UPDATE: I'm relieved to say that I was finally able to salvage my JC hearing recording off my iPhone and back it up to my PC. The file was initially unplayable (common problem with long voice memos on iPhone) but I found a workaround. I have the whole thing in tact!
So I started reviewing the recording and realized that I misunderstood the elder who made the comment below. Thankfully, I have a recording of exactly what he said, though, so I can set things straight. Looks bad on me since I misquoted him but I need to own up to it. (See! Protection for BOTH parties - another good reason to make recordings standard operating procedure, Bethel.)
SBC: I mentioned the account of Elisha calling down evil upon the jeering children, 42 of which were 'torn to pieces', and told them that it raised doubts in my mind as to how infallible the bible could be if it describes him as a God of love in one place but attributes such bloody retribution to him in so many OT accounts. (Also brought up kids dying in flood, S&G, Caananites, Amalekites, etc...) The elder who misquoted me earlier piped up and said, "Without a doubt, Jehovah is going to resurrect all those he personally killed back then! You've been baptized for over 20 years and you didn't know that??" No, I didn't. In fact, I looked around the room and saw some blank expressions so I asked the others if that was their understanding as well. [crickets]
He DID say that those children who were torn to pieces were going to be resurrected (and that's when he made the comment about me being baptized for so long and not knowing that) but then clarified that those who died in the flood, S&G, etc.... would NOT. My mind was still wrapping itself around his comments about those 42 kids who died by mauling getting resurrected. I misunderstood.
Having said that, the whole idea is still ridiculous to me: trying to decipher which children that the epitome of love himself ultimately slaughtered may have a hope of resurrection. Children in Noah's day, no. Children who were disrespectful to Elisha, yes.
I wanted to share this for the sake of honesty, because I don't want to exaggerate the facts. It also shows the value of an accurate record.
It was interesting to hear what they had to say in the 13 minutes we were out of the room.... not that they were backstabbing or anything but just their impression of us. Some of their assessment was even accurate.
I doubt I'll share out the recording unless there's a specific part that comes into question and I need to prove what was said. But I will share a small piece of transcript. For grins, here's the last minute of the recording. This is what it sounds like when you get busted while recording the deliberations with your iPhone:
"I don't like his devices being in here."
"Well he did leave it, didn't he?"
"Is that thing on?"
"That's a phone."
"Yeah,but you can record everything on it"
[indistinguishable talking]
[noise from someone picking up phone, keys]
"It's on, too."
"It's recording."
"It's recording?!"
"Yep."
"He lied to us then."
"How can you delete it?"
[sighs]
"It's locked with a passcode!"
[recording then ends as they shut off my phone via power button]
