Posts by EasyPrompt

14

Why didn't God create us to be obviously different?

by SydBarrett in

jw
friends

a silly question since i'm an atheist but one i thought of as a kid jw.

why weren't human's created to be obviously different from animals?

among believers there is some sort of universal hierarchy.

EasyPrompt

"And Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground"

"dust you are and to dust you will return"

"the sons of men that the true God will test them and show them that they are like animals, for there is an outcome for humans and an outcome for animals; they all have the same outcome. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit. So man has no superiority over animals, for everything is futile. All are going to the same place. They all come from the dust, and they all are returning to the dust"

We're made out of the same material as the animals. There is no need for us to be haughty. Jehovah made us in His image, but just like a computer programmer may make many programs using the same language, so Jehovah can make many creatures out of the same type of code, with similar systems.

Jehovah is the One who invented the dust. How many different elements of the periodic table can be found in the dust? Look how something so basic can be formed into so many amazing things, things that sing or fly or swim or dig! Eating and pooping keep us humble, and teach us that we need to rely on Jehovah for life, we are not capable of surviving independently, we are not God the Source of Life, and we are foolish if we overly exalt ourselves. Poop reminds us what we are made of, that we are lowly. It's not bad to be lowly. Does it mean we are unloved because Jehovah designed us to eat and poop? Ask anyone who has ever fed and cleaned up after a beloved baby.

Jehovah could have made us so we didn't poop. But He, in His great wisdom, was not designing us to be some kind of strange prim and proper Pharisees, because Pharisees are not made in God's image. (Who wants to hang out with Pharisees?) Little kids who laugh when somebody passes gas are more on the level of what Jehovah is looking for in a friend.

"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a young child will by no means enter into it.”"

Jehovah is fun. Sometimes He is silly. (Why is it always Dads who say "pull my finger"?)

Jesus hung out with fishermen. Have you ever hung out with fishermen? They're not exactly the "scribe" type.

Scribes can't understand what it's like to be a kid because they are too busy being fancy and trying to look really smart with overcomplicated theories and big vocabulary words. Jehovah is a Fun Father. We don't have to be fancy in order for Him to love us. He knows what we are made of, and He's not ashamed to be Our Father.

Jehovah is the One who invented the dust.

"After that God saw everything he had made, and look! it was very good."

113

Luke 23:43 the NWT

by Ade in

luke 23:43 - and jesus said to him, "positively i say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

nwt places comma here , giving a totally different meaning to the verse.

now the average jw uses this to back their doctrine and it seems in itself virtually impossible to reason with them on it.

EasyPrompt

The grave and hells prison do not equate with paradise.
Certainly the thief recognized his sin, repented and believed in Jesus recognizing him as Lord.

True, true!

That day was definitely not Paradise for Jesus, or the man next to him.

"He died for us, so that whether we stay awake or are asleep, we should live together with him."

No Paradise yet for any of us - not for Jesus either. And heaven isn't Paradise, that's for sure (how could it be - no parent or friend could have true complete happiness as long as their friends and family on earth are in pain.)

113

Luke 23:43 the NWT

by Ade in

luke 23:43 - and jesus said to him, "positively i say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

nwt places comma here , giving a totally different meaning to the verse.

now the average jw uses this to back their doctrine and it seems in itself virtually impossible to reason with them on it.

EasyPrompt

@Rattigan350...The context of John chapter one shows what John was talking about. When John said "no man has seen God" he was talking about "seeing God in His Heavenly Glory." The context is talking about Jesus having been in heaven, and how Jesus saw Jehovah's Heavenly Glory and explained it. At Exodus 33:20, Jehovah is talking about seeing His Heavenly Glory, but in context a few verses earlier at Exodus 33:11 it says clearly: "Jehovah spoke to Moses face-to-face, just as one man would speak to another man." It's not an idiom.

113

Luke 23:43 the NWT

by Ade in

luke 23:43 - and jesus said to him, "positively i say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

nwt places comma here , giving a totally different meaning to the verse.

now the average jw uses this to back their doctrine and it seems in itself virtually impossible to reason with them on it.

EasyPrompt

Were you there, @Rattigan350? How do you know if you weren't there? Are you just making stuff up?

"Then Jehovah answered Job out of the windstorm:

“Who is this who is obscuring my counsel

And speaking without knowledge?

Brace yourself, please, like a man;

I will question you, and you inform me.

Where were you when I founded the earth?

Tell me, if you think you understand.

Who set its measurements, in case you know,

Or who stretched a measuring line across it?

