Posts by TheListener

6

Grace versus Ephesians 4th & 5th Chapters

by TheListener in

for those who are believers in god and the bible:.

if we have god's grace and have been purchased by jesus shed blood why do we have to be careful not to do the things mentioned in ephesians and elsewhere in order to not be excluded from god's kingdom?.

for example, ephesians tells us not to tell obscene jokes, or commit immorality, etc etc for if we do we will not inherit god's kingdom.

TheListener

BTT

It's been awhile since this I created this topic and a lot of new christian posters are around.

I would love to hear some thoughts on this topic.

12

Here's at least one witness view of Sept KM

by TheListener in

jw
friends

i found this on beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):.

i just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what i understood isn't exactly what you understood.

let me expand on that:.

TheListener

The WTS has always excelled at separating their followers from the world via frowning on birthdays, worldy family get-togethers, holidays, after school activities, etc etc.

Now they are reactivating the decades old campaign to separate witnesses from each other by frowning on the following items on congregation gatherings, large wedding receptions, youth parties and now re-emphasizing that study groups are frowned on as well.

It appears that the WTS has determined that the best way to maintain the membership numbers in their organization is to have each member live in a vacuum. As most know, vacuums do not sustain life.

25

Lurking has its faults

by RisingEagle in

jw
friends

i've been researching prior postings gathering info but mostly reading because i've been 'out' for almost 14 years.

i still have numerous relatives that are still 'in' and when we get together those still in seem to get a sort of kick out of discussing super double secret goings on with 'new light' and changes in the cult.

it's been fun to be able to say, "oh you mean the change in length of the sunday talk?

TheListener

A hearty welcome to Mr and Mrs Eagle.

I really enjoyed your posts.

Love your idea of cleaning. hahahahaha. That was a good comeback to brother busybody.

12

Here's at least one witness view of Sept KM

by TheListener in

jw
friends

i found this on beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):.

i just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what i understood isn't exactly what you understood.

let me expand on that:.

TheListener

OK perhaps this link will work.

http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/boards_main.AllCategories.asp?Category=116

12

Here's at least one witness view of Sept KM

by TheListener in

jw
friends

i found this on beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):.

i just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what i understood isn't exactly what you understood.

let me expand on that:.

TheListener

Sorry no link but you guys gotta check out the thread on the sept. km at beliefnet. It's under Jehovah's Witness Discussions.

12

Here's at least one witness view of Sept KM

by TheListener in

jw
friends

i found this on beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):.

i just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what i understood isn't exactly what you understood.

let me expand on that:.

TheListener

I found this on Beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):

I just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what I understood isn't exactly what you understood. Let me expand on that:

The question is: "Does the "faithful and discreet slave" endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate?"

What does the word "endorse" mean?

endorse
verb [trans.]
1 declare one's public approval or support of : the report was endorsed by the college. See note at APPROVE .
-recommend (a product) in an advertisement.

NOTE:
Endorse implies a more public and official expression of support and is used primarily in reference to things that require promotion or publicity (: endorse a political candidate), while commend is to make a formal and usually public statement of approval or congratulation ( | he was commended for his heroism).

This is important to point out because some may equate the research findings and publications that some may make as what Jehovah's Witnesses as a whole believe.

The article goes on to say that the organization has set up many means of providing spiritual food for Jehovah's people in the form of congregation meetings, conventions, assemblies, and its publications (although the article doesn't mention it, there are the various schools as well).

1 Cor. 1:10 is cited and I think this is a VERY important scripture. We as Jehovah's people need to be in the same mind and line of thinking. To achieve that, Jehovah works through his organization on earth, just as he has always done. In this case, it is the faithful slave who has been entrusted with Christ's domestics on earth.

They go on to repeat that they do not endorse any websites, literature, or meetings that are not under its oversight.

Does this mean that it is forbidden to do extra study? No, they go on to say that it is commendable to use our thinking abilities in support of the good news. They also counsel us that any personal pursuits should not detract from what the congregation is accomplishing today.

They go on to cite the Apostle Paul's warning:

3 Just as I encouraged you to stay in Ephesus when I was about to go my way into Macedonia, so I do now, that you might command certain ones not to teach different doctrine, 4 nor to pay attention to false stories and to genealogies, which end up in nothing, but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith. 5 Really the objective of this mandate is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy. 6 By deviating from these things certain ones have been turned aside into idle talk, 7 wanting to be teachers of law, but not perceiving either the things they are saying or the things about which they are making strong assertions.

This is good counsel. And this isn't the first time I've read it. I studied it in the book called "Worship the Only True God."

I always try to apply this scripture. I don't like getting into debates with people. It never achieves anything. At the end, it's a just a bunch of words and idle talk.

And of course they recommend our own Encyclopedia and Summary of the Bible because they put a lot of work into them and we can be sure that we're getting accurate knowledge.

That's my take on this. Nothing really new.

37

Die hard jw's see any problem with Sept km?

by carla in

will die hard jw's see any control issues with the sept km?

i once brought up the fact to my jw that jw's were not allowed to get together informally to do any kind of 'bible' studies without the approval of the elders, gb, etc.. he said that was totally ridiculous and false, more apostate lies.

this was long ago now and i'm not sure he even remembers saying it.

TheListener

Gary,

In the past I would have disagreed with your analysis. But, now, I am not sure you're far off the mark. The WTS seems to be do their own form of separating work. The question seems to be: how will those in the congregations react to this new situation?

7

can jw's use medically, those icky things?

by carla in

the other thread about leeches got me thinking, can jw's use those absolutely disgusting bugs you may find in rotten garbage but also is used to treat gangrene?

i will not say what it rhymes with as that would be politically incorrect but i also cannot type that word nor say it, it is too disgusting and give me the willies.

this 'bug' eats dead flesh anyway.

TheListener

That's the exactl article I had in mind.

Good find.

That last paragraph is a real stinker.

91

My Brother Died in a Car Wreck Last Night

by WLG in

jw
friends

i just found out about an hour ago.

he wasn't even old enough to drink yet.. to make it even sh*ttier, he had called me a few weeks ago and asked if he could come out here with me but i couldn't do it at the time.

so of course the first thing that comes to mind is if i had done something different it wouldn't have happened.. he was going through the sh*t as i call it, when witnesses go off the deep end and get into everything in the world to stop hurting and they don't even know what is wrong.

TheListener

Oh WLG I am so so sorry. (((((WLG)))))

7

can jw's use medically, those icky things?

by carla in

the other thread about leeches got me thinking, can jw's use those absolutely disgusting bugs you may find in rotten garbage but also is used to treat gangrene?

i will not say what it rhymes with as that would be politically incorrect but i also cannot type that word nor say it, it is too disgusting and give me the willies.

this 'bug' eats dead flesh anyway.

TheListener

I'll look up the reference on the CD but the use of leeches is not acceptable. Because they eat blood.

-the fact that it makes no sense because God created them to eat blood seems irrelevant to the dubs.