They will know that you are my disciples if you have love amongst yourselves. Well, obviously JWs do not qualify. Be thankful. Enjoy the rest of your life. But watch out for either the COs visit or memorial time. Then you have two options, depending how vocal you are: 1) Either love bombing; or 2) Hounded by the hounders. The choice is yours.
Posts by Vidqun
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25Lurkers - Not even a 5 min visit from Elder or Sister
by *lost* inbeen oooh, 4 months now, nothing, nada, zip, like i never even existed.. no one knows i am awakened, etc... so as far as they concerned i'm still in wt land.. starting missing meetings as i was ill with a virus, knocked me out physically.
the rest is history, as they say.. .
so much for the love that is preached.
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287
What about your vow to Jehovah?
by a watcher indid you get baptized without being dedicated?.
why did you allow men to come between you and jehovah?.
why were you serving jehovah at all?
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Vidqun
A Watcher, which set are you referring to? I think mine falls under the middle set of questions. Have you noticed the new set? With those you dedicate yourself to a man-made organization. N ot really Biblical, is it? Look up Matt. 28:19, 20 for bit of clarity on the matter:
[Thank you Blondie for the references]
Watchtower 1966 August 1 p.465 Baptism Shows Faith
Are you able to answer "Yes" to the two questions regularly propounded when individuals present themselves for Christian baptism?
(1) Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
(2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
Watchtower 1970 May 15 p.309 Your Conscience Toward Jehovah
20 Two questions which do search out the heart and mind of each candidate are: (1) Have you recognized yourself as a sinner and needing salvation from Jehovah God? And have you acknowledged that this salvation proceeds from him and through his ransomer, Christ Jesus? (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for redemption have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to Jehovah God, to do his will henceforth as that will is revealed to you through Christ Jesus and through God's Word as his holy spirit makes it plain?
Watchtower 1973 May 1 p.280 Baptizing Follows Discipling...If you feel the same about serving Jehovah God and taking Christ's yoke upon you, we suggest that you consider the following two questions, which are asked of candidates for baptism:
(1) Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognizing yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
(2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
In 1985 WT:
"On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins
and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of
Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?"
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28
How will the WT spin China???
by Freeof1914 ini read an article this morning on how china is quickly reaching even footing with the united states in all aspects; military, economic etc.
the article continued saying how it was imperative that the united states recognize that it would be forced to behave accordingly or risk ddestabilizing the world.
another interesting statement was made that sooner rather than later the u.s. would become the 2nd largest economy falling behind china.
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28
How will the WT spin China???
by Freeof1914 ini read an article this morning on how china is quickly reaching even footing with the united states in all aspects; military, economic etc.
the article continued saying how it was imperative that the united states recognize that it would be forced to behave accordingly or risk ddestabilizing the world.
another interesting statement was made that sooner rather than later the u.s. would become the 2nd largest economy falling behind china.
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Vidqun
For anybody interested in the rise of China, read Martin Jacques’ When China Rules the World. The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order. Second Edition (2012). Penguin Books. In his Afterword there is a subheading called "Be Prepared for a Surprise...", an indication of the speed things are moving. He predicted China will surpass the US economy in 2018. The IMF has already upped the ante to 2016. I am sure even Jacques will find that surprising.
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19
Evolution Tree has no Trunk
by Escargot insimon: last post on this topic for the week!
hope all have enjoyed this information!.
"""""missing trunk .
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64
Julia gets hit with the Shun Gun for the first time...and it really hurts.
by Julia Orwell inmy jw friend of 20 years, the first one i ever met, the one who got me into jwism in the first place, unfriended me from facebook without explanation.
other jws who have unfriended me at least called me names (apostate) and told me they were unfriending me, but they were no loss.
but someone who's been your friend since you were 13...and no explanation...i'd think 20 years- 20 years!
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21
Is Blind Obedience to group of men supported by Scripture?
by nugget ini have been pondering over the demands made by the governing body for absolute loyalty and unquestioning obedience to their interpretation of scripture.
is this a reasonable request and is it in line with scripture?
alternatively is there in fact a scriptural defence for taking personal responsibility for beliefs and having a questioning attitude when being told what is to be believed.. there are ample scriptural warnings about trusting in men psalm 146 v 3 warns us not to put our trust in nobles or earthly men and galatians 1 v 8 goes even further stating that even if an angel were to preach to us something contrary to the teachings of christ it should be ignored.
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Vidqun
Well thought out and well reasoned, Nugget! Humbled, that is how I feel, but you have put it in words and demonstrated it by an interesting example. Don't think the elders had much to say about that, except perhaps: Yes, but God and Jesus speak through the GB... Easy answer is: There is no evidence of that, rather evidence to the contrary. Reminds me of two scriptures that JWs love to quote:
In answer Peter and the [other] apostles said, We must obey God as ruler rather than men. (Act 5:29 NWT)
So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God. (Rom 14:12 NWT)
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14
good times we had when we were JWs
by smiddy inboth my wife and i were talking about some of the good times we had when we were jw`s ......and we did have good times socialising ,going out for meals ,hotels ,/ wedding functions /,with groups on barbequres /,camping at national parks , and beaches ,/enjoying fellowship at one anothers house on many an occassion ,/video nights / thearter nights with who we thought were good freinds ,our children grew up with their children and vice versa .i was a ms my wife was a people person who liked to entertain at home and many people responded to that.and i would say that apart from the first 5 years of our involvement and discarding the last few years of our leaving their was at least 20 + years of our relationship with our brothers and sisters who we considered our intimate freinds.. once you leave the religion they dont want to know you ,i tried a couple of times with no response.. whatever happened to trying to get you going again ?
(not that we ever would but they dont know that )and no neither of us were disfellowshipped.
i just think it`s a pity that in their veiw freindship is conditional on staying with the organization.
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76
Do You Believe Gods name is Jehovah and why?
by sarahsmile inmany internet sites claiming that god's names is jehovah.. do you believe it is the name of god?.
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7
Why does the NWT omit Mt 23:14?
by Splash inmt 23:14 does not appear in the nwt, but does appear in many other translations:.
for this you shall receive the greater judgment.
for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
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Vidqun
A huge criticism levelled against the New World Translation Committee is that they used the antiquated Westcott & Hort text (1881). In the Introduction to the Nestle-Aland text (26th edition), Aland says the following:
From the perspective of our present knowledge, this local-genealogical method (if it must be given a name) is the only one which meets the requirements of New Testament textual tradition. The results are any but identical with those of Westcott-Hort, as the occasional ironic reference to the Standard Text as ‘Westcott-Hort redivivus’ would have it. This text (cf. App. II, p. 717 ff.) differs from the text of Westcott-Hort in numerous and quite significant points. Besides, the whole manuscript scene has changed radically since their day. The manuscript basis for Westcott-Hort’s work dates from IV century; the text of the II century could be reconstructed only by inference from agreements of the Western text (meaning the V century Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis) with the Old Syriac and the Old Latin. Today the early papyri provide a wide range of witnesses to the text of about 200 A.D., and these are Greek witnesses. The view is becoming increasingly accepted today that neither Codex Bezae nor the Old Syriac derives directly from the II century. Similarly, the idea of a “Neutral text” has been retired. Neither Codex Vaticanus nor Codex Sinaiticus (nor even p75 of two hundred years earlier) can provide a guideline we can normally depend upon for determining the text. The age of Westcott-Hort and of Tischendorf is definitely over!