TheListener

Joined

• started 210 topics
• posted 3,839 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by TheListener

• 
  12

  Here's at least one witness view of Sept KM

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i found this on beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):.

  i just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what i understood isn't exactly what you understood.

  let me expand on that:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  Sorry no link but you guys gotta check out the thread on the sept. km at beliefnet. It's under Jehovah's Witness Discussions.
• 
  12

  Here's at least one witness view of Sept KM

  by TheListener in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i found this on beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):.

  i just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what i understood isn't exactly what you understood.

  let me expand on that:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  I found this on Beliefnet (public post that you don't have to be a member to view):

  I just read the article and unless we're reading two different articles, what I understood isn't exactly what you understood. Let me expand on that:
  
  The question is: "Does the "faithful and discreet slave" endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate?"
  
  What does the word "endorse" mean?
  
  endorse
  verb [trans.]
  1 declare one's public approval or support of : the report was endorsed by the college. See note at APPROVE .
  -recommend (a product) in an advertisement.
  
  NOTE:
  Endorse implies a more public and official expression of support and is used primarily in reference to things that require promotion or publicity (: endorse a political candidate), while commend is to make a formal and usually public statement of approval or congratulation ( | he was commended for his heroism).
  
  This is important to point out because some may equate the research findings and publications that some may make as what Jehovah's Witnesses as a whole believe.
  
  The article goes on to say that the organization has set up many means of providing spiritual food for Jehovah's people in the form of congregation meetings, conventions, assemblies, and its publications (although the article doesn't mention it, there are the various schools as well).
  
  1 Cor. 1:10 is cited and I think this is a VERY important scripture. We as Jehovah's people need to be in the same mind and line of thinking. To achieve that, Jehovah works through his organization on earth, just as he has always done. In this case, it is the faithful slave who has been entrusted with Christ's domestics on earth.
  
  They go on to repeat that they do not endorse any websites, literature, or meetings that are not under its oversight.
  
  Does this mean that it is forbidden to do extra study? No, they go on to say that it is commendable to use our thinking abilities in support of the good news. They also counsel us that any personal pursuits should not detract from what the congregation is accomplishing today.
  
  They go on to cite the Apostle Paul's warning:

  3 Just as I encouraged you to stay in Ephesus when I was about to go my way into Macedonia, so I do now, that you might command certain ones not to teach different doctrine, 4 nor to pay attention to false stories and to genealogies, which end up in nothing, but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith. 5 Really the objective of this mandate is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy. 6 By deviating from these things certain ones have been turned aside into idle talk, 7 wanting to be teachers of law, but not perceiving either the things they are saying or the things about which they are making strong assertions.

  
  This is good counsel. And this isn't the first time I've read it. I studied it in the book called "Worship the Only True God."
  
  I always try to apply this scripture. I don't like getting into debates with people. It never achieves anything. At the end, it's a just a bunch of words and idle talk.
  
  And of course they recommend our own Encyclopedia and Summary of the Bible because they put a lot of work into them and we can be sure that we're getting accurate knowledge.
  
  That's my take on this. Nothing really new.
• 
  37

  Die hard jw's see any problem with Sept km?

  by carla in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  will die hard jw's see any control issues with the sept km?

  i once brought up the fact to my jw that jw's were not allowed to get together informally to do any kind of 'bible' studies without the approval of the elders, gb, etc.. he said that was totally ridiculous and false, more apostate lies.

  this was long ago now and i'm not sure he even remembers saying it.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  Gary,

  In the past I would have disagreed with your analysis. But, now, I am not sure you're far off the mark. The WTS seems to be do their own form of separating work. The question seems to be: how will those in the congregations react to this new situation?
• 
  7

  can jw's use medically, those icky things?

  by carla in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the other thread about leeches got me thinking, can jw's use those absolutely disgusting bugs you may find in rotten garbage but also is used to treat gangrene?

  i will not say what it rhymes with as that would be politically incorrect but i also cannot type that word nor say it, it is too disgusting and give me the willies.

  this 'bug' eats dead flesh anyway.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  That's the exactl article I had in mind.

  Good find.

