Who Will Point Out The Prevarication?
If someone is spoken of as being guilty of the above-titled offense, what does it really mean? Here are some definitions of the expression “talking out of both sides of your mouth”:
• Lying.
• Being two-faced.
Tags: blood, disfellowshipping, lies, prevarication
John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the way to the Father. This means he is mediator and High Priest for all humankind who have faith in him. 1 Tim. 2:5 – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus”. Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God. The organization claims that he is mediator for only 144000 throughout all history. If this is so, who is the mediator for the so-called “other sheep”?
*** w79 11/15 p. 27 par. 25 Benefiting from “One Mediator Between God and Men” ***
25 To keep in relationship with “our Savior, God,” the “great crowd” needs to remain united with the remnant of spiritual Israelites. Why? Because these spiritual Israelites are the “holy nation” of which we read in Jeremiah 31:35, 36
*** w98 2/1 p. 17 par. 16 Greater Blessings Through the New Covenant ***
Those of spiritual Israel still remaining on earth make up “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Only in association with them can acceptable sacred service be rendered to God.
Tags: Jehovah Witnesses, Jesus, Life, truth, Watchtower org, Way
The following quotes were published in the May 1, 1997 Watchtower:
“JEHOVAH GOD is the Grand Identifier of his true messengers. He identifies them by making the messages he delivers through them come true. Jehovah is also the Great Exposer of false messengers. How does he expose them? He frustrates their signs and predictions. In this way he shows that they are self-appointed prognosticators, whose messages really spring from their own false reasoning—yes, their foolish, fleshly thinking!”
I was in shock when I first read this and really was at a loss for words. I will use their words to examine this article. Have any of the “signs and predictions” of the Watchtower/JW-Org/GB come true? Has not the JW organization been frustrated with countless wrong predictions? With their own words do they not condemn themselves by saying, “In this way he shows that they are self-appointed prognosticators, whose messages really spring from their own false reasoning—yes, their foolish, fleshly thinking!”
There are a great number of problems to be found inside most Kingdom Halls:
Gossip, cliques, favoritism, nepotism, good-old-boy networks, hidden sin, arrogance, etc.
Do you agree with this statement? How about this one:
Tags: conscience, JW.org, luther, pride
Our Creator knows all the secrets
There isn’t a single person or large organization that can say they don’t have any secrets. Everyone has hidden something about themselves at one point in time or another. But no matter what those things are, our Creator knows about them. And in his great love he has appointed a righteous judge, our Lord Jesus. (Acts 10:42; John 5:22-23) We also know that sins and secrets often have a way of coming to light, whether by accident or divine direction. Jesus himself famously said:
“What I tell YOU in the darkness, say in the light; and what YOU hear whispered, preach from the housetops. And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. “ (Matthew 10:27, 28, NWT)
Tags: Child Abuse, elders, hidden, JW.org, secrets
Some have asked me directly, and others have mentioned this subject in the forum and I feel it merits a short article. If you are an active or inactive Jehovah’s Witness and you are wanting to do deep research on Watchtower teachings in line with 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, then this has probably crossed your mind at least once if not more times.
Concerns about “spying” or getting caught reading something others would be bothered by is understandable. You want to protect yourself. You may also may worry that a friend or family member might be bothered or stumbled if they found out where you have been on the internet. A person may even worry that an elder or other “bloodhound brother” will sniff them out and discover their online history.
Tags: anonymity, hacking, online safety
An excellent book for reasoning with Jehovah's Witnesses
Longtime Christian minister Wilbur Lingle wrote an excellent book in 1994, and then updated it in 2004, entitled “Approaching Jehovah’s Witnesses in Love”. This book analysis and review contains some thoughts about what and how Mr. Lingle wrote his book, and the ways it has been encouraging and instructive to me personally as someone who has close friends and family members that are asleep within the Organization.
As most of you know my goal (which is shared by many of us here on the JWS site) is to gain Christian Freedom from a man-made structure that creates doctrinal creeds to control our conscience. Another goal of mine is to help others among my JW brotherhood (especially friends and family members within the movement) to see that there is more than one rigid way to serve God besides underneath the banner and tutelage of the Watchtower Society. And it is for this reason I feel that the book helps in both ways.
The subtitle to Lingle’s book, below the main title adds: “How to Witness Effectively Without Arguing”. Isn’t that a refreshing approach and sentiment? So often when we try and share TTATT with a Witness, it devolves quickly into an argument. We are not looking for fights! Notice these verses:
Tags: JW.org, Love, reasoning, truth, Wilbur Lingle
Sister Disappointed has graciously agreed to start keeping up our weblinks on the sidebar. There are so many great sources for help in our struggle online. How do we find them all and share them with our friends? Which ones are going to benefit us the most? We want to try and focus on informative, newsworthy, and positive places that can really give us balance and strength as we daily walk through the narrow gate. (Matthew 7:13-14) This is why we recommend these and share them with all our brothers and sisters, friends and visitors.
For example, valuable sites include:
- Biblical resources and commentaries
- JW news and information
- Encouraging YouTube videos
- Books that help us with our struggle
- Movies that inspire and build up
- Blogs by former and dissident Witnesses that are written in love not hate
Tags: links, research, resources, Sister Disappointed
What do stories tell you about your own struggles?
Notice the following list. What do these things all have in common?
