spectromize

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Posts by spectromize

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  24

  Question for this forum???

  by spectromize in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  how many here still believe the organization is ahead of any other religion as far as teaching truth from the bible despite some of the wrong teachings that we perhaps have???.

  i will be the first to answer in saying, i still believe we are ahead of any other religion for the present but it can change.

  only time will tell wether the organization wants to adjust to some of their mistaken chronology and teachings.

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  spectromize

  testing testing

  Edited by - spectromize on 14 May 2000 17:20:29
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  24

  Question for this forum???

  by spectromize in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  how many here still believe the organization is ahead of any other religion as far as teaching truth from the bible despite some of the wrong teachings that we perhaps have???.

  i will be the first to answer in saying, i still believe we are ahead of any other religion for the present but it can change.

  only time will tell wether the organization wants to adjust to some of their mistaken chronology and teachings.

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  spectromize

  testing testing

  Edited by - spectromize on 14 May 2000 17:23:58
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  24

  Question for this forum???

  by spectromize in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  how many here still believe the organization is ahead of any other religion as far as teaching truth from the bible despite some of the wrong teachings that we perhaps have???.

  i will be the first to answer in saying, i still believe we are ahead of any other religion for the present but it can change.

  only time will tell wether the organization wants to adjust to some of their mistaken chronology and teachings.

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  spectromize

  Dear Frenchy,

  In reply to:

  Is He helping them?

  " I do believe Jehovah God answers prayers for diffrent ones of mankind that don't know Him as well as they should. The scriptures speak of Jehovah's eyes roving the earth in search of ones who will worship Him with spirit and truth. If it's in harmony with His will, He will answer. For who has come to know the mind of Jehovah. He sees the heart as compared to us who often misread people. One example I could give you as far Jehovah helping non worshippers of Him is Naaman the chief of the army of the king of Syria (2 Kings chapter 5) If you read the account in it's opening verses, this chapter will tell you that it was by him that Jehovah had given salvation to Syria. The interesting thing about this account is that the Syrians had gone out as maurauder bands and they got to taken captive from the land of Israel that little girl that would eventually turn out to be a blessing for Naaman and turn Naaman into a worshipper of Jehovah. So you see in this case, unknown to Naaman, Jehovah was watching and showed love for this man."

  How do you know God is helping you?

  "From my own experience I can tell you that I had had my prayers answered in the way of knowledge. I have personally prayed for more truth in the way of knowing Jehovah and was devasted when my prayer was answered for it rocked my world so to speak. I mean this in a good way, although very painful. Jehovah will not answer prayers that know will crush you, but in due time, when you are strong enough to handle such specific prayer request without going over the edge, He will answer. Sometimes because of what we perceive as our concept of how our prayer will be answered we miss it completely, for not how man thinks, but Jehovah thinks on the matter."

  Both 'good' and 'bad' are praying and are convinced that their prayers are being answered, so what is the diffrence ?

  " This brings an experience to mind that I recall while watching the evening news. The anchor man was reporting on a central U.S.A town and it's baptist church and how the pastor of the church prayed for a bus to take the elderly and others so that they could make it for the services. Becaused they lacked the funds he saw fit to make it a subject of his prayers. Well wouldn't you know it a short time later, someone out of the blue donated a bus to the church.

  We must remember that the ruler of this world will keep his empire going right to the end and he also observes every part of his domain and fills the need to make sure people are kepted in darkness. The scribes and pharisees in Jesus day probably thought they were being blessed by God and their prayers answered because of their prosperity. But they had warped reasoning, they became rich by ripping people off at the temple and some of their warped teachings , that's why Jesus overturned the tables at the temple and told them to stop making the house of his Father a cave of robbers.

  If you review some of the society's publication on the kind of prayers God answers you will find that it's fairly accurate. There is some good info.
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  7

  What about new light?

  by spectromize in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i just wanted to ask a question concerning the expression," new light," whenever the brothers and sisters are talking and when we suddenly see a new point in the watchtower or a new teaching from the society as far as our beliefs such as the change in doctrine like the generation teaching.

  is it really accurate to say new light or just plain and simple error ?.

  you see i grew up as a catholic and before i became a witness we considered our church and the pope as god's representative.

