I've read through many of the emotional pros and cons about this case. One of the things I learned early in life is that things are sometimes just not fair. But somtimes, what's fair or not fair is simply the perception of each individual. What seems fair to one seems unfair to another. This MB deal is a perfect example of perception. One thing that helps me is still having faith that there is a loving personal being(s) (Jehovah/Jesus) that will make things right. Most people participating on this website have some JW background as I do (45+ years). I know many have been burned by the controlling WT tactics and may have lost faith in a loving being. Perhaps I come accross naive and some will belittle my comment. But nevertheless, my belief helps me deal with injustice or perceived injustice. I hope and pray that things will ultimately work out well for everyone. In the meantime, we can all treat those in our personal circle with love, respect, and be peaceful. If everyone did that instead reacting with anger and violence, even this messed up world would be a much better place. To quote Rodney King, 'Can't we all just get along?'
Lightgrowsbrighter
JoinedPosts by Lightgrowsbrighter
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95
Michael Brown verdict discussion policy - take II
by Simon ini had originally thought that making the rules clear about what was and wasn't going to be allowed when discussing the michael brown verdict that we'd be able to avoid some of the unpleasantness that surrounded the subsequent trayvon martin trial discussions.. michael brown verdict discussion policy.
i had hoped that once the evidence came out there would not be as many people promoting opinions that contradicted it.
unfortunately, that appears to have been naive of me.
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do jws even read and absorb mathew ch 5 and 6 ?
by sowhatnow ini mean its says right in there not to pray in public, or babble on, how many 10 minuet long babbling prayers have you endured ??.
where in the bible does it tell us anyone prayed for a large group of people publicly, or even in front of the family at their homes?.
it says in vs 14 to be forgiving, how can disfellowshipping someone be forgiving?
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Your average JW elder would- with their WT training- present to you Matt. 18:15-17 as proof that Jesus condoned DF'ing. They then cleverly cross-reference that to Paul's words in 1 Cor. 5:11 to 'stop keeping company' with such a man. It's useless to debate this with the average rank and file JW (as with every other dogmatic WT teaching). But if someone is open to it, it's clear from the context of Jesus words in Matt. 18 that the entire congregation would simply treat the indivdual 'as a man of the nations'. There is no secret judical committe, public slander/gossip, or even shunning. They would just simply no longer be viewed as part of the congregation. It's easy to make Paul's words in 1 Cor. 5 and 2 John 9,10 look like support for DF'ing. But again, looked at through the loving eyes of Jesus, clearly the legalistic judicial style of the WT is unscriptural and has done much, much more harm than good. JW's are told this keeps the congregation 'clean', but it is primarily a scare tactic and control mechanism. You are right sowhatnow. It would be amazing for the WT leadership to back off this hard line stance and apply the main part of Christianity- LOVE and forgiveness. Unfortunately, they seem to be getting even more harsh....
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Bill Cosby - too much smoke for no fire?
by Simon init seems like the list of people who are accusing him of rape and sexual assault is growing every day.
i'm skeptical of single accusations but the number of people and the similar stories seem overwhelming now.. it's not a conviction but to the court of public opinion ... guilty?.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Perhaps a judicial commitee could be formed- that will get the bottom of this.
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why did they have to butcher the kingdom melodies?
by purrpurr inits not like there was anything wrong with them was there?
i used to love the old ones.
these new ones feel like the equivalent of a deflated balloon.. does anyone have the answer?.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Purrpurr- I've had the same exact emotions as you about some of the Kingdom Melodies. I was raised in and involved for 40 + years as a 3rd gen JW serving in many capacities. For reasons similar to yours, I've been away from the org for several years. Some of my favorite old Kingdom songs still move me to tears (and I'm a guy thats not supposed to be emotional like that). I don't think that that's a bad thing... so many of us were in for the right reasons and those songs remind us of that. Jehovah and Jesus still love and respect us for our decisions to leave despite what many of our 'friends' in the org tell us.
