There is one issue that needs to be discussed and I am not sure if it is splitting hairs or not - however, much has been said about child abuse, homosexuality et alia and watchtower, and judgement - and if judgement is a consideration, then the facts surrounding judgement also demand Scrutiny. One of those facts (sadly, there are a whole lot more) is the conditioning caused by such abuses, along with pornography that is often attached with it. It is worth bearing in mind the scripture admonishing parents ”to bring up a child in the way, and he will not turn aside from it.” This does not simply apply to good parenting, but also bad parenting and what the child perceives as normal in growing up. To be brief, but as an example, there was a chap I met in the course of my work who was brought up by monks - you know the rest - but he viewed homosexuality as the norm. That was his comfort, security and way of life. This sort of programming extends to all other human values also, from money to misogamy, and thus the learnt proclivities that people cling to, are not necessarily a chosen way of life, but a learnt way of living life. Thus, there really is no joy in one getting their comeuppance, or seeing others fail a second time in the resurrection of the good and the bad, because it is for that very reason, perhaps, that they are resurrected so that they can “taste and see” the truth for themselves without hinderance. That is the only fair way to judge, and be seen to be righteous in judgement - a least, that much is what I gather from Jehovah’s in His intention to resurrect both the good and the bad to judge without influence to the contrary. Something that man has not seen since Adam and Eve.
Totally agreeIt has become obvious that the little JW.org headline-grabbing articles, which I do not believe appear in the Watchtower or AWAKE magazines, are intended for a non-JW audience, and not necessarily to reach unbelievers with a Bible message, but to telegraph their harmony with the globalists' agenda. I look forward with keen anticipation each week to see how deeply they will sink into their own pile of
Sink each week!?? You mean daily, surely.It has become obvious that the little JW.org headline-grabbing articles, which I do not believe appear in the Watchtower or AWAKE magazines, are intended for a non-JW audience, and not necessarily to reach unbelievers with a Bible message, but to telegraph their harmony with the globalists' agenda. I look forward with keen anticipation each week to see how deeply they will sink into their own pile of
I wonder how any who make it past the 1,000 final test will feel if someone they love or thought they loved does not make it through that test. Hopefully Jehovah provides a miracle of sorts to dampen any sadness attached to such an occurrence. Certainly not something to worry about right now LOL, but just a curious thought on this beautiful Hawaiian Thursday
I gotta admit, Pooty Poot sees what's going on in the West and is having none of it. The Russians are doing what the Americans should have done years ago. But don't attack the people, attack the agenda and the propaganda. Judge not lest ye be judged. God will judge individuals with mercy in his due time.
Has it not always been that way!? Every now and again, something would happen in a congregation that was not thought possible. It was certainly so in ours. Many people strive at who they would like to be, rather than deal with what they really are. I suppose we all do that to an extent, “miserable man that I am!! “I wonder how any who make it past the 1,000 final test will feel if someone they love or thought they loved does not make it through that test. Hopefully Jehovah provides a miracle of sorts to dampen any sadness attached to such an occurrence. Certainly not something to worry about right now LOL, but just a curious thought on this beautiful Hawaiian Thursday
Wow! I Didn't even Pick that out. Good catch zane.That article also twists the scriptures a bit. It says this:
"But because of inherited sin, multitudes are prone to show selfishness, envy, and pride—qualities that fuel hate.—2 Timothy 3:1-5."
Pride itself is not bad. (Isa 60:15; Na 2:2; 2Th 1:4) It is being "puffed up with pride" that is condemned. (Ro 12:3)
The article also says this:
"HATRED THRIVES IN INTOLERANCE. The world we live in feeds hatred by promoting merciless and harmful attitudes and behavior. Intolerance, prejudice, insulting speech, bullying, and vandalism thrive because “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil.—1 John 5:19."
and this:
"The world will be ruled by God’sint Kingdom,... Prejudice and intolerance will not exist."
At Revelation 2:2 the congregation is commended for not tolerating bad men, and at Revelation 2:20 the congregation is condemned for tolerating Jezebel.
The folks really need to review Jeremiah. There's a reason why Babylon was permitted to lay siege to Israel.That article also twists the scriptures a bit. It says this:
"But because of inherited sin, multitudes are prone to show selfishness, envy, and pride—qualities that fuel hate.—2 Timothy 3:1-5."
Pride itself is not bad. (Isa 60:15; Na 2:2; 2Th 1:4) It is being "puffed up with pride" that is condemned. (Ro 12:3)
The article also says this:
"HATRED THRIVES IN INTOLERANCE. The world we live in feeds hatred by promoting merciless and harmful attitudes and behavior. Intolerance, prejudice, insulting speech, bullying, and vandalism thrive because “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil.—1 John 5:19."
and this:
"The world will be ruled by God’s Kingdom,... Prejudice and intolerance will not exist."
