Sorry for my lack of posting

I have not been able to post because of school and work. The good news is I will be done in 2 years with school. Expect more on Christmas break whick starts tomorow. Check out my videos on youtube until then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwAtqYUbAyo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-q2mFZmR5I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgggW7OPvrU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THAoJRf2mCg

Generalized Assumptions

The JW's teach that they are the only people who are in God's favor and only they will be saved at Armageddon. They teach that pastors and preachers are corrupt getting rich from preaching. They also point out how some pastors or preachers commit horrible acts and so all of them are evil. They lump all of Christians into a category called Christendom while pointing out all of the bad things done by Christendom. Then they claim that JW's are not like that. It's a convincing argument to get people to join them but there are a few flaws with this reasoning.

This is a logical fallacy known as stereotyping. You take something that is true for part of a group of people and say it is true for the entire group. It is true that there is corruption in Christianity with televangelists and some preachers getting rich, driving fancy cars. And it is true that some have committed horrible crimes. However, there are several preachers who are not getting rich and who are concerned only with teaching biblical truth, and who have not committed horrible crimes. Corruption of part of the group is not corruption of the entire group.

There is a second fallacy that is implied. They imply that since "Christendom" has greed & crimes committed in it while JW's don't (supposedly), then the JW's are the only true religion. This is an irrelevant assumption. The two aspects have no relation to each other. Many of the JW's teachings are not biblical (as I have pointed out in previous posts). I grew up in the JW religion and then left and became christian. I found out that Christianity is not this big bad evil religion that the JW's make it out to be. There are bad Christians and preachers, but there are far more good ones. All it proves is as Jesus said, Narrow is the path to salvation and few find it.

Taking a Moment

I have to take a brief break from preaching to give credit where credit is due. I wish to thank God for the inspiration to create this blog. Without the Holy Spirit, I would not have been able to do any of this. Do not squander the gifts of the Spirit. Use them to their full potential.

Cross or Upright Pole?

I will not spend too much time on such a trivial issue. If you want to find out which is historically accurate, research it for yourselves. One site I found interesting was http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/92381/1/The-facts-on-crucifixion-stauros-and-the-torture-stake but there are other sources showing that the cross, adopted from previous cultures as the Romans often did, is historically accurate. The important thing to remember is that Christ died for our sins. It doesn't matter what he died on.

However, a second point JW's bring up is that wearing the object Jesus died is disrespectful to God. This shows a gross misunderstanding on their part. Displaying the cross in a church or wearing one doesn't mean you are being disrespectful to God. It is a sign of respect for what Jesus went through. It is worn or displayed to remember the horrific death that Christ died so we may be forgiven. His death is bittersweet because it was terrible that he had to go through it but it shows God's love for us. He wanted us to have the hope of salvation.

So proudly wear your cross. It sends a wonderful message. It says, I know what he went through, and I am grateful to be loved so much.

As always, I welcome all and any comments.

A Polytheistic Bible

Some of you may be familiar with the John 1:1, which in most bibles is proof that Jesus is Emmanuel or "God with us". It reads "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God." The JW's bible reads "In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god." Reads almost the same except their version reads, "the word was a god" instead of "the word was God". Their bible is saying that the Word is a second god, and a lesser one since they use a lower case.

If you continue reading verse 2-3 in their bible, "This one was in [the] beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence." These first three scriptures are referring to the Word, this other god according to their bible. So, according to the JW bible, all things came into existence through this lesser god and nothing came into existence apart from him.

Now who is the Word referring to? Let's go to verse 14, again from the JWs bible, "14 So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of undeserved kindness and truth." The Word refers to Jesus, just as it does in Christian bible. So according to their bible, Jehovah is God, Jesus is a lesser god, and all things came into existence through Jesus.

The problem here is this is goes against scripture. In Isaiah 43:1o it says "You are my witnesses' says the Lord, "And my servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after me." In the JWs bible, " “YOU are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that YOU may know and have faith in me, and that YOU may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none."

In Isaiah 44:8 it says, "Do not fear, nor be afraid, have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are my witnesses. Is there a god besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock: I know not one." In the JW's Bible, " Do not be in dread, YOU people, and do not become stupefied. Have I not from that time on caused you individually to hear and told [it] out? And YOU are my witnesses. Does there exist a God besides me? No, there is no Rock. I have recognized none."

Frome these verses, we have not only proven Mormonism to be wrong, we have shown a major flaw in the JW's Bible. The book of John, written by the apostle John (all of them Jewish), would be familiar with this and would not have written a verse calling Jesus a god, implying that he is a god seperate from God. However, it does fit with the traditional Christian bible and belief of The Word, and God, being one and all things coming into existence through Him."

I welcome any and all comments, even from JW's.Publish Post

Is Partaking in Communion Wrong?

Some churches have communion every week, some once a month, and JW's do it once a year on the first day of the Jewish Passover. But the main difference is that JW's are not allowed to partake unless they are part of the "Anointed Class", or the holier JW's chosen to go to heaven. Everyone else just passes the bread and wine but doesn't partake. Is this what Jesus had in mind? Is everyone else doing it wrong?

There are two arguments here. First is, how often should we observe this? It is actually meaningless to debate it because Jesus did not specify how often or when, just that we should keep doing this. Jesus' and his followers were Jewish so they chose the Passover before he was arrested. Jesus knew he would be betrayed and arrested. As long as you keep doing it in remembrance of Him, the frequency isn't a big issue. (I personally feel that more than once a year is a good idea)

The bigger question is if we partake or not. Jesus did this with the ones closest to him. Luke 22:19-20 "And He took bread, gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise he also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." Does that mean only a select few get to partake?

