Posts by ShadesofGrey

93

Do JWs have a biblically normative relationship with Jesus christ?

by Vanderhoven7 in

i would say that that would be impossible...given that jesus christ is simply an angelic being in wts eyes.. jehovah's witnesses have about as much a relationship with the angel gabriel as they do with jesus.. and, no...tacking on the name of jesus at the end of a prayer is not evidence of relationship..

ShadesofGrey

Tammy

When I read that scripture in 2 Corinthians I cried, because it describes my experience perfectly, so no, it isn't just the words of Paul, but my own personal experience.

Carmen's mind was blinded, but the veil was taken away in Christ. For so long when she read the scriptures and talked (argued) with Christians a veil lie on her heart. But then one day she said "Lord, I will listen only to you." and the veil was taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and the Spirit is in her heart giving her true freedom for the first time in her life.

61

Have your faith been made stronger or made weaker since coming here?

by jam in

me personally, considerably weaker.

in fact i have.

become an agnostic.. since i discovered this site over 6-7 yrs, we have.

ShadesofGrey

Fernando, it is good to see you and I enjoy your posts. Thanks.

Carmen

61

Have your faith been made stronger or made weaker since coming here?

by jam in

me personally, considerably weaker.

in fact i have.

become an agnostic.. since i discovered this site over 6-7 yrs, we have.

ShadesofGrey

My faith in Jesus Christ is stronger, but mostly not due to this forum. This forum tends to make my faith weaker if I let it. It can also be depressing. I have had to learn how to handle things.

I dont think coming to this site has made any difference to my faith. I've learnt some things. It has made me think. Sometimes it's made me laugh. I've felt sad that some seem to have lost their faith.

Yes. I completely agree.

11

Do we have to avoid churches to avoid Babylon the Great?

by ShadesofGrey in

i have several friends who are concerned about getting baptized at a church, attending a church, taking advantage of their youth services, homeschool groups etc.... .

i think that this is because they still believe the babylon the great doctrine and think that if a church or church leader has any teachings "wrong" then they are part of babylon the great... some thoughts:.

using churches for certain services is not the same as belonging to them.

ShadesofGrey

I have several friends who are concerned about getting baptized at a church, attending a church, taking advantage of their youth services, homeschool groups etc...

I think that this is because they still believe the Babylon the Great doctrine and think that if a church or church leader has any teachings "wrong" then they are part of Babylon the Great... some thoughts:

Using churches for certain services is not the same as belonging to them. And even then, being a member is not the same as joining the Watchtower organization. You don't have to agree to everything they believe or teach. You don't have to think that their leaders are any closer to God than you are. You don't believe that belonging to them has anything to do with your salvation or relationship with God.

Christians, I would like your thoughts about Babylon the Great and church services.

Love in Christ,

Carmen

238

Active JW understands flaws in WTS doctrine but believes in the Bible

by flamegrilled in

perhaps this is a common topic for newbies on the site, but i have browsed for a while and not seen this exactly answered.. as an active jw who understands the flaws in wts doctrine, but believes in the bible, how do i identify a form of worship that meets all the criterea:.

1) by this all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves (john 13:35).

sure i know that not all jws do this, and that people from other religions or non-religious people do this also, but as an official doctrine jws will not kill one another in war, and in general there is a genuine effort to exercise "agape" love not widely found in the world at large.. 2) preach the good news.

ShadesofGrey

Amen and Hallelujah! Those with God's Spirit know that they cannot die, so of course they do not fear it.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,

1 John 5:1, 6, 11-13

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

93

Do JWs have a biblically normative relationship with Jesus christ?

by Vanderhoven7 in

i would say that that would be impossible...given that jesus christ is simply an angelic being in wts eyes.. jehovah's witnesses have about as much a relationship with the angel gabriel as they do with jesus.. and, no...tacking on the name of jesus at the end of a prayer is not evidence of relationship..

ShadesofGrey

2 Corinthians 3: 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

97

Elder father sent me an email about Feb 2012 WT - my resposne

by TheStumbler in

i'm not sure if any of you will remember but i posted on here six months ago about a correspondence i was having with my dad, an elder, about who would die in armageddon.

i was asking some tough questions about children being killed in armageddon and i could tell he uncomfortable with the answers he was giving.. i drafted an email in resposne to his email but in the end i decided not to send it in the interest of maintaining friendly relations.. .

last week, out of the blue, my dad sent an email link to the february 2012 watchtower article about armageddon and said it would answer some of my questions.. here is my response which is a critique of the feb 2012 wt article and some of the broader ethics concerning 'armageddon'.

ShadesofGrey

The quote is not just about the past. It also says this:

Moreover, Jesus said that we should not be judging one another. We look at the outward appearance; God looks at the heart. He sees accurately and judges mercifully. He has committed judgment into Jesus' hands, not ours.

Just some lying in order to help God out I suppose.

Theocratic warfare? "Does God want your help if you are going to twist the truth for him? Be careful that he does not find out what you are doing! Or do you think you can fool God as well as men? No, you will be in serious trouble with him if you use lies to try to help him out. Doesn't his majesty strike terror to your heart? How can you do this thing?"-- Job 13:7-11

109

Early Civilizations and Bible Chronology

by xelder in

ShadesofGrey

I ask people who have God's Spirit. Anyone is blinded without His Spirit.

109

Early Civilizations and Bible Chronology

by xelder in

ShadesofGrey

A debate on the topic starting with the Annals of the World:

http://www.evolutionfairytale.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=3679

109

Early Civilizations and Bible Chronology

by xelder in

ShadesofGrey

Am I a Bible literalist? Yes. Taking God at his word rescued me from a cult and changed my life. I don't intend to change something that is working for me.

As far as whether Bible chronology back to Adam is only 6,000 years I am not so sure. It seems strange that the chronological records follow a pattern, and I see no reason why some generations would not have been left out.