Posts by bennyk

18

How Would You Answer...?

by EmptyInside in

i'm wondering what to reply to someone who said the main message of the "truth" is the same.

that jehovah is god and he sent his only-begotten son to die for us,so that,we could have everlasting life on earth.. the rest of the changes don't really matter to them.

that witnesses are the only religion to teach this and the only ones preaching it.

bennyk

[T]he main message of the "truth" is the same. That Jehovah is God and He sent His only-begotten son to die for us,so that,we could have everlasting life on earth.

The original "main message" taught by Russell was that all true Christians (both the 144 000 and the "great company" [crowd] ) would receive a heavenly reward; non-christians and athiests would be eligible for everlasting life on earth. Thus, the "main message" is not the same.

The rest of the changes don't really matter to them.

The other changes should matter. If one fails to accept the Watch Tower Society's current teachings (no matter what they may be), one is already no longer an "approved associate." And if one speaks against "the rest of the changes", one will be disfellowshiped per the "Questions from Readers" in the 01. April 1986 Watchtower.

2

This is Paradise, and the one dollar bet was won!

by sinis in

think about this from a logical perspective.

you are the ceo of a large corporation.

during a general assembly to your stock holders and employees, a lone worker comes up to the podium, and in front of thousands of his co-workers and managers proudly tells the ceo that he bets all his company stock and dignity that he, the lowly worker can run the company better.

bennyk

Or,

the lowly company XYZ worker, despite extensive and intensive "ass-busting", is proving he really isn't up to the task...

The bigger question would be: Would the CEO even take such a bet?

18

What is the best book about JWs (written by non JWs, of course), in your opinion?

by Chemical Emotions in

i've never read any, so i'd like to know everyone's opinion..

bennyk

Not the "best", but still highly recommended:

Jehovah's Witnesses: Their Claims, Doctrinal Changes, and Prophetic Speculation. What Does the Record Show? by Edmond Gruss.

http://www.amazon.com/Jehovahs-Witnesses-Doctrinal-Prophetic-Speculation/dp/193123230X/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317681309&sr=8-1-spell

13

What about other religions?

by TimothyT in

i love being a christian and i deeply respect the teachings of jesus and i firmly believe that it is through faith in him that we recieve eternal life and salvation.. but what about everyone else?

islam, hindu, buddhist, etc?.

even as a jw i never believed that salvation was exlusively for jw's, but where do all other sincere worshippers of other religions fit in?

bennyk

Consider also 1 Timothy 2:5,6.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all...

33

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-25-2011 WT Study (ENTER REST)

by blondie in

jw
friends

however, love for god and for his.

our love for god and his dear son = is of no value unless we are part of the human/earthly organization, the wts.

how many scriptures are actually read and applied at a meeting?

bennyk

How did Jehovah feel about them? He did not bless them. They left the organization. (paragraph 10)

Sounds like he blessed them...

52

The Dog that did not bark: Jehovah's Witnesses' greatest mystery

by Terry in

'the dog that didn't bark' is an expression from a sherlock holmes mystery.

it was an important clue that led to identifying the criminal.. it seems that the killer entered and left the estate grounds one night but without the guard dog barking an alarm at the intruder's presence as expected.. from this nonevent holmes reasoned that the dog must have known the killer and that clue led to solving the case.. .

jehovah's witnesses are "the dog that didn't bark.".

bennyk

Are people in congregations entitled to their own opinion? Or, not?

Russell stated he did not have an opinion.

Perhaps in 1896 he had no opinion.

Russell was editor and publisher of the Watch Tower. Russell's later silence spoke volumes. He let other people express his opinion for him.

