Hello Iforrest, I don’t think you and I have interacted personally before, so I welcome the opportunity to dialogue with you....
In recent years, the Internet has provided the means to distribute much of our literature digitally, so that literal printing has been scaled back, though many still prefer hard copy. All of our beliefs and publications are provided through our website, JW.ORG for those who want to see for themselves who we are first hand, rather than second hand from our opposers. As you may recall, Jesus had many opposers as well and warned his disciples that they too would receive the same treatment as he did. (John 15:18-21; Matthew 5:11-12)
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not “the Watchtower”. We use the watchtower as our logo because of how these were employed in ancient times. The guards would stand on duty in watch periods, 24 hours a day and the safety of all the city’s inhabitants was their responsibility. If they saw something approaching that was in the distance and unrecognisable, they would sound a warning of something approaching. The city was put on alert until identification was made, and if it was a threat of some enemy approaching, the men in the city were prepared to defend it. If it was a false alarm, and what was seen was not threatening, the men of the city stood down and all went back to business as usual.
I am sure you would find it enlightening to discuss some of what you consider to be ‘controversial’ and certainly ‘unique’ to us as Christians. We are not part of Christendom, having withdrawn from what became “orthodox” Christianity over a century ago...just before the period called “the time of the end” in Daniel’s prophesy began. (Daniel 12:4, 9-10)
We are Bible students first and foremost, having formed our doctrines from scripture alone. All of our meetings are for Bible instruction, study, and training for the work that Jesus assigned all of his disciples to do.....to ’preach the good news of the Kingdom of God’ and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 24:14)
This is a work that Jesus personally assigned and that he said he would back by means of God’s spirit. It’s one of the “unique” things about us....we do what Jesus commanded, because people’s lives are at stake. If they don’t hear the message, how will they know what the Kingdom of God is....and what it will accomplish? So what is the Kingdom of God?
I ask this question frequently because I usually find that Christendom’s members, no matter what denomination they adhere to, do not have a clear understanding about what God’s Kingdom is, and therefore have no way to preach it, or to understand how it “comes” or what it will do for mankind. The coming of God’s Kingdom was the theme of Jesus’ entire ministry. But Christendom’s focus appears to be elsewhere.
If you would like to examine what we teach using scripture alone, I would be happy to discuss what we believe and why it is often considered “unique and controversial” by those who have been taught otherwise. I was raised in Christendom, so I already know your side of this story, but since most of those who see us as a “cult” really have no real knowledge about who we are or what we teach, I believe we can dispel the myths that circulate about us if people are not bigoted or closed minded. We are different it’s true...but then, so was Jesus among the people of his own religion.....and we know what the Orthodox ‘believers’ did to him.
Why do you believe that “two or three witnesses” to a matter was necessary for anything to be established according to God’s word? And who were these witnesses?
If you would like to start a thread to discuss these things without animosity, just FYI, I would be happy to do so.
We all claim to be Christians, so wouldn’t it be beneficial to see who lives up to the true definition of what that means? We might all learn something...?
I will respectfully await your reply.....
Would you like to discuss what you refer to as “the unique and controversial doctrines of the watchtower” since “The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society” is just that....a Bible Society used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to print Bibles and Bible literature for worldwide distribution. It is a legal entity, required by law to operate such a large facility with such wide distribution of its literature.Many cults are started by false prophets speaking unilaterally from a lying spirit. By two or three witnesses a matter is established. For example if an Angel visits a prophet, and there is no verification of what he says in the word, or his prophecies fail. You should ignore that Angel.
So I wonder what two or three witnesses are there for the unique and controversial doctrines of the watchtower.
In recent years, the Internet has provided the means to distribute much of our literature digitally, so that literal printing has been scaled back, though many still prefer hard copy. All of our beliefs and publications are provided through our website, JW.ORG for those who want to see for themselves who we are first hand, rather than second hand from our opposers. As you may recall, Jesus had many opposers as well and warned his disciples that they too would receive the same treatment as he did. (John 15:18-21; Matthew 5:11-12)
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not “the Watchtower”. We use the watchtower as our logo because of how these were employed in ancient times. The guards would stand on duty in watch periods, 24 hours a day and the safety of all the city’s inhabitants was their responsibility. If they saw something approaching that was in the distance and unrecognisable, they would sound a warning of something approaching. The city was put on alert until identification was made, and if it was a threat of some enemy approaching, the men in the city were prepared to defend it. If it was a false alarm, and what was seen was not threatening, the men of the city stood down and all went back to business as usual.
I am sure you would find it enlightening to discuss some of what you consider to be ‘controversial’ and certainly ‘unique’ to us as Christians. We are not part of Christendom, having withdrawn from what became “orthodox” Christianity over a century ago...just before the period called “the time of the end” in Daniel’s prophesy began. (Daniel 12:4, 9-10)
We are Bible students first and foremost, having formed our doctrines from scripture alone. All of our meetings are for Bible instruction, study, and training for the work that Jesus assigned all of his disciples to do.....to ’preach the good news of the Kingdom of God’ and make disciples. (Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 24:14)
This is a work that Jesus personally assigned and that he said he would back by means of God’s spirit. It’s one of the “unique” things about us....we do what Jesus commanded, because people’s lives are at stake. If they don’t hear the message, how will they know what the Kingdom of God is....and what it will accomplish? So what is the Kingdom of God?
I ask this question frequently because I usually find that Christendom’s members, no matter what denomination they adhere to, do not have a clear understanding about what God’s Kingdom is, and therefore have no way to preach it, or to understand how it “comes” or what it will do for mankind. The coming of God’s Kingdom was the theme of Jesus’ entire ministry. But Christendom’s focus appears to be elsewhere.
If you would like to examine what we teach using scripture alone, I would be happy to discuss what we believe and why it is often considered “unique and controversial” by those who have been taught otherwise. I was raised in Christendom, so I already know your side of this story, but since most of those who see us as a “cult” really have no real knowledge about who we are or what we teach, I believe we can dispel the myths that circulate about us if people are not bigoted or closed minded. We are different it’s true...but then, so was Jesus among the people of his own religion.....and we know what the Orthodox ‘believers’ did to him.
Why do you believe that “two or three witnesses” to a matter was necessary for anything to be established according to God’s word? And who were these witnesses?
If you would like to start a thread to discuss these things without animosity, just FYI, I would be happy to do so.
We all claim to be Christians, so wouldn’t it be beneficial to see who lives up to the true definition of what that means? We might all learn something...?
I will respectfully await your reply.....
Last edited: