Very odd. I could go to the webpage with Google Chrome and see the links, but when I clicked on them the page won't load. I just get a blank page.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Peace,
Awen
hello there everyone.
i remember reading a while back about someone on here ( i think) that wrote a letter to the body of elders & headoffice that they should not take any action to disfellowship them as they would be distancing them from friends and relatives and would proceed to take legal action if the body of elders went ahead.. if anyone has that link or can point me in the right direction i'd appreciate that..
Very odd. I could go to the webpage with Google Chrome and see the links, but when I clicked on them the page won't load. I just get a blank page.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Peace,
Awen
hello there everyone.
i remember reading a while back about someone on here ( i think) that wrote a letter to the body of elders & headoffice that they should not take any action to disfellowship them as they would be distancing them from friends and relatives and would proceed to take legal action if the body of elders went ahead.. if anyone has that link or can point me in the right direction i'd appreciate that..
May you have peace:
The page can be viewed just fine with Google Chrome. It crashes in Firefox.
here's the link:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/best-of/78540/1/The-Best-of-Letters-to-family-and-elders-WTS
Peace,
Awen
edit: I don't know how to insert links, so you'll have to copy and paste.
paul's letters practically invent christianity.. the gospels trickled in after him.. paul never walked with jesus and yet explains him.. never a quote from the master at all.. yet, paul is such a maven.. if jesus couldn't be bothered to actually reveal what he was all about to his apostles with whom he ate, drank, spoke and slept---why this persecutor, saul?.
the apostles heard every word jesus spoke and were willing to die for him.. paul didn't--yet--miraculously explained every detail of the entire history of god's purpose including his messiah.. .
can anybody provide a non-gimmick answer?.
Peace be with you.
Yes, it's true God's standards have always been the same. Men however have taken what God has said and twisted or corrupted it to suit their own ends. The WTBTS is very guilty of this. The unmerciful treatment fo their fellow worshippers clearly bear this out. They have no applied Jesus words at Matthew 9:9-13
9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Time and again we as Christians are told by Christ that mercy and love should be the empowering force that moves us to action in regards to the welfare of our fellow man (be they Christians or not). The GB have clearly not demonstrated love for the afflicted ones, ones suffering from depression, hard economic times, family problems etc. Their advice has always been to continue to give money, go out in field service, comment at meetings and study the WTS publications. They lack empathy. People are told to wait on Jehovah, yet if a person seeks professional help, be it medical or legal they are criticized by the GB for "running ahead" of Jehovah when this clearly isn't the case at all. The GB have set themselves up as Judge, Jury and Executioner as regards to administering discipline in the congregation and it's their way or not at all. The problem with this mentality of strict adherence to rules and regulations (many of which change with "New Light") leaves the congregations confused and bewildered as to what is the right course. Many witnesses have lost their lives due to the GB's ever changing doctrines and their refusal to admit responsibility when they have caused harm to others. They "blame" God and say it's "New Light" from him and thus cause people to lose faith in God.
Mark 2:23-28
.23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
25 He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Jesus here clearly shows that the Sabbath was made to be a benefit for mankind and not a burden. The Law covenant was made to show the Israelites that they couldn't come to God on their own, they needed a mediator, but the Law set them free from the corruption of the surrounding nations. The Pharisees and Sadducees (think modern day Governing Body) made the Law a burden to the people and created sub-laws and regulations for every aspect of life. The GB does the exact same thing. When I read Luke 12:40-48 I get that Jesus was talking about the GB directly in regards to the Evil Slave which make up only part of the FDS which isn't made up of just JW's and ex-JWs but worshippers of God from all over the world.
Luke 12:40-48 (New International Version, ©2010)
40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
41 Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk
46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47 "The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
In regards to God changing things He has said in the past:
When Jonah was sent to Ninevah to speak to the inhabitants about YHWH's judgment against them he was unaware that the potential for forgiveness existed. He thought it was cut and dry, that they would be destroyed no matter what. That wasn't the case and he became upset about it. God didn't change his decision regarding Ninevah, he simply didn't give Jonah all the information regarding his task and the possiblity of a different outcome based upon whther they repented or not.
In regards to the Law of Moses Jesus said:
New International Version (©1984)
Matthew 5:19
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus also said:
(New International Version, ©2010)
Matthew 5:17
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Romans 10:14 "For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God."
Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses but he didn't destroy it because everything that is in the Law of Moses is also contained in the teachings of Christ. The Law was a tutor leading to Christ and so to gain salvation we no longer look to the Law of Moses, but rather the same Law in Christ.
The Law of Moses gave detailed requirements for the carrying out of sacrifices and observation of certain days. Are these still required. In my opinion, no. Simply put, the Temple no longer exists for it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. Without a Temple there can be no sacrifices. The Orthodox Judaism supports this notion themselves until the building of the Third temple which will commence with the arrival of the Jewish Messiah.
More information can be obtained here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levite#In_contemporary_Jewish_practice
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Temple
Jesus himself echoes this idea when speaking to the Samaritan woman in which he stated:
John 4:21
(New International Version, ©2010)
21 "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem."
May you have peace,
Awen
paul's letters practically invent christianity.. the gospels trickled in after him.. paul never walked with jesus and yet explains him.. never a quote from the master at all.. yet, paul is such a maven.. if jesus couldn't be bothered to actually reveal what he was all about to his apostles with whom he ate, drank, spoke and slept---why this persecutor, saul?.
the apostles heard every word jesus spoke and were willing to die for him.. paul didn't--yet--miraculously explained every detail of the entire history of god's purpose including his messiah.. .
can anybody provide a non-gimmick answer?.
Peace be with you:
Many of us or maybe none of us have ever walked in GB shoes is true. I fail to see your point though. The Governing Body who do claim to be YHWH's sole channel of information for mankind have taken on a great responsibility and a great bloodguilt if they do not handle their responsibilites in a loving manner.
All throughout the scriptures the Bible tells us that man does not have the supreme authority to govern, nor should his words be taken at face value. All things uttered by man should be tested for truth and consistency. The WTBTS utterly fails in consistency when it comes to the "New Light" teaching. Not once in the Bible has YHWH ever changed a teaching. Not. Once. it is man who have changed God's words for their own profit.
A false teacher can be known by his pride (Cain's rejection of God's plan), greed (Balaam's prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah's promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).
We don't need to walk in the GB shoes to know they're wrong. We need only read the Bible and open our eyes.
Peace,
Awen
i think i'll have biscuits this morning..........matthew 4:4. you take your shoes off from a long day at work luke 3:16. can you do anything without the bible's stamp of approval?_________________ feel free to leave an answer with scriptural support..
Agreed. Faith and Love is what is needed. of course that isn't limited to the Bible, it's what we all instinctively want, whether we've ever picked up a Bible or not. Apparently it IS written in our hearts just as the Bible says. Go figure.
Peace,
Awen
paul's letters practically invent christianity.. the gospels trickled in after him.. paul never walked with jesus and yet explains him.. never a quote from the master at all.. yet, paul is such a maven.. if jesus couldn't be bothered to actually reveal what he was all about to his apostles with whom he ate, drank, spoke and slept---why this persecutor, saul?.
the apostles heard every word jesus spoke and were willing to die for him.. paul didn't--yet--miraculously explained every detail of the entire history of god's purpose including his messiah.. .
can anybody provide a non-gimmick answer?.
New Living Translation (©2007)
1 Corinthians 13:12 "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."
2 Corinthinas 5:12 "Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart."
2 Corinthins 10:8 "I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn't tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority."
1 Corinthins 9:16 "Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!"
It seem to me that Paul clearly knew that he ahd made mistakes in the past and he owned up to them. The Apostles, while in Christ's direct presence were still confused about a great many thing and Christ constantly chastised them for their lack of faith.
What makes the Apostles any different that Paul? Nothing.
Some might argue that Paul wasn't one of the Twelve as he wasn't chosen directly by Jesus, he wasn't a witness to Jesus' miracles nor did he have the Holy Spirit infused into him by Christ in a direct manner.
Paul never claimed to be one of the Twelve, nor did it seem important to him. As a Pharisee, he had obvious experience with people's lack of humility and the taking of titles unti themselves as being of some relevance. The Twelve obviously suffered from this, for even on the night of Jesus impending death were they arguing about who amongst them were the greatest. They suffered (like we all do) of the all too human condition of pride and frailty of faith.
The Holy Spirit doesn't give a person the answer. It gives an answer. What I mean is, you ask a question, it gives an answer and then you use your Bible-trained conscience to figure out what is being said in the context of your experience.
