pirata

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Posts by pirata

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  36

  holding hands in prayer thing

  by bez in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... is this "no holding hands in prayers" law really true???

  i have not heard of this before?

  when did this happen?

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  pirata

  A close look at the wording suggests that couples holding hands is okay, but embracing is not.
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  36

  holding hands in prayer thing

  by bez in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... is this "no holding hands in prayers" law really true???

  i have not heard of this before?

  when did this happen?

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  pirata

  It's a very recent suggestion:

  *** w09 11/15 pp. 6-7 par. 19 What Do Your Prayers Say About You? ***

  19 When we are being represented in public prayer, we need to display reverential “fear of God.” (1 Pet. 2:17) There may be a proper time and place for some actions that would be inappropriate at a Christian meeting. (Eccl. 3:1) For instance, suppose someone sought to have all in a group link arms or hold hands during such a prayer. This might offend or distract some, including visitors who do not share our beliefs. Some marriage mates might discreetly hold hands, but if they embraced each other during public prayer, those who got a glimpse of such conduct might be stumbled. They might think or get the impression that the couple was focusing on their romantic relationship instead of reverence for Jehovah. Out of deep respect for him, let us therefore “do all things for God’s glory” and avoid conduct that could distract, shock, or stumble anyone.—1 Cor. 10:31, 32; 2 Cor. 6:3.
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  15

  Elder stops me from giving a public talk, and then summons me to a JC.

  by african GB Member in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/198621/1/elder-he-doesnt-know-i-was-reprooved-from-another-cong-invited-me-to-give-a-public-talk-please-advice.

  i think i am finally going to get fired/df'd from the organisation..

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  pirata

  That's what happens when you don't go through the real public talk coordinator.
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  21

  For those poor sods still attending Meetings.....

  by cantleave in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  are the feinds really following the counsel not to holds or cuddle during the prayer?.

  has there been any additional counsel on this subject?.

  or is it being ignored?.

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  pirata

  Ignored. Because no one our hall is stumbled by hand-holding and most people have their eyes closed.
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  20

  Staying "Loyal" and King David/Saul Question...

  by Confucious in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ok.... had a good discussion with a jdub friend.

  good friend.. and i gave the argument, "hey.., loyalty to god trumps loyalty to organization.".

  basically, that when your concious disagrees with "god's organization" that you should stand up and say something.. then he gave me a good point about king david and how saul was the organization at the time but since it was god's appointed one - that david didn't work to "overthrow" saul.. thoughts?.

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  pirata

  A few related articles:

  *** it-2 pp. 871-872 Saul ***
  Rejected by God.

  Throughout Saul’s reign there were repeated battles against the Philistines and other peoples, including the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Amalekites. (1Sa 14:47, 48, 52) In the war against the Amalekites, Saul transgressed Jehovah’s command by sparing the best of their flock and herd as well as their king, Agag. When asked why he had not obeyed Jehovah’s voice, Saul disclaimed guilt and shifted the blame onto the people. Only after Samuel emphasized the serious nature of the sin and said that, because of it, Jehovah was rejecting him as king did Saul acknowledge that his error was the result of his fearing the people. After Saul pleaded with Samuel to honor him in front of the older men and in front of Israel by accompanying him, Samuel did appear with him before them. Then Samuel himself proceeded to put Agag to death. After that, Samuel parted from Saul and they had no further association.—1Sa 15:1-35.

  It was after this and after the anointing of David as Israel’s future king that Jehovah’s spirit left Saul. From then on “a bad spirit from Jehovah terrorized him.” Having withdrawn his spirit from Saul, Jehovah made it possible for a bad spirit to gain possession of him, depriving Saul of his peace of mind and stirring up his feelings, thoughts, and imaginations in a wrong way. Saul’s failure to obey Jehovah indicated a bad inclination of mind and heart, against which God’s spirit offered Saul no protection or resistive force. However, since Jehovah had permitted the “bad spirit” to replace his spirit and terrorize Saul, it could be termed a “bad spirit from Jehovah,” so that Saul’s servants spoke of it as “God’s bad spirit.” On the recommendation of one of his attendants, Saul requested that David be his court musician to calm him when he was troubled by the “bad spirit.”—1Sa 16:14-23; 17:15.

