Posts by herk

91

It's so simple -- Matthew 24

by cruzanheart in

so here i was this evening, reading the old familiar matthew 24 with the kids before bedtime, but i was reading out of our very nice contemporary parallel new testament, specifically the message version, and i had this sudden realization: jesus didn't give us a really complicated, mysterious prophecy that had different types and antitypes -- he was simply continuing his original message (love your neighbor, love god).

remember verse 12 about the love of the many cooling off?

the verse right after that talks about enduring to the end.

herk

Tyler,

"Dogmatic" simply means expressing a strong opinion without offering adequate proof. I suppose it can suggest arrogance. That's not what I meant. I'm sorry if that's the way I came across.

Nevertheless, your explanation does seem a bit farfetched, and I would like to see what logical basis you have for expressing yourself as you did. I thought I made it clear that I'm not here to start a fight. I simply felt that your theology was begging for an honest opinion.

you seem to have dissapeared up it all by yourself.

I have no idea what that means.

91

It's so simple -- Matthew 24

by cruzanheart in

so here i was this evening, reading the old familiar matthew 24 with the kids before bedtime, but i was reading out of our very nice contemporary parallel new testament, specifically the message version, and i had this sudden realization: jesus didn't give us a really complicated, mysterious prophecy that had different types and antitypes -- he was simply continuing his original message (love your neighbor, love god).

remember verse 12 about the love of the many cooling off?

the verse right after that talks about enduring to the end.

herk

jgnat,

You bring up a good point. The parable of the ten virgins is sandwiched between two other parables that stress preparation by right living, not by an abundance of knowledge. (Matthew 24:45 to 25:30)

In the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants, one servant was ready for the Lord's return because he was faithfully doing what the Lord expected of him, namely, caring for those in need, whether this need be material, spiritual, or both. The unfaithful servant not only neglected his duties, but he abused the servant who was doing the right things. It should be noted, too, that Jesus showed that a faithful slave could become unfaithful. So, the parable applies to individual Christians who must show themselves to be always ready for their Lord's return, no matter how long it takes.

The same lesson is in the parable of the virgins. The oil in the lamps doesn't represent knowledge since all ten virgins had knowledge that the Lord would return soon. The difference is that the unwise virgins had been negligent. None of the ten lamps were burning before the Lord's return since the account shows that the foolish virgins had brought along no oil at all. The oil was lit by the wise virgins when the Lord arrived. And this seems to be the same message we find in Jesus' instructions to store up treasure for ourselves in heaven where neither moth nor rust consume. Interestingly, Jesus added this thought to those instructions, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright; but if your eye is wicked, your whole body will be dark." (Matthew 6:19-23) If we keep our lives simple and seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, things will go well and we'll be ready for the Lord when he returns. On the other hand, if we pursue wicked works, we will fare badly. (Matthew 6:33)

If the "oil" represents anything, it would point to the holy spirit, not knowledge. In the parable that follows, Jesus showed that each Christian is expected to use wisely the talents he was given according to his own ability. The one punished was the one who hid his talent and failed to use it in service to his master. If he had God's spirit, he certainly would have used it. It is by means of the spirit that humans are transformed and enabled to prepare for the return of their Master and Bridegroom, as indicated by Isaiah 61:1; Zechariah 4:1-6; Acts 10:38; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; and many other texts.

Instead of rewarding us for knowledge, Jesus promises to bless us if we provide food, drink, hospitality, clothing, visits and care to the less fortunate whom he views as his brothers. (Matthew 25:34-40) On the other hand, storing up knowledge enough to know the Bible backwards and forwards will do us no good if we don't use our abilities to demonstrate love for our neighbors. (Matthew 25:41-46)

91

It's so simple -- Matthew 24

by cruzanheart in

so here i was this evening, reading the old familiar matthew 24 with the kids before bedtime, but i was reading out of our very nice contemporary parallel new testament, specifically the message version, and i had this sudden realization: jesus didn't give us a really complicated, mysterious prophecy that had different types and antitypes -- he was simply continuing his original message (love your neighbor, love god).

remember verse 12 about the love of the many cooling off?

the verse right after that talks about enduring to the end.

herk

Canon,

Apparently you didn't get my point. Nobody here is arguing against Bible knowledge. But mere guesswork and speculation - reading between the lines - does not amount to Bible knowledge.

91

It's so simple -- Matthew 24

by cruzanheart in

so here i was this evening, reading the old familiar matthew 24 with the kids before bedtime, but i was reading out of our very nice contemporary parallel new testament, specifically the message version, and i had this sudden realization: jesus didn't give us a really complicated, mysterious prophecy that had different types and antitypes -- he was simply continuing his original message (love your neighbor, love god).

remember verse 12 about the love of the many cooling off?

the verse right after that talks about enduring to the end.

herk

Tyler,

I'm sorry if my thoughts offend you.

your empty character assassination you present above.

Would you kindly show me in what sentence I hinted that I was offended? Would you also kindly show in what sentence I engaged in "character assassination"? If these are things you saw in my brief note above, perhaps that explains why you see so much in Matthew 24 that really isn't there.

As for my explanation, please see my longer entry above.

151

Dr. Laura

by AuntieJane in

jw
friends

i listen to her regularly.

i don't always agree w. her but usually have to admit that she is right from a moral standpoint.

god knows we need more of that in this world!.

herk

Dedalus,

Who would there be if Dr. Laura wasn't there for the millions of people who tune in and appreciate her advice? Do you think you could fill the bill?

