Posts by ShadesofGrey

15

Putting together a brochure that debunks the "Memorial"...

by Alfred in

with "memorial season" just around the corner, i am planning to put together a small brochure (or maybe just a plain-looking document on letter-sized paper) that exposes the embarassing fact that jws still hold their "memorial" every year even though, by their own teachings, they should have had their last one in 1914. i plan to give it to the next elder who stops by to "count his time" during memorial season.

but hopefully, this will happen before they start canvassing my neighborhood since i plan to distribute it to my neighbors as well.. i've just started this morning with the following "quick draft" (but i would appreciate your comments and insight... thanks):.

jehovah's witnesses, why are you still inviting people to "the memorial"?.

ShadesofGrey

I took the approach of their not being a great crowd class mentioned in the Bible.

Wishing you all the best in your endeavors.

Carmen

56

Were Jehovah's Witnesses Correct In ANYTHING They Taught?

by minimus in

jw
friends

or are they as correct as any other false religion?.

ShadesofGrey

There are things that the Bible is not clear on, but we can't have any admitting of that! Yes... I wish they didn't have an answer to everything and then enforce those as doctrine.

10

simple yet very visible observation about cults and other more mainstream religions too...

by oompa in

jw
friends

i now wear a sexy goatee and stach for cosmetic reasons actually...and of course this is not really allowed without penalty in usa jw world....they control so much of your life by endless pharisaical rules...and esp those about dress and grooming....they only allow hair a certain way on the male face...over the lip only....they do not control hair on the face of women interestingly...but funny thing...the amish require a beard...but the reason it looks weird is they forbid hair over the male lip...lmao!!!

!....and another cult....the hasidic jews require full beards and looooong burns....plus the funny hats and garb....hardcore muslim is full beard....mennonite wimmin no makeup and old timey full garb and some do have beards lol.

i researched it but still do not understand why so many religions try to dictate how god wants us to groom our beards......oompa.

ShadesofGrey

Legalism is a powerful mechanism for the spiritually blind, confused, inebriated and insane ruling religious clergy class to possess and control the dumb sheeple class.

A gentle reminder, my brother... Our Lord denounced the religious leaders, not the sheep.

In love,

Carmen

54

Romans 10:13 - got owned in a jw study. need help with greek.

by bohm in

for reasons i have posted on another topic i have become involved with a study with a rather knowledgeable jw.

i try to stay clear of the scripture (im an atheist who have never read the bible so i have desided to agree with his interpretation of the scripture for the sake of argument, however to say that when it come to interpretations of the bible, there are also many other ways to think about it, and it require significant research for me to commit to one particular view).

we talked about how you know jehovahs witness have the truth and ofcourse the conversation went into the usual topics like using the name jehovah (however, it did end where i felt it should, on jesus selection in 1918, more on that on another thread).

ShadesofGrey

Thank you Stephen! I am so encouraged by your reply. :)

Shades- Study Judaism, study the Jewish community of the Essenes then you might understand what I meant.

They will tell me about Christian's literary conceit?

Carmen

56

Were Jehovah's Witnesses Correct In ANYTHING They Taught?

by minimus in

jw
friends

or are they as correct as any other false religion?.

ShadesofGrey

I just thought I would pop back in to this thread. JWs taught me that Christians believe that they are going to heaven. Full stop. That is not true. Christians do have a hope of living on earth.

As for hell, they use the word to refer to gehenna or the lake of fire, but in my 10 or so church visits they have not gone into detail as to what this means, though I have heard some say it simply means separation from God.

So... those things that are so unique to JWs that made me think that I couldn't possibly ever go anywhere else... not to mention that I really don't have to go to a church anyway... I can go directly to Jesus... they aren't unique at all. I was duped.

Carmen

54

Romans 10:13 - got owned in a jw study. need help with greek.

by bohm in

for reasons i have posted on another topic i have become involved with a study with a rather knowledgeable jw.

i try to stay clear of the scripture (im an atheist who have never read the bible so i have desided to agree with his interpretation of the scripture for the sake of argument, however to say that when it come to interpretations of the bible, there are also many other ways to think about it, and it require significant research for me to commit to one particular view).

we talked about how you know jehovahs witness have the truth and ofcourse the conversation went into the usual topics like using the name jehovah (however, it did end where i felt it should, on jesus selection in 1918, more on that on another thread).

