What Does the Bible REALLY Teach: The Meaning of Your Baptism

by 00DAD 12 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  00DAD

  What IS the meaning of your baptism? To whom do you belong?

  The book, WHAT DOES THE BIBLE Really TEACH? explains it this way:

  Remember, too, that you have made a dedication to Jehovah God himself, not to a work, a cause, other humans, or an organization. Your dedication and baptism are the beginning of a very close friendship with God—an intimate relationship with him. —Psalm 25:14. - p. 183, para. 24 - [Emphasis added]

  This is from Chapter 18, "Baptism and Your Relationship with God," under the subheading, "The Meaning of Your Baptism." This book was first published in 2005. I personally checked the 2013 edition online and it still says this.

  Now isn't that interesting? Our dedication is to God. It is explicitly stated that it is NOT to "a work, a cause, other humans or an organization."

  So why then did the WTBTS say this in 2011:

  "We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah's approval." - w2011 7/15, p. 24, Simplified Edition (English)

  BTW, neither of these terms appear anywhere in the Bible Teach book:

  • Governing Body
  • Faithful and Discreet Slave

  Nowhere. They are not there anywhere.

  Why is that? Why aren't these all important terms there if this is really what the Bible teaches? Seriously, this is a big deal, as in Big Deal!

  One of the hallmarks of a manipulative, mind-control cult is having separate Insider and Outsider Doctrine. This compartmentalizaton of information is just one aspect of their control. They control your information, your behavior, your emotions and even your thoughts.
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  00DAD

  
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  blondie

  But at a jw baptism the candidates are told to say yes to:

  Watchtower - 1985 Jun 1 p.30

  "The first question is:
  On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
  
  The second is:
  Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism.
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  00DAD

  Yes, but "in association with" is NOT the same as "obedient to," not even close!

  I know the WT Legal Department has promulgated that argument, but I don't buy it. It's BS.
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  Pterist

  Well for JWs you are dedicating yourself to an organisation to follow all their rules and you may get life, after the great trib if you are good to Christ's GB brothers, and maybe after 1000'years of perfection, and maybe after a final test....NOT the original good news....

  For Christians, you are dying with Christ to the sin in your life and are NOW raised as a New Creation empowered with his NEW LIFE, divine Life to live a sanctified Gody life in his resurrection POWER, regardless of denomination or church, it's a spiritual adoption into the new creation.

  We are not saved by GOOD WORKS and SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS we are save FOR GOOD WORKS in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS !

  Shalom
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  Bobcat

  00DAD:

  That was an interesting find (i.e. no mention of F&DS or GB).

  Here are some other curiosities:

  The Bible Teach book says this about the two baptism questions:

  *** bh chap. 18 p. 182 par. 21 Baptism and Your Relationship With God ***

  The speaker then invites all baptism candidates to answer two simple questions as one way to make a verbal “public declaration” of their faith.

  The book makes the questions look like an after thought - "one way to make a verbal declaration."

  Yet, at the assembly, right after the questions the speaker will say, "Your affirmative answer to those questions indicates you are qualified to be baptized."

  I had a 'run-in' of sorts with a DO about baptism where he finally admitted that the questions are "vows." He used that word, but he was trying not to. I posted about this here (see posts 55 and 56).

  Here is another one, although, not so far reaching as baptism:

  The phrase "Judgment Day" occurs only in four places in the NWT - Mt 10:15; 11:22, 24; 12:36. "Day of Judgment occurs two times, both in 2nd Peter. But the WT maintains that "Judgment Day" is different from "day of judgment" (although they are exactly the same in Greek).

  At any rate, the Bible Teach book has an appendix chapter on "Judgment Day." (pages 213-215) Yet, not one of those verses in Matthew is either quoted or even cited. I find that so odd. How are you going to have a chapter about a Bible subject and never refer to any verse that specifically mentions that subject?

  Take Care
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  kurtbethel

  The Bible Teach book is a poorly written fail, on so many levels. It is shown here to also be a bait and switch method of teaching. Given this level of obvious duplicity, there is NO WAY that the Watchtower is run by honest but misguided individuals. They are cunning and crafty in their duplicity.
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  thecrushed

  the bibleteach book was careful in every way to appear benign without insider language because it was and is on the front lines of the public. THe insider language would read like creepy cult speak to those on the outside. can u imagine what would happen if the started handing out the study editions to the public.
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  finallysomepride

  book marked
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  DesirousOfChange

  What Does the Bible REALLY Teach: The Meaning of Your Baptism

  00DAD, one little mistake in your discussion:

  "What Does the Bible WTS REALLY Teach": The Meaning of Your Baptism

  There. That's better.

  Quit trying to twist scriptures WT publications to confuse people.

  Listen. Obey. And be blessed.

  Doc