That's a good question Data Dog. "Are they losing faith?" They are certainly demonstrating it in their grab for more power. When they (the GB) are looking at themselves they would have to ask if they are still recieving blessings from God and asking themselves how the holy spirit is being displayed amongst them.
Listener
JoinedPosts by Listener
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68
More fear and paranoia WT-style! (11/15/13 WT)
by LostGeneration ini usually dismiss the "drinking the kool aid" scenarios that are posted from time to time, but the latest wt has another bit of fearmongering.
the quote from page 20, para 17. elders who are reading this article can draw some useful conclusions from the account we have just considered: (1) the most practical step that we can take to prepare for the coming attack of the assyrian is that of strengthening our faith in god and helping our brothers to do the same.
(2) when the assyrian attacks, the elders must be absolutely convinced that jehovah will deliver us.
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WT November 15, 2013 on jw.org
by Gayle inhow can we maintain.
a waiting attitude?
article,,just to wait and wait and wait.
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Listener
"To survive the tenth plague, the Israelites had to obey the instructions to have a special meal and to splash some of the blood of a slaughtered sheep on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. That direction did not come to them by means of a voice out of heaven. No, they had to listen to the older men of Israel, who in turn received specific instructions from Moses. (Ex. 12:1-7, 21-23, 29) In those circumstances,Moses and the older men acted as bearers of Jehovah’s instructions to his people. Christian elders fulfill a comparably vital function today."
No wonder they appointed themselves as the only Faithful & Discreet Slave that has ever been appointed, they have all authority and don't need voices from heaven in order to give instructions that must be obeyed.
"In order to remain united and safe within the flock of God, we need to listen to ‘a word behind us,’ telling us which way to go. This “word” includes what God’s holy spirit says as expressed through the Bible AND what Jehovah and Jesus say through those whom they have appointed as undershepherds.—"
Wow, the bible now is only part of what JWs need to listen to and it is the leaders who are now able to declare what God and Jesus say through them. Once upon a time the r & f could find what God's word was telling them through the pages of the bible but that's not enough these days.
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WT November 15, 2013 on jw.org
by Gayle inhow can we maintain.
a waiting attitude?
article,,just to wait and wait and wait.
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Listener
" God’s promised new world is near, and our salvationis nearer than we may think"
Wonderful stuff. Even though they keep telling the sheep that Armageddon is near, that's not good enough to think this because it's even sooner than that.
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New York Tourist Crap Highlights The Watchtower buildings in Brooklyn
by steve2 inwell i'm a day shy of having spent one week in new york - my first time.
what a dazzlingly vibrant and noisy city - one that never sleeps.
new yorkers rightly proclaim this metropolis as one of a kind.
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Listener
" informing us that the organization is set to rake in millions upon millions from the sale of the Watchtower buildings so "they can move upstate". "
It just doesn't sound like a christian witness that they should be proud of.
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NEW UK BETHEL - START SAVING
by St George of England ina letter was read tonight at the meeting with this information.. apparently, three years ago the gb authorised the uk bethel to consolidate all the uk resources.
so far over 300 sites have been looked at but more information will be forthcoming.. in the meantime we can work to this end by saving so that we can contribute to the new facility.. also skilled and unskilled trades people can register for volunteer work, collect an application form from the secretary.. to me it seems like they are going to move out of london (mill hill, bittacy hill etc), get a cheaper area, pay for the new facility with donations and free labour.
they will then sell all the high value property and probably send the money to the us.
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Listener
They can now be considered as the Watchtower Building & Tactic's Society.
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hello. pls help. getting married soon. afraid i won't be happy because wtbts said so.
by seasickbumblebee inalshello.
i'm a practicing jw.
finally decided to create an account to see whether you could all help me.. so i am engaged to this wonderful wonderful man and in three months time we'll be married.
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Listener
I don't know the article that you're referring to but they should be adhering to the principles stated in their shepherding book, although I do recall there was some new light on viewing pornography but they've become less strict in this area, not more.
I am so sorry that you are feeling the way you are. It would seem that you are really worried that you haven't been specific when you first confessed, is this your issue at the moment or is it something more?
There is probably no real need for concern. You confessed to the elders something they believed was wrong and of a sexual nature and they counselled you. It only happened once and was clearly not a d/f offence. As elders they need to remind you that you can't do this again and they will be checking up to see if you do or not. It is just a warning.
