Srecko Sostar

2 minutes ago, Anna said:

 

you are witty  

WT representatives were told many times that they would not change what is "proved by Bible" or what is "supported by Bible". And we all know how that was ended many times.

 One of this statement told by Gary Breaux  is;  GB WILL NEVER CHANGE TWO WITNESS RULE.

Would you, dear Anna, apply these Proverb also for Gary and his colleagues?  

2 hours ago, Gone Fishing said:

The repentant, murderous, adulterer, David, was still the anointed of Jehovah through his difficulties, and, despite his error, was still spoken of by Jehovah as having a complete heart. 1 Ki.11:4. As a result, he was not abandoned by Jehovah.

2 hours ago, Gone Fishing said:

This is just a generally stated, and basically irrelevant, opinion. 

I just dare to spin two off your quotations and put in these context above :)))

About David. He is interesting character for sure. And his servants also who was participated in all bad things David have done. Uriah and Bathsheba is famous example. Perhaps while talking about his servants who make things easier for David to took Bathsheba, we can talk about "COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY" AND "PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY". And in his last days he took young virgin girl to warming his bed. And his servants had important role in that arrange.

Put this events and main points of this illustrations to modern day David, servants and other characters inside WT JWorg, and start to mediate about also two sort of Responsibility - Personal and Collective in WT Society.     

12 hours ago, AllenSmith said:

Opposers, want the Watchtower to overstep its legal boundaries just to satisfy their own arrogance.

legal boundaries????

I thought that WT and elders are in BIBLE BOUNDARIES as FIRST TO OBEY, and then IF God give permission to "legal boundaries", because "We have to obey God more than men"   BIBLE is two-edged sword !  One edge is Secularly Legal and other edge is Godly Legal.

12 hours ago, AllenSmith said:

“Priests operating in areas involving children – such as in schools or medical institutions – may be covered by the legislative requirements of mandatory reporting, however it is unlikely that at this point all theoretical instances involving the confessional seal would be covered by the current legal requirements of mandatory reporting.”

PRIESTS?? 

Jehovah's  Witnesses have priests?? Since when? :)))))))))) JW org say to public little contrary - JW have no priests or clergy.

Why you using Catholic priesthood privileges according to Catholic Church canon law, doctrines and want to apply false Babylon the Great measures and instructions and doctrines to "only true JW religion"?       :))) funny and sad at same time!

12 hours ago, AllenSmith said:

Since the Watchtower is in the USA, then, certain international laws need to be considered as well.

heehe, WT of Australia is registered on Australian soil not US soil !

12 hours ago, AllenSmith said:

They’re suggesting, the Watchtower is hiding things

:)))) suggestion or not, if Court aka Secular government aka Gods Servant (look at Bible terminology) ask you, order you to give documents and you respond in manner; "No i have not that documents, but my neighbor (some other sister Company) have it, go to them and ask." - is not that plays calls  "ping-pong" or for observers like we are, disrespect? In fact this is WT lawyers theocratic warfare.  

13 hours ago, Gone Fishing said:

success in fulfilling his commission

Only "success" that WT accomplished is "advertise" Gods Kingdom and "publishing" publications on this subject. This are called quantity.

Quality   is another topic. If never ending changes of doctrines, instructions, interpretations some of us want to call as "success" - let it be.  

28 minutes ago, AllenSmith said:

when it was refusing to investigate its own,

I am glad that something like this came from another person's mouth, not mine.

GB refusing to investigate its own and put it to be publicly known. No matter of outcome. And to show that WT is not covered with corruption, hiding and minimizing inside problems, unlawful  and injustice  as it is in Australia secular government or in some other part of this secular World :))

15 minutes ago, Matthew9969 said:

What charity?

Try with these one in Australia :))) and continue with all around the world to make full circle.  

https://www.acnc.gov.au/RN52B75Q?ID=91956EB4-F967-4486-8D20-89B6E9A28BCC&noleft=1

 

14 hours ago, Noble Berean said:

 you are being personally downvoted for spreading the news

......what if downvoting is some kind of persecution...i wonder... while sleeping..... 

.....but then i waked up and smile :))))))))  everything is at it is  ...“There's nothing new under the sun.” 

10 hours ago, Noble Berean said:

because we act as representatives for them when we go out.

Hi Noble! About "representatives" as word, expression, lexem in official WT terminology. 

