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Is a person a Christian if...

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
Both. Both books condemn those who do not believe in them.


books don't condemn. people who wrote them are. condemn not lest you condemn because with what you condemn it will be condemned for you too. the sword of truth cuts both ways.

moses didn't kill pharoah. abraham didn't kill more than he had to defend. david disliked war. every saga has fundamentalist vs the merciful

the law of one is very simple and covers all sins.

i wear nothing and i wear it well
 

CogentPhilosopher

Philosophy Student
books don't condemn. people who wrote them are. condemn not lest you condemn because with what you condemn it will be condemned for you too. the sword of truth cuts both ways.
This assertion is not logical.

moses didn't kill pharoah. abraham didn't kill more than he had to defend. david disliked war. every saga has fundamentalist vs the merciful

And the Ring-Wraiths did not kill Frodo.

the law of one is very simple and covers all sins.

i wear nothing and i wear it well

Let me give you a basic logic tip.

To even begin making a case for a claim. You need a claim and something to back it up.
 

Barry Irwin

New Member
Would a person be considered a Christian if they wanted to follow Christ's teachings, but didn't exactly view him as God, but rather a prophet or messenger of God? Because technically they would be following Christ's path, just not believing that he himself was God or part of a trinity.
The Problem with this idea is that it gets rid of much that Christ said about his being God. This means that to only follow his moral teaching is to ignore all the other things he said. Sort of Cherry picking his teaching
 

Daisies4me

Active Member
The Problem with this idea is that it gets rid of much that Christ said about his being God. This means that to only follow his moral teaching is to ignore all the other things he said. Sort of Cherry picking his teaching

(quote)

Hi
Could you give chapter and verse to which you refer to as 'much that Christ said about his being God'?
I see scriptures where Jesus says , "I am God's Son"----at John 10:36---and God Himself was heard speaking from the heavens, saying 'this is my Son'--Matthew 3:17. And we can probably all quote John 3:16, can't we? God 'gave His Only-begotten Son' as a Ransom the sins of mankind, true?

Jesus died. God cannot die-He is eternal. God resurrected Jesus. Acts 2:32.
And then we find John 17:3, where Jesus, in prayer to His God and Father, calls His Father "the ONLY TRUE GOD".
And there are many others that show Jesus and Almighty God to be two separate entities.
I understand that trinitarians attempt to say otherwise, and yet, it is imperative for us to discern whom we are to worship as "The Only True God', lest our worship be in vain, don't you think?
 

Daisies4me

Active Member
You conveniently leave out much that supports the Trintarian view. Jn. 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD. If he had the nature of God, how could that be if he wasn't God ?? How about "I and the Father ARE ONE" ? or " If you have seen me You HAVE SEEN THE FATHER" ? "If you love Me then you will keep MY COMMANDMENTS" Then you quote a command given by GOD to Israel at Sinai. How could it have been HIS commandments IF HE WASN'T GOD ??
(quote)

all good questions.
Let's look first at John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." 2 This one was in the beginning with God.

How can you be someone, and at the same time, be with that one? I can be with you, but I cannot at the same time BE you, right?

Jesus was 'with God' at the 'beginning' of the creation of all other things., He being the firstborn of all of God's creation. Colossians 1:15, "He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation."

or Revelation 3:14, "to the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write: These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation by God."

John 1:18 says "No one has ever seen God." and yet, many saw Jesus, did they not?
At John 17:3, Jesus addresses the Father as "the only True God". so, Jesus as "a god " merely reflects his Father's divine qualities. Some Bible translations say "the Word was devine", or, "the logos was devine", and at Psalms 82:1-6, human judges in Israel were referred to as 'gods'. Because they were representatives of Jehovah and were to speak his law. Likewise, Jesus came out as God's Representative on earth, to teach people about Him, as Jesus himself state at John 7:29. He tells us that God sent him forth as His representative. Have you ever considered these scriptural points before?
 

RESOLUTION

Active Member
You conveniently leave out much that supports the Trintarian view. Jn. 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD.

The truth shows that you are the person omiting the real Word of God and the Truth,
Genesis 1.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.


God said: and there was: so the WORDS OF THE MOUTH OF GOD are the power which created all things as the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
In the beginning was the word. If God had not spoken EVERYTHING into being would anything exist?

Through the Prophets we see God telling the end from the beginning.

King James Bible
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

When did God say the Messiah was to come? So when Christ came his WORDS, Gods WORDS were made flesh.

