this one is shorter than usual (!
), since it makes a simple point, based on jesus' example found in john 8:.
http://awgue.weebly.com/would-jesus-shun.html.
That was a nice angle!
The force with which JWs shun the apostate shows how weak they are. When you sneeze, if your nose will go flown off, you have no other option than sneezing at the cost of your nose. If JWs conviction is going to melt on association with ex-JWs, is it worth living with such conviction?
when you pray do you still use the name jehovah.
i still do.
Jesus presents God as a BENEVOLENT FATHER and asked his listeners to manifest the same quality—doing good for its own sake (not for any reward in return). He said our Heavenly Father “ causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” And he added: “Be perfect [or whole], therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” ( Matthew 5:44-48) He also said: “i f you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give GOOD GIFTS!” (Matthew 7:11) “Every good gift and every perfect present comes from the Father of lights,” says another Bible writer. (James 1:17). This idea of God as being the epitome of GOODNESS (Shivam in Sanskrit), runs throughout the Bible: “ How abundant are the GOOD things that you have stored up for those who fear you.” “T aste and see that the Lord is GOOD.” (Psalms 31:19; 34:8 also see J eremiah 31:14) Then comes the shortest sentence in the Bible which is richest in meaning: “ God is [source of] love.” (1 John 4:8) When it says God is love, it uses the Greek word agape for love, meaning principled/unselfish love, which is deep and constant, characterized by constant care, or “UNCONQUERABLE BENEVOLENCE, invincible goodwill,” says Greek Scholar William Barclay. This idea of benevolence is more pronounced in the name ancient Indian Sages coined: Shiva Baba, meaningour MOST BENEVOLENT FATHER. In Sanskrit SHIVA means "benign, kind, pure, auspicious,” and BABA means Father. This accommodates two vital verses in the Bible which reveal His primary attribute, from which a name could be coined.—Isaian 48:17; Mark 10:8.
Permission of multiple languages presupposes various words for this primary attribute, hence various acceptable names in each languages! What is to be remembered is that a name is only a symbol; what is symbolyzed is more important than the symbol.—Ps 138:2.
my birthday isn't until the end of july but yesterday i got my first birthday gift in the mail.
my best friend (stubborn disbeliever) sent me my gift early.
i know what it is, but seeing it all wrapped up and knowing on my birthday i can open it...it really struck a cord with me.
Wish you a happy birth-day!
GB wanted to be different, hence brought in sensitive subjects like BIRTHDAY under the pretext of a “valid reason” that birth day celebrations invite undue attention to the person-something they themselves were doing all these years by elevating themselves over others misapplying Mathew 24:45 (which actually applies to EACH individual’s preparedness before Lord’s coming, not about the appointed channel on earth)
i have to admit i never really thought about this question until one of my classmates challenged me with this very question.
she made an excellant point and i have to admit i am asking myself the same question does jehovah enjoy watching people suffer.
the case she brought up was the flood story.
God should be known from the work He has performed, not from accounts such as Noah’s flood, which obviously was written by man to suit his convenience. Out of countless example, take just one example of his work: Tree.
TREE is a true symbol of God, the Benefactor. It silently works to produce fruits which are to be enjoyed by others who may appreciate the tree or not. While itself being in the hot sun, it provides refreshing shade to other beings. What better lesson can we have on the principle of ALTRUISM, “taking delight in the welfare of all beings” which is the very basis of spirituality, also called “eternal duty” (sanatana dharma)? (Gita 12:4, 20) Take the case of trees, such as mango. It produces seed in the memory of which countless future generations of that tree remain protected [the sanskrit word for continued existence, something that which remains same always—was, is, and will be—is SATYAM = truth]; then it covers the seed with flesh which will be a deliciously beneficial treat for other beings [SHIVOM = benevolence]; and finally it presents it to us in attractive/appealing colors [SUNDARAM = beauty]. Thus they display God’s cardinal qualities also.
Here is the syllogysm:
The benevolent will not watch his babies dying in a flood
God is Ultimate Benevolent
Hence Noah’s flood has not occurred!
Therefore, look at a fruit-bearing tree, you will know God better!
i have to admit i never really thought about this question until one of my classmates challenged me with this very question.
she made an excellant point and i have to admit i am asking myself the same question does jehovah enjoy watching people suffer.
the case she brought up was the flood story.
Ancient Kings and “royal” priests wanted it that way, so they depicted God to suit their agenda. It has nothing to do with the real God!
For example, one who went to gather fire-wood on Sabbath day, was given death punishment. (Number 15:32-36, this suits the priestly class) But when David commited adultery (inspite of having “concubines and wives.”--2 Samuel 5:13; 12:7-8, Chronicles 3:1-9; 14:3) and arranged a most heinous murder of Bethsheba’s husband, David was not given death-punishment (this suits the kingly class).
at the hieght of my jehovah's witnessness like most people it seemed that everything that i found joy in was always bookmarked with the "new system" that i was eagerly awaiting.
if i went on vacation and i was truly enjoying a moment in the sun and total peace the first thought out of someones mouth was always, "just imagine(i am sure everyone knows what is coming next) in the future when everyday will be like this in the new system!".
then there were those anniversary parties when you are so proud someone made 20 or 25 years and the next word out someones mouth inevitably was, "this is a great milestone... but just imagine in the new system when we will say how proud we are we made it to 1 million!!!!..
I can magine how you feel. When I look back to the years I was with JWs, I myself could not believe what I did--I ask myself: how could I do that? When the Bible describes the Governments of this world as "God's minister," (Romas 13:4) JWs view them as Satan's agents, and refrain from voting! Can there be a better joke than this?