Representative for Watch Tower, Jehovah Witnesses congregation or any other legal entity can be only person who have WT appointed, officially setting to be in position to represent WT or some other entity in/for one particular job, work or for some duty inside company.

All other members, all baptised members, male or female are JUST MEMBERS and NOTHING MORE. You as member of your congregation are not in position to represent either your own congregation. You  and your bro and sis in congregation  have not legality to be representatives for congregation or for WTBTS or any entity of WT. Because WT Company policy only few can be representative for them.

Make peace with the fact that you are just, only member, not representative.   

P.S. if you like i can present you Court document where Legal Department said so before Court. So that must be the truth, i think ))))) 

 

5 hours ago, Anna said:

He does not have first-hand evidence.

Hi. I would like to make little digression. I spent hours and hours listening official video records from ARC in 2015. Here/There all viewer are been, and today also can be able, to hear and see (to hear and see, audio-visual is very important) "first-hand evidence" from all involved and called to present their testimony in front Commission and public as well.

Victims, elders, witnesses on this and that, GB member, all of them were in witness chair, and for us who followed program,  we been able to get impressions on what we saw and heard. Is my personal view after that, wrong or right, that is my problem. But words was been told and facts are here.

5 hours ago, Noble Berean said:

the organization needs to be 100% transparent right now about their child abuse policies

The same is also with Australian Royal Commission in 2015. No single word on JW broadcasting or publications. Because of the the fact that WT never mentioned nothing officially, for JW public - officially, for  members looks as nothing was happened at all. No pedophiles, no victims, no Court or Commissions investigations, decisions, out of Court settlements ...

JW members are trained to not believe nothing that come from secular source what have any connections about WT and JW Church. 

Cognitive dissonance is very strong and go to direction of full trust to WT leaders. Trust to men. Sad.

28 minutes ago, Anna said:

except Witnesses are constantly reminded to read their Bible.

Yes this is great. Truth is simple. But doctrines and instructions around the truth become problem. Because, they said, "We must explain you what is truth and how you need to understand this truth" :)))))))   

Catholic church in the past try to manipulate over people by not allowed or tried to disable reading of Bible. Because new age made things different than in past, new methods were introduced. Generating more and more materials, publishing plenty of books by all means. And today you can read own Bible, but there is plenty of interpretations about the meaning. Also you have problem with translations and modifications on some Bible texts, verse, lexical  problem and semantic meaning and even where must be point and comma. This and more of this are as some kind of tool how to direct people in particular direction and policy. 

8 minutes ago, Gone Fishing said:

Have they paid?

Hehe, good question. But if WT is Company who obey civil law and secular authority and Judge decision as they teaching members that they must doing too, then it is to be expected that they pays fine every day or periodically in agreement to Court protocols.       

Here is not question as in some Bible examples when King forbid you to pray to God, and you disobey. Here we have Bible principle as it stated in NT  "If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two." Mat 5

BUT you are very cleverly put this to topic. Because WT is private company, and management of Company will doing everything possible and impossible to keep the money in own pocket..  GB would not IMITATE Jesus command and example as in chapter 5. WT love money and they not want to pay voluntarily. Only under the pressure from more powerful force.  

3 hours ago, Nana Fofana said:

He was a loyal and faithful Jewish proselyte,

Ok Nana, but Jesus introduced worship that is quite different of those kind of worshiping he had  learned as proselyte. So what happened? Do you have some story about him? Did he continue with worshiping God as Jewish  proselyte  or as Christian? And where is Bible verse to support this or that possibility?    

3 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Check the definition of 'endorse.'

Dictionary com. = to approve, support

Thesaurus = verb support, authorize

Merriam Webster = to approve openly

and other Synonyms but with prefix NOT approve, NOT support ...

Yes Tom at first sight maybe reader get that impression as you are.  BUT look once again on that sentence; "Thus, "the faithful and discreet slave" does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight."

In polite manner GB say to members- NO! And perhaps i would not Paul's wording to Timothy described as you did. "O Timothy, guard ..." See, hear that vocal "O".... as fatherly advice, asking, please do guard...in sense of, "How you can't see that Thimothy ...I told you this last time when we meet..." Can you imagine what i try to say you Tom?    

 WT GB gave administrative rule is in study edition and by that gave INSTRUCTION, LESSON on level that can not be challenged, questionable. Nothing else member can do with this but feels fear if disobey.  And on that "playing game" GB put his "game card". On one side we have members who voluntarily giving Power to human, to men. And on side of GB they push that request of obligations and "voluntarily obedience" to them in the name of God.  

