So basically, it's all for show

by jeremiah18:5-10 21 Replies latest jw friends

  • Darth Rutherford
    Darth Rutherford

    Regarding grooming: I've always questioned beards even when I was an elder. Never saw the harm in it. Felt it was natural, created by God. Was it not God who told Peter to stop calling unclean the things God cleansed?

    The line I always heard was that beards weren't becoming of a minister of God. We don't want to stumble anyone from learning the truth. However, I looked around and no worldly people were stumbled by beards. In fact, believe it or not, non-JWs actually grow beards! The only people I knew who were stumbled by beards were Jehovah's Witnesses, and they're stumbled because the leadership from the local body of elders all the way to the GB say it's "worldly."

    The topic of beards uncovers an unadulterated truth about the organization: The Watch Tower organization does not build strong Christians; they weaken Christians (JWs) to the point that a man's facial hair becomes a stumbling block.

    Who wants to be part of a religion that makes you weaker... not stronger?

    P.S. - By the way, I have grown a beard and I love it. It is short and kempt. I have received many compliments on it. I have also discussed the Bible with people while wearing my beard, and I have found that it does not add or detract from the discussion. It is a non-issue, unless, of course, you're a Witness.

  • DATA-DOG
    DATA-DOG

    Amen Bro!! I never knew you were an Elder. I sometimes regret not ever being appointed because of the insider's perspective. Then I realize that I may never have woke up if I was used by the organization. Maybe God really put each of where we are supposed to be...

    Good post! It is true. After many meeting with the Elders it became apparent that they only care about public, outward appearence. I could do anything I wanted in private ( not that I would, or think it is right ) lie on my field service report, give all the right answers, jump through the hoops, tell them what they want to hear and I would be appointed. That does not make me spiritual. " Spiritual " people are molesting children. " Spiritual " people, the stars in Jesus right hand are lying in court, saying the GB does not exist except as a theological arrangement.

  • blondie
    blondie

    (Matthew 16:19) 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you may bind on earth will be the thing bound in the heavens, and whatever you may loose on earth will be the thing loosed in the heavens.”

    (Matthew 18:18) 18 “Truly I say to YOU men, Whatever things YOU may bind on earth will be things bound in heaven, and whatever things YOU may loose on earth will be things loosed in heaven.

    Of course, the WTS says the gifts of the holy spirit died out after the apostles died. So that means no GB have holy spirit in that way. I asked several GB members how they knew, was it as individuals and then they shared at their Wednesday meetings, or did the holy spirit tell all of them at the Wednesday meetings at the same time....but they denied that.

    Basically it would be the BOE meeting spiel, read God's Word the product of holy spirit, pray to God for the holy spirit, they are appointed by holy spirit, but no idea how the spirit guides them, how do they know

    Notice how they dance around the scriptures above>

    *** w81 2/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***

    Are Jesus’ words at Matthew 18:18-20 to be understood to mean that heaven is bound by decisions made by men on earth?

    These verses read: “Truly I say to you men, Whatever things you may bind on earth will be things bound in heaven, and whatever things you may loose on earth will be things loosed in heaven. Again I truly say to you, If two of you on earth agree concerning anything of importance that they should request, it will take place for them due to my Father in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.”

    As the New World Translation (here quoted) and some other translations show, the things that are ‘bound’ or ‘loosed’ on earth are things that have already been ‘bound’ or ‘loosed’ in heaven. The Greek words here used literally mean “having been bound” or “having been loosed,” which are in the perfect tense, passive voice. In other words, the tense suggests that the action had already been decided upon in heaven and is merely reflected in what is subsequently decided upon on earth by those who wish to reflect “wisdom from above.” (Jas. 3:17, 18) “Bound” would refer to being found guilty for punishment; “loosed” would refer to being found innocent.

    These words of Jesus follow his discussion of the procedure that should be followed if a servant of God has a major “fault” to take up with his brother. (Verses 15-17) This could lead to the charge being taken up by the “congregation” in that the matter would come before the responsible brothers in the congregation for review and judgment. If the charge was proved true and sufficiently gross, with the individual showing no repentance, the result would be that this one would be considered as “a man of the nations and as a tax collector.” He would be disfellowshiped. All of this, of course, would require deliberations. And these deliberations are what Jesus had reference to in verses 18 to 20.

