Posts by Listener

31

You may PRETEND to care - in reality you are SELFISH!

by wannabefree in

that;s what my wife (and all jw's) gets to hear about us at the kingdom hall today, (hmmmm, i wonder if she'll raise her hand to answer this one) ... .

watchtower study ... today, apostates and others who create divisions in the congregation use “smooth talk and flattering speech.” (romans 16:17, 18) they may pretend to care about others, but in reality, they are selfish.. (the watchtower - study edition (simplified version) 10/17 page 4 paragraph 7).

Listener

Can't they at least make up their mind? They can't be mentally diseased and smooth talking at the same time.

24

March 2018 Study Watchtower

by Listener in

the first study article is about getting bible studies and children baptized.

there is much more emphasis placed on parents to get their own children baptized rather than focusing on bible students.

they try to impress on others the need for urgency.

Listener

The first study article is about getting Bible Studies and children baptized. There is much more emphasis placed on parents to get their own children baptized rather than focusing on Bible students.

They try to impress on others the need for urgency. We are told that it is not enough to live by God's high moral standards, it is also necessary to attend meetings and witness. No scripture is quoted for the requirement to attend meetings.

One who is pursuing righteousness would also be present at congregation meetings and have a meaningful share in the lifesaving preaching and disciple-making work

They seem to be lowering the bar as to how young an individual can be for baptism but they do make it clear that an infant can't get baptized.

the Bible does not specify an age at which a person should get baptized.... Thus, the goal of all Christian parents should be to teach their children from infancy with the intention of helping them become baptized disciples of Christ. Granted, an infant would not qualify for baptism. However, the Bible shows that even relatively young children can grasp and appreciate Bible truths.

No longer is it necessary to have an 'accurate knowledge of God', instead, having a basic knowledge is acceptable. Biblical examples are used to support this idea.

what can you do when your child expresses a heartfelt appreciation for basic Scriptural teachings, including the meaning and significance of dedication and baptism? You Christian parents may conclude that he can contact the congregation elders to see if he meets the qualifications to get baptized.

The issue of a parent not allowing their child to be baptized due to the fear of sinning and the df arrangement is again raised. Either way, they replace one fear with another fear, there's no escape. They argue that not baptizing a child for fear of this is 'deceptive reasoning' and that

a child is accountable to God when the child knows what is right and what is wrong in Jehovah’s eyes

The QFR discusses the all important topic of why they depict Paul as being bald or having little hair. It is not biblically based.

I was a little startled to see this comment which is not very 'ladylike' speech. It's likely that a bunch of blokes see nothing wrong with this type of speech.

Your feelings about others: Is there someone in your congregation who rubs you the wrong way?

A further study article says it is an obligation of Christians to show hospitality and even optional activities should be limited if necessary in order to make time to show hospitality.

It seems like this may be a real need in the congregations and many must be having a problem socializing. One paragraph shows that there is an even more serious problem and they quote the Bible saying that showing hospitality to enemies will improve relationships. They are talking about these 'enemies' being JWs as the paragraph proceeds with the following -

Extending hospitality to someone can reduce friction and soften hard feelings. It can bring to the surface lovable aspects of our guest’s personality, aspects that Jehovah saw when he drew that one to the truth

They then instruct JWs to work out ways why you are inferior to other Brothers and Sisters which will result in better results from showing hospitality. Pretty much like a self inflicted demeaning exercise.

Another article discusses discipline and states that Jehovah's discipline is never cruel or abusive.

Apparently, you have to be 'authorized' in order to provide scriptural discipline, even though they
previously wrote that discipline primarily relates to education.

What fine qualities will help elders to be effective shepherds of God’s flock?
17 All who are authorized to give Scriptural discipline are wise when they imitate Christ’s example. Indeed, their doing so reflects their desire to be molded by God and his Son. The apostle Peter wrote: “Shepherd the flock of God under your care

Listen to Jehovah. Let him instruct you in child-rearing by means of his Word and the guidance we receive through his organization

Being obedient to the disfellowshipping arrangement is seen as one of the greatest tests on some parents.

Consider the example of a mother whose disfellowshipped daughter left home. The mother admits: “I looked for loopholes in our publications so that I could spend time with my daughter and my granddaughter.” She adds: “But my husband kindly helped me to see that our child was now out of our hands and that we must not interfere.”

So now, if you are disfellowshipped, your JW parents can not spend time with your young children. Looking for loopholes is wrong. These men are officially morally sick but according to them, it's Jehovah's wisdom.

If you have a disfellowshipped child, will you “trust in Jehovah with all your heart [and] not rely on your own understanding”? (Prov. 3:5, 6) Remember, Jehovah’s discipline reflects his matchless wisdom and love. Never forget that he gave his Son for all, including your child. God wants no one to be destroyed. (Read 2 Peter 3:9.) So have faith in Jehovah’s discipline and direction. Do so even when it pains you, the parent, to do what Jehovah says. Yes, work with God’s discipline, not against it.

10

JW's Dancing at a Special Convention in Indonesia

by disfellowshipped1 in

jw
friends

video: jw's dance at the jakarta, indonesia special convention.

things have really changed over there in jw land...... holding up phones like lighters now?.

