Posts by Chalam

64

To all christians...

by wolfman85 in

...should we celebrate the memorial in our homes?

will you do it?

any ideas.

Chalam

Good to see you Tammy!

Although the act might look symbolic, and you might not feel much, great things take place in the spiritual realm!

See for example here what happens when one believes for the first time. One might not feel much but seismic things have happened in the spirit.

John 5:24

English Standard Version (ESV)

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Ephesians 1:13-15

English Standard Version (ESV)

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of ourinheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

2 Corinthians 5:17

English Standard Version (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 2:4-6

English Standard Version (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Hope you are well! Blessings, Stephen

238

Active JW understands flaws in WTS doctrine but believes in the Bible

by flamegrilled in

perhaps this is a common topic for newbies on the site, but i have browsed for a while and not seen this exactly answered.. as an active jw who understands the flaws in wts doctrine, but believes in the bible, how do i identify a form of worship that meets all the criterea:.

1) by this all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves (john 13:35).

sure i know that not all jws do this, and that people from other religions or non-religious people do this also, but as an official doctrine jws will not kill one another in war, and in general there is a genuine effort to exercise "agape" love not widely found in the world at large.. 2) preach the good news.

Chalam

cofty So how do you know what jesus said if you can't trust anything in the bible?

Agreed!

The bible is first and formost THE way we know what Jesus said.

If one thinks the text is fallible then anything and everything in the book is open to fault.

The Holy Spirit is THE way by which we know what Jesus is saying. He is the Spirit of Christ, knowing the depths of God, teaching us all things and always pointing to Christ.

Blessings,

Stephen

238

Active JW understands flaws in WTS doctrine but believes in the Bible

by flamegrilled in

perhaps this is a common topic for newbies on the site, but i have browsed for a while and not seen this exactly answered.. as an active jw who understands the flaws in wts doctrine, but believes in the bible, how do i identify a form of worship that meets all the criterea:.

1) by this all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves (john 13:35).

sure i know that not all jws do this, and that people from other religions or non-religious people do this also, but as an official doctrine jws will not kill one another in war, and in general there is a genuine effort to exercise "agape" love not widely found in the world at large.. 2) preach the good news.

Chalam

Welcome FlameGrilled! :)

1) By this all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves (John 13:35). Sure I know that not all JWs do this, and that people from other religions or non-religious people do this also, but as an official doctrine JWs will NOT kill one another in war, and in general there is a genuine effort to exercise "agape" love not widely found in the world at large.

Can I suggest this chapter? Matthew 5

2) Preach the good news. Sure I know other religions try to an extent, but JWs are known for their preaching. One might disagree with the details of the message but I don't want to get into that here. They do certainly direct attention to God, Jesus and the kingdom.

What gospel is being preached? Galatians 1 Is it this one? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

3) Gather together in worship. I include this one since I understand the arguments put forth in Ray Franz's book, but the NT really seems to be clear that some level of organized worship is required "and even more so as you behold the day drawing near".

Who is being worshipped and how? John 5:23, Hebrews 1, Colossians 1:15-21

Blessings in Christ, Stephen

64

To all christians...

by wolfman85 in

...should we celebrate the memorial in our homes?

will you do it?

any ideas.

Chalam

Just reading this-I think it will help in regardings to "the Memorial" :)

Colossians 2:16-23

English Standard Version (ESV)

Let No One Disqualify You

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Blessings in Christ,

Stephen

93

Do JWs have a biblically normative relationship with Jesus christ?

by Vanderhoven7 in

i would say that that would be impossible...given that jesus christ is simply an angelic being in wts eyes.. jehovah's witnesses have about as much a relationship with the angel gabriel as they do with jesus.. and, no...tacking on the name of jesus at the end of a prayer is not evidence of relationship..

Chalam

Nice thread and post Van :)

Great stuff sacolton excellent post! Good to see you.

Blessings,

Stephen

64

To all christians...

by wolfman85 in

...should we celebrate the memorial in our homes?

will you do it?

any ideas.

Chalam

A few pointers here too

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/188907/1/The-Clear-Biblical-Case-Against-The-Memorial

Blessings,

Stephen

57

Difficulties understanding passage.

by s-c-3-1-3 in

i am reading colossians 1:15-18, and understand it to mean that jehovah created jesus who then created all other things in the world, thus jesus crall things except for god who created him.

is this correct?

thanks in advance!.

Chalam

If one believes the WT teaching i.e. Jehovah created Jesus who created all "[other]" things then this verse is also a problem.

Isaiah 44:24

English Standard Version (ESV)

24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:
“I am the LORD, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself

If you believe the "LORD" only to be Father then either this passage is at direct odds with verse 16 here.

Colossians 1:15-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Preeminence of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. If you believe that Yahweh ("Jehovah") is God the Father, Son and Spirit then there is no problem. Incidentally, the Holy Spirit is also cited as the Creator! See here for example

Job 33:4

English Standard Version (ESV)

4 The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Blessings,

Stephen

64

To all christians...

by wolfman85 in

...should we celebrate the memorial in our homes?

will you do it?

any ideas.

Chalam

Yes, as the Spirit leads you :)

You are not under the Law or the laws of mortal men.

Just don't call it "the memorial" ;)

Blessings,

Stephen

25

Liberal Christians explain how you view 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

by ShadesofGrey in

so the christian (baptist) that i study with says that there are things in the bible that are useful for learning from history, but if god didn't say it (this is what the sovereign lord jehovah has said, or if jesus actually said it, etc.

) then it isn't something that god is saying, so that helps us understand it?.

i know i need to say more in my question, but hopefully i will learn from your responses to the title.. .

Chalam

Would Paul have considered his writings scripture?

Certainly, Peter though so.

2 Peter 3:15-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. My own view on 2 Tim 3:16-17 is it does what it say on the tin (and that includes the whole of the bible).

2 Timothy 3:16-17

English Standard Version (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. The caevat is that without the Holy Spirit bringing His revelation, the bible is pretty much just some history, a collection of poems and songs, some interesting wise sayings and such. As a literary work, the bible can also be quite dull. As a spiritual work it IS life, IS truth, IS the way.

1 Corinthians 2:14

English Standard Version (ESV)

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

It "speaks" like no other text. It breathes with the heartbeat of God. It is His book for His people and all those who find themeselves drawn to His call. The Father speaks not only generally to His children but also individually to us. I am always happy to hear what He has to say, even the occasional telling off because it is always done in love. Blessings, Stephen

10

Letters to a friend about the memorial:

by ShadesofGrey in

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Chalam

Hello Carmen,

The little flock refers to the Jews and the other sheep are us Gentiles :)

John 10:16

English Standard Version (ESV)

16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Romans 1:16

English Standard Version (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Ephesians 2:11-22

English Standard Version (ESV)

One in Christ

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed inordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Blessings in Christ, Stephen