Posts by emptywords

11

New Aust Census - other Christians growing, JWs falling

by jwfacts in

the following figures are from the australian census 2006 as found at http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/home/census (30th june 2007).

very interesting to see that the number of people admitting to being jehovah's witnesses has fallen over the last 10 years by 3%, whilst baptists have grown by 7% and mormons by 18%.

looks like jws are not the only ones preaching afterall.. .

emptywords

I think it is the internet that has hurt the JW's more than anything else, people can read the history and all the phoney prophesies, the child sex problems and crazy medical bans.

But then a JW would say it is time of the end don't expect increase the love of greater number will cool of and the narrow gate, they will be quick to add that western countries have been preached and preached, but other countries and the third world have significant increases, especially Africa where KH are built at a rate of hundreds a month.

19

I'm starting to really get into the New Testament. This is great!

by MichaelM in

jw
friends

stuff i never really touched much when i was a studying with the witnesses.

i'm in awe.. amazed.. at the things jesus is saying/doing.. some of it is even putting me in tears.

one chapter that i really love so far is i'm in luke and i'm reading about the woman who came into the pharisee's home and started kissing jesus' feet and jesus told the story of the two people that owed money.

emptywords

37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

this is very special to me, shows how loving the real truth is, so loving and humane something I have always felt concious of in the KH, my past was very much like this, and I never really felt good enough in the troof.

19

I'm starting to really get into the New Testament. This is great!

by MichaelM in

jw
friends

stuff i never really touched much when i was a studying with the witnesses.

i'm in awe.. amazed.. at the things jesus is saying/doing.. some of it is even putting me in tears.

one chapter that i really love so far is i'm in luke and i'm reading about the woman who came into the pharisee's home and started kissing jesus' feet and jesus told the story of the two people that owed money.

emptywords

[quote] 36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

16

Ever Got the blame?? (sorry if post is too long)

by sparrow in

i have been df'd for around 4 years and have not got my back up about the org until this year.

only this last year have i been looking around for answers and started realising there is a foundation for my reasons of not going back.

at first i was happy that it wasn't because i was making excuses for not going back but bad things were happening outside of the people i know across the org.. what pissed me off the most (and the reason i found this site) is because i got the blame for my brother in-law having sex in my house with someone other than his wife (my sister) because i am not witness and thus have low standards.. i'll try to keep this short: i have 2 sisters, one brother and 2 parents (fancy that) both remarried however.

emptywords

Their all self righteous hypocrites, don't take it on board, youre worth more than that. Just so ridiculous and their so drunk on their unholy crap. Hang in youre doing great.

13

Change in Baptismal Questions?

by brunnhilde in

on another thread someone posted about hearing a different set of baptismal questions than the ones they had at their baptism.

can someone elaborate on this?

i don't remember hearing anything about the questions changing and this really surprised me, though i don't know why!

emptywords

Baptism as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is a significant step as it is a life time commitment to the Watchtower Society. At Mat 28:18 Jesus commanded that a person be baptised in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. However baptism as a Jehovah’s Witness also stipulates becoming part of the Watchtower organization. The second question for baptism states;

Watchtower 1985 June 1 p.30

“(2) Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization ?”

above copied from JWfacts.com. thanks

I will have to check out the old organization book think I have a copy somewhere, if I said yes to only dedication in name of father, son an holy spirit...just found the organization book copyright 1972.

The book has 80 questions one must know (learn including all sited scriptures )before the questions gives an outline of what to expect, Under sub heading FOR THOSE CONSIDERING BAPTISM,(page 17 para 2 )says....Only after believer had made such a dedication of himself to Jehovah God and taken up the discipleship of Jesus Christ is the believer qualified to get baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son" as well as of the holy spirit. (Matt.28:19; Acts19:5) Thus water baptism is a symbol of his dedication of oneself to Jehovah God through Jesus Christ, preceded by repentance and conversion. Gy pursuing this course, the dedicated, baptized believer comes into possessin of a "good conscience" toward God. (1Pet, 3:21) Such a one who has thus symbolized his disowning of himself now becomes a slave owned by God and a disciple of His Christ. He must continue to obey the command, of Romans 6:13: "Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, also your members to God as weapons of righteousness." Moffatt's Bible translation here uses the words "dedicate yourreselves" instead of "present yourselves."

This is what was suppose to be said and meant at the actual baptism, o k can't find anything here about dedication to the society in my baptism , Does that mean they cant disfellowship anyone if they disagree with the society, as I didnt dedicate myself in front of thousands of witnessess (district assembly) to do the beckon call of the borg .

