How can the WTS consider an unmarried man in his mid-twenties qualified to be an elder? Clearly the "theocratic" process of election by the Holy Spirit is not what's happening. Ever known any (too) young elders? Didn't this create problems for some of the other (older/more experienced) aspiring "brothers"? or were they actually humble enough to accept it as a "divine" appointment just like the FDS nonsense? Did the young buck "shepherd" maintain his humility and ability to "pay attention to the flock" or did his assumed maturity erode with the corruption of power?
Posts by Gig
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14What's with such young "elders"?
by Gig inhow can the wts consider an unmarried man in his mid-twenties qualified to be an elder?
clearly the "theocratic" process of election by the holy spirit is not what's happening.
ever known any (too) young elders?
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Another possibility?
by Gig ini found myself very intrigued reading a recent thread.
i cannot remember the poster but it was also on randy's freeminds site.
it was an ambitious effort to methodically show the wt bias in their wt mag "bible" lessons.
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Gig
I found myself very intrigued reading a recent thread. I cannot remember the poster but it was also on Randy's Freeminds site. It was an ambitious effort to methodically show the WT bias in their WT mag "Bible" lessons. Remember? (Sorry, I don't know how to link it) Anyway I expect that it will show very plainly that the WTS teaches a very narrow view to JW's using only a select number of scriptures. An example: Matthew 24:45 (FDS claim) was/is referenced exponentially more often than Romans 8:14 ("For all who are led by God's spirit, these are God's sons.")
I wonderered while reading just how much the emphasis changed from prez to prez. And now I wonder just how much more the GB claims escalated in proportion to the size of their prophetic failures and accompanying membership losses. This is really just food for thought for the one undertaking all this work. If you're tuned in, let us know your progress and conclusions to date. I surely do appreciate your idea. Any other possibilities out there for good use of such independent thinking?
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Please help on quotes
by Gig ini remember reading a wt quote that says something about finding footprints that wander all over and don't seem to be heading in any particular direction...and asks would you follow.
can any of you help me find this one and any/all others where the wt condemns their own course.
those that ridicule false teachings and mistakes/corrections of other religions that they themselves have done.. and secondly, any/all pure lies that are quick and easy for anyone to see.
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Gig
I remember reading a WT quote that says something about finding footprints that wander all over and don't seem to be heading in any particular direction...and asks would you follow. Can any of you help me find this one and any/all others where the WT condemns their own course. Those that ridicule false teachings and mistakes/corrections of other religions that they themselves have done.
And secondly, any/all pure lies that are quick and easy for ANYONE to see. An example: the pyramid dimensions changing from one pub to the next just to make their chronological numbers work out with their new light. You know, one liners.
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A day in the life of the WTS
by Gig instill i try to find a way to talk with my jw friend about the wts.
pretty much every conversation, at least so far, has ended similarly...with my friend falling back on "classic" wt defenses.
one of which i single out today...the insistence that they are the one true religion because they are the only ones who go "house to house".
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Gig
I was aware of the Mormons, any others out there knocking on doors?
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why,why,WHY????
by Utopian_Raindrops inok it is 4 am and i have not gone to bed so i wont be checking this thread till way later.
still i have a question.........maybe someone can answer it for me.. .
do so many christians believe that anyone who does not believe as they do will burn in hell?.
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Gig
I've asked myself the same thing, and my answer is this: Men do not have the authority to judge... determining whether someone is going to heaven or hell is judgement on the highest level. Let's not forget that WE set our own standard by which we will be judged...for in the same measure!
True christian unity is found in the heart condition where we are all just trying to do our best, submitting to God's plan, depending on Christ's sacrifice, and depending on the Holy Spirit to guide us...all the while ENCOURAGING others. Why that is so hard for people to understand and accept I just don't know.
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A day in the life of the WTS
by Gig instill i try to find a way to talk with my jw friend about the wts.
pretty much every conversation, at least so far, has ended similarly...with my friend falling back on "classic" wt defenses.
one of which i single out today...the insistence that they are the one true religion because they are the only ones who go "house to house".
