Posts by *jeremiah*

10

Have u ever partaken of the memorial, though not annointed?

by *jeremiah* in

i went to an apostafest over 10 years ago or so and different exdubs got up and told their story of leaving the wts.

one guy in particular, who became christian, and who was disfellowshipped, told his story about how he went to the memorial and decided to partake in eating of the bread and wine.

most christians believe the bread and wine is meant for believers and is a commandment to be done in remembrance of christ's death.

jeremiah

I went to an apostafest over 10 years ago or so and different exdubs got up and told their story of leaving the WTS. One guy in particular, who became Christian, and who was disfellowshipped, told his story about how he went to the memorial and decided to partake in eating of the bread and wine. Most christians believe the bread and wine is meant for believers and is a commandment to be done in remembrance of Christ's death. Therefore he wanted to demonstrate that christians are supposed to eat of it, and he also wanted to demonstrate that dubs are denying christ. Even though everyone knew he was an apostate, and therefore, knew that he wasn't one of the annointed class, this guy still parttook.

Has anyone else ever done this?

3

For those who pray...

by *jeremiah* in

i personally believe prayer is powerful and i'm sure that i'm not the only one on here who believes that.. so, how about starting a prayer list?.

just list your friends or family still in the borg and myself and others will pray for them to be enlightened to the jw's yoke of slavery.

of course if there are any other prayer requests too, just put it down.. my family:.

jeremiah

I personally believe prayer is powerful and I'm sure that I'm not the only one on here who believes that.

So, how about starting a prayer list?

Just list your friends or family still in the borg and myself and others will pray for them to be enlightened to the JW's yoke of slavery. Of course if there are any other prayer requests too, just put it down.

My family:

Barb(my mom) and Dan

brothers: Micah and family, and Mark and family

15

Personal Relationship?

by Carmel in

i don't mean to be trite or argumentative, but i keep hearing all the time about having a "personal relationship with jesus" as the solution to leaving the witlesses.

for the life of me, i really don't know what this term means.

i can only compare it to its literal counterpart, i.e.

jeremiah

For those who believe in this, it goes something like this:

They believe that Jesus died for you. You can be saved by asking Him for forgiveness from your sins. If you are willing to repent of your sin, He is waiting to forgive you. It doesn't matter what you have done in the past, if you cry out to Jesus for forgiveness, He will not reject you. The word "repent" literally means "to turn away from." You need to look at your life, admit that you are a sinner, genuinely desire to turn your back on that sin, and ask Him to forgive you. If you do this, He promises to forgive you.

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.(Gal. 5:1)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. (Eph. 1:8)

Then at some point a person says a prayer of faith something like this:

"Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you. I know the truth is that I have sinned by my own choice, and I am the one responsible for it. I know that I have earned punishment from You, and that the fair punishment would be death. Jesus, I believe that You died in my place. Forgive me for my sin. I cannot cover or take my sin away, I am relying totally and only on You. You are the only one who can save me. I reject my sin, I turn away from it, I repent. Come into my life, take away my sin, and show me how to live my life in a way that is right and pleasing to You."

"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," [ d ] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." [ e ] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."(Romans 10:8-13)

Once this is prayed, they believe YOU ARE SAVED! You are now completely forgiven, a new creation, innocent in the eyes of God.

This is when the personal relationship begins. The relationship is fostered through reading God's word and prayer. Fellowship is also a means of encouragement.

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"(Gal. 2:20-21)

Hope this helps.

23

The argument--whether or not the Devil exists

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

the argumentwhether or not the devil exists mainstream religions all over the world and not so mainstream.

religions teach of a devil.

the devil is considered to be the.

jeremiah

I like to think about this question in regards to cults like the JWs, Mormons, Branch Dividians, etc, etc. I.e., we have all, or many of us have experienced this weird veil that settles over our minds and hearts when in the midst of a cult. Somehow, the WTS and other cults can build a religion of false prophecy, lies, false doctrine, etc., and many members stay loyal to the organization no matter what. In each cult there is always a small group (i.e.,GB) or even just one person (i.e.,David Koresh) that controls the organization. Are these small groups of cult leaders absolute genius masterminds that are able to enslave 6-7 million people, or in the case of Mormons 12-13 million? Are these guys just pure evil genius' who have perfected the best mind control techniques in the world? Or, is this proof of the devil?

Personally, I don't give that much credit to man. I think the pure evil genius behind these organizations is the devil.

