Posts by Vanderhoven7

32

The Hubris of the Governing Body

by cofty in

it's difficult to comprehend how arrogant the members of the governing body must be to sanction much of the content that appears in their literature.

they identify themselves as the 'faithful and discreet slave' - that alone requires an astonishing degree of pride.

but what is even more amazing - arguably to the level of insanity - is the way they then use that phrase to elevate themselves above the rest of the organisation.

Vanderhoven7

Only the Faithful Slave understands the Bible.

“... not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the SCRIPTURE STUDIES aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years - if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the SCRIPTURE STUDIES with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures.” Watchtower: September 15, 1910, page 298

Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do,” (Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1981, p. 27).

WT 10/1/1967: "Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind."

WT 1/15/1983: "Would we know the way of the truth if it had not been for guidance from the organization? Really, can we get along without the direction of God's organization? No, we cannot!"

“Only this organization functions for Jehovah’s purpose and to his praise. To it alone God’s Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book,” (Watchtower, July 1, 1973, p. 402).
“We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave’ organization,” (Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981).
” . . . people cannot see the Divine Plan in studying the Bible by itself . . . if he then lays them [Scripture Studies] aside and ignores them and goes to the bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Scripture Studies with their references, and had not read a page of the Bible, as such, he would be in the light at the end of the two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures,” (Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1910, p. 298).
“Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible,” (Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967, p. 587).
“The world is full of Bibles, which Book contains the commandments of God. Why, then, do the people not know which way to go? Because they do not also have the teaching or law of the mother, which is light. Jehovah God has provided his holy written Word for all mankind and it contains all the information that is needed for men in taking a course leading to life. But God has not arranged for that Word to speak independently or to shine forth life-giving truths by itself. His Word says: “Light is sown for the righteous.” (Ps. 97:11) It is through his organization that God provides this light that the proverb says is the teaching or law of the mother. If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our mother,” (Watchtower, May 1, 1957, p. 274).
“Channel to understanding the Bible . . . All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the “greatly diversified wisdom of God” can become known only through Jehovah’s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave,” (Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1994, p. 8).

62

Do you know of any church that KNOWS God?

by the-MadJW in

i mean, the jws have many faults, as each of us have.. do you know any other group that does?.

Vanderhoven7

@Ratti

"God created the heavens and the earth and then neglected it."

Why would you conclude neglect? John 3:16-17 says the exact opposite.

"There are a bunch of details about what people think that God is pleased with or displeased with, but no one knows God."

You can legitimately say that you do not know Him or what pleases Him, but you can't know that about everyone else.

My take is that God has revealed Himself and His Will in Jesus Christ.

Perhaps man cannot know God through science, religion, logic or philosophy but then there is divine revelation where God speaks to the repentant heart.

17

JWs and the constitution of the United States

by Vanderhoven7 in

jws will not salute the flag.

however they will support the us constitution which gives congress the right to establish the military and to declare and to make war.

isn’t that tant amount to supporting the country going to war?.

Vanderhoven7

Just picked this up.

The oath was required as a prerequisite to the issuance of a passport from 1861, to 1966, when the State Department made it optional.

17

JWs and the constitution of the United States

by Vanderhoven7 in

jws will not salute the flag.

however they will support the us constitution which gives congress the right to establish the military and to declare and to make war.

isn’t that tant amount to supporting the country going to war?.

Vanderhoven7

@Atlantis

Excellent find.

@ Mad-JW

I smell hypocrisy.

62

Do you know of any church that KNOWS God?

by the-MadJW in

i mean, the jws have many faults, as each of us have.. do you know any other group that does?.

Vanderhoven7

All true Christians know God and Christ Jesus independent of the Watchtower Faithful Slave organization. Unlike 8 million Jehovah's Witnesses all true Christians are justified, imputed Christ's righteousness and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

17

JWs and the constitution of the United States

by Vanderhoven7 in

jws will not salute the flag.

however they will support the us constitution which gives congress the right to establish the military and to declare and to make war.

isn’t that tant amount to supporting the country going to war?.

Vanderhoven7

Well, perhaps today you don't need to take the Oath of Allegiance to The United States of America to get your passport but how about Watchtower supporting the United Nations as a Non Governmental Organization for ten years up until 2000

In 1891 Charles Taze Russell pledged the oath of allegiance.

In 1922 Joseph Rutherford pledged the oath of allegiance.

In 1952 Milton Henschel pledged the oath of allegiance.

In 1966 Nathan Knorr pledged the oath of allegiance.

In 1966 Fred Franz pledged the oath of allegiance.

17

JWs and the constitution of the United States

by Vanderhoven7 in

jws will not salute the flag.

however they will support the us constitution which gives congress the right to establish the military and to declare and to make war.

isn’t that tant amount to supporting the country going to war?.

Vanderhoven7

JWs will not salute the flag. However they will support the US constitution which gives congress the right to establish the military and to declare and to make war. Isn’t that tant amount to supporting the country going to war?

Section. 8.

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

29

Jesus Never Limited His Promies to 144K

by Sea Breeze in

what were we thinking?

mat_10:32 whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will i confess also before my father which is in heaven.. mat_10:33 but whosoever shall deny me before men, him will i also deny before my father which is in heaven.. mat_12:50 for whosoever shall do the will of my father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.. mat_16:25 for whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.. mat_18:4 whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.. mar_10:15 verily i say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of god as a little child, he shall not enter therein.. luk 6:47,48 whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, i will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man .

which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock.

Vanderhoven7

The fact is, the New Testament does not mention Christians that are not saved or justified, are not sons of God, are bereft of the indwelling Holy Spirit and a heavenly hope.

All Christians

58

Did the ransom sacrifice even work?

by Sharpie in

shower thought entered my mind the other day... jesus christ.

as per doctrine.

is still alive in heaven right now correct?

Vanderhoven7

Hi Sea Breeze,

Christians are ransomed and redeemed now... so it is not only sheol that we are delivered from.

Ransom

Deliverance of humankind from its state of alienation from God has been accomplished through the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom 4:25; 2 Cor 5:18-19). In the New Testament, redemption requires the payment of a price, but the plight that requires such a ransom is moral, not material. Humankind is held in the captivity of sin from which only the atoning death of Jesus Christ can liberate. ("Entry for 'Redeem, Redemption'". "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology")

Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through him. Ro.5:9

Rom_3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

1Co_1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Eph_1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Col_1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Heb_9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

26

JW Broadcasting - simply a platform for narcissists?

by eyeslice in

jw
friends

one thing i notice from sitting through a number of broadcasts is just how much these guys love their titles.

it's always brother such-and-such, member of the gb, helper to the teaching committee, etc.

it's never simply brother such-and-such, a local elder with such-and-such congregation.. it seems to me the witnesses are pretty quick to pick up on catholics who call their priests father, which at the end of the day is in much the same vein simply a title.. i suspect these titles point to a huge amount of narcissism of the part of those who revel in such titles, certainly it doesn't seem to fall in line with christ's advocation that the greatest amongst you should be be the least.