John 12.24to28

James is wise and has a more accurate understanding of the scriptures than the Governing Body. @TrueTomHarley, I forgive you, because you don't know what you're doing. I am sorry for you, too, because you're pitiable and poor and blind and naked. I can't wake you up, but you will wake up when Jesus comes.

"However, when Ceʹphas came to Antioch, I resisted him face-to-face, because he was clearly in the wrong." (Galatians 2:11) I guess you'd have to read the book to find out, @Anna. Or ask Tharcisse. I know some people who are officially labeled as "Jehovah's Witnesses" who do fit the definition of those who have "No Greater Love" in the sense of the scripture at John 15:13. They are people who don't follow the disfellowshipping doctrine and truly practice what Christ preached. I know some people like that who have shown courage and affection and have shown true Christian love for me and my kids when we've gone through a horrid trial (not the same as in the book, but it was horrid for us personally.) In my experience on this forum, I would say that those here currently labeled as Jehovah's Witnesses have "no greater love" than those who are ex-Jehovah's Witnesses here on the forum. In fact, I'd say it's definitely quite the opposite. They have less love. A lot less. Even the crazy, outrageous, negatively-disposed, troll-like characters like "MoiseRacette" and "boyle" have shown greater love to me personally than all the Jehovah's Witnesses here combined. At least they'll talk to me. And that's why I came here. (I am very imperfect. But I know that if Jesus himself came here and told you all that he was being shunned by the Pharisees, if he didn't tell you his name, but he told you that he was disfellowshipped by the elders, you would shun him too.) The "Jehovah's Witnesses" treat me like refuse in comparison to how the "MoiseRacette" and "boyle" types treat me. Getting treated abusively by a crazy troll character is better than getting "shunned" by "loving Jehovah's Witnesses". If you despise the "MoiseRacette" and "boyle" types, you really should go look in the mirror of God's Word, because the "MoiseRacette" and "boyle" types are likely going ahead of you into the Kingdom. "No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends." (John 15:13) A disfellowshipped person was supposedly your friend at one time. Somebody you loved before you even met them, someone you would let into your home if there was a disaster, etc. As the original song goes "I love you even though I've never met you before." Then you abandoned them when a committee labeled them, without you even knowing what happened. You cut them off because of some elders book written by imperfect men, because of a false doctrine supported by twisted scriptures taken out of context. "Forget Jesus' example. Follow the GB." You abandoned someone in need. Rather than ask if they're okay or if you could help them, you totally abandoned them, because of a label rather than because of anything of substance. Does that sound like a real friend to you? Would you trust a committee of three imperfect men to pick out your marriage mate? Would you let them operate on your heart? They can't even figure out their own heart. Why do you let them decide who you should attempt cut off from the body of the Christ? Why do you let them dictate to you who to withhold love from? Jesus doesn't let them decide that for him. Can you even find anywhere in the Bible about a committee of three imperfect men in a back room and checklists and waiting for a year "for works that befit repentance" or anything even remotely like that? Here is what Paul said about those who have a form of godly devotion but prove false to its power: "From these turn away." You can do what you want, but I will never again worship side-by-side with anyone called "one of Jehovah's Witnesses" who practices the disfellowshipping doctrine. God's Word forbids it. In obedience to that direction from God, I will shun worship at any Kingdom Hall or convention center until that doctrine is gone. The disfellowshipping doctrine is antiChrist and unloving, anathema to what is holy and reproachful to Jehovah's name. But if I see those so-called "Jehovah's Witnesses" who support the disfellowshipping doctrine on a forum, I will still talk to them, because that is the loving thing to do. Even if they refuse to talk to me. Because I am one of Jehovah's witnesses. "...and I certainly think I also have God’s spirit." (1 Corinthians 7:40) "I have become unreasonable. You compelled me to, for I ought to have been recommended by you. For I did not prove to be inferior to your superfine apostles in a single thing, even if I am nothing." (2 Corinthians 12:11) "However, when Ceʹphas came to Antioch, I resisted him face-to-face, because he was clearly in the wrong." (Galatians 2:11) "Love" doesn't mean what you think it means. I will continue to resist you, because you are clearly in the wrong. When Paul resisted Peter, it wasn't because Paul was a "satan". It's because Peter was the one imitating the wicked one who resists the spirit of love, Jehovah's holy spirit, when Peter separated himself from others who had a manmade label that Jehovah had thrown away already. The ransom is enough for those who repent. The disfellowshipping doctrine is not Jehovah's way. It's Satan's way. Jehovah's Witnesses as a group who practice disfellowshipping are resisting the holy spirit. Repent, please! The Kingdom of the Heavens is drawing near! And you are naked. ( @TrueTomHarley , I am in the first chapter of your book, I didn't get a chance to read too much this past evening, but I see you used the c- word, "cult". I used to defend the organization when others said "it's a cult" but I can't anymore. It is a cult. I wish you would prove me wrong. But your behavior and other "Jehovah's Witnesses" on the forum towards me proves it. If I had never told you I have the "disfellowshipped" label, your treatment of me would have been completely different. It's a cult. I'm not saying Jehovah's not using the organization to get preaching done, and I'm not saying He isn't going to refine things - you already know how I feel about that. But as far as, would Jehovah consider the disfellowshipping doctrine to be "cult"-ish? Yup. I'm sure He does. That's why He's going to let Jesus remove that doctrine. It doesn't belong with Jehovah's name on it. Enjoy your nasty Kool-aid while you've got it, if that's what you like. It's going to be removed soon, and then we'll only have the pure waters of truth and people who truly show "no greater love than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.")💖

