What would you say . . . yes or no.
Here is a verse to consider, to answer this vital question: Matthew 10:37
. . . from various translations:
New International Version
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of
me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of
me.
New Living Translation
“If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not
worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me,
you are not worthy of being mine.
English Standard Version
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and
whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Berean Standard Bible
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
Berean Literal Bible
The one loving father or mother above Me is not worthy of Me, and the one loving son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me.
King James Bible
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he
that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
New King James Version
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
New American Standard Bible
“The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
NASB 1995
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
NASB 1977
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Legacy Standard Bible
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Amplified Bible
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he
who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Christian Standard Bible
The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The person who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
the person who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
American Standard Version
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he
that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and
whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Contemporary English Version
If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and
he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.
English Revised Version
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he
that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The person who loves his father or mother more than me does not deserve
to be my disciple. The person who loves a son or daughter more than me
does not deserve to be my disciple.
Good News Translation
"Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be my
disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not
fit to be my disciples.
International Standard Version
"The one who loves his father or mother more than me isn't worthy of me,
and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of
me.
Literal Standard Version
He who is cherishing father or mother above Me, is not worthy of Me, and
he who is cherishing son or daughter above Me, is not worthy of Me,
Majority Standard Bible
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me;
anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
New American Bible
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and
whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
NET Bible
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and
whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
New Revised Standard Version
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and
whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
New Heart English Bible
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and
whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Webster's Bible Translation
He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and
he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.
Weymouth New Testament
Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and
any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
World English Bible
He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he
who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
Young's Literal Translation
'He who is loving father or mother above me, is not worthy of me, and he
who is loving son or daughter above me, is not worthy of me,
***
Would Jesus Approve Of True Christians Becoming "PIMOs" [Physically In Mentally Out] Among Jehovah's Witnesses??? (Matthew 10:37)
by 1975JWExpert 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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1975JWExpert
Would Jesus Approve Of True Christians Becoming "PIMOs" [Physically In Mentally Out]Among Jehovah's Witnesses???
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liam
It makes perfect sense to be PIMO. It allows some people to keep their ties to their wife/husband/children.
As far as Jesus is concern, that man has been dead for some 2000 years. I doubt he cares whether some humans are PIMO or not.
If he was concerned about anything, it would make more sense he would be concerned for all the children that are being raped, as we speak, in all the religious organizations that claim to serve him,
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Sea Breeze
As far as Jesus is concern, that man has been dead for some 2000 years.
Wrong. His tomb was empty after three days, just like he predicted. His tomb is still empty. Christians believe that there is enough evidence to reasonably conclude that Jesus was raised from the dead, and is still alive.
BTTT.
PIMO may be an acceptable short term position while a person gathers their wits about them. But, it does no good in the long term. If a person wants to honor their baptismal commitment, then they need to think hard about contimuing a PIMO position based on Jesus' warning you cited.
But, even if a person simply wants to move on to a secular lifestyle without acknowledging God, PIMO only serves to enable what we all agree is a very abusive, dysfunctional and even deadly system of mind control. -
TonusOH
I assume that Jesus would want Christians to follow him, and not an organization. Especially if you are mentally disconnected from that organization.
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liam
Christians believe that there is enough evidence to reasonably conclude that Jesus was raised from the dead, and is still alive.
What Christians?
Oh you mean these Christians;
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ……….Then he appeared to more than FIVE HUNDRED brothers at one time
Five Hundred Christian brothers is a lot.
Name One!
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Touchofgrey
Christians believe that there is enough evidence to reasonably conclude that Jesus was raised from the dead, and is still alive.
Sea breeze
Please provide the independently verified evidence that this jesus existed and did the things that the bible claims he did.
The four gospels are not eyewitnes accounts as they were written by unknown authors and many decades after the so called events.
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NotFormer
Most of the versions use the phrase "more than".
