Posts by THE GLADIATOR

as you know i have, for many years now, related to you that i hear the voice of the fine shepherd, the holy one of israel and holy spirit, jaheshua mischajah.

over such years i have received many questions and comments, and engaged in various debates regarding the validity of that name.

THE GLADIATOR

PSacramento

I know very little about the subject - but like to join in anyway!

189

Does The Name Really Matter?

by AGuest in

jw
friends

to the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you have peace!.

as you know i have, for many years now, related to you that i hear the voice of the fine shepherd, the holy one of israel and holy spirit, jaheshua mischajah.

over such years i have received many questions and comments, and engaged in various debates regarding the validity of that name.

THE GLADIATOR

Not wishing to break up a great cat fight - but - isn't the Christian faith based on the idea that you follow Christ.

Why does his name have to start with a 'J'? Why not just call him Christ, for Christs sake!

24

Me and my story... Issues, issues, issues

by bottleofwater in

my parents learned the truth when i was about 2 years old or so and they got baptized when i was 4.. they came from ukraine from the former soviet union and i was born months after they came to brooklyn.. they started studying with a sister who was american and joined the first russian group in brooklyn.. my brother was born when i was 5. we moved to staten island when i was 8 or 9.. ever since i was 14 or 15, i realized an attraction to guys.. of course, i kept on putting it off as a phase or an "everyone feels this way" excuse.. and yes, i had lots of crushes on guys, but i didn't tell others because it was hard to face the facts.. around 18 years of age, we were having our family study and my dad said that if a person even has gay thoughts then they can't be a pioneer, etc.. and he was an elder and a coordinator of the body of elders.. i got depressed and cried for days and eventually this got me to feel the need to tell someone about it.. i told my 14 year old brother (the other younger one is 7) about it because he keeps his mouth shut all the time.. he didn't react at all really.

eventually i felt like i had to tell my pioneer mom about it (by the way, i've been pioneering since 18 years of age due to knowing that that would be the only reason why my dad would pay for my college education).. she reacted with mixed feelings of denial, also attacking me and making it look like i'm disgusting, immoral, this and that.... eventually i told someone my age about this in my congregation, as he was also a neighbor of ours.

he was a bit more feminine acting, though i wasn't sure if he was gay or not (though the sisters had their rumors) (i'm more of the masc type it seems).

THE GLADIATOR

bottleofwater This is your life and you alone are responsible for the choices you make. My young years were sacrificed living to please my family. It's a mistake to do that and it doesn't work, you have to be true to yourself.

Your family must accept you as you are and not expect you to live a lie to pacify them or support their ideals. All the best.

25

Those who have Judeo-Christian perspective: Is Satan a poor strategist?

by SweetBabyCheezits in

so supposedly.... the devil had access to all the prophecies written about jesus, right?

it was all "written aforetime" so he knew in advance the details that would help people identify the messiah.

he was aware that, for the sake of god's will, jesus would have to die.. why didn't satan just protect jesus?

THE GLADIATOR

The Jude-Christian perspective is part of a mind set that takes everything literally. Even God is a person who talks and has fits of rage.

In reality, Satan represents an aspect of the human psyche. Not necessarily a bad but a part that seeks self interest above a perceived greater cause.

The idea that such a person exists and hangs around trying to tempt people is absurd, in my humble opinion.

272

Grace According to JW's. Your thoughts will be appreciated.

by Lily Pie in

hi, i'm a bit of a lurker on this site occasionally, just to help me understand my jw relative.

i am so curious to ask this question, but i fear asking a practicing jw, because you know, they can be a tad evasive, and maybe defensive too.

lutherans say.

THE GLADIATOR

Lily Pie

Nice to see you here! In answer to your question I have pasted a page from the book - Opening the Door to Jehovah's Witnesses (available on Lulu)

These are the Watchtower society's own words. I hope this is of help:

The Society’s publication “Babylon the Great has Fallen” 1963 explains:

“The person now righteous in God’s sight should keep on practising righteousness. The one who is holy as a slave of God should continue being made holy. Otherwise they will lose all the credit they have built up by their previous righteousness and holiness. But if they keep on in righteousness and holiness, they will at last have an accumulated credit with God and be richly rewarded for this. What a warning and an encouragement!” (Page 672)

This is in contrast to the Bible passages shown below:“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom (paid) by Jesus Christ.” (Romans 3: 22-24 - The “New World Translation” - the Society’s own Bible – from now on referred to as NWT)

“For it is by his grace you are saved, through trusting in him; it is not your own doing. It is God’s gift, not a reward for work done.” (Ephesians 2:8. – The New English Bible – from now on referred to as NE)

The Bible indicates that there is a standard for Christians but states that being declared righteous is a free gift and not the result of accumulated credit. Nevertheless a trained Witness may persuade you otherwise and encourage you to join and earn your salvation.

36

The Insanity of Arguing on the Internet!

by cognizant dissident in

in an effort to get us all to lighten up and take ourselves and our beliefs a little less seriously, post your internet jokes and funnies here.. one of my personal favorites: .

.

THE GLADIATOR

Many of the things that we as humans do are irrational. Insanity is different, because we are 'aware' that what we do is irrational but enjoy the activity and so continue.

For us to enjoy something, it does not have to have a purpose. If we find something gratifying, we can become addicted. Many of our hidden emotions are played out through irrational activities. Driving too fast, killing spiders, dreaming, religious belief, and arguing on an Internet forum, to name but a few.

73

A "Funny" Thing Happened On the Road to Damascus...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

to the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you all have peace!

as you may or may not be aware, i recently posted a thread regarding the relevancy of the name of our lord.

in that thread, and one or two others, i mentioned the language of our lord... and thus, the accurate rendering of that name.

THE GLADIATOR

notverylikely

I too find myself looking at Shelby's threads but don't worry, I have not fallen in love. It's because the entertainment value is priceless.

You two have become an accomplished double act. If you could get Wing Commander on board, you could tour the world together.

Don't let Shelby get inside your head, she will eat it from the inside with 'some fava beans and a nice Chianti,'

209

Sleaze Update...

by White Dove in

email exchange just a minute ago:.

him: "i just wanted to let you know that i never had any intention of causing any harm.

and i apologize for anything that seemed that way.".

THE GLADIATOR

cognizant dissident

The hardest thing for people to accept is the truth about themselves.

I have read through this thread, without comment, and noted your posts with interest. They appear to me to be perceptive, balanced and helpful. Sometimes our best friends are those who are prepared to risk being honest and take the flak that can follow.

You have been a friend to White Dove even if she is not yet aware of this.