Yes, sinning against the holy spirit was defined. "Willfully denying an outright manifestation of Jehovah’s holy spirit."
Grieving God’s holy spirit and blasphemy or sinning against the holy spirit is not the same, and that is a large part of the point of the illustration.
"and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
for the old world and its evils are gone forever.
" rev.
The present reality of human life is that we all die.
The scriptures under consideration are addressing that, in the promise that the tent of God will cover mankind and death be no more, etc. I see the tent of God covering us as analogous to Paul’s words about God being all things to everyone, 1 Cor 15:28. When we are completely reconciled to God, we will again be undying creations as we were meant to be.
Have I given up friends and family? Not permanently. I know of very few people, and pretty much none of my contemporaries in colleagues, friends, family, whom I would believe are irrevocably wicked, and I trust in Jehovah and Jesus that only the truly wicked have no hope.
Why do we have to follow God’s rules…..
What if from God’s standpoint, the universe is actually just one large ‘something,’ and we are all so intertwined that in order for one person in existence to be reconciled to God, we all must be? What if to him we are really just all one creation with no real borders of separation between us? I mean, we are ‘real’ and sort of solid, but some atoms pass right through us. So that ‘border’ between our skin and the air ceases to exist on some level. What if that is true on the larger scale, that only from our perspective are we separate, but to God we are all the same, not just in equality, but in reality? Sort of each a thread in the tapestry, to make an analogy.
IF that were true, then it would seem to explain why God needs to have all humans in existence harmoniously applying his directives, in order to advance his purposes toward us. The Bible expresses it as being because of God’s holiness, he cannot tolerate the unholy. The scriptures' description, coupling these verses in Revelation and the ones about God becoming ‘all things to everyone’ in Corinthians, seems to me to be that after all with rebellious tendencies are no longer existing, God reunites with the human family in a very special way. It would also mean that God isn’t being capricious in asking us to be ‘fitly united in the same mind’ etc. but that such unity is actually a necessary thing for the blessing of all.
And of course when all humans are reconciled to God, there will be no babies dying or cancer, war, etc.
Hopefully that addressed your points, Xanthippe.
Thank you Rosemarie, my thought regarding the difference between Jesus’ rulership and the Governing Body’s direction, (they would deny they exercise rulership, and so would I, I do wholeheartedly believe they direct us under Christ as their head, he is the Ruler) is that Jesus is perfect and his rulership will be perfect. The Governing Body, if asked, would implore each of us to overlook their imperfections and freely admit they have them. The imperfections of others can sorely test us, but tests of our faith are opportunities and as such can be made a blessing, if we view them in the right way. (That all sounds good too, let me assure all I have often failed in that and many other things.)
God personally doesn’t need anything from us. He’s fine in the realm he inhabits (if that’s even the right word), and he doesn’t ‘need’ us to serve him to be ‘better off’ in any way. Our praise and thanks to him even, are for our own benefit. Do you want your children to be thankful to feed your own ego, or because thankful children are happier and cooperative and that is to their own benefit? I don’t think it is possible to be happy without being grateful, certainly it never worked for me.
the man asked jesus who is my neighbor jesus stated the one who acts mercifully toward other humans.
not good enough for watchtower neighbor must fit in three catagories only according to yesterdays wt wow changed the words of the son of god.
Digging for diamonds in that state park in Arkansas is pretty inefficient too. People still do it, indicating they must really be interested in diamonds.
"and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
for the old world and its evils are gone forever.
" rev.
In order for the earth to be free of wickedness, some persons will end up dying. But as it stands, we are all dying. So either the whole human family keeps suffering, or some are destroyed. Will you go on record as stating that all the suffering and dying should continue, and that that is preferable to the death of the already-dying who reject God's rulership?
I can unequivocally learn to cope with the potential deaths of family, colleagues, etc. (again, they are already dying) if it means no more sick babies, cancer, war, all the madness to end.
I returned because we have the best understanding of the Bible, and I believe we need God's guidance. God doesn't need our worship or thanks, he asks us for it for our own benefit, not his. Everything he is doing is to secure our future. He and Christ will preserve as many as possible, strange that it will take destruction in order to preserve mankind but without it we would do ourselves in eventually.
