Posts by R. Jerome Harris

47

"Make a list of people you want to meet in the New System!" (New September Watchtower)

by FusionTheism in

watchtower september 2015 study edition, "stand firm in the faith," paragraphs 16 and 17:.

following jesus example, we must read the bible daily, study it, and meditate on what we learn.

along with general bible study, dig into topics about which you may have questions.. you can imitate jesus by meditating on the wonderful promises jehovah has made to you.

R. Jerome Harris

People, people, people.

Nothing should "according to the Bible", "according to the Watch Tower, or according to ANY religious organization. These are things created by men.

Rather, if one is disciple of Christ, it should be according to what he says.

Yet, the WT organization (men) has made a book what Christ alone is (The Word of God) and it has made an organization as high as heaven to those within it. People hinge on every word that comes out of the mouth of the organization.

Yet, Jesus said:

It is written, ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through God's mouth.'

God never told anyone that a religious organization is his mouth or word. Christ is.

42

Return to Jehovah Photo

by naazira in

jw
friends

this picture is in the new publication from this year's convention, titled "return to jehovah".

part 1the lost one i will search for.

personally, the animal looks scared of the shepherd.

R. Jerome Harris

The problem here is subtle, yet powerfully deceiving: We are not to follow men. This illustration shows "a man." The man represents "religious organization" NOT the INVISIBLE God or His INVISIBLE SON our true Head and Master. (1 Cor 11:3)

What this illustration is really saying is: "Return to the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society" and follow what it teaches.

There is a vast difference between being "membered" with a religious organization and being "membered" with Christ. We are to "attach" ourselves (member ourselves) with Christ, NOT with religious organizations that men establish and arrogantly claim come from God.

If a married (membered) woman attaches herself to another man, she becomes an adulterer.

If any of us attach or member ourselves with anyone or anything other than our Master Christ, we become adulterers.

Sadly, the world takes upon itself fancy names and titles such as Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventist, Catholics, Lutherans, etc. Name and titles Christ never used or told us to take upon ourselves. Christ NEVER told us to be called "Christians" either! He told us to simply be known as "his disciples" and to make other disciples. He did not say go out and make Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventist, Catholics, Lutherans, etc.

Yet, when one takes upon himself a name or title other than "disciple of Christ" that person becomes an adulterer. The title they take identifies who they are "membered" with and who their owner is.

Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventist, Catholics, Lutherans and all of the other denominations are NOT disciples of Christ. Their fancy titles identify or mark who they answer to and who is their "true" owner and Head.

For example, the WTBTS and the Governing Body is the true owner and Head of JWs. The Pope for Catholics, etc.

Not once do we read of Jesus EVER calling His God and Father Jehovah. Jehovah is a made up name that an organization took upon itself to promote as God's name. Yet, Jesus never used a name.

Even in prayer, Jesus never used a name. He addressed his God as "Father." All of those instances of the name "Jehovah" in the Bible - especially the NWT were added.

Yet, it is men and their organizations, not God and Christ, that is being promoted and the masses are being cleverly corralled into so that they can be controlled, captives, burdened down, made fearful and dependent upon "The Organization."

Christ never made or makes one fearful and burdened down.

The WTBTS and indeed all religion on this planet has failed miserably to properly represent God and His Messiah.

Like the people in Nimrods day who settled in the valley in the land of Shinar, the WTBTS has built a "city" (The Organization) with a proverbial tower (The Governing Body) at the top and they have made a celebrated name for THEMSELVES: Jehovah's Witnesses. The organization seeks to be worshiped and it maintains that "IT" is the way to the Father. (Read the Baptismal Vow).

That baptismal vow (I took 25 years ago) said that I cannot be a worshiper of God unless I associate myself with the organization and become a JW. So the organization is saying that it is THE WAY to the Father.

All JWs are familiar with the expressions "In the truth" or "Are you in the truth?" These mean one is member of the WTBTS. Well, this implies that the WTBTS hails itself as THE TRUTH.

All JW have an idea what being in a "spiritual paradise" is. This means that being membered with the WT organization places one in such a "paradise" where they feast on "spiritual food" from meeting attendance, field service, etc. It is a "lifestyle" all JW adopt. Well, this is saying that the WTBTS is THE LIFE.

Yet, Jesus said at John 14:6:

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

Yet, an organization has made itself all of those things and has been able to turn many into adulterers with the name another - other than disciple of Christ - attached to themselves.