Lets look at a few of these people. First is Doubting Thomas, or Thomas as he is referred to in the Bible. Thomas, like the other apostles, was told that Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day. In fact if you go through the gospels to His death and resurrection, the Roman soldiers were afraid his followers may try stealing away the body because of to make it seem like he was resurrected. To prevent this they sealed the large stone in front of the tomb so the body would be safe. Now when Jesus was risen and word spread of it, Thomas refused to believe it. John 20:24-29 "Now Thomas, called the twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples Therefore said to him 'We Have seen the lord.' So he said to them 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." It wasn't until Jesus was before him that he believed.

Now lets look at Peter. Mark 14:30 "Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." This was fulfilled later in verse 66-72. I will let you look it up yourselves. If you don't have a bible, buy one. It is a good investment.

Finally lets look at the infamous Judas. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him but Judas was allowed to partake of the bread and wine at the last supper. Luke 22: 3-6 where Satan entered Judas and He went to the chief priests to set up the betrayal. Verse 19-20 where they partook of the bread and wine. Verse 21-23 where where Jesus reveals that He knows one of the twelve will betray him. This was, admittedly, the worst of the three

Not that these twelve were not special, they were his closest followers, but they were imperfect sinful people like us. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This is evident in the actions of the apostles.

Another verse, Jesus talks to the Jews, John 6:53-56 "Then Jesus said to them,'Most assuredly I say to you, unless you eat of the flesh of the Son Of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him." Now Jesus was speaking figuratively but you can see he set the groundwork before the last supper for us to continue this tradition. And he was talking to the Jews, not just the twelve.

Now since the arrival, death, and resurrection put gentiles and Jews under grace and connected to god through Jesus, we should all partake in communion so Jesus may abide in us and us in him. The apostles were to go out and make disciples of Jesus after He left so they were the obvious choice to partake in the first communion. Le us keep doing it in remembrance of Him.

I hope these posts open your eyes if you are looking to join the JW's or just defending your faith. I hope if you are a JW reading this, you will take a good hart look at the practices of your religion. I welcome any and all comments or questions

Who's Athority

For anyone looking to join the JW's, there is more you should know. The main difference between religions is what they consider to be the source of their beliefs. For example, most Christian faiths consider the Bible to be only source of what they believe. For Catholics, it is the bible, and the Vatican, which I do not agree with. For JW's, it is version of the Bible, and the Watchtower and Tract Society led by the Governing Body or Faithful and Discreet Slave. They believe their organization is guided by the angels and that anything handed down through the Watchtower Society is as much God's word as the Bible.

Here is the problem the Watchtower Society is made up of sinful people just like you and me. God's word is the Bible, that's it. That should be the source of what we believe and only the Bible. A society of people with power over what people believe is going to be corrupt. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely Do you really need a society to tell you what to believe. The bible is there for us to read and find what is true. When literacy was less common, it was necessary for the ones who could to read the bible for them. Today, almost everyone can read so we do not need a group of people to say "Here's what you believe" especially if they kick you out for questioning the beliefs. And when in doubt, remember Jesus' words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Not through the Governing Body of the JW's

Remember, the Bible alone is the source of our beliefs. Anything else is man's word. I hope anyone wanting to join the witness religion reads this and sees the truth. I welcome any comments even from JW's

Baptism and Disfellowshipping

I grew up in a religion with bizarre misled practices called Jehovah's Witnesses. Fortunately I left and began a search for God on my own. I found god and with him, peace of mind that what I did was the right thing. Now I am here to warn all who want to join the witnesses of some of their beliefs and practices that go against the bible. The first their baptisms. Baptism is in the bible and it is a great thing to do to show that you born again as a follower of Christ. The only requirement is that you repent of your sins. Witnesses however put strict requirements on baptism. First you must study Watchtower literature for a certain period of time. Then you are quizzed by a group of elders and if you pass you have earned the right to be baptized.

In Matthew 3:5-6 "Then Jerusalem, all Judea and all the region around the Jordan went out to him(John the Baptist) and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins." Later in Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus says "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Then if you look at Acts 8 36-38 "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said 'See here is water. What hinters me from being baptized?' Then Phillip said 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God' So He commanded the chariot to stand still. And Phillip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him"

So why is it that JW's feel the need to make people study their Watchtower publications, answer questions, and then let you get baptized when the bible says that all that is required is confessing your sins. And notice how they require you to study Watchtower publications created by their organization. Then a group of elders has to find you to be ready to be baptized. None of this is found in scripture.

The next practice is the act of disfellowshipping JW's who have disobeyed their rules or question their beliefs. If a fellow JW catches you, they are to report you to the elders. First is a shepherding call where they talk to you. Then a judicial hearing is held if this continues. the result of this hearing is usually disfellowshipping which does a few things. First you are not a JW anymore so you have no hope of salvation until you become a JW again. Next, any other JW's are forbidden from talking to you and associating with you.

In Luke 15:4-7 Jesus says "What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does he not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

They may use 1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person." and this seems pretty convincing. It is true, salvation comes through faith and belief, and true faith and belief is shown bu repentance and living for Christ. And it is a good idea to have nothing to do with Immoral People. But lets look at Mark 2:16. 17 "And the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, 'How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?' When Jesus heard it, He said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but the sinners to repent"

I know that was quite a bit of scripture for some of you but I want to be thorough. This scripture seems to say that is one of us falls, we should help bring him back to the "flock" And while we want to repent from sinful ways and not have anything to do with immoral people, we want to not cut ourselfs off from the people who need to come to Christ. Why don't JW's follow this. They alienate themselves from one who has fallen rather than help bring them back. They may claim it is so they are not led astray but I believe that if they talked to former JW's, they may realize that they have been blind.

I hope this causes you to think before joining the JW's. If you are a JW, I hope this cause you think about your religious organization and their practices. This is just the beginning of my blogs and I encourage all serious comments, even from JW's