On June 23, 2016, San Diego, California, Superior Court Judge Richard Strauss grew tired of the Watchtower Society fighting his order to produce a 1997 letter sent to all elders worldwide, and decided to sanction the religion with a fine of $4000 per day until the Watchtower complied with that order. 

Today is  November 12 2017. Quick mathematical say that this Company payed almost $2 000 000 until today. Imagine how many ice creams children in JW congregations  would be able to enjoy after Sunday meetings in KH, with this fund. Imagine how many poor bro and sis in congregations worldwide would be helped and receive some comfort for daily life.

But as Bible say: Proverbs 22:2 -"The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both." 28:6 - "Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich."

Source: JW Victims.org

https://jwvictims.org/2017/10/18/news-update-watchtower-appeals-4000-per-day-fine-by-flipflopping-on-their-own-legal-argument/

https://questionsforjehovahswitnesses.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/d070723-marked-up.pdf 

For those who do not believe people like me, here is what you can find in WT publications  

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching ..." Watchtower 1981 Aug 15 p.29

"Under the guidance of his holy spirit and on the basis of his Word of truth, Jehovah provides what is needed so that all of God's people may be "fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought" and remain "stabilized in the faith." (1 Cor. 1:10; Col. 2:6, 7) Surely we are grateful for Jehovah's spiritual provisions in these last days. Thus, "the faithful and discreet slave" does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight." Kingdom Ministry Sep 2007 US Edition

3 hours ago, Gone Fishing said:

How do you know?

Answer: by reading Bible alone, without JWorg :)))))))

Ok that was for for little truthful fun. For serious now. Report not said anything else just what is readable from verse. I agree with possibility to make, build some story around that few sentences and after some time it is possible to come to existence some sort of legend, folklore, tradition, and some would use that for  manipulative reasons.

You have also Bible verse ;   6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,1 that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may ube puffed up in favor of one against another.   

So, dear Fisher, if you want you can go and "catch" more in the sea of various stories or generate own story about Filip and Ethiopian man. But that will be just possibility without firm and evident reality.  

18 minutes ago, Gone Fishing said:

unbracketed element of this statement.

I'll find, just "for your eyes only" Â as James Bond movie with same title.... good music too :)))

12 minutes ago, Gone Fishing said:

Enough for what? The Ethiopian eunuch

After one , two or more hours while they traveled and talking this guy get baptised and story ends. No more Bible studies, no meetings twice a week, even Filip not invite him to join Organization or congregation. No man's, human leadership for him, JUST "SPIRIT fallen on him" and Ethiopians happiness - verse 39.       

3 hours ago, Anna said:

I thought that scripture was self explanatory. Enlightened means spiritually aware

Then it is enough to read the Bible and pray to God for his spirit! Bible support that!

Well Anna, i agree. But WT not support your understanding as this process alone is sufficient. In some degree we all have need to communicate with each other because "enlightening" coming on different people in various times and various circumstances. And by mutual communication (by all means, not only verbal, talking) we building our understanding and maybe spirituality. I said maybe because spirituality (in all sort of meaning not only religious) are above collected informations on this or that Bible verse, events, message....

I can find few WT texts, and some of them, where GB said how private reading the Bible, reading alone,  without leads of WT scholars can bring people back to Babylon the great and pagans beliefs.

Is it possible that reading the Bible alone can cause such damage??, Word of God would bring you or me to pagans beliefs???  

That reminds me on accusations by WT about Catholic church who do not want that laity reading the Bible and for that reason Bible was in Latin, to prevent "misunderstanding" of simple, plain, non literal people if they would read Bible alone and by that would saw how Church acting opposite to God's word. 

Very similar reasons to WT.  

Does such GB claim is TRUTH?

3 hours ago, Witness said:

....Please, do not perceive the large print as “yelling”, but to help connect the importance of ChristÂ’s words....

Thanks Witness. Your fine understanding and patient to respond is appreciate.  

7 hours ago, tromboneck said:

And both of you are quite modest!

:)))) ohhh we just shared private informations between two of us Â ehhehe and accidently entertained, amused the viewers of this topic. But thanks  for reaction. It is possible to look on us in the way as you quote.

Maybe in some other circumstances (knowing  me in person) you would be came to conclusion that i am quite normal  modest.