The objection the Romans had was that while Paul did state that we should be in subjection to Roman authority, he also said that Rome's authority existed only because God placed it with them. It made Rome subject to God. Don't think they liked that too much! As far as not being part of this world, it comes right back to that. We do not have to withdraw from the world, in fact, we need to minister to the world by God's commission, but at the same time, don't let ourselves be drawn into the parts of worldly living which take us away from honoring God. You can have friends and family who are not Christian and witness to them through love and caring. You can take food to the homeless who are addicts without becoming one yourself. You can speak out in favor of civil rights without being violent. Just some examples.
praiseband
JoinedPosts by praiseband
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What does it really mean? "To be, "no part of the world?"
by acadian in"to be, "no part of the world?
after comparing romans 13:1-7 , john 15: 18-21, james 4:4, what do you think it means to be "no part of the world"?
let's say paul was telling the church at romans 13: 1-7, "be subject to the secular government," which at that time was the roman empire.
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Who are false prophets?
by KW13 inare the watchtower society false prophets?
well it says in the bible, should someone make a prophecy and it not come about then that individual is a false prophet.
jesus said no one would know when the time of the end was.
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praiseband
Do I understand that the 144,000 will be (are) virgins?
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Baptism questions
by praiseband insorry, i know the questions asked at baptism have been posted here previously, but the search engine isn't working at this time.
also, my dil is planning to be baptized in jw organization in a few weeks and is currently studying these questions.
any advice as to how i (a "traditional" christian) can discuss this with her.
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praiseband
Thank you AuldSoul and Honesty. I do want her to know that I am concerned about her and don't want us to be in conflict. We will disagree, but I want us to come out of this loving and caring about each other. Praiseband
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I'm a grandma!
by Out At 22 in.....and i'm barely 28 y/o!
lol my 17 y/o stepdaughter delivered a healthy baby girl almost three weeks ago!
it is really weird seeing and holding that baby and being called "grandma".
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praiseband
Congratulations! I have been a grandma now for nearly two years - I have two granddaughters and they are wonderful! One is my daughter's and the other my son's. It has been so much fun to watch them parent their babies, and I am so very proud of them both. I guess their dad and I must have done pretty well as parents ourselves! Praiseband
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Baptism questions
by praiseband insorry, i know the questions asked at baptism have been posted here previously, but the search engine isn't working at this time.
also, my dil is planning to be baptized in jw organization in a few weeks and is currently studying these questions.
any advice as to how i (a "traditional" christian) can discuss this with her.
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praiseband
Thank you Blondie for your reply. I have learned a lot from reading your posts. Praiseband
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Why Did Adam & Eve Need An Immune System???
by enlightenedcynic inhere is a question i would like answered intelligently if possible.
i asked my wife and another brother during an informal gathering of friends and was given the typical "wait till the new system, jehovah will answer all questions" response.
for the last year or so i began to seriously doubt the existence of a "loving, caring god".
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praiseband
James- I see your point regarding a lot of what you've said, with the exception of the first line of your answer "if it obviously doesn't make historical or scientific sense, then it must be something to be taken as an illustrative, non-literal story" The problem is that history isn't over and we don't know the answers to all science related questions. Yesterday Pluto was a planet, today a gathering of scientists have voted and declared it not to be. A few hundred years ago, the earth was flat and it made no scientific sense for it to be round, but.... If in a few centuries some archaeologist should excavate the remains of any currently modern city they may determine that in this era we all worshipped electronic devices because they had shrines built for them in the main living quarters, and every other room in the house would that make scientific sense? (okay, well maybe to some degree!) Anyway, the point here is that we can only know what we know at the time we are currently in, and we can't necessarily "prove" everything based on that. We are an impatient and curious species and we want to know everything NOW! I believe it's part of God's plan to keep us learning more all the time and bringing us closer and closer to knowing Him. Eve and Adam wanted to know it all in an instant and we still haven't learned from their mistake (original sin) that we need to wait.
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Why Did Adam & Eve Need An Immune System???
by enlightenedcynic inhere is a question i would like answered intelligently if possible.
i asked my wife and another brother during an informal gathering of friends and was given the typical "wait till the new system, jehovah will answer all questions" response.
for the last year or so i began to seriously doubt the existence of a "loving, caring god".
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praiseband
I haven't done an in-depth biblical research, but I keep hearing from JW's that Adam and Eve were created "perfect". I haven't heard this in any other churches I have attended. I have read enough to agree that they were created sin-free, but obviously with the free will to choose to sin, but that does not necessarily equate to perfect. Have I missed Bible verses which say they were created perfect? And perfect could mean anything from behavior to physical and physiological functions, or emotionally or .... What do you mean by perfect and where is it in the Bible?
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Baptism questions
by praiseband insorry, i know the questions asked at baptism have been posted here previously, but the search engine isn't working at this time.
also, my dil is planning to be baptized in jw organization in a few weeks and is currently studying these questions.
any advice as to how i (a "traditional" christian) can discuss this with her.
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praiseband
Sorry, I know the questions asked at baptism have been posted here previously, but the search engine isn't working at this time. Could someone help me out please? Also, my DIL is planning to be baptized in JW organization in a few weeks and is currently studying these questions. Any advice as to how I (a "traditional" Christian) can discuss this with her. Please keep in mind I am the MIL and whatever she ultimately decides, I want a good, and full of respect for each other, relationship with her. Thanks. Praiseband
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What differs the Society from other religions?
by KW13 inhave the society made mistakes?
yes, without a doubt.
there are failed predictions and with 100% evidence for anyone to look, to see this.
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praiseband
I am a Biblical Christian who happens to attend a Lutheran church. I would feel at home in other denominations as well. A HUGE difference is that we are not only allowed, but encouraged to have open dialogues, debates if you will, regarding topics from theology to social issues. Sometimes a concensus is reached, other times we agree to disagree. The annual meetings of representatives from congregations are not lecture, lecture, lecture. They are a sharing of viewpoints and after debate, deliberation and voting sometimes official denominational statements are formed. But it is not brought about by higher-ups telling us what we must believe and that we cannot question. I'd say that's a pretty vast difference between us and the JW's and any other cultic religion.
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Are There Any Worthy Non-Watchtower Charities?
by TMS injehovah's witnesses are subtly discouraged from contributing to any charities other that the watchtower society.
while acknowledging that groups other that the wt may do "some good", jw's may feel that charitable groups are generally dishonest, wasteful or simply not doing things "jehovah's way.".
now, as an ex-jw, have you found any charities worthy of your monetary support?
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praiseband
World Vision has been excellent. I have sponsored children for years in Bangladesh, Honduras and Mozambique. The community in Bangladesh did so well after assistance from World Vision that they were able to become sponsorless. It was mostly a sweet farewell, but a little selfishly sad for me! Also, Heifer Project is great. They enable to become self-sufficient and then go on to help others in their communities rather than becoming dependent on assistance.