ShadesofGrey

And your orginal point was this:

The only possible grounds on which to engage a JW is the question of biblical authority itself. Not the particulars of interpretation of scriptures.

Otherwise, they always win because the Governing Body has modern day Magesiterium on their side: the faithful and discreet slave.

I am telling you that is not always the case... Scriptures got me, my husband, my daughter, and several of my friends and relatives out of that organization. It is possible to take down the Governing Body, Faithful Slave, Watchtower Org without taking down the Bible. In fact, many have had success doing this. Captives of a Concept and How to Rescue Your Loved One From the Watchtower have some very good suggestions.

In addition, there is not so much disagreement as you think. I find myself agreeing with Christians and making friends with them and I find out much later that they belong to denominations that I thought were quite different (Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.). In my opinion, the denominations really aren't that different at all. There are certainly disagreements between denominations within the church on issues of doctrine, however they all cling to the essential teachings of the fathers of our common faith. Not to do so means they are NOT Christian but these are few.

It is my personal testimony that I accepted Jesus and He led me out of the cult. I saw problems for years before this and still hung on, depressed and friendless. Without Jesus, the God of the Bible, I am sure I would still be trapped.

Carmen

48

looky what they make the latest watchtower (public) say

by therevealer in

through the new covenant, jehovah makes blessings.

available to many by means of a few.

the covenant are few, a mere 144,000. through.

ShadesofGrey

Yes Listener, that part that you are impressed with was quoted from jonathon dough, and he did hit the nail on the head. That was what I noticed last March when I went to the memorial, thus I quoted him in order to agree.

Here are my thoughts as written to a friend of mine, informing her of my disassociation:

I have decided to disassociate myself from Jehovah's Witnesses. I have decided that I cannot agree with their doctrines or support them in any way. They teach that Christ is not the mediator between God and all mankind. I think that they are keeping people away from a relationship with God by teaching that only 144,000 are God's Children with the Holy Spirit to guide them. Romans chapter 8, Matthew 13, 1 John 3 only have two classes of people and if they are not Children of God, they are not part of God's people at all. As a result, the Great Crowd has no mediator, no Heavenly Father, and no hope. I also see that if one is a Child of God, then one is part of the kingdom covenant as well.

1 John 5:1 Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God,

Romans 8:8,9,16 8 So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God.

9 However, YOU are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in YOU. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this one does not belong to him.

YOU received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Galatians 3:28,29 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus. 29 Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.

“But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts.”--1 Peter 3:15

His name should therefore be sanctified, or set apart as holy. -- Watchtower 1991 9/15 p. 7

…the title “Christ” means “Anointed One” --Watchtower 1969 1/1 p. 29

"First, though, these anointed Christians needed cleansing. As Malachi 3:1-5 had foretold, Jehovah God and his 'messenger of the covenant,' Jesus Christ, came to inspect the spiritual temple in the spring of 1918." Watchtower 1993 5/1 p. 15

Religious history is also full of charismatic leaders who inspired people to be devoted to them but who brought disaster upon their followers. “Be careful that no one misleads you,” warned Jesus, “for many men will come in my name saying ‘I am the Christ’, and they will mislead many.” (Matthew 24:4, 5, Phillips)—Watchtower 1998 2/15 p. 23

"The book YouMaySurviveArmageddonintoGod’sNewWorld, released last June, and the article “Jehovah Is in His Holy Temple,” published in the November 15 English issue of TheWatchtower, prove that Jehovah came accompanied by his Angel of the covenant, Jesus Christ, to the spiritual temple in the spring of 1918."--Watchtower 12/15/55 p. 748

Matthew 24: 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

I have decided to listen to Jesus instead of the Jehovah's Witness Governing Body. I cannot stay and allow my daughter to be taught these things. I, in fact, have not. Since speaking up 5 of my family members are free of the doctrine of men.