Listener

There's a few Youtubes of the assemblies in Indonesia at the same time

This one looks like young children singing before delegates. They've gone overboard in dressing up their children in the same clothes. The girls have dresses in different patterns made out of the same material, including belts and headpieces. See 2.12 and at 14.10 even the mothers are dressed up in the same material as they parade their child to sing in front of the microphone for a few seconds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHEstv_TacM

The next video includes a comment that this years convention was special as all conventions were held at the same time in Indonesia, from 17 to 19 November. It shows them waving their phone lights but no dancing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEenzn1vUCc

The next video shows male and female attendants welcoming guests at 1.06 and dressed in the same costumes. Then at 2.47 it looks like a family dressed in the same material.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjDAlPnyfZg

In the following video it looks like these JW ladies are dressed up as bees for their special conventioners.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XsOI2qdsEs

9

Watchtower Organizational Structure

by Wild_Thing in

jw
friends

does anyone know of any diagrams online that show the current hierarchical structure of the watchtower compared to the previous hierarchical structures of the past.

i know they have complicated it on purpose to try to protect themselves legally from lawsuits.

i would like to try to understand their current structure compared with the past.

Listener

Wikipedia is a good place to find some information.

Try this link for a start-

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizational_structure_of_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses

27

Why the move to Warwick?

by optimisticskeptic in

i've seen a lot of posts around and about warwick and the goings on there but was curious as to people's theories on why the move to warwick?

granted there's the obvious point about all of the money from the sale of properties in brooklyn but for as massive as warwick is, the purchase of an apartment complex there, multiple sites and buildings i would be surprised if they had much left from all of the profits.

so beyond a financial incentive why move?

Listener

Hi and welcome Optimistikskeptic.

I'm with Kairos on this. A lot of money was tied up in the Brooklyn properties and they were either owned by the Watchtower Corp of Pennsylvania or New York or both. Transferring those properties into another business entity was probably not an option for tax reasons and transparency but once they were sold transferring the money into a new corporate structure should not have posed much of a problem.

20

Can JW's celebrate Hannukah?

by Splash in

what's the official teaching on celebrating this jewish festival?.

Listener

This is from the 8th December, 1990 Awake,

But what of the festival itself? Since it commemorates an important event in the history of God’s people, should it be commemorated by Christians?
The apostle Paul explained at Colossians 2:14-17: “[God] blotted out the handwritten document against us . . . by nailing it to the torture stake. . . . Therefore let no man judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath; for those things are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to the Christ.” Just as a shadow cast by an approaching object can alert someone to its arrival, the Law covenant was able to alert people to the arrival of the Messiah, or Christ. However, once this handwritten document had served its purpose, it was blotted out by God.—Galatians 3:23-25.
Thus, the Law covenant and all related festivals came to an end from God’s standpoint at Pentecost 33 C.E. Indeed, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Roman armies in 70 C.E. soon underscored that fact. (Luke 19:41-44) So even though the rededication of the temple was an important event in the history of God’s ancient people, there is no reason for Christians to commemorate Hanukkah.

6

The Indignities Of Cart Witnessing For A Corporation Losing Mega Bucks In Child Molestation Lawsuits

by Brokeback Watchtower in

first it's like wearing a big sign on one's forehead:.

.

Listener

It's amazing what you can get people to do, especially when done as a group.

We we are yet to see any of the GB doing cart work.

39

Russian Court authorizes seizure of outlawed sect children

by cha ching in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nei6lvfl13q.

interesting development in russia... according to this article on youtube, it appears that children that are subjected to being involved in banned social or religious groups can be removed from their parents..

Listener

Fusing JW philosophy, it's not the fault of the Government if they have their children taken away, but their own fault for not obeying the laws. Just like it's the disfellowshipped persons fault for being shunned.

This may deter parents from openly practicing, it could also cause the break up of some marriages.

There are always circumstances where separation is warranted but I wouldn't trust Russia with knowing when.

15

Leaked - Video tape inside Watchtower HQ of protest Nov 5, 2017

by Listener in

i saw this on jw reddit and thought, okay that will just be one of the protesters videotaping near their security entrance but it's really from inside the hq's.

i doubt the org.

will be happy that this was taped and leaked.https://rutube.ru/video/2dbc8185062524a41ed8c9e2117ca39d/.

Listener

I saw this on JW Reddit and thought, okay that will just be one of the protesters videotaping near their security entrance but it's really from inside the HQ's.

I doubt the org. will be happy that this was taped and leaked.

https://rutube.ru/video/2dbc8185062524a41ed8c9e2117ca39d/

4

November broadcast

by inbetween09 in

anybody seen november 2017 broadcast ?

i do not mean the hypocritical talks about accuracy, but the rather short talk at the end.

the brother (sorry, forgot the name) addressed the issue of how apostates wrongly inform the media about the 2 witness rule.

Listener

You are spot on Inbetween 09.

There are some positives that we can take from this:

- They could present no new light as to why they are sticking to their guns on the issue even though he confessed that apostates, news reporters and others have made an issue of this. They understand the repercussions, it has been made evident to them and they also understand why they are biblically incorrect. This makes it easier for us to explain where their thinking is wrong.

- He presented an argument against apostate claims. Although he misrepresented what apostates have an issue with, it demonstrates a willingness to try to address their complaints. By doing so, it inadvertently gives permission for a JW to consider the argument.

Hopefully, it represents their next stage of dealing with issues rather than just having JWs stick their heads in the sand, it indicates that approach was not working.