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Gig
Still I try to find a way to talk with my JW friend about the WTS. Pretty much every conversation, at least so far, has ended similarly...with my friend falling back on "classic" WT defenses. One of which I single out today...the insistence that they are the one true religion because they are the ONLY ones who go "house to house". My observation is this: There hasn't been a single day in the history of the WTS that their "official" doctrine/policy hasn't been false in a substantial way. And, oddly enough, these falsehoods have often been what is emphasized on the doorsteps. These false teachings are the undeniable result of "going beyond what is written", which the Bible specifically forbids yet the WTS has done consistently. So my question...would I be correct in saying that there has never been a time, even a single day, that the WTS wasn't preaching something, something they themselves concluded as significant, that has since been changed? One unrelated observation: even if the WTS finally got their lights right and all their teachings were true, I would still find them entirely unacceptable because of their manner and method of teaching. I doubt they will ever give up any sort of authority until God himself removes any remaining question.
Also, do I understand correctly (haven't seen/read the article) that the WTS claimed (in 1999?) that basically this generation will not pass before the end? I realize the chosen wording is different and isn't quoting Jesus, but is this happening again?
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Why can't you see it?
by Gig init's very hard trying to help a jw see the truth, and just as hard it seems to describe that difficulty.
how about this, you all remember those computer generated images that, at a glance, looked like a random set of dots or colors, no patterns or pictures.
you had to get your eyes to focus differently and adjust to the "hidden" image.
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Gig
It's very hard trying to help a JW see the truth, and just as hard it seems to describe that difficulty. How about this, you all remember those computer generated images that, at a glance, looked like a random set of dots or colors, no patterns or pictures. You had to get your eyes to focus differently and adjust to the "hidden" image. Some were able to see it quickly, some still can't figure it out, and there didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. And what about the effort people would go through, sitting there staring, getting frustrated, eyes crossed trying to see what people say is there somewhere. Then BAM...all of the sudden they can see the picture, no...lost it...wait, THERE...I GOT IT. With a little practice, you could "do the eye thing" quicker and easier, until it only took a second.
I think that's how it is for JWs looking at the WTS, but with one exception, those images never killed anybody.
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Deceptions That Do Not Lead To Everlasting Life
by Defender insatan deceived the first woman in eden by questioning the integrity and truthfulness of god with words like: is it really so that god said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?
and when eve responded in the negative and the warning of death if she eats from or touches the tree in the middle of garden, satan replied: you positively will not die.
for god knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like god, knowing good and bad.
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Gig
Excellent analogy, and I agree with you. The WTS deviates from the most basic teachings of the Word, not the least of which is unconditional love. To place themselves on the same level as Jesus, above the Spirit, and practically equal to the Father as "mother", and to agressively promote the idea that not only do they speak for Him, but ONLY they have authority to speak, is pure evil. To follow that logic, if the whole world were "faithfully" following the WTS as God's chosen, then when the WTS was in error, the whole world is wrong...plainly not what God would EVER plan or allow.
Hebrews describes a mature christian as one "who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
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Apostates getting smarter?
by freedom96 inback before the internet, jw's who left, either df'd or da'd had nothing to rely on.
they didn't have the communication with others, nor did they have access that they now have with the internet.
now, anyone can log on, even jw's, and see sites like this one, that talk about the real truth.
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Gig
To quote the WTS, admittedly out of context..."Now we have the evidence, all of it, and it is overwhelming."
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Please offer your thoughts...
by Gig inmore than once in my meetings/studies with jw's they have called attention to daniel 11:35.... "some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
" (niv).
i'm sure you can see how the jw's use this verse, and to keep the table open i'll withold my perspective, but please offer your thoughts.
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Gig
More than once in my meetings/studies with JW's they have called attention to Daniel 11:35...
"Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time." (NIV)
I'm sure you can see how the JW's use this verse, and to keep the table open I'll withold my perspective, but please offer your thoughts.