By that reasoning, the "befree2023" protest people and those coming forward about abuses (whether physical or psychological or emotional) in Japan and Norway and Spain are also doing something similar to JWs writing letters to Russia.

"And Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living person." "For he well knows how we are formed, Remembering that we are dust." "Defend the lowly and the fatherless. Render justice to the helpless and destitute." Dust and mud are pretty close to each other. Pretty much the same thing. There's no reason for any of us to get overly exalted. We eat. We poop. We came from the dust. We're going to the dust. It's only Jehovah who can keep us alive forever. We're all in the same boat. "Now the Pharisees...began to sneer at him. So he said to them: “You are those who declare yourselves righteous before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is considered exalted by men is a disgusting thing in God’s sight." Jehovah knows what we're made of. I don't mind playing with mud pies, as long as I can clean up before I eat something. (But I won't play in the manure pile. Too stinky!🤭) I don't know what your point is a lot of the time. You twist around so much. I try to humor you when I can because I do have affection for you, and I find it entertaining too when you're not behaving completely insane. Here you go - have a mud pie... In my personal experience attempting to acquire "an education" in the anthropology profession, I learned about many Christian denominations, including the Native American Church. The Native American Church blends elements of Christianity with spiritism, including the use of mind-altering drugs. (I do not recommend it.) One way some Native American cultures use drugs is through what some lay-people call "a peace pipe". A peace pipe is also known as a calumet in some circles. Calumet City is where you could obtain instruments and equipment at Ray's Music Exchange before it closed. If you watch the following video clip, there is a scene at Ray's Music Exchange where Ray plays a song to show that the keyboard action works just fine. If you sing and dance along with the video clip of the movie, you might end up doing the twist again... (But I'm too tired to twist anymore tonight, so I'm retiring for now...hope you character-s have fun "duking" it out...) Speaking of "the Duke"... The Bible talks about what it means to be "morally stupid". "Engaging in shameful conduct is like a game to the stupid one, But wisdom is for the man of discernment." (Proverbs 10:23) "I am more ignorant than anyone else, And I lack the understanding a man should have. I have not learned wisdom, And I do not possess the knowledge of the Most Holy One." (Proverbs 30:2,3) "For “whoever would love life and see good days must guard his tongue from bad and his lips from speaking deception. Let him turn away from what is bad and do what is good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of Jehovah are on the righteous, and his ears listen to their supplication, but the face of Jehovah is against those doing bad things.” (1 Peter 3:10-12) "Guarding the tongue" sometimes means being quiet. It's not always easy to be quiet, especially for someone with Tourette's... Goodnight dear ones! May you have peace! 😁💖😘🫶🌿😎

🤢🤮 Jehovah is patient with people. He is still giving people time to repent. Some people do dumb stuff. Short-sightedness leads them to believe that a certain course of conduct is "okay" even though it hurts others or themselves. At a certain point, at Jehovah's appointed time, such wrong conduct will cease. "When the wicked sprout like weeds And all the wrongdoers flourish, It is that they may be annihilated forever." (Psalm 92:7) It's not possible for the Devil to win. He's already "dead" "unplugged" from the Source of Life. His time is limited. His days are numbered. Jehovah knows the Devil's "expiration date". Any damage the wicked one does can be undone completely and more than compensated for. "Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there. But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:10,11) Thankfully we don't have to judge or act as Jehovah's sword. Jesus has that assignment. We just have to keep showing love and hope the ones stuck in la-la land wake up so they can get a blessing.🌷

Goodness and truth...Some types of dancing are not "good". There was inappropriate dancing at the feast of the golden calf. Obviously that's not the kind of dancing Jehovah approves of. But there are so many other times in the Bible dancing is mentioned and associated with goodness, true worship and love of God and good clean joy and happiness... "Finally Jephʹthah came to his home in Mizʹpah, and look! his daughter was coming out to meet him, playing the tambourine and dancing!" (Judges 11:34) "But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quick! bring out a robe, the best one, and clothe him with it, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. Also bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead but has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they started to enjoy themselves. “Now his older son was in the field, and as he returned and got near the house, he heard music and dancing...Then his father came out and began to plead with him....But we just had to celebrate and rejoice, for your brother was dead but has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’” (Luke 15:22-32) "David was dancing around before Jehovah with all his might...King David leaping and dancing around before Jehovah..." (2 Samuel 6:14-16) "Praise Jah! Sing to Jehovah a new song; Praise him in the congregation of the loyal ones. Let Israel rejoice in its Grand Maker; Let the sons of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing And sing praises to him, accompanied by the tambourine and the harp." (Psalm 149:1-3) "From far away Jehovah appeared to me and said: “I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have drawn you to me with loyal love. Yet again I will rebuild you and you will be rebuilt. O virgin of Israel, you will again take up your tambourines And go forth dancing joyfully." (Jeremiah 31:3,4) "O Jehovah, become my helper. You have changed my mourning into dancing; You have removed my sackcloth, and you clothe me with rejoicing, So that I may sing your praise and not keep silent. O Jehovah my God, I will praise you forever." (Psalm 30:10-12) There are Christian denominations that include "good" dancing as part of their worship of God. Honestly, don't you think the Kingdom Halls would be more fun if there was sometimes dancing like this at the meetings for worship of Jehovah? 😃

"Utah primary schools ban Bible for 'vulgarity and violence'" https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65794363 "Utah district bans Bible in elementary and middle schools 'due to vulgarity or violence'" https://www.foxnews.com/us/utah-district-bans-bible-elementary-middle-schools-due-vulgarity-violence

The family can be a good organization. "Look! How good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1) We are meant to be one big family of brothers and sisters. How good and pleasant it will be when we can have such goodness and pleasantness in association with everyone we meet, every day. "For this is the will of God, that you should be holy and abstain from sexual immorality. Each one of you should know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with greedy, uncontrolled sexual passion like the nations have that do not know God. No one should go beyond proper limits and take advantage of his brother in this matter, because Jehovah exacts punishment for all these things, just as we told you previously and also strongly warned you. For God has called us, not for uncleanness, but for holiness. So, then, the man who disregards this is disregarding, not man, but God, who gives you his holy spirit. However, concerning brotherly love, you do not need us to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. In fact, you are doing so toward all the brothers in all of Mac·e·doʹni·a. But we urge you, brothers, to go on doing so in fuller measure." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-10) It is possible to have warm brotherly affection between brothers and sisters without going beyond proper limits. The boundaries are not predetermined by a Pharisaical board of directors, or by any outside individual. Each person has to have their own boundary, in their heart. Jehovah can see the heart. When we view each person we meet as our own brother our own sister instead of as "fresh meat", it makes for an extremely freeing and refreshing interchange of encouragement and ideas, unencumbered by the restraints of sexism or slavery. "Be as free people, using your freedom, not as a cover for doing wrong, but as slaves of God. Honor men of all sorts," (meaning men and women) "have love for the whole association of brothers" (meaning brothers and sister) (1 Peter 2:16,17) "Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked; cling to what is good. In brotherly (or sisterly) love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another, take the lead." (Romans 12:9,10) "We know that we have passed over from death to life, because we love the brothers." (1 John 3:14)💖

True, but it does not follow that all organization/ideology/representatives/believers are necessarily bad or good.

