Posts by jaffacake

48

Did YOU Ever "Stumble" Anyone? ....Anyone Ever "Stumble" You???

by minimus in

jw
friends

the elders and the organization always put us on alert to make sure we never "stumbled" anyone.

of course, someone was always be counseled for this offense.

Why are there four gospels?

by jaffacake in

jw
friends

for believers, if god uses the bible to communicate factual information, then why four gospels?

and why are they not in harmony with each other?

why not send down one record of the life of jesus as it really happened?

But the Bible makes it clear that most people who call themselves prophets are not truly inspired by God. (see dispute between 2 prophets, Jerenmiah and Hananiah - Jer 28). We know the test of true prophets, they are known by their fruits ie their predictions come true.

43

Why are there four gospels?

by jaffacake in

jw
friends

for believers, if god uses the bible to communicate factual information, then why four gospels?

and why are they not in harmony with each other?

why not send down one record of the life of jesus as it really happened?

jaffacake

There are many factual discrepancies, although the main purpose is in harmony.

The gospels seem to reflect the personality and perspective of the four individual authors, as well as what really happened, although there is no disharmony on the important messages. Does all this mean or imply that what is important is the individual human response and relationship to Jesus. If God wanted a set of facts and doctrines to be revealed, Jesus could have written stuff down himself, or we would have one Gospel. For believers, this cannot be an accident.

So does the Bible teach that there is no unbiased interpretation free record of divine revelation. If so, this surely applies to the whole Bible. The fact that there are four Gospels forces us to compare, and recognise diverse perspectives within Christianity, and learn and respond in a personal way to the living Christ?

43

Why are there four gospels?

by jaffacake in

jw
friends

for believers, if god uses the bible to communicate factual information, then why four gospels?

and why are they not in harmony with each other?

why not send down one record of the life of jesus as it really happened?

jaffacake

Thats cheating Min. You're supposed to try and figure out an answer all by yourself. Go on, have a go

43

Why are there four gospels?

by jaffacake in

jw
friends

for believers, if god uses the bible to communicate factual information, then why four gospels?

and why are they not in harmony with each other?

why not send down one record of the life of jesus as it really happened?

jaffacake

For believers, if God uses the Bible to communicate factual information, then why four gospels? And why are they not in harmony with each other? Why not send down one record of the life of Jesus as it really happened? Is this in itself a form of revelation by God of the nature of the Bible?

For non-believers, why did early Christians not restrict the canon of scripture to one account, so opposers would have less ammunition? And why would they allow so many inconsistencies to remain in the Bible?

JWs and others want the Bible to contain one accurate and agreed account of what happened, but it does not. It contains errors, contradictions, and mistaken teaching in some parts, that gets corected or resolved in some way elsewhere.

67

Explain you religion/beliefs in a nutshell

by devinsmom in

jw
friends

lately i have been pondering my lack of a belief system.

i think that being a jw really turned me off to believing in anything since it was all crammed down my throat.. i have been feeling a need to believe in something.

i think i believe that something created us but not sure if it was one god or many.

jaffacake

In a nutshell, but I have only arrived at this point this week:

The existence of a creator God, the revelation of the unlimited love of God shown in the life and death of Jesus, and the hope that all might share in the redemption of the world that is accomplished by God in and through Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit.

67

Explain you religion/beliefs in a nutshell

by devinsmom in

jw
friends

lately i have been pondering my lack of a belief system.

i think that being a jw really turned me off to believing in anything since it was all crammed down my throat.. i have been feeling a need to believe in something.

i think i believe that something created us but not sure if it was one god or many.

jaffacake

Love2bworldly,

I was once where your husband is. Sounds like fundamentalism, I really do suggest you look into the book I recommended in above post, he'll wait forever for the 'rapture' if the Bible is really inspired!

Same comments to whyamIhere & jt stumbler. Like me, your experience of the Bible tells you what feels right and what does not, but why so many apparent contradictions? I have found an answer to that this week through my reading. I am learning to understand what scriptures really teach, instead of what religions try to make it fit into, each selecting the texts that support their world view.

Does the Bible really teach that only Christian's will be saved?

67

Explain you religion/beliefs in a nutshell

by devinsmom in

jw
friends

lately i have been pondering my lack of a belief system.

i think that being a jw really turned me off to believing in anything since it was all crammed down my throat.. i have been feeling a need to believe in something.

i think i believe that something created us but not sure if it was one god or many.

jaffacake

I have recently turned back to the Bible but have never really believed in it literally. After a lifetime of doubting, I now believe the Bible, when read properly, does not teach that practicing homosexuas, non-Christians etc will be excluded from salvation. My eyes have been opened, and my faith strengthened by a book I read this week which makes sense of the Bible to me. Everything seemed to come together, consistent with the overiding New Testament message that God is Love. I mentioned this on a thread a few days ago.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/91301/1.ashx

11

Turning in time reports monthly-

by JohnHag in

jw
friends

if a jw has to turn in a time report each month then it seems like compulsion--when is it out of love that one goes out into service?

jaffacake

"you shall know them by the love they show each other" helping each other now counts as field service.

And werent we also told to give aid etc in secret. You cant measure love in this way. If they want to monitor progress, why dont they do it the way the first century Christians did in the Book of Acts?

44

Why do you post here?

by seattleniceguy in

jw
friends

for me, it's mainly the money and the women, i suppose.. no, but seriously, i was thinking the other day about why i post here.

in september it will be two years since i left the organization.

i don't much care for doctrinal debates anymore, and i usually pass on threads that are concerned with he-said-she-said kind of stuff inside the organization.

jaffacake

Originally it was to get help and information.

It is the same reason now, but in addition I want to pass on some of the truths I have learned. I think it is human nature, that when you find out important truths that you want to pass them on to others.

Thanks to you all.