Posts by leaving

32

Does the bible have a central theme? Does it prove inspiration?

by GreenhornChristian in

does the bible have a central theme?.

there seems to be a general consensus throughout christian religions that there is a consistent theme throughout the bible.

the seeming evidence of a theme coming from a collection of books written by over 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years is what givse credence to the claim that the bible is an inspired literary work.

leaving_quietly

WTBTS teaches that the central theme of the Bible is God's Kingdom. Well, after reading the Bible for myself, I can say, most assuredly, that that is not the case. While the OT largely has prophecies relating to Christ, there is an even more overarching theme that I picked up on, and that is, very simply: take care of those who are less fortunate than you... widows, orphans, the poor. It's one of the main reasons Sodom was destroyed (Eze. 16:49), and it is named as the form of acceptable worship (James 1:27). The Mosaic Law has numerous portions in it related to this, and God removed his support of the Israelites for ignoring the poor among them.

If I were asked, what is the theme of the Bible, I would say (to quote Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure): "Be excellent to each other!"

Does it prove inspiration? No. That isn't provable, in my opinion.

41

How Much Drinking Is Too Much?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i have seen that some say if a man has 3 beers per day or a woman has 2 glasses of wine per day, that they may have .

.

leaving_quietly

It also depends on the beer of course ... are we talking real beer or bug light? :)

bug light.... that's too funny!

You know you're drinking too much if you come to depend on it. Each person is different. If a person has one glass of wine a day, is it too much? Probably not. If a person can't get through the day without a drink, then it's probably too much.

Interestingly, in a talk at the 2013 DC, the speaker defined being drunk as one having 4 or 5 drinks, depending on tolerance levels. While they discourage drinking too much, one cannot be DF'd for being an alcoholic. They can only be DF'd for being drunk.

23

Armageddon "WILL" be Here Before 2014!

by african GB Member in

i met a jw this past saturday, he was doing street witnessing, he told me that the end was coming.

i asked him when that is going to happen, and he told me that 2014 will be 100 years since satan was dismissed from heaven.

he told me that it would'nt make sense for god to let more than 100 years "pass before ending this world".. .

leaving_quietly

Ok, I'll bite. What's the significance of 100 years in biblical chronology?

Then He said to A′bram: “Know for certain that your offspring will be foreigners in a land not theirs and that the people there will enslave them and afflict them for 400 years. But I will judge the nation they will serve, and after that they will go out with many goods. As for you, you will go to your forefathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. But they will return here in the fourth generation, because the error of the Am′or·ites has not yet reached its full measure.” - Gen 15:13-16

I noted this some time back, that a generation may be as long as 100 years, based on this passage. Well, unless Armageddon comes by the end of today (still Oct 2 here in the U.S.), this isn't it.

86

Watchtower Legal Department targeting Facebook and Youtube users

by Londo111 in

from an email i received of a conversation had with people from patterson:.

it seems that the wts legal dept.

has been working with the fb [facebook] legal dept for about a year and also with youtube whoever they are, to enforce transparency.

leaving_quietly

http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/01/facebook-apologizes-to-lgbt-community-and-promises-changes-to-real-name-policy/

7

CHANGES? "-- Christ had taken Kingdom power in 1914, there RIGHTLY could be changes--" Karl Adams quoted in CoC, page 25

by prologos in

we hear of shocking changes to come, for old timers and young, were surprised before, saying perhaps: "how dare they-- the scriptues-- the early christians--" we might think, but yesterday,.

reading coc the above line came into view , and it struck me: here is the mindset in bethel.

power is invested in them, and they will change it, under the guise of ruling for christ.. i am, or was, primarily interested in doctrine, and these changes, (capitals mine) that adams, the head of the writing department, referred to during the research for the 'aid" book, was on governance in the congregation,.

leaving_quietly

I am reminded of this passage:

Now, brothers, these things I have applied to myself and A·polʹlos for your good, that through us you may learn the rule: “Do not go beyond the things that are written,” so that you may not be puffed up with pride, favoring one against the other. For who makes you different from another? Indeed, what do you have that you did not receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not receive it? Are you already satisfied? Are you already rich? Have you begun ruling as kings without us? I really wish that you had begun ruling as kings, so that we also might rule with you as kings. - 1 Cor 4:6-8

17

Love all the people...

by new hope and happiness in

there are a lot of topics about religiouse hatred, so on a personal level why do you find it difficult to love or like individuals?.

.

leaving_quietly

I usually don't have an issue with people, and the more I'm freed of the JW thinking, the more I enjoy being around other people NOT LIKE ME.

The other day, I went to a bar for lunch. I parked in the parking lot next to a beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycle. I'm not a motorcycle guy, but it was a really nice-looking bike. When I entered the bar, there was only one other person there, a guy with all his Harley-Davidson gear on. Even before I got to the bar, I asked him if he owned the bike, which he confirmed he did. I commented that it was really nice looking. This guy was literally beaming with pride. He took me outside and proceeded to show me all it's features. It was a 2014 model, so had GPS, Bluetooth, and other fancy features to it.