Into what were its pedestals sunk,

Or who laid its cornerstone,

When the morning stars joyfully cried out together,

And all the sons of God began shouting in applause?"

"Jehovah then said to Moses: “Is the hand of Jehovah too short? Now you will see whether what I say will happen to you or not.”"

"Jesus said to him: “That expression, ‘If you can’! Why, all things are possible for the one who has faith.”"

If you don't want to have faith in Jehovah, @Rattigan350, that's between you and Jehovah. But you don't have to try and hinder others who have faith.

"At seeing this, Jesus was indignant and said to them: “Let the young children come to me; do not try to stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such ones. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a young child will by no means enter into it.”"

A grandma can Zoom with her grandkids in two different states at once. Both see her face on the screen and can talk to her at the same time. How much more powerful is Jehovah than an ol' grandma!

Jehovah can interact face-to-face with his kids on earth. And He will, because God is Love and Nothing is impossible for He Who Causes To Become.

"And the name of the city from that day on will be Jehovah Is There." (Ezekiel 48:35)

It wouldn't be Paradise if Jehovah wasn't walking in it. He didn't become a "Father" just so He could make kids and then walk away. He's the Best Father. That means He is going to interact with His Kids Forever. And Not from a distance, but up close.

Why is it so hard for you to believe? The Watchtower teaches that Jehovah makes class distinctions. Are you still believing what the Watchtower teaches?

113

Luke 23:43 the NWT

by Ade in

luke 23:43 - and jesus said to him, "positively i say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.

nwt places comma here , giving a totally different meaning to the verse.

now the average jw uses this to back their doctrine and it seems in itself virtually impossible to reason with them on it.

EasyPrompt

Jehovah materialized a body to walk around in the Garden of Eden. He walked with Adam and Eve every day in the breezy part of the afternoon.

After they sinned, Adam and Eve "hid from the face of Jehovah."

Moses talked to Jehovah face-to-face, because Jehovah materialized a body to talk to him. Moses asked Jehovah to see "His glory" and God said "no man can see my face and live" regarding His Heavenly Glory. But obviously Moses could live when seeing Jehovah in a materialized body.

Abraham talked to Jehovah in a materialized body and ate with Jehovah. (Genesis 18)

Jesus materialized a body after he was resurrected as a spirit creature and before he went to heaven. He ate with the disciples while in that materialized body. They touched him so they could tell he materialized a body. They all hung out.

Jehovah and Jesus will materialize bodies to hang out with people on the Paradise earth. Jehovah is not partial. He loves all his kids, whether they are human or spirit creature.

"Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise."

"With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes..."

16

Is Disfellowshipping properly legislated?

by Rattigan350 in

in the insight book under expelling, it refers to 1 cor 5 and titus 3 and 2 thess 3 as the basis for disfellowshipping.they've often said that the governing body was stated in acts 15 of the apostles and older men.

however, why was there no decree or letter issued by the governing body or apostles and older men and sent out to the congregations, detailing the principles of disfellowshipping?

it is all paul.

EasyPrompt

@Vanderhoven7 - Thank you for welcoming me!🙂

"To Get A Bead On (Someone or Something) - To aim at someone or something with the sights on..."

Imagine how much more so Jesus "has a bead on" those GB guys! His fiery eyes are focused on all those who misrepresent God, and at the appointed time he will remove those GB fakers from their earthly thrones.

"I turned to see who was speaking with me, and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands someone like a son of man, clothed in a garment that reached down to the feet and wearing a golden sash around his chest. Moreover, his head and his hair were white as white wool, as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame, and his feet were like fine copper when glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth a sharp, long, two-edged sword was protruding, and his countenance was like the sun when it shines at its brightest." (Revelation 1:12-16)

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder: “Come!” And I saw, and look! a white horse, and the one seated on it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went out conquering and to complete his conquest." (Revelation 6:1,2)

Yikes, I wouldn't want to be in the GB's shoes! Jesus is coming, and he will legislate how his body the Christian congregation should be functioning instead of these naughty GB guys. That bogus disfellowshipping doctrine business will be removed. Just like Jannes and Jambres were eventually shown up to be frauds, so these GB guys will be completely exposed.

"Now in the way that Janʹnes and Jamʹbres opposed Moses, so these also go on opposing the truth. Such men are completely corrupted in mind, disapproved as regards the faith. Nevertheless, they will make no further progress, for their folly will be very plain to all, as it was with those two men." (2 Timothy 3:8,9)

16

Is Disfellowshipping properly legislated?

by Rattigan350 in

in the insight book under expelling, it refers to 1 cor 5 and titus 3 and 2 thess 3 as the basis for disfellowshipping.they've often said that the governing body was stated in acts 15 of the apostles and older men.

however, why was there no decree or letter issued by the governing body or apostles and older men and sent out to the congregations, detailing the principles of disfellowshipping?

it is all paul.

