Posts by The Searcher

14

The Last Supper

by Teddy in

i have been studying with the jw since june of 2016 and they say only the ones who make up the 144.

000 and can partake of the bread and cup.

is this true?.

The Searcher

Welcome Teddy. Having been there, done it, and bought the T-shirt, I sincerely hope that you continue to research and ask questions about what you're being told is "the truth."

You will be shown some simple, straightforward truths which you never knew by your study conductor. However, you are going to see a very different side of them/J.W.'s when you start asking pointed questions regarding some of their so-called Bible teachings. Topics such as, "Why do J.W. leaders dictate that only those who are "anointed" in their organization are Christ's brothers?" as proven by this statement -

Watchtower 2010 1/15 p. 5 par 12 & footnote - "Jesus’ "other sheep" will not become sons of God until the end of the thousand years.

And yet the Bible says this -

(Matthew 12:50) whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

(Matthew 13:38) The field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom;

(Mark 3:35) Whoever does the will of God, this one is my brother and sister and mother."

(Luke 8:21) In reply he said to them: "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

(John 1:12,13) However, as many as did receive him, to them he gave authority to become God’s children.........

(Rom. 8:14) For all who are led by God’s spirit, these are God’s sons.

(1 John 5:1) Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God..........(Revised Standard Version)

Also, ask them why their organization is being sued for mi££ion$ as a result of them shielding paedophiles from the authorities. Google for the evidence - something J.W.'s are warned not to do!

Best wishes.

7

What the Org Teaches #5 "God's" Law on Shunning is Flexible For Elders!

by The Searcher in

parents are forced by the org to regard their disfellowshipped children as if they were dead, non-existent - even if their child was in dire straits.

's feel when they hear that it's ok for elders to try and encourage disfellowshipped ones back to the org, but they can't?.

what the org says: km 8/02 p. 4 par.

The Searcher

All J.W. parents are forced by the Org to regard their disfellowshipped children as if they were dead, non-existent - even if their child was in dire straits. How do such J.W.'s feel when they hear that it's OK for elders to try and encourage disfellowshipped ones back to the Org, but they can't?

What the Org Says: km 8/02 p. 4 par. 12 "Cooperating with the scriptural arrangement to disfellowship and shun unrepentant wrongdoers is beneficial. It preserves the cleanness of the congregation and distinguishes us as upholders of the Bible’s high moral standards. (1　Pet. 1:14-16) It protects us from corrupting influences."

e.g. - yb91 pp. 53-54 - "A publisher in Norway was calling back at a house where previously no one was home......As he was leaving the house, the householder with his family arrived........The publisher was invited in and then was told by the wife that she had been disfellowshipped several years earlier because of smoking. Now she wanted to come back to the congregation, but she believed it would be difficult because she had been away for so long. The brother, who is an elder, advised her on what steps she had to take."

w91 4/15 p. 23 pars. 13-15 - ".....there may be disfellowshipped or disassociated ones who would respond to a merciful approach made by the shepherds. But how might the elders handle this matter? Once a year at most,...... the body of elders...........would focus on those who have been expelled for over a year......it is appropriate, they would assign two elders to visit such an individual. No visit would be made on any who evidence a critical, dangerous attitude or who have made it known that they want no help.—Romans 16:17, 18; 1　Timothy 1:20; 2　Timothy 2:16-18. The two shepherds could telephone to ask about making a brief visit, or they could stop by at a suitable time. If the person is interested in returning to God’s flock, they could kindly explain what steps he should take, such as reading the Bible and publications of the Watch Tower Society and attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall. These elders will need wisdom and discernment to determine whether there is indication of repentance...... After the visit, the two would give a brief oral report to the Congregation Service Committee. They, in turn, would inform the body of elders at their next meeting."

But What Does the Bible Really Teach? According to Jesus Christ, disfellowshipped ones were to be treated the same way as if they were "an unbeliever and a tax collector", (Matthew 18:17 - Holman Christian Standard Bible) namely, not to regard such ones as close friends or associates but as people whose way of life was not aligned with Christianity. Jesus never uttered the word 'shun' once! Jehovah's Witnesses don't shun unbelievers & tax collectors, do they? What Bible verses or "principles" allow elders to talk to disfellowshipped ones with impunity, whereas non-elder J.W.'s could face being disfellowshipped for doing the exact same thing with the same motives?

If a disfellowshipped J.W. lives at home, "God's" law doesn't apply, but if they move out and into a house across the street, they must be treated as a dead person.

Surely "God's" command must be obeyed to the letter by everyone!

Of course the reply will be that an elder's faith and knowledge will be strong enough to enable him to talk to an ex-J.W., but a J.W. who is not part of the appointed-men class would be far too weak and gullible to do so. Evil & perverse dogma.

15

What the Org Teaches #4 There Are Two Ways to Get Sins Wiped Out

by The Searcher in

#4 there are two ways to get sins wiped outthe following five scriptures lay the foundation stone of christianity, namely, that christ died for people's sins.

virtually every christian denomination on earth accepts these bible statements without question: .

(matthew 26:28) "....this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.

