Like I said, who are you talking about? Bible believing churches do no support homosexuality. Supporting war? Are you saying that people who supporting the troops and cause of WWI and WWII were evil doers for doing so? Do you realize that the jw's would be no longer with the laws of the Japan or Germany were in full affect? King David must have gone to hell and all those things about him being after God's own heart false.
Really? What of the crisis in the Anglican Church, threatening to split the African Anglicans from the European, American and Canadian Anglicans? If this 'bible-believing' church did not support homosexuality there would be no crisis within. I am not saying anything more than what the bible itself says, it condemns the taking of life in this way. Can you imagine Jesus and "the disciple whom he loved" meeting on the battlefield and slaughtering one another? If you can you know a very different Jesus to the one I know. Those who witness to God and serve Him with integrity will never be 'no longer', though individuals may perish in this life.
OK, some form of organized religion, I would have to say that it is good there is a split if some are allowing the pressures of todays society to change how they interpret or ignore parts of the Bible. I don't know this group and really don't care to be a part of some "organized religion" where people decide and vote instead of following the Word. So when God was telling Moses to lead people into wars He was wrong? I don't know your jesus, I know the Jesus of the Bible, the Son of God, the Lord of lords, the King of kings, NOT the brother of satan. satan was an angel and Jesus was not. When Jesus comes again He will come as King, do you ever read Revelations or Daniel? Huh? not sure what you are trying to say here. Oh, I see you think the jw's would be left alone. Sure satan may not see a threat there, so you may be right.
You haven't heard of the Anglican Church? This 'group' forms one of the largest 'churches' in the world!!! However they are not the only part of Christendom supporting things abhorent to God. God as the Creator and the Source of true wisdom and justice is beyond question in what He does - His wars are always righteous and with good cause. Anyone really familiar with the bible will not need further explanation of that. Revelation explains how Jesus is to wage war in the future, he is pictured on a white horse prepared for battle - that war, which will affect all men is near at hand. The wars of men are something entirely different. I read both Revelation and Daniel frequently, in fact I am currently engaged in a special study project of Revelation. Jesus was a brother of Satan, in the same sense as he is a brother of all others of Gods spirit realm and humans who he calls his 'brothers'. However he was never a 'lowly' angel, he was special, Gods firstborn the only creation by God. The bible says that every knee should bend before him both in heaven and on earth "to the glory of God the Father". He is quite unlike Satan who rejected worship of God and instead chose to seek worship for himself. Don't you read Revelation? "And the dragon grew wrathful at the woman, and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of bearing witness to Jesus." 'Observing the commandments of God' ... 'bearing witness to Jesus', not many professed christians that can say they do that! In fact tell me ... who has called on your door to bear witness to Jesus and tell you about his Kingdom?
I get tired of the jw's twisted views of Jesus, but I am not a judge to condemn, but only one calling out a warning to others to not be fooled by false prophets. Couple questions because this statement has been made by many others before you, kind of a mantra I see. 1. do you have to actually go to a persons door to qualify as witnessing? 2. Does it count when the person doesn't even believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that His message was repentance of sins through faith in Him the leads you to God. Faith that He is who He said He is? the Great I Am. Or to answer your question: no one has come to my door at my house and bore witness to Jesus and His kingdom. Some jw's have come to tell me of their religion, but that is not at all the same.
We stand or fall by our exercise of faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, no other way to salvation exists. I fail to see though how you understand the teaching of Jesus as Gods Son and the King of His Kingdom as being twisted, after all it is clearly shown in the bible! No of course not, like Jesus, witnessing can and is done anywhere that people can be found ... homes, market places, on transport, etc in fact just like the Apostles:- "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." (Acts 5:41,42) However, the fact that Jesus said the following and instructed his followers to do it indicated that he thought it was the best way of contacting people:- "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house." (Matt 10:1-7) OR, "As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." (Matt 10:12-15) Does what count? Do you mean you don't get a doughnut if you don't 'convert' someone? All Christians are commanded to preach the word and make disciples - most professed christians simply do not do that. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19,20) Jehovah's Witnesses obey that command to the best of their ability, like all other commandments of God, whether people listen and respond is up to them, many do as is testified by the numbers becoming JW's every year. You probably weren't listening.
