Posts by EasyPrompt

30

CIVILIAN SERVICE

by blondie in

how many remember when the wts changed their policy on alternative service; changed it to alternative civilian service so jw men could choose it because it was not supervised by the military.

shows how the wts quibbles with words to advance a "new teaching.

" flag salute, voting, civilian service p. 212. civilian service.

EasyPrompt

"So I am not saying whether it is wrong or right, and which kinds of troops or services are or are not allowed, but rather I am focusing on the answer: if one is a soldier or a police officer and wants to be a Christian, one must be aware of the increased risk of being in a counter-ethical situation with one's own conscience. He may serve his entire service on a military submarine as a cook, opening cans and cooking delicious meals out of them 😊, he probably won't do anything more sinful than working as a taxi driver or a shop assistant or a school teacher, but the situation can change quickly...
But he can encounter counter-ethical issues just like a doctor (abortion, sex change...) or any other profession. Not something more or less sinful per se, but there are professions that are simply more risky than the other. And that is for each person to judge in their own time, in their own region, in their own conscience, and in their own relationship with God... global, there is no one answer in my opinion. That's my global answer 😊."

Amen, PetrW🙂

30

CIVILIAN SERVICE

by blondie in

how many remember when the wts changed their policy on alternative service; changed it to alternative civilian service so jw men could choose it because it was not supervised by the military.

shows how the wts quibbles with words to advance a "new teaching.

" flag salute, voting, civilian service p. 212. civilian service.

EasyPrompt

I believe in unity without tyranny. Being united with Christ prevents us from joining crazy rebellions or movements or seeking to needlessly hurt people.

When love is our rule, we don't need WTBT$ to make rules for us. Having love as our rule is part of Christian freedom.

Romans 6:18-23

"Yes, since you were set free from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh; for just as you presented your members as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness leading to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free as to righteousness. What, then, was the fruit that you used to produce at that time? Things of which you are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death. However, now that you were set free from sin and became slaves to God, you are producing your fruit in the way of holiness, and the end is everlasting life. For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."

45

List of main points from 2023 AGM

by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

1. doctrinal changes how new light comes about.

the gb raise questions then talk about it, unless it’s unanimous they wait, then years later talk again if it’s unanimous it then gets announced as new light.. 2. the gb are imperfect and sometimes make mistakes.

they are not to apologise or even admit they were wrong.

EasyPrompt

"Easypromt could you tell us what serious wrongdoing were they trying to cover up that you wanted to expose?"

No. I don't feel like it. It involved abuse and I don't want to talk about the details right now.

If I get to know you better, then eventually maybe. But not here right now.

30

CIVILIAN SERVICE

by blondie in

how many remember when the wts changed their policy on alternative service; changed it to alternative civilian service so jw men could choose it because it was not supervised by the military.

shows how the wts quibbles with words to advance a "new teaching.

" flag salute, voting, civilian service p. 212. civilian service.

EasyPrompt

Mostly, I just wanted to expose that the GB/FD$/WTBT$ take on the "no part of the world" verse is misapplied.

As regards voting, where I live people don't just vote for elected officials. Decisions on finances for public works projects, like building bridges, are sometimes decided by referendum, as well as amendments to the state constitution regarding things like allowing persons with disabilities to sign petitions and so on.

Since Jesus did not take the throne in the first century nor in 1914, none of the governments from that time until now have been ruling in opposition to Christ's Kingdom, so anybody who votes for an official running for office has not been acting against the Kingdom. The first century Christians were not opposed to voting. They were opposed to doing an act of worship to the emperor.

"That means that by voting, whether you like or accept it or not, you are endorsing all that that party stands for, against its rivals. You bear a share of responsibility for what it does (both good and evil) if it comes to power."

I do not agree. If the government demands a person select a party, it is not an endorsement to comply with those wishes, it is compliance.

To illustrate, in the congregations, the members are told to vote for the officers of the local corporation. If all the congregation members vote unanimously for "Brother Bob" to be director, but then later he steals from the contribution box while in that elected role, are all of the congregation members culpable for his theft because of voting for him to be the director? The congregation authorities told the members to vote, and told them who to vote for, so they did it. They do not bear responsibility for what he does. He bears the responsibility.

God has allowed these nations to have their governments at present. Some of them utilize the process of voting and elections. Romans 13:7 "Render to all their dues: to the one who calls for the tax, the tax; to the one who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to the one who calls for fear, such fear; to the one who calls for honor, such honor." If the "tribute" is acceptance of a government mandated political party card, then it is not in opposition to God's will to accept that card.

I personally do not vote and have no desire to, but I do not see anywhere in the Bible that prohibits it.

Also, nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christians are prohibited from killing others. (Obviously murder is wrong, but in context here we are talking about Cornelius and the military.) Jesus said whoever lives by the sword will die by the sword, which implies that living by the sword is dangerous. Jesus told Peter to put down the sword in that instance at Gethsemane because he knew God's will included getting arrested at that time and killed. But the account where Jesus poured out holy spirit on Cornelius, again, shows that Christians could serve in the military without it being a breach of Christian standards. Cornelius wasn't a traffic cop - he was a centurion.

My grandfather was in the Navy in WWII, at Normandy. My great uncles were in the Army, one a POW in Germany. My dad was an army veteran; my step-dad a retired lieutenant colonel; my step-brother 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) died in Iraq; my nephew is in the Air Force; another step-brother and my cousin are police officers. I was not and am not afraid of any of them. They were not and are not scary mean people.

On the other hand, I have been afraid of some of those in the local congregations at times. Some of those people have been scary and mean to me or threatening to my children, in a way that made me call the police at times and other times go to the courts for protection. I have found that being in the military or not is not what makes a person violent or have the spirit of the world. The spirit of the world (selfishness, greed, love of violence, etc) can be found in people who outwardly claim to be the most religious people around, while some who have the assignment as executioners are peaceable by nature.

Notice what Jesus said about killing...

Mark 3:4

"Next he said to them: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?”"

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:28) Jehovah has assigned Jesus to carry out executions at the end of the tribulation. Those executions are not in violation of Christian standards. Jesus is the Christ, the Prince of Peace. He never violates Christian standards - he's the one who sets the example for Christians, and his example shows that sometimes it is lawful on the Sabbath "to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill".

I am not saying people should go sign up for the military. I hate killing. I won't even watch cartoons where characters get hit in the head. We must hate what is bad. Jehovah hates violence. We must also hate violence, and intrigue and slander and so on. But it is not the label on the outside of the cup that determines whether a person loves or hates violence. It is what is on the inside that counts, that leads to either good or rotten fruit. Jesus hates violence, and yet he's assigned as God's chief executioner.

There are men in military uniforms who are true Christians.

And there are men with "FDS" titles who are not.

John 13:35

"By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves."

John 15:13

"No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends."

30

CIVILIAN SERVICE

by blondie in

how many remember when the wts changed their policy on alternative service; changed it to alternative civilian service so jw men could choose it because it was not supervised by the military.

shows how the wts quibbles with words to advance a "new teaching.

" flag salute, voting, civilian service p. 212. civilian service.

EasyPrompt

It's interesting that the phrase "civil service" or "civilian service" is not found in the NWT. The closest thing is "public service" which is translated "holy service" at Luke 1:23.

Daniel worked in a government position. So did Esther, Mordecai, Nehemiah, Ezra, Joseph, Solomon, David, and many others. In some cases, they were directly appointed to that public service by Jehovah.

No where does the Bible say "you may not work in civilian service" just like no where does it say "you may not vote". When the Bible says "you must be no part of the world" it's not referring to civilian service. It's referring to not acting like Satan, a person who is hypocritical. When the Pharisees were figuratively striving to have a clean outside of the cup but were inside full of dead men's bones, Jesus called them sons of their father the Devil. Those men were part of the world because they preferred the way of hypocritical showy display instead of the way of love.

Voting doesn't make someone part of the world. Holding government office doesn't make someone part of the world. Having a political party card doesn't make someone part of the world. Being a religious hypocrite does make someone part of the world.

In context, when Jesus was talking about being "no part of the world" he wasn't talking about voting. Jesus mentioned Judas, who was a religious hypocrite. Judas pretended outwardly to love Jesus, but he really loved money more than he loved truth.

John 17:12-16

"When I was with them, I used to watch over them on account of your own name, which you have given me; and I have protected them, and not one of them is destroyed except the son of destruction, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world."

In context, when John was talking about being "no part of the world" he wasn't talking about civil service. He was talking about "antichrists", people who once were Christians but whose actions showed they didn't really have love for God.

1 John 2:15-21

"Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. Young children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared, from which fact we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But they went out so that it might be shown that not all are of our sort. And you have an anointing from the holy one, and all of you have knowledge. I write you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie originates with the truth."

The GB loves money more than they love truth. They have a form of godly devotion, but prove false to its power, just like it says in 2 Timothy 3. They are part of the world of their father the Devil, and they act like their father who also pretends to be an angel of light but is actually full of darkness. They are religious hypocrites.

The GB misapplies the Bible's words about "no part of this world."

Romans 13:4 makes clear that it is with God's approval that some "bear the sword." "The existing authorities...for it is God’s minister to you for your good. But if you are doing what is bad, be in fear, for it is not without purpose that it bears the sword. It is God’s minister, an avenger to express wrath against the one practicing what is bad."

