Posts by mizpah

43

Why Are So Many JWs Ex-Catholic?

by SpannerintheWorks in

is it just my imagination, or are a disproportionate of jws ex-catholic?.

were you a catholic before a jw?.

why did you feel that the jw religion was "better" than the "catholic" one?.

mizpah

I think that there should be one more factor to consider. Many city Catholics attend a large church building where often no one knows or speaks to the other person. There is no sense of community or fellowship in many of these churches. While it may be true in some Protestant churches as well, most Protestant churches usually offer a little more friendliness and warmth.

Jehovah's Witnesses usually overwhelm a visitor with an appearance of Christian love and concern. If a person is not familiar with this kind of reception, they come away very impressed and interested. This was my first impression. And when coupled with people who were really interested in religion as a "way of life" rather than just a ritual, I was convinced that this was "the truth."

It was only years of observing questionable conduct and the superficiality of this "love" that I began to have doubts. But in the begining it was a powerful draw.

38

Encouragement for new members

by hooberus in

there are alot of new members here, and i just wanted to say that although most here don't believe that the wt is "god's organization" there are many such as myself (i have never been a jw) that believe that the bible is inspired scripture*.

loosing faith in a religious organization does not necessarily mean that you must also loose faith in god.

i have a personal relationship withn the god of the bible and can tell you that he is real and wonderful.

mizpah

Logansrun:

Nor did you answer my question. But I think Little Witch and Jgnat are probably right. Hooberus started this thead as an appeal to Christians with only a footnote for non-believers. But the thread got sidetracked into another discussion completely. Perhaps it would be wiser for you to start one of your own and see if there are interested responses. I apologize, Hooberus, for contributing to this diversion.

21

A real "Governing Body"?

by OHappyDay in

i'm sure the question has been asked before, but i can't help but wonder to what extent the first "governing body" was any way like the governing body today?.

is it not ironic that the apostle paul, who was not a member of the "governing body" was used by god to write most of the new testament?.

of the "governing body," only james and peter wrote anything of instruction letters to christians, one book for james and two for peter.. why, in addressing christians on life and conduct, did god apparently bypass the "governing body"?

mizpah

Room 215

Good points. While it is quite true that there were positions in the early congregations (elders, ministerial servants (deacons) and overseers) Jesus Christ made it quite clear that these men were not to "rule over" their brothers but were there as "servants" to assist. However, as the congregations became distant (in time) to the apostles and early disciples the roles began to change. It is said that "power corrupts." As these leaders in the congregations began to forget Jesus' counsel and imitate the world and thereby corrupt the simple and natural arrangements of the early church. Home churches gave way to Cathedrals. Meetings of fellowship gave way to ritualistic services. Servants gave way to rulers.

But we should not be surprised at this since Jesus himself warned about the wolves who would enter the flock and devour them. And if John gives an symbolic picture of the state of the churches in Revelation we know that the conditions would not change until Christ returned.

38

Encouragement for new members

by hooberus in

there are alot of new members here, and i just wanted to say that although most here don't believe that the wt is "god's organization" there are many such as myself (i have never been a jw) that believe that the bible is inspired scripture*.

loosing faith in a religious organization does not necessarily mean that you must also loose faith in god.

i have a personal relationship withn the god of the bible and can tell you that he is real and wonderful.

mizpah

Funkyderek:

No, what I am saying is offer me something better than the Christian teaching to enrich my life and to help others. Is the "Christain worldview" to love one's neighbors, to help the poor and to live a decent moral live so flawed? Then, offer your alternative. I'll be more than happy to listen and to consider another "world view."

Christians have always been encouraged to "test" faith. But when other beliefs fail to satisfy the above, then a Christian resolve is to "stand firm" and to continue faith in Christ.

I suspect the annoyance has more to do with the failure to convince and the resulting antipathy when this failure becomes evident.

38

Encouragement for new members

by hooberus in

there are alot of new members here, and i just wanted to say that although most here don't believe that the wt is "god's organization" there are many such as myself (i have never been a jw) that believe that the bible is inspired scripture*.

loosing faith in a religious organization does not necessarily mean that you must also loose faith in god.

i have a personal relationship withn the god of the bible and can tell you that he is real and wonderful.

mizpah

Logansrun:

If you can offer me something better than "love your neighbor as yourself" or "love God with your whole heart, soul and mind" I might be interested. What do you offer to "replace it?"

