Posts by Sea Breeze

29

Was / Is God biased ? prejudiced against certain Peoples / Tribes or Nations ?

by smiddy3 in

let me explain :.

after the creation account of the bible, tribes of people and nations began to form and spread around the land.. god first chose noah and his family to protect them as he destroys all others in the flood.. and he ticks off everyone in babel ?

and then he favours abraham and his descendants as the nation of israel culminating in the jewish lineage to jesus the son of god.. he has never had any dealings with any other people`s or nation isn`t that some form of favouritism ?

Sea Breeze

@Desirious of Change.

90% of scholars who publish in this area (skeptic and Christian) agree on the following minimal facts:

1. Jesus was crucified by the Romans. Habermas said that this is "not an evidence for the resurrection, but it's a pre-requisite."

2. The disciples had experiences that believed were appearances of the risen Christ.

3. Because of their insistence that they saw Him risen from the dead, they totally changed in disposition from being afraid to being bold and unstoppable. They proclaimed, not just any message, they proclaimed the resurrection message and were persecuted for their proclamation. Habermas notes, "A number of them died for their faith. They were totally transformed and willing to die for their faith."

4. This proclamation of the resurrection was there at the very beginning of the Christian movement — it was not some later add-on.

5. One of the earliest to believe in the risen Jesus was the formerly skeptical James, the brother of Jesus.

6. Another skeptic changed by claiming he saw the risen Christ was the Apostle Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, the anti-Christian persecutor.

Again, these six facts are generally agreed upon by scholars of early Christianity, both friendly and hostile scholars to the faith.

From these, we see a clear pattern. Jesus died on the cross. Then His disciples, who were scared for their lives, suddenly changed into bold witnesses for the risen Christ. Nobody dies for something they know is a lie.

Other reasons to believe using non-biblical sources can be found here:

https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/fellows/four-reasons-to-believe-jesus-was-really-crucified/

20

Religion vs. The Gospel

by Chalam in

hello jwners,.

the jw i chatted with recently directed me to matthew 24 with regards to the witnesses and highlighted matthew 24:14. i asked him what "this gospel" is.

the only answer i got was "i'm not sure what you mean".. .

Sea Breeze

How could God Almighty subject/subordinate himself to himself?
As has been explained many times on this forum, Christians claim that Jesus is BOTH God and man. The bible and Jesus himself sometimes talk about Jesus as a man and at other times as God.
"God is a Spirit". But men are tri-partite beings made of flesh and blood, soul and spirit. When a person rejects the materialist definition of man that the WT has taught and accepts the biblical definition of man, it is all easily explained.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - (Hebrews 4:12)

Remember that one of the attributes of God is omnipresence. This allowed the Son to be both on the earth and in heaven at the same time: Jesus answered...“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” - John 3

29

Was / Is God biased ? prejudiced against certain Peoples / Tribes or Nations ?

by smiddy3 in

let me explain :.

after the creation account of the bible, tribes of people and nations began to form and spread around the land.. god first chose noah and his family to protect them as he destroys all others in the flood.. and he ticks off everyone in babel ?

and then he favours abraham and his descendants as the nation of israel culminating in the jewish lineage to jesus the son of god.. he has never had any dealings with any other people`s or nation isn`t that some form of favouritism ?

Sea Breeze

I just can`t believe because someone is so sure of their faith

I agree that would be lacking. But, if someone walked out of a tomb, that would be a sufficient basis for believing what that person had to say.

29

Was / Is God biased ? prejudiced against certain Peoples / Tribes or Nations ?

by smiddy3 in

let me explain :.

after the creation account of the bible, tribes of people and nations began to form and spread around the land.. god first chose noah and his family to protect them as he destroys all others in the flood.. and he ticks off everyone in babel ?

and then he favours abraham and his descendants as the nation of israel culminating in the jewish lineage to jesus the son of god.. he has never had any dealings with any other people`s or nation isn`t that some form of favouritism ?

