last night we had our midweek meeting.
the bible reading was from "who is doing jehovah's will....the part where they asked who was the fds.
i thought because of the past sept. wt, every hand would go up....all you heard were crickets.
Well Smiddy's comment has made me think.
Officially now there is no Class, but Smiddy asked When were they appointed?
The answer, according to new(est) light, is that the FDS were appointed in 1919.
This being the case, none of todays FDS were alive back then so Jesus did not just appoint men, but must have appointed a class of men. Either that or he keeps appointing men.
"Who really is the FDS whom the master [keeps] appointing..."
Splash
is there an official name for the comedic device where one replaces one word with another word having a similar pronounciation but a different (usually derisive) meaning?.
for example, some skeptics deride the bible by spelling it "buy-bull".
same or simliar pronounciation but entirely different meaning.
Jesus did a great pun when he spoke about a camel going through the eye of a needle.
His listeners would not have quickly forgotten that joke of his.
Using hyperbole in the pun, he used 'camel' which is a pun on 'rope' in the greek!!
Look the words up!
Splash
You need WiFi to be able to buy shoes and bags, surely?
Splash
last night we had our midweek meeting.
the bible reading was from "who is doing jehovah's will....the part where they asked who was the fds.
i thought because of the past sept. wt, every hand would go up....all you heard were crickets.
Actually, there is no FDS 'class'. It's just the FDS. For now, at least.
Splash.
this is the title of the 15th chapter in the "what does the bible really teach book".
so i have to study this book and am doing it with an elder.
after taking long breaks inbetween the study, this is the chapter that is coming up.
That chapter starts well - it really emphasizes focussing on the teachings of the Bible itself. Here are a few ideas.
You could ask why they are called 'Jehovah's Witnesses" which is a man-made title (albeit based on an Old Testament verse), when "by divine providence" the early Christians were simply known as 'Christians' - Acts 11:26. Which is better? Which is God approved and the precedent set?
Para. 5: "By their fruits you will recognize them". "Every good tree produces fine fruits". So does this mean a person producing good fruits (eg Mandela!) is a good person, as the paragraph indicates? If not, why not? - Did he (and others) not follow the Golden Rule, and imitate the good Samaritan?
Para 6: If JW teachings are based on the Bible, why do the teachings change? Where do the incorrect teachings come from? How do we know that the current teachings are also incorrect and subject to change? None of the Apostels writings are wrong, so why is the written WT wrong? If "the truth doesn't change, only our understanding of it changes", then why havent we been teaching the truth? Is it acceptable to Jehiovah that we have been teaching falsehoods for so long (over 100 years in the case of the new FDS teaching).
Para 6 or 11. "Hence, beliefs and practices of the true religion are not based on human views or tradition. They originate in God’s inspired Word, the Bible." Ask if Jesus is your mediator. They should say No (w08 12/15 p. 13 Appreciate Jesus’ Unique Role in God’s Purpose), so why do you then pray 'In Jesus Name"? And what does 1 Tim 2:5 mean "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus" - Note 'Men' here is defined in the preceding verses - ALL men, not just anointed. Why are beards banned - scriptural or man made rule? Penalties for getting higher education is another one - scriptural or man made rule?
Para 9 - showing love among yourselves. Ask if this includes showing love for others? The answer will be "Yes, by means of the preaching", then ask "how, as an organisation, do you fulfill the example of the Good Samaritan - helping our 'neighbours' in practical ways?
Para 12 "True worshippers are no part of the world". How about Daniel? Joseph? The army officer of Matt 8? The court official Ethiopian eunuch? Tax collectors? etc.
Para 15 "Simply believing in God is not enough to please him" So why does John 3:16 say "everyone 'believing' in [Jesus] will have everlasting life"? with 'believe' being translated correctly from the Greek (instead of 'excercise faith') as seen in the previous verse, 15.
Para 16 - no taking part in false worship. How can we wear wedding veils and rings, 'cut the wedding cake', but not throw confetti? Why do we still hold to 1914 which was determined by CTRussell basis the pyramids? Why have the WT often quoted Greber who was a self confessed spiritualist?