- Aesop’s fables
- Illustrations from outstanding Circuit Overseers
- Psychological experiments done on college campuses
- Rats-in-a-maze experiments done by scientists
- Grimm’s Fairy Tales
- A song or poem from a gifted writer
- A humorous anecdote or news item in the “Watching the World” section of Awake
- Illustrations from professional preachers, motivational, or inspirational speakers
- Sociological experiments performed on unwitting volunteers
Despite being wildly different in some ways, they all speak to us about the human condition and experience. Also they tell us about ourselves if we let them. They talk to us by the way that we choose to interpret them, i.e., what we personally take away from the story or report or finding.
Tags: conditioning, mind control, shaggy dog, slavery
How far does our world-wide brotherhood extend? Is it limited to just ONE Christian group? Is the “free gift of the spirit” (Acts 2:38) opened up to many groups or just one? You and I both know that Christ is the judge and individuals from many nations and creeds can be sharers in the “one hope” to which we were were called. (Ephesians 4:4, ESV) I certainly don’t have all the answers to these questions. These are complex notions to contemplate and perhaps impossible to answer definitively.
It has been mentioned to me (and I agree) that this place is not necessarily a final destination on our Christian journey as servants of the Father and our King Christ Jesus. But no matter where we go online or in the flesh, and how many years we follow the narrow path, we want to strive to upbuild our fellow man, and especially our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. (Galatians 6:10, NIV)
We meet; we commiserate; we encourage one another, and share points that have resonated with us on a personal level. The JWS forum makes it easy to bring up a Bible topic of whatever we have or are currently studying, ask a deeper Bible question to the group or just get feedback on something we are thinking about or dealing with. Our efforts, as small as they may be, can have far-reaching effects, and many times the fruits of these efforts to figure things out and encourage others are unknown. But occasionally we are pleasantly surprised with positive feedback from unexpected sources. This fires our zeal and gives us impetus to press on and do more in the Lord’s service. Above all, let us not sow sparingly! (2 Corinthians 9:6, HCSB) It is my personal resolve to expend myself in this ministry, and in my efforts to help more and more of my brothers and sisters within the Watchtower structure to awaken to “the truth about the truth”. Others among you are led by the Spirit on another path, and that too can be God’s will and plan for you. (1 Corinthians 12:5, NAS)
Tags: brotherhood, JW.org, non-witness, study
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It can be one of life’s biggest trials when you come to the realization that the Watchtower Society is not what it claims to be, namely God’s organization. I remember the feelings that I had, shock, dismay, anger, depression, disbelief, fear and then finally acceptance.
Tags: encouragement, governing body, help, organization, reform, truth, unity
Dear brothers and sisters,
With the Memorial of Christ’s death so close, many of us wonder about our own relationship with Christ Jesus. Are we in the truth? Are we in Christ? JJ has just finished a talk/video for Youtube that addresses this subject. We hope you enjoy.
Tags: in christ, Jehovah Witnesses, the truth
Have you ever been invited to someone’s home for dinner, but not eaten any of the food? Only sat there and watched them eat? What purpose would that serve? That is exactly what the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses do. They invite millions of people around the world to come to the Lords Evening Meal…and watch them eat. They make sure all pass the bread and wine, yet encourage the majority not to partake.
Why is so much importance attached to holding the plate and glass and then declining to partake? This is what each attendee does, including the speaker. One of the elders hands him the emblems and then he hands it back. Perhaps some would even say that this is a clear and open rejection of the emblems. All the elders who pass the emblems to the crowd turn around and then pass them among themselves as if to make clear to all that this is what the majority should do. Admittedly, in a few Kingdom Halls the speaker or one of the other elders is of the “anointed” and does eat and drink, but this extremely rare.
Why do they do this? Is this a scriptural way to conduct the Lord’s Evening Meal? Why is it so important to hold the emblems and then decline to partake of them? What purpose does it serve? How many of you as a JW ever felt good about passing these emblems? Did any questions ever run through your mind? I know I certainly had questions. I always asked myself why do we all need to touch/pass these emblems? If we are not to partake then why does each one of us need to be there? Do we invite all those we know and make the effort to be present and then not participate? Why can’t those who will partake just raise their hands and then receive the emblems? Why do I need to touch it and then pass it along? I never understood this at all and felt something was seriously wrong.
Tags: Jehovah Witness Memorial, JW.org, Lords Evening Meal, Passover
Food for the needy…Sacred Service?
Editor’s note: The following article was written by Brother Spike. Some small editorial adjustments were made by Brother Andrew and myself. Spike and I have shared some discussions recently, where the topic of what Sacred Service is was brought up. It is certainly an appropriate discussion for all of us as strugglers on the Christian walk, whether we are active or inactive Witnesses or former Witnesses. Please enjoy the following article. — JJ
.
.
.
Tags: field service, sacred service
I decided to record a message about an article that had really affected me early on in my struggle to understand the problems within the organization.
A short recap is first given of Watchtower history when N. Knorr and F. Franz took over after Rutherford’s death. Then the Watchtower article of 11-1-1946 is discussed at length. This excellent article talks about how people can understand the Bible, using 2 Timothy 3:16,17 as a key scripture.
Franz wrote that we do not need a “magisterium” to explain the Scriptures to us, and that we do not need a “visible human organization” either, as each Christian can be completely equipped for every good work through the study and application of God’s Word.
Tags: 2 Timothy 3:16, Christian Freedom, fred franz, magisterium, ray franz
Recent Comments