Srecko Sostar

You know, the book of Isaiah made a "joke" about God's people in the past, who preached their own doctrine and rules.  The GB freely add footnotes to God's Word and call it, "spiritual food", which most definitively can be proven through scripture as found outside of the "food" taught by Christ and the apostles. Do you remember how Jesus addressed the addition of rules outside of God's laws, and enforced by the Pharisees? Matt 23 goes in to detail about this.  Go ahead, read it.
To God, a lie cannot be changed to a truth.  It is a "joke" to believe every failed prediction and doctrine taught by the GB/organization, is acceptable to God.  
 
And these also stagger because of wine
    and stagger because of strong drink;
priest and prophet stagger because of strong drink;
    they are confused because of wine.
They stagger because of strong drink;
    they err in vision.
They stagger in the rendering of a decision,
8     for all the tables are full of disgusting vomit, with no place left.
9 To whom will he teach knowledge,
    and to whom will he explain the message?
Those who are weaned from milk,
    those taken from the breast?
10 For it is blah-blah upon blah-blah,
    blah-blah upon blah-blah,
gah-gah upon gah-gah,
    gah-gah upon gah-gah,[h]
a little here, a little there.
[h] - In this context, the Hebrew expressions tsaw-tsaw and qaw-qaw are likely meant to sound like baby talk, but they could mean “command upon command” and “rule upon rule”
For he will speak with stammering lips and another tongue to this people, 12 to whom he has said,
“This is rest; give rest to the weary;
    and this is repose”; yet they were not willing to hear. (Matt 11:28)
13 And to them the word of Yahweh will be
blah-blah upon blah-blah
    blah-blah upon blah-blah
gah-gah upon gah-gah
    gah-gah upon gah-gah,
a little here, a little there,
so that they may go and stumble backward
    and be broken and ensnared and captured."  
Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, men of mockery,
    rulers of these people in Jerusalem:
15 Because you have said,
“We have made a covenant with death,
    and we have made an agreement with Sheol.
The overwhelming flood, when it passes through, will not come to us,
for we have made lies our refuge,
and we have hidden ourselves in falsehood.”  Isa 28:7-15  (the entire chapter is well worth considering)
 

 
 

I agree, Arauna.  Peer pressure is everywhere and in every form.
 
The GB manipulates JWs to obey them "to do their bidding", using threats of losing God's friendship otherwise.  Can you see this?  
Were they inspired when they wrote the above quote?  We know they weren't, since they admit they are not "inspired" by God's Holy Spirit. So then, what was their motivation to threaten their "sheep" with the loss of God's favor for not obeying the GB?  JWs "show" their obedience to the organization through adherence to rules and regulations devised by these men.  These are rules and regulations to support the life of an organization, not the life of an individual.
Jesus and the apostles are our foundation of truth to go by.  The GB are not apostles, nor Moses, and they are not inspired; yet they have successfully gained 8 million followers who believe that without their leadership, no one can be God's friend.  How did the anointed and believers in Christ before the organization was born, develop a relationship with God AND Jesus Christ, without the GB to OBEY?  
This is deceitful manipulation of the worst kind.  It is a fabrication, a myth, and one that robs individuals of spiritual eternal life. John 10:1
"I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, 2 preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction. 3 For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, because they have an insatiable curiosity ("itching ears"), 4 and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths. 5 But you, be self-controlled in all things, bear hardship patiently, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."  2 Tim 4:1-5
It is not "sound teaching" but pure manipulation to enforce obedience to men who fail time and time again in their teachings - their doctrines.  Failed predictions, false teachings are rotten fruit.  How much of if will JWs consume before feeling its manipulative effects?  Isa 28:7-13; Matt 7:15-20; Gal 1;6-10
 
 
 
 
 
 

FLEXIBILITY vs OBEY
:)))

FLEXIBILITY vs OBEY
:)))

About twenty percent of the time.  Eighty percent of the time, the results of JW  peer pressure are brutal. 
Would you call the statement below, nudging in the safer direction?  Or, is it a tyrannical threat?  
"But we are acting against Jehovah’s purpose if we do not obey the faithful and discreet slave or if we choose to obey only what we think is important. And if we act against Jehovah’s purpose, we cannot be his friends. In the next article, we will talk about some situations that give us the opportunity to show if we are obedient. The decisions we make in these situations will show if we have entered into God’s rest."  WT 11/7/15 p. 21
Are your peers keeping tab on whether you are 'showing' that you are obedient to the GB?   Are elders your peers, or are they the tyrants that must decide if God is still your friend?
 "It (false prophet) was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast (organization) could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." Rev 13:15
"give breath" - spirit breathed - "spirit directed"
 
 
 
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/search?q=Elder+bloodguilt
 
 
 
 

I think that main problem all religion have, and JW too, is in this: People who lead a religion invoke God’s authority for every word they utter in front of people. GB is among the same class. When GB stops claiming that both, correct and false doctrines and instructions came from God, then they may be closer to God and  "truth".

