Or any modern celebrations. It's an example. I don't want to list off every country.
FusionTheism
JoinedPosts by FusionTheism
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New Light on HOLIDAYS and BIRTHDAYS? (September 2015 Watchtower)
by FusionTheism inwatchtower-- simplified study edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide?":.
in ancient rome, some christians had different opinions about certain foods and celebrations.
what advice did paul give them?
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New Light on HOLIDAYS and BIRTHDAYS? (September 2015 Watchtower)
by FusionTheism inwatchtower-- simplified study edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide?":.
in ancient rome, some christians had different opinions about certain foods and celebrations.
what advice did paul give them?
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FusionTheism
Well then, that would be a great question to ask JW's then.
Show them that paragraph and ask WHY Paul's words only apply to Roman celebrations and not American celebrations.
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New Light on HOLIDAYS and BIRTHDAYS? (September 2015 Watchtower)
by FusionTheism inwatchtower-- simplified study edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide?":.
in ancient rome, some christians had different opinions about certain foods and celebrations.
what advice did paul give them?
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FusionTheism
So it only applies to celebrations in Rome and not celebrations today? -
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New Light on HOLIDAYS and BIRTHDAYS? (September 2015 Watchtower)
by FusionTheism inwatchtower-- simplified study edition, september 2015, "is your conscience a reliable guide?":.
in ancient rome, some christians had different opinions about certain foods and celebrations.
what advice did paul give them?
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FusionTheism
Watchtower-- Simplified Study Edition, September 2015, "Is Your Conscience a Reliable Guide?":
In ancient Rome, some Christians had different opinions about certain foods and celebrations. What advice did Paul give them? He said: “One man judges one day as above another; another judges one day the same as all others; let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.” Let us be careful to avoid stumbling others.—Read Romans 14:5, 13, 15, 19, 20.
At times, we may not understand why someone in the congregation makes a certain decision on a personal matter. What should we do? We should not be quick to judge him or force him to change his mind. Perhaps he needs to train his conscience more, or maybe it is too sensitive. (1 Corinthians 8:11, 12) Or perhaps our own conscience is not fully trained. When it comes to health care and other matters, each of us needs to make a personal decision and accept responsibility for it.
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The Ransom Sacrifice -- Simplified Suggestion
by FusionTheism inthe sacrifice of jesus simplified suggestion.
many christians have different theories about exactly how the ransom sacrifice (also called the atonement or the passion) of christ worked.. just how did jesus death on the cross 2,000 years ago provide us with salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life?.
some christians believe that jesus somehow mystically experienced the full pain and suffering of eternal torment in hell (for every persons sin who has ever lived), during the 3 hours of darkness when he was hanging upon the cross.
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FusionTheism
The Sacrifice of Jesus — Simplified Suggestion
Many Christians have different theories about exactly how the Ransom Sacrifice (also called The Atonement or The Passion) of Christ worked.
Just how did Jesus’ death on the cross 2,000 years ago provide us with salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life?
Some Christians believe that Jesus somehow mystically experienced the full pain and suffering of eternal torment in hell (for every person’s sin who has ever lived), during the 3 hours of darkness when He was hanging upon the cross. Thus, they explain, He “absorbed” all of God’s wrath toward us in Himself, so now God has no wrath left against anyone who puts faith in Jesus.
That sounds really good, until you think about it more carefully, then a few problems come up:
- Where does the Bible say anything about Jesus mystically experiencing the torment of Hell for each sinner while on the cross? I haven’t seen that in the Scriptures.
- How could Jesus experience an eternity of punishment in just 3 hours? Sounds illogical.
Other Christians think that Jesus made an exchange with God: That He exchanged the perfect offspring He potentially could have fathered, for all of us imperfect sinners instead.
Again though, the problem with this theory is that the Bible doesn’t say anything about this, so it’s just speculation. It does sound logical and plausible though.
The Bible, surprisingly, does not go into detail about how exactly the Sacrifice of Jesus saves us. It does make it clear that it (along with His resurrection) is the most important event in history, God accepted it as an offering, and that faith in His Atonement is what saves us from our sins.
A Fresh View of the Atonement
I propose a fresh view, based on the Scriptures. Christ, at John 3:14-16, said that His Sacrifice saves people just like the Copper Snake on the Pole saved people in Moses’ day.
The Copper Snake itself had no magical or mystical powers. It could not bestow life on anyone. No, rather, it was something God set up as a symbol to test the faith of people, to see who would follow His direction and trust in His way of doing things.
God said that all the people had to do to be saved from the poisonous venom was to trust God’s message and look at the Copper Snake on the Pole.
In the same way, my view is that the Sacrifice of Jesus didn’t have any magical or mystical powers, but instead, was the symbol that God chose to set up to test the faith of people, to see whether they would humble themselves to accept His message and do things His way, or reject it and do things their own way.
Jesus came to earth to show us the perfect way to live and the perfect way to die, to give us an ideal to strive toward and imitate, and God saves us for having faith in Jesus’ perfect ideal life and death, and in His message of trusting God’s method of salvation instead of our own.
God also chose death on a cross as His method of salvation in order to attract the humble and poor, and make a mockery of those who think they are so wise.
I’m not saying there can’t be more to it than this, I’m just saying this is my view, based on what I see in the Bible.
