Posts by AuntBee

9

Depression and Reinstatement efforts

by AuntBee in

long story, but i was talking online with someone who has been dfed for a long time, encouraging her to join a support group.

-- the person has been trying to get reinstated for years.

described how she has felt unwelcome and unsupported and is depressed.

AuntBee

Thanks all for the helpful comments and information! That definitely answered my question StoneWall.

cheers, auntbee

6

Having your say: Jehovah's Witnesses have NONE

by Terry in

jesus was the leader, the rabbi, the teacher and he chose his apostles.. they followed him, they listened, they obeyed.. but--did they have their say?.

did they ask stupid questions and get answers?.

did they have opinions that were voiced, heard and answered?.

AuntBee

That is such a great post, Terry! I've thought about that a lot as a mother of a large family, in reading many JW stories, and seeing lots of YouTubes.

As you said, being a christian, following Jesus was more than just obedience. -- I've noticed that in JW world, it seems like all the parents care about with their older kids is that they...... GO TO THE MEETINGS. Many are not even caring/trying to persuade them of the truth of it all, as long as the kids keep going to the meetings, that will keep the parents happy.

With most of the Christians i know, from various denominations, keeping the kids 'in church' is not the main goal. We desire that they come to the Faith, really and truly, in their hearts. And this cannot be coerced. Many allow and even expect times of questioning, doubting, etc. Our goal isn't to have their bodies in a pew to please us or make us look good.

My own son is almost 17 and hasn't attended church in a year. He is reading about all kinds of religions right now, and makes no claim to be a Christian. How can i deny him his own spiritual journey? Do i pray for him? You Bet! Do i try to make little points occasionally, or suggest things for him to read once in a while? yes. Do i look down on him for this? NO WAY.

9

Depression and Reinstatement efforts

by AuntBee in

long story, but i was talking online with someone who has been dfed for a long time, encouraging her to join a support group.

-- the person has been trying to get reinstated for years.

described how she has felt unwelcome and unsupported and is depressed.

AuntBee

Long story, but i was talking online with someone who has been DFed for a long time, encouraging her to join a support group. -- THe person has been trying to get reinstated for YEARS. Described how she has felt UNWELCOME and UNSUPPORTED and is DEPRESSED. She is always told she is not doing enough "works of repentence." After sharing these things, she stated.... i want to come back!

I don't really get it, if it is indeed just a publishing company, what's the deal with making reinstatement so impossible? Don't they want to increase their numbers, mag distribution, etc.?

I asked her to notice in the Gospels how Jesus treated repentent sinners. Did He forgive their sins right on the spot and show great compassion, or did He make them jump through hoops for years to prove their sincerity? I asked her if in her heart of hearts she really believes this type of thing is Biblical or Christ-like at all?

It struck me so much like codependency in a bad relationship, so sad.

15

A thought about the "imperfect men" excuse for false teachings.

by WontLeave in

in researching and writing this, a thought occurred to me.... has anyone ever asked this: if the society is "the faithful and discreet slave" of mat 24, they have been given authority over all of christ's belongings (including the people), are spirit-led and god's sole means of communication, and are entrusted with revealing "food at the proper time", why are they held to a lower standard than the "other sheep"?.

if they blatantly violate scripture, if they make false prophecies, if they reverse their decisions repeatedly, if they go way beyond what is written, if they hold a position for years or decades which is obviously and finally admitted to be false, they are given a total pass as "imperfect men" and "not infallible".

meanwhile, if you or i have a belief jws feel is "wrong" - we're not spirit-directed mouthpieces of god - why are we "apostates"?

AuntBee

Ugh, forgot to switch to Google Chrome. -- I just said i've thought about what you said sd-7, about the message being flawed vs the people delivering it being flawed, etc. Wow, i love the way you put that so clearly into words - thanks!

15

A thought about the "imperfect men" excuse for false teachings.

by WontLeave in

in researching and writing this, a thought occurred to me.... has anyone ever asked this: if the society is "the faithful and discreet slave" of mat 24, they have been given authority over all of christ's belongings (including the people), are spirit-led and god's sole means of communication, and are entrusted with revealing "food at the proper time", why are they held to a lower standard than the "other sheep"?.

if they blatantly violate scripture, if they make false prophecies, if they reverse their decisions repeatedly, if they go way beyond what is written, if they hold a position for years or decades which is obviously and finally admitted to be false, they are given a total pass as "imperfect men" and "not infallible".

meanwhile, if you or i have a belief jws feel is "wrong" - we're not spirit-directed mouthpieces of god - why are we "apostates"?

AuntBee

209

The trouble with Christianity. TRINITY.

by whereami in

gotta love pat.. "ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions.

ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity.

it is the mere abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of jesus.

AuntBee

209

The trouble with Christianity. TRINITY.

by whereami in

gotta love pat.. "ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions.

ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity.

it is the mere abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of jesus.

AuntBee

8

please deconstruct John 3:16 - our memorial scripture

by Curtains in

our memorial talk focused on john 3.16 - the exercise aspect of exercising faith.

the speaker began by saying 'this evening whilst we are all gathered together many are exercising in the park - they are working hard - jogging and running.

shouldn't we work that hard when we are exercising our faith'.

AuntBee

Still Thinking, that was great! I'm going to remember this one:

Obviously all these other Bible translations are just being Lazy!!!!

And also what Terry said i thought was so profound. "So, Jehovah's Witnesses have the WORST of those two worlds" YES, i've thought this too. They take grace away completely, the work of Christ FOR us, the promises TO all, etc. -- They say all the "indicatives" dont' apply to you, but pound away on the "imperatives." They take away Gospel, but keep Law. They rob you of promise, but keep the exhortations.

It's ridiculous how they use verses from the Pauline epistles in the publications to exhort the people, but don't you dare claim any of the good stuff unless you're "Annointed"!

10

2 JW's at my door today with Memorial Invite, 30 min conversation

by lovelylil in

jw
friends

this brother who is new to the local hall has no clue i am an apostate in the wt's eyes.

he was with a sister who also did not know me.

we had a great conversation for 30 minutes about jesus the 144,000 and the heavenly calling.

AuntBee

Thanks for sharing this, Lilly. I'm saving this to read over again later. I admire your patience and kindness.

auntbee

37

Am I mistaken or are these stupid mistakes on watchtower.org?

by WontLeave in

am i the only one who notices a couple of problems with this?.

first of all, passover is on 15 nisan, not 14.. the sheep should prove to be sound, a male, a year old, for you.

you may pick from the young rams or from the goats.

AuntBee

The thing that stood out to me as a "mistake" was Luke 22:19, translated as "This MEANS my body." I have never seen that in any translation. Even the NWT almost always translates that word "is" except here, and in the other "Communion" passages. wow. They're putting in their own opinion/commentary/paraphrase into a so called actual translation!!

"Third person singular present indicative of ε?μ? (G1510) " (Strongs)

This is so egregious! Even though there have been reams written about the exact meaning of "is" here, no Protestant scholar would translate that word as "means".

Hey, this solves the whole historical Eucharistic controversy! If i'm ever arguing with a Catholic, i'll just whip out my NWT, and say, look, it means "means" not IS. Problem solved. LOL.