Many religious organizations are high profile, like Mormonism, the Catholic Church and Islam. Blood, sweat, even tears over the centuries created some stunningly beautiful buildings.  JWs pride themselves on their own building feats, as if God has blessed their hand, when history shows greater works in the name of religion have been built. All it takes is slave labor and money.  
I know I’ve referred to John 4 so many times, and Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well.  She pointed to the mountain in Samaria where her temple stood; Jesus mentioned the temple in Jerusalem.  These were literal places which he remarked would no longer be used for worship. No mountain would be necessary to worship God.    But man continued building “mountains" to worship God.  They named them, “God’s house”or " God's temple".  How many houses of God or temples stand in various religions today?  Which one does God really reside in?  Which one would He choose?  Such works are futile attempts for over 2,000 years. They all have left a legacy of lies, while promising salvation, and the WT organization is following in their footprints.
“Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”
7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”
8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.”  Luke 21:5-8
 
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.”  Phil 3:18,19
 
 
 

Yes, i also see this as problem. No religious organization, in this case a Christian, can provide complete and accurate knowledge and explanations of biblical events or of Jesus. When a believer realizes that his or her affiliation with a particular church does not provide “salvation,” it should help him or her build a “spiritual” rather than a “literal” faith.
In fact, WTJWorg also argues that baptism alone (baptism as a JW member) does not ensure the survival of Armageddon or the resurrection. Therefore, WTJWorg is a source of contradiction, not only in this topic; salvation is possible only in a JW organization, but also in many other doctrines.
Once more. All changes in the teachings and interpretations of the biblical text, as well as interpretations of dogmas in the teachings of the JW organization, then "clarifications" and "new light", can in no way be a guarantee to JW believers that their "salvation" is possible only in this "organization".
Reassure yourself that "my organization" has the highest number of correct teachings than any other organization, it can not be guarantee for "salvation". Did Jesus say anywhere that one's affiliation with a particular church would be crucial in separating "sheep from goats" in Judgement Day?.

Me too. Can somebody explain why?

I've been getting similar. Mine says the website didn't renew its license or something like that, so it's not secure...

Quote @Anna Very often this has nothing to do with any actual "truth" or "facts" but everything to do with that person's attitude and desire to do what they want.
Do you live in a cave ? Do you not know about the EARTHWIDE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE in the CCJW ? 
Do you not know that the GB refuse to apologise to the victims of CSA ?  Do you not know that the GB / Lawyers refuse to cooperate with the USA Superior Authorities  ? The GB refuse to hand over that 23 year Database of PAEDOPHILES IN THE USA part of the CCJW. 
And you say it has nothing to do with TRUTH. In fact the GB have nothing to do with TRUTH. 
Then you have the GB spouting about the 'Final part of the Final day, of the Final Days' BUT the Org did all that in the 1960's Watchtower. And the 'Stay Alive till 75'.
Yes the internet makes all this TRUTH available to everyone. So, people that are looking to serve God properly will turn away from the CCJW / Watchtower. Sensible people will keep their eyes on the Org to see when or if God through Christ will clean out the disgusting things in the Org, or if God through Christ will set up a new Org. What true Christian people want to do is serve God properly, hence they leave the CCJW.   Others, that use the Org as a social club, are too frightened to leave, because they will lose all of their 'friends' 

I know what it means also.  I was raised a Catholic, and while the Watchtower has clamped down with a heavy hand about  disfellowshipping and shunning, the Catholic religion has relaxed its view on excommunication.  
Think how you view me, an apostate, and someone who rejects the organization.  I do not reject God and Christ, but my label "apostasy" is viewed as the worst of the worst of the apostate labels one could receive.  Any JW in my area cannot make eye contact with me, since I am evil....and apparently full of hate.  
I'll borrow a quote from the article I posted, replacing "Watchtower" where needed:
"This means that you are looked upon with the blackest contempt by the "Watchtower", being cursed and damned with the devil and his angels".  Actually, there is a JW on here who has alluded to similar words about myself. 
Just as Gockentin said about the organization, "there is just no other way to succeed",      this would mean everyone on the outside of the organization, is cursed and damned with the devil and his angels.
Another quote:
"This is Cannon law which the "Watchtower hierarchy" seeks to enforce on the pretext that it is God's Law"
So you see, the comparison is not "oranges to mars", but oranges to oranges. 
 