So the WORD was God and Christ who came was the Son of God who had revealed his plans for the Messiah and when Christ came Gods words (came true) he appeared in
the flesh.


If he had the nature of God, how could that be if he wasn't God ??
Christ was not born by the will of flesh with a nature cursed and fallen from the flesh of a man.
Christ was more like Adam than any man ever born. He was born by the will of God not the will of the flesh.
Both Adam had God as their Father and creator. Jesus mother was flesh but had not known any man.
So we can see the understanding behind what was really being taught.
Christ was born by the power and presence of God himself and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
He had free will but unlike Adam he chose to obey God and not disobey his Father.

The angels in heaven do not sin they do the will of their heavenly Father God.
It does not make them God because they are sinless.





How about "I and the Father ARE ONE" ? or " If you have seen me You HAVE SEEN THE FATHER" ? "If you love Me then you will keep MY COMMANDMENTS" Then you quote a command given by GOD to Israel at Sinai. How could it have been HIS commandments IF HE WASN'T GOD ??


It is quite plain from the teachings of a Christ that you are considered a 'son' if you do the things the'Father' does.

John 8:44-45King James Version (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.


When you chose those verses why did you not choose those also along side them?

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Do you know how God and Christ our Lord were one?
All of us as made one by the power of Gods Holy Spirit. John taught he baptised with water but Christ baptised with the Holy Spirit.
Though we are all one in Christ through the power of Gods Holy Spirit we do not become God or Jesus.

Jesus never called the 10 commandments his:-

King James Bible
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


What Jesus did was sum up all the above into two commandments.
To love God and one another. If you don't love God first with all your heart then you do not obey Christ's commandments.
That means you do not love Christ or God.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.


26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

King James Bible
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.


Eternal life is knowing the ONLY TRUE GOD and JESUS CHRIST whom the ONLY TRUE GOD, hast sent.

Man cannot live by bread alone, nor can they feed on the milk/meat source of others. All must have their own source the truth which Christ and God reveals to those born of the Spirit of Truth,
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
The truth shows that you are the person omiting the real Word of God and the Truth,
Genesis 1.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.


God said: and there was: so the WORDS OF THE MOUTH OF GOD are the power which created all things as the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
In the beginning was the word. If God had not spoken EVERYTHING into being would anything exist?

Through the Prophets we see God telling the end from the beginning.

King James Bible
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

When did God say the Messiah was to come? So when Christ came his WORDS, Gods WORDS were made flesh.

So the WORD was God and Christ who came was the Son of God who had revealed his plans for the Messiah and when Christ came Gods words (came true) he appeared in
the flesh.



Christ was not born by the will of flesh with a nature cursed and fallen from the flesh of a man.
Christ was more like Adam than any man ever born. He was born by the will of God not the will of the flesh.
Both Adam had God as their Father and creator. Jesus mother was flesh but had not known any man.
So we can see the understanding behind what was really being taught.
Christ was born by the power and presence of God himself and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
He had free will but unlike Adam he chose to obey God and not disobey his Father.

The angels in heaven do not sin they do the will of their heavenly Father God.
It does not make them God because they are sinless.








It is quite plain from the teachings of a Christ that you are considered a 'son' if you do the things the'Father' does.

John 8:44-45King James Version (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.


When you chose those verses why did you not choose those also along side them?

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Do you know how God and Christ our Lord were one?
All of us as made one by the power of Gods Holy Spirit. John taught he baptised with water but Christ baptised with the Holy Spirit.
Though we are all one in Christ through the power of Gods Holy Spirit we do not become God or Jesus.

Jesus never called the 10 commandments his:-

King James Bible
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


What Jesus did was sum up all the above into two commandments.
To love God and one another. If you don't love God first with all your heart then you do not obey Christ's commandments.
That means you do not love Christ or God.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.


26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

King James Bible
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.


Eternal life is knowing the ONLY TRUE GOD and JESUS CHRIST whom the ONLY TRUE GOD, hast sent.

Man cannot live by bread alone, nor can they feed on the milk/meat source of others. All must have their own source the truth which Christ and God reveals to those born of the Spirit of Truth,
Your scriptures are accurate ( thank you for not using the "JW Bible", NIV, ) but your conclusions are not. You must address The Godhead as mentioned in the NT, I know what you will say, but for others who don't know your doctrines this will be valuable. THEN, we can address the issue directly
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
(quote)

all good questions.
Let's look first at John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." 2 This one was in the beginning with God.

