Posts by Faithful Witness

34

An increase in security at this summer's conventions??

by gingerbread in

jw
friends

we've heard from friends in two separate congregations in our city that convention security will be tight.. the brothers made announcements this week and reminded everyone to be sure to wear their name badges.

those that don't may be questioned and have their belongings searched.

the same will be happen to anyone arriving during the sessions.

Faithful Witness

Maybe they are looking for recording devices.

4

"Those with Special Needs"

by Separation of Powers in

jw
friends

so, we all remember the old "special needs room request" form from the old district convention arrangement.

those with accomodations in bigger cities where the district assemblies were being held would provide a room within their homes to house brothers with nominal resources.

at times, however, where these accomodations were unavailable, the congregation itself would put up the funds to assist brothers with the cost of the room (on the list).

Faithful Witness

"Who really is the faithful and discreet slave, whom the master has appointed over his household, to give him food at the proper time?"

Apples are food!

27

Anonymous Donation - Not!

by why144000 in

jw
friends

my mother in law (in her 80's) just told me that she had the elders around to pick up her 'donation' pledge.

it was 'suggested that $20 a month was the average amount pledged but she could pledge more or less.

so, rather than an anonymous amount they have a signed document stating the amount of her pledge.

Faithful Witness

We suggest you give the "average" voluntary contribution of $20/month.

Sounds like they got the script from the telemarketer fundraisers. "Your neighbors are giving x amount..."

(are you as charitable as your neighbor????)

(are you really giving enough?)

(are you good enough?)

19

Broad and Spacious Road to Destruction, or Narrow Gate to Life??

by stuckinarut2 in

so we all know of the parable / illustration at matt 7:13.

"go in through the narrow gate, because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones finding it, or going in through it".

here is a brain snapping thought that hit me!:.

Faithful Witness

It was recently explained to me, by a friend who actually tends sheep (a modern day shepherd), that sheep actually recognize their shepherd's voice. They will not come to a stranger, even one who tries to imitate their shepherd.

I found this very interesting, in light of what Jesus said about His sheep... and the gate that His sheep would go through: Jesus is the gate!

John 10:1-10 - Jesus is the gate

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jesus identified himself as the gate ("door," depending which translation you read).

Take the original verse (Matthew 7:13) that was quoted, in context. If you read the entire chapter, and continue the train of thought that Jesus was on, when he spoke of the narrow gate in Matthew, you read:

Matt 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Matt 7:7

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matt 7:12 (golden rule)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matt 7:13

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matt 7:15-16

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matt 7:24-27 (**Is the Watchtower built on a rock, or does it shift on the sand?**)

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matt 7:28 - Jesus establishes His authority

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus is the gate. Jesus is the only way.

Watchtower has inserted itself as a sort of body guard, as if they can judge who can enter the gate... or have they set themselves up as the gate?

I'm still confused about current JW doctrine. Does the Governing Body claim to speak for Jehovah, or do they claim to speak for Christ?

48

Strike 3 for the elderette and me! (???) I never heard a JW talk SO much about Jesus!

by Faithful Witness in

miss k and her friend miss w arrived promptly today.

our scheduled topic of discussion: jesus' claim to be "the way, the truth and the life..." john 14:6 since she was basing this topic choice on the fact that i had quoted that verse, i'm not sure why... she spent what seemed like a very long time, hopping through scriptures that all said that jesus was the truth, the way, or the life.

ok, so we agreed... i kept waiting for her to get to a point, or sway from this principle.. of course, she summed up with scriptures that show how jesus submits to the father, and what does that mean we should do?

Faithful Witness

Chalam: Thank you. I like this train of thought. It seems to throw her off her game, when I ask a question that is not in the Reasoning book. She had a simiilar reaction, when I asked her the question, "What is the truth?" She said, "The Bible." She could not answer, when I asked, "What is the message of the Bible?"