    Since holy spirit would come to Jesus’ disciples through Jesus from and after Pentecost 33 C.E., it could be said that “where there are two or three gathered together in my [Jesus’] name, there I am in their midst.” All gathered to review the matter would need to be alert to the leadings of Jehovah’s spirit. Particularly would they need to weigh matters carefully in the light of his Word, including the instructions and teachings of Jesus, to see what Jehovah’s mind would be on the alleged conduct and what should be done if the evidence proves the charge as being true and the individual does not repent. Of course, those weighing matters impartially might find the accused innocent, or there may be insufficient evidence.

    In the first century, Christians had miraculous operations of Jehovah’s holy spirit in some matters of judgment, such as in the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 12:4-11) After miraculous gifts of the spirit ceased with the death of the apostles, Christians have not expected direct miraculous indications from heaven as to how a matter should be decided. (1 Cor. 13:8-13) Nevertheless, we still have what Jehovah’s Word says about proper conduct and how matters should be decided. We can, in effect, determine what has already been decided on a matter in the heavens. Admittedly, due to human imperfections, mistakes in judgment are made at times, but this only emphasizes even more the need to adhere closely to the instructions in Jehovah’s Word in handling matters so as to be assured that what is decided is what has already been decided in heaven.

  • wha happened?
    wha happened?

    yep, it's all for show. And not just to the GB. Publishers get to use these outward appearences to compare each other. Who's the better servant? All of this is just a distraction of course, from a doctrine that makes no sense

  • Theocratic Sedition
    Theocratic Sedition

    Corporate Christianity made up of professional Christians.

  • moshe
    moshe

    Smoke and mirrors, flim and flam, dog and pony show- all for show. -JWs say, we have the truth because we have the F&DS giving us meat in due season, except now it's the Governing Body and all those anointed with good ideas (that we never used) have been thrown out of work.

  • wha happened?
    wha happened?

    I guess the providers of food now find themselves starving.

  • Apognophos
    Apognophos

    Jesus said everything that needs to be said on this subject in Matthew chapter 23. A little excerpt as a memory aid: " 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."

  • SAHS
    SAHS

    wasblind:" True Christians don't vote "

    And kids in school aren't even allowed to run for class president according to the WTS because they think it would be "part of the world" and involve voting for something other than God's Kingdom. I always thought of this as being rather odd, because having a class president or student body in a school is really just more of an exercise in how the world works - a kind of practical "life skill" preparing the students for the dynamics of the business world and socio-political structure of modern society - but the WTS wants to have us equate it as being tantamount to an actual renouncing of his/her faith by choosing the "world" over God's rule.

    The end result has the desired affect of singling out JW students as being different and thus open to ostracism - i.e., putting on a show of pseudo-piety - by this rigid and rather peculiar stand. And not to mention making JW students stand out in the hallway (as I also had to do) during the class morning exercises (national anthem and the Lord's Prayer, at least in my school days). Anything, it seems, to put the JW kids on centre stage as being different.

  • jeremiah18:5-10
    jeremiah18:5-10

    Lots of good comments since I left for work.

    Re Blondie's post:

    We can, in effect, determine what has already been decided on a matter in the heavens.

    So the WTS says, "We decided it, therefore it must be in agreement with heaven"

    At the same time they reason:

    Admittedly, due to human imperfections, mistakes in judgment are made at times, but this only emphasizes even more the need to adhere closely to the instructions in Jehovah’s Word in handling matters so as to be assured that what is decided is what has already been decided in heaven

    They then say, "Well, we thought it was decided in heaven, but the fact is the network went down on our special JW cell phone in the middle of the call and we didn't get back thru until now. Sorry."

    I can't believe I was once not only a part of this farce, but actually believed in it, and worse yet, enforced it! Geez, I'm so sorry.

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