i have just posted the following article at http://jwfacts.com/index_files/greatcrowd.htm about the great crowd and the other sheep.
i would appreciate any comments in regards to the accuracy of statements and also checking grammar.
i have reposted it again further down because this insert is too annoying with the scrolling.
Oh and I forgot JWFacts, I liked your write up. The other sheep and anointed thing still hangs over my head.
I seem to be having trouble with the God's purpose thing. Did he create Adam & Eve to live forever on a paradise earth? If so, did he ever intend for them to go to heaven? Does he want us to live forever on paradise earth? AAAHHHHH!!!!!
OK I'm better now. twitch twitch
i have just posted the following article at http://jwfacts.com/index_files/greatcrowd.htm about the great crowd and the other sheep.
i would appreciate any comments in regards to the accuracy of statements and also checking grammar.
i have reposted it again further down because this insert is too annoying with the scrolling.
Oh and I forgot JWFacts, I liked your write up. The other sheep and anointed thing still hangs over my head.
I seem to be having trouble with the God's purpose thing. Did he create Adam & Eve to live forever on a paradise earth? If so, did he ever intend for them to go to heaven? Does he want us to live forever on paradise earth? AAAHHHHH!!!!!
OK I'm better now. twitch twitch
i have just posted the following article at http://jwfacts.com/index_files/greatcrowd.htm about the great crowd and the other sheep.
i would appreciate any comments in regards to the accuracy of statements and also checking grammar.
i have reposted it again further down because this insert is too annoying with the scrolling.
Regarding John 10:16 which reads (NIV) "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
Would it be fair to say that since Jesus was sent to gather what had been scattered (israelites) that this scripture is merely stating that he is going to add gentiles into the privileged position that the israelites had?
So the "other sheep I have" would be non-israelites, or gentiles. The "one fold" would then be a combo pack of israelites that had been gathered and gentiles that 'heard my voice'?
It seems fairly clear to me, which isn't saying much I know, that the 'other sheep' would have the same eventuality as those they were folded in with. As earlier in John 10 he says he will surrender his life in behalf of 'his sheep'. All sheep benefit.
if you attended a convention this year how many were baptized?
If you attended a convention this year how many were baptized?
http://www.e-watchman.com/.
this site is also made up of many ex and current jw's, the difference is they all remain deeply committed to christianity and bible study, but are extremely distrustful of the watch tower orginanization and consider it to be a "pharisee" or a "false prophet" what the bible warns of.
from what i am reading they seem to be the beginning movements of a break away sect, many of them praise russell who seems to have been more spiritual and laid back and trace the demise of the movement with rutherford, who began introducing all the messed up rules they have now.
I read there. IMHO - They have morphed over the last year or so from being very pro-witness with some reservations to outright hostile toward the society.
Some of the comments I read on there now would never have been tolerated a year or two ago.
Once the seed of dissension is sown it grows grows grows.
i called the information dept politely asking if mr brown was still a witness after commiting verbal apostasy during the interview with ldh.. i got transferred to one of their legal staff and he dropped the "f" bomb and hung up!
i on the other hand was a complete gentleman.. i would call this a golden opportunity to play up what has to be one of the most embarrasing moments for the dub leadership but is actually an important issue that any current dubz should be concerned about.
what is the actual policy of the org?
Earnest,
Are individuals under spirit direction more or less prone than individuals under inspiration to make mistakes in spiritual matters?
Is someone claiming spirit direction less accountable for spiritual errors than someone claiming inspiration?
As far as I'm concerned if an organization claims to be God's mouthpiece it is irrelevant whether they claim spirit direction or inspiration. If you must do what they say or lose God's grace then they've gone too far.
God's word the Bible is inspired. If someone who is anything less tells me what to do why MUST I follow them?
For others, is there really a biblical distinction between spirit direction and inspiration?
greg stafford posted on july 1, 2006 that he is returning to the organization.
you can read his article at: http://www.elihubooks.com/greg-stafford/another.htm.
his rationale and logic are most interesting.
Perhaps, like so many of us, he is just confused and isn't sure how to best proceed with his life?
Perhaps he is doing this for family relationships?
In any event, it is good to finally get confirmation from him that he was indeed not associating with Jehovah's witnesses for the last several years.
imagine what would happen in countless congregations across the globe if the society formally announced that "so and so is no longer one of.
jehovah's witnesses" simply because they became inactive.. not only would many congregations suffer under the burden of having their younger witness demographic get "expelled" , often one by .
one, in a steady drip as they fornicate/smoke/do weed/whatever, man - but you now add a regular stream of .
The only way I see it working is if the shunning is a personal decision.
Perhaps they'll discuss 2 Cor. 2:6 and the meaning of "the many" as opposed to "all".
In that way they incur no liability. Each individual will make a conscience decision based upon biblical information whether or not to shun an inactive one.
They won't have to dredge up old inactive names, the current members of the congregation are fully aware of who the current inactive ones are. If someone is so far removed that no one knows them then they are not a threat to the flock. It's the current inactive ones who remain in social contact with the congregation that concern them.
imagine what would happen in countless congregations across the globe if the society formally announced that "so and so is no longer one of.
jehovah's witnesses" simply because they became inactive.. not only would many congregations suffer under the burden of having their younger witness demographic get "expelled" , often one by .
one, in a steady drip as they fornicate/smoke/do weed/whatever, man - but you now add a regular stream of .
I guess the Society has to figure out whether they lose more by the drip drip drip of inactive ones being shunned and the depressed climate it may create at the Kingdom Halls versus the negative effect associating with an inactive one has on the faithful and the number who would reactivate themselves to save their relationships with family and friends.
Imho there would be an intial house cleaning - large numbers announced or unofficially announced that would shock the congregations. This shock would cause the faithful to run around preaching and teaching like never before. They'd do it because for sure the end is coming. A well placed WT article or two discussing Jehovah cleaning his temple would suffice.
After the initial spurt of house cleaning , things would settle down. The WTS would be left with a stronger core from which they could replace those who were inactive with stronger members and they wouldn't have the bad influence of the inactive ones in the congregation.
They wouldn't have to announce anything publicly. A couple of WT articles or talks that discuss the pitfalls and dangers of associating or being friends with someone who is inactive would suffice to isolate the inactive.
Those who are considering fading or currently fading would slow their fade down and possibly stop the fade in order to maintain relationships. The WTS DOES NOT CARE WHY YOU PREACH AND CONTRIBUTE - JUST THAT YOU DO IT.
I expect we'll hear more about this within 6 months. Which means the articles are already written and laid out.
so let me see if i got this straight.... to be a publisher you have to have 10 hours a month.
if you miss that target you are "irregular".
if you miss that target for six consecutive months you are "inactive".. what if you get your time in but miss all the meetings?
Typically the body of elders in a hall will have a list of those who put in 5 hours or less on average into the ministry. Those ones would be the likely candidates to receive some "assistance".
If there is an extenuating circumstance for 5 hours or less then no "assistance" may be forthcoming.
Each bookstudy overseer would know who his "low hour publishers" are and is supposed to help them out.
