God's name

by freedom96 18 Replies latest jw friends

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  freedom96

  Ever notice how as a witness, you could not say "God" by itself. Always had to be preceeded by Jehovah, or just say Jehovah.

  I remember my ex telling me that was the first sign that they knew I was on the way out, because I would refer to God simply as, "God"

  Why did the Witness think that was so bad? To stay different than the rest of the world?

  Think about it: People in life that command respect, you never call them by their first name. Police, judges, etc, are always sir, your Honor, etc. I would imagine God is the supreme one that we should show respect to, where did we get off calling him by his name? Just seemed a bit disrespectful. Maybe I am way off base.

  What do you think?
• 

  TweetieBird

  I don't think you are way off base. It's just another way to keep everyone all the same, another trait of a cult-like organization.
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  pomegranate

  Naw. I don't thing yer off base.

  I think it's actually like that, only even better. I like to call the unseen God by what He wants me to call Him. Father.

  I believe God's children call him Father, those who aren't His children call him a name.

  I would never call my fleshly father by his fleshly name, I would never call my heavenly Father by a name that isn't even His.
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  TR

  I call him by his nickname; 'hovah.

  TR
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  stichione

  I noticed in the New Testament that the Bible writters referred almost always to God as Lord (including the 237 times the WTS arbitrarily inserted "Jehovah" even though the greek word Lord appears), even though the WTS referred to God simply as Lord in the first 50 years. I guess Rutherford wanted to take away from Jesus as much attention as possible, so they altogether stopped using the title "LORD" (which could be used interchangeably with God or Jesus), and started referred to God as Jehovah and Jesus by his own name. As a result, today the WTS probably gets more attention than Jesus, since in many articles the word "Organization" appears more often than Christ or Jesus.

  Edited by - stichione on 14 October 2002 11:12:1
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  Dizzy Cat

  I call my real father - TWAT ! Because he has proved to be one throughout my life.

  What dya think? Do you think the big guy would take offense?
• 

  IslandWoman

  Hi Freedom96,

  In my opinion, JWs are Christianized Jews, in the sense that they worship the God of the Hebrews, but as they claim even better. "The Name" was given great emphasis in the Hebrew Scriptures and though the Jews never really used it as a national identity, the JWs on the other hand do. "Jehovah's Witnesses" defines them in every sense, to refrain from using the name is tantamount to blasphemy it seems.

  As for calling God by his name the Psalms are filled with praise and petitions to God using his Name, I don't see a problem with it.

  IW
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  metatron

  They avoid calling Jesus "Lord" in common conversation and omit him almost completely from Life Experiences

  in the Watchtower. Are JW's Christians? Just barely! Why would Christians cringe at saying "the Lord Jesus Christ"

  casually?

  metatron
• 

  ashitaka

  It's all about them being different, nothing more. They like being 'distinct', and even saying something remotely like another person in a different religion would, they go nuts on you.

  I noticed that african-american JWs who kept their particular sayings from their previous religion (the Lord Jesus, Lord and Savior, just saying the word 'God') was ok. If I would visit a more african american congregation, they all spoke that way, and frankly, it was a much more comfortable experience in many ways. Not as many hang ups about the type of ties you wear, and lots of times, those congregations were able to speak their mind (which included saying phrases that would get you the evil eye in other congregations)

  ash
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  butalbee

  Jehovahs Witnesses based their whole religion on a name. When most names are pagan....