Posts by passwordprotected

18

Jesus Found Him

by passwordprotected in

this will be posted on freeminds in due course for the benefit of jws who are reading the articles there;.

there are two accounts in the bible centered around jesus that were a great help to me as i was leaving the control of the watch tower society.. to me, the watch tower society, with it's governing body and local representatives, the elders, were my religious leaders.

i was, in all truth, a religious person.

passwordprotected

Jesus come to him for life. Nuff said.

14

Who Does a Jehovah's Witness Get Everlasting Life From?

by passwordprotected in

new freeminds blog;.

who does a jehovah's witness get everlasting life from?.

http://www.freeminds.org/blogs/watchtower-teachings/who-does-a-jehovah-s-witness-get-everlasting-life-from.html.

passwordprotected

Maybe you're dialing the wrong number.

18

Jesus Found Him

by passwordprotected in

this will be posted on freeminds in due course for the benefit of jws who are reading the articles there;.

there are two accounts in the bible centered around jesus that were a great help to me as i was leaving the control of the watch tower society.. to me, the watch tower society, with it's governing body and local representatives, the elders, were my religious leaders.

i was, in all truth, a religious person.

passwordprotected

This will be posted on Freeminds in due course for the benefit of JWs who are reading the articles there;

--

There are two accounts in the Bible centered around Jesus that were a great help to me as I was leaving the control of the Watch Tower Society.

To me, the Watch Tower Society, with it's Governing Body and local representatives, the elders, were my religious leaders. I was, in all truth, a religious person. I did not have the freedom described in Jeremiah 31 that comes to those who are part of the New Covenant. Rather, my life was shaped and controlled by religion.

As I started to read the New Testament, it became clear to me that Jesus Christ was the absolute central theme; from Matthew to Revelation, each gospel, each epistle was completely founded on the person of Jesus Christ; from new born baby to risen King, the overwhelming message I was getting from my daily Bible reading was Jesus. It's important to note that during these times I was praying daily for Jehovah's to lead me with his Spirit into truth. Could it be that Jehovah was telling me that I needed to start looking to Jesus? (John 15:26 shows us that the Spirit of truth will witness to us about Jesus, so this shouldn't really have been any surprise to me.)

In the two Biblical accounts in question Jesus lovingly supported people who were prepared to stand up to their religious leaders and a obey him as their sole leader. As a Jehovah's Witness I'd become increasingly uncomfortable with the leadership of the Governing Body. I failed to understand their reasoning, in particular, behind abandoning the meeting in private homes for Bible study, especially when one of their cited reasons was the increasing of fuel costs. This had led me to discuss with my wife the importance of us making sure our own spirituality was intact through regular Bible reading and prayer. I'd pointed out to my wife that we should be reading the Bible "without a filter". What I meant was that we should just let Jehovah speak to us through his word without filtering the Bible through our existing understanding of it.

Of course, the thought of questioning the leadership of the Governing Body was appalling. They speak for God, don't they? Failing to obey the Governing Body was tantamount to disobeying God himself, or so that was our thinking at the time. Yet, surely Jehovah would be pleased that we wanted to spend time letting him speak to us through the Bible?

In John 5 Jesus meets an invalid and tells him to pick up his mat and walk. The man obeys. Miraculously his infirmity is cured. However, the religious leaders take exception to him disobeying them; they tell him that he shouldn't be carrying his mat on the sabbath. Obedience to law was more important to obedience to the Messiah, the true leader of God's people. At this point Jesus had vanished into the crowd, leaving the man to render an account of himself to the religious leaders.

However, in verse 14 we read that Jesus was looking for the man, for he finds him at the temple and offers him further words of direction and encouragement. Jesus issued an instruction to the man, the man obeyed Jesus - to his benefit; he was cured - however, this act of obedience to Jesus led to trouble with the religious leaders. The man now needs to, literally and spiritually, stand on his own two feet. However, not for long, as Jesus then finds him and strengthens him.

The other account that deeply touched my heart is in John chapter 9. A man born blind is cured by Jesus. The man is given instructions by Jesus, which he obeys, and his cured of his birth defect. Once again, the religious leaders order him to render an account for this, because again, the law had been broken. The man bears testimony to Jesus, eventually declaring that Jesus is indeed from God.

Incensed, the religious leaders disfellowship the man for professing his faith in Jesus alone. Because he did not buckle down under their laws, he was viewed as being unfit for fellowship. The man would have lost everyone, the excommunication he received from the leaders would have meant he'd no longer be allowed any social contact with his friends and family. A high price to pay for being obedient to the Son of God.

Yet again, however, Jesus is the next one on the scene. In verse 35 Jesus goes and finds the man, comforts him, encourages him and reveals that his eyes have been opened spiritually as well as physically.

Being obedient to the word of Jesus can be costly, as both of these men found out. You may get into trouble with your religious leaders. However, the cost comes with benefits; Jesus finds you and comforts you.

As we read the Bible "without a filter", our eyes become open to the truth. We learn that Jesus alone is the way, the truth and the life. Sadly, like in the 1st century, our religious leaders try and step in front of Jesus, waving their arms and demanding our attention. "What about us?" , they cry, "what about our longstanding organisation? What about all of our Kingdom Halls? Our printing presses? Our worldwide preaching work? Obey us as your leader!" Yet, salvation does not come from any person on earth. Our trust should not be in earthly leaders, no matter who they claim their authority came from.

Our obedience to the voice of Jesus to come to him alone for salvation and eternal life came with it's cost. Eventually we were disassociated from the congregation. Thankfully, the next person we met was Jesus. He called us out of our religion and into a relationship with him. He strengthened us, supported us, talked to us and guided us. Yes, at times the transition from religion to relationship was tough, just as it would have been tough for the man born blind to be thrown out of the temple. But the rewards were worth the cost. Freedom in Christ!

