Posts by R. Jerome Harris

88

Damned if they do, Damned if they don't

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

i see an attitude among some people here which is not very helpful.

i can understand it, but still, it's not constructive or helpful.. if you condemn the society for not changing, but then you also condemn them when they do change in a positive way, what incentive or motive does that provide for the people at the society to ever want to change for the better?.

also, what does that attitude look like to current witnesses who are having doubts?.

R. Jerome Harris

I believe one of the major problems with the WTBTS is its non-transparent nature concerning its beginnings and this has been kept from hidden from those who become JWs.

Another problem has been its unwillingness to REALLY be different from the rest of Christendom in pushing false images and portrayals of Adam, Eve, Angels, Jesus, The Prophets, The Apostles and others as White people. If such persons have never been seen, then they should not be portrayed in any race among the human family. Besides, Christ is NOT flesh and blood anymore. He ascended and is invisible at present.

The WTBTS is stingy with regards providing help and support for youths (especially minority youth). While the WTBTS spends millions purchasing and acquiring real estate, it does very little for those members in dire need financially.

The Governing Body is NOT racially representative of its membership and that tradition is being tightly maintained.

The "Organization" and "The Bible" has more prominence than Christ. Don't believe me! Check out the official website of JWs and count the number of times "The Bible" is mentioned as opposed to Christ. There is a link that says "Bible Teachings." My God! I did not know that the Bible was a Teacher. I thought "Christ" was our Teacher. One would think that the link would say "Christs Teachings." Yet, it is a book that is given more props than our ONLY Teacher.

The WTBTS has lied about the origin the 1914 teaching. It did not originate with the WTBTS. It actually came from another religious movement called The Second Adventist. A movement Charles Taze Russell was a member of and even a contributing editor of its magazine. When he broke away from that movement, he "borrowed" that teaching. So was the Second Adventist Movement back then "a" or "the' Faithful and Discreet Slave?

Charles Taze Russell had many writings, yet none of them are made available to JWs. Why? Because Charles Taze Russell would sound like an apostate by Watch Tower definition today.

The organization hails itself as "the truth" and those within it are "in the truth." This is blasphemous because Christ is the truth, not an organization.

The Most High God will deal with the "voices" not doing his will and teaching the truth. As the Pharisee Gamaliel said at Acts 5:38-39:

I say to YOU, Do not meddle with these men, but let them alone; (because, if this scheme or this work is from men, it will be overthrown; but if it is from God, YOU will not be able to overthrow them;) otherwise, YOU may perhaps be found fighters actually against God.

Yet, the WTBTS and ALL religious organizations claiming to speak as from God are to be tested. The problem is that the WTBTS feels that it is above such examination. (1 John 4:1)
Thus far, it and ALL religious organizations on earth have failed the test of truthfulness. NONE have listened to Christ as The Most High God commanded at Luke 9:35.
They listen to OTHER things such as books and organizations rather than the living Son of God who is able to teach us without the use of books men themselves make holy.

18

The Sign of Jonah

by millie210 in

calling you bible scholars!.

i was asked this:.

how can this apply to jesus when he was not in the grave for 3 nights?.

R. Jerome Harris

Respectfully, the sign of Jonah has more to do with the promised resurrection of ALL of mankind than the literal death of Jesus and his spending three days in his grave. Jonah - a man who lived BEFORE Christ - is mentioned here too.
Jesus was speaking of something much greater here at Matthew 12:40: The promised "Great Resurrection" of ALL of mankind. (John 5:28-29)
At Matthew 24:30 - and in answer to the question his disciples asked at Matthew 24:3 - Jesus mentions a sign that will be seen in heaven. That is, a sign seen only by those who reside in heaven. That sign - or single event - is the coronation and enthronement of Christ as King over the earth for 1000 years.
One of his first acts as King over the earth is to resurrect ALL of dead mankind, to include persons born since Adam to include Adam. This is a promise.
No sign will EVER be given to mankind, which has ALWAYS been adulterous in worshiping other gods except the one associated with the one seen in heaven.
Jonah was a man. He came out of the belly of the great fish after three nights. This sign referred to here is ALL of mankind being called out of their graves in the distant future. It shows that a person (dead) can spend time in the grave and come out live!
That Christ spent three days and his nights have no meaning to most people as that happened more than 200 years ago. But it DOES have meaning when it is applied to ALL of mankind for who Jesus died for.
In other words, if Christ died and rose again, so shall all of mankind who have died. Yes, those who died BEFORE Christ came on the earthly scene. The sign of Jonah is the promised resurrection of ALL of mankind.
(See The Apostle Pauls talk to the congregation in Thessalonica at 1 Thess 4:13-18)

