xjwsforChrist

? SAID

I recently found a pretty cool app for the iPhone/iPad/Macbook called GLO Bible App. It has an online bible (of course) it also has pretty cool 3D tours of locations in the bible etc. In addition it has very good maps. Best of all if you make a note on your laptop it will automatically sync to your iPad/iPhone.

Since my wife uses her iPad for the WT study I have put some of my "research" on GLO. Hopefully she will stumble across one of these mini research projects sometime and maybe it will make here think.

Since all the research is already done I thought I might post some of it here over the next few days. The way the program is written any notes need to go under a scripture so that is how I did it. Here is an example:


Matthew 7:15-20 15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

This is a direct warning from Jesus Christ. How can we overlook this warning? He specifically warns us today that THERE WILL DEFINITELY be false prophets. He then goes on to tell us how to be on the watch for false prophets by comparing them to fruit trees.

What is the fruit of a false prophet? False prophecy. It is pretty clear. It is something that gets to the very heart of our spiritual life. Another very helpful scripture re. false prophecy is Deuteronomy 18:20-23:

(Deuteronomy 18:20-22) 20 “‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’

CT Russell was a false prophet. JF Rutherford was a false prophet. Why in the world would Jesus Christ choose the group of people that were NOT FOLLOWING his command to be his faithful slave?

It seems to me the choice is clear, heed the clear warning from Jesus Christ who was tortured to death because of his love for us OR follow an organization that has as its foundation well over 50 years worth of false prophecy. Some of which continues to this very day.

The pertinent fact is that if Jesus did not choose the FDS in 1919 (and why would he based on the two scriptures above) then we should be very skeptical of anything they are teaching us. Not all of it is wrong, after all the wolf was disguised as a sheep, and what better way to disguise wrong teachings then to mix them in with truth. That is why Jehovah gave us the means to test prophets in Deut. 18:20-22

Why is this so important? It is vital to know the truth about those that claim to be the "Faithful Slave" because they make claims that affect our eternal future and that of our families. Claims such as:

"We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval." Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.24

"[A mature christian] does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave." Watchtower 2001 Aug 1 p.14

"The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ." Watchtower 2010 Sep 15 p.23

"To keep in relationship with "our Savior, God," the "great crowd" needs to remain united with the remnant of spiritual Israelites." Watchtower 1979 Nov 15 p.27 Benefiting from "One Mediator Between God and Men"

"However, we cannot hope to acquire a good relationship with Jehovah if we ignore those whom Jesus has appointed to care for his belongings. Without the assistance of “the faithful and discreet slave,” we would neither understand the full import of what we read in God’s Word nor know how to apply it." Examining the Scriptures Daily 2012 Mar 4

"All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave" Watchtower 1994 Oct 1 p.8

These are all pretty big claims. If the organization was built on a foundation of false prophecy (and it was) and the entire authority that those claiming to be the faithful slave rests on false prophecy (and it does) then we should be VERY very skeptical of statements that imply that by following the governing body we are in fact following Jesus Christ.

By being skeptical of those who appear to be "sheep" we will be able to see the hypocrisy in statements they make about themselves like the ones quoted above as well as others like this:

*** w00 10/1 p. 32 Are You Discreet? ***
Those to whom Jesus Christ has entrusted “all his belongings” are described in God’s Word as “faithful and discreet.” (Matthew 24:45-47) They do not immodestly run ahead of Jehovah on an impulsive whim; nor do they lag behind when God’s direction in a matter is clear. They know when it is time to speak and when it is time to wait silently for further clarification. All Christians do well not only to imitate their faith but also to prove themselves discreet, as the slave class does.—Hebrews 13:7.

They do not immodestly run ahead of Jehovah? To me that does not seem true at all. For instance, were they immodestly running ahead when they claimed for almost 50 years that Jesus had returned invisibly in 1874?

Were they immodestly running ahead when they claimed that armageddon would be over and finished by 1914, and then 1918, or when they said that it was God's word that 1925 would bring the end to all governments and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be living in a mansion they built for them in California? To me that was all running ahead of Jehovah, how could it be otherwise? Certainly Jehovah did not cause falsehood to be preached in his name.

