I remember a particularly pompous elder counselling us from the platform about this. He said we must use the title "Brother" or "Sister", instead of using just a first name, during congregation activities. The first century Christians didn't use those words like titles. ...."Brother John this", "Brother Peter that"! He must have been seething when I consistently used his first name at my judicial committee meeting!
richgirl
JoinedPosts by richgirl
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Use of first names at the KH
by Sour Grapes inhave you ever noticed that know one uses first names at the kh?
it is how are you brother jones?
how are you sister smith?
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About 1914 ??
by Powermetal4ever indont know if this has been up before, but i just happened to see it today.
its from the book "a study guide for god's word" which came last year if i am not mistaken.
anyway.... what is the deal with "about 1914 c.e" ??
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richgirl
That chart is part of the appendix in the revised NWT. The supposed beginning of Christ's rule in 1914 is omitted from the chart as well! It seems clear to me this Bible has been printed with the intention of it being around a long time, so they have provided themselves with some 'wriggle room" on the date. "Topics for Discussion" , which included the topic "chronology", (ie. how to reach the date 1914) have also been removed. References to JW doctrine have largely been removed also. -
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I had breakfast with 50+ JWs on Sunday
by zimunzucz inwe pulled into a hotel parking lot saturday around 6pm on the return leg of a wonderful family vacation to new england - an then fate stepped in---a man in a suit got out of a car with the rest of a picture perfect family.
i immediately noticed all the name tags--- and my blood pressure spiked 50pts- damn!!
i was booked in a 4 story hotel full of jws-- the only time they took off the name tags was in the swimming pool- they were so proud of themselves.. at 6:30 am the hot water went cold in the wife's shower- what do you expect on the 4th floor when a herd of jws is trying to get ready at the same time?
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richgirl
AMAZING!!! That took guts! Must remember the line about the starving man! -
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New David Splane Video: No 1900 Year Faithful Slave
by FusionTheism ingoverning body member david splane has a new video on tv.jw.org where he talks about all the horrible things committed by martin luther and the protestant reformers.. his conclusion is that there has been no faithful and discreet slave on the earth during the past 1900 years (before 1919 i guess.).
he also says that maybe there were a few anointed on earth, maybe not.. he did add an interesting statement that he doesn't condemn the other churches just for misunderstanding the bible because the society has done that.. another odd point, was that he actually mentioned catholic missionary work in a somewhat positive light, while totally condemning the reformation views on predestination..
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richgirl
The preaching work is still urgent because if membership numbers go into decline then the GB loses it's claim to fame! They cannot cite growth, and the "worldwide preaching", as evidence of God's favour and blessing upon them as his "channel". -
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THIS IS WHAT WITNESSING HAS BEEN REDUCED TO IN 2015
by steve2 inthreads on the newer jw face of public "witnessing" have shared in common the astonishment that jws safely park themselves behind their literature trolleys and exercise incredibly little contact with passersby.
whether the poster is talking about europe or the united states or australia, descriptions here are the same.. literature stands are protective sheilds behind which jws huddle, talking to each other, sipping on their espressos, whilst the disinterested world passes by.
neither the jws nor the passersby catch each others eyes.
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richgirl
Perhaps they should sing the new "The Life of a Pioneer" song (find it on youtube). It is really geared towards those manning the literature carts. It seems this is the main occupation of pioneers these days. Have you heard it or read the lyrics? -
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Wrong and Deceiving
by Madan Magar inin the article 'judgement day' published by jehovah's witness', they are saying,'in 'judgement day', the people who will be resurrected and had no chance to learn about god will not be judged according to their past deed but what will they do after resurrection.
' and they show the scripture roman6:7 which says"who has died has been acquitted from his sin.
" if we take out context and see it literally , it has that meaning but the scripture's contextual meaning is totally different, it doesn't talk about physical death but the death of old personality.so in this cotext, this cannot be applied.this is anacceptable to admit..
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richgirl
Yes, they have taken that out of context! However, elsewhere it's stated that death is the wages/reward for sin, ie. staying dead. Many JWs have this idea that simply the act of dying acquits one from sin and entitles them to live again!! Nooooo! In that case, what did Jesus give his life for? -
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What's the Worst Gossip You Heard About Why You were DF'ed, Faded or Left and Never Came Back? They say "I am gay!"
by PhilsWager2 inyour going to enjoy the latest rumor i heard why i have not been to meeting for around nine months, i am a homosexual!
i was caught having a drink at one of the gay bars for business, yes people still talk business in bars.
revelation 17:4).and murderers, and fornicators (cf.
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richgirl
Brain tumour!!! -
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List of New Light statements in 2015
by FusionTheism inmarch 15 2015 study watchtower:.
* the parables are all "simplified" now.. * doing away with most type / antitype interpretations (except for prophecies).. * the governing body was appointed in 1919 but will not receive their reward of expanded authority until the great tribulation.. * the evil slave is not a class of people, it's a hypothetical warning for each individual anointed one.. ---------.
may 15 2015 study watchtower:.
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richgirl
Thanks for that list FusionTheism! Especially that last point. It sounds like they are drifting away from the ridiculous overlapping generation teaching?????
