Posts by Listener

38

Do you think marrying an unbeliever could be a disfellowshipping offense in the future?

by loading in

any thoughts?.

Listener

I agree Searcher. Their biggest bug bear are apostates. The brazen conduct label can be used at any indication that a JW has read/heard or recieved any apostate information. It will also be easier to label someone who is not in total unity with the organization than to label them as an apostate.

As an example a JW may wish to speak to an elder about a damning email they recieved. The elder could then explain it away and give a warning not to read such things in the future as it is possible it could be viewed as brazen behaviour.

144

Does God Command Christians To Go From Door To Door Preaching The Gospel?

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

does god command christians to go from door to door preaching the gospel?.

source:http://www.thercg.org/questions/p070.a.html.

based on a quick reading and misinterpretation of acts 20:20, many believe that the apostle paul preached the gospel of the kingdom from house to house, to those who were unconverted.

Listener

From the July 1, 1943 Watchtower Pages 204-6

"*** Righteous Requirements ***

These expressions of God's will by his King and through his established agency constitute his law or rule of action for the "faithful and wise servant" and for their goodwill companions today who will dwell upon the earth for ever in the New World.

The Lord breaks down our organization instructions further and makes them more practicable by further instructing us through his "faithful and wise servant".

He says,'Let us assign the field, the world, to special pioneers, regular pioneers and companies of Jehovah's witnesses in an orderly way, sufficient for everyone to thoroughly witness therein, and let us place upon each one the responsibility of caring for the New World interest in these respective assignments.'

He says the requirements for special pioneers shall be 175 hours and 50 back-calls per month, which should develop into a reasonable number of studies; and for regular pioneers 150 hours and as many back-calls and studies as can be properly developed during that time.

And for company publishers he says,'Let us make a quota of 60 hours and 12 back-calls and at least one study a week for each publisher.'

These directions come to us from the Lord through his established agency directing what is required of us; and, for those who really love the Lord and are guided by his counsel, that is a reasonable service requirement.

This expression of the Lord's will should be the end of all controversy. It is for your good that these requirements are made; for thereby you are enabled to prove your integrity and magnify the Lord's name."

22

Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in their own doctrine?

by God_Delusion in

hi guys,.

do you think the majority of jehovah's witnesses actually believe in their own doctrine?

do they honestly believe that the end is nigh?.

Listener

They believe whatever the org. tells them.

79

What did God accomplish with the flood?

by jam in

the purpose of the flood, because man grieved him to.

his heart, so he started over.

did his plan work?

Listener

I remember my father reading the story to us but would always at the end emphasize the authority that God has and can use. He would explain that it was to show mankind that he can destroy evil when he wishes and save those he chooses. Basically as a forerunner to the final cleansing that will take place. He also loved to tell us about the rainbow which symbolized the idea that God can make promises to mankind and will keep them.

29

Encounter with two elders last night

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

i realized recently that this was the start of a new service year (read: fi$cal year), so of course i figured it was possible the elders would make their usual rounds and show up uninvited.

it hadn't occurred to me that they would approach me as i was picking up my family from the meeting last night.

as i was getting my daughter situated, the chairman of my judicial committee says, "hey!

Listener

"We like to visit disfellowshipped ones to see if they would like to serve God"

I find this highly disrespectful, my first reaction would be to tell them that there is no need as I am trying (just like them) to serve God, and although I might be disfellowshipped from their organization it in no way hinders my own relationship with God.

Anything further they would have to say would be very judgemental and I would point this out to them as they simply have no right to do this.

It must be very difficult for you as it is these guys who are keeping your family in captivity.

5

The WT sense of "true"

by smmcroberts in

i always liked the wt definition of "truth".. too bad what they teach has been the antithesis of that definition, as i relate in my latest blog: the watchtower sense of "true".. as for me, i love the truth!

that's why i left..

Listener

Great blog smmcroberts.

I love the truth too. You're picture of the word truth under examination with a microscope reveals lies - very clever.

I found this remark interesting "Then, as a further exercise of truth, I must obediently tell people that I “came into the truth” by my own personal decision to accept Bible teachings and not by the dictates of the Watchtower." That is exactly what we were told, that we had 'bible truth' not the organizations and this alone should have rung the warning bells. We know it's not bible truth because that cannot change, whereas organizational understandings will and do change.

8

Awake Nov 2012 Posessions

by Listener in

from the current awake.

"in order to be admired, some people flaunt their designerwear or other fancy belongings.

in one asian land, for example,.

Listener

King Solomon these are the things I meant when I said the article presents an unbalanced view -

It says that it is okay for christians to buy expensive luxuries, that there is nothing wrong at all without except for one stipulation, which is that it shouldn't be flaunted. There is no other warning or suggestion that there are many other considerations. For instance, the numerous traps of working hard just to buy these extravegant luxuries. Traps such as longing for these things, having to work hard at the expense of family, causing undue stress etc.

The idea that one shouldn't flaunt these things. You can't hide these things in a cupboard or garage, they will be on display and others will see them anyway.

What about the person who hasn't worked hard to earn these luxuries? Some people inherit large sums or have family who provide them with riches. The article has only mentioned that a person who has worked hard deserves them.

A gift from God? Really? The materialistic world that we live in should be seen to be from the devil.

The scripture they quoted talks only of enjoying the fruits of our labour which allow them to eat and drink, it isn't referring to that luxury Italian car.

8

Awake Nov 2012 Posessions

by Listener in

from the current awake.

"in order to be admired, some people flaunt their designerwear or other fancy belongings.

in one asian land, for example,.

Listener

From the current Awake

"IN ORDER to be admired, some people flaunt their designerwear or other fancy belongings. In one Asian land, for example,

the “newly rich love luxury products —imported French handbags, Italian sports cars—and even more, they love to show off

[their wealth],” says an article in The Washington Post.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the fruitage of one’s labor. The Bible says: “Every man should eat and indeed drink

and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:13) But is it wise to flaunt, or parade, our possessions? What

does the Bible say?"

I am amazed that basically what they are saying it is okay to work hard and buy the designerwear, even french handbags and Italian sports cars or even more - apparently there is nothing wrong at all with doing as long as you don't flaunt or parade it.

This is such an unbalanced view to be giving christians.

66

The 144,000 and the Great Crowd of Revelation

by Leolaia in

8-11; ch.

as in ch.

like the "great crowd", they are "of every race, language, people, and nation (cf.

Listener

Wow Leolia, I've started reading through but will print it off to read much more closely. Your writing style here is probably the best you have written, at least for me personally. I am finding it so easy to follow.

Thank you for providing such informative and well thought out reasonings.

207

Who Really is The Faithful and Discreet Slave?

by Recovery in

let's assume, as most of you probably believe, that the anointed christians are not the fds.

if the anointed are not the fds, who are?.

Listener

If the parable was fulfilled in 1919 (which in itself sounds like a contradiction) then how has the wicked slave been punished?