Posts by Chalam

39

I am new here, need a bit of help

by Velvetann in

jw
friends

hi everyone, i was recommended to this place by "bigmouth" at least i think thats her handle.

grace from canada.

she is a sweetie.

Chalam

Hi Paula,
Warm welcome here too!

Yes stick around. You will find a wide range of beliefs and views on this forum which should be refreshing.

Don't worry about Armageddon, the word is mentioned only once in the Bible so it really isn't very important.

What I do feel is important is that you seek God and who He is. I believe He has been talking to you already, that bad feeling you had about going back to life as a JW was certainly not a coincidence.

David says it perfectly what to do

Psalm 105:4 (New International Version)
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always

Or Jesus here

Matthew 7:7
[ Ask, Seek, Knock ] "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Whatever you do, if you read the Bible then put the NWT on the side to gather dust (or just trash it). It is full of twisted truths and downright lies.

You can read an number of good versions here

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=3&version=31

All the best,
Stephen

75

If You Were Wrong About The JWs, Maybe Your Current Beliefs Aren't True

by serotonin_wraith in

if you're here, it's likely you were once fooled by what the jws believe.. back then, i expect you thought you were smart.

you thought you could tell if you were being lied to.

yet, they got past your mental defenses and sucked you in.. knowing this, how can you be sure your current religious beliefs are true?.

Chalam

Hi,
I think the thing with ex JWs is that they are 'one bitten, twice shy' as the saying goes.

The realise they were conned, cheated on and ripped off the first time and they sure don't want to be used and abused a second-who would?

Damage has been done but I believe God does exist, the He has an immense heart and that He can fix anything so it is better than new.

Keep searching, look where your heart tells you too. He is here, on this forum so look out for Him! This says it all for me.

Luke 19:10 (New American Standard Bible)
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

All the best,
Stephen

35

Help! I am afraid that I will join Satan...

by EvaZ in

this is my first post on this forum.

i am a forty years old women, and i have been a christian all my life.

i am thinking about joining jehovas witnesses since god has told me that you got the truth, the real truth.

Chalam

Yes Sylvia has it, great post!

The Message rocks!

Here's some verses for you from it

John 6:53
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

John 6:54
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:55
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

John 6:56
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me

Just to give you a 'heads up', the JW DO NOT believe these verses are for them, just a small elite, but that is definately NOT what the Bible says

Matthew 26:28 NIV
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 14:24 NIV
"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them.

1 Peter 3:18 NIV
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

Hope that makes some sense.

So do this :)

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

All kinds of Bibles available here (but NOT the NWT-amen!)

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/

All the best,
Stephen

35

Help! I am afraid that I will join Satan...

by EvaZ in

this is my first post on this forum.

i am a forty years old women, and i have been a christian all my life.

i am thinking about joining jehovas witnesses since god has told me that you got the truth, the real truth.

Chalam

Hi EavZ,
Please see my thread here

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/151243/1.ashx

The JWs beliefs are totally contradictory to any normal bible so they have their own called the New World Translation and another book to interpret it.

The don't not believe that Jesus died on the cross, in the Trinity, that the Holy Spirit is a person, in Hell or that there is an afterlife etc. etc.

So are you saved? Have you been born again?

My opinion is that God is talking to you through these dreams. I am going to get flamed for saying that but who cares, it is what I believe.

If you look in your Bible, God speaks to people in dreams from start to finish. God is not allowing this because He hates you but because He loves you.

"I feel that I have lived a good life, and haven't done anything wrong..."

Have you read this in the Bible?

Isaiah 64:6
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Or this?

Ephesians 2 (New International Version)

Made Alive in Christ

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

So I trust that makes sense. You will find a lot of different opinions here, there are many ex JWs, quite a lot of atheists, some born again Christians like myself and many 'still deciding'.

Please feel free to ask any questions. Post here or send me a message if you prefer.

All the best,
Stephen

9

"LIES, LIES!" for Bible readers and those with the NWT unholy scriptures.

by Chalam in

jw
friends

i was just watching this video after reading another thread.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=n9xjw_sk7ta .

the i saw the this verse plastered over the wall in the kingdom hall.

Chalam

Hi,
I was just watching this video after reading another thread.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=N9Xjw_sk7tA

The I saw the this verse plastered over the wall in the kingdom hall.

See here from the NWT "Holy Scriptures" Romans 10
"13 For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”"

This is another TOTAL lie and fabrication and I found myself calling out "lies, lies" as I saw it!

For starters the word here is from the Greek, kurios which is never translated as Jehovah in any other bible but as God, Lord, master or Sir. The name Jehovah is not in any other New Testament in any other bible, save the NWT unholy scriptures.

OK now go over to Acts 4, even in the NWT

12 Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”

So what name is that they are talking about then?

NWT 10 let it be known to all of YOU and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Naz·a·rene´, whom YOU impaled but whom God raised up from the dead, by this one does this man stand here sound in front of YOU

So in the NWT these two verses totally contradict each other.

This one too, back in Romans 10 NWT

9 For if you publicly declare that ‘word in your own mouth,’ that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved

So summing up, the NWT says that only calling upon the name of Jesus will lead to salvation, see Acts 4. But over it Romans 10 it say to call upon the name of Jehovah?!