At first I said, "This new view of justification is the only thing I take exception to," but soon discovered that you had erred (?) on the Covenants; next, the Sin-Offering doctrine was an insidious denial of the Ransom; next, it was Baptism--that was wrong, too; and of course you had worked your blasphemous (that is what I called it) doctrine into the Memorial service of our Lord's death. Soon those who opposed you were all right, and you were wrong. I got to believe that you had never been " That Servant , whom the Lord made master of all his goods"--that Servantwas a class; that most of those things you once had right, but you had changed. You see the condition my mind was in, and yet, I believe I was honest, and was loyal to the Lord in opposing what I thought was error. My heart was not at ease; the conflict was terrible, and I suffered greatly. And while I verily thought I was right in my course, I have prayed earnestly every day for guidance into the Truth, and into peace. I kept the Vow as best I could under such conditions. While I thought my faith was on a surer foundation than ever, I now know it was nearly gone. (Letter from Clarence Fowler, Watch Tower 01. July 1910. reprints p. 4645

At a recent business meeting it was unanimously voted "That Brother Charles T. Russell be officially recognized as ' That Servant,' to whom the Lord promised He would give all His storehouse of 'Present Truth,' if faithful, and that he serve as Pastor to the Ecclesia at __________, until the completion of the Age." We are pleased to accept the sermons and WATCH TOWER as your personal service to us. (Letter from M. L. Wolf, Watch Tower 01. November 1913 reprints p. 5346)

I praise God for raising you up, dear Brother, as " that Servant ." May He bless you still more, that you may give us the "meat in due season." I also thank the dear Lord that He brought me to this country before this awful war; and made me to realize "where are the dead," as all my people are being shot and I should have been in despair. (letter from "Your sister by his grace", Watch Tower, 15.April 1916 reprints p. 5888)

52

The Dog that did not bark: Jehovah's Witnesses' greatest mystery

by Terry in

'the dog that didn't bark' is an expression from a sherlock holmes mystery.

it was an important clue that led to identifying the criminal.. it seems that the killer entered and left the estate grounds one night but without the guard dog barking an alarm at the intruder's presence as expected.. from this nonevent holmes reasoned that the dog must have known the killer and that clue led to solving the case.. .

jehovah's witnesses are "the dog that didn't bark.".

bennyk

The striking thing is that Rutherford, McMillan and Ambrose are the ONLY SOURCEs that Russell "privately admitted" to being the FDS!

True.

The JW's are stuck with a lie that Rutherford told to elevate Russell to cult status so that he could maintain the loyalty of the bible students.

However, I am not so certain that Rutherford lied about Russell's 'privately admitting he was the "Faithful and Wise Servant"'. When individuals whose letters published in the Watch Tower referred to Russell as "That Servant" (Matthew 24:46), he never corrected them in his published reply. If he really felt that it had been inappropriate to refer to him thus, he should have felt a moral obligation to state that. (argumentum e silentio)

25

We can't let them get away with it: HAVING IT BOTH WAYS!

by Terry in

what is the claim of the watchtower society as to the source of their authority to create public messages of dire warning?.

mouthpiece of god.. .

anointed remnant (faithful and discreet slave).

bennyk

"Like the apostles of Jesus Christ, they have at times had some wrong expectations."

Unlike the Apostles, they have made their various "wrong expectations" the focus of their public preaching for their entire existence.

53

The Governing Body has NEVER claimed to be inspired

by Alfred in

there was a recent thread here which covered the subject of the gb claiming to be spirit directed (and not actually inspired by the holy spirit).

by now, most of us are quite aware that this is just a play with words to excuse themselves whenever one of their false doctrines is debunked (by someone using the bible or their own publications).

but when you think of it, spirit-directed is actually more presumptuous than spirit-inspired.. that being said, id really like to draw attention to the fact that the wt continuously claims that the governing body of jehovahs witnesses has never claimed to be inspired by god (through his holy spirit).

bennyk

The snippet from the Walsh trial transcript was from the cross-examination of Hayden Covington -- not Fred Franz.

41

A few notes on September 15, 2011 Watchtower, fresh off the presses!

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

september 15th, 2011 watchtower, page 28, paragraph 13:.

"if a human overseer in god's organization provides you with instructions that seem extremely detailed, you might at times feel frustrated.

jehovah, however, is a perfect overseer who delegates generously and trusts his servants.

bennyk

"The finish line is just ahead.What a pity it would be if we allowed ourselves to be burdened down with unnecessary weights that could impede us when we are so close to the end!"(p. 22)

"We are near the end of our race. The finish line is as good as in sight." (p. 24)

This could just as easily be found in a Zion's Watch Tower from the 1880's...