I’m not envious about some chosen to go to heaven. But I (personally) don’t understand some within the church elevated to chosen. his word to me says to take the lower seat. I don’t understand how they have already decided to take the higher seat.
Firstly, I want to thank you for your honest and humble response and I am so sorry to hear that you have MS.
My family have Huntington’s Disease as an awful inheritance. I lost my husband 9 years ago to this disease and my son also has it, and will succumb to it as his father did. It’s a slow and debilitating death. There is no cure and little in the way of treatments that don’t involve drugs with awful side effects. But our faith keeps us going as I am sure your friend Misty would have mentioned the resurrection hope.…of seeing our lost loved ones again when Jesus calls them from their graves. (John 5:28-29)
I am sad that you lost contact with Misty. But on another site I used to post on, there was a sister named Misty….I wonder if it could be the same person?
I don’t go door to door but to me I witness to others by being thankful unto God towards others. By demonstrating the mercy and patience and long suffering and love He has shown me …towards others.
You know, we always say that the best witness requires no words…..actions speak louder.
1 Peter 3:1-2…
”In the same way, you wives, be in subjection to your husbands, so that if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, 2 because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect.”
Going “door to door” is what Jesus told us to do and how the apostles preached Christ‘s message of salvation. (Matthew 10:11-14; Acts 20:20) Our message is life saving, so when emergency services personnel are told to warn the public of an approaching disaster, they don’t rely on TV or radio or the internet to do that job…..they go “door to door” so they don’t miss anyone. A disaster of monumental proportions is about to strike this earth (Matt 24:21) and no one can stop it. We have to warn people and tell them about the hope of the kingdom.
you may assume people in churches don’t witness the gospel to others if they don’t go door to door…but you can’t be sure they are not “Jehovah God Witnesses” in daily life and interactions. For example those that stand in the crowd at the fair and hand out tracks about grace, love, mercy and truth but they are screaming in rage “homosexual will burn in Hell!” …point is you can hand out tracks and yet not preach the gospel of grace.
I agree, but I have the Bible to tell me how God feels about that….firstly Paul’s words to his fellow Christians are very clear….
1 Cor 1:10….
”Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.”
Does that describe the fractured churches of Christendom? God’s spirit unifies his people so that there is no room for disputes, disagreements or dissension. The congregation is a place of peace and unity where love grows. (John 13:35)
Is it perfect? NO! We are all imperfect sinners but with God’s help we try to imitate Christ in his concern for others….it’s what motivates us to go out in the preaching work, knowing that we will not be received kindly (sometimes angrily) by the majority of people we encounter, but they know who we are, and why we call. It’s their decision to listen…or not, for whatever reason. (John 15:18-21) But even if one person listens, it was worth whatever we had to face to find them, and tell them the “good news”…..can I ask what you believe the “good news of the Kingdom” is? (Matt 24:14) Most people have no idea.
I’ve never been to a JW hall. But I’m skeptical that there is not gossiping going on, same as in other churches. (I’m just being honest)
I’m sure you will be able to see a vast difference between the churches and the brothers and sisters at the Kingdom Hall. Misty will most likely be there. We call on people in our own local area. Why not give it a try? What have you got to lose….you will know if you feel “at home” and welcome there.
One big stand out for me is reverting back to Jesus ruling from His Throne with some chosen as men (are there any women?) to rule with Him in the Heavenly …He is Spirit. And those who serve Him, serve in Spirit? Whatever that body appears like but I don’t think it’s gender and so literal. That is a warning flag for me. Because I don’t think (Imo) His body given to that seed which is Christ has the same Body subject to decay but instead He put off death.
Yes, many of those anointed for life in heaven are women. Once given their spirit bodies in order to receive their inheritance, there will be no gender (which only pertains to earthly creatures for reproduction).
It is not
their choice to go to heaven, but God’s choosing of them for that specific role. His spirit “bears witness” to them so that they don’t just “think” or “believe” that they are chosen….they “know” that they are, and are fully aware of what that role is. (Rev 20:6) They will receive a “first resurrection” to spirit life by being “born again”…..leaving their bodies of flesh behind, and being given an appropriate spirit body in order to dwell in the spirit realm. Being “born again” means a complete rebirth in a new body, whereas being resurrected by Jesus after the kingdom is established on earth will be a return to this life in a new physical body. Since there is no immortal soul, the dead “sleep” peacefully in their graves, and will awaken just as Lazarus did. (John 11:11-14; Eccl 9:5, 10)
Personally, I have a weird opinion on God created a New Heaven and Earth. I would not be surprised if it is no longer the Heavenly and the Earth but instead made into ONE. . . . . made One and tempered; joined; fitted together. Then who’s going to be chosen to rule becomes to me not really something of concern.
You are not far from the truth there….it was always God’s intention to have one family of ’children’….some who will dwell with him in the heavenly realm, and some to live a wonderful life in the material realm….a beautiful paradise…..each created to enjoy the life that they are given. It was always God’s intention to have those who dwell in heaven and on earth united as one family in his worship.
When Adam sinned, he separated us from God so that we were alienated due to no fault on our part (Rom 5:12)…..so God determined to fix that problem with a long term solution rather than a short term one. The long term solution was to hand the human race over to the “god“ whom they had chosen to obey, in order for them to see that obeying their Creator is always a wise thing to do. The devil is a fraud, and he is a good con artist….deception is how he operates. (2 Cor 4:3-4)
By obeying satan, the first humans became his slaves and so did all their children……but God provided a ransom for Adam’s children in the sacrifice of his own son, so that he could redeem them out of that slavery and re-establish his rightful kingship over them. He did not demand obedience, but asked his free willed children to offer it willingly, knowing that he always had their best interests at heart. This required genuine love and trust which must be earned if it is to be given willingly.
Only those who truly love God and trust him in all their ways will inherit the prize of everlasting life, (Prov 3:5-6) whether in heaven or on earth.
I know. Some weird opinions I have. But just letting you know it is weird to me some in JW taking the higher seats. I don’t want to be next to them when He possibly tells them to move down lower.
They do not
take the higher seats, but are
given them by God himself…..and there is no personal glory on earth for those who receive that “heavenly calling”. They are not treated any differently to any other brother or sister, and are usually humble enough never to even refer to their status…….they are just part of the congregation.…part of Jehovah’s universal family.
