Body of God

[mee]

[quote=path_of_one;135128]and calling one another idiots in the name of spreading the Good News.

quote]
i think you will find that i did not call anyone an idiot ,

[path_of_one]

[quote=mee;135218]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

and calling one another idiots in the name of spreading the Good News.

quote]
i think you will find that i did not call anyone an idiot ,

You know what I mean. Let's not play the semantics game. You said that certain beliefs were "idiotic," and these are beliefs held in common by many Christians. Whether you agree with them or not does not justify rudeness in calling others' beliefs (about the trinity, hell, etc.) idiotic. I happen to disagree with a belief in a literal hell as well, but I would not tell someone who believed in it that the belief is idiotic because 1) I'm not rude and 2) that belief may be necessary in some way for their faith at this time. (How should I know?) I can state my opinion about what I see as the truth without name-calling.

I don't think "idiotic" or "idiot" should be in the vocabulary of Christians in describing other Christians or their beliefs. It's just rude.

[path_of_one]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

It's more of a; been there, done that.... Kinda "thing" you know?

When I used to have time and be at home a lot as a student, I hosted JWs and Mormons all the time. I found out I can out-last them. I just keep coming up with questions, and explaining my own beliefs and interpretations, and they find out they don't have answers and go out for reinforcements. Then they come back. And I give more questions, discussion. I pull out six or seven translations of the Bible and compare passages side by side. They find out they don't have answers for me and go out for more reinforcements. Eventually I get to some elder that doesn't have answers and then they avoid me for the duration of my stay in that neighborhood. I'm friendly about it, but I'm open about my skepticism and beliefs. If they want to come by and chat periodically, OK. I like chatting about religion.

Now, unfortunately, I just don't have the time. I work all week and I'm too busy on the weekend to give a few hours to them. Fortunately, so far they leave in a hurry once they hear my two large dogs going nuts inside. I just pop out on the porch for a minute, listen to their Bible verse, tell them no thanks to the magazines because I love trees, thanks for sharing and I love Jesus too, and out the gate they go.

They never have the strength of will, apparently, to approach my husband who apparently looks scary to them with his tattoos and black hair. LOL He's a really nice guy, but it's fine they don't approach him because he has no interest and scant patience, so he's more of the "No thank you" and shut the door type of person.

I've never tried it, but I have noticed the Mormons tend to ask if they can do anything for you. I suppose you could ask them to mow the lawn, or do the dishes, or wash the windows. That would probably be a good deterrent for subsequent trips.

[mee]

LOL its a good job that JW dont react everytime people say anything in opposition to them .


thats because they are to busy getting the GOODNEWS preached

And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come. matthew 24;14


and they know they have the truth .

[mee]

[quote=path_of_one;135222][quote=mee;135218]



Second, you said that certain beliefs were "idiotic," and these are beliefs held in common by many Christians. quote]


true christianity would not include manmade doctrines

[path_of_one]

Originally Posted by mee

and they know they have the truth .

Well, isn't that just peachy for them. Oddly enough, tons of other people from a wide variety of religions insist that THEY have the truth. Everyone is just so sure that they have figured it out.

Since none of them seem to have any better argument to support their claims to sole ownership of The True Nature of God and the Universe and The One Way to God, and all of them are equally zealous... the rest of us kick back and figure that zealousness and certainty of some is not sufficient reason for us to pick any of them.

I know CHRIST is the truth and the way. And no one mediates between me and Him. If I am looking always toward Jesus as my teacher, my guide, and my Lord... churches of any sort and their ideology is irrelevent. Christ is my savior, not my church. I believe Christ saves, and so I do not need to spread any particular doctrine. All I have to spread is Christ's example, words, and love. The rest is inconsequential.

