Well Ginny,
This is a theological issue and not one for pushing "Jesus Seminar' atheistic critisism that discounts the inspiration of scripture BEFORE the 'research' even begins.
Rex
Rex B13
JoinedPosts by Rex B13
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30
Jacob I loved, Esau I hated!
by AIRVIEW1 inonly some of the people of israel are truly god's people,and only some of abraham's desendants are the true children of abraham.
abraham's true children are those who become god's children because of the promise god made to abraham.
before the two boys were born, god told rebekah,"the older will serve the younger".
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Rex B13
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Jacob I loved, Esau I hated!
by AIRVIEW1 inonly some of the people of israel are truly god's people,and only some of abraham's desendants are the true children of abraham.
abraham's true children are those who become god's children because of the promise god made to abraham.
before the two boys were born, god told rebekah,"the older will serve the younger".
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Rex B13
You guys really need to study the book of Romans. Paul explaines this passage in Romans 9. No need for me to paraphrase it. While your at it, the book of Romans lays out the basis of Christian theology and please use a real Bible, not the NWT. For those really into deep theology I recommend the MacArther, New King James study Bible.
You can also research under the topics of, "Election", "Calvinism", "Predestination" in want to see the complete scriptural backing of the "Election" principles.
God chooses us for salvation not on anything that we do or have done, He has chosen us before the founding of the world, predestined our lives yet we have a measure of "free will" and responsiblity in our life choices. As Eph. 2. 8,9 says, "We are saved by grace through faith, not of ourselves it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
This is one reason that relgions that hold to a "works" salvation (or even adding baptism as a requirement) are in error. Once you add anything at all to "grace through faith", it ceases to be that very thing!
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I am a DEIST!!!!.............I think.
by tyydyy inaccording to webster?.
deism- a movement or system of thought advocating natural religion based on human reason rather than revelation emphasizing morality and in the 18th century denying the interferance of the creator with the laws of the universe.
has anyone studied at this school of thought????.
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Rex B13
Deism: a cop-out used by some to delude themselves that they are actually agnostic. You need to read C.S. Lewis' books, 'Mere Christianity' and 'Miracles'.
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I'm converting.......
by Tatiana inthe emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes is essential to human progress and the transformation of society.
inequality retards not only the advancement of women but the progress of civilization itself.
the persistent denial of equality to one-half of the worlds population is an affront to human dignity.
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Rex B13
>Despite the advancement of political and civil rights for women in America and the widespread acceptance of equality in principle, full equality has not been achieved.
Crap. This article is filled with rhetoric.
What this article promotes is ignoration of biological facts, not equality, this is an affront against scientific research that has proven that men are better at some things and women at others. Many radical femininsts use this jargon to justify man-hating and intolerance of valid religious beliefs. Human society has always been hinged on the logic of family life that is the best upbringing for children. Same sex marriages, single parenthood just does not do the job that a happy family life does.
Until the women's movement accepts the biological facts showing that they are weaker (generally) in the physical skills, strength and coordination we will have the ridiculous attacks on occupations that women clamor to be involved in but can't handle.
Who do you want carrying you out of a burning building; 6', 220lb. "Leo" who bulges with muscle or some 120 lb. "April" that can barely drag herself up a ladder in fire battle gear?Feminists in the western democracies need to go into a third world (or Islamic) country to see how bad it can really get. At the saem time they should realize that some of their causes may endanger society into a collapse and return all of us to a barbaric existence (as would major nuclear war or a asteroid strike) and then mankind reverts back to what is natural. Radical Feminists do not live in the real world at all.
The natural order is not at all what the Wiccans or Ba Hai say it is....
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trouble for my friend
by Mulan ini have posted many times about my jw friend, who still talks to me.
for years we have maintained our friendship, because i have never been df'd or da'd.. she called me this morning to tell me that her husband is being called in for a meeting, by the elders, to discuss her association with me.
we are wondering, now, if a lurker on this board has turned her in.
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Rex B13
>As far as why the brothers are calling in her husband with regard to his wifes "activities" is because he is the head of the household and as such they are required to go through him. It has always been that way to my knowledge; at least in the Calif. and Washington congs. I have been in.
That is the right answer here. You can also use this as a protection for your wife to keep 'inquiring minds' out of your family business. Local JWs don't mess with my wife because they would have to go through me and they don't want to deal with that. Neither of us have been df or da adn they have not called on us since we left (walked away) over two years ago. We are also very active in our church and have been able to warn others about the fraud perpetrated by the Watchtower Society. The term "fraud" doesn't really cover it, really.
We had been a boost to our congo, as, we had just returned from a df that lasted more than ten years. It took about one year for us to realize that we had been entirely in the right all of those years. Thanks be to God that my sons had a normal upbringing while we were "in the world". Their poignant observations of the "cult" were a factor in our leaving again. That, much prayer for God to lead us and our discoveries on the internet.......