Para 20 "The Bible teaches that God will soon bring an end to this wicked system". So Ask "when is soon?" Is it your lifetime? Those alive in 1914 were told it was in their lifetime too, so why are we now any more accurate than back then? Why have the WT been saying "deliverance is at hand" for over 130 years?
Splash.
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" to assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneus as to claim that jesus was not born of a virgin.".
cardinal bellarmine, 1633.
Lest we forget:
w64 6/1 p. 352 Questions From Readers
"It, therefore, is reasonable to conclude that before God cursed it the serpent possessed legs that elevated it above the ground."
Golden Age 11/12/1929 p.107 "Avoid serum inoculations as they pollute the blood stream with their filthy pus."
The Golden Age, Jan. 16, 1924, p. 250 "It has never been proven that a single disease is due to germs."
Watchtower, March 1, 1922
"The indisputable facts, therefore, show that the "time of the end" began in 1799; that the Lord's second presence began in 1874."
Millions Now Living Will Never Die, p. 89
"we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old"
*** kj 377 20 Land of Magog No More to Threaten Mankind ***
Doubtless the Almighty God will use some highly scientific means, whether including antimatter or not, to dispose of the surplus of decaying bodies in a speedy and sanitary way. This remains for the survivors of the war of the great day to see and witness.
1921: "Millions now living will never die"
Awake! 1961 Feb 22 p. 8
"Revelation 16:16 calls it the "war of the great day of God the Almighty," Armageddon. This war will come in the twentieth century"
The Truth Shall Make You Free, 1943, p. 285
"Man on earth can no more get rid of these demonic `heavens' (the organization of wicked spirits) than man can by airplane or rockets or other means get up above the air envelope which is about our earthly globe and in which man breathes."
Face the Facts (1938) pp.46,50
"Would it be Scripturally proper for them to now marry and to begin to rear children? No, is the answer, which is supported by the Scripture. Those Jonadabs who now contemplate marriage, it would seem, would do better if they wait a few years, until the fiery storm of Armageddon is gone"
WT 5/15/76 p.298
"It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that our understanding of the major teachings and fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures was in error, and then after that, to go back to the very doctrines that, by years of study, we had thoroughly determined to be in error. Christians cannot be vacillating - 'wishy-washy' - about such fundamental teachings. What confidence can one put in the sincerity or judgment of such persons?"
it says on page 1 par.
3 in the q&a item.
"where people belong to a non-christian religion, or to no religion at all, it may be better to mention the bible on a return visit, rather than at the outset.
It says on page 1 par. 3 in the Q&A item
"Where people belong to a non-Christian religion, or to no religion at all, it may be better to mention the Bible on a return visit, rather than at the outset. - Acts 17:22-31"
So the advice is to hide the fact we use the Bible now?
Calebs sister was chastised for NOT having a Bible in her bag!
Splash
has anyone here left jehovah's witnesses to join the churuch of jesus christ of latter-day saints?
what was your motivation for doing so and how has it worked out?.
if you haven't joined the lds or considered it, as an ex-jw, what is your general view of the lds faith?.
I see the Mormons are in the UK press today, explaining and recanting their racist policies.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/10/mormon-church-addresses-past-racism
Splash
i haven't seen the 2014 yearbook on the jw site yet.
i'm looking to see if the number of partakers has increased again (as it has for many years now).
anyone have a scan of it yet?.
You're correct Comatose.
Besides, if it was just replacements, one would drop off and another would replace them - the number would not increase.
Splash.
ok i know some of you are going to mock me but i don't give a shit and you'd better get dafaq outta this thread if you don't beleive in this stuff.. .
so,you ever seen somethin strange?shadow people?felt cold spots?touched by something you can't see?beaten by an unseen force?heard voices/whispers/growls/screams etc?are you sure about it or was it just your imagination?you ever been into the occult?c'mon share your experiences and stories!personally i've never had an encounter with the other side..
Thanks OTWO, I have to admit, my involuntary ducking has got out of control recently.
No substances involved, the context was relating a story I had heard while on holiday.
But with irrefutable and insightful explanations like 'ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAPPENED', I know where to come the next time something (doesn't) happen.
Splash
