jehovas witness update

jehovas witness update (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Theology] >> The Church

Message

sunshineduck -> jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 2:58:22 PM)
they're still trying! got a lady who keeps popping in now, wouldn't mind if they just bought coffee, but they have to preach too. do they do that everywhere?! so a few new questions, why does easter move? the date is different every year. also, jehovas witnesses think that heaven will be on earth. not sure where i think heaven will be, ideally it will be chocolaty!

eaglesfeather -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 3:09:38 PM)
maybe they're a good example for many Christians (concerning the profession of faith) Just thought I would throw that out there and see what hate mail I get. :)

jfaye -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 3:31:01 PM)
quote: maybe they're a good example for many Christians (concerning the profession of faith) Yep, few of us are as relentless as they are but most of us are not depending on 'works' as they do, to secure our salvations! [:)] Are you open to what they are pushing?

jfaye -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 3:52:11 PM)
Here are some links to the question you asked about the changing date of Easter--hope it helps: Why Easter date changes: Click Here! And, Here!

eaglesfeather -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 3:55:47 PM)
No, I'm not open to them. I think what little I've learned is enough for that religion. Works? I didn't realize they relied on that, but I know a huge Christian church that does as well. quote: ORIGINAL: jfaye quote: maybe they're a good example for many Christians (concerning the profession of faith) Yep, few of us are as relentless as they are but most of us are not depending on 'works' as they do, to secure our salvations! [:)] Are you open to what they are pushing?

ruthyrich -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 4:00:02 PM)
I hope God has just a little bit of chocolate around, but being as we won't have earthly bodies, I doubt that we will have the taste buds to enjoy it. Just speculation though. If our heavenly bodies do have taste buds, he has to have chocolate around though. As for the "examples guy", I believe that you don't have to cram Jesus down peoples throats, nor do I believe that he would want it that way. God gave us all free will, both sinners and believers alike. I didn't see Jesus or his disciples cram God down anyones throat. Jesus said he was "The Son of Man", and Jesus did his Father's work. He didn't cram anything down anyones throats. The people who saw either chose to believe He was who He said He was, or not. That was left up to the individual and his or her own heart. I think this is the way we should witness. Like Jesus and his disciples taught us. No more. No less.

eaglesfeather -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 4:21:05 PM)
Who said what you're claiming? I've had more JW's stop by my house and catch me on the streets than I could ever count and they never crammed anything down my throat. Therefore, my point was what we offer to others. Work 3 different counties 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. In and out of coffee shops, restaurants, offices, walk past churches, etc. etc. and the last time a Christian offered anything to me was 20 years ago and I got saved the following Sunday. If you only focus on what Jesus did not do then you'll not get far. quote: ORIGINAL: ruthyrich I hope God has just a little bit of chocolate around, but being as we won't have earthly bodies, I doubt that we will have the taste buds to enjoy it. Just speculation though. If our heavenly bodies do have taste buds, he has to have chocolate around though. As for the "examples guy", I believe that you don't have to cram Jesus down peoples throats, nor do I believe that he would want it that way. God gave us all free will, both sinners and believers alike. I didn't see Jesus or his disciples cram God down anyones throat. Jesus said he was "The Son of Man", and Jesus did his Father's work. He didn't cram anything down anyones throats. The people who saw either chose to believe He was who He said He was, or not. That was left up to the individual and his or her own heart. I think this is the way we should witness. Like Jesus and his disciples taught us. No more. No less.

jfaye -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 4:43:55 PM)
quote: No, I'm not open to them. I think what little I've learned is enough for that religion. Works? I didn't realize they relied on that, but I know a huge Christian church that does as well. I'm sorry 'feather' I didn't make it clear that I was addressing the question about being open to them to the OP? [sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif] We went to a fireworks display on the 4th of July one year, and one of our local Vineyard churches were passing out free cans of pop! Our daugher and SIL's church provided 2,000 Thanksgiving baskets for the inner-city churches to give out in their own communities--and they are awesome provisions BTW, no scrimping there! Personal evangelizing, friend on friend really seems to be the most effective 'reaching out' and 'giving'! I've found it most effective in my experience, anyway! If we let people see us, close up and hear how Jesus has affected our lives, what we talk about, etc., sooner or later, if God is calling them, they will want what we have!! 'Feather'--I'm sorry you haven't felt you were ever offered anything by Christians in your daily life--not even a kind word? Could it be, that in some of those places you visit in your work, you may have received a kindness and just didn't realize they are Christian? It isn't always written on our foreheads![:D] 'Feather', after typing all the above, I'm thinking you may be referring more to an offer of the gospel--that's it, isn't it?

