by Saltheart Foamfollower 52 Replies latest watchtower bible
Being that this religious organization was founded on lies and self supporting corruption, it therefore made it profoundly important to watch the flock so to speak to see what they were talking about as well their behavior.
All those rigidly held to directives keeps followers in line to the discretion of what the WTS leaders want out their representatives. .
The "stray" are those who became inactive due to life events and also those who once were unbaptized publishers or studied the bible with the Witnesses. Those are potential (re)converts. The instruction on the WT definetively doesn't apply to willing faders nor disfellowshipped ones, especially apostates. Those are to be avoided like the plague.
Eden
Village Idiot, to answer your question ...... yes
Would it be too off of an assumption that Saltheart Foamfollower is a Dfed person sitting at the back of the Hall waiting to be reinstated. ???
I get the love bombing routine whenever a meet the still-in JWS relatives , they are trained to do just that.
Most mormons do not shun in the way that the JWs do. They may excommunicate him, but if he shows up to meetings, it will be the rare LDS who would overtly give him the cold shoulder in church. He won't have "priesthood" responsibilities (or any) or go to the temple. That's pretty much it. They won't take his tithing money (boo hoo?). They just do it to officially control people and to discipline them (make an example out of them- (same reason JWs do, just not usually so ugly).
That sounds like the 7th Day Adventists. If someone is their version of DF'd they cannot vote on church matters or hold a position in the church.
That seems like the best way - unlike the JWs.
TD1914: The English version seems more loving.
May I clarify: The English version SEEMS more loving.
The WTBTS is all about appearances.
Let's review: It's a cult!
After a careful reading, the whole point of the "dragnet" parable, taken out of context was:
Remain loyal to the Organization...NOW. If you are not loyal despite the corruption that is becoming evident, "Jehovah" does not view you as desirable.
So the GB does not want you around if you are not a brainwashed BORG. Furthermore, being righteous in "God's" eyes requires loyalty to a corporation, NOW. The parable has nothing to do with a future judgment, but accepting the GB's interpretations.
Even though Jesus' own words tell us that that unwanted fish are thrown into the fire at "the conclusion of the system of things", the GB say," No. That's not what it means. It means people who don't buy our brand are not Xians, or wanted. Even so, don't say they won't get life, that's Jehoobers job."
They are more than likely creating more plausible deniability. They can practice their internal shunning, yet point to "evidence" that they do not judge or discriminate. Make no mistake, changing the meaning of Jesus' own words is HUGE if you put any stock in the Bible.
DD
Hope, if not decency, compel us to wish there will be a softening and to seize hold of any slivered hint that supports this wish. But this very human wish is up there with all sorts of well-meant wishes, including stories that end with 'happily ever afters'.
