LDS, JW, SDA, other?

[Polaris]

Clearly I believe that the LDS have the strongest case among the Restorationists for the same reasons Katzpur pointed out early on, but I'm curious what other Restorationists claim. Where are they?

FerventGodSeeker, weren't you once affiliated with the JWs? Could you at least inform us as to what their restorationistic claims are (at least until they join the discussion)?

 

[doppelganger]

If that's the case, which things that He supposedly said am I supposed to be able to believe?

The parts you understand to be true, quite regardless of whether you know if Jesus actually said it or not.

 

[Katzpur]

The parts you understand to be true, quite regardless of whether you know if Jesus actually said it or not.

I see. Well, that's what I'm doing. He said He was going to establish a Church and the evidence is pretty good that He did so. So, that's what I understand to be true.

 

[FFH]

I really like the JW's and the SDA's...

The SDA's because of their great health code and health tips, and great family values and emphasis on the importance of families. They are almost a mirror image of the LDS faith and it's members, from the outside looking in...even their churches look LDS, with no crosses on them....no sacrament or priesthood authority tho...two biggies that are missing of course.

The JW's because they spread the message of Christ's eminent/soon return, which I agree with and coincidently they also go out two by two and spread their faith...they were our biggest competitors, as LDS missionaries, in Japan...again no priesthood athority and no sacrament, etc. etc..

 

[FFH]

Christ instituted the sacrament so what gives with that, as far as other religions are concerned, excluding Catholics...and do Eastern Orthodox or Greek Orthodox religions have something similar to Christ's sacraments ???

 

[FFH]

Here's a link to the SDA's Three Angels Network station broadcast, which I used to watch all the time, here in Salt Lake, on television, which was on 24 hours a day, until they went off the air in Salt Lake, a few years ago.

No worries, they can be viewed on the net..

www.3ABN.org

Edit: Here's a link to their 24 hour broadcast (audio only) if you want video they require you to register

Three Angels Broadcasting Network radio link Windows Media

 

[FerventGodSeeker]

FerventGodSeeker, weren't you once affiliated with the JWs? Could you at least inform us as to what their restorationistic claims are (at least until they join the discussion)?

My dad and his side of the family was, I never was myself, although obviously I know a decent amount about them due to my family ties. Unfortunately when you cease to become a JW and starting believing and teaching other things, like my dad did, you become an apostate, and most JWs will basically treat you like you're dead, so dialogue with JWs apart from the occassional doorstep visit has been a bit difficult (and once he starts telling them things like, "Yeah, I attended Theocratic Ministry School, I was a congregational servant/elder, yada yada, they back away from the door pretty quick, lol).
But anywho, I can tell you from what I understand that they believe that their translation of the Bible to be most accurate to the original languages, in fact completely accurate (the New World Translation). They would also say that true followers of God would honor God's sole name, Jehovah, and they would point out that they have preserved God's name in their Bibles while in other translations they see the name being removed in many places. They would also say that true Christians would take "no part of this world," (John 17:16), and would not participate in wordly politics, pagan holidays and rituals like Christmas, Easter, and birthdays...which they also do not do.
Those are a few reasons off the top of my head, perhaps May will expound on the JW view a bit more.

 

[Polaris]

But anywho, I can tell you from what I understand that they believe that their translation of the Bible to be most accurate to the original languages, in fact completely accurate (the New World Translation).

By what rationale do they make that claim? Is their translation a product of divine and authorative inspiriation, if so who received it and how? Or is their accurate translation simply a product of translators who happened to be more adept than all other biblical translators?

 

[FerventGodSeeker]

By what rationale do they make that claim? Is their translation a product of divine and authorative inspiriation, if so who received it and how? Or is their accurate translation simply a product of translators who happened to be more adept than all other biblical translators?

Since I'm not a JW and I don't agree with them I can't really defend their views, but I think they would say both. The translation was put together by a group of men called The New World Bible Translation Committee. I have a 1961 edition of the NWT, and in the Foreword it says, "It is a very responsible thing to translate the Holy Scriptures from their original languages, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, into modern speech...The translators who have a fear and love of the divine Author of the Holy Scriptures feel especially a responsibility toward Him to transmit his thoughts and delcarations as accurately as possible. They also feel a responsibility toward the searching readers of the modern translation who depend upon the inspired Word of the Most High God for their everlasting salvation. It is with such a snse of solemn responsibility that the committee of dedicated men have produced the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, over the course of many years."