Cornelius was an army officer. The Bible calls him "righteous". While he was an army officer, an angel came and spoke to him. While he was an army officer, he received holy spirit and was baptized. The Bible doesn't say that Peter came and said, "Hey, Cornelius, you have to repent of being in the army. You have to quit your job." Nope. Cornelius, the army officer, the righteous man, was qualified to receive holy spirit and be baptized while still an army officer. He was no part of the world even though he was part of the military.

In context when Jesus told Peter to put down the sword, it was because at that time it was God's will for Jesus to go through the unjust arrest. If Peter took up the sword at that time, he would have been killed by those other dudes with the swords.

We know Jehovah hates violence, but that doesn't mean that he's displeased with all the men who bear the sword. To the contrary - the governmental authorities stand in their places at present with God's permission for a purpose in harmony with God's will. God will discipline them at the proper time, and any who abuse their authority will receive their wages for such abuse. But the righteous ones among those in the military and the governing authorities will receive their reward for their righteousness, just like Cornelius did. There are many many loving, good people in the military and among the governing authorities. It's not a sin to be in civilian service.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

"There is an appointed time for everything,

A time for every activity under the heavens:

A time for birth and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted;

A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to tear down and a time to build up;

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to wail and a time to dance;

A time to throw stones away and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep and a time to throw away;

A time to rip apart and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent and a time to speak;

A time to love and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace."

45

List of main points from 2023 AGM

by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

1. doctrinal changes how new light comes about.

the gb raise questions then talk about it, unless it’s unanimous they wait, then years later talk again if it’s unanimous it then gets announced as new light.. 2. the gb are imperfect and sometimes make mistakes.

they are not to apologise or even admit they were wrong.

EasyPrompt

Back before I woke up, when the drama was going on in my local congregation, I thought the guys at Bethel would want to know, because I thought they actually cared about love and righteousness and Jehovah's name. (They always say in the videos "we love you very much.") The local elders were covering for some bad stuff, and the CO was too, so I wrote to the governing body to tell them what was going on. I wrote again and again. Then I wrote to some of the other guys that are the helpers to the GB and others in the videos. I wrote again and again and begged them to help. They didn't respond once. The local elders got madder and madder at me for exposing the stuff that was going on, and finally they disfellowshipped me for not shutting up. (Later I found out that the Service Department and the Legal Department told them what to do.) They got a trespassing order so I couldn't go to the KH and warn the others what was going on or do "the first step" according to their elder flowchart as regards confronting the elder in question. As soon as I was disfellowshipped, Mark Sanderson sent one of my letters back with a big red stamp that said "REJECTED". (One of the elders in my congregation is a Bethel commuter who tunes pianos at the facilities in NY. His son is Mark Sanderson's secretary. He knew the details of the things going on in my KH, he even did one of my "shepherding calls" once, and so Mark knew all the details of my case between the letters I sent him and Jeffrey Fletcher his secretary. He waited until he knew I was disfellowshipped and then had my letter sent back with that "REJECTED" stamp just to be mean. They got all my letters but just didn't care.)

There are some other things that happened that I won't go into right now, but I learned from numerous personal experiences that the GB are complete hypocrites. They are not to be trusted. They are aware of what they are doing and they don't care when people are getting hurt, as long as they get worshipped. They are nasty wolves.

The annual meeting is a joke. But in the end, the joke is on the GB. Everybody is going to see that they are like the emperor with no clothes, because Jehovah is exposing them for the frauds they are.

Colossians 3:14

"clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union"

Revelation 3:17

"you do not know that you are miserable and pitiful and poor and blind and naked"

45

List of main points from 2023 AGM

by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

1. doctrinal changes how new light comes about.

the gb raise questions then talk about it, unless it’s unanimous they wait, then years later talk again if it’s unanimous it then gets announced as new light.. 2. the gb are imperfect and sometimes make mistakes.

they are not to apologise or even admit they were wrong.

EasyPrompt

It was nasty. The whole thing was nasty. Fakers, distorting truth, blaming God, refusing to apologize - they are super slimy fakers. The best speakers in the local KH were always the biggest hypocrites, mixing in truth with falsehood and all sanctimoniousness, but behind the scenes doing the most sketchy things. Cold-hearted, but all smiles the whole time. Nasty.

22

I think circuit overseers should have a job like the apostle Paul

by forzaitalia in

am i being mean, thinking that travelling overseers should get a part-time job like paul did, in order to not be a burden to the congregation?

i wouldn't put my hand up when we were asked to raise it if we were happy to give £50 from congregation funds to the c.o.

so that he could take his wife out for a meal.

EasyPrompt

"My words of advice to any GB, Elder, whatever, Get a Job!"

