jerome

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Posts by jerome

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  56

  A big "thank you" to everyone here

  by Simon in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the past i have sometimes felt like i have to be the 'bad guy', so to speak, because i need to lock or delete topics, deactivate people, try and stop fights and such like - basically, telling people off and not being 'nice'.. well, apart from the odd heated debate and harsh word (and disruptive 'visit') i have not really had a great deal to do for the past month or two and it has been very nice - a pleasure to serve.. so ... i thought i should say a 'thank you' instead of a "stop it!

  " for once

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  jerome

  The Bible is a two edged sword wield it for evil and it you may get hurt.
• 
  9

  Cult of confession.

  by jerome in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  questions from readers.

  in view of jehovah's willing ness to forgive sins by the merit of the ransom sacrifice, why is it necessary for christians to confess to the older men in the congregation?

  as can be seen in the case of david and bath-sheba, jehovah forgave david's sin, grave though it was, because of david's genuine repentance.

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  jerome

  Questions From Readers

  In view of jehovah's willing ness to forgive sins by the merit of the ransom sacrifice, why is it necessary for Christians to confess to the older men in the congregation?

  As can be seen in the case of David and Bath-sheba, Jehovah forgave David's sin, grave though it was, because of David's genuine repentance. When the prophet Nathan approached him, David openly confessed:"I have sinned against jehovah."-2 Samuel 12:13.

  However, Jehovah not only accepts a sinners sincere confession and extends forgiveness but he alos makes loving provisions to help the erring one progress to spirtual recovery. In David's case, the help came through the prophet Nathan. Today, in the Christian congregation, there are spirtually mature older men, or elders. The diciple james explains:"Is there anyone [spirtually] sick among you? Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, greasing him with oil in the name of Jehovah. And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also if he has comitted sins, it will be forgiven him."-James 5:14.

  Skillfull elders can do much to ease the pain of the heart that is caused by the remorsefull sinner. They strive to imitate Jehovah in their dealings with him. They never want to be harsh, even though strong disipline may be warrented. Rather, they compassiotely consider the immediate needs of the individual. Patiently they strive to readjust the erring one's thinking by using God's Word. (Galations 6:1) Even if a person does not voularintaily confess his sin he may still be moved to repentance when approached by the elders, as David was when approached by Nathan. The support thus rendered by the elders helps the erring one to avoid the danger of repeating the sin and the serious consequences of becoming a hardened praticer of sin.-Hebrews 10:26-31.
  
  It is certainly not easy to confess to others deeds that one feels ashamed of and to seek forgiveness. It takes inner strenght. Reflect for a moment, though, on the alternative. One man who failed to reveal the serious sin to the elders in the congregation said:" I felt a pain in my heart that would not go away. I increased my efforts in the preaching work, but the sickening feeling remained." he felt that confession to God in prayer was enough, but clearly it was not because he experienced feelings similar to King David's.(Psalm 51:8'11)) How much better to accept the loving assistance that Jehovah provides through the elders!

  WatchtowerJune 1, 2001

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  My only comment is in relation to the example sighted above involving the man who felt a pain in his heart that would not go away.

  Many people do not realize just how powerfull a personal example is in relaying a message.

  The alternative could have been a statement along the lines of :

  "Many brothers who have neglected to confess their grevious sins to the older men in the congregation have suffered even to the point of physicall torment Would a true Christian refuse to confess their serious sins to the more spritually mature men in the congregation and thus revealing to Jehovah lack of inner strength? Shurely not!"

  Notice that the alternative is not as personal as the first example. People relate better to personal stories than statics in shuch curcumstances.

  The Watchtower publications are flooded with shuch personal examples.

  Beleive it or not this extremly simplistic and seemingly innocent stragety is a powerful persuasion tool.

  Now you know.

  jerome

  The Bible is a two edged sword wield it for evil and it you may get hurt.
• 
  5

  Marking, Public reproof, Bad association

  by jerome in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what are the social and psychological effects which being labeled as as any of the above (bad association, marked, publicly/privately reproved) bestow apon a publisher if they were to be labeled as shuch?.

  what is the general procedure for this to take effect?.

  how long does any shuch stigma attached to the label last?.

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  jerome

  What are the social and psychological effects which being labeled as as any of the above (Bad association, Marked, Publicly/privately reproved) bestow apon a publisher if they were to be labeled as shuch?