I still don't believe the GB are now saying that people can "be saved after the GT begins". Ambiguous wording has been used in WT articles in the past, prompting a Question from Readers in the Feb 15th 1997 WT. Part of the answer read: "As to whether any new ones may be able to learn the truth and come over to God’s side after the great tribulation begins, note Jesus’ words recorded at Matthew 24:29-31. After the outbreak of the tribulation, the sign of the Son of man will appear. Jesus said that all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves and lament. He did not say anything about people waking up to the situation, repenting, taking God’s side, and becoming true disciples."
Also, the May 1 1999 WT (pg 19, par21) reads: "Millions have done so. Jesus’ prophecy does not indicate that once the great tribulation breaks out, masses will turn to pure worship; certainly, there was no mass conversion of Jews in 66 C.E. Yet, true Christians will have great incentive to apply Jesus’ warning and flee."
They did admit in those articles that "there is no reason to be dogmatic" and "we cannot presently have full details about the great tribulation..."......so again, ambiguity, although they strongly hint at there not being any conversion after the outbreak of the trib. Of course they would say that because they want people in the doors now, not later, to support their claim of being the "only channel" and "Jehovah's Organisation".
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A Tug on the Leash (The Authority Which the GB Wields Over the R&F)
by Oubliette inrecently, several comments have been made in various threads in reference to some of the recent changes to a few of the rules by which jehovah's witnesses must live their lives in unquestioning compliance.
the assertion has been made that these rules are a "relaxing" of previous restrictions.
the suggestion has been made that this somehow indicates a corresponding relaxing or loosening or lessening of the authority which the governing body (gb) holds over the rank and file (r&f) members of the religion.
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richgirl
Back in the year 2012 I was in the throes of my "crisis of conscience", but still "waiting on Jehovah"...for ...something....anything, that would restore my withering faith in the Governing Body. Then an elder pointed out to me the insert in the KM about the JW website, which I had yet to visit. I guess he thought it would encourage me. Well.....that's when everything really started unravelling!!! There was a video of highlights from the 2012 AGM. The "new light" about the FDS was briefly discussed. I cried when I saw it. I thought "This is what I've been waiting for!! The GB are humbling themselves by admitting they do not yet have authority over "all the Master's belongings!!" It seemed they were relinqusihing power. I thought that because they had admitted having not been rewarded yet with Kingdom power, then they could no longer judge as rejected, all the members of Christendom, (previously understood to be at the same time, in 1918/9). I wrote to the GB to express my appreciation and how I was glad that we did not "blanket condemn" all those in Christendom anymore (well...obviously, in my eyes!). I held my breath while waiting for a response. It came. They "rejoiced" with me over the new understanding, but then went on to slam Christendom, though they stated that they "make no attempt to judge or condemn the members of the churches of Christendom". Then some months later the July 15th 2013 WT appeared. It clearly stated that from 1914, Jesus "rejected all false Christians in the congregation and those in the churches of Christendom" (page 12, par 8). According to the article, these were the weeds that started to be collected, from 1914, and were 'bundled up", destined for the "furnace". Clearly this means that individuals are being judged. Logically, if such ones died before Armageddon, they could not expect to be resurrected (just as with the pre-1995 understanding regarding the 'goats") . I wrote back to the GB for clarification. They (the writing dept I suppose) said that though "we" do not judge people, "Jehovah and Jesus do", and clearly, "some people will not be resurrected". Then they went on to say that "many who are considered unrighteous will be resurrected because there is a chance that they will decide to serve Jehovah if they are taught the truth in an environment free from the negative influences we experience in Satan's system.." How can this include those in the churches if they have figuratively been "bundled for the fire"? It just makes no sense. Are they "rejected' or aren't they? Of course, that entire July 2013 WT was a desperate attempt by them to find some kind of scriptural back-up for their claim of STILL being "chosen" by Jesus in 1919. It was very pathetic: Insisting that the wheat and weeds parable finds fulfillment since 1914, rather than when Jesus returns in the future (when they have moved the fulfillments of Jesus' other parables to the future), and using the "pattern" of Jesus literally feeding the many through the hands of the few, when his disciples distributed the "food" miraculously provided.. (ie. FDS now a few, seven men) So lame!!!
Getting back to 2012. When I attended the 2012 DC I expected the "new light" about the FDS to be at least mentioned. I was shocked and disappointed that such a MAJOR doctrinal change wasn't addressed in the programme! (I had to wait a few months for the July 2013 WT.) At this point I wasn't ready to give up hope for the GB entirely, but I knew that DC would be a turning point, one way or the other, depending on what I heard. I didn't even make it through the first day before my decision was made. I walked out taking my daughter with me. When the July 15th WT eventually arrived, it was confirmed that I had made the right decision! I was disfellowshipped for apostasy in June 2013 after making a stand for my conscience. It was the bravest thing I have ever done!!
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1919 Doctrine no longer exists? (Today's Watchtower Study)
by FusionTheism inquote from today's watchtower study article that's being studied at the halls (march 15, 2015, page 24):.
"understanding the illustration of the talents".
"when the master rewards the slaves.".
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richgirl
FusionTheism, I would recommend you read the July 15th 2013 Watchtower to get the current understanding of the FDS. Make sure you have paracetemol on stand-by!!