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  spectromize

  I just wanted to ask a question concerning the expression," new light," whenever the brothers and sisters are talking and when we suddenly see a new point in the watchtower or a new teaching from the society as far as our beliefs such as the change in doctrine like the GENERATION teaching.

  Is it really accurate to say new light or just plain and simple error ?

  You see I grew up as a catholic and before I became a witness we considered our church and the pope as God's representative. You couldn't get closer to God if someone in your family decided to become a priest and a priest was considered sacred. It was the same while my mom was growing up, she use to tell me how she use to go to confession and while in the private booth with the priest, had sexual advances made towards her and when she tried telling her parents they were furious at her for even saying such a thing about the local priest. You just didn't say things like that, as it seemed in those days that it was impossible for priests to be wrong. But of course we know better today.

  Also as you have noticed in recent months in the news, the catholic church has apoligized for their past sins. For anybody who has looked in its past history, we know how tainted it is.

  We also know that the catholic church has abandoned and does not practice such things anymore such as the inquisitions to hunt down heretics and anybody who even had a slight inclination to critize the church , selling indulgences, very seldom excommunicate people...

  Even to this day the catholic church claims to be used by God. What if they took the position, we have received "NEW LIGHT" concerning the former practices that's why we have progressed in God's
  truth. Would you believe them?

  Again I'm not trying to cast doubt on the organization but simply tryin to correct a wrong reasoning when it comes to new light, if a doctrine is wrong and erroneous then that's what it should be called nothing else!

  Also please don't take my post to mean that I simpathize for the catholic church because I don't. It is bloodguilty. I was merely trying to use this example to show that our reasoning could be way off at times without us ever realizing it.
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  45

  My Journey

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i suppose we all think of ourselves as unique and we are in so many ways.

  what i fail to realize, i guess, is that we are far more alike than unique.

  every now and then i will reveal some little fear or quirk or dream that i have only to find out that someone else has experienced the same thing!

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  spectromize

  Well Frenchy,

  For some of us the journey started with the internet as I find myself pondering on some of the points you have made. Welcome to Gutenberg press number 2 in this new age, where scholarly works and information is accelarating the search for a more complete and accurate picture of truth provided a person can sift thru rubble at times.
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  77

  Writing private letters to the Society.

  by spectromize in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  for anyone who's ever written something of a private nature or asked clarification on certain beliefs have you ever had the unfortunate experience of the elders calling you in the back room or a sheperding call ?.

  the reason i bring this out is that newer brothers or sisters don't know that everytime you write the society the society sends a copy of your letter to your local cong.

  elders.

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  spectromize

  Dear Frenchy,

  I respectfully beg to disagree on some points in your last reply.

  Do you know how fast a body of wayward elders can fabricate and cover up when they are provided with the opportunity to do so such as having a letter sent to them ? Why not wait till the c.o gets there so that they can all discuss it together?
  Because of the c.o."s scarce visits the person can be ostracized in the mean time by the wayward elders and possibly finding themselves df.

  I do agree that a person should know what he is being accused of and in this specific instance that I'm mentioning because of the very fact that elders have enormous powers within a cong. wouldn't you think it would be wise for the matter to be resolved when the c.o would get there?

  Another point I would like to make is this,

  How many brothers and sisters know what happens to their letters when they write the society?

  Fact of the matter is the majority don't have a clue that a letter will be sent back to the local elders. And if they did, a lot more would be discreet and not write for the simple fact that the individual wanted to correspond with the society privately not with the local body of elders or they would of have done so.

  Also do you know how many have been marked possible apostate and kepted on file for asking clarification on some doctrines ?

  It should be a sobering thought, all you have to look back on is the GENERATION doctrine back in 1995 and it's change and anybody who didn't agree with it would be marked.

