i'm new to this web site.
i was 3rd generation witness, a member for over 40 yrs.i helped write information for the awake mag.
(for a brief while), i'm a certified grief counselor, counselor for addictions, co-taught workshops on addictions, communication, marriage & parenting, 12 step work.
Hi and WELCOME Michelle!
I too, prayed before I made my decision to leave the jw teachings. I cried out to God in my agony about the "truth". He answered me in a big way. I agree with you on some level that He uses all things to his good purpose. If someone is sincerely seeking His face, He listens and answers. My .02...love, dj
"and the lord appeared unto him in the plains of mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, my lord, if now i have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, i pray thee, from thy servant: let a little water, i pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:" genesis 18:1-4. comment: the lord (hebrew yhwh) appeared in the form of a man with feet to abraham.. .
and upon the nobles of the children of israel he laid not his hand: also they saw god, and did eat and drink.
" exodus 24:9-11 .
Hi Hooberus,
I haven't been around much this summer but I checked in and enjoyed your post. I can recall the first time I read Genesis 18 and saw that Abraham actually called the man YHWH. I was taught that (by the jw's...) that these 3 men were angels. I thought about that one for a time and realized that.....Abraham specifically used the tetragrammaton when speaking to them.....in other words....Abraham called one of them YHWH. A good question for the jw's would be.....if these were angels, assuming that one of them is Christ......then why did Abraham call Jesus, YHWH???? They have no answer for that.
I never did quite understand why the NT says that no man has seen God at anytime.......so thanks for clearing that up. Even the wt would have to admit and I think they do...that the reference is to Jesus where it speaks of the only potenate who is invisible, immortal, dwelling in an unapproachable light. Good work! Take care. love, dj
ok, i've known for a long time now that this is not "the one true religion", but i can't for the life of me, seem to make the final break.
i seldom go to meetings and am usually bored out of my mind when i do go, but for the life of me, after i've missed about 3 or 4 weeks i start feeling guilty about "missing meetings" and i'll go.
i'm really frustrated and angry with myself that i can't make the break, but in all honesty, there's still some people at the hall that i care about and i guess i'd miss them if i left completely.
Hi Mary,
I'm sorry to hear of your anguish yet it is so common. I know that you love Jehovah and the issue that I see is the need to divorce Jehovah from the wt. I had a hard time too but as I prayed about this exact subject...He freed me. Since I have asked Christ into my heart I have no guilt toward the wt whatsoever. I am only saying to pray about it and be as honest about it with God as you are being with us. It is what helped me. I used to think that hiding my fears/doubts/guilt when I prayed was right...then I realized how deceitful I was being not only to myself but to God. Now, I try to just give it all to Him and I have asked Him to give me the Holy Spirit to teach me. I feel that He had done just that and I would never want to be taught by man again. He is faithful. Love, dj
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what makes the watch tower organization the authority of the scriptures?
the bible does not say any thing about a watch tower.
Hi Jesus freak88,
Welcome to the board. This is an X jw board! The previous posters have had a field day with you! You ought to laugh now when you look back at the posts! I haven't been around much lately and today popped in for a look and this thread is amusing. I am a Christian now.......you will find a very wide variety of opinions about religions here. We are united because of our experiences as jw's but are no longer jw's. We are what they call "apostates". Thanks for the laugh today. I agree with what you wrote as a Christian. When I realized that Jesus raised Himself from the dead, I was floored. You know, when He spoke of raising the temple....I can't remeber what verse it is now...lol.....I don't have all of my little verses memorized and ready for recital anymore like i did as a jw. John, I think?. Anyway, welcome and keep in mind that this is not a Christian site or a jw site...but an xjw site. Love, dj
i have what i think is a good question.
the bible states that we should pay ceaser's things to ceaser, but god's things to god.
so this means to me that we should obey the "laws of the land" but gods laws are supreme.
You said the two winess rule is not for criminal activity. Is it not a crime to abuse/molest a child? That is exactly what the wt is hiding behind....the two witness rule.
Obiwan,
Yes it is a crime, that is what I stated. That's why it should be given to the governing authorities to handle.
i have what i think is a good question.
the bible states that we should pay ceaser's things to ceaser, but god's things to god.
so this means to me that we should obey the "laws of the land" but gods laws are supreme.
Hi obiwan,
I think that Romans 13 covers it. Child abuse is criminal and should always be reported to the proper authorities. The two witness rule is not for criminal activity . Otherwise would you think that a murderer should not be handed over to the proper authorities if there weren't 2 witneses to the murder? The jw's have changed back and forth how they interpret the "authorities" in Romans 13 and that is a big part of their problem. We are subject to the ALL of the laws of the land, except a law that would cause us to sin against God. Would turning a child molester over to the police be a sin against God? That is ridiculous.
how to study the bible
since the bible was written a long time ago, many of the cultural references and literary styles used are unfamiliar to us today.
to truly understand the bible, we need to understand the background of life and literature 2000 to 3000 years ago as the bible was being written.
WELCOME betrayed!! You are not alone. I felt the same way. I have been away from their teachings for 7 years now but I remember all too well all of the confusion and fear. The bible is not a scary book filled with secret hidden messages as the jw's teach. That is their biggest problem and their most effective way of controlling people with fear. They teach that we cannot understand the bible without them>>>that is such a blatant lie.The Holy Spirit is given to all those who ask, as Jesus taught us. He leads us into all truth. Pray and ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance if you want to be free of fear and lies. love to you, dj
from the "wordly girl"...i'm not sure that i understand what you mean when you refer to "priviledges".
i've seen the term mentioned in several threads but can't put it all together.
how do you gain these privledges?
dub = w. ( w for witless)
how to study the bible
since the bible was written a long time ago, many of the cultural references and literary styles used are unfamiliar to us today.
to truly understand the bible, we need to understand the background of life and literature 2000 to 3000 years ago as the bible was being written.
Hi Yizu,
Sound information. Good post for those who have been misled in the past with every wind of doctrine.
i went to the assembly (ahhh!
) to hear the "beware of the voice of strangers" talk.
here are some interesting things from the friday and saturday assembly talks: .
The speaker said that JW's should not even listen to anyone who tries to tell them something that does not agree with what the Watchtower Society teaches.He said that JW's should not listen to anyone who says that JW's do not need the Watchtower Organization to worship God.
He said that JW's should not listen to anyone who says that JW's can understand the Bible without the Watchtower Society.
He said that JW's should not listen to anyone who says that JW's can receive Holy Spirit without the Watchtower Society.
Nah........they aren't a CULT.