The NWT is totally bogus, full of half truths and downright lies. Jesus is King Of Kings, Lord Of Lords, one with the Father and the only name by which we may be saved, read that in any good Bible :)

God's blessing to you all :)

Love Stephen

16

Minoan snake goddess, moses with snake on staff

by mkr32208 in

i'm just curious.

i'm taking a humanities course and one of the things that keeps coming up is the snake god/goddess.

tonight i was reading about the minoan snake goddess and the healing powers that she was suppose to have and it brought up thoughts of moses and the snake around the staff that would cure the israelites if they looked at it.

Chalam

Hi joannadandy, Glad you liked it :) I understand your reasoning. So what when it works in reverse? If you read Isaiah 53 for example it is quite clearly about Jesus' death. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=29&chapter=53&version=31 Even historians agree that it was written several hundreds of years before Christ was born. All the best, Stephen

30

I don't like using Jehovahs' name anymore

by LouBelle in

jw
friends

i must say the more and more i learn and find my way around my spirituallity the less i use the name jehovah.

it just reminds me of everything i went through, reminds me of the ""bad"" and not the good of god.

it reminds me of hypocracy and mind control.

Chalam

Hi,
I agree with many here, Jehovah is not necessary and the name is only mentioned in the Bible six or seven times. LORD is in my translation and comes from the Hebrew YHWH (the Jews left out the vowels) which is most likely Yahweh.

Jehovah is most likely a bad translation and whatever, is certainly a major red herring in the WT and NWT where they substitute it without any reason.

Jesus should know how to pray and showed the disciples, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."

See Romans 8 and Galatians 4 and you will understand why.

You can pray to Jesus to.

John 14:14 (New International Version)
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Strange the WT forbid that ;)

All the best,
Stephen

25

It's Possible! (A Conversation After Death)

by journey-on in

jw
friends

(just some sunday morning reflections on my part.

she left the truth?.

about 25, i think.. after the disfellowship, did you continue to love your son?.

Chalam

Hi again changeling,
Thanks for your reply and your peace.

I understand your aversion to many of the things I am saying. On the surface they would appear to be close to what the WT doctrine but we are like chalk and cheese, night and day. If you came to my church you would see it is totally different to ANY Kingdom Hall meeting. Or to see me talking with them on my doorstep only this very morning. Even the WT agrees!

All the things they teach are against what I read in my Bible. My beliefs at at the opposite of what they say in these fundamental things. Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? Who can show you what the Bible means? What happens after we die etc. etc.

There is NO proof, God requires faith and thus does not supply proof or other He would shout things out of the Heavens more often and come and show Himself in all His glory. But He does give us some huge clues if we truly want to know Him ;)

I have a lot of empathy with JWs, I would say God has given me some of His love for them. I have a good friend who is a JW and as I have got to grips with what they believe, all I see is twisted truths and downright lies. I understand people's aversion to 'preaching', be it JWs, Mormons and the like. There is nothing in the Bible to say 'preaching' is to be done either (door to door), only condemnation for the people that do it (2 Timothy 3).

I am truly saddened at the damage that the WT has afflicted, spiritually, emotionally and sometimes even physically. And IMHO, great damage has been done to ex JWs. Many who are mad at the talk of God or the Bible but God's love will make everything new-look out, verses follow, skip them if you prefer :)

1 Corinthians 13 (New International Version)

Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

Indoctrination is the worst and it won't get you into the Kingdom Of God either! Only faith in Jesus and being born again, but there goes my belief's again ;)

I grew up with these beliefs but I never followed them for 20 years so I have plenty of time to make up my own mind.

Two years ago I decided to check it out and read the Bible. I had felt God calling me and talking to me throughout the years but I long resisted anything about God or the Bible, much like some of the ex JWs here.

As I mentioned before, you really will know the truth and it will set you free. I still am dealing with some issues but God is loving and patient. And I am a happy man these days, happy to be alive and at peace. From the me of the last 20 years that is like night and day.

All the best.

WIth love again.

Stephen

25

It's Possible! (A Conversation After Death)

by journey-on in

jw
friends

(just some sunday morning reflections on my part.

she left the truth?.

about 25, i think.. after the disfellowship, did you continue to love your son?.

Chalam

Hi changeling,
"Chalam: I don't think anyone on this board wants to be preached to. Your intentions may be good. You may honestly believe that it's your duty to save our souls from the torments of hell or whatever. But we are not interested. Give it up."

If saying what my beliefs are is deemed as preaching then so be it. It is a free world and you are free to believe what you believe and me too.

Also you are free to read my posts or not and flame me or not as you wish, but as to silence my freedom of speech I do not accept and would you either?

Think about how you would feel if I was telling you to 'give it up' because I didn't agree with you.

With love,
Stephen

25

It's Possible! (A Conversation After Death)

by journey-on in

jw
friends

(just some sunday morning reflections on my part.

she left the truth?.

about 25, i think.. after the disfellowship, did you continue to love your son?.

Chalam

Yeah but who is right?! I assume you have decided it isn't the WT?!

Stephen