Keep in mind, this was a biker dude. Not someone I would have even spoken to a year or two ago out of fear of just the way bikers look. Not anymore. He was all too happy to show me his bike and we went back in and had a drink together. How cool is that?

Most people are NOT jerks. If you give them a little respect, I find that most are decent people. They may not think like me about certain things, but so what? Why would I want to be around people who always think like me?

19

Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses"

by Gordy in

.

the jw's use isaiah 43:10 as the excuse for their name.. i'm trying to find information that refutes this.

i came across a good one on a website but now can't find it.. anyone one know of a good refutation of the jw's use of this scripture..

leaving_quietly

People with a Evangelical bent are the one's who usually bring this issue up, you just don't hear Catholics or the Greek Orthodox caring about this 'name' isue.

Correct. Think of it this way:

You're walking down the street, and a homeless person calls out to you, "Sir, can you help me?" (Or "Ma'am" if you're a woman). Now, you know full well this person is calling out to you, but you simply ignore them. Why? Because that person DOESN'T KNOW YOUR NAME.

Does this make any sense? Of course not!

86

Watchtower Legal Department targeting Facebook and Youtube users

by Londo111 in

from an email i received of a conversation had with people from patterson:.

it seems that the wts legal dept.

has been working with the fb [facebook] legal dept for about a year and also with youtube whoever they are, to enforce transparency.

leaving_quietly

Elders counting time to review FB and Youtube? LOL! They can't even count time for shepherding. This makes no sense. Is this another JW urban legend in the making?

19

Isaiah 43:10 "You are my witnesses"

by Gordy in

.

the jw's use isaiah 43:10 as the excuse for their name.. i'm trying to find information that refutes this.

i came across a good one on a website but now can't find it.. anyone one know of a good refutation of the jw's use of this scripture..

leaving_quietly

I know this is an old thread, but it bears bringing up.

Today's WT study (July 15, 2014 p. 28-32) brought out that Jesus said "You will be witnesses of me" because they were already witness of Jehovah (p. 29 par. 5). This led me to thinking: Yes, the Jews could have been called that, but not us, right? Who was it that Jehovah said "You are my witnesses" to and why? Again CONTEXT makes the difference.

Isaiah 43 is a reminder about what God had done and will do.

Vs 1: God reminds them that he bought them and they belong to him. (Jacob and Israel)

Vs 2: God promises to protect them

Vs 3: God reminds them that Egypt was their ransom

Vs 4: God tells them they are precious in His eyes

Vs 5-7: God assures them of his continued being with them

Vs 8-9: Now, here's the key... God issues a challenge to the nations and asks them to produce THEIR witnesses to see who is right.

Vs 10: God then says to the Israelites, "YOU are my witnesses."

This wasn't about naming a group of people. This was about who is right and who is wrong. Who could produce witnesses for themselves that could truthfully claim to have been a savior, protector, etc. This was God's challenge to the nations, and in that challenge, he names the Israelites as HIS witnesses to that fact.

The religion today known as Jehovah's Witnesses cannot rightfully be called that. The main reason is because the vast majority are NOT Israelites by descent. They have, for all intents and purposes, stolen the name.

10

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-28-2014 WT Study (JESUS WIT)

by blondie in

jw
friends

comments you will not hear at the 09-28-2014 wt study (july 15, 2014, pages (28-32) new testament jesuswitnesses.

review comments will be headed outside the boxes.

wt material from today's wt will be in quote boxes.

leaving_quietly

Thus, being hated for bearing Jehovah’s name is the same as “being reproached for the name of [Jesus] Christ,” who said to his opposers: “I have come in the name of my Father, but you do not receive me.” (John 5:43) So the next time you experience opposition in your witnessing work, take courage. Such mistreatment is proof that you have God’s smile of approval and that his spirit “is resting upon you.”

This is actually a pivotal point in the study. Why? Because Jehovah's Witnesses are NEVER, EVER, EVER reproached for the name of Christ. EVER. Why not? Because most people don't even think Jehovah's Witnesses even BELIEVE in Christ. That's why articles like this exist. They have to get Christ out there in the publications once or twice a year just to try to make people think JWs believe in Christ.

At the same time, remember that fine increases are being enjoyed in many parts of the world. Even in well-worked territories, we still find people who are willing to listen and with whom we can share our wonderful message of salvation.

I was thinking about this this morning. It dawned on me that numbers and growth mean absolutely NOTHING! Why can I say that? Let's go to the parable of the wheat and the weeds. Matthew 13:30 says, "Let both grow together until the harvest...” JWs are not the reapers. The angels are, according to Matthew 13:39. So, who cares about numbers? "Fine increases" mean absolutely nothing.

leaving_quietly

Posts by leaving_quietly