Posts by MidwichCuckoo

What is more, it is considered uncharitable and unkind to expose the lie or publicize the wrong of another. People feel that it may not be the best policy to deceive and be untruthful, but to make known deception and uncover falsehood is regarded as being even worse. To do so often opens one to greater censure than is received by the person who commits the wrong.

This apathetic acceptance of corruption and falsehood is also noted in religious matters, especially now when ecumenical efforts are seeking to unite the many different religions. The teachings and practices of a religious organization may admittedly be false, misrepresenting true Christianity, yet to expose them as such is viewed as unchristian. You, no doubt, have noted this to be so.

Well, then, how do you feel about the matter? What if someone spoke out publicly against certain religious leaders, saying to them: "You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. . . . When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie." Would you think such language unbecoming to a Christian? Even though it were true, would you consider it wrong to undermine the reputation of respected religious leaders in that way?

What if a person used even stronger condemnatory language, saying: "Woe to you, theologians and clergymen, hypocrites! because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in. . . . Fools and blind ones! . . . Woe to you, theologians and clergymen, hypocrites! because you resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men’s bones and of every sort of uncleanness. In that way you also, outwardly indeed, appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. . . . Serpents, offspring of vipers, how are you to flee from the judgment?"

Would such language immediately cause you to label the speaker an intolerant bigot? Many people may consider such speech entirely improper and unchristian. YetthesearethewordsofourLordJesusChrist,spokentotherespectedreligiousleadersofhisday! The only change in this direct quotation from the Bible is the substitution of the terms "theologians and clergymen" for "scribes and Pharisees." And this is most appropriate, for those men were the clergy of the first century among the Jews, even wearing distinctive garb to draw attention to their office, as many clergymen do today.—See John 8:44 and Matthew 23:1-36.

But why did Jesus speak in this way about those men? It was because they had misrepresented God and his teachings. Their false religious traditions and practices had misdirected people from the pathway of righteousness that leads to the kingdom of God. On an earlier occasion Jesus had said to certain religious leaders:

"You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’" And so Jesus said to his disciples: "Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."—Matt. 15:6-14.

So, then, when religious leaders and organizations of Christendom misrepresent God’s Word by teaching traditions of men, is it wrong to expose their false doctrines? When they claim to be following Christ and yet mix in worldly politics, is it a bad thing to publicize that their actions are unchristian and condemned by God? Should the truth be suppressed because it exposes falsehood and corruption? Never! Jesus never hesitated to speak the truth, even though he was killed at the instigation of the angered religious leaders for doing so.—John 17:14; Jas. 4:4.

Therefore, how will you respond when pointed statements are made about false religious teachings and corrupt practices? Will you immediately condemn the person or organization making the exposé? Do you feel it is all right to teach lies and misrepresent God’s Word, but wrong to expose the error? Contrary to what some may think, it is not unkind and unloving to lay bare falsehood and corruption.

Remember the example of Jesus Christ. He was the most loving and kind person to walk the earth. He was tender and compassionate, even with sinful harlots and tax collectors. Lovingly he forgave them their transgressions and helped them on the way to life. Rather than advertise their sins, he covered them over. Yet, at the same time, in some of the strongest language recorded in the Bible, Jesus exposed the stubborn, haughty religious leaders. This was really a loving service, for the false teachings and practices of those religionists were leading their followers to the pit of destruction. The people needed to know the truth if they were to gain God’s approval.—Matt. 23:15.

Therefore, it is right and proper to speak out strongly against falsehood and corruption. A person or organization that, in imitation of Jesus Christ, has the courage to do so deserves attention and respect.

THE line between right and wrong has become so indistinct to many persons that it is almost imperceptible. Policemen take payoffs for overlooking traffic violations; citizens pad expenses on income-tax returns; married persons are unfaithful to their mates and youths cheat on school examinations. Once almost everyone would have viewed such behavior as shocking, obviously wrong and deserving of censure. But now, while not being fully approved, it is generally accepted as natural—the way of life. "They all do it," people are frequently heard to say.

18

DID NOAH USE BUCKETS?

by badboy in

jw
friends

it has been suggested by creationists(cri?

