Saename

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Posts by Saename

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  77

  Rumor: Discouraging news from GB at upcoming CA?

  by bohm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is on the reddit frontpage and sounds super weird.

  can it be confirmed in any way by anyone here?.

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/4u72dk/what_kind_of_announcement_could_cause_jws_to/.

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  Saename

  Shifty shiftings? You mean shitty shiftings?
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  12

  JWs do Volunteer To Help Worldly Organizations Distribute Food to the Needy

  by Athanasius in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  some months back i posted a topic asking if jws were now encouraged to volunteer their time for charitable organizations, as one of the volunteers who i work with was promoting jw.org to one of the spanish speaking workers.

  because of that, i guessed that he was a jw.. https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5708790489939968/jws-now-encouraged-volunteer.

  well the other day as he and i were folding and stacking tables after distributing food to the needy, i mentioned that after i retired i got bored and decided to do volunteer work.

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  Saename

  Darryl - I remember when their idea of helping those who were downtrodden went a little something like this. Are you hungry? You are? Starving actually? That's too bad. how would you like to live in a world where you will never be hungry or thirsty again? And you can pet lions and tigers. And instead of barbequeing a pig you will feast on nuts and berries and various other fruits. Here take this watchtower ummm we normally get a donation for thi...oh you don't have any money? Well how about we set up a bible study I guess you will be back here next week??

  I would argue that their idea of charity still resembles, to some degree, what you just said.
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  28

  Do JWs believe they will be the only people saved at the "end"?

  by LaurenM in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the answer posted on jw.org: "no.

  many millions who lived in centuries past and who weren’t jehovah’s witnesses will have an opportunity for salvation.

  additionally, many now living may yet begin to serve god, and they too will gain salvation.

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  Saename

  Pete Zahut, what they say is indeed terrifying to small children. It's funny how they hypocritically attract new-comers by teaching them the "good" stuff about their religion, but once they get baptised, only then will they mention the bad teachings.

  When I became an unbaptised publisher—and was on my way to get baptised—not even once has anybody mentioned to me that the two-witness rule applies to every sin—even if it is a crime first and foremost, not a sin, such as child sexual abuse. Not even once has anybody said that if you sue a brother or a sister in the congregation even for a valid reason, such as the aforementioned child sexual abuse, you will be disfellowshipped. Not even once have they told me about the overlapping generation teaching, which makes no sense whatsoever, and of which I was completely unaware until I joined this site when I learned of the child sexual abuse problem in the Jehovah's Witness organisation. Neither of those things have I learned from the Jehovah's Witnesses, yet they were so eager to encourage me to first become an unbapitsed publisher (which I have) and then quickly get baptised (which I thankfully have not.)

  And then they have the courage to tell everybody that they are not a cult because their teachings are not secret? You've gotta be kidding me! Those doctrines, even though officially accepted by the Governing Body and passed on to the congregations, were kept secret until I listened to what the ex-Jehovah's Witnesses had to say. This is a textbook method of cults to get new followers. First, mention the good teachings. When they get involved with your cult, then—and only then—mention the bad teachings.
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  39

  It's official - the G.B. has replaced the Holy Spirit!

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the watchtower november 2016, page 16, par.

  "some may feel that they can interpret the bible on their own.

  however, jesus has appointed the ‘faithful slave’ to be the only* channel for dispensing spiritual food.

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  Saename

  Village Idiot, when I think about it again, I guess it is possible that they used the word "sole." But then again, I was a Jehovah's Witness for a rather short period of time. All I remember personally is their implying that they are God's only channel.
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  39

  It's official - the G.B. has replaced the Holy Spirit!

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the watchtower november 2016, page 16, par.

  "some may feel that they can interpret the bible on their own.

  however, jesus has appointed the ‘faithful slave’ to be the only* channel for dispensing spiritual food.

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  Saename

  Haha! Beautiful! Before, the publications I have found would indicate that the Governing Body is God's channel of communication. However, none—to my memory at least—implied that the Governing Body is God's only channel of communication. This Watchtower changes things entirely. It clearly calls the Governing Body the only channel "for dispensing spiritual food," which, as I understand it, means the only channel "for communication with God."

  By the way, how can one contact the ARC to inform them of this matter?
• 
  77

  Rumor: Discouraging news from GB at upcoming CA?

  by bohm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is on the reddit frontpage and sounds super weird.

  can it be confirmed in any way by anyone here?.

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/4u72dk/what_kind_of_announcement_could_cause_jws_to/.

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  Saename

  Magnum - James Jack, sorry, I meant to hit the "Like" button, but accidentally hit "Dislike". You make an interesting point. I would love to know their real financial position.

  You can still hit the "Like" button, and your dislike will be terminated, and, instead, a like will be added to James Jack's post.

  StarTrekAngel - (please read this while you imagine Stephen Lett reading it)

  Dear brothers,

  What a wonderful job we have in spreading the good news of the Kingdom. It is certainly a privilege to participate in the many aspects of preaching the good news. One of the many privileges we have is contributing to the world wide work thru financial support. We have always cherished our ability to make voluntary donations. James 1:17 partly says that every good thing we have comes from above and don't we thank our father for providing us with everything we need. And since we know that everything good that we have comes from Jehovah, are we not more than ever confident that he will continue to provide?

  The Governing Body has been carefully considering the implication of such providence and has come to realize that we have not fully understood God's will in this aspect. If everything good that we have, including but not limited to our time and financial means, come from Jehovah, it means these things belong to him to begin with.

