AGUEST SAID
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I personally cannot fully comprehend why some online posters decide to be so consistently malevolent.
I can tell you why, dear, dear Sab... and ALL of the Body needs to understand this (the greatest of love and peace to you all!): we... and they... are Israel. Israel is, for the most part, a hard-headed, hard-HEARTED, STIFF-necked house. Just like our 1st century brothers were called out of the sytem of worship that prevailed upon Israel at that time... and were turned on by those who adhered to it... the same today. True, most no longer adhere to the WTBTS' teachings, but SURELY you can see that they hold on to the mind and heart condition of the WTBTS.
And that's understandble... for those who were born-in: truly, how else CAN they act... while separate from Christ? From where would they learn how to treat their "brothers"? They WANT to be part of the world! They want all that the world has to offer! Here's the thing:
You have three factions of Israel:
1. Those of Israel who remained faithful to JAH (of which there was always only a few);
2. Those who adhered to the Law Covenant SO tightly, that they judged, condemned, and turn over to their enemies, their own brothers (those still in the WTBTS); and
3. Those who wanted to be like the nations - who wanted to be ruled by the nations and worship the idols of the nations (those who come out and leave JAH entirely).
No different today than then. Not at all. You might wonder how the latter worship the "idols" of the nations, while claiming no belief in gods of any kind. One only has to look at the "gods" OF the world, though, to see it: money, politics, military might, science (to the extent it tries to negate God) and so evolution (of humans)... to the extent they "worship" it as a teaching, sports, governments, traditions, customs, possessions, etc. Whatever it is they now put their faith in.
I am not saying these things in and of themselves are wrong/bad; they are NOT. These are just things. It's what Israel MAKES them, though, and tries to make them TO Israel: replacements FOR God. What they look to for their 'salvation.' THAT is what makes these things gods... and because they don't LIVE, in and of themselves... or grant life (eternally)... they are "false" gods. So, we cannot blame money, or politics, or science, or militaries, or governments, or sports, etc. They do not hold themselves up, these things. We, man, hold them up... and "worship" them.
And that is how it has been with Israel since leaving the slavery of Egypt. Israel has repeatedly shown that it is not a nation that CAN govern itself, can BE free... be without a shepherd... because if it doesn't get annihilated by its enemies, its members turn on one another attempt annhihilation that way. Has always been since its release from Egypt. It THINKS it's like other nations... which are often a law unto themselves... but it isn't.
And Israel today is not confined to national boundaries. Israel... is those in whom exists Abraham's blood, through Isaac. Which people have been scattered throughout the earth and are now part of EVERY nation, tribe, tongue, and people. And whose blood is known to JAH... who brings them together from time to time. During which they show who they are... by being of one of those three groups I listed above.
So, don't puzzle it too hard, dear Sab - they are simply showing who they TRULY are. But Christ has shown US what we are supposed to do about them... indeed FOR them. The same as our Lord. ASK:
"F
ORGIVE them, Father... for they don't know what they do."
I hope this helps. I certainly needed the reminder.
Again, peace to you!
YSSFS of Christ,
SA