Topics Started by Pahpa
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Queen Esther?
by Pahpa ini just had an amusing e-mail from a friend who said that some evangelicals are comparing sarah palin to queen esther.
i wonder if this makes mccain king ahasuerus (xerxes) or, perhaps mordecai?
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Study required for baptism?
by Pahpa inspeaking of baptism, paul and silas baptized the jailer and his family the same night that the earthquake opened the doors of the jail.
no mention was made of weeks of doctrinal study or even an elder's examination of the potential believers.
all that was required is summed up in paul and silas's words "believe in the lord jesus and you will be save - you and your household.
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"Faithful and Wise Servant" Intrepretation?
by Pahpa inmost commentaries say that the "faithful and wise servant" of matthew 24:45-31 is general admonition to christian members or christian leaders to remain faithful until the "return of the master.
" but bible students and the watchtower have given it specific prophetic fulfillment in the person of charles russell or in the annointed of the watchtower organization.
is anyone aware of other religious groups that have given it this significance?
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What happened to the simplicity of the early church?
by Pahpa inearly christians were drawn together by their love of christ and each other.
most were just hard working average people who had little education and no understanding of the philosophies of the world.
the gospel message of the kingdom and the future hope of life everlasting were the basis of their simple faith.
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Watchtower Hierarchy
by Pahpa infor years, the catholic church was the focus of the vitriol of the watchtower society.
but it is amazing how much the organization has become like the catholic church in certain aspects.. in the bonham, texas trial the society's lawyers argued that the society was a "hierarchy.".
in the sexual abuse cases, they argued for "clergy privilege of confidentiality.".
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Pharasaical thinking....
by Pahpa ini know a number of parents who have left the organization and whose children refuse to have anything to do with them because of the disfellowshipping policy of the watchtower society.
these children justify their position declaring that loyalty to jehovah/organization has priority over "honoring" one's parents.
the striking similarity of this position to that of the pharisees of jesus' day can not be ignored.
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Russell's motivation?
by Pahpa inwhat was the motivation for russell's move from pa. to n.y.?
reading the early history of the watchtower society, one gets the impression that russell wanted to get away from his problems with his wife and distance himself from the jurisdiction of the pa. courts.
in the watchtower version, jehovah directed him to brooklyn because of the proximity to n.y. city and its shipping and business advantages.
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Early Judicial Settings
by Pahpa inunlike the secret meetings that the watchtower conducts for judicial matters, its apparent that the early church was open to all members.
on the matter of gentiles being circumcised, it would seem that the entire congregation at jerusalem was present as matters were discussed.
(acts 15:4,5, 12) also, in the case of the incestuous man in corinth, paul's appeal was to the entire congregation.
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Law...written on their hearts
by Pahpa inpaul, in his discussion about god's judgment, contrasts those who were under law (jews) but failed to live up to it with those who were not under it (gentiles) but lived by its principles.
"(indeed, when gentiles who do not have the law, do by nature things required by law, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bear witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even fending them.
) this will take place on the day when god will judge men's secrets thorugh jesus christ, as my gospel declares.