Then they claim that Jesus "chose" them in 1917-18. They were cleansed then. What happened next? They ran a worldwide campaign promising ALL PEOPLE, not just Witnesses that millions now living would never die. Was that running ahead? Did they wait for God's direction to make the matter clear?

What about 1975? Did the faithful slave know when to speak and when to wait silently for further clarification in 1975? No.

Another example of the slave "immodestly running ahead" of Jehovah is the issue of organ transplants:

*** w67 11/15 p. 702 Questions From Readers ***
When there is a diseased or defective organ, the usual way health is restored is by taking in nutrients. The body uses the food eaten to repair or heal the organ, gradually replacing the cells. When men of science conclude that this normal process will no longer work and they suggest removing the organ and replacing it directly with an organ from another human, this is simply a shortcut. Those who submit to such operations are thus living off the flesh of another human. That is cannibalistic. However, in allowing man to eat animal flesh Jehovah God did not grant permission for humans to try to perpetuate their lives by cannibalistically taking into their bodies human flesh, whether chewed or in the form of whole organs or body parts taken from others.

*** w69 11/15 p. 701 Appreciating Jehovah’s Protection ***
The day before surgery was due the chairman of the kidney transplant team came in and asked if I would agree to making the kidney I was relinquishing available to a young patient whose kidneys had failed. It appears that though the artery leading to my kidney was not functioning, the kidney itself was in good shape. The doctor was keen to have my kidney, but I explained to him that as one of Jehovah’s witnesses I must abide by what God’s law indicates in such a matter. I told him he would get a frank and thorough answer to his inquiry after we had had a family discussion of God’s Word on the issue.
Later that day we informed him of our Biblical position with respect to human flesh and its use and quoted the relevant passages of God’s Word. He asked if I could retain a good conscience after denying my kidney to his young patient. In reply I pointed out that my kidney was not mine to give, and must be used in harmony with the will of the One who created it. And he was compelled to admit that even with the kidney he could not guarantee the survival of his patient. I pointed out that future life through the promised resurrection for myself and his young patient depended upon our obedience to God’s principles as set out in the Holy Scriptures.

Note: this is an example of where the FDS "immodestly running ahead" may have cost the life of a non witness. The brother had to have a healthy kidney removed, he was a match for a child that needed a kidney but he denied the child the kidney choosing instead to throw it away based on what he believed the bible said according to the FDS. Imagine how many Witness families were force to watch a loved one die because they could not receive a organ transplant, a kidney, a liver, a heart, bone marrow and so on. Families lost fathers, mothers, and parents lost children because the slave was "immodestly running ahead". Did the slave ever apologize. Did they ever admit their error? Of course not. Instead they act as if nothing happened and continue to brag about their faithfulness and how discrete they are.

The quote from the 2000 above also says: "nor do they lag behind when God’s direction in a matter is clear. They know when it is time to speak and when it is time to wait silently for further clarification." I wonder what all the parents of witness children who have been molested by pedophiles in the congregation think about that? What do you think the abused children think about that? Back in 1998 a sister in the research department made very clear to the governing body the extent of child molestation that was going on. She begged them to change their policy both on warning others in the congregation as well as the 2 witness rule which did not work for pedophiles. She also begged them to have the elders call the police when someone was accused of molesting a child. She was ignored. Rather than "wait on Jehovah" she shared her information with Dateline NBC. The response? She was disfellowshipped for "causing divisions". She was cut off from all contact with her children and grandchildren.

The Dateline NBC episode detailed what was going on in the organization back in '98. That proves they knew back then, there is no doubt. Why is it then that they just had to send out a letter to all the bodies of elders in 2012 updating a similar letter from 1989 to ensure that the law was being followed? Was it "new light" from Jehovah that caused a revised letter to go out in April of 2012 or was it the 28 million dollar lawsuit they lost? Think of all the children that were molested. What do they think? Do they feel that the "faithful slave" was "lagging behind God's direction"

AGUEST SAID

Not sure if your questions are rhetorical, dear ? (peace to you!), but I would like to offer that they are imposters, false prophets... who have no faith in God (or even "Jehovah")... else they would see their own nakedness exposed in these things... and openly admit them. Some are actually even atheists in their hearts (which truth I received from my Lord) and so don't mind misleading the sheep, telling lies, keeping truth from their members, etc.... because they really fear no repercussion! In THEIR hearts, if they truly did believe in a God... they would also fear Him as to how they are treating His sheep. This is not the case with all, of course - most are merely "blind guides".