35

Watchtower Really Does Totally Take The Position of Jesus

by OnTheWayOut in

watchtower has said that jesus is not the mediator of anyone but for the anointed.

then they tell you that they are jehovah's organization and that the flock should obey them.. basically, the watchtower corp. and it's governing body is taking the place of jesus as the mediator for people.

christianity, even by it's name, focuses on making jesus known.

Faithful Witness

This last point, about "The Truth," is excellent! I will bring this up with my elderette, if I decide to let her back into my house.

48

Strike 3 for the elderette and me! (???) I never heard a JW talk SO much about Jesus!

by Faithful Witness in

miss k and her friend miss w arrived promptly today.

our scheduled topic of discussion: jesus' claim to be "the way, the truth and the life..." john 14:6 since she was basing this topic choice on the fact that i had quoted that verse, i'm not sure why... she spent what seemed like a very long time, hopping through scriptures that all said that jesus was the truth, the way, or the life.

ok, so we agreed... i kept waiting for her to get to a point, or sway from this principle.. of course, she summed up with scriptures that show how jesus submits to the father, and what does that mean we should do?

Faithful Witness

Blondie: I should be fair. I might have misrepresented how she talked about it. After she got flustered and sort of threw up her hands, about how she didn't really see why I would be worried about filling out time cards... There was actually a moment of silence, and that is when I asked her about it another way:

"How much fruit are you producing in the door-to-door preaching work? In 40+ years, how many people have you seen join the organization, as a result of the field ministry?"

She then started remembering and thinking out loud, about "Let's see... I studied with this lady, and that lady..." etc.

When I tried to give her credit for converting them to JW, she got defensive. "I didn't CONVERT anyone! They decided on their own, to follow the truth. I didn't decide for them." I would not describe her attitude or demeanor as prideful, when she was talking about those cases. I do think she was trying to give some credibility to the usefulness of the work they are forced to do, (I mean that they volunteer to do out of LOVE).

48

Strike 3 for the elderette and me! (???) I never heard a JW talk SO much about Jesus!

by Faithful Witness in

miss k and her friend miss w arrived promptly today.

our scheduled topic of discussion: jesus' claim to be "the way, the truth and the life..." john 14:6 since she was basing this topic choice on the fact that i had quoted that verse, i'm not sure why... she spent what seemed like a very long time, hopping through scriptures that all said that jesus was the truth, the way, or the life.

ok, so we agreed... i kept waiting for her to get to a point, or sway from this principle.. of course, she summed up with scriptures that show how jesus submits to the father, and what does that mean we should do?

Faithful Witness

There are a few purposes of the field service (non)requirement... mainly CONTROL:

They keep you from associating with worldly people or non-believing relatives.
They give you a "good" excuse not to participate in family activities (especially Saturdays).
They can indoctrinate you with even more JW memes (look at the vultures! The end is near!) and reinforce their own agenda.
To monitor your behavior, make you dress up on your day off.
Keep you so busy, you don't have time to do anything personal... and keep you off sites like this one.

The same reason they make you do repetitive reading assignments and homework.

Keep the outsiders OUT, and the insiders IN... that is the motivation for all the instructions. I just saw a clip of Ray Frantz, where he said something to this effect. The decisions made by the Governing Body are not directed by God, but by their own love of power.

It is US against THEM! To a JW, it is JW's against the WORLD. To the Governing Body, it is GB vs JW independence.

Have you seen the movie 1984? Keep repeating the same ideas, and the people believe it completely. "You are doing this out of love for Jehovah. You love working for the Kingdom. You are in the Truth. Endure to the end. It is so close now. Jehovah will deliver us."

18

How long have you been an online "apostate?"

by Faithful Witness in

jw
friends

i really do not like that word (apostate), as used to represent someone who decided to remove themselves, or was removed from the influence of the watchtower... but i am curious.. how long have websites like these been in existence?

when did this movement begin?.

personally, how long did it take for you to dare exploring information outside the watchtower publications, about jehovah's witnesses (especially online)?.

Faithful Witness

It is very interesting, that they are launching a big campaign, instructing their publishers to start promoting JW.ORG.