  In keeping with the prophecy of the Faithful and Discrete Slave, Jesus said that he would appoint us over all his belongings. Therefore, we feel it is reasonable he expects us to responsibly manage all his belongings, including the ones he has already given you.

  We are excited to announce a new arrangement that will not just help, but ensure your continued support of the world wide work. Along with this letter, a new form has been provided to the elders and will be distributed at the end of this meeting. It will allow us to withhold a percentage of your paycheck and be transfered as a donation to the world wide work fund.

  Off course, this will remain a matter of consciousness but in an effort to not stumble anyone who may think we are tithing, like the despicable practices of Christendom, we have set up the form with a checkbox for you to select the percentage. Therefore, you will not find a checkbox for 10%, only 20% and upwards.

  We rest assured you will prayerfully consider just how you can continue to contribute to the preaching work in this manner

  Your brothers... Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses

  PS

  This postscript should not be read to the congregation or posted on the information board.

  Arrange for this letter to be read to the congregation in the next midweek meeting.

  This form should be made available to all publishers, both baptized and non-baptized. Elders should account for the number of forms filled out. If anyone did not fill out the form or was not present during the announcement. Efforts should be made to make sure they are made aware of this new arrangement. If after such efforts are made, the publisher did not return a completed form, we should consider the instructions provided in the Shepherds of the Flock of God book, regarding our appreciation for the spiritual provisions. Such publishers should not qualify for privileges in the congregation. Namely working the microphones or serving as book study assistants.(please read this while you imagine Stephen Lett reading it)

  This literally felt like reading a letter from the actual Governing Body—with a small exception that the Watchtower letters and publications, to my knowledge, rarely contain grammar errors. Still, the language (the jargon, really) your letter uses imitates perfectly the Watchtower.

  On a further note, though, the Watchtower would likely end the letter accordingly: "We rest assured you will prayerfully consider just how you can continue to contribute to the preaching work in this time of the end."
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  9

  What the Org Teaches #7 Birthdays

  by The Searcher in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  #7 birthdays.

  what the org teaches: .

  "the bible never refers to a servant of god celebrating a birthday.

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  Saename

  Actually, the first Christians probably didn't celebrate birthdays. For instance, Origen and Tertullian clearly forbid them because (1) in the Bible only unrighteous people honoured their births, and because (2) it was associated with paganism.

  Origen wrote,

  A certain one of those before us has observed what is written in Genesis about the birthday of Pharaoh, and has told that the worthless man who loves things connected with birth keeps birthday festivals; and we, taking this suggestion from him, find in no Scripture that a birthday was kept by a righteous man (Second Tome of the Commentary on Matthew, bk. X, ch. 22.)
  

  Tertullian, on the other hand, saw that the pagans around him commemorated "birthdays" of their gods, which he likened to "every pomp of the Devil" (On Idolatry, ch. 10.) Additionally, canon 52 of the Council of Laodicea orders that birthdays and marriages be not celebrated during the Lenten fast.

  There were Christian writers, like Leo the Great, who seemed not to have such problems with birthdays, but, overall, they were not held in high regard.

  Keep in mind that I am an atheist, and as such, I don't believe that birthdays are wrong. I'm just reporting here, as a person who studies the history of Christianity, what the early Christians thought of this celebration. If you want to believe that the Bible doesn't condemn birthdays, then that's fine with me.
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  5

  World Youth Day in Poland

  by TheWonderofYou in

  1. social
  2. current

  in the video of the world youth day "spread message of divine mercy" the young people are called witnesses of christ's church.

  i am now watching the happy young people.. introduction words even in english at youtube 9:07. .

  anyone here understands polish too?.

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  Saename

  I understand Polish, but I am not interested in watching those videos. The Polish Catholic church is full of hypocrisy.
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  16

  Another brother steps back

  by konceptual99 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so at the meeting this week it was announced that a certain brother was no longer serving as a ministerial servant.. this is a guy who was brought up in a different country as his family went to serve where the need was greater.

  this is a guy who was home schooled and went straight into pioneering.

  he then went and worked on building projects in various places in europe and africa.

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  Saename

  Pete Zahut - When I returned from my year at Bethel, an Elder asked me in front of a bunch of people why I only stayed for one year. I said " You grew up in the truth....why didn't you go to Bethel at all?"

  Good revenge. You don't embarrass people in front of others, or you'll get embarrassed yourself. He'll remember that for the future.

  Pete Zahut - I remember a nice young pioneer sister in our congregation became engaged and decided to stop pioneering so she could work and save for a place of their own. At the end of the Thursday meeting, the P.O got up and said "I have a sad announcement to make...Mary Smith will no longer be among the ranks of our pioneers".

  But for the sound of Mary sobbing at her seat, you could have heard a pin drop. It was like they announced a death.

  This is something I don't understand. She resigned. Okay. So why not thank her for her service? Even in the modern Catholic church, which Jehovah's Witnesses despise so much, people are thanked for their service—though I suspect that also depends on the churches' localities.

  When it comes to Jehovah's Witnesses, everyone is happy and praises you so long as you do the service. Once you stop, people think you just... died. This is a real attempt at guilt-trapping others. Inexcusable.
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  19

  Jeehoober says we can clap for reinstated ones!!

  by DATA-DOG in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so, i guess an upcoming wt has some new light on clapping!

  evidently, jesus has misinformed the gb/wtbts since the late 90's.

  clapping was disrespectful, because jesus felt that those who were df'd should not be given a pat on the back.

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  Saename

  Is this a new instruction given by the Governing Body? I have not heard of it. Where was it given? (I do not attend meetings anymore, so that may be why I have not heard of this new instruction to clap for reinstated ones.)