@Fausto Hoover I didn't know that @redHarmonioussparrow was Ukrainian? Are you sure? (If you are a 66-year-old married brother, @Fausto Hoover, that is nice for you and your wife. I haven't seen any flirting in this forum, except quotes from religious organizations flirting with weird Greek philosophies, so you don't have to worry, nobody is going to give you a hard time about whether your conduct in that regard is acceptable or unacceptable. You're all good.😎)

"“With whom will I compare this generation? It is like young children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to their playmates, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance; we wailed, but you did not beat yourselves in grief.’ Likewise, John came neither eating nor drinking, but people say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of man did come eating and drinking, but people say, ‘Look! A man who is a glutton and is given to drinking wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ All the same, wisdom is proved righteous by its works." (Matthew 11:16-19) 😆

Troll mentality 😆 (Some kids grew up playing with trolls and know how they roll...it's a form of entertainment for them...) "For this is what Jehovah has said to me: “Just as the lion growls, a strong young lion, over its prey, When a whole group of shepherds is called together against it, And it is not terrified by their voice Or daunted by their commotion, So will Jehovah of armies come down to wage war Over Mount Zion and over her hill. Like swooping birds, so Jehovah of armies will defend Jerusalem. He will defend her and save her. He will spare her and rescue her.”" (Isaiah 31:4,5) "The one who digs a pit will fall into it..." (Proverbs 26:27) 🤭

Oh, well Jesus was definitely not insubordinate, he always obeyed Jehovah's orders. Jesus was the least insubordinate person ever to walk the earth. Maybe the Pharisees labeled him as "insubordinate" because Jesus didn't bow to their will when it was opposed to Jehovah's will, but Jesus' was the most obedient person ever. Today when we do our best to obey Jehovah regardless of what other authorities think, sometimes they mislabel us "insubordinate" too. But that's because they misunderstand our motivations.

Both before and after and during the genocide, non-Witnesses helped him. If you really want to get clarification on how he feels, you can just ask him.🙂 https://www.rwanda-nogreaterlove.com/invite-to-speak https://www.rwanda-nogreaterlove.com/en/contact

You will see it when Jehovah makes an accounting and sets everything right. How good it will be for everyone to finally have peace.💖 "For you will go out with rejoicing, And in peace you will be brought back. The mountains and the hills will become cheerful before you with a joyful cry, And the trees of the field will all clap their hands. Instead of thornbushes the juniper tree will grow, And instead of the stinging nettle the myrtle tree will grow. And it will bring fame to Jehovah, An everlasting sign that will never perish." (Isaiah 55:12,13) Until then, I hope you can have some peace and rest, as much as is possible in this world right now, while we wait for That Day...it is coming, likely at the time we least expect it. 🙂 "As a deer that longs for streams of water, So I long for you, O God. I do thirst for God, for the living God. When may I come and appear before God? My tears are my food day and night; All day long people taunt me: “Where is your God?” These things I remember, and I pour out my soul, For I once walked along with the multitude; I used to walk solemnly before them to the house of God, With sounds of rejoicing and thanksgiving, Those of a crowd celebrating a festival. Why am I in despair? Why is this turmoil within me? Wait for God, For I will yet praise him as my Grand Savior.... ...Judge me, O God, Defend my legal case against a disloyal nation. Rescue me from the man of deception and unrighteousness. For you are my God, my fortress. Why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about sad because of the oppression by my enemy? Send out your light and your truth. May these lead me; May they guide me to your holy mountain and to your grand tabernacle. Then I will come to the altar of God, To God, my exceeding joy. And I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Why am I in despair? Why is this turmoil within me? Wait for God, For I will yet praise him as my Grand Savior and my God." (Psalm 42-43) "For look! the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the presumptuous ones and all those practicing wickedness will become like stubble. The coming day will certainly devour them,” says Jehovah of armies, “and it will leave them neither root nor branch. But on you who honor my name, the sun of righteousness will shine, with healing in its rays; and you will skip about like fattened calves." (Malachi 4:1,2) (Sometimes we fall asleep for awhile and then wake up later.) Thank you for loving justice - true justice is from Jehovah. I know you love Jehovah because you love His Ways and His Friends. Good night for now, my friend.🙂

"All of this I have seen, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his harm." (Ecclesiastes 8:9)

"While returning to the city early in the morning, he felt hungry. He caught sight of a fig tree by the road and went to it, but he found nothing on it except leaves, and he said to it: “Let no fruit come from you ever again.” And the fig tree withered instantly. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed and said: “How is it that the fig tree withered instantly?” In answer Jesus said to them: “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what I did to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And all the things you ask in prayer, having faith, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:18-22)