When Naaman said that he was going to have to continue his service in his master's temple, but that he wanted to worship Yahweh on the soil of His own land, Yahweh's prophet Elisha told him to "go in peace".
As an aside, it's interesting that the NWT uses "affection", rather than love. They don't do that in Matt 22:37.
I assume that the WT doesn't really care whether or not you "show affection" for God. But, Woe betide, should you not love the GB with all your heart, soul, mind and spirit!
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BelisemDeBelimakom
PIMO or not...I don't think Jesus would be interested in that. What matters is whether one follows him or not. One may need to remain a PIMO because of certain necessities, that is a personal matter. In the same way that Cornelius remained a soldier and people like Joseph of Arimathea retained their positions, anyone can continue to live as they wish once became Christian. The only important thing is not to adopt a way of life that violates Christian principles.
Jesus said "you are the salt of the earth". I didn't understand that when I was a Witness. You don't just put salt in one part of a dish, it has to permeate the whole dish. In the same way, Christians can be present at every level of society (they need not live in isolated communities) as far as their conscience allows, glorifying Jesus by their lives and actions (verbal and non-verbal) wherever they are, whatever they do. Matthew 5:13-16. Similarly, we can think of the suggestions of John the Baptist. Luke 3:10-18.
One may choose to remain a PIMO to protect one's/family's reputation, to help relatives under hypnosis, to protect one's job or for any other reason. This can go on for a long time, but the important thing is whether one supports the survival of this cult or remains neutral. Perhaps the PIMOs should have a moral reckoning at this point. Everyone has a different calling, Jesus can use each of us for different purposes.
1 Corinthians 7:17-23
Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called. Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
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Konagirl
In Jesus’ day, a true follower of his would leave the teachings of the Jewish religious system to follow him. He told the rebellious Jews that their house was left to them desolate, because they rejected the Christ. (Luke 13:35) And that house was eventually destroyed. Jesus told his listeners, "Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Matt 15:14.
He told individuals to come and follow him. To say he doesn't care what we do today, when we are surrounded by false teachings and literal slavery no matter how you look at life in the organization, goes against his word.
"You yourselves are so wise, and so you gladly tolerate fools! You tolerate anyone who orders you around and takes advantage of you or traps you or looks down on you or slaps you in the face". 2 Cor 11:19-20
Mark 8:35 GNT - "For if you want to save your own life" – who you know, what you are in the organization, how you might be esteemed or "loved" - "you will lose it; but if you lose your life" – your family members, friends who have little love for those who leave the Wt., your position of authority and status as an elder or pioneer -
"for me and for the gospel, you will save it."
John 6:63 - "It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life"Eternal life.
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LauraLynn
Would the Lord approve of a true Christian being a PIMO? To be publicly identified with the JWs but privately disassociated from them seems incongruent with scripture. When speaking of Babylon the Great, the Word of God says, "Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;" [Rev 18:4] Since the JWs are a false religious system teaching a false gospel, it would seem prudent to not associate with those whom the Apostle Paul stated were "accursed." (Galatians 1:8)
Jesus also said in the context of Matthew 10:34: "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." [Mat 10:32–33] Wouldn't publicly identifying as a JW be denying Jesus?
The Apostle Paul also wrote: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."" [2Co 6:14–18]
In Jesus' day, anyone who confessed belief in Jesus was to be put out of the synagogue, which caused some of the Jewish leaders to not believe openly for fear of man. I think this is part of the crux of the problem--the fear of man is a snare (Proverbs 29:25). Jesus told his disciples to fear God, not man.
I guess you could think about the question in terms of the overall attitudes expressed in the bible. For example, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." [Eph 5:11] A true Christian should be exposing a cult's false teaching, not blending in.
I do not say any of this without compassion, since I, too, once feared leaving the JWs. But finding the true gospel I became like the man in Jesus' parable: ""The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." [Mat 13:44] I pray for JWs that joy and love like that would overcome any fear of man.