It is no good to let this eat you up, this should be one of the happiest times in your life. If you have to, go to one of the elders who was on the JC and tell him you weren't being totally upfront about the description of your activities, you were embarassed and you thought there was no difference between the sin of your breasts being touched and other forms of foreplay (I forgot about that word but it is sufficient to use to describe the incident). Tell him how terrible you both feel and want to just put it from you but something you read made you think that you needed to clarify this. It would be helpful if you brought him a copy of a Watchtower article that lumps these two sins together.
Be very particular in which elder you choose to speak to, preferably one who is elderly, old fashioned and compassionate. It may be that he is too embarrassed to go into further details and will agree with you and leave it at that. He may also see how this has truelly affected you and your own feelings have been in such a state that you are repentant.
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I'm thinking about going back
by Corboy101 ini have been out for 22 years.i was raised as a jehovahs witness.
i was baptized in 1986 but soon after left the religion.
theres a whole lot to the reasons why i left, but i left.
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Listener
You mentioned that you have a number of non JW friends. If you become a witness you will find that this is greatly discouraged and if known, you will likely be counseled about it Watchtower 73 5/15 "To illustrate, in a congregation certain ones may fail to heed the Scriptural warning concerning worldly associations, perhaps even “dating” an unbeliever. (1 Cor. 7:39; 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:14) They may do this though counseled often regarding the matter. The elders, from the platform and otherwise, may even have emphasized the Bible’s counsel and warning against such conduct, not, however, naming the individuals involved. What then? Then, if approached and invited to share in such worldly association by a member of the congregation, the ones approached would ‘mark’ such a one as “disorderly” in this regard. They certainly would not want to associate with him in his course. In some cases, parents might find it necessary to instruct their children to restrict their association with certain young persons in the congregation who may be showing themselves “disorderly” in such ways. Elders, of course, would be careful not to use such ones in any exemplary capacity."
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My first experience at KH
by InChristAlone inthank you to all of you who commented yesterday.
no doubt you gave me an accurate description of what to expect.
when i first walked in, i was greeted by the jw who calls on my house.
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Listener
Thanks for the detailed post InChristAlone and for the opportunity to ask you some questions.
"The focus of the entire talk and WT study seemed to be on taking in an accurate knowledge of God...but not about knowing or experiencing God. To me, this is huge."
You often hear from members on this forum that when sitting through meetings they feel something is missing and this is probably what it is. I can't understand how we could truelly appreciate God's love if we focus too much on taking in an accurate knowledge. Unfortunately, this is why the org feels a great need to keep pumping out new publications and have grown their organization on this basis.
I wondered how many people were at this meeting and roughly a break down of ages? In particular the numbers of say 20 to 30 year olds?
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This is well worth remembering
by The Quiet One inhttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/oct/08/religion.world?view=desktop.
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Listener
This was a resolution made by JWs at assemblies around the world and published in the Watchtower 1963 10/15
"This Resolution stressed that Jehovah’s witnesses recognize that the one true God is Jehovah, that the Bible is his written Word, that Jehovah God is the Sovereign of the Universe, that men and nations have set up the United Nations rather than surrender to the sovereignty of God’s Messianic Kingdom, and that though nations have given idolatrous worship to that political image, this Jehovah’s witnesses refuse to do. The Resolution showed that radical governments have been formed, but that “We, as witnesses of God, the Source of life, will maintain our Christian steadfastness and have no part in such radical movements, but will hold fast to our Christian neutrality toward all radical and other types of human government over earth.” It stressed that the nations are being led by invisible wicked spirits to Armageddon, but that “we will not march with them to Har–Magedon, for we refuse to fight against God Almighty and his kingdom.” Jehovah’s witnesses, it was resolved, will continue to declare to all the ‘everlasting good news’ concerning God’s Messianic Kingdom"
They stated that they would have no part of it.
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had another conversation with my wife this morning
by Crazyguy inshe was getting already for service so i asked her "how do you do it?
" "how do you still go and do all this spiritual stuff now that you know that my research and letter to bethel shows that the jw religion denies us the messiah"?
she got all defensive and disagreed again with what i wrote to bethel and then i had to step in and tell her that its "its them that teaches that we don't have a mediator in christ and were not under the new covenant".
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Listener
You are making her think otherwise she wouldn't need to go to the elders for reaffirmation. It will be interesting to find out what she has to say after speaking to the elders.