darkspilver

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Posts by darkspilver

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  43

  The "faithful slave" urges confession in latest Watchtower!

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower october 2017, page 11, par.

  17 - confess and abandon secret sins.

  some christians who have committed a serious sin try to cover it over in order to avoid embarrassing themselves or disappointing others.

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  darkspilver

  They do this every few years. They get people feeling guilt

  haha, yeah, you know they've just gotta 'guilt-trip' the flock.....
  
• 
  43

  The "faithful slave" urges confession in latest Watchtower!

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower october 2017, page 11, par.

  17 - confess and abandon secret sins.

  some christians who have committed a serious sin try to cover it over in order to avoid embarrassing themselves or disappointing others.

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  darkspilver

  darkspilver: was the "James" book not authored by those enlightened ones disfellowshipped in the R. Franz apostate affair? never to be quoted by wt again?

  yeah, and so it's always great to be able to quote from it
  

  I don't have a problem quoting from it - I think it's a very good verse-by-verse commentary
  
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  43

  The "faithful slave" urges confession in latest Watchtower!

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower october 2017, page 11, par.

  17 - confess and abandon secret sins.

  some christians who have committed a serious sin try to cover it over in order to avoid embarrassing themselves or disappointing others.

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  darkspilver

  Notice that 'The Searcher' didn't quote the interesting point from the James book - because I wonder who wrote it?
  

  Commentary on the Letter of James, page 206

  This confessing is not like a “confessional” arrangement where one is viewed as obligated to appear and confess all sins in order to obtain absolution from guilt in the eyes of God. Although James had previously made specific mention of the congregation elders with regard to sick ones needing aid, he here says to “confess your sins to one another,” not limiting the matter to certain ones within the congregation. While this is so, it is reasonable that the one confessing his sins would seek a person who could be of real help to him in a spiritual way.
• 
  43

  The "faithful slave" urges confession in latest Watchtower!

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower october 2017, page 11, par.

  17 - confess and abandon secret sins.

  some christians who have committed a serious sin try to cover it over in order to avoid embarrassing themselves or disappointing others.

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  darkspilver

  The Searcher is very clever, look beyond and behind, at how the OP is contrasting confession with forgiveness.

  For example - you can go to 'the Police' to confess a crime, but they do not have authority to 'forgive' you - only 'the Judge' can forgive.

  Likewise, JWs can go to 'the Elder's to confess a sin, but they do not have authority to 'forgive you - only 'God' can forgive

  As 'The Searcher' picks out - the above is in contrast to Catholics.
  
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  45

  Britain Branch to Cease Printing Sooner Than Expected

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've received the following news from a reliable and trusted source: .

  the demise of printing literature in the u.k. is being brought forward by one year - to march 2018. graphic design and printing support will go too.

  large numbers of "disposable" bethelites will now have to make their own way in the world, when their "mother" abandons them.

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  darkspilver

  If printing is going why do they need to build such a big facility outside London? Seems like an unnecessary expense.

  Yeah, that was my point above

  It's likely they could have reduced their footprint to the 'original' Mill Hill Bethel, financial benefit from selling off everything else, AND still be in a good London based-location (including on the London subway network, and numberous nearby congregations).

  And that's why 'The Searcher's' OP here - which I originally totally miss-read (sorry!) - is actually very interesting, once you join the dots
  
• 
  43

  The "faithful slave" urges confession in latest Watchtower!

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  watchtower october 2017, page 11, par.

  17 - confess and abandon secret sins.

  some christians who have committed a serious sin try to cover it over in order to avoid embarrassing themselves or disappointing others.

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  3. 
• 

  darkspilver

  Remember, remember the OP is from 'The Searcher'......

  Look at the 2010 Watchtower that 'The Searcher' has helpfully pointed out:
  

  Watchtower 1 September 2010, page 23
  

  To Whom Should Sins Be Confessed?

  God does not authorize men to forgive sins against him; only he can do so. The Bible tells us clearly: “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) However, to whom should such sins be confessed?

  Since forgiveness can come only from God, confession must be made to him. That is what David did, as we have noted. On what basis, though, would forgiveness be granted? The Bible tells us: “Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the person of Jehovah.” (Acts 3:19) Yes, forgiveness is contingent not only on one’s recognizing and confessing the sin but also on one’s being willing to desist from the wrong course. This additional step is often difficult. But there is help.

  Recall the words of the disciple James that we referred to earlier: “Openly confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may get healed.” To those words, James added: “A righteous man’s supplication, when it is at work, has much force.” (James 5:16) The ‘righteous man’ can be one of “the older men of the congregation,” whom James mentioned in verse 14. In the Christian congregation, there are spiritually “older men,” or elders, appointed to assist those who want to gain God’s forgiveness. No, such “older men” cannot absolve anyone of sins, for no man is authorized to forgive a fellow human for a wrong against God. However, they are spiritually qualified to reprove and readjust a person guilty of a serious sin, helping him to recognize the gravity of his sin and the need to repent.—Galatians 6:1.
  
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  45

  Britain Branch to Cease Printing Sooner Than Expected

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i've received the following news from a reliable and trusted source: .

  the demise of printing literature in the u.k. is being brought forward by one year - to march 2018. graphic design and printing support will go too.

  large numbers of "disposable" bethelites will now have to make their own way in the world, when their "mother" abandons them.

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  darkspilver

  I thought the rags have been printed in Germany for a while now, interesting news though

  I understand that some is already - for example the workbooks.