Kat_D -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 4:45:54 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: eaglesfeather maybe they're a good example for many Christians (concerning the profession of faith) Just thought I would throw that out there and see what hate mail I get. :) I don't know where you live, but the JW's that show up on my street look like they'd rather get poked in the eye with a sharp stick than have to do what they are doing. They stroll up the street at a snail's pace, skipping as many houses as they can, and spend more time chatting up each other than they do sharing their false message...and for that, I am grateful![sm=growlwarning.gif]

jfaye -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 6:12:35 PM)
quote: I don't know where you live, but the JW's that show up on my street look like they'd rather get poked in the eye with a sharp stick than have to do what they are doing. They stroll up the street at a snail's pace, skipping as many houses as they can, and spend more time chatting up each other than they do sharing their false message...and for that, I am grateful! Oh--you are so right 'Kat'[sm=kitty2.gif] It's that way here, too!!! And the children they drag along and put forward to do the talking--they look positively miserable and so shy! They HAVE TO DO the door-to-door thing, according to their teaching as a means of working their way into the kingdom. They are not upset if someone slams the door in their faces, (as many do) because in their minds it means they have the 'truth', because in rejecting them, they are confirmed to have it!! Matt.5:11-12"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. If we fail to do that, and are kind and polite but firm about what we do believe, not showing any anger or antagonism, it confuses them. And, if you ever tell them you are praying for them--it scares them, because they believe we are praying to the devil, not Jehovah! I learned a lot about what they believe because I had so many of them coming to my door and I would engage them and discuss what I believed. They eventually sent some 'big guns' to see me, from their organization! They must have decided I was a 'dogmatic' because they do categorize you pretty much from the start and they see us as either 'ignorant--don't know anything about the Bible or God', 'naive' knowing very little and therefore teachable, or 'dogmatic', know alot about the Bible and are convinced, and in league with the devil, never to be won over, and then they leave you alone! Another thing that they really will have a problem with, is if you ask them who their 'authority' is--they'll say their church or the 'kingdom hall'! If you tell them, your only authority is 'Jesus Christ' and His word, the Bible they will leave you alone, too! Depends what you want to do with them. If you mean to evangelize them--it will be a huge problem because you will find it difficult to get down to the nitty gritty, because they say they agree with 'righteousness' and 'redemption', 'justification, etc. but they have redefiined those terms and when you think you agree, but really feel you don't, it's because you REALLY don't! It's really sad, they are truly entrapped with only their members as friends, forbidden to have friendships with 'the world/non-JW's', and usually have all ties with family broken if they are not also JW's, so if they decide to leave the organization, they are totally abandoned w/o any other friends to rely on. They attend meetings every night (at least they use to) at which they are constantly being 'trained' in their dogma! They know verse after verse after verse, largely out of context and they have to rely on their little black books along with their KJV only Bibles to know how to 'witness' to those of us outside their beliefs. They ask you questions, initially, to find out what 'camp/denomination' you fall in and usually will ask you if you ever wonder why there are so many different denominations? I really confused them, since we go to a non-denominational church and they didn't know what to ask me, in order to challenge me on something 'my' denomination clings to! It was kinda funny really! Of course, being two of them, the one was asking the questions while the other thumbed frantically through their black blook! That was about 20 years ago, and to this day, they cut a wide swath past our home! I'm considered to be 'dangerous' because I know enough to challenge them on, and they find me witnessing to them, rather than the reverse. It was really too bad, because one of the initial gals was beginning to have that look, like she might be waivering in her views, and I even got her to tell me her name, which they will never do (usually) where they admit their last name. I asked her, "what is your name?" She said it was 'Bev' and then I immediately asked, "and your last name is.......?", which took her off-guard and she told me. I told her, that I would be praying for her. This was when she accompanied the 'big gun' and from that moment on, they left me alone! They do not believe the Holy Spirit is a 'person', only a force of God and the list goes on and on! You might want to go to your Christian Book Store for material on what they believe and where we can differ HUGELY and our Biblical defenses--but be sure you only quote KJV! They will not accept any other translation as valid!

