You are more than welcome to post such here, dear Skally (peace to you, luv!) - I just don't want your feelings to be hurt if few respond because they have to visit another site to know what the topic is about. Some, including me, probably won't do that. Seems to ME that if you can post the link, why not post the content? THEN perhaps there can be more discussion here. Just a suggestion with no negative motive or intent involved. I can't see how those who run others sites could object, since (I am told) many things posted/discussed HERE are reposted/discussed elsewhere. That's nothing more than fair exchange, IMHO, which, if so, isn't robbery. I digress.
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It really is too bad that WTS gets people worked up to a frenzy and is so ultra-focused on "works", such as preaching, meetings and studying, much to the neglect of the more important things. It's too bad they do not look to Christ they way they should.
It IS too bad, dear LQ (mornin' and peace to you, dear one!). Particularly since those who LISTEN to "her", that daughter/woman will ultimately share in her "mother's" sins and so receive part of her plagues. "Too bad..."
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And let me be clear... I'm even having a hard time with this. After my entire life being brought up to think the WTS way, this is a very, very difficult thing to change. Yes, my mind KNOWS what to do. I'm just having a hard time DOING it.
You are not alone, though, dear one: we ALL have to tear it ALL back down... down to the foundation, even to the STONE that STARTS the foundation, the Cornerstone... and build from THERE. Which isn't easy to do! We all have/had some pretty strongly entrenched things to overcome. That is why it is IMPERATIVE that we listen to the FINE Shepherd... and HIS leadings! So that we know HOW to build, with what, and where to "place" it!
On top of all of that... we not only have a vessel that is at enmity with our spirit... but a wrestling with wicked forces in the SPIRIT realm! So, not easy feat... to "make our minds" and hearts OVER! That's why we NEED a GOOD shepherd!
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Some recent threads here, I felt, were very much directed at me. And I'm okay with that... "reprove before all onlookers". I get it.
Ohhh, no, luv. That was NOT the case, at ALL! If something was directed at/solely to YOU... I would have addressed you. Truly. Much of what's been shared lately, I believe is for us ALL... and I have stated that. True, the one commenting may not be engaging in something NOW, but that's not to say they WON'T... and perhaps are being given a warning BEFORE. Some may be given one during, yes, but why would our dear Lord wait ONLY until we've made a mistake/committed an error, solely to CORRECT us? Wouldn't love compel him to warn us BEFORE we sin?
That something one of us shares resounds with one us... well, should not surprise us - indeed, what resounds with one SHOULD resound with ALL, yes, because of the union we have or are seeking? We are all supposed to/are trying to hear the Master's voice, and if we WANT his "discipline" (which is TRAINING... NOT punishment, as man interprets that word!)... then we'll hear the TRUTH in what he says, yes? So, while it may be true that some things resound with you... and may even pertain to you... there is no reason for you think it was only and specifically FOR you. I promise you... it wasn't.
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I heard a District Overseer say that although 2 John 9 says "teaching of the Christ", it should say "teaching of Jehovah" since Christ says "what I teach is not mine but belongs to him that sent me." I don't have an issue with his line of reason... Christ's teachings are indeed those of his Father. But I do have an issue with the constant substitution of Jehovah whereever our Lord is mentioned with the explanation that it really is coming from the Father. They give no glory to the Son, even though the Son deserves it. Why, even the spirit and the Father glorifies the Son (John 16:15; John 17:5). I got a little angry that this D.O. said that the scripture "should say 'teaching of Jehovah'". How presumptuous!
Oh, it's more than presumptuous, dear one: it direct disobedience! Why? Because, the FATHER said:
"This is my Son, the beloved, listen to HIM!"And so, we have the example of Joseph and Pharaoh to SHOW us how to do that... what it MEANS... if/when we don't! There, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of ALL of his (Pharaoh's) belongings. EVERYTHING... except Pharaoh, himself. And so, if someone wanted something from Pharaoh, something that BELONGED to Pharaoh (and pretty much everything DID... certainly the GRAIN did), for instance, if one/one's family was HUNGRY and so they wanted/needed to eat and thus NEEDED (some of Pharaoh's) grain... to WHOM did they HAVE to go to GET it? Pharaoh? COULD they have gone directly to Pharaoh? OR... did they have to go to JOSEPH, to get it?