How can you be someone, and at the same time, be with that one? I can be with you, but I cannot at the same time BE you, right?

Jesus was 'with God' at the 'beginning' of the creation of all other things., He being the firstborn of all of God's creation. Colossians 1:15, "He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation."

or Revelation 3:14, "to the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write: These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation by God."

John 1:18 says "No one has ever seen God." and yet, many saw Jesus, did they not?
At John 17:3, Jesus addresses the Father as "the only True God". so, Jesus as "a god " merely reflects his Father's divine qualities. Some Bible translations say "the Word was devine", or, "the logos was devine", and at Psalms 82:1-6, human judges in Israel were referred to as 'gods'. Because they were representatives of Jehovah and were to speak his law. Likewise, Jesus came out as God's Representative on earth, to teach people about Him, as Jesus himself state at John 7:29. He tells us that God sent him forth as His representative. Have you ever considered these scriptural points before?
Te problem with your reasoning is 1) you don't have a correct understanding of the Trinity. 2) You are attempting to support the mis translation of Jn.1:1 in your Bible, without stating what it says. I would be happy to explain to you, if you choose
 

Daisies4me

Active Member
The truth shows that you are the person omiting the real Word of God and the Truth,
Genesis 1.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.


God said: and there was: so the WORDS OF THE MOUTH OF GOD are the power which created all things as the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
In the beginning was the word. If God had not spoken EVERYTHING into being would anything exist?
(quote)
Hi
The fact is that everything God says comes true. Isaiah 55:8-11 tells us that. Saying something means it will come to be, if God says it, but it doesn't mean it was accomplished simply by stating the prophecy.
For example, we see in Proverbs 8:30, that the pre-human Jesus was God's 'Master Worker' in the creative process. PLease read vss. 22-30, of Proverbs 8.

there was a reason that I only replied to a small part of your post, that being that it is best ,imo, to take things in small segments, rather than attempting to run everything together in one post, as each point that you have raised deserves attention in order to discern what is really being stated therein.
(quote)

Through the Prophets we see God telling the end from the beginning.

King James Bible
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

When did God say the Messiah was to come? So when Christ came his WORDS, Gods WORDS were made flesh.
(quote)

Think for a moment. A literal utterance is not a human of flesh. Fleshly humans utter words in communication, but every word spoken is only that--a transference of thoughts, a means of communication. verbal expressions do not literally become human beings in fleshly bodies.
(quote)

So the WORD was God and Christ who came was the Son of God who had revealed his plans for the Messiah and when Christ came Gods words (came true) he appeared in
the flesh.
(quote)
----------------------------
The Son of God, or 'the Word of God' (God's spokesperson) and the Messiah are one and the same--not two separate beings---God sent forth His Son into the world as His Representative. Jesus spoke for His God and Father, Jehovah, the things that God wanted mankind to know.
The Father is 'greater than' Jesus, as per Jesus' words at John 1:18. Jesus is the lesser one, God is the Greater one, of the two separate entities.

They are "one" in unity of purpose, in agreement. Not literally one being. Recall, please, that when Jesus was praying at John 17:21-22, regarding his followers, He said to God, "that they may all be one, just as you Father , are in union with me and I am in union with you , that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me , 22 I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one , just as we are one.
(obviously, Jesus' disciples do not all become part of a trinity, do they?)
They do share a oneness of purpose with the Father and the Son , the same sort of oneness that united God and Christ.
-----------------------


Christ was not born by the will of flesh with a nature cursed and fallen from the flesh of a man.
Christ was more like Adam than any man ever born. He was born by the will of God not the will of the flesh.
Both Adam had God as their Father and creator. Jesus mother was flesh but had not known any man.
So we can see the understanding behind what was really being taught.
Christ was born by the power and presence of God himself and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
He had free will but unlike Adam he chose to obey God and not disobey his Father.

The angels in heaven do not sin they do the will of their heavenly Father God.
It does not make them God because they are sinless.








It is quite plain from the teachings of a Christ that you are considered a 'son' if you do the things the'Father' does.

John 8:44-45King James Version (KJV)
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.


When you chose those verses why did you not choose those also along side them?

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

Do you know how God and Christ our Lord were one?
All of us as made one by the power of Gods Holy Spirit. John taught he baptised with water but Christ baptised with the Holy Spirit.
Though we are all one in Christ through the power of Gods Holy Spirit we do not become God or Jesus.

