Posts by truthsearcher

6

Serious Scholarly Resource/Reference for Early Martyr Numbers

by truthsearcher in

hello: an elder that i was discussing the 144,000 with asked for a reference for the # of true christians martyred during the first couple of centuries.

any suggestions?

.

think you've guessed someone's identity?

by J-ex-W in

jw
friends

i'm just curious.

i wonder how many readers out there think the stuff they've read sound so much like someone they know that they're going, ohmigawd!!

or if circumstances described seem like big fat give-aways.

(puts up hand) I keep reading posts to see if any of the JWs I know could be posting here...wishful thinking...I have to be careful not to give out too much info when I post in case they are lurking...

184

UPDATE!: THEY ALL ADMITTED EGGING US -Elders now know, heads are rolling!!

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

oh.... how the saga goes on!!

i swear we could write a novel about our life exiting the watchtower!!

ok..many of you read what happened..our house was egged and so was my sisters car that was parked here, and "frosty" was attacked!!

truthsearcher

Perhaps they were trying to start an electrical fire in Frosty so that he would infact burn on the lawn?

I'm guessing that there was alcohol involved, given this was New Years. If you decide to go public, that would perhaps be something to include in the headlines:

Drunken Jehovah's Witnesses Commit Hatred-Provoked Vandalism Spree Against Neighbour

However, if you are serious about helping them come out of the org, as was mentioned, you might want to rethink this tactic. This could be a chance for you to show true Christian grace, maybe have each offender over for a visit, and use the opportunity to show them some research...Just like in the story of Joseph and his brothers, what they meant for evil, God could turn around and use for good. (Don't remember if you are a Christian now. Just a thought.)

38

Tough love with full grown kids, I am so tired.

by restrangled in

jw
friends

i am beyond tired and sad, this has nothing to do with shunning, or throwing them out.

my heart hurts but i know i must stand firm.. r..

truthsearcher

How are you feeling today, Restrangled? My heart goes out to all the parents who have posted so far.

We too have had to practice tough love with our eldest, and spent many nights in tears and prayer. My heart was always torn between love, mercy, and (truth be told) anger, disappointment, even a sense of betrayal. ("How dare you behave this way in light of all the love and support you have been given?") And then I remembered my own mother saying the exact same thing to me, and me being totally self-absorbed and not understanding that my actions would have this effect on anyone else.

We did get her into biblical counseling with a NANC ceritified counselor. It was a very good move and maybe this is something you could check out if you are Chrisitans.

There is that balance we all need to achieve between loving and letting go, some days it is easier than others. Life seemed easier when they were little enough to hold in your arms, but I remember those all night sessions with a sick baby,so I have to say each age has its' trials. However, part of parenting is in preparing them to face the big world on their own--we should be working ourselves out of a job, so to speak, of primary caregiver. Maybe a heart to heart talk with your son would help? "I know that in the past we have....but we realize that in order for you to grow and become the adult that you need to be, it is time to....."

18

Faith healing among Witnesses

by free2beme in

jw
friends

there is this guy on television, with the most amazing comb over, that is a faith healer.

his name is benny hinn, and it always seems like when i turn by those christian networks in my channel surfing, i catch a glimpse of this guy.

he is always healing people (supposedly) and doing the slap on the forehead to do this.

truthsearcher

Actually, this shows that a segment of Christianity believes in these things: they are considered "hyper-charismatics" and are considered to have gone off into the realm of heresy by most orthodox Christians. They are similar to the cults in that they receive their own "private revelation" from God (call it NEW TRUTH, if you want) and so anything goes, even if it is not biblical--in other words, they will interpret the Bible according to their experiences and not the other way around.

There is a good book called Charismaic Chaos by John MacArthur, Jr. that outlines how these groups have been able to travel down this road. He compares them in many instances to what has happened in the cults, including the Watchtower. In Hinn's case, his outrageous claims are defended by comments like "You must not touch God's annointed" and to do so is to "blaspheme against the Holy Spirit". Thus, believers must accept whatever is given to them (sound familiar?)

In our faith community, we believe that the miraculous signs and wonders evidenced in the early church were as a sign to the Jews, in order to verify that the new revelation regarding Jesus as Messiah, New Covenant, gospel open to the Gentiles, etc. was from God. Thus they have long since ceased, although God certainly can and will heal, but not through annointed "faith ~~hucksters~~ healers". Their practices, when examined in light of the New Testament healings, reveal themselves as being unsubstantiated hype. Remember too that the Bible foretells in the end times that Satan himself will mimic signs and wonders, therefore all the more reason for Christians to examine closely these types of claims.