13

Universal Soverienty

by emptywords in

one of the biggest tests for me when learning with the jw was why god permitted wickedness, suffering, cruelty ect... they say because of the issue involving jehovah'suniversal soverienty, satans challenge to gods right to rule..gen 3:15. and how we are all involved in this issue (job).

also people will have to know i am jehovah (ezekiel 36:23: 39:7) the sanctification of gods name is placed as the highest importance for the issue of u. s.. i have always had a problem with this, as for me i can't understand how god could allow so much cruelty just to prove satan a liar and through inhereted sin we to are involved in this because adam was our fleshly father.

does this sound egotistical to you, or am i really evil for even thinking that there is something wrong with all this.. so do you see a connection with " why god has allowed wickedness, and the issue of his universal soverienty"..

emptywords

One of the biggest tests for me when learning with the JW was why God permitted wickedness, suffering, cruelty ect..

They say because of the issue involving Jehovah'suniversal soverienty, Satans challenge to Gods right to rule..Gen 3:15. and how we are all involved in this issue (Job)

Also people will have to know I am Jehovah (Ezekiel 36:23: 39:7) the sanctification of Gods name is placed as the highest importance for the issue of U. S.

I have always had a problem with this, as for me I can't understand how God could allow so much cruelty just to prove Satan a liar and through inhereted sin we to are involved in this because Adam was our fleshly father. Does this sound egotistical to you, or am I really evil for even thinking that there is something wrong with all this.

So do you see a connection with " why God has allowed wickedness, and the issue of his Universal Soverienty".

37

Arguments against Disfellowshipping

by TheListener in

i would like a simple step by step explanation that refutes the disfellowshipping policy as practiced by jehovah's witnesses.. obviously, i don't agree with the policy but i have had trouble making my explanations clear and straightforward.. any help would be appreciated..

emptywords

I was looked down on for still keeping in contact with my x husband, (never a witness, but never opposed and always treated JW with respect and hostpitality) though he commited adultry and fell in love with the other women, we still remained friends and after 20yrs he still cares enough to how I'm going, there was a lot of bitterness and I did lose a lot, but I know he never set out to hurt me and did all he could to help me.

The elders had me playing detective to prove the adultry and cost me all sorts money, one bethelite brother in the congo told me to hire a private dectective, not one sheperding call, just, you must do this, must not do that, I was sick through the whole thing, my mother had just died, so much more to this, wont' bore you, point is they can't understand how I could possibly have anything to do with this evil worldly man........my best friend who has never been a witness we kept in contact was the biggest help of all through my years of depression and lonliness, yet I am warned not to go out with her.They are such hypocrites, I'm glad I never listened to them and kept in contact with those that who they say are worldly people and therefore marked for execution at arma, there and other so called evil worldly people have been a support like I have only seen rarely in the troof.

When one has problems in the troof, you deserve it some how, either spiritual sick, or not doing enough in the ministry, or doing something wrong, therefore Jehovah is allowing the punishement.

There are some loving and caring witnesses, but as put on here in another thread, if I was to say one thing about the society that was not in agreement, they would ignore me, or go to an elder and say something. I would love to meet someone from my congregation that feels the same, but I don't trust anyone to try and find out.

10

What's the intent of Mat.23:1-3 ?

by Hoping4Change in

then jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: the scribes and the pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.

(mat.23:1-3 nasb).

i've been wondering a lot about what these verses.

emptywords

They were suppose to represent God but by their works any good even living by the law (or trying to) were invalid.

Christ fullfilled the law, he was the only one that could keep the law, the law showed up imperfect man that they needed a saviour, no one could live by that law perfectly, which is why the pharasee were so hypocritical, they added to the law to show up mans imperfections and look good in their own eyes.

Christ nailed those laws to torture stake (cross, whatever) and two laws were the only laws that should govern everyones life. LoveGod and Love neighbour as yourself. Lk 10: 27,28 the pharasee's lacked genuine love.

25

By Chr*st! I think they are pushing Baptism!

by cultswatter in

here is that watchtower format change letter again .

christian congregation of jehovah's witnesses.

2821 route 22, patterson, ny 12563-2237 phone: (845) 306-1100. .

emptywords

doesn't say baptized, some come along to all the meetings and out witnessing and are not baptized but they are approved, so dedicated without the dip.

The magazines are designed only for sunday study material, which will not be offered to the public. The other w/t will have articles without the study format, and the JW terminology will not be in that w/t offered to the public, (pioneer CO, GB, DO, PO and other stuff only jw understand.

37

Arguments against Disfellowshipping

by TheListener in

i would like a simple step by step explanation that refutes the disfellowshipping policy as practiced by jehovah's witnesses.. obviously, i don't agree with the policy but i have had trouble making my explanations clear and straightforward.. any help would be appreciated..

emptywords

From a practical point of view, shunning cuts off all possible supports for an addict, when it is the very people closest to him who can urge him to get the help he needs, and warn him if he's slipping back in to his old ways. I would never report an addict to the elders.

I agree with that..person isolated with an addiction is in real danger of getting involved deeper and with company that works against any worthwhile help. The thing I find most unloving is they (GB elders) look at the wrong not the person, they don't see a human being in front of them, they just see the fault, to me they are by far the most reprehensible before God than those they judge, it's really neglect of the person as a whole.