I dunno if that helps.

 

[Polaris]

Since I'm not a JW and I don't agree with them I can't really defend their views, but I think they would say both. The translation was put together by a group of men called The New World Bible Translation Committee. I have a 1961 edition of the NWT, and in the Foreword it says, "It is a very responsible thing to translate the Holy Scriptures from their original languages, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, into modern speech...The translators who have a fear and love of the divine Author of the Holy Scriptures feel especially a responsibility toward Him to transmit his thoughts and delcarations as accurately as possible. They also feel a responsibility toward the searching readers of the modern translation who depend upon the inspired Word of the Most High God for their everlasting salvation. It is with such a snse of solemn responsibility that the committee of dedicated men have produced the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, over the course of many years."

I dunno if that helps.

Thanks, it helps some. It sounds like they were sincere in their efforts, but it still doesn't really answer by what authority they can rightfully claim to have the most complete/correct translation.

 

[doppelganger]

I see. Well, that's what I'm doing. He said He was going to establish a Church and the evidence is pretty good that He did so. So, that's what I understand to be true.

So you can or you can't consider the possibility that those aren't the words of Jesus without shaking your faith?

 

[rocka21]

Thanks, it helps some. It sounds like they were sincere in their efforts, but it still doesn't really answer by what authority they can rightfully claim to have the most complete/correct translation.

by the same token, by what " authority" do LDS claim to have found " hidden" scripture on Golden tablets in New York in the late 1800's?

i am guessing a JW would ask you that.

correct me if i am wrong, but

SDA, JW, and LDS each think they have the most complete / and correct translation?

 

[rocka21]

Restorationist organizations include Disciples of Christ, Churches of Christ, Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others. These groups teach widely divergent theologies, but they all arose from the belief that the true pattern of the Christian religion died out through apostasy many years before and was finally restored by their churches. Some believe that they alone fully embody this restoration exclusively; others understand themselves as conforming to a rediscovered pattern of original Christianity that is now found in many churches, including their own. (This is the official stance of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), for example). Some restorationist denominations go so far as to state that mainline Protestant groups, let alone Catholic or Orthodox churches, are not actually Christian.

answers.com

 

[Bishka]

by the same token, by what " authority" do LDS claim to have found " hidden" scripture on Golden tablets in New York in the late 1800's?

i am guessing a JW would ask you that.

correct me if i am wrong, but

SDA, JW, and LDS each think they have the most complete / and correct translation?

The sarcasm never stops does it?

 

[rocka21]

The sarcasm never stops does it?

hi becky! good to hear from you! :angel2:

 

[Katzpur]

So you can or you can't consider the possibility that those aren't the words of Jesus without shaking your faith?

It's not a matter of it shaking my faith. If I didn't believe Jesus Christ actually established a Church, there would be no reason for my Church to even exist.

 

[Katzpur]

by the same token, by what " authority" do LDS claim to have found " hidden" scripture on Golden tablets in New York in the late 1800's?

It was actually the early 1800's. I think you're missing my point entirely, though. I am speaking of priesthood authority, which didn't even exist when Joseph Smith found the plates. In other words, your question is meaningless.

correct me if i am wrong, but

SDA, JW, and LDS each think they have the most complete / and correct translation?

The most complete and correct translation? I assume you're talking about the Bible. We use the KJV.

 

[Polaris]

by the same token, by what " authority" do LDS claim to have found " hidden" scripture on Golden tablets in New York in the late 1800's?

By direct visitation and decree from God.

As I'm sure you know, we believe that God the Father, and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and commissioned him to restore the gospel in its purity and fullness. Later Joseph was visited by an angel, who entrusted him (Joseph) with the golden plates. We believe and claim that the LDS church was restored via direct and personal decree from the Lord himself.

 

[rocka21]

By direct visitation and decree from God.

As I'm sure you know, we believe that God the Father, and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and commissioned him to restore the gospel in its purity and fullness. Later Joseph was visited by an angel, who entrusted him (Joseph) with the golden plates. We believe and claim that the LDS church was restored via direct and personal decree from the Lord himself.

BINGO! now ask charles taze russel who visited him.

 

[Katzpur]

BINGO! now ask charles taze russel who visited him.

I can't. He's dead. He did not, however, claim to have personally seen and spoken to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. If you can point me to some evidence to the contrary, I will be glad to read it.