Posts by Christ Alone

50

"Why Do Many Male Jehovah Witnesses Who Learn TTATT Grow Beards"?

by ÁrbolesdeArabia in

the year once 1983 and the brother who use to study the bible with me drove by and had a full on "charles manson" looking facial hair and beard.

i asked tina, a friend what's up with him?

tina was 19 and a hot red-head woman who was partially in the religion but had problems with fornication.

Christ Alone

Some might think it's a rebelious thing. But I don't think so, in many cases. As a JW I remember talking to many friends that wished they could have a beard. I knew several elders that would talk about their beards before becoming JWs, and missing them.

I think the beard may be one way to show your freedom! I don't have one myself, as it looks retarded on me. But there are many that always wanted one, at least to see what it looked like on them, but were never allowed. Now they can experiment and be free to look however they desire!

28

Has leaving the truth( i hate that word) caused you to do things now that you would not have normally done ?

by sieborg in

jw
friends

although we all know that there are many disadvantages of being brought up ( vomit sound) in the truth.

but would you say that leaving has maybe caused you to do some things that you would not have normally have done in life ?

for me personally now i have lots of free time ( mine all mine, evil laugh) i have almost finished my first novel.

Christ Alone

Definitely!

It caused me to begin reading, studying, and questioning everything outside of what I was allowed to do. I researched everything I could, on both sides of virtually every issue I could think of. Unlike some, I settled on belief in God and in the Bible (although I DO understand why some reach different conclusions). Which then led me to see the truth of Jesus' deity. This caused me to pray to Him and to worship Him, as the scriptures show this is entirely right. That was an incredible thing. I could now talk to and have a realtionship with someone that I was at one time forbidden from talking to. I could only learn about this guy, but never speak to Him!

It also gave me new freedom.

Leaving did not make me want to go out and have as much sex as I could. I didn't get into drugs (although I did try weed once). I don't drink heavily anymore, like I did as a JW.

I also have a new found love for God which makes me NOT want to do things that I find moraly wrong. Not for fear of any rules and consequences. Now it's merely because God's my friend and I see how obeying Him always leads to good in my life.

I guess I'm not the apostate JWs think of when they use the word. I HAVE heard rumors of my being involved in wife swapping and drug use. But now I just don't care. I hear or read about it, smile, and shake my head. So sad. They don't think anyone could really be happy and free after leaving them.

33

April KM Question Box: Cellphones

by pixel in

check out this arriving in april:.

what bible principles apply to the useof cell phones while attending christian meetings and sharing in the ministry?.

for everything there is an appointed time.

Christ Alone

I love how they talk to people like children. I can imagine the outline instructions for the writer of this article:

1. Define what a cellphone is

"Cell phones give people the ability to text or speak with one another at virtually any time."

WHA?!?!? THANK YOU FDS!!!

16

What's wrong with the way we interpret prophecy?

by EdenOne in

i've posted this somewhere else, but i think it's worth some discussion here as well.

the original thread revolves around the interpretation of the time for the great tribulation to occurr.

i've pointed out if the problems we ran into in the past and present about interpreting prophecies are troubled by the false premise that we are living in the "last days".. .

Christ Alone

I didn't used to be, Pterist. I was ultra 100% Pre-Millenial. But the evidence is close to be undeniable. The 1st century church would have been utterly confused about what John wrote if it was not meant for them at that time. But the evidence shows that they knew EXACTLY what John was talking about in Revelation. One of the first rules of hermeneutics is that you must consider the audience that the writer was speaking to.

I still think that there could be another fulfillment of much of Revelation in the future. But I also think that there may not be. I'm definitely not a full preterist. But partial...yeah...it makes so much sense. I started changing my views after Vanderhoven7 sent me a link to the book "Days of Vengence" by David Chilton. Absolutely phenominal book! And it's free online. I went into it thinking I was going to disprove it, but the arguments are solid. And it is the best way to interpret Revelation. It all makes historical sense, and is not as mystical and confusing as Pre-Millenialist make it out to be. I mean, look at some of the comments by some on this site. They are utterly confused by Revelation, so they throw it away and say it can mean anything. Yet, to a student of the OT, it would have made perfect sense in its application to 70ad.

Anyway, here's a link to the book if anyone else wants to examine the evidence.

http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/pdf/1987_chilton_days-of-vengeance.pdf

16

What's wrong with the way we interpret prophecy?

by EdenOne in

i've posted this somewhere else, but i think it's worth some discussion here as well.

the original thread revolves around the interpretation of the time for the great tribulation to occurr.

i've pointed out if the problems we ran into in the past and present about interpreting prophecies are troubled by the false premise that we are living in the "last days".. .

