Posts by The Searcher

35

Petty Gambling

by konceptual99 in

jw
friends

according to the shepherd book.... .

the elders do well not to involve themselves in what individuals do with regard to petty gambling solely for entertainment.

they may need to give counsel if this becomes a cause of stumbling for others or affects the spirituality of the individual or the congregation.-w02 11/1 p. 31.. .

The Searcher

Is putting money into Stocks & Shares and Hedge Funds, counted as 'petty gambling'?

20

Sunday 23rd watchtower

by FL_Panthers in

jw
friends

this watchtower study article yesterday was so encouraging.

youths should use their energy to serve jehovah.. so encouraging.. :-).

The Searcher

Hello Brother FL_Panthers, it's so good to know that I have a fellow Witness on board, and willing to make a defence of our faith. (1 Peter 3:15)

I would sincerely love to hear your viewpoint on this question of our Faithful & Discreet Slave's teaching of Romans 6:7: Do you agree that our own blood/death wipes out our sins?

It's a bit of a conundrum, isn't it? If the teaching is true, then John the Baptist wasted his breath by calling Jesus Christ "the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world", because we manage it all by ourselves - simply by "pushing up the daisies".

It also means Jesus suffered for absolutely nothing!! (Hebrews 12:2)

I'll be very interested to hear your personal reasoning on such a fundamental Bible teaching.

37

Shared some TTATT with my wife and now she wants us to have a weekly personal bible study

by suavojr in

jw
friends

here is the situation.... a young 19 year old in our congo had a fallout with his parents because of all the restrictions and jw dogma and moved out of the house last wednesday.. to make the story short, the parents went running to the elders and what was the comfort?.

coe said: i saw that coming!

your son never reached out to get baptized.. then the other elder said: don't worry, you still have one left that will be saved.

The Searcher

Suavojr, why not start with the big one - the GB!

The Circumcision Issue

bt chap. 14 p. 113 par. 11 - "The governing body in Jerusalem had reached a unanimous decision on the issue of circumcision."

The given understanding of the Bible account at Acts 15 regarding the circumcision issue is that Peter and a Governing Body was used to resolved the issue. This assertion is not based on the Scriptural evidence.

While Jesus walked the earth, some of his Apostles were contentious with each other, regarding who would be superior to the others. Equality was clearly not on their minds.

Did this attitude persist after Christ returned to heaven? This question is answered when Paul's words at Galatians 2:1-9 are examined closely.

Verse 1:

Paul speaks about going up to Jerusalem "after fourteen years". Fourteen years is a long time to ignore a "leadership", if indeed there was such. (Jesus had told his disciples that they were all brothers)

What impelled Paul to go and see the elders in Jerusalem is fundamental to establishing the truth about the dispute.

Verse 2 tells us: It was because of a revelation by God's Holy Spirit! Why did Jehovah reveal something to Paul and not to Peter &"the Governing Body"?

Verse 4 sheds light: Because false brothers had been brought in by some in Jerusalem, apparently to cause problems to Paul's ministry of teaching the nations. Also, they were spying on Paul, trying to subvert him and bring him under control of men in Jerusalem. Exactly who brought these ones in is not known, but whoever it was, they must have had some authority and prominence within the Jerusalem congregation in order to do so. Clearly, there was corruption within the ranks of the men in Jerusalem, and Paul, along with Barnabas and Titus, were directed by the Holy Spirit to go up to Jerusalem and settle this situation forthwith.

Verses 5, 6 & 9 show exactly how Paul viewed some of the men in Jerusalem - not as a God - appointed "Governing Body", but rather, as self-seeking men. Note his words -" to these we did not yield by way of submission, no, not for an hour".............. but on the part of those who seemed to be something — whatever sort of men they formerly were makes no difference to me"

If this was a God appointed "Govering Body" in Jerusalem, Paul would have been resisting the Holy Spirit by not yielding to such men, but the Scriptures definitely show exactly who was being Spirit directed in the circumcision issue!

Paul describes them as men who seemed to be something - in other words, not what they appeared to be.

He also made it clear that he was not impressed by their past histories - perhaps their association with Christ - because he stated that they told him nothing new!

He refers to them as "influential" men in one translation, but it is evident that he did not consider them as such. He describes Peter, James and John as "ones who seemed to be pillars", perhaps indicating that he had reservations.

Galatians 2:11 reveals further evidence that Peter was not viewed by Paul as part of a "Governing Body". No one in Jerusalem could or did "govern" Paul's understanding.

Verse 9 says, "they gave me and Bar´na·bas the right hand of fellowship". This does not indicate that they were directed by a leader in Jerusalem as to their ministry. (the Spirit had already done that)

It simply highlights the fact that a mutual participation in a venture was signified by a handshake or grasping another’s hand.