36

"Mentally Diseased" comment makes news

by freemindfade in

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/985479.

i know it's old but i never saw this one before.

.

R. Jerome Harris

When the WTBTS used the expression "mentally diseased," is really saying that those who leave the organization have been "possessed by demons." The organization would never say "demon possessed" as it would definitely come across as too harsh. Saying persons are mentally diseased is much "softer."

Many get DFd (shunned) or leave the organization by disassociation. The bottom line here is that persons need to wake up and say to themselves:

I do not care what the WTBTS or any religious organization thinks of me or does to me. They really has no power over me. I should care only about the one who DOES have the power of eternal life and eternal death over me: The Most High God.

They should say to themselves ...

Why am I in fear of a religious organization? I should not be. I should fear God!

They should say to themselves:

I no longer give the WTBTS or any other religious organization to place THEIR labels upon me and I reject THEIR labeling of me. Who gave them that right? Certainly not God!

They should say to themselves:

I am not an apostate because the WTBTS says so and I am certainly not mentally diseased because the WTBTS says so. I care only about what my God (Father in heaven) and my Master (Christ Jesus) thinks of me.

And lastly, they should say:

I will never feel guilty, bad or insecure about no longer being associated with a religious organization. If my Lord NEVER condemned or shunned anyone, he will not shun or condemn me. The WTBTS has no power over me and I will not lose any sleep over them. I do not hate them because that would be wrong. But I am a concerned person. Concerned about the millions in captivity to an organization. I am now free as Christ wanted me to be and I have power from Christ, my Lord and insults and foul mis-labelings bounce off me and do not pierce. I will keep my senses and listen to my Lord and treat all people - good, bad, JWs, non-JWs - as my Master did: With kindness, love, tolerance, understanding and most importantly - forgiveness. This does not mean I agree with everything as my Master did not. By doing this all will know that I am his true disciple. (No fancy names required). (John 13:35)

14

OMG - How Low Can They Go?

by berrygerry in

i'm sorry if this has been posted previously, but i haven't noticed it.. this was posted on reddit.. has anyone seen this moneysuck video:.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ylee4u_yu.

R. Jerome Harris

No true follower of Christ should be surprised or shocked at this. The WTBTS as well as all religious organizations are about extracting wealth and money. They all have different ways of getting it. Yet, in the end, they get it.

The Creator of us all does not need our money. The most valuable thing any of us possess is our lives. (Jesus himself was materially poor and homeless!)

When God said, "Let there be light" was money required for that to happen? No! God's purpose and will is going to happen no matter what!

We honor God by giving our lives to him - as his son did - in doing his will, as his son did. All we need to do is follow Christ who will teach us how. (No not follow any religious organizations).

If giving anything we have material to help people, help people. YOU practice being Christ-like. DO NOT give your valuable things to an organization so that they decide FOR YOU! It is YOUR responsibility as an individual to practice what Christ taught YOU unhindered by religious organization. We as individuals do not follow men as our Leader and Teacher, we follow Christ.

My sincere advise is not to allow religious organizations to place themselves over you and convince you to give THEM your money.

DO NOT fall for the trick that your money is being used to build more Kingdom Halls and printing literature! God's will and purpose and the preaching of the Good News WILL be preached anyway.

