Posts by zophar

59

Morning Woship: Kenneth Flodin targets "apostates"

by Sanchy in

jw
friends

video is entitled "beware of deceit" he uses the letter of jude to show that current day apostates are deceitful and that they use "trickery" to and "twist facts" to try to "grab our mind".

warning: your head might explode.

especially past the 5:30 mark.

zophar

I took a different view. I think they made a mistake arguing that the Scriptures would validate JW doctrine.

JWFACTS.com is full of Scriptural reasoning on a number of doctrinal issues that clearly disprove much of JW dogma.

Flodin asserts that opposers would be afraid to argue Scripture with a JW to prove a point. There are many examples such as 1 John 5:1 "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God, and everyone who loves the one who caused to be born loves him who has been born from that one." The marginal reference references John 3:3 In response Jesus said to him: “Most truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Show that Scripture and the marginal reference....then shut up and wait for the explanation as to why everyone only means 144,000.

Of course, reason and logic will not change the captive emotion of one who refuses to look objectively at the Bible. It does, however, show how much of a mistake WT is making with the statements from Flodin. True Bible students do not fear a Scriptural discussion with JW's.

20

Hello Everyone

by Mozzie in

jw
friends

hoping this is the right section..... my story so far,,,.

hello everyone, i have been reading a lot on what most jws would say apostate websites, but i have been asking myself, how much of this s true and considering a lot of these are run by ex jw elders, bethalites and one who was with the gb at one stage, overseers and the like.

i was an unbaptized publisher many years ago but never got to the point of baptism as i fell into sin, that pretty much ended my attending meetings again.

zophar

Mozzie,

Many people attend Catholic services every week. They practice birth control, think Priests should be able to marry, don't agree with the Church on divorce, don't believe the Pope is infallible.....but still they go to church. Why? Maybe they enjoy the service or maybe they just feel it is part of worshipping God. It really doesn't matter, if they feel better then good for them.

That is harder to do with Jehovah's Witnesses since they don't want you to "go to church" they want to control your life. BUT, I am convinced that MANY people go to the Kingdom Hall like they would go to church. They don't agree with shunning their children, believing every word of the Governing Body, the blood issue and so on. Now, if you feel better by "going to church" at the Kingdom Hall, that is up to you. However, do not join by getting baptized and quit studying with the pioneer. It will just lead to more pressure to conform and likely lead to him labeling you an apostate because of your independent thinking.

I have asked unbelieving mates who have attended meetings for years, why they come. Several have told me they like the meetings and the people. Hey, as long as it makes them feel better, so be it. Some go to the movies for that, but if the meetings work fine. And, they are free as long as you don't contribute. 🤑

As for Armageddon. If Jesus came and paid the price for you, who has the right to say you won't make it. Also, if there is no Armageddon it doesn't matter anyway does it?

You might do well to study the subject of Grace, called undeserved kindness by JW's. It's a way of continuing your belief but in a less judgmental way. It's more just appreciating life and living a life of gratitude rather than obligation. You just might find that indeed, Jesus yoke is light and refreshing.

Good luck Mozzie.

17

Today's WT. Jephthah's Daughter - Virgin Slave or Crispy Critter?

by Slidin Fast in

i whiled away the time today in the wt researching the above question on line.

it seems to me that there is more evidence to say that the account simply depicts the poor nameless child/woman as being toast.

the idea of her going into "tabernacle service" is completely fabricated and has no basis in scripture.

zophar

Slidin Fast

I agree. Matthew Henry in his commentary believes it was a literal sacrifice for example.

If it wasn't a literal burnt offering, then it made me think of Catholic Nuns. Virgins who are married to God.

17

Today's WT. Jephthah's Daughter - Virgin Slave or Crispy Critter?

by Slidin Fast in

i whiled away the time today in the wt researching the above question on line.

it seems to me that there is more evidence to say that the account simply depicts the poor nameless child/woman as being toast.

the idea of her going into "tabernacle service" is completely fabricated and has no basis in scripture.

zophar

Adam Clarke's Commentary makes this comment.

"From Judges 11:39; it appears evident that Jephthah's daughter was not Sacrificed to God, but consecrated to him in a state of perpetual virginity; for the text says, She knew no man, for this was a statute in Israel. בישראל חק ותהי vattehi chok beyishrael ; viz., that persons thus dedicated or consecrated to God, should live in a state of unchangeable celibacy. Thus this celebrated place is, without violence to any part of the text, or to any proper rule of construction, cleared of all difficulty, and caused to speak a language consistent with itself, and with the nature of God."