  What is the general procedure for this to take effect?

  How long does any shuch stigma attached to the label last?

  jerome
• 
  61

  How many found the REAL truth from the internet?

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if it was'nt for the internet i would still be stuck in the endless cycle of drone like meeting attendance and field service.

  (technically i'm still in but not for long) i'm really glad that some ex-jws took the time to speak about the real truth.

  for the longest time i always thought that what i was taught was correct, i never even felt the need to question it or validate it with actual facts.

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  jerome

  Please dont let him hijaack the thread. Dont respond to him.

  This is a very important topic so just ignore him.

  In fact when you read this post dont even respond with a

  "I agree thet we should ignore him"

  Just do it. Ok

  jerome

  Just ignore.

  The Bible is a two edged sword wield it for evil and it you may get hurt.
• 
  40

  Tonites bookstudy

  by Leander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it took everything i had to stay seated thru the bookstudy tonite, i felt like getting up and leaving.

  the fact that i'm the designated reader did'nt make matters any better either.

  i'm not sure how many people on the forum have the isaiah's prophecy book but if you do have a copy check out chapter 21.. chapter 21 in paragraphs 3 talks about how enemies of the israelites (pharoah, nebuchadnezzar)were compelled to acknowledge that jehovah was with his people.

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  jerome

  Another april fool joke.

  The Bible is a two edged sword wield it for evil and it you may get hurt.
• 
  16

  WT Resolution regarding UN

  by messenger in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  the resolution.

  we jehovah's witnesses, met together in [city, state, country], in one of the "everlasting good news" assemblies being held in a continuous chain around the whole world this year of 1963, do this day declare and resolve as follows:.

  2 that the one living and true god, the creator of heaven and earth, whose name is jehovah, is the only god whom we fear and glorify.

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  jerome

  How can this document be verified?

  Edited because I posted the same thing twice.
• 
  16

  WT Resolution regarding UN

  by messenger in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  the resolution.

  we jehovah's witnesses, met together in [city, state, country], in one of the "everlasting good news" assemblies being held in a continuous chain around the whole world this year of 1963, do this day declare and resolve as follows:.

  2 that the one living and true god, the creator of heaven and earth, whose name is jehovah, is the only god whom we fear and glorify.

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  jerome

  How can this document be verified?

  By the CD? Or by some other publication?

  jerome

  The Bible is a two edged sword wield it for evil and it you may get hurt.
• 
  51

  Why do Jehovah's Witnesses lie to recruits?

  by jerome in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  first let me say this.. i have constantly been hearing of the legendary honesty/intergity of the jehovah's witness for some time now.

  i have also been informed that they are the happiest people on the entire earth.. my problem is this:.

  when a jehovah's witness comes to your door and you actually decide to give them a few moments of your time they never give the whole story as to what you would be getting involved with when you join the watchtower.. case in point.

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  jerome

  Thanks fro the replies everyone!

  Rest assured that your input Will be put to use in the fight against coercive tacktics.

  jerome

  The Bible is a two edged sword wield it for evil and it you may get hurt.
• 
  51

  Why do Jehovah's Witnesses lie to recruits?

  by jerome in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  first let me say this.. i have constantly been hearing of the legendary honesty/intergity of the jehovah's witness for some time now.

  i have also been informed that they are the happiest people on the entire earth.. my problem is this:.

  when a jehovah's witness comes to your door and you actually decide to give them a few moments of your time they never give the whole story as to what you would be getting involved with when you join the watchtower.. case in point.

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  jerome

  seedy your lucky that at least everyone dident shun you.

  But I'm not too shure about something though.

  I asked how often do they speak about theocratic warfare at meetings and noone seemed to anwser my question.

  I could really do with a reply.

  thanks
• 
  30

  Did U find Jesus rude?

  by Matty in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  jesus was a nice guy most of the time, but don't you think hes a bit rude and thoughtless sometimes?.

  the watchtower today discussed the supposedly marvelous example that jesus showed to youths today, citing his escapade at 12 at the temple.

  what hit home to me was that he was missing for three days - three days!

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  jerome

  Why oh why wasnt it mentioned that because jesus was THE SON OF GOD his parents gave him a little lead way?

  He was the massiah!

  So tell me why would he have to respect the highpreists?

  His mother Knew that he could take care of himself.

  Oh forget it

  jerome