  That last paragraph is a real stinker.
• 
  91

  My Brother Died in a Car Wreck Last Night

  by WLG in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just found out about an hour ago.

  he wasn't even old enough to drink yet.. to make it even sh*ttier, he had called me a few weeks ago and asked if he could come out here with me but i couldn't do it at the time.

  so of course the first thing that comes to mind is if i had done something different it wouldn't have happened.. he was going through the sh*t as i call it, when witnesses go off the deep end and get into everything in the world to stop hurting and they don't even know what is wrong.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  Oh WLG I am so so sorry. (((((WLG)))))
• 
  7

  can jw's use medically, those icky things?

  by carla in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the other thread about leeches got me thinking, can jw's use those absolutely disgusting bugs you may find in rotten garbage but also is used to treat gangrene?

  i will not say what it rhymes with as that would be politically incorrect but i also cannot type that word nor say it, it is too disgusting and give me the willies.

  this 'bug' eats dead flesh anyway.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  I'll look up the reference on the CD but the use of leeches is not acceptable. Because they eat blood.

  -the fact that it makes no sense because God created them to eat blood seems irrelevant to the dubs.
• 
  21

  Sept. KM question box now a video on Youtube

  by Wasanelder Once in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  yep, i put the sept. km question box on youtube.i set it to the song "clampdown" by the clash.

  http://youtube.com/watch?v=bhvhe4no_bi

  http://youtube.com/profile?user=truthbookblue

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  Love it. Just love it.

  It's great to see so many anti-witness things showing up on you tube.
• 
  2

  Sent my quasi dub wife a birthday gift!

  by sinis in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  well i have vowed to celebrate the holidays, come hell or high water.

  so i sent my wife a nice bouquet of flowers to her work, with a big happy b-day balloon and card.

  well she gets it and is all excited.

  1. 
  2. 
• 

  TheListener

  Fantastic Sinis.

  That is a really big step.

  It sounds like she's decided for herself that birthdays are ok. People who aren't familiar with the witnesses would laugh at us to hear us get so excited about this - but it a big deal.

  Who knows what she'll decide is ok next.

  Keep up the good work.
• 
  14

  comparing WTS with Pharisees

  by erandir in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i had a good discussion saturday night with my witness wife about how the society is basically a modern-day version of the pharisees and how jesus condemned them in his day and how he would condemn the society today.

  does anyone have any good points or any insight into comparing the society with pharisees?

  anything you have would be helpful so i could get my thoughts together and figure out a way to approach this subject with her in the future whenever it comes up..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  Erandir,

  sounds like you have a mate that questions like mine. I've come to realize that no answer would really satisfy. But,

  As far as the letters be sent to congregations goes; I would ask who sent the letters?

  Paul was out in the missionary work, on his own, writing letters to the congregations that he started.

  -who did paul consult with before writing letters?

  -who did paul say taught him everything he needed to know

  -how does paul speak about the leaders of the jerusalem church (Gal. 2)

  The one letter that the Jerusalem council sent wasn't sent by just the council, it was sent by: (Acts 15:22,23) "Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. 2 3 This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. "

  -who sent it? Just small governing body of apostles? older men? whole congregation?

  -who received it? every congregation? every christian? specific locale? christians with specific background?

  Your other point was about the association of brothers being so large that control is needed for unity.

  -what truly is unity?

  - is there a difference between conformity and unity? what? does it matter?

  -Jesus is the head of the organization. Is he not capable of handling matters whether there is 1 or 100million chrisitans?

  -What unity does the bible actually speak of?

  -Who is actually responsible for saving anyone? (1 example: Ephesians 2:8-10)

  I know this won't answer everything someone brings up and maybe some of it just doesn't make sense to anyone but me, but I hope it helps if the conversation every comes up again. This board is where I learned to ponder these things and try to apply some real logic to my bible study (alright no joking - I'm still learning).

  Good luck.
• 
  38

  Reasoning with spouses using the 09/07 KM article

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am still working on my wife, some progress is being made, but it is slow going.. here is how i plan to reason with her regarding the 9/07 km article on "non-endorsed" methods of study.

  feel free to use or adapt yourself, if you are in a similar situation.. .

  suppose that one day a stranger calls the house when i am not at home.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  TheListener

  That logic is completely false!

  You are forgetting that the FDS is 'directed by Jesus right hand of power' (WT Apr 1 07 pg. 24).

  You are applying the human ability to lie and be wrong to God. God is never wrong and his organization therefore cannot be wrong. It may seem like they're wrong but that is your imperfect eyesight.

  Truly, love the illustration. I really really like it. It makes the whole concept of trusting the WTS personal. Thank you for posting it.