 
  

It seems, sounds good ... from your perspective. And it is reflection of your "faith" and "trust" in God and GB. I can't and don't want join you in such evaluation of GB work. I want to believe in human sincerity and from that point i am ready to believe how many JW people also not purposely oppose God's will. Nevertheless, their or mine "beliefs" does not nullify reality how people, generally, oppose God's will, purposely or unintentionally. Result of both "motives" is/are ........ bad  consequences. With that consequences are; years or decades of wrong, err doctrines, teachings, directives, deeds, words and emotions. And all that is, religiously said, false worship. Well, purposely or not, false worship IS false worship. And WT printed tons of magazines, books and public talks about it, not showing any "mercy" to those other who not worshiping God in "proper" aka JW way of worship. WT publication criticized and judged not only other religion's doctrines but also behavior of their's members.
When WT Management  in past or today, aka GB+Helpers, speaking how this or that doctrine and interpretation and instruction is "God's thought" or "Jesus's thought" or "biblically grounded" and after they denied it and replaced with "new divine thoughts", what is that? Opposing God? Opposing sound mind? Fooling God? Opposing XY, etc? 
Dr Furuli will need to live with their own past and with their own future. And find something to stay "alive".
Thanks for respond and thoughts.  
 

This is partially correct, but not for all who left JW church. In videos from ex-JW i heard some of them complaining how they were not been able to celebrate Christmas or birthdays. I don’t go into the theological justification of their demands, but I don’t think it’s something that should be crucial to leaving or staying in the organization.
There are so many other “details, bigger and smaller that should decide someone’s departure. Many things have been discussed at this Forum and, you will agree with me, they go far beyond, outweigh the issue of celebrating birthdays. It is possible that in some people there may be some individual trigger to change the state of feelings about the organization. But that moment when that happens is just a continuation of a process that has been in that individual’s subconscious and consciousness for a long/longer time. It doesn’t happen “overnight”, that decision is not impulsive. 
I observed the children of one mother in the former congregation. Teenagers. As they grew older and reached adulthood, their attitude toward belonging to the JW changed. The eldest sister left JW immediately after coming of age. The younger sisters soon after one by one also left the organization. I guess, I'm actually sure, that they didn't have problems with purely theological dilemmas or what the leadership of the organization was like, but with personal freedoms and pressures from mothers and elders (they were forbidden to associate with their father who was excluded many years ago and I think it was trigger for their decisions).
This example, about issue of (MUST) shunning own dfd father was too much for them. And their reaction was completely  natural and normal. WT JWorg and lawyer in video presented showed double face, showed hypocrisy. And want to look good in front of "secular", "worldly" people. They want to hold Image of Organization. And that "detail" is also "trigger" for some JW people to "come out of her" aka organization.

This is partially correct, but not for all who left JW church. In videos from ex-JW i heard some of them complaining how they were not been able to celebrate Christmas or birthdays. I don’t go into the theological justification of their demands, but I don’t think it’s something that should be crucial to leaving or staying in the organization.
There are so many other “details, bigger and smaller that should decide someone’s departure. Many things have been discussed at this Forum and, you will agree with me, they go far beyond, outweigh the issue of celebrating birthdays. It is possible that in some people there may be some individual trigger to change the state of feelings about the organization. But that moment when that happens is just a continuation of a process that has been in that individual’s subconscious and consciousness for a long/longer time. It doesn’t happen “overnight”, that decision is not impulsive. 
I observed the children of one mother in the former congregation. Teenagers. As they grew older and reached adulthood, their attitude toward belonging to the JW changed. The eldest sister left JW immediately after coming of age. The younger sisters soon after one by one also left the organization. I guess, I'm actually sure, that they didn't have problems with purely theological dilemmas or what the leadership of the organization was like, but with personal freedoms and pressures from mothers and elders (they were forbidden to associate with their father who was excluded many years ago and I think it was trigger for their decisions).
This example, about issue of (MUST) shunning own dfd father was too much for them. And their reaction was completely  natural and normal. WT JWorg and lawyer in video presented showed double face, showed hypocrisy. And want to look good in front of "secular", "worldly" people. They want to hold Image of Organization. And that "detail" is also "trigger" for some JW people to "come out of her" aka organization.

Mr Tom, the Author of two books, did you watch this short video? Do you read WT publication?
If your answer is yes, than please repent for your bad comment. :)) 

Oh, I see you added more to your initial comment.  
"He just said something you did not like" - Of course I don't like it, because it is a lie. 
"which is not the same as “committing perjury.” 
Perjury:  "the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation."
He stated:
 
 
 
 

What am I thinking? Would an organization which calls itself “the truth”, yet has sputtered out a hundred plus years of lies, send out a representative who would tell the truth about his own organization? 
“ And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."  2 Cor 11:12-15
 
Everything about the organization, is a masquerade.
 