Yet, when they went to Joseph to GET grain... from WHOM were they ASKING for it? Joseph, because it was HIS grain "(Oh, great Joseph, I, Jacob, come before YOU to ask YOU for some of YOUR grain!")? Or Pharaoh... because in TRUTH... it was HIS grain (hence, "Oh, Great Pharaoh, I, Jacob, come to you, by coming to your servant, Joseph, whom you appointed and TOLD us to go to FOR portions of your grain, and so through HIM, seek approval to receive some of YOUR grain, as you have directed us to do!")?
Who do you think JOSEPH gave the glory and honor to... FOR such grain, though? Did he take credit, glory, honor for himself ("Sure, Jacob, you can have some of MY grain")? Or did he give the glory, honor, and credit to Pharaoh ("Of course, Jacob, you may have some of Pharaoh's grain, because Pharaoh has appointed me to dispense HIS grain, and I love YOU and so on HIS behalf, I grant some of that grain to YOU")?
We are to KISS... the SON...
lest JAH be angry! Why would He be angry? For the same reason that Pharaoh would have been: by ignoring Joseph, one would have, by default, been ignoring Pharaoh! How/why? Because one would have been ignoring... and DISOBEYING... a DIRECT command OF Pharaoh! If Pharaoh says "Go to Joseph," but one chooses to disregard and try to go AROUND Joseph, one is, in essence disregarding Pharaoh. In which case, one has broken IN. They were NOT approved to enter Pharaoh's "house"... OR take his grain! Because they did not go TO the One they were TOLD to go to GAIN access to/get approval FOR such grain.
And so... they are cast OUT. As thieves and plunderers!
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But, the WTS is very, very good at the subtleties it uses. Even one who is fully awake can be caught up in their lines of reasoning. It SEEMS right much of the time. But, we must remember that even the serpent said something that WAS right. Genesis 3:5 was not a lie, as is indicated at Genesis 3:22.
YES! Which is why it is IMPERATIVE that we listen to the SON. But we have to humble ourselves... as well as try to learn, understand, and use HIS language... so as to DO so! The WTBTS... indeed, all religion... however, have their OWN language, do they not? And most of it KNOW those "tongues" (and I don't mean tongues, as in those we receive as gifts from the spirit, but as in special and unique words and terms that IDENTIFY a "daughter" (of Babylon the GREAT))...
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This letter to the pioneers is simply a way to make them feel part of something special, something bigger than themselves, something important.
Indeed, it is... and YOU should rejoice that you recognize it as such... and are not continuing to be lulled into DEEPER sleep, as those who do NOT recognize it... as what it IS - an UNCLEAN "inspired" expression - will be! They FORGET that not ALL inspired expressions originate with JAH... and so, don't even BOTHER to "test" them. In their eyes, the WTBTS... IS "God"... by means of its claim to be the "visible representation of the Lord on earth" (
Proclaimer's Book, Pg. 219). It is a "beast", though... yet another "golden calf"... which "Israel" has constructed so as to SEE "God." Because they walk by SIGHT... not by FAITH... in the very one they KEEP trying to overstep. And so, they KEEP stumbling OVER him!
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As one commenter over on JWN said, 'not one mention of looking after orphans or widows'. About the only part that WTS has right is the importance of the preaching work. It IS important, but it is not the MOST important.
As our dear LORD said, to the scribes and religious "leaders" (priests/Pharisees) of HIS day in the flesh:
"... you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." Matthew 23:23, 24Quote:
WTS likes to think that they are fulfilling bible prophecy. 'WE are the ones fulfilling Isa 60:16.' 'WE are the ones fulfilling Matt 24:14.' 'WE are the ones who are <fill in the blank here>.'
