Posts by HereIam60

16

God’s wisdom in allowing bearded JWs July 25 Watchtower

by Listener in

the july 2025 watchtower has a paragraph that claims that it was the superior power and wisdom of jehovah that guided the gb into allowing jws to grow beards.. the study article is ‘can you still learn from basic bible teachings?’ under the subheading ‘jehovah is the creator’ paragraph 7 states-.

“ 7. what did rahela do to accept a change in direction?.

your answer.

HereIam60

I really wonder about the mentaliry of the present Watchtower writers. That's the example they use of adapting to a change of direction? She had never seen a man with a beard before?! Yes, I realize it was a brother but that just indicates that the mind set was beards are wrong/forbidden before the Governing Body "Decided they have 'no problem' with it..

30

Sisters can now wear pants. Any more important changes

by Witness 007 in

alot of my witness friends were excited sisters can now wear pants and you can say hi to disfellowshiped folks but what about important stuff child molesters in the congregation you need 2 witnesses blood fractions are fine but not whole blood????

607 bce is from the 1880s wrong....anything else?

HereIam60

The best comment I ever heard on beards...Back in the '90s a young brother I was close to went through what was considered a "rebellious" period and grew a beard. There was talk about it behind his back, but one Sunday as he walked into the meeting, a sweet elderly sister called him over to her and told him "Brother...whenever I see you, I think of Jesus, because Jesus had a beard!..."

30

Sisters can now wear pants. Any more important changes

by Witness 007 in

alot of my witness friends were excited sisters can now wear pants and you can say hi to disfellowshiped folks but what about important stuff child molesters in the congregation you need 2 witnesses blood fractions are fine but not whole blood????

607 bce is from the 1880s wrong....anything else?

HereIam60

I'm still amazed by the beard nonsense. Frankly, I think the only reason it was changed was because Mark Sanderson , GB member, wanted to grow one himself and persuaded the rest of the group to his way of thinking. (I'm willing to be corrected if wrong, but I think he was the first of the GB to appear with one). Still astounded by the vast number of brothers who Immediately started growing one. When asked if I was going to I said "No. It's shaving that's the choice, the beard grows whether I do anything or not!". (I've wanted to tell a number of brothers in our hall that they're starting to look like C. T Russell..)

20

Chosen

by Gman2001 in

how exactly did jehovah come down to earth in 1919....look around at all the religions....and choose the bible students?

.

HereIam60

Antony Mous

I was just relating, not agreeing, with the various ways the "choosing" had been explained. Yes, it is different now. Now they just say "The Faithful and Discreet Slave was appointed in 1919,' with no background or explanation at all, and it's just supposed to be accepted as fact

20

Chosen

by Gman2001 in

how exactly did jehovah come down to earth in 1919....look around at all the religions....and choose the bible students?

.

HereIam60

I don't think this has ever been clear.. The two explanations I've heard are..

a) After taking the throne in heaven in 1914 Jesus inspected the religions claiming to follow him, because (only)the Bible Students were preaching his word, no part of the world (peaceful and neutral), loving, encouraging, and feeding one another spiritually, he placed his appoval on them as his "faithful and discreet slave"

b) The other, more complicated, explanation (which I heard a lot as a young Witness in the 1980s) was that again Jesus" came to the spiritual temple" and "judgement was to start with the house of God" and he was to "serve as a refiner to cleanse the sons of Levi". He found the Bible students sincere but in need of cleansing as they still were practicing pagan customs and had compromised their neutrality during the World War - cited was the fact that some of them had gone into the armed forces and a Watchtower had recommended participation in a National Day of Prayer suggested by the (US) President. As a result he let them be disciplined by going into " captivity to Babylon the Great"

Allegedly, at the instigation of their religious opposers, Watchtower representatives were charged and jailed on grounds of sedition based on inflammatory anti-government remarks in the publication 'The Finished Mystery'. Later they were exonerated, cleared of all charges and released.

This was seen as a sign that they had been sufficiently disciplined .and they 'cleaned up their act' cutting all ties to, false religion, the political system, and paganism. Now re-vitalized by Jehovah's approval they set out to Advertise the Kingdom , and recieved Jesus' appointment as his FDS

At least this is what I recall...It's all been overturned however since "The Governing Body has decided' that they, and they alone are the faithful discreet slave.

8

Memorial talk the SAME EVERY YEAR no anointed??

by Witness 007 in

yeah so got invited this year and just thought what a waste of my time no one partakes in the wine or bread the talk has been the same for 20 years i would rather stay home.

HereIam60

A portion of every Memorial talk seems designed to discourage anyone from "partaking" ( Do anyone but Witnesses even use that word?) The speaker practically DARES anyone to do so by making statements such as "Likely very few, or possibly no one here will partake of the emblems.." If that's really their view then why pass them around at all. They could just as well ,after praying over them make an announcement "At this time, those annointed for heavenly life may come forward and partake of the bread and wine. If you are unable to do so, raise your hand and an attendant will bring them to you.."

