Of course it will, but it's not so black and white. Jehovah knows hearts and doesn't judge by our standards. We shouldn't be quick to judge who we perceive as being true. That's in Jehovah's jurisdiction.
2 Tim 3:5 "and from these turn away". And same chapter verses 13 thru 17 are fairly enlightening.
That's right. And don't take it personally, because it's against the show, not necessarily you. And they are wrong on the important facts.
I don't take it personally and thanks for your comments. As I mentioned earlier, those who are rightly disposed will get the meaning and push forward and dig deeper. Many will fall away because they might feel it's impossible to live up to the standard that Christ set, but those who truly believe will keep going. Even if they don't have a complete understanding at present, they might go and apply the teachings in their life. Jehovah is not so petty to reject people with good heart because they don't have a completely accurate knowledge. It's Catholic fake god who is like that. So rigid... When the hour of test comes that's where it will be determined who is approved. Until then wheat and weeds grow together.
I have a friend that I am close to and he's in Christendom, but due to the circumstances in his life I preach when I can, because I believe he is receptive enough.
I'm still on it, taking it slowly as he went really deep and there is a lot to read. But I agree about Baal worship.
I was surprised actually when I found out that there are many. And a lot of them preach on the internet. The thing is that we are currently in a period when a lot of people are waking up and realizing that organized religions are going contrary to how it should be, with all the rules and threats of punishmnet and whatnot... There are so many study groups and a lot of them don't believe in trinity and other such nonsense. It's akin to previous great awakenings during which The Bible Students formed. The ignorant will be ignorant, and I don't really take them into account. But there definitely is a big shift happening. And it's all according to prophecy, as Daniel 12 says that many will rove about and true knowledge will become abundant. If we know the truth we have no reason to be scared. Pretty soon everything will become clear. What we need now is faith.
Today I spoke with an elder who told me about the experience he had with a priest. This brother was just getting acquainted with JW at the time and as he was learning more, he shared it with the priest and as they talked the priest revealed to him that he didn't really believe much of what bible was saying... a priest! He said that a lot of it is just stories... Imagine how he saw that priest after that. Pharisees also had this appearance, as do a lot of JW as most others as well. Of course we need to turn away from those. But people whose faith is genuine should not be dismissed just like that. God will lead them to accurate knowledge. All I'm saying is that we tend to be judgmental and condemn people who might not be at the same level of understanding and that's wrong. If Jehovah was judging as we do then almost no one would be acceptable to him. I mean just look at how every time people from different denominations discuss there is always disagreements about whose knowledge is correct and who is true religion and yada yada. In the meantime no one realizes that they are not displaying any Christlike qualities while they are doing so... It's all about me, me, me, mine...
I get stuck with christmas every year, because my wife is unaware or the truth but at least coming to understand that all is not right with the world. There is though a strong pull for people to maintain “normality” (Whatever that ‘normality’ may be!) and that normality is a perception, rather than a reaction based upon anything true. Most people are aware that all is not right in life and its ceremony. Christmas for me as a child was always about sentiment - excitement, expectation, gifts and being together and generosity. I used to put my toys under the tree for my siblings. My sister kindly told me that was not the thing to do! The hiatus of my watchtower years was cold, distant and functional, loaded with guilt to go out on Christmas Day and interrupt the publics day of togetherness and peace and to tell them it’s all false and hollow. And to sit at home with children devoid of expectation and a scraping of joy in receiving gifts and attention was frankly divisive, sad and heartbreaking for me as a parent and even as a man, not to mention the conflict in conscience. Now though, I welcome the opportunity to have my family around me and to see them content and happy. Yes, there is a tree that my wife decorates and enjoys doing so in her ignorance of all but love for her children, and I relax and watch, knowing that when the hammer falls, should it fall in my lifetime, I will be there to steer them should they wish to be steered. Then is my time of value to the truth. Not that I am remiss in preparing the way now with them all.
Exactly. Thank you.
One other thing that just occured to me when it comes to watering... Some people are like grass and require constant watering in order to not wither, yet others are like cactus and overwatering might produce the opposite effect. Just a thought I had...
Strange you mentioned it. I have just murdered my orchid I have had for two years by over watering it! The prophets are arising!
