Yep!! The details are still unfolding. That is why it is soooo arrogant to claim you know " the truth ", or are in " the truth ". It is humble and accurate to say we are searching for answers, looking for the truth. It is even more arrogant to demand that others blindly follow your " truth " that is in a constant state of flux. It is downright evil and wicked to excommunicate anyone who has a differing opinion. The WTBTS's situation is similar to a scientist starting a class in physics and only teaching early 1900's theory, or concocting crazy theories based on zero evidence but still demanding that his students accept it as absolute fact or face expulsion along with being blacklisted in other scientific circles.
Stories you've heard from what makes one believe they are 'anointed'.
by EndofMysteries 32 Replies latest jw experiences
-
-
Bobcat
Fernando:
"the anointed" (Ho Kristos in Greek) is ALWAYS correctly translated as "the Christ" in the New Covenant scriptures.
Here is the Greek breakdown: (with Strong numbers)
Khrisma ( # 5545) "anointing", occurs 3x, 1 Jn 2:20, 27(x2); applied to believers
Khristianos ( # 5546) "Christian", occurs 3x, Ac 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16
Khristos ( # 5547) "Christ", occurs 531x, (too many to list)
Khrio ( # 5548) "anoint", occurs 5x
Lk 4:18 - Jesus applies to himself quoting Isa 61:1
Ac 4:27 - Applied to Jesus, whom God anointed
Ac 10:38 - Applied to Jesus, whom God anointed
2Co 1:21 - Applied to believers ("us"), "he who has anointed us is God"
Heb 1:9 - Applied to Jesus, 'anointed by God because he loved righteousness'
And that's it. All the tons of WT ink about 'anointed Christians' is based on this. Of course, there are other verses that are conceptually related. For example, the term "holy ones" (Greek hagios) refers to ones set aside for some purpose. And the act of anointing someone or something has as its purpose a setting of it (or that one) aside for some divine purpose. Thus, anointed Christians, in the Bible, are correctly referred to as "holy ones."
I'm thinking it is also related (or equal) to being 'born of the spirit' (Jn chap 3), which is related to (or equal to) being 'baptized with the spirit' (Mt 3:11; Jn 1:33; Ac 1:5; 10:45; 11:16; 19:6; 1Co 12:13). The verses in 1 John (2:20, 27) appear to relate it to the start of a Christian's course of belief, which would equate well with the idea of being 'baptized with the spirit' or 'born of the spirit.'
There is yet more. This subject cuts right to the heart of the WT powerbase. I kind of think the Society doesn't mind all the cute little stories about how someone "became anointed" because it gives an air of illegitimacy to that person (at least in the minds of most rational people). Whereas, the GB just sit back and never explain their "anointing." Because they don't have to. They are "anointed" because they are on the GB. They're being on the GB is their proof that they are "anointed." To dispute that is to disagree with their authority.
Take Care
-
Adiva
One woman at a congregation we went to said she awoke saying the words "Abba, Abba". That's how she knew she was 'anointed'.
Adiva
-
james_woods
One woman at a congregation we went to said she awoke saying the words "Abba, Abba". That's how she knew she was 'anointed'.
Maybe it was mis-interpreted. She could have been having a dream about strange albino scandinavian pop groups.
I became pretty close friends with a "young annointed" back when I was an assistant congregation servant and pioneer. He was our circuit servant - Dave Wetzler. (someone posted here that he later died)
I asked him about this: He became rather embarrassed and suggested that when you know, you just know. Basically, he did not want to give a coherent description. I later realized that he may have thought I was experimenting with the idea that I might be annointed too.
That was not the case at all. It did strike me that he could not be specific.
At least King Arthur knew (and so did everybody else) when he drew the sword Excaliber from the rock.
-
DATA-DOG
King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well I didn't vote for you.
King Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king then?
[Angelic music plays... ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king.
Dennis: [interrupting] Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.Dennis: Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.