Jesus never called the 10 commandments his:-

King James Bible
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


What Jesus did was sum up all the above into two commandments.
To love God and one another. If you don't love God first with all your heart then you do not obey Christ's commandments.
That means you do not love Christ or God.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.


26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

King James Bible
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.


Eternal life is knowing the ONLY TRUE GOD and JESUS CHRIST whom the ONLY TRUE GOD, hast sent.

Man cannot live by bread alone, nor can they feed on the milk/meat source of others. All must have their own source the truth which Christ and God reveals to those born of the Spirit of Truth,
 

Daisies4me

Active Member
Your scriptures are accurate ( thank you for not using the "JW Bible", NIV, ) but your conclusions are not. You must address The Godhead as mentioned in the NT, I know what you will say, but for others who don't know your doctrines this will be valuable. THEN, we can address the issue directly
(quote)

The NIV is NOT a 'JW BIBLE'. I do use the NWT, however. And will and have used many Bible translations.

I research many sources in my studies.
Please show chapter and verse that you speak of, then we can address it.

what 'conclusions' do you disagree with? Please be more specific.
thanks
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
(quote)

The NIV is NOT a 'JW BIBLE'. I do use the NWT, however. And will and have used many Bible translations.

I research many sources in my studies.
Please show chapter and verse that you speak of, then we can address it.

what 'conclusions' do you disagree with? Please be more specific.
thanks
Right you are absolutely correct. I have so many translations, including yours, and I am old as well, so I sometimes get confused !!! TheTrinity, or Godhead. There are numerous verses that need to be explored. If you want to discuss it, fine, if not, that's fine too ! Let me know
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
Once again, you are trying to say a number of things, including your apparent judgement of me because I am not a member of your denomination, and do not accept your theology. I must admit you are much more direct in this than the seven different JW's at different times with whom I have studied and the two I study with now. Could it be the anonymity that emboldens you ? When your fellow JW's come to the door I ALWAYS welcome them. When they suggest coming back and studying with me, I ALWAYS say yes, as well as telling them I am always willing to study the Bible with anyone, though my theology won't change. Can you do this, make a statement of the point you are trying specifically to make, then your chosen verses that support your point ? I will do the same. Then I will know for sure what you are saying.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
Would a person be considered a Christian if they wanted to follow Christ's teachings, but didn't exactly view him as God, but rather a prophet or messenger of God? Because technically they would be following Christ's path, just not believing that he himself was God or part of a trinity.
IMO, yes. The early church struggled with the nature of Jesus vis-a-vis "the Father", which is a reason why the RCC often refers to "the mystery of the trinity".
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
I guess they wrote the line "Call no one on earth Father" One is your Father in heaven. Then they elected a pope and called him Holy Father, and all his minions they called father.?
The word "father" as used in reference to God is not from the same word as how it's used in reference to a priest. In verse being dealt with, it's "abba" in Hebrew, whereas with priests it's a translation of the word "presbyter" (Anglicized) out of the Greek.
 

Daisies4me

Active Member
(quote)

D:
John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

How many people are spoken of here?

Who is the one speaking? To whom is he speaking?

Let's see; John 17: 1 reads; Jesus spoke these things, and raising his eye to heaven, he said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son so that your son may glorify you. 2 Just as you have given him authority over all flesh, so that he may give everlasting life to all whom you have given to him. "

So. Jesus is praying to His Father, who is in the heavens.

Was Jesus praying to himself? hardly. They are two separate entities , just as John 17:3 shows. Jesus called his Father "The ONLY TRUE GOD" what does the world ONLY mean? ahh, yes. There is only ONE True God, and Jesus, the Son of God is praying to the ONLY True God, Jehovah. Psalms 83:18 .

Those who believe in the trinity doctrine put themselves in a very dangerous position. The evidence is indisputable that the dogma of the trinity is not found in the Bible, nor is it in harmony with what the Bible teaches. It grossly misrepresents the True God . As Jesus told us at John 4:23-24, "The hour is coming , and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such ones the Father seeks to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. "
Thus, Jesus made it clear that those whose worship is not 'the truth' , not in harmony with the truth set out in God's own WordReference, are not "true worshippers" . reference Matthew 15:6-9.
Regarding the trinity, the athanasian creed says that its members are "incomprehensible". Teachers of the Trinity doctrine often state that it is 'a mystery'. Obviously, such a trinitarian god is not the one that Jesus had in mind when he said "WE worship what we know" at John 4:22.
 
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shmogie

Well-Known Member
(quote)

D:
John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

How many people are spoken of here?

