Wow, I just got a call from a minister from the living church of God. I explained him my work schedule, and that I work every other weekend. They attend services on Saturday, which they feel to be the Sabbath. But I was told I couldn't attend until I could make it every Saturday which would mean quitting my job of 19 years.
Shouldn't be this hard to worship

 

That's definitely my plan. I'm calling the witness that contacted me I'm an hour or so. They're at a conference for another hour I think in Romeoville

 

I know that group very well I associated with them for two years, I wrote to their head quarter many times on subject like the Sabbath,Love and Unity, National Emblems (Flags) and many more subjects. They do not believe in the "TRINITY". Christian Love, Regent

 

They believe that God the Father is greater than Christ even when he was the "Word" of God. I studied all their Bible Course and many publications. Regent

 

Just got off the phone. I meet a witness Wednesday morning at the hall. ☺

 

Dear Rob,

I do not agree with this above entirely. Some things yes, but remember my advice? Read Jesus' instructions, and always put his words over any church teachings.

Again, you will find the JW's do not teach what Jesus said , but their message is all about you following them into Paradise earth. Jesus, said we follow him to heaven, and be reborn of the spirit. Look it up; John 3:1-5...very important.

Do yourself a favor, right at first, ask them about whether all Christians are to obey Jesus' instructions about the heaven-hope, as he taught ALL his disciples. Ask them if they believe they must be born again, like Jesus says, when they come over Wednesday.

 

Hi John, are you not a Jehovah witness?

 

I recently went through a similar experience. I was told, “If you don’t believe what we are teaching, you should go find a place that teaches what you believe.” So, I did. I left.

You may ask them to explain these scriptures: “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.” ( Gal 4:9-11 NASB )

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” ( Gal 4:9-11 KJV )

“Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Col 2:16-17 NASB )

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Col 2:16-17 KJV )

 

Rob- Many here are "Jehovah Witnesses". PERIOD no JW dot. ORG, we have not dedicated our life to a "ORGANISATION" but to Jehovah alone thru Jesus Christ our "Savior" AMEN. Christian LOVE to you and everyone. Regent

 

Ok, so do you go door to door?
Because I thought it was required and I really don't want to. That's way outside my comfort zone. I'm extremely introverted

 

Rob-I am at your door right now. I talk about God's LOVE his kingdom or (government) as the only solution to solve mankind problem,repentance toward God to believe in Jesus as our Savior and in his resurrection also I make Known "GOD'S way is the only way to every thing that moves. Yours in Christ, Regent

 

Rob,
No, you won't be asked to go door to door until you are comfortable with it. I don't go door to door, yet I consider myself as one of Jehovah's witnesses. You can also study by yourself. There are plenty of resources available online. But, keep your private study going.

 

Yes Joshua,

Although I may be the only one here that believes we are to follow exclusively what Jesus Christ teaches, that does not mean I am wrong.

Rob, I was a JW . I was baptized at 16, and was a JW for 35 years. I resigned from the Witnesses 10 years ago.

Why?

Like most everyone here, at this site found, JW's are being led along by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, and their printed magazines and books, but the Bible itself,? It is not the end word in this religion; WT writers have their own twist on Bible scriptures.

It is a new religion, started around 1870's, bt C.T. Russell, who was a charismatic '7th Day adventist-type' preacher who taught things he had learned as a young man from different preachers of this type; Adventism, which goes in for predicting the end of the world order , satan's rule through wicked men, and then Christ's return.

He took up the popular cry that Christ would 'return' to judge the earth , and begin to change things down here, and religions would all follow him, instead of men. He set forth a year date, which he got through other Adventist preachers; 1914, as the year Christ would return. It did not occur, but instead, the world entered WWI, and the Spanish influenza, and horrible famine resulted as a consequence of the death and destruction of an entire world slaughter, particularly in Europe, then China, and then WWII, again, even worse.

All that time, the Bible Students , as what JW's were then called, suffered a setback; their leader, Charles Taze Russell died. His place as president of the International Bible Students, was taken over by trickery by the former attorney of C.T. Russell, who basically was a businessman along with a religious writer of books and a growing publishing business (Zion's Watch Tower and ), and had hired a lawyer named Joseph Rutherford, who at the time of Russell's death was in Los Angeles , and had been fired by Russell for their differences.

So, when Russell died, Rutherford, having legal knowledge, and corporate savvy, rushed back across country to New York City where WT had moved to from Pittsburg, Penn., in 1909.

By legal means, he wrangled the presidency out of the hands of illiterate-in-law corporate officers Russell had put in charge before his death...and kicked out the board of directors, and took over the whole operation.

Rutherford was not a spiritual person, but a greedy, power-mad , and ruthless egotist. He proceeded to reign for over 20 years, and a rift developed right away from his takeover; dividing up the WT into 'Bible Students', who still to this day believe in all C.T. Russell wrote, and Rutherford's new doctrines he began to write in his 32 books, which he called , 'New Light'.

The name attached to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was changed from 'International bible Students', to 'Jehovah's Witnesses', in 1935, which basically kicked out all the old-timer Russell-followers, and launched the JW's into a new program of preaching door-to-door, announcing the 'any day now' return of Christ.

This then was taught by Rutherford particularly since 1931 in their official door-to-door campaigns, that 'other sheep' than Christians with a heavenly hope as Jesus taught, would be collected, and converted, baptised, and welcomed into the ranks.