28

I'm getting disfellowshipped

by raven in

hi everyone, a bit of an update here on my continuing disaster of a situation.. (refer to my previous posts for the full story) my mom met with me yesterday for dinner, it was nice.. however, she brought up the fact that because i live with my boyfriend and how everything has gone down, i will be disfellowshipped.. i think the elders basically have enough proof of this.. due to the anonymous tipper (still have no clue who it was, i live in another town 100's of miles away from my old congregation territory), and my mom telling them.

i'm not sure when they will announce it, or if they will contact me prior.. at this point i feel so emotionally dead i don't care- on the other hand, i don't want to be disfellowshipped because i do not want to loose a relationship with my mom.

that is the whole reason i tried fading out.. .

zophar

The fact that your mother had lunch with you knowing your situation is proof that she WANTS to have a relationship with you isn't it? She WANTS to show love to you because that is the way we are made.

Just tell your mother that you love her unconditionally. And, just as she has the right to decide how she lives her life so do you but that does NOT affect your love for her. Let her know you will always love her regardless of her religion. Then, ask her if she REALLY thinks Jesus believes we should disown our family. His brothers were not believers and yet there is NO proof that Jesus ever shunned them. And, they had Jesus himself in their family!

I agree that in your situation I would not pursue legal recourse. The religion is going to do what they do and it only highlights your opposition. That is probably not the best thing for your mom to see. I think your mom is really hurting too. She probably only reported you because she thought she had to. Your continuing to tell her you love and need her will do the most to break down this unnatural barrier her religion is imposing on her.

I wish you the best. You never know what can happen.

19

disfellowshipped wife, husband still a jw

by thereishope in

i'm new here and haven't introduced myself yet, but have been lurking for the past couple of weeks and learned so much!

quick first question: if i get disfellowshipped for researching info on websites other than jw.org (the official website), how can i expect to be treated by my husband still in the truth?

ie what will he be told by the elders about how to treat me?

zophar

Have the elders made any shepherding calls on you or talked about your field service report?

33

I'm still on my JWN holidays but had to pop back to share this experience.

by nicolaou in

i'm a postman with the royal mail and was assigned to train a new starter yesterday.

my line manager introduces me to 'dave', within seconds my jw radar was on maximum!

in his mid to late 30's, politely spoken and with that haircut - i just knew it.. the post he'd applied for was saturdays only, he said he did a lot of volunteer work.

zophar

Really appreciate your ability to empathize. Good of you to recognize how naive a JW can be in a "worldly" setting.

It may be eye opening for him to find that you can find a real friend who is not a JW.

22

How Many Elders And Ministerial Servants Are There In Your Congregation?

by Village Idiot in

i'm curious to see how much manpower a little congregation - a hundred?

- requires to keep it running.

zophar

There are 3 elders and 6 MS in the local congregation.

20

28 years

by PLAYGROUND in

earlier i posted about my loveless marriage.

i was baptized at a very young age, and during that time period i was having sex.yes i made a dedication knowing i was still practicing fornication.

i had raging hormones since my youth.

zophar

It is NOT Jehovah's Witnesses who forgive sin, it is God.

Instead of talking to elders about this, talk to Jehovah about it. He is the only one who really has authority over you. If there is a God and he is really a God of Love then he understands your situation and the torture you are going through.

You sound like a person who still believes in God so why don't you entrust yourself to his mercy and leave the rest alone. Your religion only has authority over you if you let it.

14

The Kingdom Hall

by TheLiberator in

i know i have mentioned this on other posts.

as a born-in, i was obsessed with the watchtower.

it was god's organization.

zophar

Pete...

What a balanced reply. Well thought out and reasoned.

There are so many things we could get involved with that are far worse than a religious cult. What about the Manson Cult? What about the bloodguilt of the Nazi's etc. It doesn't mean that the religion didn't do us harm but we can stop that harm in time.

Our motives while we were JW's were pure for most of us and we had a real desire to help others and to worship God. There are probably about the same number of Christians among JW's as many other religions.

How right you are about the black and white thinking. We need to stop it!