By examining Galatians 2:1-9, it becomes very clear that Jehovah used Paul to resolve the dispute about circumcision, not Peter or a "Governing Body" in Jerusalem, whom Paul clearly had to stand up to when given divine direction.

6

Discussion with some elders

by GoUnion in

hello everyone just wanted to relate a situation that occurred a few days ago.

so i have quit going to meetings for a few months now based on some issues i have with the explanations of current doctrines.

my wife is none to .

The Searcher

Has the wife just gotten home from shopping?

126

This is my first post

by Make Lemonade in

i wanted to express appreciation to the members of this forum.

there are resources here that are deep.

like we heard from the stage, "what is your depth and breadth of bible knowledge?

The Searcher

Welcome ML, and I hope you learn to find encouragement, strength, and trust here!

7

Conversation with a JW on the 144,000!

by ADJUSTMENTS in

great short video, it uses plain old common sense!.

.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r-fvqzcziqe.

The Searcher

Being Devil's Advocate - there are 24 occasions of the term "a great crowd" in the Bible.

Can heaven itself not have "a great crowd" just as the earth would?

Also, regarding the first Great Crowd quoted in the video, from Revelation 7:15-17 - "That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will hunger no more nor thirst anymore, neither will the sun beat down upon them nor any scorching heat, because the Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes" - clearly harmonise with those persons (not spirits in heaven!) described in Revelation 21:3,4.

God's "temple' -

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4: "the man of lawlessness.........is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called "god" or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly (not in heaven) showing himself to be a god."

(Ephesians 2:19-22) "Certainly, therefore, YOU are no longer strangers and alien residents, but YOU are fellow citizens of the holy ones and are members of the household of God, and YOU have been built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. In union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah. In union with him YOU, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit."

The 'tent' of God is with MANKIND - not with spirits.

Fountains of waters of life - Revelation 22:1,2 - for the "curing of the nations" - not spirit creaures.

Wipe out every tear from their eyes...death, mourning, outcry, & pain - does this apply to spirits?

Just saying: Scripture should interpret Scripture.

11

New Light to be released on the 100th anniversary of 1914

by smiddy in

with further study and meditation , the holy spirit has guided the governing body to the evident reality that the year 1914 was a symbolic enthronement of jesus christ to his heavenly kingship .

jehovahs witnesses worlwide rejoice at this new understanding , empowering them to be even more determined to spread these pearls of truth to those moaning and groaning in this wicked system of things.

rom.8:22. some have wondered , even had doubts about the ever increasing numbers who now seem to be partaking of the wine and emblems at the lords evening meal ( memmorial ) celebration held annually .. we are pleased to announce that this too has been clarified by holy spirit , with study and meditation , and we can now announce that the 144000 is in fact a symbolic number and not to be taken as a literal number as previously thought .. we , the g.b.

The Searcher

PALADIN - I strongly submit that we will NEVER EVER get "new lights" at a Regional Convention, simply because there is now "a new creation" - the "Annual Self-Glorification Meeting" each October, based on the Bible account of the plain of Dura in Daniel 3:1-7.

As I said to a brother (former Elder) last week, this meeting will become THE highlight of the year for many Witnessess because of the anticipation of "new lights" from "God's direct channel of communication on earth". The Memorial will be pushed into second place in most minds!

The GB has created a marketing problem for themselves - a bit like countries hosting the Olympics - the next one has to be more exciting than the last one, otherwise, the Great Crowd will rapidly get bored by the self-promotion exercise.

14

Who will run the "earthly organization" after GB is raptured?

by bruh2012 in

i guess the gb feels after they are raptured that their work is done since the new scrolls will be open by yhwh.. oh wait my bad - it will be by the local elders since they said a few wt studies ago that in so many words you better listen to the elders whether it makes sense or not.. if power and the use of the internet after armaggdon will pretty much be dead since those who operate it will be gone-.

The Searcher

Mayhem - Like it! :)

41

Circuit Overseer wakes up, packs his bags and leaves!

by Anony Mous in

i just heard this about a co i knew back in the day before he was even a co. he must be in his mid-late 40's now, my mother told me the story as she knows the family very well (the entire family has gone 'apostate' including several elders, circuit overseers and missionaries - this was an "example" family, always on the stage etc).. he wasn't 'feeling well' so he took time off from his co duties.

that week he packed his suitcase, told his wife he can't do it anymore and he's leaving, leaves her the car and the house and went to live in a small apartment, bought a small car and a week later got a decent job.. this was very recent so not everybody within the org has heard yet what happened..