"We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the 'faithful and discreet slave' organization, " ( Watchtower , Feb. 15, 1981).
Eden
"We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the 'faithful and discreet slave' organization, " ( Watchtower , Feb. 15, 1981).
Eden
"To understand the Bible for their salvation they had to have it explained through God's organization." [ The Watchtower , November 15, 1961, p. 692]
Eden
if jesus came to inspect his temple only in 1919, as claimed by the governing body, and found only the international bible students to be doing the lord's will, can we then speak of a "take over" on the watchtower society?.
because, if before (1879-1919) the watchtower society, a.k.a.
the 'organization', started by russell, wasn't god's organization yet - at least not until 1919, how come this organization can in any way be considered "our mother"?
Double Post
if jesus came to inspect his temple only in 1919, as claimed by the governing body, and found only the international bible students to be doing the lord's will, can we then speak of a "take over" on the watchtower society?.
because, if before (1879-1919) the watchtower society, a.k.a.
the 'organization', started by russell, wasn't god's organization yet - at least not until 1919, how come this organization can in any way be considered "our mother"?
If Jesus came to inspect his temple only in 1919, as claimed by the Governing Body, and found only the International Bible Students to be doing the Lord's will, can we then speak of a "take over" on the Watchtower Society?
Because, if before (1879-1919) the Watchtower Society, a.k.a. the 'organization', started by Russell, wasn't God's Organization yet - at least not until 1919, how come this Organization can in any way be considered "our mother"? Has Jesus and Jehovah took personal control over an organization that they haven't set up by means of a covenant as some kind of afterthought?
[If we are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah God as our Father but his organization as our mother." (Watchtower, May 1, 1957, pg. 274)]
[Who controls the organization, who directs it? Who is at the head? A man? A group of men? A clergy class? A pope? A hierarchy? A council? No, none of these. How is that possible? In any organization is it not necessary that there be a directing head or policy-making part that controls or guides the organization? Yes. Is the living God, Jehovah, the Director of the theocratic Christian organization? Yes!" (Watchtower, November 1, 1956, p. 666)]
[To hold to the headship of Christ, it is therefore necessary to obey the organization that he is personally directing. Doing what the organization says is to do what he says. Resisting the organization is to resist him. [The Watchtower, May 1, 1959, p. 269] ]
What gives?
Eden
i have been inactive for 5 years now.
lately i am being treated more and more as if i were disfellowshipped, which i am not.
do any of you know of anything, in writing, that is encouraging members to curtail any and all association with former members who are no longer active?.
You'd be surprised, Cantleave.
Even last week I spent the day with the former CBOE of my cong and his wife - who I miss much in my congregation - and we had open discussions about aspects of Christianity that normally don't get discussed from the platform. It was refreshing and interesting. Not everyone values hours in the witnessing ministry as they value Christian actions towards others, that being the true essence of being a Christian. low hours, low attendance to meetings is no indicator of spiritual strenght.
I agree, he's not the typical CBOE, and he's, let's say it, is placed in high position within the Org. That's why I found it to be so refreshing.
Eden
i have been inactive for 5 years now.
lately i am being treated more and more as if i were disfellowshipped, which i am not.
do any of you know of anything, in writing, that is encouraging members to curtail any and all association with former members who are no longer active?.
What can I say...? I don't agree with that attitude.
Uber-zealous, holier-than-thou witnesses don't resonate well with me, I guess.
Eden
i have been inactive for 5 years now.
lately i am being treated more and more as if i were disfellowshipped, which i am not.
do any of you know of anything, in writing, that is encouraging members to curtail any and all association with former members who are no longer active?.
Cantleave: If you were inactive do you think you would be invited to a congregation get-together? No you would be shunned.
Depends a lot on how the congregation perceives you.
If you're perceived as inactive and spiritually dangerous (i.e, involved in apostasy or questionabe conduct), then you wouldn't get invited. However if the reasons why one is inactive are perceived as of other kind (depression, illness, lack of motivation) and they feel that associating with the congregation might be of help, then such person wouldn't be necessarily ignored.
Eden
i have been inactive for 5 years now.
lately i am being treated more and more as if i were disfellowshipped, which i am not.
do any of you know of anything, in writing, that is encouraging members to curtail any and all association with former members who are no longer active?.
The www.jw.org website is clear to say that people who fade into inactivity are not to be shunned. This information is current.
Now, if they say something and then act differently ....
Eden
been going nuts looking for this.. i am sure i have read, and probably saved, a quote by them about not being false prophets but i am buggered if i can find it anywhere in search, google or my own pc.. can you help?.
i think its 2009 but not sure, where they have the line 'never have we said ''jehovah has said'' when ...'.
a link or pdf or scan or cut n paste, etc would be great!.
marked
i bethelite sent this email out - can't really give out names.
we wrote these figures as quickly as possible, but could not keep up 100%).
you get to check these figures out when you get your 2014 yearbook.
it would be interesting to analyse the progression of the ratio newly baptized vs average publishers as well as newly baptized vs. bible studies.
Eden