6

Can a past paedophile be an elder?

by Yizuman in

spotted this on another forum and i thought this was interesting, what does everyone think of this??

?here is the policy in a letter to all elders dated june 1 2001. read paragraph #4 here: http://www.randytv.com/secret/britainped1.jpg.

for the entire letter go here: http://www.randytv.com/secret/abuseletters.htm.

mizpah

Yiz:

I thought I had just recently read a posting that quoted a Watchtower source as saying that one could serve as an elder again if sufficient time had passed (25 years) and his conduct was without spot. But I can't remember where it was.

I do know of a case where a presiding elder dumped his wife and married a younger sister in the congregation. Both were disfellowshipped and both were reinstated. After a few years, this person was appointed as an presiding elder once again. This was a small rural congregation where all the old timers knew the situation. Many outsiders in the community also were aware of the circumstance. It always seemed to fly in the face that elders were to be "irreprehensible." But this "brother" had a successful business and was always very generous to the visiting circuit and district overseers. Need I say more?

3

Bible Students and Christ's presence

by Noumenon in

am i correct in understanding that the religious group known as the bible students, who still hold to charle's russell's teachings, still actually belief and officially subsribe to the notion that christ invisibly returned in 1874?

can anyone confirm this?.

if this is correct, i feel this is a glimpse of how the wts will never drop 1914. what may happen is there may eventually be a split, probably shortly after 2014, with a new group dropping 1914 and revisiting all prophecies with fresh interpretations, while jehovah's witnesses will remain with those still dogmatically sticking to 1914, much like the bible students group still hold to 1874.

mizpah

Neumenon:

That is my understanding. Some of these groups still use the Studies in the Scriptures as basis for their Bible Studies. There is one group in Florida that still sends me a newsletter every now and again. But I can't think of the name of the group at this time. They call Russell "that servant." I think it has reference to the "faithful and wise servant" of Matthew. This title was, of course, the one that Russell's wife conferred upon him. By the way, did you know that Maria Russell co-authored the Studies series with Charles? (Apocalypse Delayed by Penton)

If I get another newsletter, I will let you know the name of the group and their location. And if you are interested, you can write them to confirm the above.

8

JW Funeral Update

by smurfette in

i just thought i'd let everyone here know that my grandma's funeral went better than expected.

thank you to eveyone who offered me advice and support.

it helped me more than i can even let you know.

mizpah

Smurfette:

My sincere sympathy to you and your family. It is always a difficult thing to lose a loved one. And there always remains a void in one's life. But warm and loving memories help to heal the pain.

We've had occasion with the death of my mother to contrast the simple service we had for her with that of my father conducted at the Kingdom Hall. It always bothered me even as a Witness that JWs always took these personal occasions for an opportunity to preach. Those in attendance that were not JWs were literually a "captive audience." On more than one occasion we observed them squirming in their seats as the "lecture" continued on.

My mother's funeral service was conducted by an elderly gentleman who had been a funeral director. His words were a memorial to the life of my mother. He spoke with tenderness and kindness. He he was mercifully brief. We always appreciated his thoughtfulness.

20

"New Light" on the generation doctrine may have been too early yet?

by reporter in

back in this thread, the generation doctrine was being discussed.

i've thought about what the society wrote below.how long a time period would these last days prove to be?

jesus said regarding the era that would experience the "beginning of pangs of distress" from 1914 onward: "this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.

mizpah

Garybus:

A very astute lisiting of the various types of JWs. I will file your comments for future use.

11

Is the Watchtower's idea of preaching what Jesus had in mind?

by Latin assassin from Manhattan in

what kind of preaching was jesus talking about in mathew 24:14?

it seems to me that jesus wanted christians to preach the hope of the resurrection to mankind.

nowhere in the bible, does it say that christians were to preach their own interpretation of bible prophecy as the wts does today.

mizpah

OHappyDay:

A very good observation. I guess "actions speak louder than words" applied in the first century, too. But we don't want to forget that the spoken word did play an important role: "With the heart one excercises faith, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation." When anyone of us gets good news we like to share it with others. It was no different in the first century about the "good news" concerning Christ. But that is quite different from the programed ministry and message of Jehovah's Witnesses today. But you are right. The actions of the early Christians were as important as the spoken word....and probably in some instances even more important.