At Revelation 2:2 the congregation is commended for not tolerating bad men, and at Revelation 2:20 the congregation is condemned for tolerating Jezebel.
I think what the watchtower was struggling to say, was not pride but nationalism. There is no room in watchtower for nuances in meaning that convey sense and structure. Everything is either right or wrong. One should have pride in ones’s self, one’s achievements and in striving to implement in our lives the attributes of the spirit and also in all things that we do, that we do them well. The watchtower does not want pride, but dominance and subjection. This is why a huge percentage of their topics are denunciations rather than discussion and exploration of truth and when not speaking about (watchtower) truth, they seek subject matter with which to berate and subjugate the flock to their own opinion. I have to say that such is common in all religions except those religions where it no longer matters what you believe. What fuels hate is ignorance and which in turn feeds on prejudice - the sum of both often being violence. Truth, on the other hand encourages exploration, and its rewards are found in worthwhile values that in their turn, engender wisdom. Just as the bible says, ”…in all things acquire knowledge and through all that you acquire, acquire wisdom..”. I am afraid that my quote is probably not word perfect, but I cannot recall where it is to look it up again! It is pointless to expect spiritual food from watchtower (in my jaded opinion), and the only thing that seems to be coming out of watchtower is ”end stage” propaganda, such as we heard from Germany towards the end of the war. It seemed to all start for the watchtower, first with the “go-bag“ hype, followed by the toe-curling ”extended generation” followed by the desperate “unusual strange incoherent instructions from Bethel”. What those instructions are about, we have yet to be told, but I think, judging by the desperate fantasies coming from them, most of us have the jist of what they mean.That article also twists the scriptures a bit. It says this:
"But because of inherited sin, multitudes are prone to show selfishness, envy, and pride—qualities that fuel hate.—2 Timothy 3:1-5."
Pride itself is not bad. (Isa 60:15; Na 2:2; 2Th 1:4) It is being "puffed up with pride" that is condemned. (Ro 12:3)
The article also says this:
"HATRED THRIVES IN INTOLERANCE. The world we live in feeds hatred by promoting merciless and harmful attitudes and behavior. Intolerance, prejudice, insulting speech, bullying, and vandalism thrive because “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil.—1 John 5:19."
and this:
"The world will be ruled by God’s Kingdom,... Prejudice and intolerance will not exist."
At Revelation 2:2 the congregation is commended for not tolerating bad men, and at Revelation 2:20 the congregation is condemned for tolerating Jezebel.
You should be writing the flippin' articles for the WBTS! What a day we live in when a Brother on a forum has more sense and Biblical knowledge than an entire group of older men heading up a large organization with God's name on it.That article also twists the scriptures a bit. It says this:
"But because of inherited sin, multitudes are prone to show selfishness, envy, and pride—qualities that fuel hate.—2 Timothy 3:1-5."
Pride itself is not bad. (Isa 60:15; Na 2:2; 2Th 1:4) It is being "puffed up with pride" that is condemned. (Ro 12:3)
The article also says this:
"HATRED THRIVES IN INTOLERANCE. The world we live in feeds hatred by promoting merciless and harmful attitudes and behavior. Intolerance, prejudice, insulting speech, bullying, and vandalism thrive because “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil.—1 John 5:19."
and this:
"The world will be ruled by God’s Kingdom,... Prejudice and intolerance will not exist."
At Revelation 2:2 the congregation is commended for not tolerating bad men, and at Revelation 2:20 the congregation is condemned for tolerating Jezebel.
Good point in California Disneyland is very popular among the witnesses.
There will be new scrolls, new understanding, new heavens and earth. There will be nothing to cry or mourn about, right? I am sure the separation towards the end will be so clear you won't be caught in the middle of a relationship and be broadsided. Just as Jehovah sent Cain and people away (until the flood) That's how I rationalize it.I wonder how any who make it past the 1,000 final test will feel if someone they love or thought they loved does not make it through that test. Hopefully Jehovah provides a miracle of sorts to dampen any sadness attached to such an occurrence. Certainly not something to worry about right now LOL, but just a curious thought on this beautiful Hawaiian Thursday
I love this. And it makes so much sense too. It would also explain a lot about why Jehovah has permitted wickedness, because he's going to give us a second chance without Satan's influence, and perhaps that was a big part of Jesus ransom, we we could be given that second chance without Satan's influence, and then be tested not as imperfect people, but as perfect people!
I hope that the tree of knowledge of good and bad does not grow again…I would be in constant fear of walking past it one day absentmindedly and seeing a nice fruit thinking, ”hmmm nice, just fancy that right now…...uh oh….wrong tree” and then “…..WHO SAID you could eat of that tree!!!? Right, we will have to go through it all again now….”.