Far more listeners are grateful for her than the number who dislike her. She's popular for a reason. Many people never got the good advice they needed from their parents, their schools or their churches, even their colleges. I for one marvel at the good common sense she teaches that is missing so much from the lives of people I work with and communicate with in other ways throughout every week of every year.

Occasionally I even hear something like, "Did you listen to Dr. Laura yesterday? Isn't she amazing? She makes such good sense. I don't know how she does it day-after-day." How many of us would be able to uphold a reputation like that despite all the propaganda out there from people who can't stand her guts?

Sure, she's not perfect. Nobody is. And she's bound to give advice we might not agree with. For that reason it's easy to find fault and to tear apart what she stands for. But tearing apart is easy. When somebody comes forward with something better, I'll be all ears.

8

If women can be of the annoited, why can't they lead the congregation ???

by run dont walk in

jw
friends

doesn't this contradict itself .............. if a women can be of the "annoited" class, but a man who is 20 fresh out of puberty, still has more say at the kingdom hall then she does.

(closing prayer, giving talks, etc.

so, when she goes to heaven after death, what will she be doing, serving coffee and doing the disciples laundry ?????????

herk

Lady Lee,

Another interesting factor is that the MAJORITY of "the anointed remnant" have been women. I'm going on the basis of tallies that were made of Memorial partakers in years past. So, if the "faithful and discreet slave class," composed predominantly of women, was to supply "food at the proper time," it just doesn't make sense that such women have had no share in teaching the so-called "great crowd of other sheep."

91

It's so simple -- Matthew 24

by cruzanheart in

so here i was this evening, reading the old familiar matthew 24 with the kids before bedtime, but i was reading out of our very nice contemporary parallel new testament, specifically the message version, and i had this sudden realization: jesus didn't give us a really complicated, mysterious prophecy that had different types and antitypes -- he was simply continuing his original message (love your neighbor, love god).

remember verse 12 about the love of the many cooling off?

the verse right after that talks about enduring to the end.

herk

Tyler,

You seem pretty dogmatic for expounding a mere theory. I've done a lot of reading on the history of Christianity, and I can only conclude that your opinion is based on what was written by somebody who despises Christ and Christianity. Based on hundreds of books I've read, your theory makes no sense at all.

The WT explanation is a bit messed up but it seems to me that your view is even more so. I'm not here to pick a fight. I'm just giving you my honest evaluation.

91

It's so simple -- Matthew 24

by cruzanheart in

so here i was this evening, reading the old familiar matthew 24 with the kids before bedtime, but i was reading out of our very nice contemporary parallel new testament, specifically the message version, and i had this sudden realization: jesus didn't give us a really complicated, mysterious prophecy that had different types and antitypes -- he was simply continuing his original message (love your neighbor, love god).

remember verse 12 about the love of the many cooling off?

the verse right after that talks about enduring to the end.

herk

Nina,

I like your analysis. Some interpreters arrive at really far-fetched explanations of what Jesus meant: "This Greek word means this, and that syllable suggests that, etc." When Jesus returns, I really doubt he's going to hand out rewards because we were good at reading between the lines of what he said and dogmatically saying this applies to this and that applies to that. Neither will he commend those who got to every meeting and got their hours in and carefully underlined their WT lessons. Instead, near the end of the sermon that he began in Matthew 24, he drove his message home with this easy to understand lesson:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. ... Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.'" (Matthew 25:34-40)

So, it seems to me that Jesus' main message in Matthew 24 was that - while we have time for it before he returns - we should take the initiative to show love, especially towards the less fortunate. I'm in full agreement with you that The Message supplies some renderings well worth considering. It puts the above text this way:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me. ... I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.'"

The "least" of Christ's brothers are not the self-centered and arrogant organization known as the WT Society and its associates. I think The Message has it right, and other translations agree: "Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me."

8

If women can be of the annoited, why can't they lead the congregation ???

by run dont walk in

jw
friends

doesn't this contradict itself .............. if a women can be of the "annoited" class, but a man who is 20 fresh out of puberty, still has more say at the kingdom hall then she does.

(closing prayer, giving talks, etc.

so, when she goes to heaven after death, what will she be doing, serving coffee and doing the disciples laundry ?????????

herk

I think this is an excellent question. The members of the so-called "anointed class" are supposed to be the ones commissioned to serve spiritual "food at the proper time." But in the WT scheme of things, it's the other way around. Young men with little experience in life or as a JW are assigned to give "instruction" talks, and they're authorized to preside at congregation book studies and other meetings. They preside at meetings for field service where "anointed" sisters are instructed what to say as they speak the JW message to others.

This is just another piece of evidence that JWs don't really do any serious thinking about their religion. They simply do what they're told, no questions asked, despite the unreasonableness and unscripturalness that constantly confront them in the organization.

151

Dr. Laura

by AuntieJane in

jw
friends

i listen to her regularly.

i don't always agree w. her but usually have to admit that she is right from a moral standpoint.

god knows we need more of that in this world!.

herk

Dr. Laura's website is still up and running at http://www.drlaura.com/.

Persons who subscribe for $6.95 a month can even listen to the entire program for yesterday (May 28) by going to http://www.drlaura.com/listen/.