There is no Good News of the Kingdom message. I challenge anyone to show me in "The Bible" where it is specifically written! I asked many of my former JW Brethren what that message was and I got different answers. The Good News of the Kingdom message has not been given yet. The time is not know, but over 1000 years yet future.

Additionally, why would imperfect men assume that God would have them declare his "prefect" good news message.

In Revelation 14:6, I see that God will select one qualified angel (who I believe is Michael, the faithful Witness) who will be entrusted to declare that message in the future:

And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.

The voices of men and their organizations are being listened to and obeyed today rather than the one The Most High has commanded us to listen to. (Luke 9:35) They all have a common blood vessel: Extracting money.

I am a former 30 year JW (by disassociation) and I think it is shameful when money at these levels are inserted in supposedly doing God's work.

All of the religious organizations - especially the ones called Christian - resemble the money-changers Christ threw out of the temple.

It shows unfaithfulness in God to think that he needs money to accomplish is will. The Devil is clever and more powerful than many think. He owns ALL of the religious organizations. Even the ones that smile at you and use the name of God and Christ.

Look out that nobody misleads YOU; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. (Matthew 24:4-5)

109

Are we going to see a mass awakening?

by kairos in

jw
friends

the internet is the archive for civilization.. watchtower cannot hide it's history.. are we seeing the beginning of a mass exodus out of her?.

R. Jerome Harris

The 1914 teaching, the foundation upon which the WT organization has built its prophetic utterances has already crumbled. Many of my former Brethren have not realized this yet. Neither have they listened to what Christ said at Matthew 24:36, Matthew 24:42 and Acts 1:7.

No human or angelic organization can know what Christ himself does not know. Yet, the WTBTS has long claimed that it DOES know what Christ does not know. (Matthew 24:42)

There will be no mass migration out of the Watch Tower organization or within any organization within the religious system (and impostor) called by men, Christianity. Why?

Because the proverbial figs on the trees are not rip yet. In other words, this is not the season. In fact, what we will see is just the opposite: more persons going into the organization. Yes, the organization will lose members, but they will gain more than they lose.

The ruler of this world has to create a stubborn and hardened heart towards the truth about God and Christ. That JWs believe that they are already "in the truth" it is that mentality that the Devil will enhance upon. We will see JWs cease to be logical, rational and reasonable thinkers and will become illogical, irrational, and unreasonable thinkers so as to support and believe ANYTHING given them from the Governing Body. That body - not Christ - is their Head at present. (1 Cor 11:3)

Their mental faculties will be even more assaulted to make them more loyal and faithful to "an organization" than to the one who is our true Head, Christ Jesus. The mental assault will be so heavy (coming down from the Governing Body), that what Christ has actually stated will be rejected ... and indeed some of what Christ has said has already been rejected. (Matthew 24:42)

But one must keep their senses and think and Christ would. Neither should JWs or anyone be condemned or given lashes because they are all innocent. JWs like persons belonging to any religious organization are like children. In the case of JWs, the mother is "The Organization." And the child believes and does as "mother" has taught them.

As an African American, I would not fault a small child for calling me by the n-word. No! The child is innocent. I fault the parent who taught it.

Any who have been truly freed by the Master should be concerned persons, not vindictive because of what the organization did to you or who it treated you. You should be happy and count it as a blessing from God through Christ that you are free. Not just physically, but mentally as well.

What do you do now? You do not allow yourselves to be taken captives by any religious organization again. You stay away from all of them. You will realize that Christ is "without of them" not "within" any of them. (Hebrews 13:11-14)

True followers of Christ do not have a "city" (organization) to go into. It has not arrived yet. Thus, his true followers NOW find themselves in the same place as our Lord: In a wilderness.

In that wilderness, we will be constantly tempted by the Devil. On of the Devils primary devices is religious organization. But just remember what Christ told the Devil at Matthew 4:4:

Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through God’s mouth.

