howdy.
after an unfortunate absence i have returned.
ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.
Good morning,
It's a chilly Monday morning here is California.
Saturday, we had two visits from our JW friends. For the first, I was not home so my wife asked them to come back later. For the second, I was just getting out of the shower so she told them the best way to set up a good time would be through e-mail. They did leave us more...um...."literature." Hopefully I'll be able to meet with them soon. Thanks for your encouragement and prayers.
I'll keep you posted.
howdy.
after an unfortunate absence i have returned.
ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.
Hey all,
Thanks for your encouragement and advice.
I believe that God wants the truth to be known. God is light and love. He exposes darkness and error when one who is in His Spirit reaches out in love to the one in darkness. Like Plato's analogy of the cave; for those who have lived their whole lives watching dim shadows on the walls of dark caves, the light is painful.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13
The truth spoken in love. My heart wants to see people free in Christ.
howdy.
after an unfortunate absence i have returned.
ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.
Great stuff. I see where you are headed. I realyy don't want to scare them off. I want to help. I think you are right. I'll try to be gentle. Here was my thinking. I want to know from them in their own words, "why should I believe that the society is right?" what evidence is there that the society has truth? That sort of thing. I think that should be the first thing anybody would ask about an organization before joining it. Thanks so much for these beautiful gems. Play dumb!!! that's great!
The guys I'm talking with are probably most definitely street wise. At least in their 40's. I have no idea how long they've been with the society or how they got involved. I think I'll ask them about themselves when I meet with them. I need to get to know these guys and be friendly. I do want to love them as people rather than just as the faceless, nameless lost. That's really my desire.
Thanks again. I'd love to hear any other ideas and such.
howdy.
after an unfortunate absence i have returned.
ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.
I don't expect to receive answers to my questions. They are simply asked to get a starting place. The "Trinity" pamphlet is perhaps the clearest, most blatant deception I have ever read! If the seed is planted, I'll be happy.
I would absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE other techniques to try.
I want to approach this with compassion and show the my love for them. I've been praying like crazy over this and I am trusting God for the result.
howdy.
after an unfortunate absence i have returned.
ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.
Here's a copy of the e-mail I just sent the JW's who came to my door.
Please join me in praying that our discussions and meetings would either plant the seed of water an existing seed to bloom. Thanks!
Jeff & Daryl,
Let me begin by apologizing for the unfortunate delay to our meeting. My schedule has been overwhelming of late, as I'm sure you can relate. I would ask your continued patience as I look for an opening. Are there particular days that work better for you? Weekends? weeknights?
In the meantime, Iv'e been doing much research and have a couple of requests...
Despite my efforts, I have been unable to find any documentation to identify the translators of your New World Testament. I feel that it is essential to validate the authority under which something as important as the scriptures were translated. This is key for a number of reasons. If you could provide this information or request this information from the WTBTS, I would be most grateful.
Secondly, I noticed in reading the booklet "Should You Believe in the Trinity," that a number of the quotes used contained elipses and were not completely documented. I would appreciate if you could provide the complete quotes or a list of source materials for the quotes which includes the ISBN number or the Library of Congress number. I anticipate that the WTBTS should be able to provide you with that information.
Please feel free to make any requests of me as well.
Thanks again for your forbearance. I anticipate that we will be able to meet soon.
Sincerely,
Scott Boor
What do you think? Ignorant and innocent enough?
howdy.
after an unfortunate absence i have returned.
ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.
In my opinion, any organization that employs the tactics and hurtful deceptions that the Watchtower Society does, which have time and again been exposed by your fellow posters on this board, is a danger. Any organization that intentionally deceives it's members and destroys families and shatters individuals must be exposed and called to account. How many people have to suffer under Pharisaical burdens and oppressive regulations before we stop saying it's a matter of opinion? How many people have to die for lack of a transfusion, because an organization claims the Bible tells them so? How many? For me, one is enough.
I wept last night as I read the outright lies in the JW literature used to deceive unsuspecting people? I became so angry and I thought about the suffering of so many who are deceived. Enough is enough.
The Watchtower is a drug more dangerous than heroin or crack. Your fellow posters have said numerous time, those in the society are brainwashed, programmed, I wold add slaves to this organization.
The organization must be called to account.
Silence in the face of injustice and oppression is a horendous crime.
It is the least Christian response I can think of. That kind of Silence screams.
i have been curious why the jw's and other cults claim that the bible does not support the notion of the christ as divine (god).
can anyone offer an explanation?
my reading of the texts brings me to that conclusion.
I have been curious why the JW's and other cults claim that the Bible does not support the notion of the Christ as divine (God). Can anyone offer an explanation? My reading of the texts brings me to that conclusion. There are a number of outright claims to it, as well as some that take actual research.
Take for example Titus 2...
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
I'm not putting a hook in the water to see who bites (like some have been known to do on this board) I really want to understand this.
and the lost books of eden.
books that didn't make the cut into the official 66 we have now.
anyone ever read or research them?
Howdy!
Extra-Biblical literature is a real interest of mine and I have done some research (no doctorate or anything, but it is a fascinating study). Most researchers (christian and secular) pretty much seem to go along with the idea that the gospels not included in the Bible (that of Thomas, Philip, Mary Magdalene, etc...) were written during the second century A.D. by the Gnostic sects to promote their beliefs (the non-diety of Christ was a biggie). The Gospel of Barnabus is an 18th century fraud (and was touted by the Muslims for awhile as the correct "injil" mentioned in the Koran). If you are interested i reading early Christian literature from the Church fathers from ~100 A.D. to ~800 A.D., I recommend the following link...
http://www.ccel.org
It's a HUGE amount of writing.
Enjoy!
howdy.
after an unfortunate absence i have returned.
ina previous thread, i shared that i had initially begun my research into jw doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning jw's one saturday morning.
Howdy. After an unfortunate absence I have returned.
Ina previous thread, I shared that I had initially begun my research into JW doctrine and such after being approached (some would say accosted) by a pair of well meaning JW's one Saturday morning. I also shared that, up to that time, they had not contacted me. Well... They came back. As I was leaving for church, no less. I told them I was on my way out and asked for their e-mail addresses so that I could arrange a time to meet.
I have not yet contacted them and I have returned to this forum to request your help. I would like to know (1)what you discovered that showed you that the WT was not right? and (2)what your advice would be for a guy who wants to help other JW's to know the truth about the Organization?
I've done enough research to know how wrong it is, but how do I help the one who believes it to be true?
I would really appreciate any help you can provide.
PS - anybody got a Kingdom Interlinear laying around that they might want to sell?
Thanks all!
simply respond to each question with a yes or no answer (or '?
' if unsure):.
before answering, please see my comments on general/main - "how about a survey?"..
I'm going to set aside my previous thread to ask a question...
Do you believe that we (mankind) are made in the image of God?