Sea Breeze

First of all, God is not partial. "Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him as righteousness". Abraham wasn't European. Isn't it grand that the basis of salvation is belief and not performance? - "By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified". That way, even though I can't always be obedient, I can always believe. Wow! That seems very reasonable.

Then, to get admittance into God's family (which triggers his responsibility toward us as children and heirs) all you have to do is ask Jesus for it. James said, "ye have not because ye ask not".

Instead of making peace with God, we were all trained to offend God as JW's. Jesus said over and over, "Come to me". So what did we do? We went to Jehovah instead.

God says that membership in his family is a gift. So what did we do? We worked for it instead - which only created more debt to pay off to God. We were cursed for our hard work for Jehovah. (Romans 4: 4)

We listened to and believed a two-tier salvation that the apostles never taught and were doubly cursed by that too. (Gal. 1: 8-9)

God warns over and over in his word not to put our trust in man. So what did we do? We put our trust in a governing body of men.

Jesus told us to receive his new covenant in the bread & wine at the Lord's Supper ceremony. So what did we do? We publicly rejected it at each Memorial even though Matt. 26: 27-28 specifically says it is for the forgiveness of sins.

I get it that some xjw's have a problem with God because of what the WT did to them and their families. I lost dozens of relatives myself. But, look at all the curses we brought upon ourselves! Even though I was born into it as a 4th gen JW; I still have to face the fact that I am ultimately responsible. Only by being responsible for my past can I start to be responsible about my future. We are not victims, we can still choose. We can get off the crazy train of unbelief towards God and will ourselves into his family simply by believing him.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The offer to trade places with us is still available :

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Jesus wants to be our scapegoat, if we let him. Only then can we expect anything more than general grace from God in this life.

On the other hand, He makes some very steep promises for those who do choose to believe him:

"There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life".

I have experienced over the last 18 years that Jesus exceeds his promises.

29

Was / Is God biased ? prejudiced against certain Peoples / Tribes or Nations ?

by smiddy3 in

let me explain :.

after the creation account of the bible, tribes of people and nations began to form and spread around the land.. god first chose noah and his family to protect them as he destroys all others in the flood.. and he ticks off everyone in babel ?

and then he favours abraham and his descendants as the nation of israel culminating in the jewish lineage to jesus the son of god.. he has never had any dealings with any other people`s or nation isn`t that some form of favouritism ?

Sea Breeze

It is a brutally effective way of showing who the real God is

Brutal? Or Beautiful? The character of God and the word of God, divides people. The above statement is a perfect example.

The beauty and anchor of faith in God is captured in Isaiah 49:15:

Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.

When God walked among us as a man, he told us the same thing: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand

How could anyone be considered sane that rejects a God that is so utterly devoted to his own ?

The bible answers, "For the creature was made subject to vanity". Being a slave to their own vain viewpoints, much of mankind cannot see the goodness of God. So, God gives some people what they want - freedom from himself.

Just image the level of depravity that is revealed in a person who chooses hell over the tender care from God that is comparable to a nursing mother. Let that sink in a minute.

29

Was / Is God biased ? prejudiced against certain Peoples / Tribes or Nations ?

by smiddy3 in

let me explain :.

after the creation account of the bible, tribes of people and nations began to form and spread around the land.. god first chose noah and his family to protect them as he destroys all others in the flood.. and he ticks off everyone in babel ?

and then he favours abraham and his descendants as the nation of israel culminating in the jewish lineage to jesus the son of god.. he has never had any dealings with any other people`s or nation isn`t that some form of favouritism ?

Sea Breeze

Of course....that's the whole point. It's called family.

23

WT Style Pacificism

by Sea Breeze in

episode 203 of netflix ... i am a killer looks at the murder of christopher chavez in texas.

christopher chavez was a 22 year old ministerial servant and a born-in son of an jw elder.

after a thursday night meeting and a quick bite to eat afterwards with friends at a local restaurant, he was kidnapped, taken to a gas station and forced to drive his killers around for hours while they were in the back seat.