eaglesfeather -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 7:00:09 PM)
haha, hey no worries at all. Yes, I was referring to the gospel. I'm offered many things inside the churches I attend, but not by people elsewhere. I'll be the first to admit that I don't profess my faith in public either. My main point is directed at myself as well. If it was not for that wonderful old man on the sidewalk 20 years ago though, I may never have found Christ. quote: ORIGINAL: jfaye quote: No, I'm not open to them. I think what little I've learned is enough for that religion. Works? I didn't realize they relied on that, but I know a huge Christian church that does as well. I'm sorry 'feather' I didn't make it clear that I was addressing the question about being open to them to the OP? [sm=icon_smile_yikes.gif] We went to a fireworks display on the 4th of July one year, and one of our local Vineyard churches were passing out free cans of pop! Our daugher and SIL's church provided 2,000 Thanksgiving baskets for the inner-city churches to give out in their own communities--and they are awesome provisions BTW, no scrimping there! Personal evangelizing, friend on friend really seems to be the most effective 'reaching out' and 'giving'! I've found it most effective in my experience, anyway! If we let people see us, close up and hear how Jesus has affected our lives, what we talk about, etc., sooner or later, if God is calling them, they will want what we have!! 'Feather'--I'm sorry you haven't felt you were ever offered anything by Christians in your daily life--not even a kind word? Could it be, that in some of those places you visit in your work, you may have received a kindness and just didn't realize they are Christian? It isn't always written on our foreheads![:D] 'Feather', after typing all the above, I'm thinking you may be referring more to an offer of the gospel--that's it, isn't it?

eaglesfeather -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 7:04:57 PM)
Well, I live in the middle of nowhere so the ones that come to my house must be more faithful to their task I guess. Wherever I meet them though they never jam stuff down my throat. I'm just honest with them from the beginning and they leave. Never have to get out the gun or anything like that [;)] quote: ORIGINAL: Kat_D quote: ORIGINAL: eaglesfeather maybe they're a good example for many Christians (concerning the profession of faith) Just thought I would throw that out there and see what hate mail I get. :) I don't know where you live, but the JW's that show up on my street look like they'd rather get poked in the eye with a sharp stick than have to do what they are doing. They stroll up the street at a snail's pace, skipping as many houses as they can, and spend more time chatting up each other than they do sharing their false message...and for that, I am grateful![sm=growlwarning.gif]

eaglesfeather -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 7:07:57 PM)
also, thanks for your post jfaye. I learned more from reading it. I'm impressed that you take them on and profess your faith right back at them.

conrack50 -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 7:10:47 PM)
I grew up under JW's. My aunt juanita was one when she was still alive. We had some very interesting conversations thru out my life & hers about our "faiths and beliefs". It didn't bother me to see witnesses at her funeral, doesn't bother me to have them at my door. Now I have good "visits" with them about "our" faiths when they come. Now that's only my opinion.

jfaye -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 7:32:12 PM)
quote: I grew up under JW's. My aunt juanita was one when she was still alive. Hey 'Conrack', then you do know all the details about their beliefs then! Have I misrepresented their beliefs about us in any way or is there anything we should know that would help us be more understanding and more able to know how best to show them our 'lights'? Can you tell us about what they believe about Jesus? I know what I was told but would love to hear from someone else about what they believe. They told me, that Jesus' death on the cross, only opened the door for them to work their way into His kingdom! I feel sadness for them. I mean, any of us could be in their shoes! I ask myself, how could I be reached if I were in their place? I have also learned that if you can show them verses regarding God's solution to failed prophecies and those who deliver them, it sort of makes them think, because they have their 'prophets' (their names are withheld to them) but there have been so many of their prophecies through the years that have failed. Deut. 18:20-22' But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' You may say in your heart, 'How will we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?' "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. So, can you help us understand what they believe any more fully--I'm sure you can--so I guess the better question is 'will you'?[:)] [edited to include verses]

eaglesfeather -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 7:35:18 PM)
that's awesome conrack! I think one of the greatest things to do is sit down with other faiths and talk. Yes, not all would find it rewarding to do it, but I do. In my offices I work with Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, etc. faiths, and they never mind me introducing myself and asking questions.