-and thank you.
the man asked jesus who is my neighbor jesus stated the one who acts mercifully toward other humans.
not good enough for watchtower neighbor must fit in three catagories only according to yesterdays wt wow changed the words of the son of god.
Prior to seeking reinstatement a few years back, I read every drop of anti-jw material I could find, a different take on making sure of all things, I suppose, so I am not too worried, but I appreciate your kind thoughts. A couple of things actually helped move me back, a big topic then was the 'Jesus is not the mediator for all' bit, which I knew we never taught. I could clearly see how a particular article was being twisted (sorry, lack a better word for that) to make it appear we were being taught that, but it's simply false. I know the complexities of the molestation issue from personal experience, and I believe that failures in that occur but there is no widespread effort to allow it or coverup, no vaunted 'pedophile paradise.' I believe Ray Franz took that view as well.
I know we are still not 100 percent sure if the folks from Sodom will be resurrected.:) I believe the brotherhood itself is a work in progress as well as each of us individually and it's good to have a sense of humor about all of it.
If anything bothers me I'll tackle it, but I feel like I've seen pretty much all of it, a lot seems to get recycled, rehashed ....oh for the record I can see where the overlapping generations is a bit of a head-scratcher but I am willing to exercise patience on that one. Have a super day, all.
"and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
for the old world and its evils are gone forever.
" rev.
the man asked jesus who is my neighbor jesus stated the one who acts mercifully toward other humans.
not good enough for watchtower neighbor must fit in three catagories only according to yesterdays wt wow changed the words of the son of god.
Actually during the commenting on that paragraph we agreed it was everyone.
I stand by my defense of the article, it's tone, content, and intent were to teach, as one subheading expressed, to show love to all persons. One day that won't have to be taught, it will have been learned and be in practice, to everyone's 'exquisite delight.'
the man asked jesus who is my neighbor jesus stated the one who acts mercifully toward other humans.
not good enough for watchtower neighbor must fit in three catagories only according to yesterdays wt wow changed the words of the son of god.
As a group, our ministry is to the ends of the earth, hence 'those we meet in the ministry' encompasses everyone. Mentioning the three groups made sense in context as I said, as the article went on to explain how to show neighbor love to each group.
There was nothing new here, just reminders on how to love, being 'patient and kind,' not reviling when reviled , etc.
just a few questions from a newbie.
answer one or as many as you want.
1. why cleaners?
Cleaners--flexible hours, the money isn’t bad for the time put in, and being able to choose one’s working hours helps if one wants to spend more time in the ministry.
Correct, leaving doesn’t mean ‘never return,’ and I am a case in point there.
Can’t help with the 3rd one, but just wanted to point out, that if you can see that some leave, though they might return, possibly ‘captive’ is a rather strong word. Just a thought. Captives don’t get to ‘leave.’
"and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.
for the old world and its evils are gone forever.
" rev.
I’ve always understood it to mean ‘excessive’ or unnecessary pain.
You need to know you stubbed your toe so you don’t walk in such a way you pinch your toe off. Some pain is necessary. The pain of illness, cancer, losing loved ones in death, these Jehovah and his chosen King will free us from , and I am quite grateful that he is working out his purpose to do this.
You ever notice how very young children feel pain but don’t suffer? They fall, and might whimper or cry, (sometimes depending on whether anyone is noticing, lol) but then they move on. They don’t tell themselves a story about it or obsess, think anything is wrong with them, they just get up and embrace life. That’s how I believe we will function. (Some writers endorse this as ‘living in the moment’ and I think they are on to something.)
Lazarus suffered and died, and his sisters suffered the pain of bereavement for several days. Jesus felt it. Then he brought him back, and gave us a glimpse of the future. There will be so much reason for joy. What chance will sorrow have? God promises us that he will be once again ‘all in all’ or ‘all things to everyone,’ reunited with humans in the bond we were meant to experience across the realms.
We might barely begin to fathom just what that might encompass, with the limited information we have now. I want to know it, to grow to what God intended us to be in harmony with him and his heavenly creations. That’s what I believe the Bible promises, and it dwarfs any concerns, in my opinion, about how will we cope with losing impermanent things. We’ll learn, that’s kind of the point.