The Searcher

@ prologos - Lovely point = "why are we affected by his now non-existing, wiped-out sin?"

That highlights the bottom line of the Org's false interpretation of Romans 6:7, that sins count for absolutely nothing and require no Messianic redemption, ("see the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world") because Adamic death takes care of the situation!

From a Christian and scriptural viewpoint, such a doctrine is perverse and blasphemes every aspect about Christ's life & death!

15

What the Org Teaches #4 There Are Two Ways to Get Sins Wiped Out

by The Searcher in

#4 there are two ways to get sins wiped outthe following five scriptures lay the foundation stone of christianity, namely, that christ died for people's sins.

virtually every christian denomination on earth accepts these bible statements without question: .

(matthew 26:28) "....this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.

The Searcher

@ prologos - (Romans 5:12) "That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned."

Like millions of other people, I've inherited something from one of my parents which makes life a lot less enjoyable - but I accept it and do my best.

According to the scriptures, we have all inherited from our original "parents" the condition of death which they brought upon themselves.

I very much appreciate that many here are atheists and don't subscribe to such teachings, but I'm simply providing the scriptural reasoning as to why people die.

15

What the Org Teaches #4 There Are Two Ways to Get Sins Wiped Out

by The Searcher in

#4 there are two ways to get sins wiped outthe following five scriptures lay the foundation stone of christianity, namely, that christ died for people's sins.

virtually every christian denomination on earth accepts these bible statements without question: .

(matthew 26:28) "....this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.

The Searcher

@ stavro - you're right, that is the programmed "response" to justify the Org's false interpretation of Romans 6:7. However, their deception is compounded by imputing that a person's death pays for, acquits, or settles the debts of their evil deeds. The first part of Romans 6:23 shows that death is the payment or consequence of sin - not the absolution of it. It says nothing about death wiping out sins - only the consequences.

The second part (and numerous other scriptures) then clearly shows the basis for forgiveness is not achieved by physically dying, but by figuratively dying and trusting in Jesus Christ - just as Romans 6:7 directs.

For example,

(John 3:16) . . .“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.

(John 6:40) For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day.”

(John 20:31) But these have been written down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and because of believing, you may have life by means of his name.

(Romans 6:23) For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.

(1 Corinthians 15:22) "For just as in Adam all are dying, so also in the Christ all will be made alive."

(2 Timothy 3:15) and that from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

(1 John 5:13) I write you these things so that you may know that you have life everlasting, you who put your faith in the name of the Son of God.

15

What the Org Teaches #4 There Are Two Ways to Get Sins Wiped Out

by The Searcher in

#4 there are two ways to get sins wiped outthe following five scriptures lay the foundation stone of christianity, namely, that christ died for people's sins.

virtually every christian denomination on earth accepts these bible statements without question: .

(matthew 26:28) "....this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.

The Searcher

Hi VH7 - if you click on The Searcher at the top of the page, you'll see my previous posts started.

15

What the Org Teaches #4 There Are Two Ways to Get Sins Wiped Out

by The Searcher in

#4 there are two ways to get sins wiped outthe following five scriptures lay the foundation stone of christianity, namely, that christ died for people's sins.

virtually every christian denomination on earth accepts these bible statements without question: .

(matthew 26:28) "....this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.

The Searcher

#4 There Are Two Ways to Get Sins Wiped Out

The following five scriptures lay the foundation stone of Christianity, namely, that Christ died for people's sins. Virtually every Christian denomination on earth accepts these Bible statements without question:

(Matthew 26:28) "....this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins."

(John 1:29) "See, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!"

(Acts 5:31) "God exalted this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."

(1 John 2:2) "And he is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s."

(Revelation 1:5) "To him that loves us and that loosed us from our sins by means of his own blood."

However, the WTBTS/Jehovah's Witnesses invalidate these scriptures by their false doctrine that a person's own death wipes out their past sins. They do this by interpreting the word "died" at Romans 6:7 as being literal rather than figurative. This is what their dogma says:

Watchtower May 15th 1982, pp. 8,9; "The Bible explains that at death a person is set free or released from any sins he committed. It says: "He who has died has been acquitted from his sin." (Romans 6:7)

bh p. 214 par. 3 Judgment Day - "According to the apostle John’s vision, "scrolls were opened," and "the dead were judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds." (Revelation 20:12) Are these scrolls the record of people’s past deeds? No, the judgment will not focus on what people did before they died. How do we know that? The Bible says: "The one who has died has been acquitted from his sin." (Romans 6:7) Those resurrected thus come to life with a clean slate, so to speak."

Is Romans 6:7 to be taken literally or figuratively? Are there two ways to wipe out sins, or just one? The w09 11/1 p. 21 says this - "When it comes to studying words found in the Bible, you also need to know the context in which the word appears."

By reading the surrounding verses - 2,4,6,8, & 11 - as well as the following scriptures - the true context and meaning of "died" is clearly proven to be figurative. Paul was counseling the Roman Christians in chapters 6, 7, & 8 about "dying" to their former, willful and sinful lives.