No, not man's mouth! No, not the mouths or voices of religious organizations. BUT GODS MOUTH. And, since Christ is The ONLY Word of God, it is also what comes out of his mouth. (No, the Bible is NOT the Word of God. Christ is).

Yet, in that wilderness, the devil uses religious organization to tempt and mislead many into believing what comes out of the mouth of religious organization. See how subtle the Devil is?

In that wilderness millions have been tempted and have come to believe that a book - not named or authorized by God - is ALSO the Word of God!

They have two Words of God: Christ and The Bible!

I often times explain to my former Brethren that it is hypocritical for them to articulate to those who believe in the Trinity teaching that there is only one God. If they believe that there is one God, why are they teaching that there are two Words of God? If there is ONE God, then there is only one Word of God.

A visit to the homepage of the official website of the JWs, one can count the number of times Christ is mentioned as opposed to the Bible being mentioned. It is astounding! At the top of the website page their is a link that says "Bible Teachings."

So the Bible teaches? I thought Christ teaches and that he is our only Teacher. (Matthew 23:8)

Christ is not even promoted as Teacher. The Bible is.

See how subtle the Devil is?

45

The three wise men

by Simon in

just a thought.... looking through the greatest man book, something just occurred to me which i can't recall has ever been highlighted (but please correct me).. i always thought it a bit strange that jehovah allowed the three pagan astrologers to find jesus especially as they were obviously guided to him by satan's star (remember they were led to herod first who wanted to kill the messiah).

what purpose did it serve?.

well, a few pages earlier in tgm book, we see mary presenting a dove as a sin offering at the temple - this was the cheapest offering that was acceptable which must have meant that they were pretty poor at the time.. shortly after the three wise men visited the family had to flee to egypt when herod started to kill all the young boys in an attempt to kill jesus.. what would they need to travel and live as exiles for a couple of years?.

R. Jerome Harris

We are not told how many magoi there were. These men were wise or "educated" in reading the stars. They were astrologers. No one else saw a star because they would not know what they were looking at.

That is why we were told that THEY saw the star while THEY were in the east. The Most High God would not have used a star to lead men involved in a plot - though unwittingly - to kill his Son.

Satan would have done that! He would stand to benefit from the one who would eventually abyss him and destroy him. (Still yet future).

Be careful. The story does not say "how many" astrologers there were.

45

What is truth?

by spectromize in

ah!

yes, that remark made by pilate after pilate had asked jesus wether he was a king.

( john 18:37-38 ).. how would you answer the question according to what we know from the bibles definition, and how the faithful and discreet slave have endeavored to give us spiritual food at the proper time?.

R. Jerome Harris

At his temptation Jesus answered that question. He said:

Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through God’s mouth.

The truth is God's Word. Who is God's spokesman and only one called The Word of God?

Jesus [the] Christ.

And of himself he said at John 14:6:

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Of him God says at Luke 9:35:

This is my Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him.

Sadly, religious organizations have usurped the role of "the truth" and have made themselves such. They are thieves in that sense.

31

Can they disfellowship my father?

by cookiemaster in

this has nothing to do with my facebook endeavors.

when the elders visited us last week, they also discussed my father.

my mother called them about him.

R. Jerome Harris

Personally why would anyone care if the WTBTS disfellowships them? No religious organization has the power of life and death over us and they certainly have no authority over us.

The Apostle Paul at 1 Cor 11:3 shows that we have one Head (Lord) over us and that is Christ himself.

But I want YOU to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God.

I would be more concerned about what my Head will do to me. I personally know that my Master Christ is kinder, more tolerant and more forgiving than religious organizations who have made themselves our Lords and Judges.
Listen, The Most High God is clear at Luke 9:35. YOU are to listen to His Son! Do not listen to religious organizations by any name. They can do nothing to you!

This is my Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him.

