Shiwiii

or an over-controlling busybody sticking their nose into business that doesn't pertain to them. 

You know what I think is the most enjoyable part of this question and responses? It is that, yes it is silly and comical because of the ridiculousness of the question, it points out the exact same when applied to blood fractions within jws. I know that is the obvious, but you then have those who will make the disgust look on their face (like they smelled something bad) and explain how child like a comment like this is, not realizing that they are promoting exactly the same position. Not only promoting it, but living out such nonsense. 
Do not tell the emperor he has no clothes!!!!

An admission of idolatry.  

Billy, dear Billy .... even in simple stating your position as believer, you alone put yourself in negative context. 
Is it some typing error?  Or you purposely wrote how you  obeying God almighty through the Watchtower ?  It would be more better to say... (political correctness :))))))...  through Jesus .  And all would end there. Bible not endorse no one else as Mediator but Jesus Christ.  

It’s a typical two-sided coin for JWs to make sense of, or remain thoroughly confused by it.
They must be convinced they’re “proud of the organization”’ thus, proud to be a JW.
    “ Are you not proud to be part of an organization that cares so much for its members?”
     “Do you feel proud to be part of an organization in which people truly love one another?”
      Both quotes from the same magazine -  w 14/12/15
Other side of the coin:
   “Proud people reject the idea that they need to be taught anything” w19 January pp. 1-32
We see that in action.   JWs shut down all conversation at the cart or when speaking to an “apostate”.  Some here, excluded.
“One definition of pride is inordinate self-esteem. That kind of pride gives one an improper feeling of self-importance and superiority, perhaps because of beauty, race, rank, talents, or wealth. (James 4:13-16) The Bible speaks of men being “puffed up with pride.” (2 Timothy 3:4) In other words, they have an inflated opinion of themselves, one that is unjustified.”
g 3/07 pp. 20-21
JWs must be proud to be a part of the organization, "puffed up with pride" over belonging to it;  but also humble at the same time; otherwise they are not happy.  Are they happy also when they are proud?  I haven’t looked it up.
“Why do those who are part of God’s organization need to be humble? 8 Those who are humble are happy in God’s organization and support the way things are done in the congregation.   A humble person supports the elders and the way things are done in the congregation” ws12 11/15 pp. 
Can one be humble and proud at the same time for the same reason – being part of a religious, hypocritical organization?  Ps 18:27; Prov 8:13; 16:18; 1 John 2:16
Now that I finally have the opportunity to see Watchtower’s contradictions placed side by side, I wonder how I lasted as long as I did in the organization, without going insane.
 
 
 
 
 
 

At least three or four times a month, someone will post something like:
I am proud to be a JW
Seriously, what is up with that? I am not trying to be disrespectful. But I never see anyone here post "I am proud to be a Christian".
If you are "proud" to be a JW, it almost sounds like you are boasting about having accomplished a goal, that you were able to do something that others can't do.
It almost sounds like you are saying that your salvation is because of something you accomplished on your own.

If you are going to go figure .... figure out why neither Jehovah God, nor Christ, never even mentioned such things ... EVER ... not even once .... and the Governing Body positively OBSESSES over such things.
There IS a reason.
.... for BOTH.

You crack me up Billy. The level in which you interact with others is very telling. 
 
Also, it doesn't hurt my feelings if you down vote my posts. It actually makes me smile..........because you read it. 

You crack me up Billy. The level in which you interact with others is very telling. 
 
Also, it doesn't hurt my feelings if you down vote my posts. It actually makes me smile..........because you read it. 

You crack me up Billy. The level in which you interact with others is very telling. 
 
Also, it doesn't hurt my feelings if you down vote my posts. It actually makes me smile..........because you read it. 

You crack me up Billy. The level in which you interact with others is very telling. 
 
Also, it doesn't hurt my feelings if you down vote my posts. It actually makes me smile..........because you read it. 

You crack me up Billy. The level in which you interact with others is very telling. 
 
Also, it doesn't hurt my feelings if you down vote my posts. It actually makes me smile..........because you read it. 

You crack me up Billy. The level in which you interact with others is very telling. 
 
Also, it doesn't hurt my feelings if you down vote my posts. It actually makes me smile..........because you read it. 

Isn't this something we all should remember? 
 
Great point John

Isn't this something we all should remember? 
 
