Of course they are. Better. I am a Born Again Christian and Ex-JW and I understand the mind set of a JW much better than a non-JW. If one was a Christian before becoming a JW, the return road is not as difficult as it is for those who have experienced nothing but the JW religion. Christians who have never been a JW simply cannot comprehend the emotional, controlling grip of the organization and the fear.
A Born Again is a Christian...period. Going to church, giving and serving will not change our sinful nature. Accepting Christ as our Savior, expressing it through baptism, and being empowered through the Holy Spirit to live a godly life changes your life and your behavior. It is not a matter of being in some denomination or in some church. Our soul and very nature are changed through the death of Christ on the cross. It is an issue of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that personal relationship comes through a new birth. He begins to work in our lives; sort of a process of regeneration or renewing, i.e., a new birth. But a person has to make this decision themselves. You can't force it down their throats.....ever....and then beat them up when we think they don't measure up. Ridiculous. That is wrong. That is exactly why most people leave their churches. There are going to be downs and ups and downs and ups in everyone's lives. God knows that and loves us for just hangin' in there and doing our best.
Sigh! I just know I'm going to get beat up by the atheists so I'm going to duck out and go to bed now. Work tomorrow.
Trot
Edited by - Trotafox on 15 September 2002 23:24:34
Edited by - Trotafox on 16 September 2002 0:29:19