  Another point I would like to mention is about knowing what you are being accused of. I have been brought in the back room on a couple of occasions at the hall on a fishing expedition by elders because of some individuals gossiping in the cong. I have to tell you the elders never divulge the names of my accusers which I wanted to know and I never was told of what the meeting was about. In some congs. justice by elders leaves much to be desired. So you see why I write the way I do is because you shouldn't use two sets of standards when dealing with individuals. It is more common in the congs. then you think especially when it comes with the very procedures of a jd meeting.

  Again I do have to say that the example that I mentioned here was a specific one and that I'm also aware that there are some fine elders as well as individuals who do try to make trouble by writing to the society but I have tried to illustrate why I believe the the society uses a high control tactic.
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  77

  Writing private letters to the Society.

  by spectromize in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  for anyone who's ever written something of a private nature or asked clarification on certain beliefs have you ever had the unfortunate experience of the elders calling you in the back room or a sheperding call ?.

  the reason i bring this out is that newer brothers or sisters don't know that everytime you write the society the society sends a copy of your letter to your local cong.

  elders.

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  spectromize

  Frenchy,

  Yes it is true, sometimes elders will cover up for one and other which is exactly why I think the society is doing a terrible injustice by sending a copy of the letter that someone writes, to the problem elders. I personally believe the society should contact the person sending the letter and advising them that the c.o has a copy and the matter will be looked into.

  Many write the society to out of concern for the cong. and because of the very fear of repercussion from the body of elders, that's why they want to keep their letter private asking for help and advise, supposing you did have a few problem elders. By the society sending off that letter to the problem elders without even letting the brother or sister know is hurtful and can bring lots of trouble upon the person. I can't see the justice in that. I think personally it is a high control tactic.
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  77

  Writing private letters to the Society.

  by spectromize in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  for anyone who's ever written something of a private nature or asked clarification on certain beliefs have you ever had the unfortunate experience of the elders calling you in the back room or a sheperding call ?.

  the reason i bring this out is that newer brothers or sisters don't know that everytime you write the society the society sends a copy of your letter to your local cong.

  elders.

  1. 
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  spectromize

  For anyone who's ever written something of a private nature or asked clarification on certain beliefs have you ever had the unfortunate experience of the elders calling you in the back room or a sheperding call ?

  The reason I bring this out is that newer brothers or sisters don't know that everytime you write the society the society sends a copy of your letter to your local cong. elders. So if you thought that you were discussing private confidential things, forget about it, you could be in very serious trouble.

  I recall an experience in one of the cong. that I had attended one sister being in real hot water because she was trying to warn the society about some certain elders wayward ways. Next thing you know, the society sends a copy of her letter to the very same elders she's trying to warn about and next thing you know a judicial meeting was called in order. She never got disfellowship but it came close, she was told to mind her own business in no uncertain terms and to write the society again explaining her foolishness and apology in writing that letter.

  To me it is quite a disturbing thing to know that the society would practice such a thing as to reveal your confidential matters. Could any of you please give a reason why they do this?
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  22

  To wait or not to wait?

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  okay, this need not necessarily be controversial but i would like some honest opinions on the matter.

  from time to time (in last sundays wt lesson for example) i read in the magazines or hear brothers say this in their talks.

  (with some variation) arent we grateful that jehovah has waited this long before loosing armageddon on mankind?

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  spectromize

  All very good replies,

  I would just like to say that in some parts of the earth where the muslin religion has a strong hold, very few of the witnesses are there preaching and there are millions of people on the earth who don't have a clue as to who jehovah's witnesses are and the promised kingdom. Only Jehovah knows the day or the hour and what ever time he sees fit to bring the end will be at His own doing, not at our own wishing.
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  8

  Why are people 'Bad' ?

  by Caliban in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as far as i see it, people are bad / evil (call it what you will) because of two possible things:.

  1. they are genetically that way.

  they are born like that.. 2. the way they have been brought up has made them that way.. either way, the influences are out of their control.

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  spectromize

  Caliban,

  Add another one to your list, which would be #3

  "People have the power of decision."

  Even so called good people have ruined their entire reputation on one bad choice!