The scriptures admonish us to "not throw pearls before swine", "do not be a friend of the world", "from these turn away", "get out of her my people" on and on. I was only responding to your stark statement in a previous post of yours wherein you seemed to indicate how wrong "judging" is. I agree about "do not judge lest ye be judged", but it is incumbent upon us to make certain judgment calls, to ascertain and take action against wrongdoing and or wrong thinking, to determine the difference between right and wrong, even if it is only a perception on our part. The english language probably needs another word for "judging". NOW you have adjusted your take on it by saying that our judgment is attached to condemnation. That is not entirely correct. I am saying that the scriptures mandate a measure of reasonable judging, but I get what you are TRYING to say. And I completely agree that if Jehovah finds hearts in the right place, He will certainly do the right thing in their case. That is completely obvious. As for the series, some people like it and some don't. As Tucker Carlson says....Period! LOL
Absolutely so. There are in fact a multiplicity of synonyms for judgement - calculated, meticulous, prudent, ‘figured’ (for Americans
) and even to ‘tally’, and which in biblical terms has a reference or inference to collecting evidence for consideration in one‘s ‘judgement‘. You’re absolutely right in that in these days, to form a judgement in negative terms is thought discriminatory and they add to the confusion by suggesting that everyone is entitled to their opinion. Well, no! There is no natural right to an opinion if it is contrary to fact, or the conscience, or can result in harm. This is why we are given reasoning abilities. The problem arises when someone has to insist on their opinion; then there is not a lot that anyone else can do for their benefit. Thus conceding an entitlement to an opinion is simply an escape clause for the educated to get away! There is though, a solid contradiction to the above: there is no doubt when it comes to the truth, and no judgement stemming from that is incorrect. It either is, or is not truth. The only indecision in it is allowed during its consideration by we who are learning it. Hence a jury in courts of law. But indecision is not judgement. Truth cannot be challenged. (Ask Robert! ).
And, I will add that no one is exempt from being corrected by scripture. But in order to not be twisting scripture you have to know the balance in the bible and let scripture explain scripture. Otherwise what you have is not truth at all.Absolutely so. There are in fact a multiplicity of synonyms for judgement - calculated, meticulous, prudent, ‘figured’ (for Americans
I understand. I realize that these scriptures apply to the resisters and opposers. Yeah, as in the first century with gnosticism and all of the other twisted doctrines they came up with, in the same way today, we can recognize those we need to turn away from. Like for example pretersits, socinians docetists and you-name-it... we can judge that their teaching is twisted, because it denies certain aspects of the scriptures that we know are correct. In fact “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living” as you pointed out previously.
Probably does. I find english kinda hard to express myself as it lacks (as far as I am aware) a lot of concepts that are present in my language but it's not that big a problem, as there's this thing called roundabout way of speaking lol (actually there is a word in english for that -- circumlocution)
There is a very good reason Paul "got tired of it." The demon could not possibly have been mistaken for having any good intentions for proclaiming "these men are slaves of the most high God." I think it very likely, if you think about it, the demon was mocking them. Regardless this demon who is condemned to death could not possibly have had any good motive.
And all are being led by "hired men"
This is basically how I see it and I guess I was trying to arrive at that conclusion but couldn't really formulate it so succintly. All this makes me wonder whether the "this good news will be preached" part from Mt 24 actually applies to that period especially because when you look at the context the preaching is mentioned together with tribulation. I wonder what the "good news" actually means in this particular context... is it the news that the kingdom has come, as opposed to the present "kingdom will come"? What do you think?
I think you're exactly right, it will be "The Kingdom has arrived". It will be a message that Jesus has begun ruling in the midst of his enemies and there will be actual evidence, like the evidence Moses asked God for, to verify that Jehovah had sent him. No honest hearted person questioned Jesus "credentials".
That is exactly the view I have. Thanks for explaining it so nicely!
I have the benefit of English being my mother tongue. My only "tongue", LOL, but none the less...my first language.
I was just thinking about this and this came up in my mind... Jews were to keep the law, which would later be fulfilled in Messiah. And since we draw this parallel to Jews, we could ask ourselves what is the "law" that we are under? Well, Jesus gave us the comand to love God, to love our neighbour, to apply the "golden rule" in our lives in order to produce the fruitage of the holy spirit. And also to make disciples. This is basically the law for us, or rather the principle which we should use to transform ourselves in order to become more like Jesus so that we can be acceptable to God. I feel this is the heart of the issue. All of the "we're the only ones right" and "no we are, you don't get it..." is part of the deception.
100%. It's like when i was growing up, and you'd say to your parents, "well so and so is a really good person." And your parents would say, "well they don't know Jehovah." Yeah, well who are you, that you are so arrogant to claim YOU know Jehovah?
You nailed it again. How do you say... a hat-trick?
Indeed. No one says it better than John as he quotes Jesus at John 4:23. God is looking for such like ones to worship him. Spirit and truth encompasses and envelopes love, compassion, golden rule etal. Nice and simple.