Wow Winston,
She gives comments that are more accurate [to WTS belief anyways] than what the WT conductor would bring out and ever so slightly 'school' the WT conductor. After the meeting I'd see the two of them 'discussing' the WT study in a corner. Too funny.
That’s me to a T. Every congregation needs one, except it need not be an elderess. I have heard many a fine comment from a sister that "adjusted" the study conductor.
Hello Ozziepost,
So that jumped out at you? My husband and I were talking about that being one reason it was so difficult for JWs to be effective door to door. Being taught that the people behind the door were not real Christians and holding them in contempt certainly meant they wouldn't try very hard. Where was the Christian love? And you can be sure that the people sensed that in JWs that come to their door.
Good job, Scully,
I really would like to know where the WTS expects their illustration to go. It doesn't seem to work when you look at it from a practical, reasonable point of view, does it?
You certainly took the illustration to its logical conclusion. Plus you illustrated the real motive of JWs. Paradise soon is the chant.
Supposedly the motive is to vindicate God’s sovereignty and sanctify his name. So few JWs mention God’s kingdom or even his name as they know it. A recent CO cautioned our old congregation not to mention that they are Jehovah’s Witnesses in the introduction and not to use the Bible because it would turn people off. Right.
7/15/99 WT p.
19Out of gratitude to Jehovah, our primary concern should be, not to gain personal salvation, but to witness the sanctification of his holy name and the vindication of his righteous sovereignty.
HadEnuf
, I try to always give one vomit timeout, but always feel free to take a break when necessary. I took one occasionally when I still attended, even leaving mid-meeting. I used to go to the back room and turn off the sound unless someone else came back. Once another sister and I turned it off and visited during the whole meeting.OhHappyDay
, good research.The Apocalypticism should stop. We should be encouraged to serve God because we love him, not beat to death about giving up everything beacause Armageddon is coming "soon." Every time I see the word "soon" in a WT publication I cringe, because the meaning we give it has no connection with what the word really means.
As you can tell, I try to highlight that concept in all the WT studies. But the WTS has chastised the rank and file because they do buy into what the WTS is always emphasizing.
7/1/01 WT
p. 9They also know that he will soon bring an end to all wickedness and transform the earth into a global paradise .
2/15/00 WT p. 25
As a result, they do not know of the sound guidance found in the Bible nor of the
Paradise conditions that God’s Kingdom will soon bring to our earth.
3/1/00 WT pp. 5-6
She learned of God’s promise to raise the dead and of God’s Kingdom, which will soon make the earth a paradise .
But here the WTS chastises the rank and file for believing the hopes the WTS is always promoting. 7//15/99 p. 18
Still others scuttle their ship of faith because in their view the haven of the new system of things does not yet seem to be appearing on the horizon. Unable to make time calculations concerning the fulfillment of certain prophecies, and putting "Jehovah’s day" off in their minds, they abandon true worship. (2 Peter 3:10-13; 1 Peter 1:9) They soon find themselves back in the murky, troubled waters of the present system of things. (Isaiah 17:12, 13; 57:20) Some who have stopped associating with the Christian congregation still believe that it practices the true religion. However, they evidently lack the patience and endurance required to wait for the new world that Jehovah God has promised. Life in Paradise has not come soon enough for them.
A few dedicated Christians in some parts of the world appear to have reefed the sails of their ship of faith. The ship is still afloat, but instead of forging ahead in full faith, they have adopted a cruising speed. Drawn by the hope of "Paradise soon," some were prepared to spare no efforts to attain it
—zealous in the preaching work and regular in attendance at all meetings, assemblies, and conventions. Now thinking that the realization of their hopes is farther off than they anticipated, they have lowered the price they are willing to pay. This is evident in reduced preaching activity, irregularity at meetings, and willingness to miss parts of assembly or convention programs. Others are devoting more time to recreation and to obtaining material comforts. These facts lead us to consider what should be the driving force in our lives in line with our dedication to Jehovah. Should our zeal in his service be dependent on the hope of "Paradise soon."
Thanks for your vote of support, Cyberguy.
An irritating WT corruption of the Christian message is that we, by our own ability, can wash out the blot of sin ourselves.
This was definitely an extension of the works = salvation concept the WTS promotes. It totally ignores this scripture.
Ephesians 5:25-27just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it, 26
that he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the bath of water by means of the word, 27 that he might present the congregation to himself in its splendor, not having a spot or a wrinkle or any of such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Carlton, thanks too for your support.
Blondie