[mee]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

When I used to have time and be at home a lot as a student, I hosted JWs and Mormons all the time. I found out I can out-last them. I just keep coming up with questions, and explaining my own beliefs and interpretations, and they find out they don't have answers and go out for reinforcements. Then they come back. And I give more questions, discussion. I pull out six or seven translations of the Bible and compare passages side by side. They find out they don't have answers for me and go out for more reinforcements. Eventually I get to some elder that doesn't have answers and then they avoid me for the duration of my stay in that neighborhood. I'm friendly about it, but I'm open about my skepticism and beliefs. If they want to come by and chat periodically, OK. I like chatting about religion.

Now, unfortunately, I just don't have the time. I work all week and I'm too busy on the weekend to give a few hours to them. Fortunately, so far they leave in a hurry once they hear my two large dogs going nuts inside. I just pop out on the porch for a minute, listen to their Bible verse, tell them no thanks to the magazines because I love trees, thanks for sharing and I love Jesus too, and out the gate they go.

They never have the strength of will, apparently, to approach my husband who apparently looks scary to them with his tattoos and black hair. LOL He's a really nice guy, but it's fine they don't approach him because he has no interest and scant patience, so he's more of the "No thank you" and shut the door type of person.

I've never tried it, but I have noticed the Mormons tend to ask if they can do anything for you. I suppose you could ask them to mow the lawn, or do the dishes, or wash the windows. That would probably be a good deterrent for subsequent trips.

if you are happy in your beliefs , they would rather go find people who do respond to the Goodnews . because its not about out witting and getting the better over people, its just about giving out GOODNEWS how people respond to that goodnews is up to you . so they are now moving on to others , people like me did respond to the goodnews and in turn i am making it known .

[mee]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

Well, isn't that just peachy for them. Oddly enough, tons of other people from a wide variety of religions insist that THEY have the truth. Everyone is just so sure that they have figured it out.

Since none of them seem to have any better argument to support their claims to sole ownership of The True Nature of God and the Universe and The One Way to God, and all of them are equally zealous... the rest of us kick back and figure that zealousness and certainty of some is not sufficient reason for us to pick any of them.

I know CHRIST is the truth and the way. And no one mediates between me and Him. If I am looking always toward Jesus as my teacher, my guide, and my Lord... churches of any sort and their ideology is irrelevent. Christ is my savior, not my church. I believe Christ saves, and so I do not need to spread any particular doctrine. All I have to spread is Christ's example, words, and love. The rest is inconsequential.

matthew 24;45-47

[path_of_one]

[quote=mee;135226][quote=path_of_one;135222]

Originally Posted by mee

Second, you said that certain beliefs were "idiotic," and these are beliefs held in common by many Christians. quote]


true christianity would not include manmade doctrines

First,
Who are you to define what "true Christianity" is? Who appointed you Decider of Who and What Is in the Fold?

Second,
Perhaps you should take your own statement to heart and take a good long look at your own religion. EVERY church has beliefs and they are all humanity's attempt to understand the Bible and the spiritual experience.

A Christianity without any manmade doctrines/beliefs would be a Christianity without pastors, without sermons, without discussion. Each person would just read their Bible and interpret it as best they could and there would be no need for group study. The reason we have the group effort is that the Bible was not written like a computer instruction manual or a chemistry textbook. There is a lot that needs to be interpreted and experienced to be understood, and so it isn't surprising that people try to help one another and share their thoughts on it. The JWs have one of these interpretations. The Catholics have one. All denominations have one, and in fact, most solitary practitioners and non-churchgoers still form their interpretations.

It is what humans do. We read something that is complex, and we try to apply it to our lives and that means we interpret it.

No one has a Christianity devoid of doctrine/belief, unless they don't bother to believe in anything at all, outside of following Christ's example.

The JWs have a TON of doctrines/beliefs. I know, because they've sat in my living room before and we've had long discussions about them.

