Posts by Dawn

I do not believe that it is the works that save us. If that were so - what need do we have for Jesus? If I could do enough good works to be saved on my own then what's the point?

The "works" definately come into play - but it's the REASON behind them. If I go witness to others, give to Charity, am nice to everyone, go to church, just so that I look good to the community - am I saved? If not, then why......I did all the WORKS that were required?

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--

On the contrary - the WORKS are a natural fruit of our heart condition. If the WORKS aren't there - that's a sure sign that the HEART is not in the right condition.

Joseph - I think we might be saying the same thing but I'm not sure - basically that it is not the WORKS that save a person but their FAITH, and if they have FAITH the WORKS will come naturally.

12

Sheep, Goats, and Nonsense

by metatron in

jw
friends

so, you wanna leave the 'truth' and drift away?.

well, brother elder is gonna show up at your house and tell you:.

that's why they are hungry, naked, etc.!!

Dawn

Metatron - you did a great job. I just want to put in my 2 cents about one subject - what is required for salvation...

Jesus WAS recommending CHARITY as a REQUIREMENT for SALVATION
being shown towards folks YOU DON'T KNOW and can't identify
as HIS REPRESENTATIVES

Nothing is REQUIRED for salvation except belief in Jesus Christ as your savior. Salvation is a free gift - it can not be earned. However, a person's good heart condition should give forth "fruit" such as charity, kindness, love, etc. etc. But there is no ACT that we can perform to gain salvation. Likewise - there are many people with good hearts in all religions - which is why you will find Charity, Compassion, and Love not only in Christians, but in Muslims, Buddists, Hindus, etc.

The reason I wanted to point this out is because this concept is completely unheard of by a JW. They completely believe in being saved by works. And they work...work...work...try...try..guilt...guilt...guilt.. but we can never earn our way into heaven. If we could - then what good would Jesus' ransom be? Why die for our sins in the first place if we could earn our way there by doing good works?

Jesus said "I am the Way the Truth and the Light" - he alone can give the free gift - not the Society, not the Elders, not yourself by your WORKS - noone can give it to you but Jesus and YOU DON'T EARN IT.

I know what you meant Metatron - just pointing something out to those newbies or lurkers

40

Serena Thanks Jehovah!

by Englishman in

jw
friends

just seen her do it, less than a minute ago.

serina beat her sister venus to win the wimbledon women's tennis championships a moment ago.

in front of the whole centre court, sue barker asked her for her comments over the microphone system.

Dawn

Whatever you may think of the Witness religion, you cannot deny that there would not be the level of misery and sheer wretchedness among those who choose to remain within its ranks were there more individuals who were willing to decide for themselves just where to draw the line on their consumption of the "food at the proper time" at the expense of a happy and fulfilling life.

I agree!

5

What happend to MavMan?

by Dawn in

jw
friends

when i first came on board there was a poster by the name of mavman.

he was trying to get reinstated - don't know why this popped into my head lately but i was wondering what happened to him?

does anyone know?

Dawn

Thanks - I was just curious. He seemed to have a split personality - very strange individual.

5

What happend to MavMan?

by Dawn in

jw
friends

when i first came on board there was a poster by the name of mavman.

he was trying to get reinstated - don't know why this popped into my head lately but i was wondering what happened to him?

does anyone know?

Dawn

When I first came on board there was a poster by the name of MavMan. He was trying to get reinstated - don't know why this popped into my head lately but I was wondering what happened to him? Does anyone know?

12

JWs: No Social Conscience

by Room 215 in

jw
friends

of all the delusions a jw labors under, perhaps none is more tragic than the one that deprives him/her of the truly satisfying reward of spontaneous help to a fellow human being in need.

this is achieved by the promulgation of the notion that the jw ``join us or die'' ministry is the single most worthwhile endeavor any human can aspire to, and supercedes any other claims on a jw's time, talents or resources.

although wts literature targeted for public consumption cleverly words any reference to charitable works to deliberately create the misimpression that jws excel in this regard, the social pressure within the organization against involvement of significant effort and time in humanitarian voluteerism is palpable.

Dawn

Now a Watchtower with a $10 bill attached to it - that might be worthwhile

64

Monthly Complaint

by comforter in

jw
friends

the watchtower has said that those who deviate from the faith only seek to pull down and do not try to build up.

they have no positive teachings.

only negative ones.

Dawn

1 Timothy: This letter was written directly to one Church in existence at that time - not all of them. If you do some historical research you will find that there was a problem in this particular Church with some of the Women leading the others astray. In Jewish tradition during the first century Women were not allowed to be educated - they did not learn to read nor were they taught about the Scriptures as the men were. So when Paul said to "Let a woman learn in silence" he was actually opening up a new world to them that was not allowed before - it was a freedom they did not have under the Jewish tradition - to be educated. Since they were just learning he was also advising that they should not be teaching and in a power of position - they did not have enough knowledge yet to balance their views/opinions.

The Bible as we know it was Canonized about 300 A.D. by a group of Catholic Bishops. Prior to this there was some disagreement over what scriptures were inspired and what ones were not (for example - the Gospel of Thomas). The Bishops met and decided what gospels and scriptures were inspired from God and put them in the Order we have them today - now our common Bible.

Comforter - there are a number of individuals here with varying degrees of faith and different religious beliefs. I, myself, am a Christian and have given my life to the Lord. I came here first to tell my story and to read others - to find out that I was not alone. I have stayed in the hope of helping others. Ultimately, I hope to lead some of those that have had their faith destroyed back to the Lord. And those that do not believe, Athiests, Agnostics, Paganist, etc I also listen to their points of view - if I were to completely ignore all arguments against Christianity and not research them for an answer (to myself or to others) - then I am no better than the Pharisees of Jesus' day that refused to listen to another opinion - I am no better than an Osterige that sticks his head in the sand to ignore what is around him. I believe that the Truth can withstand any amount of questioning. Each individual is on a spiritual Journey of some sort - their Journey is a personal one and is between them and their Creator. I am merely a "fellow slave" and as such have no right to judge another's path. We are all sinners in one way or another.

Rom 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.

I could spend all my time with fellow Christians - refusing to associate with people of other faiths, etc. But what good am I to the Lord? A Christian is supposed to be the "salt of the earth" (spices to make it better - spices to make it last) - the lamp to others.

Mat 5:15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

If you think that this forum is not uplifting - then shine your light and encourage others. It's easy to sit back and say "you do this" and "they say that" - but what are you doing to help? If you are a true Christian - then be "salt to the earth".

And to all my fellow posters here - You have definately been "salt to the earth" to me in helping me through the guilt that I felt and pointing me towards research materials that have helped me to break free. Thank you!