  *** w00 6/15 pp. 13-14 Honor the Ones Given Authority Over You ***

  Respect Despite Imperfection

  8 There are many examples in the Bible of those who honored individuals in authority, even when these misused or abused their authority. David was one such fine example. King Saul, under whom he served, became jealous of David’s achievements and sought to kill him. (1 Samuel 18:8-12; 19:9-11; 23:26) Still, though having opportunities to kill Saul, David said: “It is unthinkable, on my part, from Jehovah’s standpoint, to thrust my hand out against the anointed of Jehovah!” (1 Samuel 24:3-6; 26:7-13) David knew that Saul was in the wrong, but he left it up to Jehovah to judge him. (1 Samuel 24:12, 15; 26:22-24) He did not speak abusively of or to Saul.

  9 Was David distressed while he was being mistreated? “There are . . . tyrants that do seek my soul,” David cried out to Jehovah. (Psalm 54:3) He poured out his heart to Jehovah: “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God . . . Strong ones make an attack upon me, for no revolt on my part, nor any sin on my part, O Jehovah. Though there is no error, they run and get themselves ready. Do rouse yourself at my calling and see.” (Psalm 59:1-4) Have you ever felt the same way—that you had done no wrong to a person in authority, yet he kept giving you a hard time? David did not fail to show respect to Saul. Upon Saul’s death, instead of exulting in joy, David composed a dirge: “Saul and Jonathan, the lovable ones and the pleasant ones during their life . . . Swifter than the eagles they were, mightier than the lions they were. You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul.” (2 Samuel 1:23, 24) What a fine example of genuine respect for the anointed of Jehovah, even though David had been wronged by Saul!

  10 In the Christian era, we also find outstanding examples of those honoring God-given authorities. Take, for instance, Paul. He showed respect for the decisions of the first-century governing body of the Christian congregation. During Paul’s last visit to Jerusalem, the governing body counseled him to cleanse himself ceremonially to show others that he harbored no animosity toward the Mosaic Law. Paul could have reasoned: ‘Those brothers previously instructed me to leave Jerusalem when my life was threatened. Now they want me to demonstrate in public that I respect the Mosaic Law. I’ve already written a letter to the Galatians advising them to keep free from observing the Law. If I go to the temple, others may misunderstand my action, thinking that I am compromising with those of the circumcised class.’ However, Paul evidently did not reason that way. Since no compromise of Christian principles was involved, he respected and complied with the counsel of the first-century governing body. The immediate result was that Paul had to be rescued from a Jewish mob, and he subsequently spent two years in prison. In the long term, God’s will was done. Paul witnessed before high officials in Caesarea and then was taken at government expense to Rome to witness before Caesar himself.—Acts 9:26-30; 21:20-26; 23:11; 24:27; Galatians 2:12; 4:9, 10.
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  58

  OT God vs NT God

  by brotherdan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is mainly a question for bible believers.

  but of course anyone can chime in.

  how do you justify the differences between the way god acts in the ot and the very different way he acts in the nt.

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  pirata

  I used to also reason that just because an prophet/king/Israelite did something in the Bible does not mean that God approved of it.
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  58

  OT God vs NT God

  by brotherdan in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is mainly a question for bible believers.

  but of course anyone can chime in.

  how do you justify the differences between the way god acts in the ot and the very different way he acts in the nt.

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  pirata

  I used to wonder that too. One day I realized that Revelation brings things full circle (destroy everyone who is not part of the spiritual Israel).
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  41

  SD-7 Is In the House!

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  welcome back!.

  you were definitely missed.. syl.

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  pirata

  Christadelphian beliefs seem very similar to Jehovah's Witnesses.

  When I lived by a Christadelphian church we used to joke that the catch-lines advertising sermons on their bulletin board came from the Watchtower magazines.

  http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/similar-religions/christadelphians.php
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  15

  Did you throw ALOTS of old WT/AW magazines in the trash while you were a loyal dub?

  by asilentone in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs
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  pirata

  I underorder the amount needed for service, borrow from others if I run out. Recycle last years once the current WT LibraryCD is out. No longer order personal copies with the downloads available.
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  9

  Next time an and elder pulls out ...

  by wannabefree in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  ... a watchtower or km to give you a little counsel, share this from this weeks "bible study".

  *** cf chap.

  10 p. 101 par.

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  pirata

  Great quote. The irony of that statement hit me that this week's conregation "bible" study as well.