Posts by bennyk

48

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 5-20-07 WT Review (Humbly Submit)

by blondie in

humbly submitting to loving shepherds.

*** w87 6/15 p. 15 par.

500-501 par.

bennyk

This entire Watchtower article was a steaming pile of horse excrement.

But any failure or mistakes on the part of certain elders would not justify an insubordinate attitude on our part .

That must be why John spoke so highly of Diotrephes (3 John 9, 10).

I'm certain Paul would have encouraged everyone to submit and obey those unfaithful Elders in Ephesus (Acts 20:29,30)

Jesus evidently did not agree with the GB's thinking, for he says regarding the Congregation in Ephesus: "I know your deeds... that you cannot bear bad men, and that you put those to the test who say they are Apostles, but they are not, and you found them liars." (Rev. 2: 2)

The Governing Body would applaud the Nuremberg Defense ("But my superior officer told me I must [insert crime here]"). Does anyone really believe that Jesus, who "searches the kidneys and hearts, and will give to YOU individually according to your deeds" (Rev. 2:23), will accept such an excuse favourably? The Allied Court did not. Apparently the Society wishes to inculcate the thought that others will bear the judgment and punishment for an individual's actions. Yet the Scriptures teach that "each of us will render an account for HIMSELF to God." (Rom. 14: 10)

9

My Mother is studying WT literature with a 7th Day Adventist and wants info

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

my mother is not computer savvy, so she asked me to look up 7th day advents and the woman,.

ellen white, who founded it.

i will print a bunch of information for her from wikipedia to help.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/seventh_day_adventist.

bennyk

Perhaps the SeventhDayAdventist could make use of the following:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/118225/1.ashx ("Deliverance at Hand" every decade for 120 years!)

15

Crisis of Conscience/ISoCF Library Campaign

by AK - Jeff in

many libraries do not have copies yet, as it is far from 'mainstream' reading for most people.

i propose that we can all do a small deed that can/might be a huge favor to our former 'brethren' in the 'truth'.

check with the local library, see if they have the books on the shelves.

bennyk

Yup. Our donations are still being processed, however.

We also donated Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan. This is good because it is not "apostate" (doesn't specifically mention the Watch Tower Society) and thus permissible for active Witnesses to read. They will be interested to discover that the WTS shares many characteristics with the "Moonies."

22

I Need A Comeback Statement

by journey-on in

when i suggested to my jw sister that the wts has caused so much pain and division in our family, she told me it was because my brothers and i had made the choice to leave.

we were responsible for the division---not the society.

we are the ones that chose to leave the love and protective shelter of jehovah's organization and we are the ones that have the choice to return to the fold.. i need an intelligent comeback, preferably one that will plant a seed, not one too sarcastic.

bennyk

If you are a Christian, you could ask her to read Matt. 10:32-39 and 19:29.

Then tell her that you will continue praying for her.

24

1919 Appointment

by garybuss in

when jesus appointed the watch tower corporation as his only channel on earth in 1919, what did he appoint?

did he appoint the people?

they're all dead now.. did he appoint the printing equipment?

bennyk

This also reminds me of a question that has come to my mind often.

Even if there was a 'first century governing body', where are we ever told that they appointed successors???

Well per the official teaching of the Watch Tower Society, the Apostles had NO successors.

In the Reasoning book, p. 37, under the subheading "Apostolic Succession" we find: "Definition: The doctrine that the 12 apostles have successors to whom authority has been passed by divine appointment. [...] Not a Bible teaching."

You might find this useful when discussing the Governing Body; I know I have found it so (and have used it, too!)

15

Has the organisation the biblical right to judge its members?

by Marcel in

okay, before you say straight "no!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!1111111111111111" let us rethink.

lets say jehovas witnesses actually have the truth.

bennyk

(Hebrews 13:17) 17 Be <b>obedient</b> to those who are taking the lead among YOU and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over YOUR souls as those who will render an account; that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to YOU.

When confronted with this Scripture, one could perhaps respond by reading 3 John 9,10 or Acts 20:29,30.

45

Update Regarding How The May 1 QFR Is "Playing" In The Congregations

by Justitia Themis in

i have been emailing with a sister in my congregation regarding the qfr.

i told her i wasn't discussing it with most jws, because i didn't want to hear any of their "new light" garbage.

i told her this isn't new light; this just means that what we paraded out in 1935 as "new light" was wrong.. she sheepishly (no pun intended) agreed.

bennyk

Ozziepost writes:
From another angle, by cutting themselves off from Joe Ratherflawed's scheme, they've opened up a real Pandora's Box - how will they stop the number of the "anointed"™ at a 'respectable' number so that they're still well under the 144,000?

I may well be wrong, but it seems that this QfR was almost unique among articles of the past four decades in not mentioning the number 144 000 in connection with the heavenly hope.

I think the WTS is interested in seeing the reaction to this article to determine whether or not they can feel free to "adjust" the teachings regarding the Anointed. Perhaps the number 144 000 may be tentatively suggested to be figurative, or they may wish to begin teaching that the 144 000 (as a literal number) were being gathered simultaneously with the Great Crowd (thereby countering the unspoken question many have regarding the length of time necessary for gathering the Bride Class). This latter option would be a partial return to the teachings of Russell.

45

Update Regarding How The May 1 QFR Is "Playing" In The Congregations

by Justitia Themis in

i have been emailing with a sister in my congregation regarding the qfr.

i told her i wasn't discussing it with most jws, because i didn't want to hear any of their "new light" garbage.

i told her this isn't new light; this just means that what we paraded out in 1935 as "new light" was wrong.. she sheepishly (no pun intended) agreed.

bennyk

Hmmm.

And in this QFR article, the number 144 000 was conspicuous -- by its ABSENCE.

3

current policy on swearing, as in oaths

by carla in

what is the current policy on swearing an oath to tell the truth?

such as in court, affidavids, passport office and that sort of thing.

i thought they were not supposed to at one time has this changed?

bennyk

The WTS' official teaching is that it is a conscience matter. They recognize that some may find swearing an oath problematic, due to Matt. 5:34-37 & James 5:12. The Courts will typically allow one to "affirm" that what is given as testimony is true; I have personally done this before giving testimony.

24

The JW lady came back/Who really is our Mediator?

by Guest with Questions in

jw
friends

continuation of my first post: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/132283/1.ashx.

this past tuesday the jw lady came back, which surprised me.

she came with her husband and i told them that it wasnt really fair (one against two).

bennyk

So what do Jehovah Witnesses really believe?

This is not unlike the question: "How long is a piece of string?". It really rather depends -- on the piece of string.

Officially, the Watch Tower Society's teaching is that Jesus serves as Mediator of the New Covenant, and consequently is Mediator only for those in the New Covenant, viz. the 144 000. The "Other Sheep" are said to be under [emphatically, NOT in] the New Covenant; therefore Jesus cannot be their Mediator. However, in my (limited) experience, very few Witnesses actually believe this.

In public prayer I not infrequently stated that the prayer was offered through our Mediator. On occasion (e.g. meals in our home), I actually apologized to guests for having done so. (I professed to be anointed while affiliated with the Watch Tower religion, and so did feel that Jesus was my Mediator.) Most Witnesses seemed entirely unaware of the Society's teaching. What was disturbing is how many also did not seem to care and would accept the Society's reasoning with no further consideration of the matter.