Now you are twisting my words. Please don't do that. At least my words are there to go back to and show that I didn't say certain things. What the heck is a doughnut in the conversation for? OR.. You just misunderstood me. jw's don't believe what Jesus said about himself, pure and simple. Jesus said He is I Am, He also said "the Father and I are one" "If you seen Me you have seen the Father" Go and read John or to put the words with pictures watch the movie "The Book of John" It might help clarify the misunderstandings that the jw's have kept alive for the last few years. BTW, what part of the 144000 are you? are you a virgin of Jewish decent? If not what heaven do you get to go to, if so show us your geneolgy please. (Please no aryan lineage with neo-nazi beliefs of the aryan-true-Israel garbage.)
I don't believe that I have twisted your words at all, however I acknowledge that there maybe a difference in understanding between us because of different countries of origin. The 'doughnut' comment was to show you how unreasonable your comment was, but hey it was lost on you so leave it there. Jesus said "I go to the Father; for the Father is Greater than I" (John 14:28). He said, "I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." (John 20:17). A God is someone you worship I'm sure you will agree, can a worshipper be equal to the one worshipped? I firmly believe that I understand who Jesus was and is; he and His Father are as 'one' just as he wanted his followers to be as 'one' with himself and His Father. The whole basis of the Christian Congregation is based around being at 'one' with Jesus and His Father and at one with ones fellow worshippers - in unity of worship and purpose. I don't need to watch a film to learn about God or Christ Jesus, all that is needed to learn about them is to be found in the bible, Gods Holy Spirit adds the rest. I am not of the 144,000 spoken of in the book of Revelation and unlike them I have no aspirations of going to heaven to be with The Lord. As long as I remain faithful to God and Christ Jesus I hope to enjoy everlasting life here on earth. After all wasn't that Gods original purpose when he created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, nowhere was it mentioned that it was Gods intention to have them or their offspring suddenly be whisked off to heaven. Rather they were instructed to "fill the earth and subdue it" and to "have in subjection" the animals and birds. For the record, I have children and grandchildren, so I am not a virgin and I am certainly not a Jew, however that doesn't bother me either because as Paul said:- "But he is a Jew who is one on the inside, and [his] circumcision is that of the heart by spirit, and not by a written code. The praise of that one comes, not from men, but from God."
It just goes to show you do not take in any information. I gave you good and reliable information about the 144,000 and here you are thinking it is something else. I have asked this before, but hey, I'll ask again. If you believe you are all going to heaven, then what is to happen to the earth if you are all up there? I mean, the ones who are going to heaven will be kings and priests to co-rule with Jesus as it says in Revelation. Tell me this, who will they be "kings and priests" over if there is no one left on the earth? Col
Everything that is confronted only leads to another subject that has been twisted to a set view rather than that of reality. I won't go down these rabbit holes with you. Many of your beliefs are actually knew to me, so I would have to go research both your belief and relate it to the Word, which many have already done in the past. I am not a specialist in cults, I try to be a specialist in the truth (don't consider myself an expert, but boy there are some strange religions out there twisting the words of God to fit their agenda....) Sorry I don't fit in your mold of "organized religion" either, so you can bring up any denomination you want, many which I will agree with most of their beliefs, but if one is straying from God's Word, don't group me in with them. I think you would find a large majority of Christian churches in America to still uphold things like staying away from sexual immorality, which was grandpas earlier comments, but those who don't obviously have strayed and I would also speak against that.
