Should I Become A Jehovah's Witness?

[Deeje]

Such as?

It has come to my attention that you regularly change your religious status as well as your avatars.
The fact that you can put "Sorcerer and Christian" in the same designation is worrying. Could it mean that you yourself selectively read scripture and selectively interpret it to suit your current mood or whim? I can't quite tell.....

 

[Deeje]

As opposed to being vague, or using a broad description? Hmm...
That would be, what, almost every religion designator, on the forums? Most, at least.

Are you saying that nothing listed, common, or broad listing, like "christian", also common, tells you more?

What is the differential, between nothing listed, a vague listing, or more than one description?

No, I am saying that your views seem to be uniquely your own, not shared by others on the forums. Do you find that worrying?

What is a "Christian" in your understanding and how does sorcery factor into that description? Just wondering.....?

 

[Deeje]

Not really. Many realize that my beliefs are similar to Early Church, or, are Early Church. Not really a big deal. It's called being descriptive, as opposed to secretive.

In what ways are your beliefs "early church"? How are your beliefs different to "later church"?

What is a christian, in your understanding?

A Christian to my understanding is one who accepts and obeys all the teachings of the Christ. It means that "Christian" isn't just what you do...but what you are 24/7. It means that you don't have to force yourself to be obedient...it just comes naturally. Your will naturally aligns to God's.

I didn't realize that religious beliefs should be a popularity contest.

You really think JW's are concerned with popularity? But they did all hold their beliefs in common. None were permitted to put their own spin on anything. There was only one teaching.

2 John 9-11....."Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. 11 For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works."

Jesus and his first century followers were not concerned with being popular...in fact, Jesus point blank told them that they would be "hated" for doing what hes did. (John 15:18-21)

That isn't what religion is, to me.

Me either.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I'm a formerly practicing homosexual. I've been to the gay bars, the roadside gathering places, the parks and the rest areas. Homosexuals tend to be more spiritually inclined than the average straight guy. I certainly wouldn't be homophobic or rude about it. Though I've seen some pretty dark stuff. Friends dying of AIDS, the promiscuity, unsafe sex practices, the drugs and alcohol. The married guys who's wives would keel over and die if they knew what sort of things their secretly gay or bisexual husbands were doing. That's the dark side of it. Though, it seems to be the norm.

Why have you decided to be celibate?

 

[Ellen Brown]

This is something I have been wrestling with since I picked up a Bible and became a believer. For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

I've attended meetings, and I loathed them. I hated wearing those ugly suits, for what? Who am I trying to impress? Did Jesus tell his disciples to go forth to the second hand store and buy ugly out of style suits smelling slightly of, what is that? Mothballs? Body odor? A three martini lunch? Or spend a ridiculous amount of money on new tailored suits?

I didn't like the repetitious nature of the study material and the rigid schedule of the meetings. I would much rather attend a casual gathering where questions and answers, just unscheduled discussion took place.

Am I being to critical?

I love the idea of going out in service, preaching the good news. I think I would be good at it. Couldn't I do that on my own?

Before becoming a baptized witness first you have to study a book of basic teaching, which takes what, about 6 months? That I've done twice before and enjoyed it. Casual discussion. I know all of the material, but that just makes it easier.

Also, after the study and everything in your life is cleaned of unchristian influences, i.e., drugs, alcohol, spiritism, unclean practices such as homosexuality, adultery, idolatry etc. there is a casual meeting with the Presiding Overseer of the congregation to determine if you are in line with their basic teachings and clear of the aforementioned tom foolery. Could I pass that?

I'm not sure.

No.

 

[shunyadragon]

No.

Based on what he believes or on what you believe?

 

[ObjectOfMercy]

For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

Why do you think Jehovah's Witnesses have the truth? They don't. JW say that Jesus is not God. You cannot be saved by believing these lies of the devil. Jesus most certainly is God. It is taught throughout the Holy Bible. Jesus Himself told some Jews that they would die in their sins if they did not believe that He is God. It is no different for anyone else.

 

[ObjectOfMercy]

Why do you think Jehovah's Witnesses have the truth? They don't. JW say that Jesus is not God. You cannot be saved by believing these lies of the devil. Jesus most certainly is God. It is taught throughout the Holy Bible. Jesus Himself told some Jews that they would die in their sins if they did not believe that He is God. It is no different for anyone else.

And why would you want a Savior who is not God? The Old Testament says God alone is Savior, in the book of Isaiah. JW go against the Old Testament. Genuine Christians do not go against any part of the Bible in such blatant opposition to the truth. JW is a cult. Their name is also a misnomer, because they are not witnesses of the true Jehovah. God said Christ Jesus is His Son. In the book of Genesis we are taught that kind produces kind. After their kind they produce. The Son of God is of the same nature as God the Father- the Divine nature.

 

[YoursTrue]

Tell us, Deeje, who are the ones that the JWs believe are on that Ark?

In the past, it was Noah and 7 others. Now Jesus likened the end to the "days of Noah." Matthew 24. Some would be eating, drinking, marrying, and then the end. Jesus describes who would be saved at Matthew 25.

 

[YoursTrue]

And why would you want a Savior who is not God? The Old Testament says God alone is Savior, in the book of Isaiah. JW go against the Old Testament. Genuine Christians do not go against any part of the Bible in such blatant opposition to the truth. JW is a cult. Their name is also a misnomer, because they are not witnesses of the true Jehovah. God said Christ Jesus is His Son. In the book of Genesis we are taught that kind produces kind. After their kind they produce. The Son of God is of the same nature as God the Father- the Divine nature.

When the Jews were forgiven for their sins, they went through the priests. That was Jehovah's way.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

In the book of Genesis we are taught that kind produces kind. After their kind they produce. The Son of God is of the same nature as God the Father- the Divine nature.

