Posts by blondie

12

How does God communicate with Jehovah's Witnesses?

by Vanderhoven7 in

gilles gray writes:.

the short answer is, god communicates with jehovah’s witnesses very poorly indeed.. jehovah’s witnesses are the first to affirm that god doesn’t directly communicate with them at all.. however, this fact doesn’t stop them from making the baseless assertion that god communicates to them through reading the bible, through holy spirit and through their leaders (known as the governing body, or the faithful and discreet slave).. here is a claim made by one of the first leaders of the watchtower organisation:-.

communication through reading the bible.

blondie

I could never get a straight answer from an elder, circuit or district overseer, or even the 4 GB members I asked separately. Danced around it. The WTS says this about how their god communicates with a judicial meeting, elders meeting, or GB meeting. WTS statements, just reporting not supporting

Through the bible

Moved by his boundless love, Jehovah wanted to communicate with us. He chose the best possible way—a written “letter” penned by human writers under the guidance of holy spirit. As a result, Jehovah’s own wisdom is found in its pages. This wisdom is “very trustworthy.”

(But then the WTS says the only way to understand their god’s answer is for the WTS to explain it in their publications and from their “representatives.)

Through the elders

When the people of Israel left ancient Egypt, God’s orders for them came through Moses and Aaron. To survive the tenth plague, the Israelites had to obey the instructions to have a special meal and to splash some of the blood of a slaughtered sheep on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. That direction did not come to them by means of a voice out of heaven. No, they had to listen to the older men of Israel, who in turn received specific instructions from Moses. (Ex. 12:1-7, 21-23, 29) In those circumstances, Moses and the older men acted as bearers of Jehovah’s instructions to his people. Christian elders fulfill a comparably vital function today.

Through the governing body (a subset of the faithful and discreet slave)

Jehovah also speaks to us by means of “the faithful and discreet slave.” As Jesus foretold, a small group of anointed Christian men has been appointed to provide spiritual “food at the proper time” during these troublesome last days. (Matthew 24:45-47) When we read literature prepared to help us acquire accurate knowledge of the Bible and when we attend Christian meetings and conventions, we are being fed spiritually by that slave. Because it is Christ’s slave, we wisely apply Jesus’ words: “Pay attention to how you listen.” (Luke 8:18) We listen attentively because we recognize the faithful slave as one of Jehovah’s means of communicating with us.

(Never directly to an individual (not even a single governing body member but only by a majority vote of the body at their Wednesday meetings—at least it was. Thus the WTS/GB has cautioned individual FDS that any messages to the FDS will come through the GB not directly to them) The July 15, 2013, issue of The Watchtower explained that “the faithful and discreet slave” is a small group of anointed brothers who make up the Governing Body. And elaborate in a 2017 February WT study article Who is Leading God’s People Today?) Too many individual self-proclaiming FDS felt they were be given info from their god and not going through the GB. One female jw even said the elders had to take direction from her because she was anointed.

93

Regional Convention Attendance

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

elder friend of mine texted me asking what my rc attendance was 2 weeks ago (family and i streamed it since wife is not well).

he told me that his rc in the jersey city assembly hall last weekend was low.

co told them that around 2600 were the total from 16+ congs that were assigned.

blondie

I remember reading on here suggested that District now Regional conventions would be changed to only 3 days total, and circuit assemblies all being just one day. Is this a part fulfillment. :)

44

Need help - the Revelation Climax book

by ozziepost in

is it an original from the graphics department?.

anyone know?.

blondie

I found this link used a 2006 JWN original post. http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/87.htm

7

Watchtower (Study) August 2023 - gaslighting and deflecting again.

by was a new boy in

'they turn the story around to make it seem like you are at fault, deflecting attention and blame away from them to make you feel guilty.

this type of emotional manipulation is called gaslighting.. .

deflection is manipulation, and if it's coupled with other toxic relationship behaviors, it may be necessary to remove yourself from the situation.'.