EasyPrompt

"Why is the Faithful Slave deleting shunning videos? Could Russia and Norway be influencing?"

A. The "Faithful Slave" (aka GB) isn't faithful to Jesus.

B. The "Faithful Slave" (aka GB) isn't a slave to Jesus.

C. The "Faithful Slave" (aka GB) is faithful to someone/something other than Jesus.

D. The "Faithful Slave" (aka GB) is a slave to someone/something other than Jesus.

E. Jesus' words "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave" is actually just an illustration for all Christians about keeping on the watch.

F. All of the above.

If the GB/FDS were faithfully slaving for Jesus, then they would be shepherding the little sheep instead of driving them away.

"Is it, in fact, men I am now trying to persuade or God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I would not be Christ’s slave." (Galatians 1:10)

The GB causes divisions by means of their disfellowshipping doctrine.

"Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them. For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering speech they seduce the hearts of unsuspecting ones." (Romans 16:17,18)

The GB wants to be called "Faithful Slave" but Jesus said not to have such titles.

"But he said to them: “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. You, though, are not to be that way." (Luke 22:25,26)

"“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good except one, God." (Mark 10:17,18)

"They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men. But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. But the greatest one among you must be your minister. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:6-12)

The GB fits the description of the disobedient Pharisees, about whom Jesus said "Woe!" because they are hypocrites, they prevent others from learning about God by means of their disregarding the more important things, they are full of disgusting things.

The GB/FDS are part of the apostate lawless ones spoken of at 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4...

"Let no one lead you astray in any way, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. He stands in opposition and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits down in the temple of God, publicly showing himself to be a god."

Here's a question: "When will the GB/FDS be deleted?"

"Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

12

Watchtower And Taxes

by Bangalore in

*** w94 11/15 pp.

"in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

" so said 18th-century american statesman and inventor benjamin franklin.

EasyPrompt

I worked my ass off in the printery, worked double shifts during summer convention releases, did endless days as the night guard, got up at 3 am in the mornings for kitchen duty, and traveled to and fro 7 miles to my assigned congregation meetings. When you say housing, I shared a small room with 2 other boys, with no privacy, and ate out of a pre-decided menu. The allowance that I received barely covered my travel expenses and my mother had to send money to me every now and then."

@Drearyweather...

I did not mean to offend you. It's not your fault that those "taking the lead" at Bethel disobeyed Jehovah's Word. They used you as a slave - by your own words, you describe slavery. Unpaid, slaving away, small living quarters...etc.

God says "whatever you are doing, do it whole-souled as to Jehovah" and surely your efforts were appreciated by Jehovah because He knew what your motives were. He also knew which of those guys "taking the lead" were purposely twisting the scriptures in order to take advantage of your freely provided labor. Jesus is a fair judge, and he will make a fair accounting.

16

Is Disfellowshipping properly legislated?

by Rattigan350 in

in the insight book under expelling, it refers to 1 cor 5 and titus 3 and 2 thess 3 as the basis for disfellowshipping.they've often said that the governing body was stated in acts 15 of the apostles and older men.

however, why was there no decree or letter issued by the governing body or apostles and older men and sent out to the congregations, detailing the principles of disfellowshipping?

it is all paul.

EasyPrompt

When speaking to the Corinthians, Paul was appealing to their common sense and thinking ability, principles all Christians are expected to live by.

Paul did not tell the Corinthians to set up a "judicial committee" with three men in a "back room". He told the entire congregation to "think".

Jesus did something similar in the account at Matthew 12:11,12...

"He said to them: “If you have one sheep and that sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath, is there a man among you who will not grab hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do a fine thing on the Sabbath.”"

Can you imagine Jesus at a KH, a person walks in and Jesus greets the person, but then an elder runs over and says "No, Jesus, don't greet that person, they're disfellowshipped and it hasn't been a year yet so we can't talk to them."

Jesus died for "that person" in the KH who everybody avoids like the plague because some committee of imperfect men unscripturally labeled "that person" as "disfellowshipped". Jesus would not shun "that person". It's the Pharisees who shunned people.

Jesus greeted people. He ate with people. Jesus died for "that person" who is labeled "disfellowshipped" in the KH that everybody ignores because the three-person-committee decided not to "reinstate" yet. Jesus' blood is enough for us to talk to the person.

