HELP! I've stepped in it now... mast head change - JW response!

by NeverKnew 74 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Terry

  The Watchtower leaders have staked out TWO contradictory premises simultaneously. THAT is their problem.

  When they defend BOTH positions it damages credibility. So they must oscillate carefully.

  The Governing Body transmits what Jehovah gives them to transmit.

  Wrong transmission happens because they are only human and over eager.

  You can think of this situation very clearly by comparing it to one of those United Nations interpreters who sit in a booth with headphones on.

  The specific purpose of that interpreter is this: communicate EXACTLY what is being said by translating it into understandable language.

  What possible excuse would be acceptable for an interpreter if it turned out they were saying things WRONG because of their own eager agenda??

  Their ass would be fired so fast they'd never have a 2nd chance to screw it up again. Or again. Or again and again.
• 

  Finkelstein

  The WTS. from its beginning presentation toward the public has been both somewhat ignorant and somewhat disingenuous

  in what its been self identifying about the organization itself and its expressed doctrines.

  It first started out as a religious literature publishing company, which eventually involved into a structured religious publishing cult

  with more stringent controls upon its cultivated followers.

  For most people they inadvertently miss the commercialized aspect of the organization thats entwined and present in its doctrines.
• 

  Finkelstein

  Whats become an apparent problem for the WTS. is knowledge about the organization itself, helped probably along

  with the easily attainable information off the inter-net.

  In times past the organization, whoever was at the editorial helm, could easily dismiss doctrines by stopping production of the literature which

  entailed a particular doctrine, remove the book off the shelfs at the local Kingdom Halls and that would be pretty much be the end of it.

  Now days the WTS. are in a different position where past pieces of literature can easily taken off the inter-net and even past public talks can be seen

  on places like Youtube. Welcome to the age of information WTS.
• 

  ScenicViewer

  Welcome to the age of information WTS.

  Amen to that!
• 

  NeverKnew

  You have no idea how powerful your thoughts have been in this conversation. I'm sorry I'm unable to keep you updated in a more timely manner but I'm reading and grabbing as I go. It's working. From quotes to scripture, I have used much of what everyone has given me.

  He was trying to tell me he was uncomfortable with the statement on page 136 not 134 (remember, he was at work):

  "Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets. They have made mistakes. Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, they have at times had some wrong expectations.-Luke 19:ll; Acts 1:6."

  Flying down the wrong road, I asked

  "Wouldn't an ill informed thought of an early Christian be a little different than a 20th century governing body with an entire written Bible to use as a reference? I read both scriptures including Acts 1:6... but why didn't the person who wrote this Reasoning book read the very next verse... Acts 1:7?"

  I haven't gone wrong, but I realize I've been focused on my challenge with the whole masthead change which is that "Creator's promise" part. I have to get better at listening (even via text) because apparently, after reading the 1972 article I sent him eariier yesterday, HIS challenge is with the statement,

  "Jehovah's Witnesses do not claim to be inspired prophets."

  I was apprehensive about using quotes that were too old (because of the "adjustments" required to "old lighting") but if that's the phrase he's honing in on, all's fair.

  Cedars, not sure when that book was published, but again, all's now fair. I'm building that in to this.

  JW - will be reviewing jwfacts for more quotes. THANKS!

  Before I forget, I may have hit below the belt with this text,

  "The December 2011 WT, says that 'elders are appointed by the holy spirit...' Uh, THE Holy Spirit?... Like... The same Holy Spirit that Ananias lied to? Didn't he fall dead afterwards? The One that Peter referred to as the Spirit of the Lord himself? HE APPOINTS JW ELDERS???... Respectfully I'm asking how is that message conveyed? Is this the same method of transmission used for the uninspired articles? Help me make this make sense."

  Next text,

  "In August 2001, I see that the WT says a mature Christian has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the faithful and discreet slave. This F&DS is on the same level as Jesus Christ??? REALLY?!? Jesus seemed to be a lot better at giving accurate information... "
• 

  NeverKnew

  I know it's a crack, but this has been the biggest crack, and it means the world to me. I wasn't doing so well on my own.

  MindBlown and Scenic: Phenominal scriptural contexts...

  Fink, Bill, Sulla, Exwhy, Aussie, Extractor & Terry: Your words are unraveling the logic and helping tremendously in framing my approach

  LG, Cedars, JW: Given what he is saying, I'm going to be diving into the historical contexts.

  Kep, MrFreeze, Hint and Stillin: I am absolutely loving the splash of dry sarcasm.
• 

  mind blown

  Also, it was not apostle Pauls mistake , it was the flock who had mistaken Pauls meaning. Big difference.

  From these words it appears that some among the Thessalonians had mistaken the apostle's meaning, in what he had written in his former epistle about the coming of Christ, by thinking that it was near at hand,--that Christ was just ready to appear and come to judgment. Or, it may be, some among them pretended that they had the knowledge of this by particular revelation from the Spirit, or from some words they had heard from the apostle, when he was with them, or some letter he had written or they pretended he had written to them or some other person: and the apostle was careful to rectify this mistake, and to prevent the spreading of this error.
• 

  NeverKnew

  ...he didn't go to service today. There was no indication that this was planned.

  He seems dazed. If I had to guess, he's researching.
• 

  LostGeneration

  Does he go EVERY Sunday? Usually Sunday is meeting day and mainly hardcore JWs will double it up with some service time too.

  Consider backing off as well. Push too hard and if they don't like where the facts are leading, they can shut down and simply dismiss everything you say as "apostate information"

  Gotta let them simmer a bit...
• 

  NeverKnew

  He's only missed... I'd say... 4 Sunday services in the last year and a half.

  I'll stay quiet.