Kat_D -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/7/2008 7:51:23 PM)
quote: Wherever I meet them though they never jam stuff down my throat. I'm just honest with them from the beginning and they leave. Never have to get out the gun or anything like that Nah, never had to get a gun out before either....pepper spray once, but that's about it!!![:D]

conrack50 -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/8/2008 6:29:58 AM)
jfaye, Everything they believe is on the Internet. The only thing I know for sure is she was disfellowshipped because of her smoking, which means she had to sit in the back of the hall & wasn't spoken to by others. They didn't call when she passed, I called to let them know. I don't believe in any of their teachings but out of respect for my aunt juanita I didn't fault her on what she believed. I went to the Kingdom Hall twice with her & that was enough for me. I also went to the Baptist church as a child. So you can see the confusion until I became an adult & moved away from my home town. At the end when she was dying I asked her if she'd confessed her sins to Jesus and she asked for forgiveness so that's all that matters to me. Just look them up on the net & there's all kinds of info. there about the subject. They have their beliefs and we all have ours. Each is different but yet the same. Connie Lou

Kat_D -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/8/2008 9:41:11 AM)
quote: They have their beliefs and we all have ours. Each is different but yet the same. This is absolutely false. They are not the same. One BIG difference (among many others) is they don't believe in the diety of Jesus Christ. Therefore they don't believe in the same Jesus we do. Yes, they are different, but definitely not the same by any stretch of the imagination.

BibleL7 -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/8/2008 9:56:31 AM)
Many not just JWs will tell you that the date for Easter and the holiday is pagan and of course it is. Others will celebrate Resurrection Day on the Easter Holiday as it is a good time to evangelize. The Heaven on Earth they are talking about is different than what most Christians believe that we will be on earth after Jesus returns but in Heaven after death. As for them always preaching some you must see a group that is devoted some are like what Kat experienced. I do know that now days they dont much use KJV as they have 'New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures' it is their own book that the leaders changed to support their doctrine. The best known change is where they say John 1:1 says that the Word was a god instead of was God. I had a relationship with a woman raised JW and was able to get a copy of their book. Just the opinion of a small town preacher

Okami -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/8/2008 6:34:29 PM)
http://www.4witness.org/jehovahs_witness_help.php Also, Their main issue with translations is that they think "theirs" is the proper one (New World Translation). Any other has it wrong. Even if pulling out a KJV you get the same response. They will say their translators didn't put their name to it because they were too humble... When actually, they probably didn't want it coming back to them because it was so off. If you really want to get into translation issues, get an interlinear that has the Greek with the literal english word for word next to it. It will then be obvious in several instances- ie; where theirs says "and the word was a god" that it really said "and the Word was God" in wording, context and sentence structure.

rolerie -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/8/2008 7:21:58 PM)
you really have to study with them to know where they are coming from the only problem I have with them is they dont except other religions

earthless -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/12/2008 4:50:53 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: conrack50 They have their beliefs and we all have ours. Each is different but yet the same. Connie Lou Not according to the Bible nor Jesus.

figmentPez -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/12/2008 6:37:35 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: rolerie you really have to study with them to know where they are coming from the only problem I have with them is they dont except other religions Weird, that's one of the few points I think they actually get right. I wish more Christians would stand up and reject religions that are contrary to their beliefs. Not that I think that Jehovah's Witnesses are the right religion, but at least they're logically consistent. If what they believe were to be true, then all other religions (which contradict it) would be false. Christians should wake up and realize that same true. If we really believe in Jesus Christ and what He taught, then we should realize that all religions that reject the real Jesus Christ are false, and should not be accepted.

earthless -> RE: jehovas witness update (3/12/2008 7:21:43 PM)
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christians have no zeal, no jealousy for God's Word nor His truth. Cults put us to SHAME every single day in that area.

Page: [1] 2 next > >>

Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI