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Why don't JW's accept invitations?

monti

Member
Jw's do not practice interfaith or share in worship with other religions. Their reason for avoiding places where other religions are practiced is obedience to the Bible's direction against mixing true worship with false.
What makes Christianity any truer than any other religion? How do you know your worship is not the false religion? Christianity has many strands from other religions running through it. The Lord’s Prayer, for instance, where do you believe that came from?
 
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Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
Jesus was Jew, period. I don't believe he had any intention of starting a new religion called christianity, so the likely hood of him attending any other church or temple or mosque, seem to me, highly unlikely.

Jesus was certainly a Jew. However none of those that follow him are today. So clearly there is a distinction between Jesus the Jew and Jesus the Son of God.
What he taught and how he acted shows that such a distinction existed.
He did not gather his disciples to teach them what they already knew.

JW's do not teach Jews or Judaism.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
I agree that the Holy spirit is the active power of God.


However all beings have power of one sort and another. Why do we, in the case of God, Give that power a separate name as if it was another entity?

well, it was men who did that, not God. the idea of an individual 'holy spirit' wasnt heard of until the 4th century. And if you look at the writings of the early church up until that time, you'll see that none of them spoke of the holy spirit as a person.

And if we look throughout the entire bible, the power of God is not expressed as an individual or separate entity to God but as God himself performing his will.

Here are some examples of how holy spirit is described in the bible:

Psalm 33:6  By the word of Jehovah the heavens were made, And by the spirit of his mouth everything in them

Micah 3:8 As for me, I am filled with power by the spirit of Jehovah,

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, For you are my God.
Your spirit is good; May it lead me on level ground


2Sam 23;2 The spirit of Jehovah spoke through me; His word was on my tongue

Notice here how the holy spirit and Jehovah are one and the same:
Mark 12:36 By the holy spirit, David himself said, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet.”’

Isaiah 61:61 The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me,
Because Jehovah anointed me to declare good news to the meek


Isaiah 42:1 Look! My servant, whom I support! My chosen one, whom I have approved! I have put my spirit in him; He will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 59:19  From the sunset they will fear the name of Jehovah And from the sunrise his glory, For he will come in like a rushing river, Which the spirit of Jehovah drives along.


You may notice in all these verses, the 'spirit' and 'Jehovah' are one and the same. The spirit comes from Jehovah, and it works in the way Jehovah directs it. Its not independent of Jehovah, but it is accompanied by Jehovah and sent out by him.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
What makes Christianity any truer than any other religion? How do you know your worship is not the false religion? Christianity has many strands from other religions running through it. The Lord’s Prayer, for instance, where do you believe that came from?

Jesus Christ.
 

monti

Member
What makes Christianity any truer than any other religion? How do you know your worship is not the false religion? Christianity has many strands from other religions running through it. The Lord’s Prayer, for instance, where do you believe that came from?

Jesus Christ.

Which part are you answering, this first or second or third?
 

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
Which was what exactly?

We learn that from reading and understanding the Gospels, and to some extent from the writings of Paul and from the acts of the apostles.
we learn about Judaism from the law and the old testament.
What Jesus taught bridged the two.
 

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
well, it was men who did that, not God. the idea of an individual 'holy spirit' wasnt heard of until the 4th century. And if you look at the writings of the early church up until that time, you'll see that none of them spoke of the holy spirit as a person.

And if we look throughout the entire bible, the power of God is not expressed as an individual or separate entity to God but as God himself performing his will.

Here are some examples of how holy spirit is described in the bible:

Psalm 33:6  By the word of Jehovah the heavens were made, And by the spirit of his mouth everything in them

Micah 3:8 As for me, I am filled with power by the spirit of Jehovah,

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, For you are my God.
Your spirit is good; May it lead me on level ground


2Sam 23;2 The spirit of Jehovah spoke through me; His word was on my tongue

Notice here how the holy spirit and Jehovah are one and the same:
Mark 12:36 By the holy spirit, David himself said, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet.”’

Isaiah 61:61 The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me,
Because Jehovah anointed me to declare good news to the meek


Isaiah 42:1 Look! My servant, whom I support! My chosen one, whom I have approved! I have put my spirit in him; He will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 59:19  From the sunset they will fear the name of Jehovah And from the sunrise his glory, For he will come in like a rushing river, Which the spirit of Jehovah drives along.


You may notice in all these verses, the 'spirit' and 'Jehovah' are one and the same. The spirit comes from Jehovah, and it works in the way Jehovah directs it. Its not independent of Jehovah, but it is accompanied by Jehovah and sent out by him.

Interestingly in the Didache for the mid first century preparation of gentile converts it says...
7:1
(And) concerning baptism, baptize thus:
Having said all these things beforehand,................meaning the instructions that went before
immerse in the name of the Father
and (the)Son
and (the) holy Spirit.

Which implies that the Holy Spirit was seen as a separate entity during the life time of the apostles.

They were not yet Trinitarians as the concept had not been invented. but it seems like only a short step away.
 

oldbadger

Skanky Old Mongrel!
I've had a lot of Jehovah Whiteness coming to my door. They often invite our family as Muslims to their kingdom hall. It has been my experience as well as experience of others that when as Muslims we invite JW's, they always respond in the negative. Why is this so?
How can JW's extend a hand of friendship when they refuse to visit Mosques?

How often do you go to Kingdom Halls?
A few times a year, or less?

I accept their invites about once every two years.
How about you?
 
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oldbadger

Skanky Old Mongrel!
What makes Christianity any truer than any other religion?
Hi..... I know this was sent to Pegg, but I thought I would answer anyway.

I don't know what makes JW Christianity and truer. OK?

Question:- How often do you go to Kingdom Halls?
 

JayJayDee

Avid JW Bible Student
How often do you go to Kingdom Halls?
A few times a year, or less?

I accept their invites about once every two years.
How about you?

Have you received your invitation to the Memorial yet OB? :)

It's on the 14th April this year. Hope you can join us.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Did he teach christianity or Judaism? There were no christians at the time of Jesus.

What he taught were things that Judaism didnt yet know.

He explained that the Kingdom of God would be 'heavenly'...Judaism only teaches that it is earthly and located in the city of Jersualem. The was true for a time...the earthly Jerusalem represented Gods heavenly rulership. But Christ explained that the Kingdom of God will rule from heaven.

Micah 4:7  I will make the one who was limping a remnant,
And the one far removed a mighty nation;
And Jehovah will rule as king over them in Mount Zion, From now on and forever.


John 18:36 Jesus answered: “My Kingdom is no part of this world. If my Kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from this source.”



He also taught something new in that only 144,000 would join him as co-rulers in that heavenly kingdom. Judaism taught that 'all' jews would be among the 'kings and priests, a holy nation'

Speaking to All Isrealites, Moses wrote:
Exodus 19:6 You will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

However, Christ taught that only a small number from among them would rule with him in the heavenly kingdom:
Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness,” “the firstborn from the dead,” and “the Ruler of the kings of the earth.”
To him who loves us and who set us free from our sins by means of his own blood— 6 and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father

Rev 7:4  And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:


He worshiped the same God and he promoted the same standards of morality but he expanded on how the kingdom of God would work and where it would be located.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
What makes Christianity any truer than any other religion? How do you know your worship is not the false religion? Christianity has many strands from other religions running through it. The Lord’s Prayer, for instance, where do you believe that came from?



Which part are you answering, this first or second or third?

The Almight Creator is only one. His name is Jehovah/Yahweh/YHWH. So there can be only one right way to worship him and Jesus was sent to teach that way and that way came to be called Christianity.

Jesus proved he was from God. No other man has given the necessary proofs that Jesus provided, nor has any other prophet been raised to heavenly life. Jesus appeared after his resurrection....this in itself was enough proof for some that he was most certainly sent by God. Besides that fact that he fulfilled scores of prophecies and his own prophecies came true, we are seeing evidence of his heavenly rulership right now. He said that during the last days his disciples would be preaching the kingdom message throughout all the earth....that is being fulfilled today so we know that Christ is ruling.

The message he started is being preached throughout the world into all languages.... he's propelling that work along and guiding it just as he said he would do "You will be witnesses of me to the most distant part of the earth and Look, I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things"
 
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Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Interestingly in the Didache for the mid first century preparation of gentile converts it says...
7:1
(And) concerning baptism, baptize thus:
Having said all these things beforehand,................meaning the instructions that went before
immerse in the name of the Father
and (the)Son
and (the) holy Spirit.

Which implies that the Holy Spirit was seen as a separate entity during the life time of the apostles.

They were not yet Trinitarians as the concept had not been invented. but it seems like only a short step away.

thats not necessarily true that they thought of the holy spirit as a separate entity. For example, today we might say that something was done 'in the name of free speech' or in the name of 'freedom'

Free speech is not an entity, but it does represent something. And likewise, being baptised in the 'name of the holy spirit' could imply that we uphold the qualities and ideals that the holy spirit represents.

The disciples were being anointed, or baptised, with holy spirit...so you would think that they would want to represent that spirit through their words and deeds.
Paul lists the fruitages of Gods holy spirit at Galatians 5:22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control.
Perhaps being baptised in the name of holy spirit means a person should reflect these ideals.
 

Jensen

Active Member
Would you (JW) attend a synagogue being that Judaism believes in the same God?

And also, all funeral and wedding ceremonies that I've been to, usually, have a service also that you would be sitting through. Don't they?

Being that you gave this verse to support that Jehovah would rule from heaven....

"And Jehovah will rule as king over them in Mount Zion"

Is Mount Zion then to be understood as the same as heaven? being that you said that God and the 144,000 will be ruling from heaven?

You say that Jesus is now ruling from heaven ,that there is proof of this, yet don't you also teach that Satan is the ruler of the world now. Please explain. Thanks.

Jensen
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Would you (JW) attend a synagogue being that Judaism believes in the same God? And also, all funeral and wedding ceremonies that I've been to, usually, have a service also that you would be sitting through. Don't they?

Hi Jensen,

Would we attend a synagogue? It would depend on the purpose of the visit. We might go to attend a wedding ceremony or a funeral of a friend or family, but we wouldnt go for general religious services.
In the case of a service being held at a wedding or funeral, each JW would decide for themselves if they wanted to sit through the service or not.... some might, others may prefer to wait for the service to end. Its an individual matter. There are no hard and fast rules.


Being that you gave this verse to support that Jehovah would rule from heaven....
"And Jehovah will rule as king over them in Mount Zion"

Is Mount Zion then to be understood as the same as heaven? being that you said that God and the 144,000 will be ruling from heaven?

Yes. The christians certainly saw it that way.
Historically, Mount Zion was where the earthly throne of God was situated. The kings of Isreal were said to sit 'on Gods throne' (1Chron 28:5 & 29:23) which was located in Jerusalem, which is located geographically on Mount Zion.

So Mount Zion is the place which represented Gods authority and rulership, not mans. Most of the hebrew scriptures speak of the literal earthly MZ, but we find the christians looking heavenward to what that earthly zion represented, Gods rulership. Why? Because Jesus told them that 'the Kingdom of God was near'...God was going to take over rulership of the earth just as was spoken through the prophet Daniel 2:44 "“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever
" This was the teaching of Jesus... Gods kingdom is coming! Gods rulership by his own power...not by any earthly power.
EG,
Hebrews 12:22 But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels 23 in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect, 24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.


You say that Jesus is now ruling from heaven ,that there is proof of this, yet don't you also teach that Satan is the ruler of the world now. Please explain. Thanks.

Jensen

Yes thats correct. Jesus began to rule when the gentile times ended. But what he has been doing througout the past 100 years is teaching people... he foretold that, before the end of satan and the wicked system, he would be leading a world wide preaching work. During that time, there would be distressing conditions for earths inhabitants with wars, pestilences, food shortages and earthquakes.... but through all this, Jesus would be teaching people by means of a world wide preaching work that would be headed by his disciples:

Matt 24:3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion of the system of things?” 4 In answer Jesus said to them: ... 7 “For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be food shortages and earthquakes in one place after another. 8 All these things are a beginning of pangs of distress. ...12 and because of the increasing of lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold. 13 But the one who has endured to the end will be saved. 14 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.

Matt 28:19  Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

So the fact that Satan is still here and wickedness is still prevalent does not change our view that Jesus is now ruling in heaven as the king of Gods kingdom. He was very clear that a lot of bad things would be happening during his 'presence' and would continue until he brought the system to its final end.

We believe that since 1914, the world has gone into a steady decline because we are living in the last days...2Timothy 3:1-5 calls the last days "critical times hard to deal with"

This is all the more proof that Jesus is ruling in heaven right now...and soon, mankind will experience relief from the many woes its currently experiencing.
 
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savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I am sorry. A message seems to be coming through that I might be off topic. (Is it Jesus?) I can be on topic.

Jehovah's Witnesses are all taught that to be for the presence of The Lord Jesus is to be for the Jehovah's Witnesses. If they will frequent another place of worship they will be proving disloyal to not only Jesus but to The Father YHVH (Jehovah).
 

kjw47

Well-Known Member
I am sorry. A message seems to be coming through that I might be off topic. (Is it Jesus?) I can be on topic.

Jehovah's Witnesses are all taught that to be for the presence of The Lord Jesus is to be for the Jehovah's Witnesses. If they will frequent another place of worship they will be proving disloyal to not only Jesus but to The Father YHVH (Jehovah).



Because satan owns and operates every false religion on earth. For the purpose of getting worship.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Because satan owns and operates every false religion on earth. For the purpose of getting worship.

hi kjw,

you might want to remind her she's in a DIR and isnt supposed to be debating here. Of course she can start her own thread in the debate section if she wants.


:)
 
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