My own view is that everyone present does partake of Jesus body and blood, in that , all are there (at least to some degree) to His request to do this in remembrance of Him..and the emblems are offered and passed to everyone, so all recieve them in that manner.

Scripturally we are supposed to be "discerning the body"... reflecting upon and thankfully appreciating Christ's sacrifice. I do not think actual physical consumption of the emblems is required, or in some cases even possible.

35

Blood decisions are now your problem: WT JULY 2025

by raymond frantz in

the following is from the latest study watchtower july 2025, study article 28, paragraph 17:.

each christian must make up his or her own mind about whether to accept or to reject these fractions.

we may find it a challenge to understand this matter fully, but making decisions like this is part of the load that each of us must carry.

HereIam60

"...We never told them what to do...it was their own choice...". This is their attitude toward everything now. The Governing bodies have always wanted authority without accountability. I'm sure this is why no specific instructions as to what to say in the ministry are given anymore. They don't want to be held accountable for anything individuals might say. As for the article quote, though specific to fractions, the rest says it all.. " Each Christian must make up his or her own mind...Making decisions like this are part of the load that each of us must carry...". I'm taking that as it's all On you, and Up to you...Pick and choose...Your decision.

It used to kill me, the old Awake articles on medical issues always had a footnote disclaimer that 'the publishers do not endorse or recommend any particular treatment' . Well neither should they have discouraged or forbidden any. Even the terms of use for the JW apps say they assume no liability or responsibility...does not constitute medical advice nor is a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment..."Reliance on any medical information is solely at your own risk" (!)...

25

In the past 24 hours, the world has been breaking into fragments. What will be the Outcome??

by liam in

new german chancellor merz has won the election.

trump congratulated his victory but the response was not what trump expected.

merz condemned america, saying that america seemed to be aligning with russia.. he also expressed doubts about nato’s future.. he is now advocating that germany must gain independence from usa.

HereIam60

It will regroup, refragment, regroup , refragment.....and keep turning...

37

Memorial attendance

by Balaamsass2 in

curious.

what was your local memorial attendance like tonight?

HereIam60

Ours is a Hall shared by 2 congregations, in some years we had 2 Memorial 'services' that evening, but this sometimes led to traffic congestion, and the second group getting out later, so this year, as they had a few times prior to Covid, a hotel ballroom was rented and the 2 congregations combined...I did not attempt to count but there were at least 200, with some non -witness invitees and some who rarely attend meetings, also a Zoom tie in

It went well, though I'm uncomfortable about the opening song being one in praise of "The Annointed"! A young elder gave the talk and did very well. Is it usual to applaud after the Memorial talk? My memory's not what it was but I don't recall this happening before. The talk (scripted, I assume) had the usual discouragement about partaking of the bread and wine (only for those in the heaven!y covenant, the rest 'respectful observers) and used an illustration I didn't care for..A school open only to citizens of the country, someone from elsewhere wishes to enroll, but cannot, because they are not a citizen.

For me personally it was a good occasion. I feel a sense of peace and unity with those around me, and worldwide, and do feel we are in the presence of Jehovah and Jesus, and all of us recieving His sacrificial flesh and blood, regardless of consuming the emblems or not. I realize this may be entirely emotional reaction on my part.

Sorry for long post!

25

Special Talk just prior to the Memorial

by Acluetofindtheuser in

is the sunday special talk prior to the memorial just an introduction of a new outline for the sunday public talks?.

is it an attempt to get the faders back to the meetings?

they present in a way like some new light is going to be presented at the special talk..

HereIam60

The 'Special' talk before the Memorial is usually pretty bland and generic. The gist was "Where can truth be found?...in the Bible...In the teachings of Jesus...for further information contact Jehovah's Witnesses...". Its 'Special' because (they hope) due to the invitation campaign there will be a lot of visitors.

Another thing, at least here since the post-Covid return to the Kingdom Halls is that every few months an announcement is made that a congregation is having a " Special Bethel Speaker' for the weekend to which other congregations are invited. We had one of these just after going back. A young brother said to be an assistant to the Legal Department. He seemed a bit "full of himself" .He said proudly he'd been allowed to choose his own topic. I'm not sure if that means he was really free to say anything or just given his choice of outlines. I don't even remember his theme, but during it he really hammered down on returning to attending meetings, at one point saying "....In-person MEANS In- person...What's there not to understand?!!". He seemed a bit more human giving the Sunday talk the next day.

We share a hall, and our fellow congregation hosted one of these, the speaker being Robert Hendriks, once head of the U.S. Watchtower Public Information Dept. (Does that still even exist ?). Shortly after this rumors began to surface that he'd been disfellow...I mean " removed" but I've been unable to verify that.