No one considers me an apostate. As you know full well, if you actually have permission to post here, there is a wide gulf between someone who is expressing apostate thinking and someone who is considered an apostate.
I am saddened, rather than surprised, that your decision reinforces claims made that knowledgable Witnesses outside the home congregation feel no compulsion to assist in correcting the thinking or strengthening the understanding of any erring one. I requested scriptures. Not debate, not answers, only scriptures. Are you as incapable as I was of finding scriptures to prove these answers true?
Again, you encourage me to go to watchtower.org, but you refuse to cite scriptures. Which is your confidence and the confidence of Jehovah's Witnesses in general based on, The Watchtower or the Bible? I invite you to prove your basis for belief scripturally. I do not seat myself in the seat of Moses. I do not place an onus on you to do so, the Bible does - directly and repeatedly.
Philippians 1:8-11 8For God is my witness of how I am yearning for all of YOU in such tender affection as Christ Jesus has. 9 And this is what I continue praying, that YOUR love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; 10 that YOU may make sure of the more important things, so that YOU may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ, 11 and may be filled with righteous fruit, which is through Jesus Christ, to God?s glory and praise.
2 Corinthians 13:5-6 5 Keep testing whether YOU are in the faith, keep proving what YOU yourselves are. Or do YOU not recognize that Jesus Christ is in union with YOU? Unless YOU are disapproved. 6 I truly hope YOU will come to know we are not disapproved.
Acts 17:10-11 10 Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be·roe´a, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.
Romans 12:1-2 12 Consequently I entreat YOU by the compassions of God, brothers, to present YOUR bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with YOUR power of reason. 2 And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making YOUR mind over, that YOU may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Colossians 4:5-6 5 Go on walking in wisdom toward those on the outside, buying out the opportune time for yourselves. 6 Let YOUR utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how YOU ought to give an answer to each one.
1 Peter 3:13-15 13 Indeed, who is the man that will harm YOU if YOU become zealous for what is good? 14 But even if YOU should suffer for the sake of righteousness, YOU are happy. However, the object of their fear do not YOU fear, neither become agitated. 15 But sanctify the Christ as Lord in YOUR hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of YOU a reason for the hope in YOU, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect.
Is the only path (Psalm 119:105) to such understanding by listening to the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses? If so, then do you freely admit that these answers are not based on the Bible? I accord you respect and consideration that you do not repay in kind. Let Jehovah judge between us which is actually trying to be like his Son. I would still like to have someone, anyone, show me scriptural proofs for these answers.
So, if you must have it presented this way to justify your response, I am someone. Someone who is a part of everyone. And I am demanding a scriptural reason for these answers. Do you deny that you have that responsibility? If so, on what basis? Your instructions from on high? What instruction could possibly supplant the Bible's direct instruction, in your estimation?
Respectfully,
OldSoul