Mate. That's good that you have this stance to uphold God's Word. I am trying to do the same. It all comes down to reasoning on the scriptures. There's no twisting of words here on my part or any other Witness's part. All any of us want to try and do is to show people what the Bible really teaches. There have been billions of people maligned by many people that twist the Bible's words to their own agenda. Close examination of Jehovah's Witnesses will reveal there is no agenda. There is nothing to hide. However, close examination does not mean just reading books and listening to others. I'll ask this. What will hurt you by visiting any one of our Kingdom Halls on a Sunday morning (or afternoon, depends on when the meeting is held in your area), sitting down for 45 minutes and just listening to a public discourse? You can bring your own Bible and read all cited scriptures for yourself. There is absolutely no obligation on your part to do anything. But, it's the only real way to find out. Don't listen to others about what they say. Go find out for yourself. There is no harm in doing this. At least then, you can answer up to anyone who says "this is what Jehovah's Witnesses say or do or whatever". You will know the truth of these things for yourself. This is only an invitation and nothing else. There's no catch, no tricks. Just a simple invite for you and anyone else that would like to sit down and find out for themselves. Col
Back to the original questions, I think I have seen 2 Christians, a couple Catholics, 2 Jehovah Witnesses (who wouldn't resist Hitler or Goliath), and a bunch of mockers.
I'm a Christian, but I don't go to church, not really a Republican, and I smoke pot lol. But that is True and I'm a Christian. But yes, I believe I am a True Christian, flaws, sins and all.
The Bible says not to even let teachers of false doctrine into your home, so I imagine it's not healthy to go to their place of worship. Anyone can easily look on the internet and see your statements of faith and that they include "There is no hell", and "Jesus isn't God", the two major ones that set you apart from Christians, although I think there are some Christians who believe there is no hell. If somebody goes to your Kingdom Halls, they'll probably be presented with the same type of emotional, non-scholarly arguments that I was presented with when I challenged you on some of your interpretations of scripture. Someone without a friend living up the stairs from them with a firm understanding of Koine Greek could be easily persuaded by these emotional arguments along with out of context references to verses or references to your own New World Translation bible, I would guess.
Good for you! You speak of Greek yet you do not know the meaning of "hell"! Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (1981, Vol. 2, p. 187) says: “HADES . . . It corresponds to ‘Sheol’ in the O.T. [Old Testament]. In the A.V. of the O.T. [Old Testament] and N.T. [New Testament], it has been unhappily rendered ‘Hell. Collier’s Encyclopedia (1986, Vol. 12, p. 28) says concerning “Hellâ€: “First it stands for the Hebrew Sheol of the Old Testament and the Greek Hades of the Septuagint and New Testament. Since Sheol in Old Testament times referred simply to the abode of the dead and suggested no moral distinctions, the word ‘hell,’ as understood today, is not a happy translation.†The Encyclopedia Americana (1956, Vol. XIV, p. 81) said: “Much confusion and misunderstanding has been caused through the early translators of the Bible persistently rendering the Hebrew Sheol and the Greek Hades and Gehenna by the word hell. The simple transliteration of these words by the translators of the revised editions of the Bible has not sufficed to appreciably clear up this confusion and misconception.†The terms "sheol" (Hebrew) and "Hades" (Greek) are often confusingly translated as "hell", and as the above states (not JW books!) this is clearly wrong. At Acts 2:27 Paul refers to David's words at Proverbs 16:10, where he speaks prophetically of Jesus and he says this according to the KJV:- "Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." So here we see the ridiculous scenario of Jesus going to hell! Do you really think God would send his faithfull, sinless Son to hell, (supposedly a place of fiery torment for the wicked!), after the act of giving his life for mankind? Of course not it is too ridiculous for words. The ESV translates Proverbs 16:10 as "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption" and Acts 2:27 as "For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption". Sheol and Hades are both the same - terms for the common grave of mankind, so rightly the NIV translates both occurrences as:- "because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." So do JW's believe and teach the God-dishonouring doctrine of hell and hellfire? Absolutley not! As for "Jesus isn't God", he isn't and I think we've already done that one. He is Gods Son, just as he himself claimed, he was sent by God, died as a sacrifice for mankind, was resurrected and presented the value of that sacrifice to God, who as said before he claimed was his God, not a third of himself or some mystic triune pagan image.
SolutionX is a hippy christian! OK, this is totally un-pc of me but this thread reminds me of a joke. What do you get when you mix an atheist with a jehovahs witness? A person that knocks on your door for nothing! HaHa
I don't know about Christianity but in Islam, It is compulsory upon every able Muslim to give 2.5% of his riches to charity every year.