That is very good advice, especially for Bethelites and COs and all the "special full-time servants" who don't have a place to live, since the WTBT$ is going to be gone soon and there are the full 3 1/2 years of tribulation ahead. There isn't going to be the WTBT$ corporation or the FD$ pyramid scheme extorting funds from religious people to pay for an unscriptural clergy class anymore. The "special full-time servants" won't be able to live at Bethel and the BOE/CO/Branch/ServiceDept/FD$ hierarchy will be gone, and with it the former arrangement with the "rent-free" apartments at KHs and the "provisions" of autos and insurance and food etc won't be available either.

Advice to anyone at Bethel or other "SFTS" right now: get out ASAP, start filling out applications for jobs, try to find a way to save for first and last months rent and security deposit somewhere or ask to stay with someone while saving up. Bethel's getting closed down soon and the KHs won't be available for the CO apartments either.

45

List of main points from 2023 AGM

by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

1. doctrinal changes how new light comes about.

the gb raise questions then talk about it, unless it’s unanimous they wait, then years later talk again if it’s unanimous it then gets announced as new light.. 2. the gb are imperfect and sometimes make mistakes.

they are not to apologise or even admit they were wrong.

EasyPrompt

"Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust; and like the heavenly one, so too are those who are heavenly. And just as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we will bear also the image of the heavenly one."

"patterned after the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers"

Jesus set the pattern.

Jesus will eat and drink with those on earth in the Kingdom. He told the guy next to him "I will be with you in Paradise" and that guy wasn't "anointed" to be a king or priest. Jehovah ate with Abraham. Jehovah walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. All things are possible with God.

The Kingdom isn't going to be far away. Jesus and the kings/priests have to have a spirit body because of the work they will be doing, but they will also be here, able to materialize. Jesus set the pattern. The rest of his "body" (those in the king/priest assignment) will also materialize a body when they are resurrected, so that everyone will know and see.

Jesus said everyone would see, even his enemies. Jesus and the rest of the anointed will do their work in humble form, materializing bodies and hanging out with everybody. They won't be "far far away" like how the GB/FD$/WTBT$ depicts it. It says in Revelation that the New Jerusalem comes out of heaven. Later at the end of the 1000 years it says in Ezekiel "The name of the city is "Jehovah Himself Is There".

God is not partial. We're all His family.

45

List of main points from 2023 AGM

by ExBethelitenowPIMA in

1. doctrinal changes how new light comes about.

the gb raise questions then talk about it, unless it’s unanimous they wait, then years later talk again if it’s unanimous it then gets announced as new light.. 2. the gb are imperfect and sometimes make mistakes.

they are not to apologise or even admit they were wrong.

EasyPrompt

In the live stream presentation of the annual meeting, at the beginning Kenneth Cook as chairman said..."We welcome all who are tied in remotely!" Which was funny, because so many "apostates" were tied in. During the livestream some on reddit joked that when they signed in to the jwstream they upped the number attending (since the link asked how many were attending) and some people put things like "100"...later at the end of the program, Kenneth Cook announced that there were about 95,000 tied in on the jwstream...it was kind of funny. It was also funny when Kenneth Cook slipped and said the recording of the final symposium would be released next month on JW-B Broadcasting (made me think "JWBorg" Broadcasting - do they call it JWBorg at headquarters too?🤭)

Here were some ~~highlights~~ darkness/idolatry from the opening "prayer" by Alvin Bilobraily, Portugal Branch - "...thank you for all the spiritual food you provide through the Faithful Discreet Slave...the Governing Body has a very heavy responsibility...also provide spiritual food...through the Governing Body and also the many helpers....thank you...thank you for the Watch Tower Bible Tract Society of Pennsylvania...a great support to the Governing Body..." 🤢🤮🤮🤮

Made me think of this passage...

Isaiah 1:10-17

"Hear the word of Jehovah, you dictators of Sodʹom.

Pay attention to the law of our God, you people of Go·morʹrah.

“Of what benefit to me are your many sacrifices?” says Jehovah.

“I have had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed animals,

And I have no delight in the blood of young bulls and lambs and goats.

When you come to appear before me,

Who has required this from you,

This trampling of my courtyards?

Stop bringing in any more worthless grain offerings.

Your incense is detestable to me.

New moons, sabbaths, the calling of conventions

—I cannot put up with the use of magical power along with your solemn assembly.

I have hated your new moons and your festivals.

They have become a burden to me; I am tired of bearing them.

And when you spread out your palms, I hide my eyes from you.

Although you offer many prayers, I am not listening;

Your hands are filled with blood.

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Remove your evil deeds from my sight;

Stop doing bad.

Learn to do good, seek justice,

Correct the oppressor,

Defend the rights of the fatherless child,

And plead the cause of the widow.”