Who is the one speaking? To whom is he speaking?

Let's see; John 17: 1 reads; Jesus spoke these things, and raising his eye to heaven, he said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son so that your son may glorify you. 2 Just as you have given him authority over all flesh, so that he may give everlasting life to all whom you have given to him. "

So. Jesus is praying to His Father, who is in the heavens.

Was Jesus praying to himself? hardly. They are two separate entities , just as John 17:3 shows. Jesus called his Father "The ONLY TRUE GOD" what does the world ONLY mean? ahh, yes. There is only ONE True God, and Jesus, the Son of God is praying to the ONLY True God, Jehovah. Psalms 83:18 .

Those who believe in the trinity doctrine put themselves in a very dangerous position. The evidence is indisputable that the dogma of the trinity is not found in the Bible, nor is it in harmony with what the Bible teaches. It grossly misrepresents the True God . As Jesus told us at John 4:23-24, "The hour is coming , and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such ones the Father seeks to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. "
Thus, Jesus made it clear that those whose worship is not 'the truth' , not in harmony with the truth set out in God's own WordReference, are not "true worshippers" . reference Matthew 15:6-9.
Regarding the trinity, the athanasian creed says that its members are "incomprehensible". Teachers of the Trinity doctrine often state that it is 'a mystery'. Obviously, such a trinitarian god is not the one that Jesus had in mind when he said "WE worship what we know" at John 4:22.
You have an opinion, the evidence is neither "indisputable", nor is the Godhead doctrine "not found in the Bible", nor is it out of harmony with what the Bible teaches. You, and your organization using your opinions to say who is a "true worshiper" is disgusting. It only is a mystery to those that don't understand it, the Bible makes that understanding available for any who choose to seek it out
 

Daisies4me

Active Member
Once again, you are trying to say a number of things, including your apparent judgement of me because I am not a member of your denomination, and do not accept your theology. I must admit you are much more direct in this than the seven different JW's at different times with whom I have studied and the two I study with now. Could it be the anonymity that emboldens you ? When your fellow JW's come to the door I ALWAYS welcome them. When they suggest coming back and studying with me, I ALWAYS say yes, as well as telling them I am always willing to study the Bible with anyone, though my theology won't change. Can you do this, make a statement of the point you are trying specifically to make, then your chosen verses that support your point ? I will do the same. Then I will know for sure what you are saying.
(quote)
you said: Once again, you are trying to say a number of things, including your apparent judgement of me because I am not a member of your denomination, and do not accept your theology.
>>>. I do not understand such an accusation, as the words of the Bible are not a 'judgement' by me at all. And people from all races, religious beliefs, nationalities, etc. are always welcomed to attend our meetings for worship, and Bible study. JW's are the least 'judgmental' people that you will ever find in this world. I certainly have not attempted to make you feel 'judged' in any way, and if you feel that way, please understand that it was not intended at all by me. Many people feel that the words of the Bible seem judgmental, each of us has the responsibility to examine ourselves in accord with what is stated therein. But I can assure you, that I have not 'judged you' in any way. That is not my job. nor would I want it, if they tried to give it to me.
Whatever I said that made you feel that way, please show me, if you will. I have not always been a JW. I studied just as you are doing, proving to myself from the words of the Bible, what I now accept as Bible truths. None of my family members accepted my beliefs, but they sure did reject me outright when I rejected the trinity doctrine and a few other unscriptural doctrines commonly taught in most denominations.
Thank you for being kind to my brothers and sisters in the faith. I must admit, that before I became a JW, I was not always as hospitable with coming in contact with Witnesses. Since I only knew what the churches that I had attended taught, I thought they were a weird sort. ha. Now I am one of that group, and others that I meet have many weird perceptions about us, also,
So, rest assured that I have no intention of offending you. However, having said that, the Bible teachings that I now understand, sometimes offend people, because it doesn't go along with what they have been taught.
Did everyone love Jesus and His apostles, when they went out by twos, preaching and declaring the good news about the Kingdom of God? Hardly . they were all treated insolently and most were murdered. So, I have to remember that 'a slave is not greater than his master"--as Jesus said, 'if they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also.'
And on we go. as 1 peter 2:21 says, we have some big footsteps to follow.
It is a voluntary work, not a paid position, as I am sure that you know, that is done out of love for our fellowman, as Jesus taught, God would prefer that all should be saved, and that none would perish... however, free will to choose dictated who does or does not want to willfully obey the God of the Bible, and follow the Son as footstep followers.
 
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