Remember, Jesus came to set the captives free. The Jews were under the oppressive yolk of law, Jesus came to replace that yolk with his yolk. His yolk is kindly, its load is light. Jesus also came to bind up the broken hearted. Keeping the law and obeying the religious leaders had broken the hearts of the Jews; they had no guarantee of salvation, the Kingdom of Heaven had been closed off to them. Jesus was setting them free, they now had the authority - if they received him and believed in his name - to become children of God! (John 1:12)

Imagine if the invalid hadn't broken the sabbath law. He'd have spent the rest of his days lying prone and disabled on his mat. Imagine if the blind man hadn't obeyed Jesus. He'd have spent the rest of his days in darkness. Yet both men did obey Jesus. Yes, they got into trouble with the religious leaders, but they experienced the saving grace of their Lord, were healed from the maladies that afflicted them. Along with their physical healing came spiritual restoration. All because they obeyed the word of Jesus.

In John 5:24 Jesus tells us the truth. He says that whoever hears and believes has eternal life and will escape condemnation. In verses 39 and 40 he makes a point that is incredibly poignant for any Jehovah's Witness. He's speaking to you when he says that you diligently study the scriptures because you think that by means of them you have everlasting life. Yet, it's these very scriptures that testify about him. And you refuse to come to him to have life. Are you placing an Organisation in front of the Christ?

Ask yourself, am I letting anyone stand in the way of me going to Jesus? Do you believe that it is Jesus alone who is the way, the truth and the life? Do you attribute any of these characteristics to any other person or organisation, perhaps referring to an organisation as "the truth"? Do you fear your religious leaders? Perhaps you've seen in the Bible that Jesus is the theme of the whole book. Perhaps you're frightened by this as maybe your thinking is now closer to that of "apostate Christendom" than that of the "faithful and discreet slave".

However, don't be afraid. If you've been praying to Jehovah for direction in your life, if you've been asking him to reveal to the truth to you, why would he lead you onto a false path? If you're starting to realise that Jesus is the way, then remember the invalid and the man born blind; both obeyed the voice of Jesus, had to stand up to the religious leaders, but quickly realised that Jesus was looking for them.

Who Does a Jehovah's Witness Get Everlasting Life From?

by passwordprotected in

new freeminds blog;.

who does a jehovah's witness get everlasting life from?.

http://www.freeminds.org/blogs/watchtower-teachings/who-does-a-jehovah-s-witness-get-everlasting-life-from.html.

passwordprotected

Isn't it the case that the "faithful and discreet slave" have more roles in the Bible than Jesus does (according to their own teachings)?

14

Who Does a Jehovah's Witness Get Everlasting Life From?

by passwordprotected in

new freeminds blog;.

who does a jehovah's witness get everlasting life from?.

http://www.freeminds.org/blogs/watchtower-teachings/who-does-a-jehovah-s-witness-get-everlasting-life-from.html.

passwordprotected

@Narkissos - lol, exactly...

47

What are the Major Issues with Jehovah's Witnesses?

by AllTimeJeff in

it's safe to say that in most instances, it appears that the catalyst for the final move away from jw's, the real start of a road toward a jw exit, is something that affected you personally, whether that was you or a loved one/family member.

we hit our personal bs level, can't take it anymore,.

then we start to examine the flaws of jw dogma.. i would suggest that most do not start a jw exit because they examine the dogma on a personal study project and find out that something isn't right.

passwordprotected

Please try and keep the thread on topic and don't allow the attention seeker to hijack it!

14

Who Does a Jehovah's Witness Get Everlasting Life From?

by passwordprotected in

new freeminds blog;.

who does a jehovah's witness get everlasting life from?.

http://www.freeminds.org/blogs/watchtower-teachings/who-does-a-jehovah-s-witness-get-everlasting-life-from.html.

passwordprotected

Thanks, folks.

14

Who Does a Jehovah's Witness Get Everlasting Life From?

by passwordprotected in

new freeminds blog;.

who does a jehovah's witness get everlasting life from?.

http://www.freeminds.org/blogs/watchtower-teachings/who-does-a-jehovah-s-witness-get-everlasting-life-from.html.

passwordprotected

New Freeminds Blog;

Who Does a Jehovah's Witness Get Everlasting Life From?

http://www.freeminds.org/blogs/watchtower-teachings/who-does-a-jehovah-s-witness-get-everlasting-life-from.html

28

Latest CO Service talk: How much do you appreciate Jehovahs provision of the Faithful Slave

by LUKEWARM in

jw
friends

apparently the latest circuit overseer service talks are entitled:.

(1) "how much do you appreciate jehovah's provision of the faithful slave".

(2) "directed by god's spirit in our ministry".

passwordprotected

Truthlover said: ...He also said" you notice that in the last few months there has been a lot of emphasis put on the FDS in the mags - recognize they are being guided by the Holy Spirit, so use your sense of hearing wisely, listen and OBEY"

This is the sort of crap that wakes people up, thankfully.

28

Latest CO Service talk: How much do you appreciate Jehovahs provision of the Faithful Slave

by LUKEWARM in

jw
friends

apparently the latest circuit overseer service talks are entitled:.

(1) "how much do you appreciate jehovah's provision of the faithful slave".

(2) "directed by god's spirit in our ministry".

passwordprotected

The only way to attain the gift of everlasting life is only by means of the "faithful slave." Humanity must accept these "trees of life"

I thought Jesus was the way, the truth and the life.