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade . . .
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
So the world will
Never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade . . .
Masquerade!
Look around -
There's another
Mask behind you!
Flash of mauve . . .
Splash of puce . . .
Fool and king . . .
Ghoul and goose . . .
Green and black . . .
Queen and priest . . . (Rev 2:20; 13:11; 18:7) (Ezek 44:6-9;2 Chron 13:9; 23:6; Mark 13:14; 2 Thess 2:3,4)
Trace of rouge . . .
Face of beast . . . (Dan 8:13; Rev 13:1,2,5-8, 11,12)
Faces . . .
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round . . .(Isa 5:20)
In an inhuman race . . .
Eye of gold . . .
Thigh of blue . . .
True is false . . . (2 Thess 2:9,10)
Who is who . . .?
Curl of lip . . .

Swirl of gown . . .
Ace of hearts . . .
Face of clown . . .
Faces . . .
Drink it in, drink it up,
Till you've drowned (Rev 8:10,11)
In the light . . .
In the sound . . . 
But who can name the face . . .? 
(Phantom of the Opera)
 
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2015/12/locust-scorpions-abaddon.html
 

I knew my comment would open a wave of persecution to come my way. 🙂  

Hmmm.  It's too bad this Witness attorney was not ordered to shut up for committing perjury.
"Jehovah's Witnesses don't use the word, shun or shunning, they refer to it as disfellowshipped, disfellowshipping...."
WT's infamous video bears the title,  Loyally Uphold Jehovah’s Judgments—Shun Unrepentant Wrongdoers
 
Your use of adhominen attacks remind me of how little intellect you care to show for scriptural truth.  Maybe because you don't care to possess such discernment - of what is truth and what is a lie?   


 

Br. Glock can't prevent nor fix damage GB + Helpers and WT Lawyers doing for very long time. 

Dear Arauna, you misquoted, used my quote out of context. You didn't QUOTE my FULL SENTENCE. It would be better to quote whole sentence or paragraph. :)) Thanks in advance!
In general context, we have to follow governmental direction based on Romans 13 regulation or principle or command if you wish.
In critical thinking context, we have to interrogate, to question and to check many things that comes from "higher instance", secular or religious, because of  historically proven reasons.
Well, to go back on your comment, again. It is out of question, or it is not issue, did GB made good/bad decision about Covid 19, before or after government regulation. After all, GB did, i guess, collected health and medicine information from secular sources aka science (virologists, experts in the field of public health, institutions dealing with the study of infections etc) In this context, GB made decisions not on "spiritual" facts or possibilities revealed in Bible, but based on existing secular knowledge about Covid 19. When medical experts found more about disease, GB will also know more. NOT vice versa. Croatian crisis headquarters made better decisions at first, than many other governments and they made it BEFORE many others. Well, what that have to prove? Who has decided before, to close all public meetings ? GB or Croatian crisis headquarter ? :))

Quote @TrueTomHarleyDid you forget that I have television? I can see how obedient they are.
The UK lock down was obeyed by most people, not all, but most. The shops closed. The pubs closed. People were furloughed.  So many people stayed home and did food shopping online that for a month it was impossible to actually get a delivery slot. We had pre-planned and had a good stock of most items. The businesses that would normally deliver to hotels and eating establishments, changed their routine and started doing home deliveries to private houses. We bought lots from them. We are in a good position that cost doesn't matter. (money is for a protection).  You will of course know that the media hype up the things that sell the news. 
Peer-pressure is nothing if you have a strong character. And it is even less if you have a good Bible based conscience. Your problem Tom is that you seem to 'need to think' all non JWs are weak or wicked people.    As for my 60's clothing, it was smart and tidy, 70's was a bit different but it was all good fun. If you looked dorky that is your problem, I never looked dorky that's for sure. If looking different means looking dorky to you then it is you that lacks personality. Either that or you are so brainwashed by the CCJW that everything different seems wrong to you. 
 

People can "invoke" whatever they want in "proving" their position on something. A reference to a “higher instance” does not mean that the higher instance approves a “lower instance” on every or all doctrine, instruction, directive and policy. That is what i saying.
 

Perhaps br. Glock is "Bible scholar", a person who has studied a subject for a long time and knows a lot about it, an intelligent and well-educated person who knows a particular subject very well.
In that context he should be aware of using particular words and their meanings, in/for his talk .