Paul's experience was withing the Law of Moses, so he taught what he knew. The Apostles experiences were of the everyday sort and they taught what they knew. No one way of teaching is in any way better than another.
As to Paul circumcising Timothy. Paul said "to the Jew he is as a Jew, to the Greekas to a Greek" and so on. In the context of whom Paul and Timothy preached to, the circumcision was a smart thing to do and it had absolutely nothing to do with whether the Law was still in effect or not. It broke down a barrier that the Jews had in regards to speaking to Gentiles. The circumcision of Timothy was a way to get his "foot in the door". Afterwards he could reason with the Jews and help them to see it was unnecessary in the end. He couldn't just tell them the Law was abolished with the coming of Christ, since the Jews didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah in the first time. So he had to have a way to be able to talk with them first (to be acceptable to them), then he could reason with them through the Torah and The Law and help them realize that Jesus was the Messiah.
Unlike the WTBTS, Paul did admit his errors and this is why these things are recorded for our benefit, to show that even teachers and "older men" need to have humility and accept correction where it is due.
Peace,
Awen
with all the posts about the society hacking into facebook accounts, this new setting which was implemented today might be of some use for many people.. http://gawker.com/5744229/the-facebook-setting-you-should-change-as-quickly-as-possible.
one of the nice additions, besides using https protocols is the addition of having the option to be notified via e-mail if your account is accessed from a new computer or mobile device.
this will enable you to hopefully track the hacker and notify the authorities of suspected cyber crimes.. the watchtower would finally be able to be prosecuted for their hacking into jw and ex-jw accounts.. .
With all the posts about the Society hacking into FaceBook accounts, this new setting which was implemented today might be of some use for many people.
http://gawker.com/5744229/the-facebook-setting-you-should-change-as-quickly-as-possible
One of the nice additions, besides using HTTPS Protocols is the addition of having the option to be notified via e-mail if your account is accessed from a new computer or mobile device. This will enable you to hopefully track the hacker and notify the authorities of suspected cyber crimes.
The Watchtower would finally be able to be prosecuted for their hacking into JW and ex-JW accounts.
I'd like to see the excuse they come up with for this one.
just as the title says.. .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw1dfohdkao&feature=related.
peace,.
http://download.jw.org/files/media_magazines/wp_e_20110301.pdf.
in fact, the new catholic encyclopedia.
says that gambling is not considered sinful.
Remember that the Apostles also cast lots to decide on a replacement for Judas Isacariot. The lot fell on Matthais.
I'm not here to debate anyone. If you want to gamble and you have a clear conscience about it, then so be it. I simply gave the Bible's reasons for not doing it. I'm not in a position to decide for anyone nor tell anyone what they should do, after all everyone has free will.
Peace,
Awen
http://download.jw.org/files/media_magazines/wp_e_20110301.pdf.
in fact, the new catholic encyclopedia.
says that gambling is not considered sinful.
I do find it amusing that the WTS continually "strains out the gnat, but gulps down the camel" when it comes to issues such as these. They say smoking is harmful to your health and since keeping the body clean of any defilement is pleasing to JHVH, then is shouldn't be done.
Well let's carry it to it's logical conclusion. If anything that is harmful to your body shows disrespect for the fee gift of life, then it would be reasonable to conclude that the following things are also dsipleasing to God and shouldn't be consumed.
1) Eating fast food. McDonalds and others have been criticized for many years for how unhealthy their products are.
2) Coffee Caffeine is a highly addictive substance, affecting brain chemistry and altering one's mood substantially if it's not consumed regularly.
3) Soda Pop highly caffeinated and harmful to one's health in so many ways due to high sugar content and man-made chemicals.
4) Tea same reasons as above
5) Prescription drugs All the side affects that go along with them.
6) Painkillers can be addictive
7) Over the counter cold medications some contain addictive substances and cause side effects
8) Alcohol Probably the worst of the bunch. Bethel would come to a screeching halt is alcohol could no longer be consumed.
The list can go on forever, but I think I have made the point that the WTS simply picks and chooses and goes along with public opinion (world ruled by Satan) at to what is acceptable and what is not, despite one scripture in particular:
<< Matthew 15 >>
New American Standard Bible
11"It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
As to gambling
http://www.dianedew.com/gambling.htm
Many quotes and many scriptures that outline the principles of hard work and reliance on GOD to provide. When we gamble, we are trying to seek riches and no longer relying upon GOD.
Peace,
Awen