Only if the world listens to Christ when he said to the Devil:

Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through God’s mouth. (Not religious organizations mouth)

Only if the world would listen and obey God's command given at Luke 9:35:

This is my Son, the one that has been chosen. Listen to him. (Not religious organization who is NOT my Head)

No, I would never worship, revere or serve the religious organizations of men. I worship the Father in Heaven and serve only ONE Master, Christ Jesus.
And neither will I become an adulterer - become unfaithful to my Master by taking upon myself the name of another wanting to be my Head, Master and Lord over me. Namely, religious organizations. I reject their fancy titles that neither God or Christ commanded them to take.

36

Looking for ideas.

by Driving Force in

i received an email from one of the elder in the local congregation.

i am not dfed so there is not a problem there, i am just an aggressive fader.. one of the last things i said to this elder before i stopped all activities was that i do not agree with the borg taking all the assets from the congregations.. here is what the elder said in the email:.

"i recently saw something while looking through the jw broadcasting for the month of may and i though about you.

R. Jerome Harris

There is much fear of men and their organizations. Fear God.

Why care if one is DFed of not?

Look at what has so many so fearful. Fear enslaves.

This is not what Christs disciples are to be. They are to be free.

10

Type and Anti-Type, the killing of the Faithful and Discreet Slave. Whats thier angle and how do they spin out of this one?

by Crazyguy in

it would seam that the changing of the type anti-type teaching kills their claim as the faithful and discreet slave class as it is only a parable according to peter at luke 12:41. obviously i don't think they will ever come out and actually say that the f&ds is just a parable, so when one asks what will the answer be, to spin out of this obvious problem?.

also what do you think is the reason for the change in this teaching?

is it more to do with getting rid of doctrine that can be criticized or could it be that they are trying to make it as though they are really not in control of the congregations so as to say we aren't responsible when the prosecution comes knocking over future pedophile case?

R. Jerome Harris

I don't think there is an angle. I believe that the organization had to come to grips with an error without admitting that it has been in error.

Identification of the F&DS is not difficult at all if one listens to Christ (and not men).

Jesus asked the question at Matthew 24:45:

Who REALLY is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?

A close examination of Matthew 24:48-51 gives a clear answer.
The F&DS WOULD NOT be concerned with ascertaining dates of his Masters arrival. It would be the evil slave who would be concerned with dates.
The WTBTS had foretold 1914 has being that date. Jesus had already said at Matthew 24:42: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming."
Yet, the WTBTS has taught that it DOES KNOW when the Lord is coming and announce it as 1914. This shows that it has not obeyed it's Master and it has not been watchful. It has longed ceased being watchful. Since it is no longer keeping "on the watch," false teachings have entered in. The WTBTS is an evil slave, not a F&DS.
The F&DS will not be concerned with dates, times and seasons. This slave will remember and obey what it Master told them: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because YOU do not know on what day YOUR Lord is coming."
This F&DS today are persons who reject any teaching that is contrary to what Christ said at Matthew 24:42. Because of their stand and obedience to Christ, the evil slave (who teaches dates) beat them in a proverbial sense for rejecting "organizational teachings" and being faithful to their true Master, Jesus Christ.
Any who have been a JW or who is currently one knows full well the pressure the JW is placed under to conform to organizational rules and regulations and unquestionable acceptance of its teachings. If you doubt or question, you will be "beaten."
The F&DS slave is truly discreet. How so? Because they are not numerous and not easily identified. They do not belong to any religious organization on earth and fully recognize that God's Kingdom is not on earth in any form. That is why they place faith in the invisible God and approach him in steadfast prayer - through the only channel made available, Christ Jesus - and they receive via that channel.
They do not seek answers through a book man stood up and made holy and gave a name to (the Bible). They do not accept that the Bible which came many years after Christ ascended as "The Word of God." They are faithful in a discreet way (not like the rest of the world) and accept only ONE as "The Word of God," Christ Jesus.
They do not recognize organizations of men on earth as channels by which God uses. No! They KNOW that there is only One Way, One Truth and One Life.
This F&DS places his/her full reliance and trust not in what can be seen (Bibles, books, men, and their organizations), but places their trust and faith in that which they cannot see: The Invisible God and His Son.
That is what faith is according to the Apostle Paul:

Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld

It takes no faith to believe in what one can see (Bibles, books, men and organizations).
Discreetness is exercising faith in what one cannot see.
The WTBTS and indeed ALL religious organizations have misled the world by placing visible icons in from of them. These icons being Bibles, Korans, organizations, men of so-called renown and actually making the people revere and bow down to those things. Open your eyes!
People are not made spiritual but carnal. They are made indiscreet and trusting of those icons.
If one is indiscreet, they cannot be spiritual. Jesus said that our worship to the Father MUST be with spirit and truth. Spirit cannot be seen.

Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.

Sadly, a F&DS would be rejected by this world and its religions as the world rejected Christ.
The very ones within the WTBTS claiming to be a F&DS are not that at all. They are impostors.

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.