Then...what does that make the Angels? They’re called “sons of God”, too. Job 38:7; Genesis 6:2.

And Adam is referred to as “son of God,” at Luke 3:36

Divine means “of, or from, God”. The institution of marriage, or the Earth, are examples.

No one should twist the Scriptures’ meanings, to try and prove their points.

 

[Ellen Brown]

This is something I have been wrestling with since I picked up a Bible and became a believer. For the last 10 years or so I have repeatedly claimed that I would never join an organized religion, and therefore never become a Jehovah's Witness. Am I wrong in thinking that way?

I've attended meetings, and I loathed them. I hated wearing those ugly suits, for what? Who am I trying to impress? Did Jesus tell his disciples to go forth to the second hand store and buy ugly out of style suits smelling slightly of, what is that? Mothballs? Body odor? A three martini lunch? Or spend a ridiculous amount of money on new tailored suits?

I didn't like the repetitious nature of the study material and the rigid schedule of the meetings. I would much rather attend a casual gathering where questions and answers, just unscheduled discussion took place.

Am I being to critical?

I love the idea of going out in service, preaching the good news. I think I would be good at it. Couldn't I do that on my own?

Before becoming a baptized witness first you have to study a book of basic teaching, which takes what, about 6 months? That I've done twice before and enjoyed it. Casual discussion. I know all of the material, but that just makes it easier.

Also, after the study and everything in your life is cleaned of unchristian influences, i.e., drugs, alcohol, spiritism, unclean practices such as homosexuality, adultery, idolatry etc. there is a casual meeting with the Presiding Overseer of the congregation to determine if you are in line with their basic teachings and clear of the aforementioned tom foolery. Could I pass that?

I'm not sure.

The answer to your original question? NO!

 

[YoursTrue]

I thought you were a JW? You have cited JW sources to support your argument.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck it is obviously a duck.

Now that you mention it, it could look like, walk like, and talk like a duck but maybe it's not.

 

[YoursTrue]

"Someone like me and the JW's ideally are satisfied with the rejection of their offering as they are the acceptance, because the point is not necessarily to convert, but to give the opportunity for an informed choice. The frustration on my part is due to a hindrance or mocking of that opportunity which is uncalled for because it isn't what it is often perceived to be. There are many negative uninformed assumptions."

Interesting. I think most grown adults are capable of making their own informed choices about what abstract beliefs they think are valid or want to follow or not follow. I just never understand the mindset of those who are so certain of their own abstract beliefs they go out of their way, indeed spend a majority of their lives trying to "inform" others they have the only right answers to life and death. Which of course, they can't possibly have. It just doesn't make sense to me.

But no, I probably wouldn't be unkind to the people going door to door, I just won't answer the door anymore. I do feel so sorry for the children they drag along with them and find that offensive because those children will never have a chance to think for themselves about how they view the abstract and are forced to grow up uneducated. It's not really fair to them or their future and the impact on society that will have.

If you thought something was right and could help others, would you keep it to yourself? Of course, there's no point in advocating something that another does not want.

 

[YoursTrue]

That's interesting, why, may I ask, would you say that?

The benefits for me that I couldn't get on my own are baptism, fellowship, and if they are Jehovah's earthly organization I should want to be a part of that. For spiritual protection, encouragement, support. The field ministry is something that I could do on my own, though probably not as effective or accurate as if I were one of them. Perhaps isolationism is a detriment to spiritual growth and improvement.

It's like the Frank Herbert quote I have on every page of my website: "Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty." I firmly believe in that.

Let's say that someone wanted to attend meetings (church) where the same view as you were explaining was taught. Where would you send them?

 

[YoursTrue]

That's great for you, but the sciences is to me what the Bible teachings might be to you and to me the Bible is what the sciences are to you. I have always found the sciences boring. Bible teachings I find fascinating, interesting, mind blowing stuff. Now, that's just me and you. I've know people who found both very rewarding.

As for the JW's being a cult, that's just a pejorative connotation from mainstream Christendom who have left the Bible teachings and subscribed to pagan myth and legends. I would never become part of what I see as a lie that is the modern day apostate Christendom's teachings and practices. It would be the Watchtower or nothing.

What is fascinating is the fabulous way God put all things together and how He will change things in the future, directing through (by means of) unselfish people for their own good for everyone. Still hard for me to imagine, but as I was drinking from a plastic cup I was thinking of the tons and tons of garbage being thrown in the ocean.

 

[YoursTrue]

I'm a formerly practicing homosexual. I've been to the gay bars, the roadside gathering places, the parks and the rest areas. Homosexuals tend to be more spiritually inclined than the average straight guy. I certainly wouldn't be homophobic or rude about it. Though I've seen some pretty dark stuff. Friends dying of AIDS, the promiscuity, unsafe sex practices, the drugs and alcohol. The married guys who's wives would keel over and die if they knew what sort of things their secretly gay or bisexual husbands were doing. That's the dark side of it. Though, it seems to be the norm.

The world in general teaches it's normal and right to do whatever a person wants to do.

 

[shunyadragon]

Now that you mention it, it could look like, walk like, and talk like a duck but maybe it's not.

I not ever seen any animal the walks, talks, and of course,looks like a duck, and it is not a duck.

 

[SomeRandom]

I not ever seen any animal the walks, talks, and of course,looks like a duck, and it is not a duck.

To be fair I've known a couple of people who were shocked that a platypus wasn't at least a distant cousin to the duck.

 

[shunyadragon]

To be fair I've known a couple of people who were shocked that a platypus wasn't at least a distant cousin to the duck.

The platypus does not walk nor talk like a duck, and does not look remotely like a duck,no feathers.