xjwsforChrist

What does this mean, please, Tammy?

Good morning, Char!



I was baptized as a Catholic at three days old, because no one else in Stephenville would baptize an infant, and my mother and I were taking a plane to New Brunswick. My mother was terrified that the plane would crash, and that without baptism, I would not go to heaven. Now this is not her faith, but I think she just wasn't willing to take any chances with me.

I don't have a problem with it. It reassured my mother, and she did it out of love for me. It does not make me Roman Catholic though, and she did not do it TO make me Roman Catholic. She just wanted me to belong to God, and anyone who had been willing to baptize me, got to baptize me. The United church (which was her religion) did not perform infant baptisms.

Now as far as you are concerned, Char... I only said that you were an xjwforChrist because I thought YOU said so, to make sure that this forum includes you. That you were an ex jw FOR Christ. I was sure that you had said that. Perhaps it was someone else. I did not mean anything by it, except to assure you that you belonged here as long as you chose to be here.

Peace,
tammy

We don't serve God based on how WE see fit. We don't serve God based on how OTHERS see fit. We don't serve God based on how RELIGION and its LEADERS say fit. We serve God based on how HE says it fit. And He SAYS... THROUGH HIS SON... Whom He said we are to LISTEN to:

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Matthew 17:5"

Can't hear him directly? Then consider, if you WILL... LISTENING... to THIS, a record of what he SAID:"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

"... you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."


Good morning everyone...

Truly appreciated this post but this is something that particularly stood out to me with reference as to those belonging to the CHRIST as hearing " a voice".

It is NOT exclusive to just a few.

But it is exclusive to "HIS sheep" ( Christs)

So then my question is, " if anyone CAN" And yet doesn't or chooses not to....and we personally can determine at any time when that changes...
Can we honestly say then that we are " HIS SHEEP?"
Because doesn't His sheep " hear a voice" ??? His voice ?
Doesn't he know them and they follow Him? By following His voice???

Not my words just trying to understand what is written here.
Yet Christs own words say that " they do not believe, because they are NOT His sheep."

Sounds like strong words. But they truly are not mine.

Just a thought
love to all Justmom

No, Tammy, I have never said that I was ever a JW, although some do say that I was because I spent two years with them more or less.

Some sad things had happened in our church and, along with many others, I was grief-stricken over the loss of some very good people who had sadly and very unexpectedly died. I won't go into details as it could potentially identify me publicly, which I do not want. Decisions had been made with which I, and many others, profoundly disagreed.

So, there was a moment, and I made probably the biggest mistake of my life.

I am sure I have said all this before, Tammy.

Justmom, the flaw in your reasoning is that it is all based on subjective interpretation, and that will vary from person to person. However, I think you'll say it's based on Christ, and then I might answer, it is how you interpret Christ's words. From my point of view He entrusted His Church to Peter and the apostles, and they passed it on to us all. From your point of view I think it is that he speaks to individuals directly.

To me, that means as many potential individual interpretations of his words as there are grains of sand on the shore.

But you don't see it like that.

First, let me apologize for my absence (which will continue at least throught the weekend) - peace to you ALL!

Again, a lot to respond to but I only have time for a couple things, so will address those. First, dear HP (good morning and peace to you!), I don't think your view that dear Char is constantly having to defend her Catholicism is accurate. This entire issue started because dear Char (good morning and peace to you, as well, dear one!) chose to attack the faith of another... repeatedly. I understand that SHE may not see that, but many here do. In order to clarify, then, I set out what occurred in the "Enough," thread in the hopes that those who have not followed the course of discussion would know. Dear Char also took issues with others' form of worship, including mine. Rather than take issue BACK, I offered that just as she didn't understand some of the things "I" do as to worshipping God, I don't understand why she does some of the things in worship that SHE does. For some reason, it was (mis)taken as an attack against her worship.

And that has been the pattern: dear Char feels it okay to question/attack others' form of worship but for some reason always feels ON the attack when others simply ASK her as to hers.

Second, as both dear Char and dear Tec (peace to you, chile'!) brought out, this is a forum for XjwsFORChrist. NO ONE here has EVER questioned Char's love for Christ. Indeed, I have openly professed, as well as reminded others offboard, that she IS our sister in Christ. Both dear Tec and I have asked others to be kind, patient, and loving TO her, for this VERY reason. On the other hand, when dear Char is asked to reciprocate, I have been told that she "can't" because her beliefs are what they are. As a result, I had to cease private discussion because I could not be a part of that. NO ONE here has specifically asked that others NOT be allowed to join/post... except dear Char. Which I had to decline because it would have been unfair and unloving.