blondie

In 1976 the WTS tried to back out of the emphasis on 1975 as a certain date by blaming the rank and file jws but not pointing the finger at themselves as an organization: In its issue of July 15, 1976, The Watchtower, commenting on the inadvisability of setting our sights on a certain date, stated: “If anyone has been disappointed through not following this line of thought, he should now concentrate on adjusting his viewpoint, seeing that it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but that his own understanding was based on wrong premises.” In saying “anyone,” The Watchtower included all disappointed ones of Jehovah’s Witnesses, hence including persons having to do with the publication of the information that contributed to the buildup of hopes centered on that date." And the WTS leaves it ambiguous as to whether was individuals in the organization or those in charge of choosing the information. (Note. it was not the word of God that failed or deceived him and brought disappointment, but his OWN understanding was based on a wrong premise)

24

God, Jesus, & Holy Spirit - never mentioned together in one authentic verse.

by BoogerMan in

in every scripture where god & jesus appear, the holy spirit is always awol/mia.. probably explains the existence of binitarians..

blondie

The only place I have seen that phrase is in Matthew 28:19 All other references don't mention the holy spirit. Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, (RNWT)

The baptism questions asked of people being baptized as jws in 2006 where "holy spirit" was replaced with "holy-spirit directed organization: On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?

And the 2017 WT publication repeats that: Have you dedicated your life to Jehovah and symbolized your dedication by water baptism? If so, that is wonderful! Recall that on your baptism day, before eyewitnesses, you were asked whether you had dedicated yourself to Jehovah and understood that “your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization.

30

Confirmed: CO Discourages Zoom

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

i can confirm that the co during one of his service talks stated that zoom is a provision for elderly, infirmed, as well as people who might need it on occasion due to health reasons, otherwise you are expected to be in person at meetings and in the ministry.

this had to come down from the top.

maybe they do not want to put it in a gb update or broadcast since that would be too public i suppose.

blondie

BOEs in a letter from the WTS said that BOEs have to submit a request to the CO to continue using Zoom, and he will be deciding whether or not to continue. Seems like the WTS is following through and have the CO "encourage" congregations to go back to in person meetings. Before Zoom, meetings were put live on phone calls, but jws had to be vetted to see if they "qualified" to have it, then were given a password to connect to the live sound. The password was not to be shared with anyone else, and was changed every month. I can see a version of this in using Zoom.

46

Does the WTS have a clergy class (yes-no)

by blondie in

jw
friends

wt 2021 october p.20 "in contrast, true worshippers of jehovah have no clergy.

although we respect those who are taking the lead, we accept jesus’ clear teaching: “all of you are brothers.”".

ijbq article 92 point 6: in contrast, true worshippers of jehovah have no clergy.

blondie

The WTS relies on semantics, quibbling about details. The word clergy is not even used in the bible, and the WTS cherry-picks scriptures and uses weasel words. The WTS claims to have a clergy when they are in a secular court trying to block the secular authority from having access to "secret" damaging info, but then the WTS wants to say they are better than religions that have a clergy. As to not having a "laity," if the WTS claims to have a clergy to the secular authorities, then they must have a laity.

24

Petra--2023 PDF--Editions!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

pdf editions.

uk addendum to shepherd the flock.

english--elder manual.

blondie

Beth Sarim, when my husband was still an elder and I was on here (he didn't ask), I told him about the non-letter to the BOE about the change in how blood transfusions. I had learned on JWN that the CO just read it to the elders, would not let them look at it, let alone make a copy. My husband asked that it looked like a letter to him and even had the WT Logo on the top of the non-letter. (My husband was and is at looking through letter paper and seeing what was on the other side). My husband was a new elder, and the other elders gave him a look that meant he should stop talking. He came home and asked me how I knew that before the elders did. Yes, the info was hot off the press on here. It has to come from elders still in the WTS who are PIMO.

8

History Puzzle

by vienne in

i'm trying to solve a mystery for uncle b. he owns three antique tracts that were bound into one volume for william morris wright, for six years a society director.

two are easy to identify.

its title is: "the times of the gentiles, and the things which are.

blondie

When I met Jeff, many moons ago, I was very impressed with his knowledge and his willingness to share it. I just realized that I didn't want to be part of any religion. But he is great and his dad.

33

Regional convention 2023

by sove in

jw
friends

any streamed content from this years regional convention available with any of you guys?

.

blondie

They used to change the covers of the Awake and WT to show people from that language area. They don't do that any more?