My Congregation had around 85 members in the 90's. With 5 divorces,young teens disfellowshipped,and members moving,there were around 35 in 2000. They have asked other brothers and sisters from other Congregations to join them. Now there are 10 new members. All of them are single. I forgot when there were any new members who joined from the preaching work.
RULES & REGULATIONS
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According to the WTS,true Christianity was reestablished in late 1800's.
by RULES & REGULATIONS inhow can the wts claim true christianity was reestablished with pastor russell when all his teachings have been proven to be all false?
and why have they changed their teachings on the memorial partakers and when the 144,000 were filled?.
questionsfromreaders.
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RULES & REGULATIONS
How can the WTS claim true Christianity was reestablished with Pastor Russell when all his teachings have been proven to be all FALSE? And why have they changed their teachings on the Memorial partakers and when the 144,000 were filled?
Questions
FromReadersThe
reports for some years show that the number partaking of the Memorial emblems increased slightly.Does this suggest that many new ones are being anointed with holy spirit?There is good reason to believe that the number of 144,000 anointed Christians was complete decades ago.
At Acts 2:1-4, we read about the first ones in that limited group: "Now while the day of the festival of Pentecost was in progress they were all together at the same place, and suddenly there occurred from heaven a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed about, and one sat upon each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance."
After that, Jehovah selected others, and he anointed them with his holy spirit. Thousands were added in the very early years of Christianity. At the Memorial celebration in our time, the speaker often calls attention to the apostle Paul’s words at Romans 8:15-17, which mention that the anointed ‘receive a spirit of adoption as sons.’ Paul added that the holy spirit they receive ‘bears witness with their spirit, that they are God’s children, joint heirs with Christ.’ Those who truly have this spirit-anointing know it with certainty. It is not a mere wish or a reflection of an emotional and unrealistic view of themselves.
We understand that this heavenly calling continued down through the centuries, though during the so-called Dark Ages, there may have been times when the number of anointed ones were very few. With the reestablishment of true Christianity near the end of the last century, more were called and chosen. But it seems that in the mid-1930’s, the full number of the 144,000 was basically completed. Thus there began to appear a group of loyal Christians with the earthly hope. Jesus termed such "other sheep," who unite in worship with the anointed as one approved flock.—John 10:14-16.
The facts over the decades reflect both the completion of the calling of the anointed and Jehovah’s blessing on the growing "great crowd," who hope to survive "the great tribulation." (Revelation 7:9, 14) For example, at the Memorial celebration in 1935, attended by 63,146, those partaking of the emblems in evidence of their profession to be anointed numbered 52,465. Thirty years later, or in 1965, the attendance was 1,933,089, while the partakers decreased to 11,550. Moving 30 years closer, in 1995 the attendance jumped to 13,147,201, but only 8,645 partook of the bread and the wine. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) Clearly, as the decades passed, the number of those professing to be of the remnant greatly decreased—some 52,400 in 1935; 11,500 in 1965; 8,600 in 1995. However, those with earthly hopes have been blessed, and their number has increased abundantly.
The most recent published report is for the year 1995, and it shows 28 more partakers than in the preceding year though the ratio of partakers to those attending did actually drop. On balance, that a few more chose to partake of the emblems is no cause for concern. Over the years some, even ones newly baptized, have suddenly begun to partake. In a number of cases, after a while they acknowledged that this was an error. Some have recognized that they partook as an emotional response to perhaps physical or mental strain. But they came to see that they really were not called to heavenly life. They asked for God’s merciful understanding. And they continue to serve him as fine, loyal Christians, having the hope of everlasting life on earth.
There is no need for any of us to be concerned if a person begins to partake of the emblems or ceases to do so. It really is not up to us whether someone actually has been anointed with holy spirit and called to heavenly life or not. Recall Jesus’ solid assurance: "I am the fine shepherd, and I know my sheep." Just as assuredly, Jehovah knows those whom he has chosen as spiritual sons. There is every reason to believe that the number of anointed ones will continue to decline as advanced age and unforeseen occurrences end their earthly lives. Yet, even as these truly anointed ones prove faithful till death, in line for the crown of life, the other sheep, who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, can look forward to surviving the impending great tribulation.—2 Timothy 4:6-8; Revelation 2:10.
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A shrinking Congregation
by DevonMcBride ini drove by the kingdom hall tonight and saw only 12 cars parked in the lot.
five years ago there would have been at least 30.
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RULES & REGULATIONS
I drove by my Kingdom Hall and this is what I saw.
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April - A Month of Lying Propaganda ( WT 4/1&15)
by metatron inthe april fools watchtower features "the bible :practical for life today".
and offers this jaw dropping thought:.
"do you feel that families would benefit from applying this advice?
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Metatron
That was probably one of the best posts I've read since I joined. You said :
The above should surprize no one, coming as it does from a group of men who belong in prison. Somebody tell me the
difference between what Enron did ( take peoples money and make bogus promises within a corporation) and the Watchtower's
entire history ( take peoples money and make bogus promises within a corporation). The only difference I see is that
the Governing Body deserve longer jail terms for committing fraud involving millions more people and across parts of three
centuries!
Enron took peoples money but they got caught and went to trial. Ken Lay died before trail and Tom Skilling is sitting in jail for a long time. The difference is there is no one to prosecute the WTS. The lies are finally catching up to them but nothing will ever happen. Because they hide in the name of ''RELIGION'', they hide behind a wall that will never be penetrated.
