Watchtower May 1, 2013 with William Holman Hunt quote

by bats in the belfry 8 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  bats in the belfry

  Up for grabs: Watchtower May 1, 2013

  What does it mean that Jehovah draws us? The Greek verb rendered “draws” is also used in reference to hauling in a net of fishes. (John 21:6, 11) Does Jehovah drag us against our will, forcing us to serve him? No. Jehovah gave us free will, so he does not force our heart open.

  One scholar puts it this way: “There is no handle on the outside of the door of the human heart. It must be opened from within.” (page 14)

  So, if God does not push us, why does the GB?

  BTW, the scholar most likely is William Holman Hunt. After painting " The Light of the World" Hunt said: "I painted the picture with what I thought, unworthy though I was, to be by Divine command, and not simply as a good Subject." The door in the painting has no handle, and can therefore be opened only from the inside, representing "the obstinately shut mind".
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  gingerbread

  It's a quote from William Barclay, a 20th century Scottish theologian.
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  wha happened?

  Funny how wisdom of the world is a folly unless u need their quote to make a point
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  bats in the belfry

  You parents, watch out for your childen!

  If you don't smarten up they will die at the big A. just like the Canaanites that were notoriously cruel, and they deliberately opposed God and his people.
  
  
  HOW YOU ARE INVOLVED: We can learn a vital
  lesson from the judgment of the Canaanites.We
  are rapidly approaching the foretold “day of judgment
  and of destruction of the ungodly men.”
  (2 Peter 3:7) If we love Jehovah, we will benefit
  when he eliminates human suffering by ridding
  the earth of those who reject his just rule.
  Jehovah lovingly reminds us that the choices
  parents make affect their children. God’s Word
  says: “You must choose life in order that you may
  keep alive, you and your offspring, by loving Jehovah
  your God, by listening to his voice and by
  sticking to him.” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) Are
  those the words of a cruel God or the words of a
  God who loves people and wants them to make
  the right choice? (page 6).

  Just listen and obey the FDS/GB.
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  bats in the belfry

  gingerbread >>> William Holman Hunt (1827–1910)
  William Barclay (1907-1978)

  Hunt was an English painter, and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
  
  
  Barclay was a Scottish author, radio and television presenter, Church of Scotland minister, and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow. And we might add: a copycat (plagiarizing).
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  AnnOMaly

  Indeed, it appears to be a direct quote from Barclay's The Gospel of Luke regarding Luke 22:1-6.

  (2) But it remains true that Satan could not have entered into Judas unless Judas had opened the door. There is no handle on the outside of the door of the human heart. It must be opened from within. ...

  [Quote from a poem]

  ... It is our own decision whether we will choose to be the instrument of Satan or a weapon in the hand of God. We can enlist in either service. God help us choose aright!

  He makes a similar comment in The Gospel of Matthew on his discussion of Matt. 23:37-39.

  This passage shows is four great truths. ...

  ... (3) It shows us the deliberate nature of human sin. Men and women looked on Christ in all the splendour of his appeal - and refused him. There is no handle on the outside of the human heart; it must be opened from the inside; and sin is the open-eyed deliberate refusal of the appeal of God in Jesus Christ.

  The same expression appears in another of his works too - We Have Seen the Lord!: The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  It's interesting to see where he got it from. William Holman Hunt's painting must have left quite an impression!
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  hamsterbait

  What on earth does the Gibbering Buddy (aka FDS) mean"JEHOVAH draws us".

  The noolite on Holy Spirit says that this does not come to us from God, but is doled out to us through the FDS. Surely the FDS draws us to the "truth", not their sidekick God Almighty.

  HB
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  bats in the belfry

  AnnOMaly >>> Indeed, it appears to be a direct quote from Barclay's The Gospel of Luke regarding Luke 22:1-6.

  . . . a quote which, nonetheless, was borrowed from an earlier author in full.
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  LostGeneration

  Well, Jehovah may not force him to serve, but his followers here on earth sure force their children into serving him.

  I'm like many born ins here, told that I would be a good little JW from birth. When I started rebelling, I was told to either GTFO of my father's house or shape my ass up. I chose the latter, as I had nowhere to go at the time. Unfortunately that let to another 15 years wasted in the cult.

  I'm sure the thousands of JW kids forced out into serve-us today would laugh at the notion that they have a fucking choice in the matter.