Great point John

@Anna I would love to see who you really are, to see you as a person that is so blind to the deliberate faults of JW Org. 
Your long answer is so full of, I think the GB call it garbage. But I'll probs get told off for saying that... 
 It is true that ultimately God reads hearts and reads motives, and that we cannot judge anyone,
Well it's good that Jesus Christ read the heart of Saul, when Saul was persecuting the early Christians isn't it ? Otherwise the Apostle Paul would not have existed.  
Quote " For example there are those who condone things that God hates and implicitly rejects (eg. practicing homosexuals). "
I see you didn't mention Pedophilia then. You really are blind. 
Quote "Firstly, the organization is only in place because of the preaching work. "
BUT, the message keeps changing to suit the GB and it's writing dept'.  Scripture is deliberately misused to misguide innocent people. The Catholic church is earthwide too with it's false message, so not much difference there. 
Quote "Secondly, the organization strives to strictly adhere to the scriptures."  Anna, wake up, the Org misuses scriptures. 
The 'This Generation' scripture is a great example. The 'Superior Authorities' scripture is another example. Are  you being deliberately blind to all this ? 
Quote "Also, as far as I am aware, those who "leave the org." do not continue to preach, and no longer strictly adhere to the scriptures. "
1. I do not preach anymore because I realise now that i only preached what I was told to preach, and that was not serving God it was serving the JW Org. I am quite prepared to admit that I do not know what 'truth' is, so i would not know what to preach. I truly believe that the scriptures, well the deeper parts thereof, are for the Anointed and that the scripture concerning 'ten men clinging to the skirt of a Jew' will take place when God makes it truly known who the Spiritual Jew' really is. 
2. As for 'strictly adhere to the scriptures.'  You are right in my case, but then i was never doing so anyway as I was serving an Organisation, so I was never strictly adhering to scriptures and the Society, GB, JW Org, never did and still do not. 
Quote "There are also many that do not see those things you listed as reasons to leave the org. "
That is because those people serve the Org as their god. They do not look for truth, they are just spoonfed and accept it all. Even when the meanings of scriptures are changed by the GB or writing dept', the congregants do not even question it, they dare not for fear of being disfellowshipped. Those poor people do not know any other life, they are trapped inside that giant bubble, and frightened to look for God themselves. They rely on men that are not anointed with Holy Spirit, to guide them. The blind leading the blind, and we know what happens next. 

regurgitation from mother wt.  no real thoughts of your own I see. 
 

regurgitation from mother wt.  no real thoughts of your own I see. 
 

I focused on “God’s standards”, but after reading the comment by Srecko and John, I realized I missed this part highlighted :
Typically, JWs believe qualifying to be a JW is following God’s standards.    One must enter into a religion formulated by men to “qualify” for life, which is why a person becomes a Mormon, a Seventh Day Adventist or a Catholic.  They gather their flock and pin them down with rituals to be observed and interpretations called doctrine that must be adhered to.  When men rule over men, God’s standards which are based on Christ’s teachings, do not exist.  The captive treasure that the Watchtower uses for its unique validation as “the truth”, are the anointed ones.  Rev 20:7-9; 13:10
 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.  Col 2:8
The “elemental spiritual forces” that instigate the need of an earthly organization, a labeled religion to serve God, is sourced in Satan.   The man in the video who is being slandered because of his desire to put faith in the truths of the Bible, is beginning to wake up to this fact.   He has every reason to be angry.  
 
 

Matt 5:11 - Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Matt 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Matt 10:39 - Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. 
What "life" have many "found" and dare not lose?  
"When we use our time to prepare for God’s new world, are we missing out on a better way of life today? No! Serving Jehovah is the best way of life. 
To prepare for everlasting life in the new world, we need to obey the direction from Jehovah’s organization now. WT 15/8/15  pg 19-20
When anyone rejects this "life",  giving full attention to Jesus and the Father only,  division occurs. 
Luke 12:49 - “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
The division and persecution for following Christ is experienced among God’s people, just as it was in Jesus’ day. Many claim to follow Jesus Christ around the world, but Jesus gives the indication of who is persecuting God's people.  
John 16:2,3 - "They will put you out of the synagogue (“congregation); in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills (Rev 13:15) you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me."
The synagogue today is where spiritual "Jews"/"Israel" are found.  (Rev 7:4; Rom 9:6; 1 Pet 2:9,10)
Do JWs suffer for Christ’s sake?  No, they suffer on behalf of an organization, but they are taught they suffer because “Jehovah” expects them to have steadfast faith and dedication in an earthly organization under any circumstances. They have created a counterfeit fortress to protect them, instead of relying fully on God.   Dan 11:36-38; Rom 1:25   Those who are ‘put out’ of the congregations for following Christ, are reviled by their own people, in the same way Jesus was.
Matt 11:28-30 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble inheart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Are JWs finding rest as part of “Jehovah’s organization”, or are they experiencing turmoil in nations around the world? 
Ps 106:40-43 -
"Therefore the Lord was angry with his people
    and abhorred his inheritance.
41 He gave them into the hands of the nations,
    and their foes ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them
    and subjected them to their power.
43 Many times he delivered them,
    but they were bent on rebellion
    and they wasted away in their sin."  
The call is to “come out of her, my people”.  Who’s sins are magnified in front of God; those of Christendom, or those of “Jehovah’s organization” where God’s “chosen” anointed people are found captive to empty philosophy, the misguided teachings of a Harlot and a Beast/organization?  Rev 18:4-8; Isa 43:10; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Col 2:8; Rev 13:1,4-10, 11,12,14-17
 
 
 

You know what I think is the most enjoyable part of this question and responses? It is that, yes it is silly and comical because of the ridiculousness of the question, it points out the exact same when applied to blood fractions within jws. I know that is the obvious, but you then have those who will make the disgust look on their face (like they smelled something bad) and explain how child like a comment like this is, not realizing that they are promoting exactly the same position. Not only promoting it, but living out such nonsense. 
Do not tell the emperor he has no clothes!!!!