Are they oblivious to the information people are going to find, when they decide to look up Jehovah's Witnesses on the internet, or is there some kind of plan being developed, that they think will discourage an internet-savvy person from digging into the truth?

48

Strike 3 for the elderette and me! (???) I never heard a JW talk SO much about Jesus!

by Faithful Witness in

miss k and her friend miss w arrived promptly today.

our scheduled topic of discussion: jesus' claim to be "the way, the truth and the life..." john 14:6 since she was basing this topic choice on the fact that i had quoted that verse, i'm not sure why... she spent what seemed like a very long time, hopping through scriptures that all said that jesus was the truth, the way, or the life.

ok, so we agreed... i kept waiting for her to get to a point, or sway from this principle.. of course, she summed up with scriptures that show how jesus submits to the father, and what does that mean we should do?

Faithful Witness

I don't remember if I mentioned this part of our conversation, and it just came back to mind. When I asked her about how much "fruit" she had produced from her door-to-door ministry work, she listed several people she had studied with, who had gone on to be baptized. Of course, neither of them mentioned how they had both forced their children to be raised in the cult, so there are a several more (as the 3rd generation of this family is also in the grips of the org). My heart was sinking, as I listened to her, remembering all the people she had brought "into the truth." (This woman needs to be stopped!)

I made the comment that even though she had reached a few, it took a lot of "work" for them to reach people. 40 years of knocking on doors... "Do you think it's time for them to update their preaching methods?"

She stopped and looked at me, and I repeated back a comment from Miss W, "You admitted, '99% of the time, we do not reach anyone.' Do you think the organization could find a more effective way to spread the kingdom message, if it is so urgent?... Why not advertise on TV or even YouTube, like the Mormons do?"

Miss K came to life at that comment. She sat up taller, and her face got brighter, "We are about to start the GREATEST campaign yet! We will be promoting our website, JW.ORG, very soon. People may not be willing to talk to us, but they WILL visit a website."

After her use of that video with me, "Why should we study the bible?" from the home page on Jehovah's website, I can see how this tool will actually be useful in the hands of an effective preacher like Miss K. She has practiced well.

BUT - She obviously has not thought of the ramifications of using the internet to promote cult-think. Somehow, JW.ORG is going to have to convince interested people that their website is the ONLY TRUTH, existing on the evil world wide web. I might ask her about this again.

How will you convince a householder, or just a casual visitor to JW.ORG that this is the ONLY website that has the truth about Jehovah's Witnesses? Don't you think it might be dangerous to send people to the internet, to find out about your organization?

Are you practicing how to present JW.ORG, but somehow also tell them no other website about them is truthful?

Have you REALLY explored and examined the information that is on the internet? How familiar are you with the actual history of the Jehovah's Witnesses?

How will you explain away the teachings and writings of your founder, Charles Taze Russell, and the behaviors of Judge Rutherford? Why was the president of the organization, AFTER being appointed as the faithful and discreet slave, living in a palace and driving 2 Cadillacs, during the Great Depression? Have you ever seen the videos of Rutherford at Beth Sarim? Is that how God wanted his people treated by his faithful and discreet slave? It seems like this example really does demonstrate that he was not actually FEEDING God's people during that time (I assume JW's were hungry, along with the rest of the country... I guess it wasn't the proper time for the flock to actually EAT FOOD). Wouldn't it make sense that the faithful and discreet slave should have been almost perfect, if he had just been appointed by Christ? In Matthew 24, doesn't it say, 'If the Master finds him so doing...' How do you explain this, when someone finds it on the internet?"

How will you warn householders to avoid websites like jwFACTS.org?

I really think the Watchtower is digging their own grave, by attempting to promote themselves on the internet. They have proudly printed millions of copies of their publications, changing doctrine and "adjusting their understanding" of the Word of God for over 130 years.

--------------

They also managed to get in a statement, claiming that the Mormons don't have the requirement of going from door-to-door anymore. I might check that story with 2 young Mormons I keep seeing at the library.