Reader Poll - Would you be a Christian if there was no afterlife?

[Berean]

He is not pointing out errors, he is referring to refinements in understanding as time progresses. (Prov 4:18)

How many "refinements can you have? Can they come up with? How many different interpretations can they come up with for one verse? If it was "refined" as you claim, then it was wrong, and if it was wrong, guess what? then it was ERROR!!!

This is what God has always done with his people….he revealed things over time…..what Paul called “the sacred mystery” (my·steʹri·on) is a mystery no longer. This is something that originates with God, is withheld until his own time, and is revealed only to those to whom he chooses to make it known.

How about a verse ... where is this sacred mystery spoken of by Paul?

The devil is a counterfeiter….and he has deluged the world with false religion, (catering to every spiritual appetite) knowing that we are created to be spiritually minded, with an intense need to be fed spiritually……and to worship……so if satan provides “food” that tastes good, but is spiritual poison, then it is gulped down with no recognition that it is death dealing.

I agree, Satan doesn't change his tactics, he uses them over and over again. When the Apostles fell asleep, wicked men came in, and he warned the brethren that "even now there are many antichrists." And when Pastor Russell fell asleep the same thng happened, eveil men came in and corrupted the Society he founded, and he also warned the brethren just before he did to be on the watch. As Zechariah stated, "smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." (13:7)

Our Governing Body has never claimed authoritative revelation from God….they are shepherds, not dictators. They are spirit anointed brothers in the faith, appointed to “take the lead” as God has always done with his people. If we accept them as such, we are told to obey them. (Heb 13:17)

BWAWAWAWAWAWAWA ... I can fill this forum with quotes from their pen to the contrary.

No one has said you must obey them…..we do because we accept them as our leaders.

Oh, so you can openly disagree with them? Is that new light?

Do you have such shepherds in your denomination? Are you even a member of a denomination?
Who determines what you believe? You? Is that how Christianity was to operate?

Yes, they call that Holy Spirit, something you're leaders say you really don't have, because if you did, you would be "anointed."

The Bible must be our measuring rod…..it is what I have studied carefully like a Beroean for decades.
Every single teaching is something I have carefully compared with the Bible’s overall narrative and not once have I been shaken by a clarification or adjustment in our understanding. It follows the pattern revealed in the Bible among God’s people.
If I was ever to discover that they taught errors, then I would not have stayed with them for over 50 years.

So 50 years ago, what you studied, you proved to be the Truth, but then it was changed by your leaders. I thought you proved to yourself what you had was the Truth? So now it wasn't? So it was error, right? And now you must believe the refinement. But being the "Beroean" that you are, you studied it out with Bible in hand and proved it once again, "this is the truth of the matter", only for your leaders to re-refine it a few years later .. and guess what Jane? It's error, you can call what you want, refinement, new light, old light, if it's changed, and no longer believed ... it's ERROR!!!

I hope you understand that every denomination that follows a single human leader is a cult.

How ironic, I guess that doesn't apply to you, because you don't follow A leader, you follow LEADERS, a governing body.

LOL…..Where on earth would I go?

um ... JESUS?

 

[Berean]

Who has ever heard of you? Why have I never encountered a member of your brotherhood in person?

Are we not speaking now? Is knocking on doors the only way to reach people? I've lived in this house 10 years, Witnesses have never knocked on my door. Maybe we haven't reached out to you because you declined the invitation to follow Jesus. You see, that's how I found Him, I asked and prayed, and He revealed Himself to me. And when I learned what He wanted from me, I counted the cost and told him, "I'll go with you." You've already decided you don't want to go with Him, you want to stay here, and that's fine. But the preaching work is about finding the last members of the Body of Christ, not about gathering a second-class of Christians. And for the record, we have congregations in Perth; Ringwood Victoria; Rosanna, Victoria; Wentworthville NSW; Blackburn, South Victoria; Curra Queensland; New South Wales; Gold Coast; Melbourne. We also have foreign language groups. There's even a Polish group in Melbourne.

In your opinion….that is all you have. But instead of doing as Jesus asked, you never miss an opportunity to tells us what we are doing wrong….what about you correct your own brotherhood?

There you go again, it's all about the preach work, right? Tell me what correction does my brotherhood need? Knocking on doors? Throwing ourselves at the feet of your governing body?

Are you serious?….what you hold as the complete meal, was just the appetizer….you‘ve missed the main course and the dessert will be enjoyed by those who didn’t stop eating.

Seems to me you guys are gluttons, since you eat any and everything given to you by your leaders. Before you even have time to digest it, they have to give you a laxative, to make room for the refinements. That's not meat, that's spiritual junk food. It doesn't even whet your appetite. But I guess pigs to a trough can't complain.

LOL…I guess we will all find out when the judge does his job…..or is it yours?

Well, if I'm faithful, it will be His, but I'll assist Him if He finds me worthy.

 

[Aunty Jane]

You just believe whatever you wish…..we’ll see who Jesus accepts as his own….that is not for you or me to determine.
I have nothing more to say to you…..