(Smile) Yet, they are completely BLIND to their fulfillment of prophecies such as:
“‘When people fall down, do they not get up?
When someone turns away, do they not return?
Why then have these people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem always turn away?They cling to deceit;
they refuse to return.I have listened attentively,
but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent of their wickedness,
saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course
like a horse charging into battle.
Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
observe the time of their migration.But my people do not know
the requirements of JaHVeH."
“‘How can you say, “We are wise,
for we have the law of JaHVeH,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
has handled it falsely?"The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.Since they have rejected the Word of JaHVeH,
what kind of wisdom do they have?"Therefore I will give their wives to other men
and their fields to new owners.
From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit."They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.“Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace."Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when they are punished,
says JaHVeH.
“‘I will take away their harvest,
declares JaHVeH.
There will be no grapes on the vine.
There will be no figs on the tree,
and their leaves will wither.
What I have given them
will be taken from them.’”Jeremiah 8:4-13That... and everything recorded at
Matthew 23:1-31... and SO much more! Those are just the tip of the "iceberg"! Virtually
every adverse prophesy has its fulfillment in them, spiritually, if not literally!
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Such aggrandizement is prideful.
It IS! Worse, since the glorification of Christ as the Holy Spirit (
2 Corinthians 3:17)... it's blasphemous. But we should be surprised: they all, Babylon, her harlotous daughters, the wild beasts, the false prophet... ALL of them have blasphemous mouths!
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It is good to boast about the Christ.
Indeed, he is the ONLY One we SHOULD boast about! HE is the One we are to KISS!
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But it is shameful to boast in such a way as to put others down. Disgusting, actually.
And hypocritical. Because none but he CAN boast! HE is the ONLY One found worthy! Even the rest of HIS Body is made up of slaves, servants... and good for nothing ones, at that! What we DO (for him/others) is what we OUGHT to have done ANYWAY... and so there is no reason TO boast! We do NOTHING new or extraordinary! We only fool ourselves... want to BE fooled... that we have/are. But, if truth is IN us... we will not be able to boast... because we know we have nothing to boast ABOUT... that ALL we might CLAIM to be... mmmmmm... special or extraordinary about us... is because of HIM. HIS words, HIS truth... HIS gifts!
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And this producing of 'bible literature' and having this new, grand complex in Warwick... there is no precedent set in the bible for such activities. Just the opposite: 'Foxes have dens and birds of heaven have roosts, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay down his head.'
YES!!! Can you imagine our dear Lord in such setting? Same with other religions and THEIR elaborate edifices! The ONLY and LAST such edifice that had JAH's approval... last VISIBLE representation of JAH on earth... that was NOT Christ, His IMAGE and so VISIBLE representative... was the temple at Jerusalem. And look what happened to that structure... at least twice! And what remains of it NOW? God doesn't dwell in HANDMADE temples any MORE, though. Sadly, those who walk by SIGHT, who need something to SEE in order to (think they) "see" God... don't get that TRUTH. And so, in their own blindness... they cannot see that they following BLIND guides. Both... into the pit!
We, though, can be given SIGHT! "Eyesalve"... so AS to see, if only we HUMBLE ourselves before JAH, by humbling ourselves before the One HE appointed to GIVE us such salve:
"You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." Revelation 3:17, 18Quote:
(If I'm misapplying these words, I apologize in advance and someone can correct me, but this is the thought that came to my mind.)
You are not... and the thought didn't just "come" to your mind, dear one - it was GIVEN to you. By the One who SPEAKS... from the spirit realm. You heard. Now, humble YOURSELF...
and give HIM the glory... and see how much MORE you will hear from him!
I hope this helps, dear, dear LQ, and, as always, peace to you!
YSSFS of Christ,
Shellamar