(Romans 7:4,9,10) "So, my brothers, YOU also were made dead to the Law through the body of the Christ; In fact, I was once alive apart from law; but when the commandment arrived, sin came to life again, but I died. And the commandment which was to life, this I found to be to death."

(Romans 8:10) "But if Christ is in union with YOU, the body indeed is dead on account of sin..."

(Ephesians 2:1) "Furthermore, [it is] YOU [God made alive] though YOU were dead in YOUR trespasses and sins,"

(Galatians 2:19) "As for me, through law I died toward law, that I might become alive toward God..."

(Colossians 2:13) "Furthermore, though YOU were dead in YOUR trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of YOUR flesh, [God] made YOU alive together with him..　.　." (Colossians 3:3) "For YOU died, and YOUR life has been hidden with the Christ in union with God." (2 Timothy 2:11) "Certainly if we died together, we shall also live together;" (Revelation 3:1) "‘I know your deeds, that you have the name that you are alive, but you are dead."

For anyone who is studying with J.W.'s, ask your study conductor these two questions:

"Why did Jesus have to die if a person's own death wipes out their sins?"

"Does this teaching not mean that a mass murderer who is killed by police, automatically receives forgiveness for his evil acts because he's been shot dead?"

1

What the Org Teaches #3 Foreigners Were Not Participants of the Mosaic Covenant...........

by The Searcher in

.......................they were only beneficiaries of it!!!!

the org uses this spurious statement to "prove" their false doctrine that only an elite group are invited to be participants in the new covenant.

#3 "foreigners".

The Searcher

.......................they were only beneficiaries of it!!!!

The Org uses this spurious statement to "prove" their false doctrine that only an elite group are invited to be participants in the New Covenant.

#3 "FOREIGNERS"
What the Org says:

w98 2/1 p. 11 par. 13 Jehovah Is a God of Covenants - "What was the standing of such proselytes? When Jehovah made his covenant, it was only with Israel; those of the "vast mixed company," although present, were not named as participants."

jr chap. 14 p. 169 par. 4 You Can Benefit From the New Covenant

"What of those who are not [directly] in the new covenant, the "other sheep," who hope to live forever on earth? In a sense, they are like the alien residents in Israel, who accepted and benefited from the Mosaic Law.

w83 3/15 p. 8 Who Should Partake? "But it is noteworthy that there was a vast mixed company of non-Israelites who escaped from Egypt along with the Israelites. And although they enjoyed benefits as a result of this covenant, they were not included in it. There is a similar situation with the new covenant. Only Christians referred to as "the Israel of God" are taken into this covenant with Jehovah God. However, there is a "great crowd" of other Christians, referred to by Jesus as his "other sheep." Although these enjoy benefits from the new covenant, they are not included in it."

But What Does the Bible Really Teach?

(Deuteronomy 29:10-15) "All of you are stationed today before Jehovah your God, the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officers, every man of Israel, your children, your wives, and your foreign resident who is in the midst of your camp, from the one gathering your wood to the one drawing your water. You are here in order to enter into the covenant of Jehovah your God and his oath, which Jehovah your God is making with you today in order that he may establish you today as his people and that he may be your God, just as he has promised you and just as he swore to your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "Now it is not with you alone that I am making this covenant and this oath, but it is with those standing here with us today before Jehovah our God and with those who are not here with us today."

These verses comprehensively expose the Org's anti-scriptural stance, however, to reinforce what Moses wrote, both Ruth and Rahab (two non-Israelite pagan worshippers) became full members of the nation of Israel and full participants of the Law Covenant, as well as their respective offspring who all gained inheritances within that nation.

This is confirmed by the fact that both of them were assimilated into the tribe of Judah and became direct ancestors of Jesus Christ. If both women were not fully Israelites, then Christ's lineage was corrupted by these women.

As can be seen, the only thing which has been corrupted is the Org's decision on who is allowed to be in the New Covenant.

13

What The Org Teaches: #2 THE GREAT TRIBULATION

by The Searcher in

every single bible student/jehovah's witness who has ever lived, has been indoctrinated to believe that a catastrophic great tribulation would very soon engulf the entire earth, causing untold death & destruction.

this spurious teaching is drummed into every j.w.

's head and used by them as a major recruitment tool.

The Searcher

@ prologos - I agree with your reasoning concerning other "great tribulations."

What J.W.'s totally dismiss when they accept the Org's (future) explanation of Jesus' words at Matthew 24, is that Jesus was referring to the worst tribulation ever to hit his audience's nation (God's people) up until that time - and that it would never occur again.

If he was simply referring to catastrophic events in general, his listeners (and JW.'s!) should have included the flood of Noah's day, which was scripturally the worst event ever.

13

What The Org Teaches: #2 THE GREAT TRIBULATION

by The Searcher in

every single bible student/jehovah's witness who has ever lived, has been indoctrinated to believe that a catastrophic great tribulation would very soon engulf the entire earth, causing untold death & destruction.

this spurious teaching is drummed into every j.w.

's head and used by them as a major recruitment tool.

The Searcher

@ introvert2 - Yes, numerous denominations believe the end is coming "soon", but the Org combines scriptures which have no connection, in order to appear as if they have the true interpretation of something which many people desire to know.