Christ Alone

Eden, great stuff. You're coming right along!

I've found it interesting to think about when the last days began. If they didn't begin in 1914, then when? Actually the Bible talks about it. Peter mentioned that what was being fulfilled with the Holy Spirit coming to believers was only supposed to happen in the last days. Notice Acts 2:14-17. It says, " But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say. In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel: And in the last days it will be, God says, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophecy, and your yong men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams."

Peter believed that they were in the last days. The last days was what was to occur after Jesus' resurrection and last until the end. It was not to be a short time in our view.

Reading through Paul's writings as well, he too believed the end was soon. And it was for them. I believe 70ce figures into prophecy more than we ever gave it credit for. There is something to be said about Revelation and how it actually directly was written to those prior to 70ce and how they would have understood it. I believe it has a second application in our future. But its immediate fulfillment was in 70.

91

Your God asks for too much

by Qcmbr in

i was wondering (again) about what i got out of my deal with mormon god.

the more i thought about it the more i realised that the xian god asks way too much and offers too little.. what does xg demand:.

1 - obedience to changeable often arbitrary commandments normally with little clarification of when and when not to apply them.

Christ Alone

Beautiful, Tammy! Just beautiful...and true. I see so much how bitterness is poison to the soul.

36

Over 4 months, still no response to this letter to the elders!

by Greybeard in

jw
friends

hi everyone, its been over 4 months and i have not heard a response from the elders.

i called one of them a few weeks back.

he said they sent it to bethel and haven't heard back yet.

Christ Alone

Greybeard, I am so glad that you've found Christ. At least HE will give you the peace that is beyond all understanding.

As far as why they haven't responded, me thinks they are having some trouble lately. If the influx of new members to JWN due to the "New Light" is any indication, people are dropping like flies! I wonder if this is why they haven't released anything about the new light in the magazine yet. Look at how many JWs found their way to this site, and the New Light has not even been published yet!!!

Your story breaks my heart. I can't even imagine getting an email from my son like you got. Please keep strong. The feeling of hopelessness and wanting to die will go away. But you have to give it time. Surround yourself with people that love you. I don't know if you do or not, but church is actually a great source for making friends. You don't have to believe it all. But at least there are people there that have faith and want to be around other Christians. Church is best for community.

Keep your head up, brother! This too shall pass. Give it some more time, and keep yourself busy. You may look back one day and see that God was working this entire time. Keep this scripture in mind as you keep up the "struggle":

Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

vs 31-35: 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

9

Are you studying with the JW's? No I'm studying with Christains.

by Gojira_101 in

jw
friends

this morning my husband was txt'ing a classmate of his because they have to meet up for a class project.

my husband txt'd the classmate last night and he didn't reply until this morning.. classmate (cm): sorry bro, i was at a bible study last night, i go every thursday.. my husband and i look at each other, a bible study on a thursday?

oh crap this guy much be either studying with the jw's or he was at a meeting last night.. hubby's txt back: oh cool dude...who are you studying with?.

Christ Alone

I think that is why in the 70's they began to use the term "Jehovah's Christian Witnesses". They dropped it after a while. The debate of whether JWs are Christians or not rages on. I think JWs distance themselves from everyone else so much that there has to be a distinction between Christiand and JW. For example, all the Christians I know who are in specific denominations believe that all other Christians will be saved, whether they are in their denomination or not. Jws do not believe that. They do not believe that every Christian will be saved. You have to come to "Mama" to be saved. Don't know why, but just thought of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimZj8HW0Kg

43

So, is this present life it??

by Monsieur in

if there is a possibility that god himself as we thought he was is not real, then,.

is our current and present life, (the daily one we live, not necessarily our aspirations) all there really is?.

what do we have to look foward to if we are aware that we are not infinite.

Christ Alone

I've gotta say, I loved that Londo! So cool to read about your lifelong journey. I lean towards your views myself. I love biologos website and think that the research of NT Wright and others into a non literal Genesis is exciting! I'm undecided, but I'm loving the journey.

191

What is your religious belief now?

by jwfacts in

i have a new poll at jwfacts.mobi/pollsarchive/ as i am very interested to see what people have moved on to believe.

as this is considered sensitive by some, you can answer anonymously at the jwfacts.mobi/pollsarchive/, or answer on this thread.

this is what i have created in the list, but feel free to add comments, corrections, or options i have missed.. .

Christ Alone

Christian - Not associated with a denomination. Surprise!

fantastic poll. I was surprised by some of the answers so far. I hope everyone participates!