I remember reading about that stuff at the beginning of Ray Franz's book, Crisis of Conscience. Yikes! "Mountains" in the Bible sometimes symbolize governments. When "the mountains fall" during some of the Revelation plagues, it includes such "governments" as the one the GB has set up in opposition to Jehovah's clear direction. "But he said to them: “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. You, though, are not to be that way. But let the one who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the one taking the lead as the one ministering." (Luke 22:25,26) "The second angel blew his trumpet. And something like a great mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea. And a third of the sea became blood..." (Revelation 8:8) When Jehovah turned the Nile into blood, it was because the Nile represented bloodguilt. The Egyptians had thrown the Hebrew babies into the Nile as a form of infanticide. Even though the Egyptians worshipped the Nile, it was not a source of life for God's people. It is the same today. The mock government that is being worshipped as an idol is bloodguilty in Jehovah's eyes.

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I think they must be where Memes first came from😜(or at least I bet they'd make they do make really funny ones🥸)

God's law has not changed. The governing body has misled the people into "eating things sacrificed to idols", namely, the idols of the medical system. Because of fear of man and feeling the need to compromise, or because of outright disobedience, or maybe some other reason, I don't know, the GB has told the people lies, that somehow "blood fractions" are not blood. 🤔🙄🤨? Jehovah has not changed, and He's mad at them for misleading the people. Jehovah didn't ask for tithes from the Christian congregation. He didn't require pioneers or elder schools or a Bethel or movie studios or publications. He said "don't commit immorality" and "don't take blood." "For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things: to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!” (Acts 15:28,29) What part of "no" don't they understand? Because of teaching the flock to accept blood fractions, the GB has led the congregation into spiritual adultery, a form of spiritual fornication and unfaithfulness. It's not a "conscience matter" to disregard the blood of the Christ. Accepting even a fraction of human blood is disobedient to Jehovah's command to "pour out the blood on the ground", and is like having "a one night stand" with an idol, a false god that cannot save a life. There is no medical treatment on earth that will save a person's life forever. There is no medical treatment on earth that will keep someone from ever dying. Only Jesus' blood can do that. But it has to be at Jehovah's appointed time. Sometimes we just have to wait. Jesus had to wait. He doesn't ask anything more of us than he was willing to do. He can help us wait. "“‘Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, that you have there those adhering to the teaching of Baʹlaam, who taught Baʹlak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. In the same way, you also have those adhering to the teaching of the sect of Nic·o·laʹus. So repent. If you do not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will war against them with the long sword of my mouth." (Revelation 2:14-16) "‘Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezʹe·bel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. Look! I am about to throw her into a sickbed, and those committing adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with deadly plague, so that all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches the innermost thoughts and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds." (Revelation 2:20-23) The GB is like Balaam and like Jezebel. They have misled the people into spiritual fornication. Jesus said he's going to clear things up. You know what happened to Balaam and to Jezebel. (Hopefully they repent before Jesus gets here, those Balaam/Jezebel types. They won't all repent. The Bible says so.) "And I will kill her children with deadly plague, so that all the congregations will know that I am the one who searches the innermost thoughts and hearts, and I will give to you individually according to your deeds." These plagues are figurative. They are the plagues of Revelation. This "kill" is figurative. It has to do with repentance. When they are "killed" it just means they "die" as to their former bad ways and do good instead. "But the rest of the people who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands; they did not stop worshipping the demons and the idols of gold and silver and copper and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders nor of their spiritistic practices nor of their sexual immorality nor of their thefts." (Revelation 9:20,21)