Dennis: Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away.
Dennis: Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I'm being repressed!
King Arthur: Bloody peasant!
Dennis: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn't you? -
Lozhasleft
I can only speak for me. For me it was totally undeniable. A very unique and personal spiritual experience. The WTBS elders weren't so happy with it, but it was so enormous to me I didn't care. Currently family have issues with it, many years later. I can't help that. It's their problem, not mine. I was anointed, no question. I didn't earn or deserve it. I have no idea why it happened. But it did.
Loz x
-
Nambo
When a practising Dub, I never for a minute considered I was annointed.
Its only looking back and understanding what the scriptures really say that makes me belive maybe I am.
You see, I didnt have anything amazing happen or see a sign or anything, or "know", or say Abba.
What did happen however, is that about half hour after I was Baptised, I felt Holy Spirit pour on the top of my head and run down my body, now isnt that what "annointing" is?, having Holy Spirit poured over you like the old annointing with oil?
I had and do feel the Holy Spirit on the inside, but that is the only time I ever felt it on the outside.
Not sure what Iam supposed to do with it though, and I certainly dont feel at all worthy of it and wonder if God made a mistake or something?
-
DATA-DOG
Intersting LOZ. Are you married with children? Just curious. I have know something is wrong with the JW religion for some time. I love most of the people I know, they are just decieved, and they are not Bible Students in the true sense of the word. They are GB followers. When I started really studying and STOPPED READING THE WATCHTOWER things began to come into focus. Then I got on the internet and came here and was directed to JWstruggle.com and met Raypublisher and Greybeard and others. Then I read C.O.C, I.S.O.C.F, Captives of a concept, and have started reading Gentile times Reconsidered. When I read about Jesus being THE door, and knowing his sheep, I knew I had to partake. Last year I did so in private. I told my wife and she was greatly disturbed. Then I had to tell her that all was not well in DUB-LAND. This caused more problems. Since then I cannot help but hear every inconsistency at every meeting and in every article. I wrote a letter adressing certain issues and organizational procedures and sent it to an Elder. Now I have zero assignments at the KH and I am viewed as spiritually weak and in need of " adjustment ", and narrowly escaped being DF'd for " apostasy ". If it were not for my family I would not have cared, but I am trying to fade. At one time my wife said she does not believe I should partake, so why would the Elders? Sadly she feels, like many, that ONLY the GB can understand the scriptures as they have some kind of special insight. I hope she will see the truth of the matter. It may take some persecution against me by the Elders to make her wake up. The Org is one messed up Corporation, and the Elders are just tools for the most part. It's funny, in about 1 year I went from respected and " in the runnings " for advancement, to backroom meetings and zero assignments. I am #1 on the watch list at my Congregation!
-
cobaltcupcake
One anointed brother told me that suddenly he wasn't interested in the earthly hope any longer. He longed to be with Christ in heaven.
Maybe he ate some bad Chinese food.
http://scottleblog.wordpress.com
The Odd Life of Jehovah's Witnesses
-
Fernando
Thank you for an uplifting and encouraging thread!
Rushing off to work so just a quick thought for now:
Those who have received (anointing) by the Holy Spirit are ordinary persons having their hope of eternal life confirmed along with their status as sons of God. This is even open to persons as random and seemingly hopeless as the wrongdoer Jesus promised eternal life (at his death).
This is a core part of the "good news".
It is far too scandalous for Pharisees (the ruling religious clergy class).
Exactly what is God doing and thinking???!!!!!
Why is God undermining their authority by handing out IMPUTED righteousness, IMPUTED Holiness, IMPUTED perfection, IMPUTED sinlessness as "free gifts" to the rank-and-file who have not and cannot earn, deserve or pay for it.
What a motly crew "the holy ones" in scripture were! They were in blatant violation of the legalistic perimeter fence the Pharisees had constructed around the law. How scandalous!