Do Not Forsake the Gathering of Yourselves Together (page 2)

Found Sheep

I didn't think you were saying you hate me

sabastious

I learned something new today, I've been spelling, definite, wrong for the past umpteen years.

I don't even know you anymore!

-Sab

No Room For George

I don't even know you anymore!

-Sab

LOL For the longest I've spelled it, definate. I don't feel so bad though, as it's on the list.

don't undersand what you mean Ndrew. I think most religions use that verse to engender social cohesion and mutual encouragement. are you suggesting to hold the ideas as encompassing everyone in one's thoughts?

Larsinger58

I think this is good counsel and certainly timely for any who believe and are looking to and expecting Armageddon. But realize that this is the modern ge and 'gathering together' does not mean in some formal religion, but can be done as we are doing right here in this discussion board. So I think a critical concern here is for us not to isolate ourselves completely. If you have left the truth, you can find encouragement from like-minded XJWs who do gather together in certain groups of common interest.

The WTS clearly uses this to imply there is one true religion and if you don't gather with them, then you scatter. But since I know the WTS is apostate, clearly this would more apply to those who have left and seeking others of like mind on the net and interchanging with them is a positive thing to do.

I think this, at the very least, discourages isolation or extreme isolation, and there is no problem finding like-minded people now that we have the net.

LS

N.drew

don't undersand what you mean Ndrew. I think most religions use that verse to engender social cohesion and mutual encouragement. are you suggesting to hold the ideas as encompassing everyone in one's thoughts?

Imagine all believers in Christ are on a journey in search of Jah. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. We will be gathered to Christ. It's in the future. As we do so do not forsake anyone (as you might think someone is unworthy, or they might need help, but you won't) for the destination. It is human nature to think of one's self first even at the expense of someone else. The scripture at Hebrews 10:25 warns do not consider yourself worthy, even while you might forsake another. The gathering together means in Christ, for Christ. It doesn't mean physically. But because it is a spiritual gathering it does not negate the physical gathering (of course not!) encompassing everyone in one's thoughts? Not everyone.

soft+gentle

okay i think I understand, NDrew. I can see how the WTS' is oriented towards death and how the interpretation you suggest is oriented towards life. So then one would have to carry over the "let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works... to not forsake anyone while we count ourselves in"?

Also regarding your other point above - of course one cannot encompass everyone in one's thoughts (my mistake) - so perhaps it is better to say being open to the compossibility of all in Christ and also as a future thing.

N.drew

Hi soft+gentle, yes! It is a good way to put it. The org has a least a few, perhaps hundreds of faulty interpretations of scripture that tend toward violence against the flesh where it doesn't say that. Thank you for your understanding.

Sometimes I wonder if I am all wibble. People like yourself make me to think I am not wasting my time. So thanks!

yadda yadda 2

Notice that it says "but encouraging one another..."; so if you find no encouragement at the meetings, you are not scripturally obligated to go. When you suffer extreme cognitive dissonance through discovering the many false creeds and policies taught by the organisation, you become discouraged, not encouraged. So don't go.

Fernando

Religionists would of course interpret "gathering together" to mean in a religious building, for a religious ceremony, to be taught religion and dogma, with fellow self-righteous supremacist religionists worshipping the "god of religion" (instead of the "god of Abraham") and celebrating "Christless Christianity" or similar.

That was largely Saul's view or attitude before he became Paul, whereafter he saw the "church" as the diaspora of believers (simple Jesus followers) instead of a building.

(http://theschoolofchrist.org/articles/no-fellowship-no-problem.html)

Do Not Forsake the Gathering of Yourselves Together

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