Good post Donny. Yes, there are some good things I miss about being a JW, including the points you made. I believe the bottleneck is at the top, and JW's are no exception. Many JW's are good, sincere people. They follow the leadership, and that means that all of the negative factors are there as well as the positive. I think if a few dozen arrogant leaders at the top adopted a truly Christlike humble attitude, the trickle down could be amazing. Unfortunately as Ray Franz pointed out, it doesn't seem possible with WT leadership.
Lightgrowsbrighter
JoinedPosts by Lightgrowsbrighter
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23
Is there anything about the JW's you still like?
by donny insome jw's on various postingshave asked me was there anything about the jw's i still agree with.
of course there are some things i agree with and some i partially do.
1. political involvement - while i do not agree with totally avoiding anything associated with politics, i agree that many of todays churches are way too involved in trying to sway their constituents beliefs.
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9
Listen to Raymond Franz in the fascinating interview
by Terry ini don't know if many of you have watched this exceedingly in depth interview in which raymond franz expounds so many wonderful.
subjects with such precision and affection.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ttdozz-chg. .
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Lightgrowsbrighter
This humble brother has helped me so much. Many that watch and comment on this website have been 'beat by their fellow slaves' (Matt. 24:49) It is very ironic to me that Brother Ray Franz is viewed by many JW's as the 'ultimate apostate', when in reality, if all of the WT leadership had his humble attitude, many of us who have left the WT org would still be involved. In the org, we are taught that we are not in Jehovah's favor if we leave. Many who leave believe this and lose faith in Jehovah and Jesus. Ray Franz is a must read or listen, because he mentally helps all of those 'beaten sheep' to see that they are indeed still individually valuable to Jesus and Jehovah.
I know there are many active JW's that lurk here. For those in upper leadership, you will have a lot to explain to Jesus if you refuse to humble yourselves. (James 4:6-10) Paul made clear in 1 Cor 3:9, that even if you are a 'leader', you do not have authority over your 'fellow workers'. Ray Franz did not believe it was possible for the WT org to change as a whole. It is then up to all of you current leaders to prayerfully individually consider if your current course is really helping or actually destroying others spiritually. NOT something to take lightly!
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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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Lightgrowsbrighter
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?'
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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....