  If everything is in place logistically, and Germany has the capacity, why not move it all over sooner-rather-than-later? Makes sense.

  I think that it is the logistics that's the issue, not the actual printing - the issue being getting all the transportation / distribution routing set-up, not just for deliveries to congregations in Britain, but for the other countries that the Britain Bethel printed for.

  Just out of curiosity; if the Britain branch is to cease printing, then what is the purpose of building new branch facilities in Chelmsford
  

  Mostly office-based (service desk etc) to organise the JWs in Britain. Probably some filming work for JWBroadcasting - but, no, not-a-lot.

  What's interesting is that it would seem, that with what is going to be left - they could have probably have just reduced/contracted the Britain Bethel to the original Mill Hill base - and sold of all the satellite locations including the factory - rather than build out in the 'middle-of-nowhere' in Essex......
  
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  24

  WT - Study Ed, October 2017 - The Truth Brings, “Not Peace, But a Sword”

  by Sanchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  another article analyzing how bad poor jw's have it when it comes to opposition from family.

  few interesting quotes:.

  parr 2:.

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  darkspilver

  There are many good things about JWs - SBF

  In other news Mussolini made the trains run on time.

  haha! I don't get caught out twice
  

  http://www.snopes.com/history/govern/trains.asp

  The clever use of irony by crofty to actually prove slimboyfat's original point as being correct
  
  
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  8

  UK Charity Comission Contacted Me Re Speke Congregation Of Jehovah's Witnesses

  by pale.emperor in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  hi guys,.

  following on from my earlier threat about huge amounts of money simply vanishing from my old congregations bank account with nothing to show for it (here: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5742472565096448/satisfying-decline-my-old-congregations-donations) - i actually did take someones advice and requested the uk charity commission to investigate.

  i was called today by a person who is not investigating this.

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  darkspilver

  In view of my earlier post, your email to the CC doesn't really make sense. Though I'm sure they'll reply 'tactfully' to you.

  Unfortuately, the one obvious misleading statement you make is trying to use 'must' rather than 'likely':
  

  congregations are instructed that their new monthly pledge must be “at least the same amount as the current monthly loan repayment” for congregations repaying loans for building work.
  

  Actual quote:
  

  The elders in congregations currently making loan repayments would likely propose a resolution that is at least the same amount as the current monthly loan repayment, keeping in mind that donations will no longer be received from the "Kingdom Hall Construction Worldwide" contribution box.
  

  I'm just the messenger - but I don't think the above, unfortunately, does the case any real favours.

  But hopefully the CC will reply tactfully to you, just as I tactfully pointed out the £40,000 mathematical 'typo' in your origial OP
  
• 
  8

  UK Charity Comission Contacted Me Re Speke Congregation Of Jehovah's Witnesses

  by pale.emperor in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  hi guys,.

  following on from my earlier threat about huge amounts of money simply vanishing from my old congregations bank account with nothing to show for it (here: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5742472565096448/satisfying-decline-my-old-congregations-donations) - i actually did take someones advice and requested the uk charity commission to investigate.

  i was called today by a person who is not investigating this.

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  darkspilver

  Following on from my earlier threat about huge amounts of money simply vanishing from my old congregations bank account with nothing to show for it
  

  The first issue is: did they knowingly overpay for a service? For example pay £90,000 for a 100 new chairs.

  That would not be right, and would need to be looked at by the Charity Commission.
  

  He's asked me if there's any documents i can find stating that Bethel are requesting funds from the congregation to fund their building project(s).
  

  I'm not really sure how this relates?
  

  The second issue is: did they pass on any monies to any body or organisation against the rules of the 'Congregation Charity'?

  The Charity Trustess and Volunteers of the Speke Congregation of JWs adopted a Memorandum of Constitution (also known as the 'Model Constitution' or 'The Constitution') on Thursday 29 May 1997.

  That Constitution states, in section 4: (I've bolded the relevant section)

  4. THE BODY OF ELDERS has all necessary lawful powers to promote the Purposes of the Congregation and to do anything incidental to those Purposes and without prejudice to the generality of such powers can on behalf and for the benefit of the Congregation:

  4.1 accumulate in the name of the Congregation (for so long as the law from time to time allows) funds for the Purposes of the Congregation

  4.2 make donations or loans (with or without liability for the borrower to pay inter-est at such fixed or variable rates as the Congregation may approve) out of such funds as may from time to time be determined by Congregation Decision:

  4.2.1 to the general funds of the Society or to any special fund maintained by the Society

  4.2.2 to the general funds of the Circuit

  4.2.3 to the general or any special funds of any other Duly Constituted Congregation

  4.2.4 for other charitable purposes including the relief of Congregation Members who are in conditions of need hardship or distress

  Date of adoption by Speke Congregation (click on 'Documents' tab): http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1065195&subid=0
  

  PDF of standard constitution: https://jwleaks.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/london-mill-hill-congregation-of-jehovahs-witnesses-constitution-1997.pdf

  Therefore they are allowed to - by passing a 'Congregation Decision' (ie a resolution) - donate monies to both the 'Society', or any other individual 'Congregation', as they want.

  As Trustees, the congregation elders would need to make sure that any monies donated would not adversely effect the running of their own congregation's charity - ie they have some remaining capital and they can budget having a regular monthly income through donations from the charitiies volunteers.

  Remember also that the congregation trustees have been told by the 'Society' that the costs for any major works or expenditure would be paid for by the 'Society' directly, so the local trustees only need to be concerned with running costs and the costs of any minor works.