Let’s allow the Apostle Paul to sum things up:
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NIV): For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 2:1-9 (NIV): When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—
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The new focus on This Generation is 70 C.E., Not Today
by FusionTheism inhere is the very latest writes about "this generation.
" looks like they are preparing to change it again -- now the focus is on 70 c.e., instead of modern times:.
jesus--the way book (2015), page 254 and pages 258-259:.
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FusionTheism
Here is the very latest writes about "This Generation." Looks like they are preparing to change it again -- now the focus is on 70 C.E., instead of modern times:
Jesus--The Way book (2015), Page 254 and Pages 258-259:
He warns: “Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:34-36) That proves to be the case in 70 C.E. when the Roman armies destroy Jerusalem and many thousands of Jews perish. ...
How, though, would Jesus’ disciples who are living during this foretold period be able to determine the nearness of the end? Jesus gives an illustration about a fig tree: “Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.”—Matthew 24:32-34.
Thus, when his disciples see the many different features of the sign being fulfilled, they should realize that the end is near.
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Insight Book (2015 Edition), Volume 1, Page 918:
“This Generation” of Christ’s Prophecies.
When Bible prophecy speaks of “this generation,” it is necessary to consider the context to determine what generation is meant. Jesus Christ, when denouncing the Jewish religious leaders, concluded by saying: “Truly I say to you, All these things will come upon this generation.” History recounts that about 37 years later (in 70 C.E.) that contemporary generation personally experienced the destruction of Jerusalem, as foretold.—Mt 23:36.
Later that same day, Jesus again used practically the same words, saying: “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” (Mt 24:34) In this instance, Jesus was answering a question regarding the desolation of Jerusalem and its temple as well as regarding the sign of his presence and of the conclusion of the system of things. So his comment about “this generation” logically had an application down to 70 C.E. However, he was also using the word “generation” with reference to humans whose lives would in some way be associated with the foretold events during his presence.—Mt 24.
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Overlapping Generation/GB/Doug Sanderson
by Simon Morley inmy apologies of this topic has been covered already - please redirect me if it has:.
current belief is:.
watchtower (study edition), april 15th, 2010 issue, pages 27-29:.
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FusionTheism
Here is the very latest writes about "This Generation." Looks like they are preparing to change it again:
Jesus--The Way book (2015), Page 254 and Pages 258-259:
He warns: “Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:34-36) That proves to be the case in 70 C.E. when the Roman armies destroy Jerusalem and many thousands of Jews perish. ...
How, though, would Jesus’ disciples who are living during this foretold period be able to determine the nearness of the end? Jesus gives an illustration about a fig tree: “Just as soon as its young branch grows tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near. Likewise also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near at the doors. Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things happen.”—Matthew 24:32-34. Thus, when his disciples see the many different features of the sign being fulfilled, they should realize that the end is near.
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Insight Book (2015 Edition), Volume 1, Page 918:
“This Generation” of Christ’s Prophecies. When Bible prophecy speaks of “this generation,” it is necessary to consider the context to determine what generation is meant. Jesus Christ, when denouncing the Jewish religious leaders, concluded by saying: “Truly I say to you, All these things will come upon this generation.” History recounts that about 37 years later (in 70 C.E.) that contemporary generation personally experienced the destruction of Jerusalem, as foretold.—Mt 23:36. Later that same day, Jesus again used practically the same words, saying: “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” (Mt 24:34) In this instance, Jesus was answering a question regarding the desolation of Jerusalem and its temple as well as regarding the sign of his presence and of the conclusion of the system of things. So his comment about “this generation” logically had an application down to 70 C.E. However, he was also using the word “generation” with reference to humans whose lives would in some way be associated with the foretold events during his presence.—Mt 24.
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Overlapping Generation/GB/Doug Sanderson
by Simon Morley inmy apologies of this topic has been covered already - please redirect me if it has:.
current belief is:.
watchtower (study edition), april 15th, 2010 issue, pages 27-29:.
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FusionTheism
God's Kingdom Rules book (2014), Page 12:
At least some of those in the second group will live to see the beginning of the coming tribulation. The two groups form one generation because their lives as anointed Christians overlapped for a time.
Anyone who was anointed after the death of the last of the anointed ones in the first group—that is, after those who witnessed the “beginning of pangs of distress” in 1914—would not be part of “this generation.”—Matt. 24:8.
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Overlapping Generation/GB/Doug Sanderson
by Simon Morley inmy apologies of this topic has been covered already - please redirect me if it has:.
current belief is:.
watchtower (study edition), april 15th, 2010 issue, pages 27-29:.
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FusionTheism
Dario,
The Governing Body is still claiming Matthew 24 has a second, antitypical fulfillment, because they consider it prophecy, not narrative or parable.
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Overlapping Generation/GB/Doug Sanderson
by Simon Morley inmy apologies of this topic has been covered already - please redirect me if it has:.
current belief is:.
watchtower (study edition), april 15th, 2010 issue, pages 27-29:.
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FusionTheism
AleFer,
According to this Overlapping Generation doctrine, the first group is made up of those who were Anointed in 1914, so they had to be old enough in 1914 to already be partakers at the Memorial.
The second group is made up of those who are Anointed while some of the first group are still alive.
So the second group must be old enough to know they are Anointed and partakers at the time when the last of the first group dies off.