A huge problem with the JW religion:

[metis]

I deal with truth. Like I posted to you, but you do not recognize truth. The Father requires one to serve him in spirit and truth. You would know this already if you listened to Jesus. John 4:22-24)

Jesus said "judge ye not...", so with the above, you are rather clearly showing that you don't much seem to care what Jesus said and taught. Therefore, let me recommend that you seek out a Christian denomination that actually does believe in his teachings.

 

[McBell]

Jesus said "judge ye not...", so with the above, you are rather clearly showing that you don't much seem to care what Jesus said and taught. Therefore, let me recommend that you seek out a Christian denomination that actually does believe in his teachings.

Except that Jesus was not issuing a command to not judge.
In fact, the Bible is an instruction book on how to judge.
No, Jesus was merely warning that the standards you use to judge others will be the same standards God will use to judge you.

So with the above, you are rather clearly showing you do not understand what what Jesus said and taught.

 

[metis]

Except that Jesus was not issuing a command to not judge.
In fact, the Bible is an instruction book on how to judge.
No, Jesus was merely warning that the standards you use to judge others will be the same standards God will use to judge you.

So with the above, you are rather clearly showing you do not understand what what Jesus said and taught.

There's a difference between judging a person versus judging the actions ("fruits", as Jesus called them) of a person. What @kjw47 persistently does is the former, which is a reflection of the long-standing J.W. approach.

As Christians, we are told to deal with behavior not conducive to what Jesus taught, and this is clear in the gospel accounts whereas Jesus admonishes such behavior himself. Paul does much the same with some in the flock, but Paul does not judge the entire person, including himself.

To insist, as kjw47 has repeatedly done, that one "does not recognize the truth" and "does not listen to Jesus" are blanket condemnations that goes well beyond just dealing with specific breaches of Jesus' teachings.

It would be like me saying to you that "You are demonic", which is quite judgmental, right?

 

[McBell]

There's a difference between judging a person versus judging the actions ("fruits", as Jesus called them) of a person.

And yet the verses in question do not make said distinction...

 

[metis]

And yet the verses in question do not make said distinction...

The context of a verse is important when measured with other verses that relate to the same general topic. Isolating verses without doing as such can be quite misleading.

Again, we can judge actions & words but not the person. And Paul focused on this when he warned us to be aware of those who "cause division" within the "one body".

 

[McBell]

The context of a verse is important when measured with other verses that relate to the same general topic. Isolating verses without doing as such can be quite misleading.

Ah, so what you saying is that if you do not like a particle part of the Bible, all you have to do is point to some other part of the Bible and the part you do not like will mean what you want it to mean.
Gotcha.

 

[metis]

Ah, so what you saying is that if you do not like a particle part of the Bible, all you have to do is point to some other part of the Bible and the part you do not like will mean what you want it to mean.
Gotcha.

We're done.

 

[McBell]

We're done.

We were done with honest discourse when you tried to justify your being wrong about the whole "Judge not.." thing.
But if it makes you feel better to declare it openly, by all means.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Ah, so what you saying is that if you do not like a particle part of the Bible, all you have to do is point to some other part of the Bible and the part you do not like will mean what you want it to mean.
Gotcha.

It is not clear to me that you did get him. What he says is a reasonable interpretation and the evidence supports applying it as he has done.

A position of superiority was taken with no supporting reason and then others are judged flawed by the person taking that position without regard to the validity of the position they have taken for themselves.

it is a classic case for judge not.

 

[Subduction Zone]

It is not clear to me that you did get him. What he says is a reasonable interpretation and the evidence supports applying it as he has done.

A position of superiority was taken with no supporting reason and then others are judged flawed by the person taking that position without regard to the validity of the position they have taken for themselves.

it is a classic case for judge not.

Yes, I wish that two posters that I like would not go after each other over a misunderstanding. I am not a Christian but I can see that the religion can offer positive guides for life. One has to be careful because there is quite a bit of wrong mixed in with the Bible. Following the actual teaching of Jesus will not lead a person to far astray.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

There's a difference between judging a person versus judging the actions ("fruits", as Jesus called them) of a person. What @kjw47 persistently does is the former, which is a reflection of the long-standing J.W. approach.

As Christians, we are told to deal with behavior not conducive to what Jesus taught, and this is clear in the gospel accounts whereas Jesus admonishes such behavior himself. Paul does much the same with some in the flock, but Paul does not judge the entire person, including himself.

To insist, as kjw47 has repeatedly done, that one "does not recognize the truth" and "does not listen to Jesus" are blanket condemnations that goes well beyond just dealing with specific breaches of Jesus' teachings.

It would be like me saying to you that "You are demonic", which is quite judgmental, right?

Your interpretation more closely matched my own understanding and I agree with your conclusion. It seems to me that the cherry picking here is not coming from your interpretation. Going to other parts of the Bible to better understand this part is not picking and choosing, but one has to keep context, since there are obvious contradictions in that book as well.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Yes, I wish that two posters that I like would not go after each other over a misunderstanding. I am not a Christian but I can see that the religion can offer positive guides for life. One has to be careful because there is quite a bit of wrong mixed in with the Bible. Following the actual teaching of Jesus will not lead a person to far astray.

Certainly, I am not perfect with every interpretation of my own, but I can see when the original poster in question views his position as judgement-free while judging others. This being in opposition of admonishment against doing so.

Even very admirable people can make mistakes or come to opposing conclusions. I have no immunity to bias either.

 

[McBell]

It is not clear to me that you did get him. What he says is a reasonable interpretation and the evidence supports applying it as he has done.

A position of superiority was taken with no supporting reason and then others are judged flawed by the person taking that position without regard to the validity of the position they have taken for themselves.

it is a classic case for judge not.

The verses he quoted do not make the distinction he relies upon in order to apply it.
Thus he has to seek elsewhere in the Bible in hopes of others buying into his distinction.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Yes, I wish that two posters that I like would not go after each other over a misunderstanding. I am not a Christian but I can see that the religion can offer positive guides for life. One has to be careful because there is quite a bit of wrong mixed in with the Bible. Following the actual teaching of Jesus will not lead a person to far astray.

The best I can do is remain open to the possibility of being wrong and learning from that. I think the best of us are on board with that even when we have our own investments to deal with.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

The verses he quoted do not make the distinction he relies upon in order to apply it.
Thus he has to seek elsewhere in the Bible in hopes of others buying into his distinction.

I believe the entire passage does provide that distinction even if he did not post it in its entirety. What I see is someone pointing out motes while ignoring their own beams.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

The verses he quoted do not make the distinction he relies upon in order to apply it.
Thus he has to seek elsewhere in the Bible in hopes of others buying into his distinction.

I agree that cherry picking the Bible is an issue to be recognized, understood and the abuse of it remarkedupon, but I did not get that as what he was supporting.

Of course, probably all Christians do it to varying degrees.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Why should I believe the teachings of Jesus?

That is a very good question. Let's see what answers you get.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Though I am no longer a Christian one thing I knew even when I still did believe was that the all or nothing beliefs of literalists were self refuting if one was honest. Christianity does work if one follows the teachings of Jesus. In other words, follow the spirit of the Bible and not the self contradicting rhetoric of the Bible.

I agree with this too.

 

[kjw47]

"Truth" should be demonstrable. A book of myths does not cut it.

Only myth to those ruled by darkness

 

[kjw47]

Jesus said "judge ye not...", so with the above, you are rather clearly showing that you don't much seem to care what Jesus said and taught. Therefore, let me recommend that you seek out a Christian denomination that actually does believe in his teachings.

Stating facts and judging are 2 different things. The written word of God has already judged.