I suppose you think the JWs got their beliefs/doctrines straight from God, but I say... yeah, you say that and about a dozen other groups that have told me the same thing. How can you show that you're any different than these other groups that say they have The Way. I prefer to know when and how each doctrine came about, so I can reflect on the Bible and compare the two, and decide for myself if it is an appropriate belief or not. I don't do well with someone telling me they have the answer, and on closer questioning, they don't and they don't even know where their beliefs came from.

[path_of_one]

Originally Posted by mee

if you are happy in your beliefs , they would rather go find people who do respond to the Goodnews . because its not about out witting and getting the better over people, its just about giving out GOODNEWS how people respond to that goodnews is up to you . so they are now moving on to others , people like me did respond to the goodnews and in turn i am making it known .

If that were true, they would leave right away when I told them I am happy with my church and my relationship with Christ. But they don't. They stay and try to convince me that their church is better than my church.

If they wish to do this, then I have questions. I'm not going to just leave my church and beliefs because they say to do that. I'm going to ask the questions I have and see if they can answer them.

It isn't about out-witting them, it is about whether or not they can answer the questions I have, and how they justify their position that I am not a "real" Christian or a "true" Christian until I go to their church.

I should hope anyone would have questions before they join any church.

My whole point is that it is not about being better than other people! If I go and knock on someone's door and say "Do you know Christ?" And they say, "Yes, I love Him very much and He is my Lord and Savior." Then why would I stay and try to convince them to leave their church, which obviously has some role to play in their faith in our mutual savior, and go to mine? Why, indeed, unless I thought my church was somehow better than theirs and they were not "really" a Christian until they agreed with every minute detail of my own beliefs, and went to my own church?

Indeed, I do not think any Christian is better than another... and that is my point.

[path_of_one]

Originally Posted by mee

matthew 24;45-47

Can you make an effective argument as to why this verse can only be translated to mean that the "servant/slave" in question is the JW church?

How can I know that the metaphor did not refer to another church?

Or to the Body of Christ in general, all Christians who are faithfully following him?

Or to a single individual?

Does the Bible say, outright, that the JWs are the faithful servant? Or is that your "manmade doctrine" based on this verse?

Or were you quoting the verse with another intent in mind?

[greymare]

sik him rex. lol

[path_of_one]

LOL. Eh, I'm in the mood for debate today.

[mee]

[quote=path_of_one;135232][quote=mee;135226]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

I prefer to know when and how each doctrine came about, so I can reflect on the Bible and compare the two, and decide for myself if it is an appropriate belief or not.

yes, thats the way to do it , is it inline with bible teaching . thats what i do .

[mee]

Originally Posted by path_of_one

Can you make an effective argument as to why this verse can only be translated to mean that the "servant/slave" in question is the JW church?

How can I know that the metaphor did not refer to another church?

Or to the Body of Christ in general, all Christians who are faithfully following him?

Or to a single individual?

Does the Bible say, outright, that the JWs are the faithful servant? Or is that your "manmade doctrine" based on this verse?

Or were you quoting the verse with another intent in mind?

if we are looking to the bible it seems that Jesus would be feeding and giving all his belongings to a servant or slave . to say that there is not a faithful class or channel would be dissmissing what the bible says . and as you mentioned ,many say that they are the faithful ones ,but the fact of the matter is when it comes to christendom they have taken on manmade doctrines such as the trinity ,hellfire ect ect . when Jesus came into kingdom power in 1914(inline with bible prophecy and chronology )what did he find ,did he find a class of people who were faithful to true bible teachings ,yes he did and i can see that it was JW , and i can also see that Jesus certainly is feeding them GOOD bible based spiritual food ,and he has also given them great responsibility , and i can also see that there is great opposition in the world to the channel Jesus is using.

when i look at other ones who claim to be the right channel ,i can quite plainly see that they are not inline with the bible .


yes i have found the channel that Jesus is directing and it is very good .


and for me i am going to help that channel get the goodnews done .


helping christs brothers is the thing to do , because then i will not be a rebellious goat i will be a sheep who is WILLING to follow Jesus channel.


humility works wonders