O yes, they were allowed beards and could wear dresses!
Does the Watchtower really parallel 1st Century Christianity?
by Emery 56 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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VM44
Why did "Recovery" edit his post to remove some of the comparisons he made?
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JW GoneBad
VM44: Why did "Recovery" edit his post to remove some of the comparisons he made?
In the spirit of Gal 6:1 someone (me) thought he needed a little ‘re-adjustment’.
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moggy lover
It would be extremely naive for anyone to deny that the Watchtower does have a clergy class. This is understandable since the rank and file are persistently mesmerized into believing that they do not. However, although the rank and file deny it, the Watchtower leadership THEMSELVES admit that they do have a clergy. Should anyone fall foul of the leadership and has need to sue them, he will promptly be told that "clergy priviledge" protects all Watchtower Followers who are professionally inducted into the movement. If you earn your living, no matter how much of a pittance, from the coffers of the Watchtower, you are regarded by the Watchtower as a member of its clergy.
It is also impossible to "prove" that first century Christianity was led by a secretive, largely anonymous group of self serving men called a "Governing Body". The expression is found nowhere in the NT, and considering the fact that Paul had so many clashes with them, the possiblity is reduced to pure fiction. The text that the Watchtower suggests as a prop for this doctrine, Heb 13:7 [especially as a ritualized footnote in the Bible with References edition] wasn't written until about 65-69 AD, almost a generation after the start of the Christian Church in 30 AD. What did the early Christians do till then? How could they endure a doctrine of a "Governing Body" before it had actually been revealed?
If the early Christians had a "Faithful and Discreet Slave" class BEFORE 70 AD, when the first fulfillment of Matt 24 was to take place, then who were they? Were they ALL "anointed" Christians? Women were as "anointed" as men back in the first century, weren't they? So, did the FDS include women who supplied this "food at the proper time" thus effectively teaching other Christian believers? Did Christian women go from door-to-door back in the first centiury? This would be particularly strange given that women NEVER called privately on anyone, unless of course they were soliciting business of a questionable kind!! Note that EVERY illustration that the anonymous Watchtower writers provide, shows MEN only doing this activity.
It would be difficult to show that first century Christians met in "Kingdom Halls", when the NT indicates that they met regularly in private homes. There is certaily no evidence to show that they observed the "memorial" of Christ's death only once a year. Indeed their approach to this was to observe His Resurrection as a living Saviour, not His death.
On balance it must be added that every cult believes it, and it alone, is the exclusive inheritor of the first century Christian legacy, and all make the same grotesque claims that the Watchtower does. Some claim that the early Christians spoke in tongues so modern Christians should do so, which then becomes a mark of exclusivity. Some claim that Sabbath observance was a vital link in the chain, others that the keeping of the original Jewish feasts such as Passover, Tabernacles, and so on, were symptoms of this continuity, and on and on it goes.
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Recovery
Isn't it hilarious. All opposers of JW's can come up with is some imaginary claity/lergy distinction class that simply does not exist. Instead of refuting any of my parallels between JW's and first century Christians, all they can do is use their bright highlighter and cross it out.
Seriously, this is their argument: 1st Century Christians didn't have WT/Awake magazines, but JW's do!
How pathetic.
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Recovery
Also I did not edit/remove any of my parallels. I could add even more if I really felt it was worth the effort.
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LostGeneration
1st century Christian leaders like Paul supported themselves, even if it was with a shitty job like tent making. The leaders of the JWs suck the tits dry of the rank and file, going wherever in the world they want, staying in nice hotels, accept free meals, live in luxurious accomodations in Brooklyn, have a paid-for car. Should I go on?
Paul would be green with envy.
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raymond frantz
First Christians were allowed to debate doctrine in their coongration without fear .Next time you go to the meeting RECOVERY put your hand up and ask "Where does the Bible say that we are not supposed to celebrate Birthdays?" The God-eLDERS will give you a little 3 man judicial comittee ,because they and their "Pope like " clergy have the right to DECTATE doctrine ,you are just there to fill the hall and if you dare think otherwise you will be disfellowshiped in next to no time . Even in Jesus' day Pharisees allowed their "ham-harrets" to pick what ever scroll they lliked and and read and explain in the synagogue .The Watchtower head quarters and these rats living in there need to be closed down and WTS to come to an end .No more broken families ,no more broken minds ,no more people bleeding to death .Please God help us,Amen.
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Recovery
First century Christians didn't own land, but the WT does.
First century Christians didn't make DVDs, but the WT does.
The eclectic reasoning of JW Gone Bad.
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VM44
The word clergy can be defined as "The body of people ordained for religious service."
Special pioneers, and certain Overseers, that receive funds from The Watchtower fit the definition of a "Paid Clergy."