Is what all it takes?
What does the fact that I respect a statement whereby they admit they were wrong in the past mean to you?
HELP! I've stepped in it now... mast head change - JW response!
by NeverKnew 74 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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mind blown
I guess you haven't been ripped away from your family because of their many errors? Or DF'd because of them?
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mind blown
When they publicly APPOLOGIZE AND REINSTATE ALL THOSE THEY DF'D FOR APOSTASY THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
Even then they will NEVER be able to make amends for those who have commited suicide or lost years of family because of them........
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digderidoo
I have suffered for many years because of the religion. I'm not prepared to post my story on this thread as it would derail it, but a small look through my posts will show.
Yet because I have suffered, like others, does not mean that I'm not going to acknowledge where I see the society acting in a correct manner. For many years they have evaded the issue of admitting their mistakes with regards to dates and for many years I have had issues with the whole generation affair. This statement I welcome as part of my healing process... sorry if that offends.
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cedars
Firstly, it's rather generous to say the Society "admits and exposes" its mistaken expectations. It doesn't list the mistaken expectations, nor does it apologize for them. If anything, it offers justification for encouraging false expectations by holding "Jesus' first-century disciples" as role models in this regard...
Jehovah’s Witnesses have had wrong expectations about when the end would come. Like Jesus’ first-century disciples, we have sometimes looked forward to the fulfillment of prophecy ahead of God’s timetable. (Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2) We agree with the sentiment of longtime Witness A. H. Macmillan, who said: “I learned that we should admit our mistakes and continue searching God’s Word for more enlightenment.”
Why, then, do we continue to highlight the nearness of the end? Because we take seriously Jesus’ words: “Keep looking, keep awake.” The alternative, to be found “sleeping” by Jesus, would prevent us from gaining his favor. (Mark 13:33, 36) Why?
Consider this example: A lookout in a fire tower might see what he thinks is a wisp of smoke on the horizon and sound what proves to be a false alarm. Later, though, his alertness could save lives.
Likewise, we have had some wrong expectations about the end. But we are more concerned with obeying Jesus and saving lives than with avoiding criticism. Jesus’ command to “give a thorough witness” compels us to warn others about the end.—Acts 10:42.
We believe that even more important than focusing on when the end will come, we must be confident that it will come, and we must act accordingly. We take seriously the words of Habakkuk 2:3, which says: “Even if [the end] should delay [compared to what you thought], keep in expectation of it; for it will without fail come true. It will not be late.”
Secondly, as mind blown has pointed out, it's one thing to publish mistaken expectations, it's another thing entirely to disfellowship and ruin the lives of those who refuse to go along with these expectations, or the doctrines attached to them.
The fourth paragraph is particularly nauseating about being more concerned with obeying Jesus than getting their facts straight. Didn't Jesus say in Matthew 7:20 "by their fruits you will recognize those men" in discussing "false prophets"? Making sure you don't go jumping ahead of the bible and giving false interpretations of scripture is part and parcel of being a Christian and obeying Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus repeatedly commanded his disciples to love one another. Doesn't the unscriptural practice of shunning disfellowshipped family members run entirely against the key concept of Christian love? Why can't the Society attach equal or greater import to this command of Christ, on which "the whole law hangs"? (Matthew 22:40)
As with many Watchtower statements, this is a clever use of words that is devoid of sincerity, and which refuses to see the bigger picture.
Cedars
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mind blown
I appologize for pouncing on you. You are welcome to your opinion, big difference between free thinking and the WTS.......
As you can see my feelings re the WTS.......
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NeverKnew
I love this place!
Let me make this clearer. These friendships are way beyond a return visit and have lasted for more than a decade. :) The friendships were not formed in JW land so our histories are outside of the spiritual realm. Being a worldly who has stood by their sides in good times and bad, I have a lot more leeway than other JWs or "met them in a doorway" worldlies. I care about them - and they know it from my words and actions.
I am fully convinced that the Society has conned everyone. I have read about the sadness, lonliness and despair that those who have left have felt. I have also read about those who now feel at peace in being out. I am torn as to whether I should leave well enough alone, or if I should push the issue. I am very concerned about the devastation, anger and sadness felt once it's learned and accepted that one has been lied to and don't want anyone to feel that pain.
By the same token, if they're going to present me with their truth and ask me to consider it, they better be prepared to present me with some answers. So far, they've failed miserably. Unfortunately for them, they're talking to an empty nester who has plenty of time to research and live ex-JWs who can cut to the chase to help her.
...poor things. If they only knew.
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NeverKnew
Dig... Totally understand what you mean to say, but maybe my response to him will help you understand where I'm coming from ...
In our prior conversations when I discussed the change between the pre-1995 masthead and the post-1995 masthead, I told him that I wouldn't have a problem with a statement like, "we believe that the generation of 1914 will not pass away" or "we believe that the Creator will wipe out the wicked folks" (duh... that's in the Bible), but when you move into the realm of "the Creator's promise"????
If your friend told you that he "believed" something to be true and was found wrong, you'd probably be okay with that. But if your friend said that a higher authority "promised" something s/he was saying to be true and it was learned that it wasn't true... how much respect would you have for that friend? Let's say you give them the benefit of the doubt. Wouldn't you still question his/her ability to hear or discern what the higher authority says? Dig, they claim that they are the ones giving spiritual food at the proper time. Then, they claim a lack of inspiration?
My question is, who dreamt about this inspired message?
UPDATE: He asked me if the WT ever claimed to be inspired. I told him that i was apprehensive to do his research for him but provided him with an excerpt of a WT article titled "They Shall Know that a Prophet Was Among Them" and Deut. 18:20-22. I told him that, to me, that's what they were saying and that I couldn't say how he would percieve the article.
I copied and pasted the excerpt for him, but you can find it at http://carm.org/religious-movements/jehovahs-witnesses/jehovahs-witness-organization-prophet-god.
Looking through everyone's advice next. :)
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stillin
IF I, as a trusted leader, have ever said anything that might have been slightly off, I am sorry that you believed me and jumped off that cliff. You may have misunderstood.
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NeverKnew
OUCH ...Mr. Freeze! :-/ am I supposed to be that direct? *giggling*
Ceders points out: Why, then, do we continue to highlight the nearness of the end? Because we take seriously Jesus’ words: “Keep looking, keep awake.”
Uh... yeah... Jesus also says that nobody knows the day or the hour - not even HE (Matt 24:36) and also warns us that many would come in His name saying that the time was at hand but not to go after them. (Luke 21:8).
It'd be nice if they included ALL of Jesus' sayings.