28

Religion vs. Christ

by *jeremiah* in

religion vs. the reality of a personal relationship with christ.

the following is what i have come to believe the through bible reading:.

religion: can have outward forms that bring us into bondage to those forms.

jeremiah

Hey Derek,

Yes, you're right. My point, though, is not necessarily what I think and believe, but what the bible really says about such things versus what "religion" or the WTS tells us. I think this is valid because of what most of us have been slaves to for so long. We've been slaves because a religion says, "this is what the bible says". Yet the Bible actually teaches the opposite on many points, rules, or even doctrines.

For example, the WTS says go out in FS atleast 10 hrs a month. A publisher who gets 12 or 13 hours feels really proud and righteous. Probably much more righteous than when he gets 8-10 hours. This religious form promotes self-righteousness and pride. Whereas, the bible teaches the exact opposite, and says that we can never be righteous enough by our own means and that pride is not good. Only through faith in Christ and then through Him we become righteous. Therefore pride doesn't exist, in fact, the opposite happens, and humility comes into play.

When I say "the reality of a personal relationship with Christ", I mean the bible's teaching on "the reality of a personaly relationship with Christ."

5

More Big Brother News (It's almost 1984).....

by *jeremiah* in

"google 'will be able to keep tabs on us all'".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,,1938474,00.html.

.

jeremiah

maybe the jw brother's and sister's won't have to record their FS time anymore. The "society" can just google FS time and even watch them take their coffee breaks.

5

More Big Brother News (It's almost 1984).....

by *jeremiah* in

"google 'will be able to keep tabs on us all'".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,,1938474,00.html.

.

jeremiah

"Google 'will be able to keep tabs on us all'"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,,1938474,00.html

28

Religion vs. Christ

by *jeremiah* in

religion vs. the reality of a personal relationship with christ.

the following is what i have come to believe the through bible reading:.

religion: can have outward forms that bring us into bondage to those forms.

jeremiah

Religion vs. the reality of a personal relationship with Christ. The following is what I have come to believe the through bible reading:

Religion: Can have outward forms that bring us into bondage to those forms

Reality: Has inward faith that brings true spiritual freedom

Religion: Can have petty rules, the letter of the Law

Reality: Has underlying principles, the spirit of the Law

Religion: Can have man-made traditions, which make us proud

Reality: HasGod's own words, which make us humble

Religion: Can produce self-righteousness, which falls far short of what God requires.

Reality: Leads us to the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is everything we need.

2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

*This is not to say all christian religions, churches, are false. I believe a good church can truly help personal growth in Christ. But, that's the key, it should be personal growth in Christ, not personal growth into a Churches ideology or doctrine.

49

What are you now ?

by moomanchu in

jw
friends

curious as to what exwitnesses have become or believe.

i haven't joined any religous group and do not attend any services.

(have visited a church's service)

jeremiah

I am now a Christian who believes that Jesus is the WAY PERIOD. So for me, when identifying whether or not a Christian religion is "true" or from "God" the main issue I look at is their plan for salvation. I find the gospel message in the Bible so simple. Salvation is a gift. It's free, and it's there because Jesus died for you and for me on the cross. All we have to do is believe. That's what I see over and over again in the Bible,...just believe this. I don't believe that we can make ourselves righteous. We are only righteous through Christ. So for example, let's look at the JW's plan of Salvation (thanks Sirnose): --Must believe that the WTS is the FDS class and representative of the "earthly part of God's Organization" (1) --Must adjust beliefs to "current truth" (2) --Must go to all meetings and assemblies (3) --Must go out in field service, at least 10 hours a month (3 also, you can't skip out of either one) --Must be enrolled in TMS (4) --Must participate in meetings (5) --Must dutifully carry out your "privileges" (6) --Must stay current in studying literature and looking up scriptures (7) .....and do all these things and you MAY be saved. Hmmmm....personally I don't remember reading that plan of salvation in the bible. I am not a big fan of big religion, but I no longer have a problem with entering Churches anymore. I just use the above mentioned thought process and if the church has "must-do" this and "must do" that for salvation, then I'm done there. I'm out. I don't think Christian religions should add to or take away from Christ's "finished" work on the cross. Otherwise, what you have left is self-righteousness. People trying to save themselves. Christ said,"it is finished."

19

epistle to the Ephesians

by Ade in

i am searching for a few people ( actually as many as can be had ) to start commenting on a verse by verse basis books of the bible - basically a full online bible study starting, for no particular reason with ephesians, if you are interested please leave a message here or contact me via pm.

.

ade .

jeremiah

Is this going to be "free"?

Because just once, I want to pay.