I know it's reported that Prince gave $30,000 a month to his local Kingdom Hall, and I would guess that Michael Jackson gave a similar amount to the one he attended, and they were never officially and publicly censured by the Society, or the Elders, so it would be consistent that this is the ruling operating principle that protects Serena Williams.
THE GOLDEN RULE:
He who has the Gold, makes the rules.

Question: "Should Christians celebrate Easter?"
Answer: Though perhaps the day with the highest church attendance, Easter Sunday can be a source of contention among Christians. Some Christians view Easter as having pagan origins or being so commercialized that it is wrong to participate. Others simply view Easter as a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, perhaps the best and most important celebration of the year. Many believers prefer to call Easter “Resurrection Sunday” to highlight that the celebration is about Jesus. Some Christians participate only in the church-related aspects of celebrating Easter, whereas others include the more societal aspects like Easter egg hunts and baskets full of candy.
Does the Bible say anything about whether Christians should celebrate Easter?
The Bible does not mention the observance of Easter and so does not directly address the question of whether Christians should celebrate Easter. Christians who believe we should celebrate Easter and those who believe we should not are hard pressed to make a solid biblical case either way. Jesus’ death and resurrection are realities we celebrate all year through. In fact, the church meeting on Sunday is an indirect celebration of the resurrection of Christ, who arose on the first day of the week (Luke 24:1). Passages like Colossians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 10:23–33, and Romans 14 are instructive in discerning whether we should celebrate Easter and how to go about doing so. These passages indicate that Christians have great freedom in questionable matters, such as observing certain holy days or eating different foods. First Corinthians 10:23–24 says, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” Paul was writing here specifically about eating food sacrificed to idols. He went on to say that believers could eat whatever was sold in the market or given to them by an unbeliever without “raising questions of conscience.” The principle is that “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (1 Corinthians 10:26). Paul concludes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:31–33).
Christians should celebrate Easter to the extent that they can do so to the glory of God and with thankfulness (1 Corinthians 10:30–33).
Those who are convinced that Easter is a celebration of a pagan goddess or that it somehow honors the idols of a godless society should abstain from Easter observances. Those who feel free to celebrate Easter but whose observance of it might cause a problem for another believer should not flaunt their freedom. If certain Easter traditions would cause a Christian to compromise biblical truth, then those traditions should be neglected. However, when participation in Easter traditions and Easter celebrations give us cause to praise God, we should feel free to fully enjoy them and invite others to do the same.
No matter how we personally observe or don’t observe Easter, it does seem to be a particularly good time to share the gospel with others. Society at large acknowledges Easter in one way or another. Even those who focus primarily on secular traditions like the Easter bunny, colored eggs, and chocolate tend to recognize the holiday is related to Christianity. Christians can use that awareness as an opening to explain who Jesus is, the importance of His death, and the good news of His resurrection. Easter comes in the springtime, and much of the excitement around Easter has to do with the excitement of spring with its promise of new growth. How amazing to be able to share with others that what is observed on Easter is so much more. It’s not simply the changing of a season but a celebration of the way Jesus changed the world. He offers us new and eternal life. At Easter, Christians can enjoy celebrating that reality in a focused way with one another, and we can and should share that amazing news with any who will listen. https://www.gotquestions.org/should-Christians-celebrate-Easter.html

I'll summarize for those who wish not to read the whole post:
 
"Ignore the man behind the curtain "
"fake news"
"Do not question, just obey"
"Satan is just tricking you"
 
Back to your regularly scheduled program.........

I like how you put this.  Yes, it is about a big change.
 
Clouds, angels and heaven: 
Matt 24:30 - “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earthwill mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”
Heb 12:1 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”
God’s “great cloud of witnesses” are those whom He has chosen, his sealed priesthood.  Isa 43:10; 1 Pet 2:5,9,10
Rev 1:7 - “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
    and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
    and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
Jude 1:14 – “It was about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied: "Look! The Lord comes with tens of thousands of his holy ones”
2 Thess 2:7,10 –   “and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels…when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”
Eph 2:6 - and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
Heb 12:22,23 – “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.”  (Rom 8:29)
Rev 3:12 – “The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple (1 Cor 3:16,17; 2 Cor 6:16)  of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.”
Angels of heaven, the clouds of heaven, all refer to the “144,000”, the Bride of Christ.
Jesus returns with his Bride of "living stones" sealed in the Temple, and "admired among all those who believe".   (Zech 4:7-10)
“The New Jerusalem” – “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”
 
2 Cor 11:2 – “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.  But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”
This “virginity” is related to spiritual cleanliness. 
Rev 14:4 – “These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.”
 
“Women” represent covenants. (Gal 4:26)  Entering a spiritual relationship with those who preach “another Jesus” results in spiritual adultery.