Jesus does not approve of the disfellowshipping doctrine as it is currently practiced. The disfellowshipping doctrine is antichrist. Jesus hates it and he is going to tear it down when he gets here soon. All those Pharisee GB and any Pharisee elders will be completely exposed too. (2 Peter 3:10; Isaiah 28:17; Revelation 8:7)

16

Is Disfellowshipping properly legislated?

by Rattigan350 in

in the insight book under expelling, it refers to 1 cor 5 and titus 3 and 2 thess 3 as the basis for disfellowshipping.they've often said that the governing body was stated in acts 15 of the apostles and older men.

however, why was there no decree or letter issued by the governing body or apostles and older men and sent out to the congregations, detailing the principles of disfellowshipping?

it is all paul.

EasyPrompt

"...a question of whether the JW shunning practice is defensible from a Biblical standpoint."

What Does the Bible Really Teach?

"But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside..." (1 Corinthians 5:11,12)

In context, Paul was talking about a situation that everybody in the congregation knew about. "Actually sexual immorality is reported among you, and such immorality as is not even found among the nations—of a man living with his father’s wife." Paul was not judging the man as if Paul was on some judicial hearing. Paul said that it was as if he was there in spirit, in other words, if Paul was there, he'd not associate with that guy for worship activities, because it was obvious the guy was a faker, pretending to be all "holy" meanwhile sleeping around with his dad's wife! Paul wasn't setting up some kind of "judicial process" with "elders". He told the entire congregation, "The Corinthians", to wake up and realize you can't pretend to be pleasing God if you're doing something that even the rest of the world finds to be shockingly disgusting. No "judicial committee" was necessary.

When it said "do you not judge those inside" Paul wasn't talking to a committee of three elders or some kind of clergy class. He was talking to the whole congregation, telling them to use common sense. First Corinthians 5 in context is also talking about not "eating" with the man at the Lord's Evening Meal. It was talking about not worshipping with him until he stopped sleeping around with his dad's wife. Everybody knew when the guy stopped living with her, and they welcomed the guy back for worship at that time. It wasn't some kind of "three elders in the back room" judgment. (Just a side note, but even in ancient Israel the judgments took place in the city gate for everyone to look on - it wasn't in a secret back room.)

Here's another verse the JW shunners try to misapply to support their disfellowshipping doctrine...

"Look out for yourselves, so that you do not lose the things we have worked to produce, but that you may obtain a full reward. Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works." (2 John 8-11)

Other translations sometimes say "do not wish godspeed" to such a person, in other words, don't be telling someone "good job" when they are being naughty. What kind of "naughty" was John talking about? He wasn't talking about the same topic as Paul was. He wasn't talking about some kind of judicial punishment for adulterers and fornicators. In context, John had just been talking about those who were teaching false doctrines and were deceiving others in the congregation as false teachers.

Today the governing body teaches the 1914 doctrine and they also say that the heavenly resurrection has already taken place. Both of those doctrines are false teachings. According to John's words here, when "brothers" give a talk about "the kingdom came in 1914" or "the heavenly resurrection started after 1914" then people shouldn't say "good job!" and commend them in their bad deceptive teachings.

As regards false teachers like the governing body, here are some more words Paul said:

"But reject empty speeches that violate what is holy, for they will lead to more and more ungodliness, and their word will spread like gangrene. Hy·me·naeʹus and Phi·leʹtus are among them. These men have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are subverting the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:16-18)

When the governing body teaches that the kingdom already started and that some of the anointed are already ruling as kings, the governing body is attempting to gain clout and power so they can also rule as kings on earth right now. Jesus is not pleased with them. But that is for another topic...

What kind of example did Jesus set as regards his interactions with people? Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. He talked with prostitutes and demon possessed individuals. He even talked to the Devil. Jesus didn't shun people. He said if someone repented up to 77 times a day to forgive them that day, not to wait for some year long repentance to be measured by a committee of three imperfect men in a back room somewhere.

It was the Pharisees who adopted the Greek philosophy of ostracism and meshed it with their way of twisting scripture. In the first century, apostasy infiltrated the congregation and the Didache advised a similar process to the modern Pharisaical disfellowshipping doctrine. Jesus said to beware such leaven of the scribes and Pharisees, and told us that it would ferment the whole lump, or congregation, as we see today.

God is Love, and anyone who does not love his brother cannot love God. Shunning in the way of the disfellowshipping doctrine is not loving or scriptural, it is antichrist and an apostasy from what the Bible really teaches.