These other sheep, which is a spin of Jesus' parable recorded at John 10:16, would not be true born again Christians, destined for heaven as jesus taught, but would just tag along behind the WT leaders and the WT organization, which since 1938 had been touting itself, in all the world, as

'Jehovah's Theocratic Organization', and under Jehovah's hand only in all the world of Christianity.

That all Christian religions in the world other than Jehovah's Witnesses are not in God's plan of salvation, only Jehovah's Witnesses. Russell taught, and many believed, as the JW 's had less than a million members at that time all over the world;still very small beans, actually...and still only 8 million world-wide....that the preaching must change. How?

The teaching of Rutherford was hinged on a literal interpretation of the Revelation where a 144,000 saved Christians in heaven , stones in the temple of God to come, was literal. Although the entire book is filled with signs, and pictorial numbers, this is still the JW interpretation today,...

regardless of all Jesus taught his Christian followers and readers of God's word for the past 2000 years; many, hundreds of millions, if not more.

By gathering volunteer artists and workers to new York to live at 'Bethel', the Watchtower and its followers began in numbers to take magazines and books door-to-door with very good renderings of Paradise scenes, complete with the lions, bears, snakes, and all people living in peaceful coexistence here on earth. To this day, the JW's are taught, and live with , this hope; not going to be with Jesus in heaven, and have a heavenly kingdom that will eventually have 1000 years (probably symbolic also) to restore this earth.

The entire 8 million subjects of WT, who do not follow Jesus' teachings, but Rutherford's and those who followed as presidents of Watchtower Bible and Tract society, are taught they are going to survive the Judgement day of Armageddon, and live in a Paradise on earth.

This is why many here are still of that hope.

I am not. I saw the whole picture as a zealous member, and full-time servant in the religion myself. I also resented the WT 'rules' of never attending ANY other churches or we would be disfellowshiped, cast out and marked as undesirable, and dangerous to the loyal members.

I resigned after re-studying the Bible, including the New World translation, that one president, Franz, changed wording in, violating jesus' warning in Revelation 22, to indicate their was no intimacy with Christ, and no total forgiveness of sin, as Jesus said, for those who believed in his blood sacrifice. I can back all this up, as I know the scriptures and was a Witness all my life until 10 years ago.

WT followers to this day, once baptized and become members, are under a threat of disfellowshiping, and ostracism , and rejection from the other members if they decide to teach the truth Jesus taught: all his sheep go to heaven with him when he returns.

All who are JW's in the organization, but who are upset by teachings of WY not lining up with the Bible, or see WT is a controlling kingdom of threatened, duped, and misguided slaves, are coming to secret online sites like this one.

They are hiding their names and identities, out of fear of being disfellowshiped, and losing the love, and actually their marriage mates , as these will no longer associate, live with, or stay married to...YES....some are divorcing from their former JW mates because they no longer wish to be married to these 'outlaws' who have rejected WT doctrine.

Isn't this a pitiful story? These poor souls here live in fear of their religion, and have to sneak around talking and duscussing what is to them, better Bible truthful answers, than what their religion teaches. But out of fear of expulsion, they hide what they do.

This is a gathering of what I call , diggers of truth, according to Proverbs 2:1-5

Better for you, that first you listen to what Jesus says, and read his instructions, rather than begin a lengthy study of watchtowers doctrines, which are easily seen to be way out of line with the Bible. This is what I did.

Most all here, although Jehovah's witnesses mostly, do. They love their Bibles over WT doctrine, but they are in a compromising position as to their very wives, children, and relatives, and are not free to express their religious beliefs....even as the U.S. Constitution states we all have a God-given right to believe the way we want.

believe me, Watchtower and Jehovah's Witnesses state only THEY have the right to say what God wants us to believe...and the whole world outside of them is wrong and does not have God's Spirit, Jesus ' direction, nor his protection from Judgement at Armageddon.

I'm sure you will think this over and want to read the warning Jesus clearly had recorded for you at John 10, before you meet and discuss anything with Witnesses.

If you do meet Wednesday, make a copy of this essay I wrote, or jot down what I said, and be sure to ask the men about the truth of these statements.

 

Thanks John, you mentioned the NWT as being changed. This is something I've heard elsewhere too. What's everyone's thoughts here then on this translation? Is it ok to use?

 

Use it at your own risk. They alter scriptures having to deal with receiving direct help and oneness with Jesus, praying to Jesus, talking to jesus, or even following everything he said.

WT plays down being born of the Holy Spirit, and going to heaven . They tell you outright, and you can ask them oint blank when they come over, "Do you believe you are born again? "

And are you teaching people you cannot hope to live in heaven or be born again, because all the 144,000 seats have been filled, since Rutherford and Jehovah's Witnesses say that all got filled up 80 years ago."

Now, they go door-to-door or online teaching a gospel of Paradise as the only hope....although Jesus said from his preaching and all down until the Revelation foretelling Armageddon the same teaching; all Christians are to become one with him by receiving the spirit of Christ, AND Jehovah, to become God's adopted sons and daughters, and go to heaven to see the Father when Christ returns; not live on paradise earth as their hope...although people are prophesied to survive Armageddon, as they will refuse to take a mark on their forehead or hand, these are not born-again Christians.

There are many good Bibles. I now use one I bought at Walmart for 5 bucks; the 'New Living Translation', which was acquired through the efforts of not one small group of a handful of men claiming to be able to translate, which they were not; not even having a degree from any Christian university or full knowledge of foreign languages whatsoever.

Look inside the cover at the long list of educated scholars from MANY top Bible colleges, who translated this Bible. That ought to help you see this is a good one.