If they TRULY believed in God... and Christ... however, or feared having to answer to Him for how they lead/treat His sheep, they would not only "fix" their errors but openly CONFESS them:

"Umm, sorry, dear ones, but WE falsely stated some things because we leaned on our OWN understanding, rather than turning to Christ and looking to HIM... as God directed us to... and so we need to correct something we published! Please forgive us - we will try to do better because we know how valuable YOU are to God and Christ... and that you don't belong to US but that we are only STEWARDS and so have a responsibility to always speak the TRUTH with you... even if we look bad as a result."

Because THAT would BE the TRUTH, wouldn't it? Are aren't we supposed to "speak truth with one another"? Does that not apply to ALL those who profess to be in union with Christ, whether a "least" one or "greatest" one (and aren't ALL of us supposed to be "least" ones??).

So, no, it wasn't "new light" from God (the MOST Holy One of Israel, JAH[VeH] of Armies), or Christ (the Holy One of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah), or "Jehovah" (the false god they serve). And it wasn't because the "Faithful Slave" was lagging behind: Christ, THE Faithful (and True) Slave... NEVER lags behind. Indeed, he GIVES food... manna... [i]at the proper time[i/]... always.

They did it for one reason: to cover their proverbial asses from further legal liability. They are intending to be able to use it against their "agents" (elders/CO's, etc.) who don't follow the contents and thus indemnify themselves and the CORPORATION from liability and suit. That is it, that is all.

It's like a company issuing policies and then holding employees overstep/violate those policies culpable. Sometimes that works - the court finds that the company is not liable because it was the employee who broke the law. In MOST cases, however, a company is liable for the actions of its agents.

It may work, depending on where in the world cases crop up. It won't, though, in many places. California, for example. Very little of that kind of passing the buck works here... praise JAH. Hence, Ms. Conti's recent success!

I hope this helps and, again, peace to you!
_________________
Paz a todos!

Su sirviente, compañera de estudios, y un esclava de Cristo,

SA

PSACRAMENTO SAID

One of the worse things one can do, the worse being to blasphemy the HS, is to be the "stumbling block" to those seeking God.

Whether it be by false prophecy or by being bad Christians, when someone looks at "us" and says: "see, that is why I hate Christians", or says" "that is why I don't believe in God".

We must be very careful when we choose to "evangilse" or preach because, "to those that much has been given, much will be asked".

When we decide to "speak" for God we must be sure that we do NOT turn anyone away from God.

AGUEST SAID



This is SO true, dear P (the greatest of love and peace to you!). GREAT care should be taken. Remembering that there is no law "against" love, then, helps, as any message given out love cannot violate God's law (OF love]. And I mean true love, here, and not the facade, pretense, for "form" of love because "it's what one is 'supposed' to show/give/do... but is not the TRUTH. Many THINK they can get away with the facade/pretense... but are only fooling themselves (and perhaps others; but one cannot fool the Holy Spirit, Christ).

Fear of making this error can be eliminated, though, when we speak NOT of our OWN initiative, but just as we hear from the Holy One of Israel. Because then we are only passing on HIS love. In that light, then, some of what we share WILL cause others to stumble, for Christ IS the "stumbling block." And so, on many occasions what HE said "stumbled" those hearing it. For example, his direction to eat his flesh and drink his blood.

It's when we speak of our OWN initiative... and start preaching/teaching what is from US... as a result of leaning upon our OWN understanding... versus sticking to that which is from HIM (in the fear of "offending" others) that we risk not only unlawfully stumbling others, but perhaps even blasphemy (against him, the Holy Spirit - because we are trying to fool him!).

Even so, one will find, when one DOES speak what one is given from him, that few are able to receive it. As our Lord stated would occur ("the world cannot receive it"). Keeping this in mind, then, one must be prepared that not only will all not [be able to] receive the message (which is okay and not such one's concern - one is only a messenger and thus good-for-nothing-servant and so only doing what one OUGHT to have done), but such one should be quite wary if many DO (Luke 6:26).

Because again, it is God who calls... and chooses... through Christ. Not us. And while many ARE called... FEW are chosen.

Unlike the world, WE are not to be concerned with numbers, with how MANY hear. To the contrary, like Gideon, we must TRUST... and exercise FAITH... that ALL who are SUPPOSED to get it... will. And in God and Christ's due time. Not ours.

Again, peace to you!

YOUR servant, sister... and fellow [good-for-nothing] slave of Christ,

SA

PSACRAMENTO SAID

Easier said than done Shel ( love to you as always my sister).
We all "filter" Our Lords words through the broken vessel that is US.
The message will always be, at best, incomplete BUT we try the best we can and accept that we make mistakes and admit then and always remember to state that we speak for ourselves and our understanding.
There are things that I believe that are not orthodox and I accept that and I, for one, always make it clear where the bible and I "go our separate ways".
Much like Paul would say, " not the Lord but I"...

AGUEST SAID



Absolutely, dear one (the greatest of love and peace to you!): no one should ever try to say it's easy. Indeed, anyone sharing what they received from Christ should have some measure of uneasiness about that, some kind of "check" by their spirit that asks HIM, "Okay, am I saying it accurately/correctly, Lord? Please, put YOUR words in my heart and mouth, and do NOT let me speak of my own initiative here!" ("In ALL your ways take notice of him"...).

It's very easy to start thinking of the privilege as one that raises one up over others. The protection is to remember that we are SERVANTS... indeed, servant's in another's (God's!) household... and that he who would be greatest among us... MUST be least. If we must be LEAST... then that means beneath ALL others IN that "house." So just because we hear something... and/or are given something to share... doesn't make US "something." To the contrary, it makes us nothing: nothing more than a good-for-nothing-servant who only did what we ought to have done anyway, regardless of whether there is some "reward" or NOT.

Because the underlying motive FOR sharing... is supposed to be love: "I shared it with you, dear one, because I love HIM... he loves YOU... and so I love you." NOT because, "Well, can't you see by how I look/what I said/what I claim to be able to do/have done that God is with ME?" False prophets lean on that explanation.


We must learn NOT to do that, dear one! We must learn NOT to lean on our own understanding or allow ourselves to let our OWN understanding interfere! That is what faith is ABOUT. Many, MANY times our Lord has said something to me which has caused my FLESH to hesitate, even though my spirit knows what he told me was accurate. Take the "dragon" topic. I certainly knew that that wasn't going to be readily received, by some of the Body as well as some naysayers. What do I do? Protect myself from opposition/derison and remain silent? Or obey... and let HIM handle the details? Since I have no doubt in him or his words, I have to do the latter.

When one allows their flesh get involved, though (say, they get angry at someone for not listening to them, or hurt because someone has revealed something to them they couldn't readily accept), then such one opens themselves up to "hear" all manner of things. Our Adversary "keeps transforming himself into an angel of light." Say our flesh wants something - we can, any one of us, allow our flesh to convince our SPIRIT that the thing is okay. And maybe it is. But we can only know that if we surpass the flesh... make it "hush"... and be led by spirit.



And admit them, yes! Not just to ourselves, but to those we may have mistakenly spoken them to! We can't put something out there, then find out it's an error, then either pretend that it wasn't or make excuses to justify! That is SO WTBTS/false religion conduct! It flies in the face of "speak[ing] TRUTH" with one another! It is totally okay to retract, correct, acknowledge an error... even that perhaps we DIDN'T hear it from our Lord but from our own flesh if that's the truth.

When we DON'T, however, we are not only risking fooling others, but ourselves as well. Most importantly, we can also be perceived, if not actually deemed, a "false prophet"! This is what has gotten and is getting the WTBTS in trouble: their inability to SAY that they spoke of their "own initiative."

Again, peace to you, my dear brother!

Your servant, sister, and fellow slave of Christ,

SA

VANDERHOVEN7 SAID

think? Do they feel that the "faithful slave" was "lagging behind God's direction"


Well said ? Bears repeating.
_________________
Jesus is Lord