So, please... you and others who THINK it is Char that is being attacked, consider that perhaps you don't have all of the details. Yes, it might appear that way on the open board, but that's primarily because of the issues that CHAR raises, not others. For example, we will share what either Christ has told us, or may be written in the Bible. Dear Char's response is almost ALWAYS that we are in error because SHE'S never "heard" of that before, except perhaps while with the WTBTS. On many occasions, however, even what she claims the WTBTS teaches is in error. But her position is that SHE is correct because... well, I dunno why - the RCC says? 1.2 billion people "believe"? When we SHOW her, though, the basis for what we are sharing, it is NEVER addressed. Ever. It is simply dismissed as error... because SHE has never heard of it... or been taught about it.

So... I mean, if she's willing to put HER position out there, just like the rest of us she must understand that discussion will ensue and POSSIBLY her position will be challenged. She has EVERY right, however, to say, "No, I don't want/accept that; leave me be." And I cannot imagine that anyone would continue to engage her on the issues raised thus far.

Now, dear Char... the greatest of love and peace to you, dear one! I will still respond to your outstanding comments; however, I MUST address something of greater importance now. Previously, I've posted that Christ had tried to lead you but that it was you who misunderstood. I have left off the matter, not pursuing it, because per my Lord, you no longer want it. However, you have made a comment that he now has directed me to address, because of the significance of what you state... and how you've actually missed the point. You commented:



Yes, dear one, you were. Absolutely. You had been led OUT... of the slavery you were previously in, under the RCC. You LEFT... because you KNEW it was not the place for YOU. "Something" was "missing" and for you, you discerned that it was love. And you were NOT in error. He led out of HER, but rather than follow HIM... you did what some others of us did... and ran to another harlot: the WTBTS. For some of us, being there exposed us to more of what was in the Bible, although the WTBTS TEACHINGS were in great error. But their teachings is what led some of US to "search the scriptures." That is how we KNOW what they say... and don't say. Because Christ has TOLD us: "THEY say, but it is written..." or "While it is written, it is not what I will tell you," etc.

But here's where the REAL issue for you came up:



You did, dear one. UNLIKE Israel who, after being set FREE and led OUT of slavery in Egypt... keep moving FORWARD... TO the "promised land"... YOU... ran BACK. Right back into the (mental) slavery you had been released from! And THAT, dear one, is why you were "led" HERE: to find those who are TRULY "like" you, who DO love God and Christ... but (1) according to an ACCURATE knowledge, which they receive by following HIM... and no one else; and (2) worship God, THROUGH Christ, in spirit... and truth... and no other "way".

We are, dear one, as YOU are... because Christ is gathering US. WE are not gathering, building, etc. HE is. When you ran back, you ran back to vomit, dear one. As we would do if we returned to the "safety" of the WTBTS. The RCC "feels" safe to YOU... because the WTBTS was SO different. SO unknown/alien to you.

But in CHRIST, dear one... we are FREE... and so don't NEED a harlot... or her paramour, a hired man... to lead us. Or to care for us spiritually. That is what Christ... THE HOLY SPIRIT... is FOR! HE gave his life for us! HE did... and no one else.

I have so longed to share those truths with you... but have been unable. I have not been permitted but have just been instructed to show you love. And I have truly tried to do that... by always being truthful with you. Only now, since YOU have openly stated what you have done... gone BACK [to Egypt]... instead of moving FORWARD [to the Promised Land]... after being in the wilderness that I am instructed to reveal to you what has truly occurred.

There is a reason you have not yet left here, my dear sister in Christ: because you KNOW who we are... and who YOU are. That we are those who "gather in [his] name."

Now, I cannot convince you of this, nor is it my task to try. I can only tell you as I have on so many occasions, that you do NOT have to take MY word for any of this... but simply go to the One who SPEAKS... and ask HIM. Let HIM tell you. Just exercise faith... that he DOES speak... will speak to YOU... and that what he tells you IS truth. And then go from there. Of course, if you lack faith to ask... then no, you shouldn't supposed you WILL hear. You shouldn't suppose you will receive ANYTHING. Because that is how faith WORKS: doubt... cancels out faith.

I realize that there are going to be those who will now say, "SEE! I TOLD you; she is trying to form a church! She is recruiting folks!" That is not true, dear one. I... cannot call... ANYONE. Including you. I can only share with you what I receive FROM the Truth... whether you or anyone else hear... or refrain. Only Christ, though, can build his church. I am nothing more than a living stone in it... a small stone... crying out. That's it, that's all.

I hope this helps... and I hope you WILL ask for faith so as to hear... because the Spirit and the Bride HAS called YOU, to:

"Come! Take 'life's water'... FREE!"

It's up to YOU... and ONLY you, though, as to whether you will HEAR that call... AND come to HIM... which means leaving those who "come in place of him."

YOUR servant, sister, and fellow slave of Christ,

Shellama

I have not ONCE, EVER, attacked the faith of another. Never. Ever.

Not so. I did NOT leave the Church. For many months I continued to go to both places. Even when I stopped going to Mass I did not "leave" the Church. I always knew I remained at root Catholic. (As I wrote earlier this evening. Perhaps you thought it unnecessary to read what I actually said, Shelby?) I always knew that the Church, the universal church, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, was the Church founded by Jesus Christ, by which Name you deny him.



Wrong. False.Not only was and is nothing missing, but one thing the Catholic Church does not lack is love. Love is there in abundance, love in many forms, Love Himself, made freely available to us all by the grace and mercy of God. It is not right to put your words to my actions. Your writing is full of hints and innuendos, unspecified and false allusions. I am frankly appalled and very, very deeply disappointed to see the extraordinary web of hint, innuendo, allusion and twisting of fact all the way from misrepresentation to, shall we say?...sheer fiction.

I note your constant tendency to play to the gallery, but I am not particularly worried as to the opinions of others here, because I know that there are several who will believe anything you say because you say it, and I know several others who know me well enough to raise their eyebrows as high as they'll go at your diatribe.

If anyone wants to ask me about anything, they can. And in case anyone thinks, "Oooh-er, look, Shelby says she can no longer write to her", I'll just point out that actually I haven't written to you for really rather a long time, and the other insinuations around that are a curious work of pure fiction.

I mostly stay quiet these days. I have retreated a great deal in recent months, as many have noticed, even when arguments on the open board are about me. Sometimes, I've had to speak out in my own defence, but mostly I stay quiet. My Lord (yes, He's mine too) has helped me, urged me to be patient, and out of love and respect for ALL here, I have endeavoured to be patient. I'm not good at that, it hasn't been easy. Especially since I can't understand the attacks.

I don't want any to assume that it has all been anything but very painful, and it has hurt me a great deal. I have limited my discussion about it, even privately. Nevertheless, as a sister in Christ, my prayers are for the unity of us ALL here. Nothing less.

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

Thank you, Loz.

If you, too, notice the attacks, that says a lot.

Much appreciated.

I had posted comments to your last comments to me, dear Char (again, peace to you!), but after your last post I'm thinking there's no point, really, other than to say that I am not lying on you, about you, to you... am not playing to any gallery... and do not deny the Christ (indeed, I herald him above ALL others, except the Father), although I do deny that the name the world uses is not the name he has given me.

Otherwise, I will just move on and try to respond to your previous comments.

Again, peace to you!

YSSFS of Christ,

SA

No, Char, the attacks I refer to are yours, I'm afraid.

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

Oh dear. You read the words but not the meaning.

I did not leave.

(I'm keeping it simple.)

Top paragraph of your post. Not true.

Second paragraph of your post. Not true.

If you, or anyone else, writes something untrue or incorrect about the Catholic Church, I am not only entitled to correct it, but it is my duty to do so. That is what I have done. No more than that.

To perceive attack when there is none is paranoia.

Ah, Loz, I see your latest post. That's disappointing, but not surprising.

Bless you, anyway.

Goodness... if I shake my head any more, I will surely get a "crick" in my neck. None so blind...

Peace to you all!

A slave of Christ,

SA, wondering how dear Char knew that dear Loz had sneezed...

I can only be honest Char, I know no other way. I see your love for Christ, its wondrous and exceptional, but am saddened that your bitterness for the WTBS is to the extent that it blinds you to the scriptures that are so relevant to all of us who love Christ. I don't want to be your enemy sister, really, truly, I don't. None of us do.

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

What baffles me is the misconstruing of others' posts, the derailing of relevant scriptures, the shrouding of pertinent points. I don't understand, truly. If we love Christ, don't we want to get it right? Don't we want to 'make sure of all things' ? It doesn't matter really what 'religions' say, aren't we or shouldn't we, be so much more concerned about what Christ wants or says? Isn't that what's important to us all? Shouldn't it be?

Loz x

_________________
"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"