And, did Jesus not say at John 14:6:

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

It is the Watchtower organization that is telling you that it speaks for God through and organization. God and Christ have not told anyone that!
Christ is the way, the truth and the life. The WTBTS is not "the truth" and JWs should not be teaching that they are "in the truth" because no organization can be the truth. Only Christ is.
So align yourselves with Christ and be his disciple (student) not students or disciples of "The Bible" or an organization! That would be idolatry.
Here is a quick test for you: Go to the official JW website and count the number of times "The Bible" is mentioned on the front page as opposed to "Jesus." When you get your tally you will have your answer as to who is more important.
Notice the link at the top of the page as to "Bible Teachings." The Bible is a Teacher? Jesus says that he is our only Teacher at Matthew 23:8-9. So one would think that link should read "Christs Teachings."
See how clever and subtle the WT organization is? The Bible - a book - is being promoted, not Christ himself!

And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Matt 10:28)

Do not fear men and their organizations. Fear God!

14

Now believe in the Rapture, just DON'T call it that.

by Lemonp in

july study article confirms what the march study articles implied.

wt july 15, your deliverance is getting near, para 15. annointed will be raptured before armageddon.

i thought it was interesting the difference between the simplified version and the study version.

R. Jerome Harris

There is no such thing as a rapture. At 1 Thess 4:13-18 the Apostle Paul was discussing the resurrection hope, not a rapture hope.

What do you suppose "meeting the Lord in the air means?" It is so simple that many overlook it.

Do dead people breathe air? No!

They exist in the lowest region of the earth, their graves. (Eph 4:8-10)

When Christ resurrects the dead back to life what will they be breathing? Air!

It is in this sense that they will meet the Lord in the air as they will be alive again and will always be with him in that they will not have to die again.

Breathing air stops at death. Upon living again they will be among the living! Among air breathers!

54

The Divine Name in the NT: Some Reflections

by Let go of fear in

i've been fascinated with this topic for some time now, almost to the point of obsession.

after researching the issue for several years, i have come to a conclusion/theory that i would love to receive some feedback on.

this theory of mine is one that will be somewhat unsettling to both those who believe the divine name was used in the original nt scripts as well as those who believe it wasn't.

R. Jerome Harris

There is no divine name. Jesus NEVER addressed his God by a personal name. He primarily addressed him as "Father."

Neither did his disciples address The Most High God by a personal name.

It was his Fathers REPUTATION (Good name) that Jesus focused upon, not a PERSONAL name.

Names such as Jehovah or Yahweh are not in the Bible and Jesus never spoke such names. They were added.

In the three languages of the Bible: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek there is no letter J.

There is no letter J in Latin either.

In fact, if one looks at the original King James Bible of 1611 you will not see the letter J in any name.

At Psalms 83:18 for example you see:

That men may knowe, that thou, whose name alone is IEHOVAH: art the most High ouer all the earth.

And this is not fully correct because their are no vowels in the Hebrew language. Thus it would be IHVH.

With regards Jesus his name is wrong to. He would not have been called Jesus but something like Iesus (Isis). See John 1:17 in the same Bible.

The bottom line is that Jesus (Iesus) NEVER used a personal name. The WTBTS added the name to the Greek Scriptures because THEY felt it should be their. THEY decided for everyone else that the name would be Jehovah. (Again no J in the Hebrew language).

Like ancient Israel, we do not know God's personal name. Why? Because it is a PERFECT name and we are IMPERFECT creatures.

All we know is that he is a good God. He has a good reputation (name).

His name has not been revealed to us yet.

At Revelation 3:12 Jesus even says that he WILL THEN "write upon him the name of my God ..."

When that name is revealed, what a name it will be! It will be a "proven" and tested name. No one will be able to deny that it is God's name. What a glorious name it will be!

Sadly, the WTBTS and others have move presumptuously and gave us a name. It is a false name!

The WTBTS and others have not allowed God to reveal himself to us.

When God said to Adam when he was hiding from him, "Who told you that you were naked?" He would say to the many, "Who told you that my name is Jehovah? I have not revealed my perfect name to you and neither has my son."