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OKM 10/14: Preach the word; be at it urgently
by darkspilver inthat's their new monthly theme!.
that's all folks!.
dark spliver.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
The NWT translates the Greek word 'epistethi' as 'urgent' in this verse. Literally translated this simply means to 'be ready'. Basic bible research and a comparison with other translations show the broader meaning of this verse. Other translations render 'urgent' as 'be diligent', 'be prepared', 'be instant', and 'persist'. It's convenient to translate it as 'urgent' in order to keep the rank and file always on the edge of their seat and feeling guilty for not doing enough. It never fails to amaze me how bible translators can ignore the broad meaning of a verse, and focus only on a narrow meaning to suit their agenda. In this case, I think it's the WT's attempt to breathe life into the 1914 deal and whip the faithful into a frenzy for the '100th anniversary of Jesus invisible heavenly rule'.
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The GB gives awakened JW's 2 choices.
by BU2B inthis is classic damned if you do, damned if you dont.. the choice is.
1. be a hypocrite.
i just came to the realization that those of us still in and who know ttatt have only 2choices.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
*their
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The GB gives awakened JW's 2 choices.
by BU2B inthis is classic damned if you do, damned if you dont.. the choice is.
1. be a hypocrite.
i just came to the realization that those of us still in and who know ttatt have only 2choices.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
BU2B, I believe you are correct. I agree with some of the other comments about the slooow fade, my wife and I have done this over the past couple of years. We are lifers with many family members in and baptized for over 30 years. With that said, although we are not DF'd, we have been cut off by many of our old 'friends' and I'm sure would be listed in the 'apostate' column by many active JW's. Very painful process. I still have real friends both in and out of the org that struggle with this. I keep hoping that the WT GB will soften there firm stand on this issue which acutually makes THEM apostate (see Romans 14:1-4), but unfortunately, the current trend seems to be going the other way. My advice is to not let these men destroy your faith despite the difficult choice you make.
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They are Definitely Attacking "Higher Education"
by XBEHERE ina friend of mine recently had his co visit and in the elders meeting the co out-right asked the question: how are the friends doing in your cong.
as regards pursuing higher education?
the co continued...you know in view of all the counsel from the slave regarding the dangers.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
Interesting that the new April 2014 Awake magazine has another article on a brother who is University educated. It speaks of him being a 'pharmaceutical research(er) at the University of Ghent in Belgium'. Good thought writing commitee, BUT, where does the hypocrisy end??? I just had a family member who is in college have his 'privileges' removed because he didn't respect the WT's stand on higher education. Will the WT leaders ever let go of their arrogant opinions and realize they are just 'God's fellow workers'? 1 Cor. 3:9 Sheesh....
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New awake up on jw.org about suicide
by hoser inthey have printed a series of articles about suicide.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
They are walking a thin line commenting on the subject of suicide. The counsel to 'talk to someone' including 'people who care... including family members and friends' is pretty tough if a person is disfellowshipped. Perhaps the WT writers should consider their own collective guilt in destroying people mentally with the abuse of disfellowshipping. Some who have been DF'd become suicidal and get a very cold response- at best- from those within the borg.
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They are Definitely Attacking "Higher Education"
by XBEHERE ina friend of mine recently had his co visit and in the elders meeting the co out-right asked the question: how are the friends doing in your cong.
as regards pursuing higher education?
the co continued...you know in view of all the counsel from the slave regarding the dangers.
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Lightgrowsbrighter
This controversy about attending college is another sad consequence of the overseers charged with 'shepherding the flock' overstepping their boundaries and ignoring the Apostle Paul's pointed counsel in 1 Cor. 4:6 and Romans 14. Some of the warnings about college education have a measure of truth- i.e. temptations of the frat life, huge debt etc. It's OK for the WT commentary to point these dangers out, but if they want to be viewed as balanced (which they frequently claim) they should also comment on the positive side of a college education. Then, as Jesus would do, let people make their own decisions. This would then end the not-so-subtle judgements that are so frequent among JW's involving personal decisions.
Interestingly, I have had several family members who are active JW's attend college. Recently, one of them was told by the local elders that they could not consider him as a MS because of his being in college. They will however let him 'run the mics'. I guess it's OK to do 'menial' jobs like running the mics, but not a have a more 'prominent priviledge'. Maybe time for another letter 'clarifying' what the Bible writers forgot to mention...