Sea Breeze

A boy walks away when he sees two boys fighting and others watching

"So, what should you do if you see a fight?— If it is at school, you can run and tell a teacher. And if it is away from school, you can call one of your parents or a policeman. Yes, even when other people want to fight, we should be peaceable".

"True disciples of Jesus do all they can to avoid getting into fights."

The overall tone of WT rules is very pacifist on this subject. Run and tell a teacher or policeman. Wait! Aren't all the police and the military part of the government and controlled by Satan? Why should we call upon agents of Satan to deliver us from evil?

These were the kinds of questions that troubled me as a pre-teen. It made no sense. In fact, I found that (in spite of WT pacifist rearing) standing up to bullies is the best way to ensure that they leave you alone.

But, God forbid that you defend yourself and give the bully something to think about. No, don't do that. He might get mad.

"But what if you let yourself get into a fight and you win? What could happen then?— The one you beat up could come back with some friends. They might even hurt you with a big stick or a knife."

More fear.

23

WT Style Pacificism

by Sea Breeze in

episode 203 of netflix ... i am a killer looks at the murder of christopher chavez in texas.

christopher chavez was a 22 year old ministerial servant and a born-in son of an jw elder.

after a thursday night meeting and a quick bite to eat afterwards with friends at a local restaurant, he was kidnapped, taken to a gas station and forced to drive his killers around for hours while they were in the back seat.

Sea Breeze

The Bible thus indicates that a person may defend himself or his family if physically assaulted. He may ward off blows, restrain the attacker, or even strike a blow to stun or incapacitate him.

Too bad the WT didn't reverse their spiritual food in time for Chris Chavez to save his own life since this article came out after his murder. Sorry about that Chris.

The WT advice above, while an improvement is till pretty lame, even dangerous.

23

WT Style Pacificism

by Sea Breeze in

episode 203 of netflix ... i am a killer looks at the murder of christopher chavez in texas.

christopher chavez was a 22 year old ministerial servant and a born-in son of an jw elder.

after a thursday night meeting and a quick bite to eat afterwards with friends at a local restaurant, he was kidnapped, taken to a gas station and forced to drive his killers around for hours while they were in the back seat.

Sea Breeze

My JW made it very clear that I would be on my own if someone was killing me or the kids.

23

WT Style Pacificism

by Sea Breeze in

episode 203 of netflix ... i am a killer looks at the murder of christopher chavez in texas.

christopher chavez was a 22 year old ministerial servant and a born-in son of an jw elder.

after a thursday night meeting and a quick bite to eat afterwards with friends at a local restaurant, he was kidnapped, taken to a gas station and forced to drive his killers around for hours while they were in the back seat.

Sea Breeze

Chavez likely grew up on the Great Teacher Book. In the Chapter - "Is it Right to Fight", it covers this topic. While not outright prohibiting fighting under all circumstances, the overall gist is very pacifist. Here are some troubling statements as far as I'm concerned:

"We should not be mean to a person just because he was mean to us".

"Should you let yourself get into a fight?— Again, let’s see what the Bible says. Turn to Matthew chapter 5, verse 39. There Jesus says: “Do not resist him that is wicked; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him.”

"But Jesus did not want his followers to get into fights. So he said that if someone slaps us, we should not slap him back. We should not become angry and get into a fight. If we do, we show that we are no better than the one who started the fight."

"But what if you let yourself get into a fight and you win? What could happen then?— The one you beat up could come back with some friends. They might even hurt you with a big stick or a knife."

"Yes, even when other people want to fight, we should be peaceable".

The article ends with this final thought on the matter:

"The Bible says that a disciple of Jesus “does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all.”—2 Timothy 2:24.

Do you think Chavez would be alive today if he was the son of a law enforcement officer or maybe had a dad with some military training? What about if he grew up in an average gun-owning Christian family?