Jehovah hasn't changed. He has always been patient. Sometimes when you are growing an unstable young tree you stake it. When the tree gets stable enough, there is no need for the stakes anymore. Jehovah is like a gardener or arborist. His goal in protecting and training us hasn't changed. The Mosaic Law was not a permanent feature; it was a temporary structure that has served its purpose. The Word of God is alive in that it is powerful to help us, but the culture and communities the Mosaic Law was designed for is dead. We can still learn things from studying that law, but we are not under it. Some people might try to follow that Mosaic Law, but that's kind of silly and unnecessary. Jesus' sacrifice didn't "interrupt" the Law - the whole point of the Law was to lead to Christ. It's kind of like how the body of a pregnant woman forms a whole new organ, the placenta, during her pregnancy. The purpose of the placenta is to feed and protect the developing child. The placenta is a large organ that plays the role of several different body systems at once, including respiratory, endocrine, renal, immunological, and digestive systems. Once the baby comes out, there is no need for that organ anymore, so it comes out too. The placenta didn't grow to be part of the body forever; it has a temporary function, an amazing one, but it's just temporary. The main important thing is the child. Jesus was the purpose of having the Law, just like the child is the purpose of having the placenta. Jehovah's purpose didn't change. It has an amazing process. But at some point, it's time to "cut the cord" to the Mosaic Law.🙂

I am not sure, @Srecko Sostar, if this is how you meant that word: "Unsubordinate: Not subordinate; not of inferior rank, dignity, class, or order." Jesus was truly superior to everyone on earth, since he was the only perfect person and he was God's firstborn son, in that way he was "unsubordinate". While he could be considered "independent" from sin, he lowered himself to become a slave and was willing to lower himself to obey the direction of the imperfect organization of his time, even though that organization was extremely corrupt. He told us to imitate his example, to follow his way. Jesus submitted himself to the authority of the organization bearing Jehovah's name at that time, but Jesus did not compromise his integrity. Today, we can submit to the direction of those in authority (whether it be the authorities in a congregation or the authorities in the local governments). But if those authorities (any of them) ask us to do something that would lead to a compromise of our integrity, then we resolutely "obey God as ruler rather than men." Jesus was willing to obey the secular authorities as they put him through a kangaroo court trial with false charges and no justice. Jesus was willing to submit to a course of abuse that was designed to humiliate him (although he despised shame and the real humiliation was on his persecutors) and then he submitted to death on a torture stake. Sometimes it is possible to remain in a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and keep integrity. A lot of people feel "cognitive dissonance" but are able to continue in the congregation, knowing that in time Jehovah will clear things up. Some people are not able to conscientiously remain in the organization at this time and disassociate themselves with it because of conscience. Others are willing to remain but are kicked out. Many people in the congregations are just ignorant of the false doctrines at present and go on their merry way in a temporary peace. Jehovah knows the heart. To the degree possible, we strive to imitate the Christ. As far as autonomy, or self-government, we exercise our free will to submit to Jehovah's will for us, even though sometimes it's distasteful at present. It was distasteful at first for Jesus to go through what he did, but it worked out for a blessing. "And going a little way forward, he fell facedown, praying: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39) Jesus self-governed himself in a way that showed immense strength. He did not take up a sword or a gun. He did not fear death or torture or what people thought. He knew what he was going to face, he trusted God's projection and interpretation, or will, for him, and he went through with it.