I advise anyone reading this to consider the following verses: Rom. 3.23; 6.23; Jn. 3.16,17; Jn. 3.3; Eph. 2.8,9; Rom. 10. 9-11; Acts 4.11; Rev. 3.20. Feel free to e-mail me anytime.
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Witness Denial, or Acceptance of 'Truth'
by ashitaka ini was talking to an elder's son, giving him the reasons for leaving the 'truth'......the un thing, molestation stuff, shunning, new light, nazi discrepencies, etc.
he agreed with me on almost all points.
we spoke for almost two hours, over a couple of beers.
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Rex B13
>Or are most witties pleasantly ignorant? Perhaps those that aren't, like that elder's son, see only the good, and just turn a blind eye because facing the facts would hurt them too much. Too much time, money, sacrifice invested for them to pull out when the stock is down.
What's sad is that there is no 'pleasantly ignorant' with the immortal soul in mind. There is only salvation or judgement.
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All Others going to Hell?
by Thirdson ini found this article very interesting.
it is a letter in response to another article.
however, the points about the theologically weak position of religious exclusivism are very good.
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Rex B13
The Christian faith is the only faith that can back up it's claims even remotely to the standards of skeptics. This is the reason that it is attacked so much more than any other faith. 'Religious exclusivity' makes total sense since there can be only one absolute truth, one absolute deity if the premise of a intelligent design is correct.
Jesus came to earth displaying the attributes of God and the final confirmation happened upon His resurrection. Therefore, one who claims to be a 'Christian', yet absolves all others in the name of one Godly attribute (saying that all roads lead to heaven), love, ignores the very words of God and thus preaches a false gospel. He endangers his own immortal soul.NIV Ephesians 4:1-7
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.NIV Romans 10:1-13
1 Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.
3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.
4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."
6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, `Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down)
7 "or `Who will descend into the deep?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."NIV Luke 16:19-31
19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
24 So he called to him, `Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
25 "But Abraham replied, `Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
27 "He answered, `Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house,
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
29 "Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
30 "`No, father Abraham,' he said, `but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
31 "He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"Rev. 20. 11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.
15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.NIV Matthew 13:37-42
37 He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age.
41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.
42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.NIV Matthew 25:40-46
40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."NIV Jude 1:6-7
6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.The requirements of salvation are clear, the results of not worshipping the One Almighty God are equally clear.
"Unless you believe that I Am, you are lost in your sins", as John 8:23 says. This statement is one of seven where Christ declares Himself to be YHWH and is of immense theological significance. Jesus clearly claims to be the Lord God Almighty. Upon that premise, He is either a liar, a loon or He is the Lord.
There is no in between for a true Christian, there is no room for compromise on this and the correct, logical view of a Christian is that all other religious claims are inherently false and from the devil.
This statement also emphasizes that acknowlegement of Jesus as Lord God Almighty, the equal person of the Father, is an absolute requirement for salvation. We now see just what evil the Watchtower has been a part of. Their leaders are pronounced guilty of the bloodguilt of millions of souls.
Can they be forgiven? Yes, no sin other than the ultimate unbelief in Christ is unforgiveable...while they yet live in this world. Once they pass 'beyond the veil', they await the judgement of Revelation 20.
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Quality of this Forum
by stevieb1 injust a quick thought - i am a firm believer in freedom of speech etc, but having been on this forum for some time i honestly can't say that i can introduce a doubting jw interested in true christianity to this board.
some of the deep discussions on jw doctrine are excellent, but everything else seems to be nonsense in my opinion.
why can't this site be more like the old www.witnesses.net which seemed to have more spiritual meat rather than backbiting, gossip, and rumour and even obscenity.. sorry for my frank opinion
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Rex B13
You are absolutely correct. I would rather it be like the old H2O. At least we could recommend interested JWs (usually) without having them run out screaming, "The Watchtower is right about apostates!".
We have an element here who get their jollies showing that they are 'adults' and can talk all the obscenity they want to.
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Scatology, Obcenity, Pornography in Bible?
by belbab inscatology .
1. vulgar language: vulgar language related to excretory functions.
2. obsession with excrement: preoccupation with excrement or obscenity.
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Rex B13
Dork:
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Stratton Ohio letter to public.
by biblexaminer insome have read a rough draft of a letter being prepared for the townsfolk of stratton ohio.
some couche potatoes commented on how it'll never work.. the point is, it is not intended to have an effect on the supreme court descicion in a few weeks.
it is intended to get the word out by attaching itself to any publicity associated with the stratton case, as well as having the effect of causing grief to both the wellsville congo who preaches there and the governing baffoons.. here it is, but more revised and going to be revised yet further.
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Rex B13
You guys really need to stay out of this and let the Supreme Court do what it will. Those people don't need zealots of the apostate scene plying them with e-mails and letters.
Stratton's law was designed with all consideration of previous litigation. It does not specifically ban anyone but allows the householder to ban all solicitation. This is not a law opposed to any religion but to all solicitation.
The primary purpose of the law is to protect people from flim-flam artists and salesmen. It is a copy of other statutes already in place elsewhere.
Rex