Carmen

48

looky what they make the latest watchtower (public) say

by therevealer in

through the new covenant, jehovah makes blessings.

available to many by means of a few.

the covenant are few, a mere 144,000. through.

ShadesofGrey

Through the new covenant, Jehovah makes blessings
available to many by means of a few. Those in
the covenant are few, a mere 144,000. Through
them, millions from all nations will be blessed with
everlasting life in an earthly paradise. Some who are
in the new covenant serve Jehovah on earth today.
They alone properly partake of the bread and the
wine because the cup "means the new covenant."

No mention of Jesus.

Thank you for that guys.

1800 Christian Denominations 1800 interpretations. As far as this 144,001 doctrine goes its not weirder than any other interpretation just unique. Its Christianity so its got weirdness built in from the get go.

I disagree. I find much more to agree on with brothers and sisters of different donominations than to disagree on. Sometimes different things are more in focus.

1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

There are certainly disagreements between denominations within the church on issues of doctrine, however they all cling to the essential teachings of the fathers of our common faith. Not to do so means they are NOT Christian but heretics. Those essential teachings include Jesus as the son of God and His all sufficient sacrificial atonement for all of mankind's sins, His essential nature as man and God, the existence of the Godhead as one Almighty Unlimited God, Jesus as the only way to God and salvation, the fact of the resurrection in the flesh, the coming second advent of Christ, and the free gift of the salvation given never earned. Remove any one of these articles of faith, and you do not have Christianity but a cult. In all of these you have complete agreement among the various denominations (eschatology gets a little sticky in exactly when and how He will return, but all agree that he is returning).

I find myself agreeing with Christians and making friends with them and I find out much later that they belong to denominations that I thought were quite different (Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.). In my opinion, the denominations really aren't that different at all. The only difference I notice is that there are people within the visible church of various denominations that are being sanctified and led by the Spirit of Christ, and some who are not.

The New Covenant is the quintessential arrangment between the Almighty and all Christian believers, not merely a select 144,000.

33 “For this is the covenant that I shall conclude with the house of Israel after those days,” is the utterance of Jehovah. “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I shall write it. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people.”
34 “And they will no more teach each one his companion and each one his brother, saying, ‘KNOW Jehovah!’“For I shall forgive their error, and their sin I shall remember no more.” (Jer. 31:33, 34) for they will all of them know me, from the least one of them even to the greatest one of them,” is the utterance of Jehovah.

It is the Great Crowd of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ stated purpose to teach the resurrected during the thousand years how to know God and Jesus based on written decrees, but this is at direct odds with the New Covenant where the Almighty is changing hearts from the inside out through the power of the Holy Spirit, not through the imposition of more externally imposed Mosaic-like laws and decrees. Through the sacrificed blood of his son, Jesus, God forgives sin and redeems man by virtue of grace through their faith in Christ and his sacrifice. He does not teach man to be sinless or perfect, nor does he forgive sins in the Christian era based on their successfully passing tests in another life.

AMEN!

54

Romans 10:13 - got owned in a jw study. need help with greek.

by bohm in

for reasons i have posted on another topic i have become involved with a study with a rather knowledgeable jw.

i try to stay clear of the scripture (im an atheist who have never read the bible so i have desided to agree with his interpretation of the scripture for the sake of argument, however to say that when it come to interpretations of the bible, there are also many other ways to think about it, and it require significant research for me to commit to one particular view).

we talked about how you know jehovahs witness have the truth and ofcourse the conversation went into the usual topics like using the name jehovah (however, it did end where i felt it should, on jesus selection in 1918, more on that on another thread).

ShadesofGrey

Terry, I was a JW arguing with Christians on a creationist website. God used scripture to get me out of that cult and into Jesus. Scriptures work. My husband, myself, two of my relatives and one of my best friends are all proof, along with countless others.

Shades.

178

1 John 4:2

by N.drew in

(the previous verse warns there will be false prophets).

by this you will know that the spirit is of god because the whole spirit is in agreement with jesus christ that among flesh (mankind) has come out of god is.. i think it means not was but what is.

it means we can believe christ is among us to do the will of god through us.

ShadesofGrey

Just an FYI: I had no idea until just now that anything was going on with people disagreeing with SA on other threads.