) that noah used buckets so the animals on his ark could crap.. is this so?.

if so, did he mold the plastic etc.

MidwichCuckoo

Lol Sad Emo. I heard that God would have stopped all the animals' bodily functions.

35

Trust in Jehovah in these hard economic times--but send us money

by Bonnie_Clyde in

clyde has heard from two sources that a letter was read at the meeting last week.

after encouragement to trust in jehovah, they suggested that each publisher send about $5.70 to the society each month to help support the organization.

that's the way he heard it.

MidwichCuckoo

Sacrificial:- The WTBTS should start an MMORPG. World of WatchtowerCraft, and like other MMORPGs charge a monthly fee.
"I'm a level 42 Ministerial Servant! Check out my +3 Bookbag of placement. It gives me +2 Charisma, and it has a 'Summon: Egg McMuffin' ability!"
Now THAT is funny! Nothing would surprise me anymore, lol. Has the WT asked for 'petrol money saved due to Book Study cancellation' to be donated yet?
With regards to this $5.70...if they're asking for a direct amount from each publisher, is it to keep tabs on who IS donating?

82

Blood Issue took my mom last night

by rwagoner in

jw
friends

after years of fighting a physical disability that ended in kidney failure and several bouts of respiratory/cardiac arrestmy mom landed in the hospital last week.

the doc's said she needed heart surgery and kidney transplants but before they could operate they need to get her blood count back up.

it had fallen well below what her body could naturally restore on its own she she needed transfusions.

MidwichCuckoo

Sorry to hear of your sad news, Mums are very special x

32

Do you find debating with a JW exhaustive?

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

i certainly do.. i have been debating with two jw's on another forum about the un issue.

i have produced so much evidence that the un did have their citeria of support when the wt society became an ngo, all from the un itself.

yet because the wt statements say that they didn't have that criteria and it was changed later the jw's refuse to believe anything else.. sometimes i think what's the point talking to these people.

MidwichCuckoo

I don't think they have the ability to debate, as the WT has given them all the answers so they don't need (and are not allowed) to 'think' for themselves. I also think that the WT keeps them abreast of possible current 'apostate attacks' and supplies them with the defence (one line answer, lol) - so the R&F believe they are being prewarned and protected by God's Spirit (when in actual fact, 'God's Spirit' is trawling the internet to see what they are likely to be confronted with, lol)

23

are jws qualified to teach the bible?

by badboy in

jw
friends

in the tract delivered saturday, it said that a neighbour qualified to teach the bible would come around if you wanted.. are they actually qualfiied?.

MidwichCuckoo

In my opinion, NO. I find their only use of the Bible is in backing up Watchtower propoganda...or am I being cynical?

343

Defence of watchtower society Links

by reniaa in

i thought long and hard before making this thread, that many will not agree with it but i think there needs to be balance and people to realise there are alternate viewpoints out there on many of these subjects, the ones that are most spoke about on this forum.

i was recently sent a full message containing mary's book and these links give the rebuttal to many of her points.

those that are still open-minded enough feel free to look over them even if in the end you still don't agree at least you have heard both the defence as well as the attack as they are on the internet.

MidwichCuckoo

I don't understand. If you want to be convinced about the validity of the WT - which you clearly do - then you'd be better off on a pro-JW site, or even at your local Kingdom Hall. I've just (more or less) read through this entire thread, and I distinctly get the impression that reniaa has no interest in any responses, except to hand-pick a few and milk attention by (badly) pulling them apart. The phrase 'pearl before swine' comes to mind. I don't know if you've ever posted this, but are you on any sort of medication for 'depression'? I don't mean that in an offensive way, but the amount of JWs I know/have known on Prozac (and the like), by FAR outweighs any non-JWs on similar medication. Personally I put it down to cognizant dissonance, and I feel you need to justify the WTs lies (with 'our' help - as JWs will tell you what you want to hear), rather than face up to them.

38

WATCHTOWER COMMENTS is getting a WEBSITE

by V in

in the works, watchtower comments will soon sport a webpage under an prominent counter-jw website.

toying with the design, let me know what you think.

site will have embedded videos, links to high-quality downloads and pdf supplimentals.

MidwichCuckoo

Brilliant!