Posts by ukpimo

16

I Visited Auschwitz Two Days Ago

by Sea Breeze in

jw
friends

auschwitz concentration camp in poland may not seem like a very happy vacation spot to visit.

but, if you have a home, a family and your freedom - you will be far less likely to take these things for granted after visiting.

we made the sobering decision to make the 2.5 hr.

ukpimo

Agreed Nikolaus,

I believe making a "parody" out of the most evil and brutal war crime in history and making a parallel with Watchtower shows lack of respect for the actual historical event as well as remembering those who died trying to end such an evil regime.

Watchtower is evil, but Nazism was a greater evil. Don't go there to compare the two. That is where I would firmly disagree with this post. The reason why jws suffered was because the organization at the time made them vulnerable to government, introducing the idea of religious neutrality and also the belief that government is essentially an agent of the Devil. Jws don't intentionally torture its members. However due to the elder and disfellowshipping arrangements, harassment easily runs rife in the organization, hidden away from Circuit Overseers and the branches around the world, so when they do receive letters of criticism they naturally believe that they come from "spiritually weak" men or apostates. Little does the Governing Body realise they have no control of its own machine which is run by elders and their wives essentially, and that is the major difference between jws and Nazism: JWs follow orders but always re-interpret them for their own localities, whereas the Nazis obeyed Hitler 100% and never dared deviate from their orders no matter where they were.

36

Big News: August English Watchtower released on servers

by ukpimo in

big news.

just in from a friend who is fading.. disfellowshipping will no longer be a term used by jws.

study article 35, paragraph 4 footnote says this:.

ukpimo

Big news. Just in from a friend who is fading.

Disfellowshipping will no longer be a term used by jws.

Study article 35, paragraph 4 footnote says this:

We will no longer refer to such ones as being dis-

fellowshipped. In harmony with Paul’s words recorded at

1 Corinthians 5:13, we will now refer to them as being re-

moved from the congregation.

Additionally, this section of paragraphs has clarified a subtlety that most reprovals will be private, in study 34

Paragraphs 16 to 18

“REPROVE BEFORE ALL ONLOOKERS”

16 Read 1 Timothy 5:20. Paul wrote

those words to his fellow elder Timothy in connection with how to handle “those

who practice sin.” What did he mean?

He did not necessarily mean that the

whole congregation were the “onlook-

ers.” Rather, he was referring to those

few who might already know of the

sins. They could be eyewitnesses, or

they could be those whom the wrong-

doer confided in. The elders would dis-

creetly make them aware that the matter

was handled and that the sinner was cor-

rected.

In some instances, the wrongdoing

may have become widely known in the

congregation or is likely to become

known. In such a case, the “onlookers”

17. If a serious sin is widely known in the con-

gregation or is likely to become known, what an-

nouncement would be made, and why?

would include the entire congregation.

So an elder would announce to the con-

gregation that the brother or the sister

has been reproved. Why? Paul answers:

“As a warning to the rest” not to fall into

sin.

<>

You can access the full and official English pdf here...

https://d34ji3l0qn3w2t.cloudfront.net/44f15f51-e466-459b-a00f-157dcdc2c095/1/w_E_202408.pdf

This religion has done a massive turnaround and this is a major reset, to remove an important part of their terminology to protect themselves legally. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

33

Watchtower August leak: details from reddit user

by ukpimo in

from reddit.. a summary of changes: .

we are all sinners, so we have to be reasonable how we punish sinners.

if elders and congregation do not quickly help someone come to be reinstated they would be imitating satan the devil, not jehovah (yes that actually is what is said in the tagalog version in translation!

ukpimo

Jeffro

Alright, I understand that clearly but I imagine certain elder bodies will interpret it as I do. More divisions to come.

Ukpimo

33

Watchtower August leak: details from reddit user

by ukpimo in

from reddit.. a summary of changes: .

we are all sinners, so we have to be reasonable how we punish sinners.

if elders and congregation do not quickly help someone come to be reinstated they would be imitating satan the devil, not jehovah (yes that actually is what is said in the tagalog version in translation!

ukpimo

I wonder if reappointment as an elder or ministerial servant will be sped up due to these changes if one is removed for sins other than watchtower's 3 sins of most serious concern? It is an interesting development that sexual immorality in general isn't at the top, nor murder!

33

Watchtower August leak: details from reddit user

by ukpimo in

from reddit.. a summary of changes: .

we are all sinners, so we have to be reasonable how we punish sinners.

if elders and congregation do not quickly help someone come to be reinstated they would be imitating satan the devil, not jehovah (yes that actually is what is said in the tagalog version in translation!

ukpimo

I wouldn't say that the 3 stated reasons for being more likely to get disfellowshipped is a deliberate distortion as I've heard many elders actually read into this direction from the update as just that, and under exceptional circumstances if someone has committed any other sin and after repeated loving attempts to change his mind he does not show repentance then yes he will be disfellowshipped for other sins.

