forgiveness, and deliverance from temptation by the wicked one.

  *w88 3/15 5 - What form should prayer take? Prayer should not be a mere ritual, nor should it be read from a book; neither should prayer contain repetitive phrases as though repetition makes it more effective.

  *it-2 668-9 - The prayer given by Jesus to his disciples was evidently a model, or a basic pattern, because later prayers by Jesus himself, as well as by his disciples, did not rigidly adhere to the specific words of his model prayer. (Mt 6:9-13) In its initial words, this prayer concentrates on the prime issue, calling for the sanctification of God's name, which began to be reproached by the rebellion in Eden, as well as for the realization of the divine will by means of the promised Kingdom, which government is headed by the prophesied Seed, the Messiah. (Ge 3:15; see JEHOVAH [Name to Be Sanctified and Vindicated].) Such prayer requires that the one praying be definitely on God's side in the issue.

  *w90 1/15 5 Jehovah does not answer insincere, repetitive prayers. Said Jesus: "But when praying, do not say the same things over and over again, just as the people of the nations do, for they imagine they will get a hearing for their use of many words. So, do not make yourselves like them, for God your Father knows what things you are needing before ever you ask him." (Matthew 6:7, 8)
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  CornerStone

  I think a MAJOR reason the Borg Masters don't want the R&F JW's to say the Lords prayer is in the precieved RELATIONSHIP between the one praying and the one prayed to.

  Remember, according to cult central, the great crowd JW's heavenly father is JESUS, not JEHOVAH. The Borg Masters don't believe avarage JW's have a filial or direct relationship with Jehovah God as the Bible teaches.

  They believe Jehovah is their heavenly GRANDFATHER or someother non-directly related entity, so a prayer calling God their heavenly father goes directly against what the Borg Masters teach.

  Imagine R&F JW's calling God their heavenly father. Why, they would then begin to think of themselves as deserving all the rights and priviliges due children of God.

  But where would that leave that vipers nest called the FDS? The FDS would lose their position and control over the masses. They dangle 'possible' sonship with God, ( in a thousand years + last days ), over the heads of the R&F to CONTROL them, those vomit/puss filled boils on the skin of humanity!

  CornerStone
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  Smoldering Wick

  Whenever anyone uses the term FDS...this image always pops in my brain.
  
  FDS Feminine Deodorant Spray, Baby Powder Scent 1.5OZ
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  puzzled

  I was logging off , shouldn't have stopped in here! I have no self control in the middle of the night.

  To Rekless

  I can answer that easy. The Lords Prayer is used as a "model" prayer.
  It is considered the "PERFECT" prayer. A prayer to aspire to.
  BUT it was not meant to be just muttered out of habit. So the way I was taught by my parents was to use the Lords Prayer as a sort of teacher that showing or giving an example of the importance of the order of things as expressed in the Lords Prayer.
  THEN as time goes on eventually our prayers should become more personal from our own hearts rather than a prayer that was taught to us.
  Kind of a kick start prayer.

  I was always taught that the Lords Prayer was an example of a PERFECT prayer.
  There is no reason to believe that we cannot be capable of the same if it is from our hearts.

  Good night

  .........plmkrzy
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  Smoldering Wick

  I was logging off , shouldn't have stopped in here! I have no self control in the middle of the night.

  what's wrong with us...do we think we're gonna miss out on something good??? I've lost HOURS of sleep that I'll NEVER get back!
  

  Good night

  .........plmkrzy

  *sigh* night (wonders if plmkrzy really went to bed)