The truth IS balck and white. There are no maybe's. A fact is not undermined by someone else's supposition. You can create doubt (one of satan's favorite tricks) but you can't change a truth. It isn't a matter of disagreeing with JW's...its a matter of disagreeing with scripture.
I agree!
Who do you trust to interpret it?....Christendom?
Honestly, I don't trust anyone but the Lord to interpret it for me. And I know that might sound hard to believe but I don't even trust myself totally. I ask Him to teach me all of the time and He has taught me many things that I have never heard spoken about by other people. But I know that they're true because He has fulfilled them in my personal life according to His Word in the Scriptures. If I can give you an example... the deaf and dumb spirit referred to in my signature, has plagued me and my family since I was a little child. This is deeply personal to me so please tread carefully when talking about it. It's too raw for me to tell you how it came about that I identified the deaf and dumb spirit specifically but when I first read those verses in Mark I cried my eyes out coz it was like reading my own life's story. Note that it was the only unclean spirit mentioned in Scripture that the Apostles couldn't cast out, despite being able to cast out all the others. Reading this for the first time helped me to find it in my heart to forgive all those who had also failed to cast it out of me, coz many who were known to have this same gift failed with me too. Jesus was the only one able to, and I am thankful to be able to say that He did. That's why denying Him, for me, is a particularly sensitive subject, because He literally saved me. And not only once!
Anyway, because of my life's struggles, I have noticed my ear (or should I say heart) is especially tuned to the Scriptures that speak of demonic and satanic oppression. Because my life has literally depended on knowing how to keep myself safe from such attacks and not giving them any opportunity to get access to me. And I have found that staying as close to Jesus as is humanly possible, learning to walk in the Spirit according to His written word has been the ONLY way I've been able to escape with my life. And like I said it has been more than once. It has sometimes meant living a very lonely existence when no one else in my life has been able to fathom why living a "normal" life has always been a struggle for me.
We all have to find the "faithful slave" and feed at his table. (Matthew 24:45)
I know that you believe this speaks of the JWs but tell me this Deeje, can you honestly say that the JWs would have been able to equip me with the Scriptural knowledge to overcome this unclean spirit that not even the chosen Apostles of Jesus were equipped to deal with? I can understand if you're immediate reaction is to say "Yes!" but as you mentioned in your previous post the proof is certainly in the pudding and I just didn't find it in the JWs. I found it solely in Scripture! It might also be important to point out that I just took a closer look at Matthew 24:45 and the word which has been translated as HOUSEHOLD is actually HEALING or some derivative of that word. The GREEK word is THERAPIEA which is where we get our English word THERAPY from.
I think this in itself proves that the faithful slave refers to individuals whom the Lord finds worthy to do the works that He did while on earth, just as He testifies in other Scriptures as well:
""Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." John 14:12
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:15-18
"Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." Acts 5:15-16
"for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come." 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
"and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Its nice that you have a good humanitarian streak...it shows a good heart. But can you tell me where Jesus ever advocated charity for those who will not (as opposed to cannot) help themselves?
I totally understand what you're describing here and have felt taken advantage of by people many times, but I also know what it is like to be viewed as a person who will not help themselves. It's pretty isolating to say the least. A lot can be going on for those people that we know nothing about so I always try to keep my door open to all in need, even if it means being taken advantage of sometimes. And more often than not I have seen these same people come to faith in the Lord Jesus shortly after. Not from anything I've done or said coz in almost all cases I have always felt I fell far short of being a good witness for the Lord.
I particularly love the parable of the "good Samaritan". It must have galled the Pharisees because the hero of the story was a hated Samaritan and the villains were self righteous Jews. Our neighbor is anyone who needs our assistance on an individual basis, not someone we need to set up a dedicated charity for.
Yes, I would have to agree.
But if you fellowship with those who are in Babylon the great, then you have not removed yourself from her.
This might be the time to explain to you why I visited the Uniting Church in the first place. It happened one night unexpectedly, that a photo of a church in my local area flashed in my mind as these words from Scripture came to me simultaneously:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
My immediate response was to say, "I am willing Lord, if you want me to."
So I went along the following Sunday, choosing not to assume why I was being called there. Anyway, long story short, for the most part I found the services quite beautiful but they're was one specific day that happened, that I have wondered ever since was the true reason why the Lord drew me there. And that was to forgive, to forgive all the Christians who I felt had failed me in the past, on my pursuit of healing, peace and reconciliation with God. This very private moment occurred in the bathroom of the Church, when I cried out to the Lord and said, "I forgive Lord, I forgive!"
Little did I know at the time that 2 services later would be the last time I visited that Church. Nearly every week since then I have asked the Lord, do you want me to go back there? Coz I am willing if you want me to! And each week, things have happened to make it almost impossible for me to go. Despite this I have remained ready and willing, to go where ever the Lord calls me. He has done it many times before, and I know He can and will do it again. I trust Him with my whole heart!