This is how I'm reading into the new direction:

1. Slow down disfellowshipping by trying to make more reprovals for other sins. If this isn't possible after repeated attempts then disfellowship.

2. Quickly act to disfellowship if the publisher has turned to apostasy, is exposed for csa or is scheming to end a marriage.

51

2024-08-August-Edition-of-Watchtower!

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

it was translated so make sure everything looks ok.. 2024-08-august-edition of watchtower magazine.. .

https://smallpdf.com/result#r=c90d948913ed99d72872c0a1c609f388&t=share-document .

leopold.

ukpimo

Ron W

Wow we must share similar experiences.

33

Watchtower August leak: details from reddit user

by ukpimo in

from reddit.. a summary of changes: .

we are all sinners, so we have to be reasonable how we punish sinners.

if elders and congregation do not quickly help someone come to be reinstated they would be imitating satan the devil, not jehovah (yes that actually is what is said in the tagalog version in translation!

ukpimo

From Reddit.

A summary of changes:

We are all sinners, so we have to be reasonable how we punish sinners. If elders and congregation do not quickly help someone come to be reinstated they would be imitating Satan the Devil, not Jehovah (yes that actually is what is said in the Tagalog version in translation!) and it practically blames all uber jws for manifesting this satanic attitude, it's a very strong point.

In the box, it is explained marking talks will no longer be done, and marking is something each congregation person will personally choose to do IF eg. the individual is dating an unbeliever or other "minor sins" in WT eyes, marking simply involves not inviting someone to your house or a party for ASSOCIATION, it doesn't mean not talking with them. Box explains the man in Corinth changed within a few months, this is the basis for the change towards disfellowshipping.

Judicial committees are no longer called judicial committees now because judging is only an aspect of their goal, the elders main goal is of mercy, to help gently change the thinking of the wrongdoer, with NO judgement.

Announcements to congregation of a reproval will no longer happen.( Study 34 (paragraphs 16, 17, 18)

Announcement of disfellowshipping an unrepentant wrongdoer, either an apostate, child abuser or someone scheming to end their marriage will take place. There is NO mention of any need to announce disfellowshipping for other offences, unless I need to clarify this when we receive the English edition.

Apostates must be avoided, especially on social media and their websites. To send them messages is like sharing in their wicked works. This is a massive game changer, this really is BIG!

---------

It's all coming out now. Watchtower responding to legal problems.

13

There is no 1900 year old faithful and discreet slave

by Longlivetherenegades in

now that the long-expected kingdom had become an established reality in heaven, surely its growing interests in the earth after 1919 would not be left in the hands of a novice organization of spiritual babes.

and that proved to be true.

it was the 1900-year-old “faithful and discreet slave,” the old christian congregation, that was entrusted with this precious kingdom service.

ukpimo

The problem with the FDS doctrine is that directly after the Faithful and Discreet Slave is mentioned, other parables, such as the 10 virgins and the illustration about the workers and their Talents are viewed as lessons by Watchtower, when the Faithful Slave should really be viewed not as a prophecy but simply as an illustration. The stupidity of this proves true when we read that half hearted explanation on how the part mentioning "if ever that evil slave" now means a warning to the Faithful Slave which should not be taken as a prediction the FDS will turn evil. Utter rubbish.

Watchtower tends to cherrypick Bible verses, and the FDS probably is only to be used in reference to family heads in the largely patriarchal approach Christianity takes.

The Governing Body don't need a Scripture to validate their position. History proves that prophets, although supposedly Divinley appointed, were clearly democratically chosen as such.

25

What is that?

by Achille in

.

ukpimo

Horrible.

11

The Watchtower—Study Edition | September 2024

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

the watchtower—study edition | september 2024. enjoy the greater happiness that comes from giving.

9 though we are imperfect humans, we can imitate jehovah’s generous use of power.

we cannot literally impart strength, or energy, to others.

ukpimo

Page 15, paragraph 19 of the School for Congregation Elders manual

Hospitality (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8) An elder 'follows the course of hospitality.’ (Romans 12:13; Hebrews

13:2) The Greek word for “hospitable” literally means “fond of strangers.” Thus, the hospitable elder welcomes new ones to Christian meetings, showing the same interest in the poor as he does in the materially prosperous. He is hospitable to those traveling in the interests of Christianity and sends them on their way “in a manner worthy of God.” (3 John 5-8)

Indeed, an elder shows hospitality especially to fellow believers according to their needs and as his circumstances permit.—James 2:14-17

https://files.accessjw.org/s/eG8G9iXEJYJMM3r

This is the official teaching. The term for hospitality is used for internal relationships rather than external.