by openminded 18 Replies latest jw friends
Can anyone recomend any info or essay asnwering this question? All my J.W. friends ask me to tell them what other organization is the true religion.
I realize its not even a very good question in the first place. If your on the train track and a train is coming, you dont need to find another set of tracks to stand on before you move, you just get off the one's you are on.
Ask them how they know they ahve the truth when they're not allowed to look anywhere else.
You can tell them the same thing I tell JW's when asked that question...
Between 1-1.5 million people that we know of have been estimated to have left the Jehovah's Witnesses over time; 22,000 elders have been estimated to have stepped aside, and 70% and more of jw's children leave the fold, most never to return.
They're all going SOMEWHERE!!!!!
What did Jesus say? He sent them out by two's....that is all. And he said "where two... are gathered together in my name there I will be also." (paraphrased).
By the way, that is what battered women say when they are asked why they stay with their batterer. "Where will I go?"
Just my 1/2 cent worth.
dungbeetle... STILL cleaning up the crap.
"Where else can you go?"
That has gotta be one of the most popular lines used outta the "JW Cult Jedi Mind Fuck" book..........
Q "why does god need an organization?"
A "historically, god has always used an organization. in noah's day, the ark. then the nation of israel. then the christian congregation."
Q "oh, how interesting. what about this tiny little gap in time from the 1st century to the 19th? what was the organization then?"
A "during that time, the 'wheat class' was apparently in existence but scattered. at times, they were small groups. at other times, they weren't."
Q "i see. so how do you know the situation has suddenly changed after 2 millenia?"
A "because we are now in the last days and an organization is needed for the harvest work."
Q "and how do you know we're in the last days?"
A "because the organization has correctly explained the prophecies which identify the last days."
Q "please see my first question."
wash, rinse and repeat.
mox
Hello!
In my opionion, there is no ONE true religion. I think that you can find truth in many different spiritual forms. I've found that "truth" is very relative, what one considers truth, may not be truth to the other when both parties are very moral and principled.
One of the favorite things that JWs like to do when discussing "true religion" is to point out all the bad done in a religion's name, thus marking it as "false religion". While anyone can find bad in any religion on the face of this earth (JWs included), I always remember to remind them that we cannot judge ALL , based on actions of a few. For example, I will not condemn all christians because of the crusades; nor I will not condemn all Islams because of the actions of the Taliban and Bin-Ladin etc etc.
I hope what I said makes sense..I am not the best at answering questions. I'd thought I'd share my honest opinion. Hope it helps.
Cari
Howdy,
"Where else can you go"
That is a misquote idea from the scripture that Jesus and the apostles were speaking. Remember?
Jesus said some things that the crowd didn't understand & they left. Jesus didn't say much, and then turned to his apostles and asked them "You don't want to leave also?" They in turn responded, "Lord, where else can we go? You having the sayings of truth and everlasting life." {paraphrased from memory}
The point being - the apostles knew that it was JESUS - not any organization that has true sayings (if you profess to be Christian). They responded "YOU."
Remember the true biblical meaning of the "Anti-Christ?" It is a person, or thing, that puts itself in place of the Christ.
The WTBTS has brilliantly taught their blinded followers to interpret that scripture as to apply to themselves, and not Jesus.
Btw, this probably wouldn't fly well with jw's - but it's an accurate breakdown of that scriptural application. You could always quote that scripture, and say that you're still a Christian - a believer in God and Jesus, just as the apostles were.
waiting
Last I checked Jesus Christ existed long before the WT Society, and since salvation only rests with him, guess what, I usually tell them, He's where I'm going to go! Crazy that JWs think they are the only ones that know about Jesus. Like he's someone only they found out about. I know, I used to be one and thought the same thing. Crazy though.
Christ is the end of those establishing righteousness by the decrees, regulations and works of sacrifices of the old covenant pronounced in the law, so that everyone exercising faith in him may have righteousness. This is the "accurate knowledge" that Paul is speaking about and the basic doctrine for salvation, not the thousands of unclear doctrines and zig zagging interpretations of the Watchtower such as 1914 (and the other dates), the other sheep class, the great crowd, blood components, employment on a military base, joining the YMCA, etc., etc. Instead the "love of Christ surpasses all of this knowledge" And this "love," small acts of individual mercy shown to others, is what we are to "add to our faith." (Eph 3:19; Romans 10:1-4; 2 Peter 1:5-8)
I go to church for evening bible studies, go for Sunday worship, joined a ministry to help share the gospel to people in crisis, there are hundreds of places to go that have the true Jesus.
God gave us His Word so we could know how to live and serve Him. The Bible claims to contain all we need to "be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Tim. 3:16-17). We CAN understand the Bible without an organization, priest, or other man-made hierarchy interpreting it for us. Therefore it is vital that each one study the Bible for himself/herself, to understand God's Will and correctly handle the word of truth (II Tim. 2:15).
In my opinion, the church of Christ is the closest thing to the church we read about in the first century. If we follow the directions God has given us, He will be pleased with the end result.
We CAN understand the Bible without an organization, priest, or other man-made hierarchy interpreting it for us.
Funny, all the intelligent people I know, the real thinkers, all freely admit that they CAN'T understand the Bible.
