i just can't see the answer to this question.
it may be obvious, so please forgive me if you think i'm silly for asking.. 2 corinthians 4 verse 4 in the nwt:.
"among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the christ, who is the image of god, might not shine through".
The "god of this world" is Satan - accuser of sinners and satisfier of the flesh. People are simply blinded by their own flesh oriented desires and fears (escape from armageddon etc.) - living according to the flesh is being subject to "the god of this world" - by which one can remain blind to the truth about themselves.
The "god of this world" is not the Father, the Holy Spirit or Jesus - His kingdom is "not of this world".
bang
one circuit overseer recently stated that those who are speaking against "mother" are such cowards that they can't even use their names, they hide their identity!
so why would you want to listen to degenerates like that?.
this called some interesting thoughts to mind: were the french resistance cowards because they hid their identities from the nazis?
They are the cowards - like Satan - they won't stand naked before God - they don't trust Him, because they don't believe He's nice. They need the protection of their own deeds.
They are such cowards - they may never know Him.
bang
well after 2 years of my bible study's with the father's help & the messiah help, i had to post this, to get thousands str once again: - it's a knowed fact that billions are infact dead in their graves, cause like christ already mention in john chapter 5 verses 28, & 28 & 25 that the resurrection will only happen on the last day... so if anybody in this life period teach that after you die you go to heaven is a liar(cough christianity), cause the resurrection has not happen yet...... and the only people who are going to heaven after armageddon is the 144,000(book of revelation said's 'they were', in revelation chapter 1, god said 'things that must shortly come to pass)...... continue>
Well, after school and university I have, IN FACT, come to realise that BILLIONS ARE DEAD IN THEIR GRAVES .
So if Anybody in this life period teach that after you die you go to heaven is a liar(cough Christianity)
Does that mean you won't really be dead, but awake and waiting - the whole time?
And after that, will you remain bounded by time like you are now?
bang
i want to consider this point, free from the trinity / arian debate.
there have been an abundance of threads that have deteriorated into these doctrine, and it clouds this issue because tempers get raised.. so, please, can we keep it simple.
should jesus receive our worship, right here, right now?.
When it comes to worship, people just do it. The question of who should you worship is simply a bizarre one.
People either do or they don't - it doesn't involve a deliberated opinion of appropriate mannerism.
I think jws continually confuse the meaning with that of 'paying homage' - an intended course of action. The wise men "fell down and worshipped Him", not "decided to bow down and pay homage as is fitting" - the whole idea is a ridiculous diversion to the meaning - very much a jwism.
bang
the issue of consent .
the issue of whether a person has consented to a particular action is a core part of our social relationships whether they be personal or group interactions.
to participate in any social relationship a person must on some level consent to that participation.
to avoid the treat of being killed by jehovah
Well, there's intimidation and coercion for a start - contract void.
pledge allegiance to jehovah - no such person - so contract void.
Jw baptism is not the baptism of God, but the baptism of men. Even then, children, or anyone else for that matter, shouldn't be held to a contract acquired by an intimidating coercion.
bang
i want to consider this point, free from the trinity / arian debate.
there have been an abundance of threads that have deteriorated into these doctrine, and it clouds this issue because tempers get raised.. so, please, can we keep it simple.
should jesus receive our worship, right here, right now?.
LET the angels worship Him - there's no wrong that they do
And why would angels worship Him? - He revealed who He was, more than they could even concieve.
The worship written of is not some sort of reverend "paying homage", like a ritual.
"O come, let US adore Him".
and entering the house they found Jesus with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshipped Him
bang
the issue of consent .
the issue of whether a person has consented to a particular action is a core part of our social relationships whether they be personal or group interactions.
to participate in any social relationship a person must on some level consent to that participation.
I think that the ex-jws should come to realise now that baptism is not about a one chance earned and secured contract for membership in the beast-god's private club - for the benefits of armageddon avoidance and future rewards.
All I can say is if you knew the Lord, you would take your newborn babes to Him because you simply couldn't wait to, as none other is so kind and dependable, so merciful, so reliable - so loving - no others that you can trust so absolutely to do the most right and good by your child.
Like Abraham, who believed against hope, in His goodness. There was in reality, no reason for him to worry about giving his only son, none at all, no one else could be trusted so with his well-being.
The lie of men is that God can't really be trusted, so better make sure your kids are prepared to come before this nasty judge.
Take your littlest children.
bang
for those who can't wait till sunday...
ousted members contend jehovah's witnesses' abuse policy hides offenses
by laurie goodstein
we hope that these brothers may change
Well, so do I, but preferably without using more of the live bait to determine what opinion I should form in the future. If they want to be holy men, then let them pray for everyone all day instead.
bang
Edited by - bang on 11 August 2002 5:24:19
ran into some jws today.
was out to lunch at a restaurant with 2 of my kids.
there were 2 tables full of jws, i wondered what the occasion was.
I caught them trying to talk to my young son and give him magazines, instead of asking to see his parents - I'll admit that I ventured into an "alert and amenable to delivering all harm mode" for the time.
I'm not concerned now, as my son has already had first hand experience of jw assholism. He has already seen a folded arm fruitcake arrogantly upset his mother (considerably) and remain unrepentant. He won't forget it. I explained how he was jw.
bang
i think the title is self-explanatory for the most part, but to clarify: i'm not talking about jw dogma.
i mean, why do so many, even ex-jw, settle on dogma?
why use one "holy book" to define your spirituality?