6

Serious Scholarly Resource/Reference for Early Martyr Numbers

by truthsearcher in

hello: an elder that i was discussing the 144,000 with asked for a reference for the # of true christians martyred during the first couple of centuries.

any suggestions?

.

truthsearcher

Hello: An elder that I was discussing the 144,000 with asked for a reference for the # of true Christians martyred during the first couple of centuries. Any suggestions?

Thanks

109

Women are in subjection to their husbands and to the Elders!!!!!

by Gill in

the february 15th watchtower 2007, is spectacularly nauseating!!!

at least i found it so.. i would welcome the opinion of all on the board to this sentiment on page 19, paragraph 8 and9:.

'although subjection can be challenging, women can welcome it as honorable, even as did jesus.

truthsearcher

Hi Scully:

What is repugnant and disturbing about the Watchtower's stance is that, in the case of a religiously divided household - where the husband is not a JW (especially if he is an ex-JW) and the wife is a JW - is that they are laying a foundation for the congregation Elders™ to interfere in the marriage and usurp the husband's place.

It gives the Elders™ licence to be busybodies and require the JW wife to report so-called wrongdoing on the part of the husband, especially in instances where "doubts" regarding JW beliefs might be construed as Apostacy™. If the Elders™ believe that the husband has become Apostate™, they can urge the wife to leave the marriage on the grounds of Spiritual Endangerment™.

I find this unbelievably alarming and disturbing. The union of man and wife was established in Genesis long before the church was established. It is another example of how Scripture is twisted in the hands of a cult to inflict even more damage upon people. Can they point to one shred of biblical evidence for this? Really, how dare they make the marriage an unsafe and unstable place? I truly am sorry for those of you who have been or are currently in that situation. I assure you this is not "Jehovah's loving arrangement".

5

the joy of iron sharpening

by truthsearcher in

we just had a dear friend visit for new years.

we always get into controversial doctrinal debates, all done with the utmost love and respect for very different views.

this time was no exception, and i am so thankful for the freedom to have these discussions without fear of judicial action or losing loved ones.

truthsearcher

Hi again: No, no jws this time! Although, we do get into some sharpening on Wednesday evenings with the elders...

This was a longtime Christian friend who loves to study and sometimes comes up with some rather unusual view points. He likes to try them out on us--he knows he will get a good debate going. We love each other though. I took the opportunity this time to play the "JW" with him

Hi Mouthy: Happy New Year to you too. How many will the Lord lead our way this year??? My above friend said, "Hey, I should put you in contact with a lady named _______________(mouthy). I said we were already pals! LOL. He was impressed the books you had sent my way (even jealous??)

5

the joy of iron sharpening

by truthsearcher in

we just had a dear friend visit for new years.

we always get into controversial doctrinal debates, all done with the utmost love and respect for very different views.

this time was no exception, and i am so thankful for the freedom to have these discussions without fear of judicial action or losing loved ones.

truthsearcher

We just had a dear friend visit for New Years. We always get into controversial doctrinal debates, all done with the utmost love and respect for very different views. This time was no exception, and I am so thankful for the freedom to have these discussions without fear of judicial action or losing loved ones. We always come away with things to mull over (on both sides of the issues). Yay for iron sharpening among friends!

109

Women are in subjection to their husbands and to the Elders!!!!!

by Gill in

the february 15th watchtower 2007, is spectacularly nauseating!!!

at least i found it so.. i would welcome the opinion of all on the board to this sentiment on page 19, paragraph 8 and9:.

'although subjection can be challenging, women can welcome it as honorable, even as did jesus.

truthsearcher

Just gonna throw out a few comments:

What about the book of Proverbs, where youth is clearly to listen to the wisdom of older men and women? Wouldn't this clearly contradict a group of mature women "submitting" to a 15 year old boy?

Wouldn't the father in the Jewish culture be the spiritual head of the unmarried daughters?

Okay, don't shoot me here, but I will explain what our faith community teaches, based on Scripture, even though it is not politically correct:

as a Christian woman I do submit to the headship of my husband, but it is not because we are not equal. I know you have all heard this before. Scripture clearly teaches that in Christ, we all have equal standing. However, in the family arrangement, there is a hierarchy, even though we have the same nature. This is similar to the relationship between the trinity: the Son is eternally subornidate to the Father, but they share the same essence or nature of deity.

This is not about women not being able to contribute, learn, teach, make a difference in the world, but about their role of teaching in the church. Remember that Eve was deceived, but Adam, not deceived, but chose to not lose Eve as a companion and joined in her disobedience. There is something different in the thinking process of women and men, for which reason men are to have the teaching role in doctrinal matters.

Now I will wait for any fireworks to follow...