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The WTS will never preach and convert members from Islamic Countries!
by RULES & REGULATIONS ini looked at the 2005 sevice report and found that islamic countries have one of the highest populations but the fewest jehovah's witnesses.
take bangladesh.
there are only 111 jehovah's witnesses out of a population of 144,319,628 people.
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I looked at the 2005 Sevice Report and found that Islamic Countries have one of the highest populations but the fewest Jehovah's Witnesses. Take Bangladesh. There are only 111 Jehovah's Witnesses out of a population of 144,319,628 people. There were only 2 people baptized in 2005. There are only 2 congregations in the whole Country.
How does the WTS plan on preaching to this many people with so few members?
How does God judge them if no one ever preached to them?
How can the WTS claim they preach in over 220 lands when there were only 2 baptized out of 144,000,000 people? Is that really preaching?
How come the WTS never tell us of their failure to convert people from other faiths?
Two major religions practised in Bangladesh are Islam (88% US State Department est. 2005) and Hinduism (11% US State Dept. 2005).
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Why is the "Faithful and Discreet " parable literal when others are not?
by RULES & REGULATIONS inin the 10/1 1998 watchtower study article titled,''jehovah,a god merciful and gracious'' there is a footnote that reads:.
parables and other illustrations related in the bible did not necessarily take place in actuality.futhermore,since the purpose of these stories is to teach a moral lesson,there is no need to seek a symbolic meaning in every detail.. matthew 24:45-47, in the new world translation, reads "who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?
happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.
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Undisfellowshipped
Those were great points!
As Zico said about the WTS :
If something contradicts our teaching, it's figurative.
If it supports it, it's literal. -
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Are you choosy and pickey?
by JH ini eat the same bread since years, and i love it, and wouldn't change for anything else.
but since a few months it's harder to find because it's not the best seller so the grocery store holds many other kinds, but i'm choosy and pickey and i know what i like.. since a week, i can't find that bread, so today i drove over 300 km's going to different towns and different grocery stores to see if i would find it there.....but no...i didn't.
i see other loaves of bread of the same make that i'm looking for, but not exactly that particular one.. so, i wrote to the company who makes the bread, and told them that they sell a product that can't be found anywhere, and it's not discontinued.... if anyone sees this bread, please pm me.. .
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J.H. It took some searching but I found some by my bakery trash.You'll just have to dig it out like a good ole rat.
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Why is the "Faithful and Discreet " parable literal when others are not?
by RULES & REGULATIONS inin the 10/1 1998 watchtower study article titled,''jehovah,a god merciful and gracious'' there is a footnote that reads:.
parables and other illustrations related in the bible did not necessarily take place in actuality.futhermore,since the purpose of these stories is to teach a moral lesson,there is no need to seek a symbolic meaning in every detail.. matthew 24:45-47, in the new world translation, reads "who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?
happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so.
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RULES & REGULATIONS
In the 10/1 1998 Watchtower study article titled,''Jehovah,a God Merciful and Gracious'' there is a footnote that reads:
Parables and other illustrations related in the Bible did not necessarily take place in actuality.Futhermore,since the purpose of these stories is to teach a moral lesson,there is no need to seek a symbolic meaning in every detail.
Matthew 24:45-47, in the New World Translation, reads "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his Master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his Master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you. He will appoint him over all his belongings."
In one breath they teach that the parables are not literal,but in the Matthew 24:45-47 parable, there are actual "faithful and discreet slaves'' on earth today. Why is this parable taken literal when others are not? How do they explain this one?
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MORE DRIVEL FROM APRIL 15TH WT STUDY.....
by Mary ini'm not sure if this has been posted yet, but on pages 28-29 of the april 15, 2007 watchtower study on let the congregation be built up, they seem to be trying to justify the notion that a person cannot be 'saved' if they leave the organization, even if they have just cause:.
paragraph 15 reads" in modern times, some have ceased associating with the local congregation, feeling that they will serve god on their own.
they may say that it is because their feelings were hurt, they think a wrong is not being corrected, or they cannot accept some teaching.
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Paragraph 15 reads" In modern times, some have ceased associating with the local congregation, feeling that they will serve God on their own. They may say that it is because their feelings were hurt, they think a wrong is not being corrected, or they cannot accept some teaching. How reasonable is their course? While it is true that each Christian should have a personal relationship with God, we cannot deny that he is using a worldwide congregation, as he did in the apostles' day. Furthermore Jehovah used and blessed local congregations in the first century, arranging for qualified elders and ministerial servants to benefit the congregations. That is also true today."
God is using and blessing local congregations? I don't see it. The Public Talks are cut and paste. The Watchtower is full of reminders,rules,regulations,and how to follow the organization. The Book Study is recycled garbage.The Ministry School is an Avon pep rally on how to sell books and magazines.
Everything is about the organization. Listen to the organization. Follow the organization. Serve the organization. You can not make it without the organization.
They need to pound it in because the members are not as loyal as they were before. The members are going on with their lives. They take more vacations,spend less time in service,donate less,attend less meetings,and are not as fearful as once before. No new members mean that only hardcore members remain. And they are getting tired of waiting.
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What do you think of Benny Hinn,Joyce Meyer, and Joel Osteen Ministries?
by RULES & REGULATIONS inthe whole objective of the wts is to print as many books and magazines and sell them house to house with free labor from its members.. looking at these other ministries,they too print as many books as possible and sell them to it's members and viewing audience.the donations they take in are in the millions.
some of these ministers are payed a huge salary and live in massive homes which have been shown on television.. my questions are: don't all religions use their members for gains in the name of god?
don't all religions own massive properties,schools,and personal properties all in the name of god?
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