That is because you are a sweetheart and a gentleman.☺️ I am a brat. (I do not do all the things described in the lyrics to this song, but the basic overall bratness level is the same...) That is always wise.🙂 I know you are wise, that is one of the reasons why I like you. I consider you to be my older brother, and I value your opinions and advice. The GB is not beholden to me, so I don't really have anything to "forgive"...I have been hurt by some of the doctrines they teach, but as far as personal grudges or something, they're all good with me as far as that's concerned. When Jeremiah preached about the destruction of Jerusalem, he didn't have a personal vendetta against any of those guys, even though they locked him up and hurt him at times, threatened him, tried to make his life miserable. Jeremiah was just doing his assignment. Plus Jeremiah knew ahead of time about the destruction coming. It was for real. It wasn't a "maybe this might happen." He knew for sure. He could see it in his mind's eye. He knew Jehovah's word would come true. That motivated him. I know all these things are coming too. I know Jehovah is going to remove them, the whole "FDS" thing and the Bethel thing - they're going to be completely gone. It's as if it's already done, Jehovah's Word is a sure thing. Jehovah's Word will come true, all of it, which includes removing all the weeds. It's never a waste to warn people. I don't want to look back and wish I had warned them at Bethel more. I am 100% confident all the false doctrines will be removed at Jehovah's appointed time. When that appointed time comes, anybody who clings to those doctrines will be removed too, if they refuse to repent. Yeah, I know. 😌 Yes, we all answer to Him..."to the one more is given, more is expected". If we know there is a storm coming and Jehovah asks us to warn people, we just have to do it. I KNOW Bethel is going to be the first place attacked by the UN at the beginning of the great tribulation. Jehovah has let me know by means of His Word and His holy spirit. I am just a nobody, but I have to tell them. It's not a waste. Jehovah wants me to tell them. He's the One who let me have all their emails. He's the One that had me meet up with Robert Hendriks last weekend. He is the One that sends any of His witnesses for any of the assignments they have, that Jehovah may get the praise when His Word comes true. The plagues of Revelation are figurative. The hail, the destruction, a lot of it is talking about the religious institutions being removed. That the governing body as individuals will possibly survive the destruction of the Bethels is implied by Jesus' words here: "The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Let the one who has ears listen." (Matthew 13:39-43) "...the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, "and he will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his place with the hypocrites. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be." (Matthew 24:50,51) "...whereas the sons of the Kingdom will be thrown into the darkness outside. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be." (Matthew 8:12) In order to be "weeping" and "gnashing teeth" a person still has to be alive. The "fiery furnace" is figurative in those illustrations. It's symbolic of the great tribulation, and the false teachings and hypocrites in the organization being removed. The angels haven't removed them yet. It's not until the great tribulation starts that these illustrations take place. Additionally, the plagues in Revelation show that the word "killed" is figurative. Some people become dead to their former way of life after they see the destruction of false religion. It's a figurative "killing". When the GB loses their "kingdom" (the fake one they've got an empire over at present) then hopefully they repent. They like to preach that Jehovah's already got everything all decided by the start of the tribulation, but they're wrong. @Pudgy, that "anointed" business isn't fake. There are people who are really anointed. They're not perfect people, but it's kind of like if you knew Latin and then you hear somebody speaking Pig Latin, and you're like, "uh, yeah, that's not Latin - that's Pig Latin." Are the governing body members really anointed? I don't know. I haven't talked to any of them personally. All I know is that when it says in one of John's letters "the anointing is teaching you" it's true. So either they're (the GB) really mentally slow, or they're really grieving the holy spirit by means of embracing some dark stuff. Hopefully you're right and they''ll all repent. Thankfully we don't have to judge that. Jesus will make it clear in time.

Jehovah hasn't changed. The Mosaic Law was perfect for its day. It was specific to the Israelites. They had lived in a nation, Egypt, with many graven images and spiritistic practices and slavery. They were moving to a place where there was polygamy and child sacrifice and immorality of all kinds. People killed each other with swords. War was all over the place. Jehovah regulated what they knew. Jehovah was patient with them. Jehovah hasn't changed. Jehovah didn't agree with violent warfare, but He knew those people. They like to fight. Look at Levi and Simeon back in Shechem. They killed all the males and the animals. Later those sons of Israel wanted to murder their own brother. Jehovah regulated warfare so that those guys wouldn't be even more bloodthirsty. Jehovah didn't approve of polygamy, but He knew those people could hardly handle not fornicating, so He was patient with them and regulated polygamy until Jesus got here. He forbade bestiality and other stuff. He knew they viewed women as possessions. That wasn't Jehovah's way, but He knew those people wouldn't listen if He made all the changes at once. Jehovah was patient with them. When Jesus came, he told them some more things to work on, but he still didn't give them everything to change at once. "“I still have many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now. However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come." (John 16:12,13) The people were used to worshipping at a temple, but that isn't necessary. The people were physical minded. It's the same today. People want a physical leader. They want a place. They want a KH instead of a house to worship at. They want a governing body class to tell them what to do, just like the Israelites of old wanted a human king to lead them. It's the imperfect human inclination. Jehovah knew this would happen with the congregations. Jesus foretold it would happen, people rising up and lording it over the flock, false teachings creeping in. But he also foretold it would end. It will be cleared up when Jesus gets here. In the meantime, we have to hold on to the truth we have. "‘I know your deeds—look! I have set before you an opened door, which no one can shut. And I know that you have a little power, and you kept my word and did not prove false to my name. Look! I will make those from the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying—look! I will make them come and bow before your feet and make them know that I have loved you. Because you kept the word about my endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of test, which is to come upon the entire inhabited earth, to put to the test those dwelling on the earth. I am coming quickly. Keep holding fast to what you have..." (Revelation 3:8-10) The Christian congregation was commanded to abstain from blood. We are not under the Mosaic Law, but we are still under the command to abstain from immorality and blood. When Jesus gets here, he will make more refinements, but until then we are wise to cling to the truth we have.