New Light on Beards

[TrueTomHarley]

On 12/16/2023 at 10:50 AM, xero said:

Then I see it all as some kind of useful social exercise. It forces me to think about the benefits and hazards of conformity

this is too.

[TrueTomHarley]

1 hour ago, Many Miles said:

Ultimately the 1914 thing will implode on itself

Says who? 

The veracity of it will not be evident for decades to come. ‘Generation’ can even be stretched further by saying it means ‘era.’

Meantime, those too intent on proving themselves right over this matter tend to miss entirely the greater world’s astonishingly rapid plunge. They effectively join the ranks of ridiculers with their, ‘Where is this promised presence of his?

If the GB simply holds the line on 1914, it becomes a game of chicken with those plotting their downfall. It becomes the movie ending of all movie endings of the Greatest Action Flik of All Time. Let us see who pees their pants first.

 

 

[George88]

Each time the Watchtower makes a decision not to influence people's perspectives due to cultural differences regarding things like beards, where they are common and cultures where being clean-shaven is more prevalent, they create a flawed image in the public eye. Why can't people here openly admit they may have made wrong decisions in life? They know their opinions and actions aren't a priority for others. So, why do they do it?

What is the ultimate goal? What drives Christians to defy scripture and adopt the perspectives of former members? Is there a hidden agenda? Are they seeking validation? Do they consider themselves faultless and superior? I am convinced that God has permitted these insincere individuals to stay within the Watchtower organization to reveal who truly follows Christ faithfully. Without God guiding them, they are choosing their path through their wrongful actions.

It's not clear why they criticize the organization without first applying Matthew 7:3-5 to their own lives. It's puzzling how conformity overshadows spiritual maturity.
 

[Anna]

13 hours ago, Pudgy said:

Since neither have any physical bodies, and any beards are just human artist’s concepts,

That wasn't the point

(I know that 😂)

[Anna]

11 hours ago, Srecko Sostar said:

That demand for "answers" from GB is actually a reflection of the devastating spiritual condition of the flock in so called true Christianity aka JW Church.

You are looking at it wrongly 

[Pudgy]

I think the point everyone is forgetting, and that we can IGNORE the drivel of who is right and who is wrong about 1914, 1975 and the dozens of other issues that have no credibility whatsoever.  The price is high and the scars are painful and permanent and the casualty rate is high …. but it CAN BE DONE! 

If 85% of what you believe and act on is 85% drivel, the Core Truth is still valid, and that is enough to demonstrate fealty and allegiance to Jehovah God. 

We may even slay or cripple each other, and fall in the battle but  defending or castigating “1914” has NOTHING to do with becoming a close friend of God and Christ.

In the “Big Picture” only the 15% Core Truths are important.

Who pees in their pants in a game of chicken over “1914” or “1975” is only a distraction that subverts the righteous away from concentrating on the mission.

If we fall under a hail of unrelenting stupidity … guess what?

….. we get a “Do Over”!

 

[Thinking]

3 hours ago, xero said:

The thing is, that one thing I go back to, is not so much that the humans behind the organization have been brilliant, or their ideas were literally from Jehovah's mouth to their ears (or even what was imagined w/regard to those who imagine themselves to be anointed) is this: Jehovah uses organizations to accomplish his will and purposes. With all it's defects this particular organization has highlighted and stuck to many important fundamental points. No Trinity, no hellfire, the kingdom is a government, Jesus is the king of that government, the need to personally get on board with preaching personally. It was the only one annoying enough to get my attention back when I was an unhappy atheist. "1914? Are you kidding me? That's pretty specific. How did you get that?" It little matters to me now that certain things I'd expected didn't take place as I'd expected, or even as I was led to believe. The people I was introduced to were really different and different because THEY believed what they were saying. There was a personal cost to the individual to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses. One can't say that about most nominally Christian organizations. Disfellowshipping, as painful as it is and has been is a critical factor as well, though I disagree with it's use as a tool to silence those drawing attention to perceived or real failings. In the end it is and has served in my view, Jehovah's purposes, though I'll admit to believing that it is not the only one in history or even today to be doing so. I think of the dragnet illustration,and the organizations admission to be part of that dragnet, and I  believe that this is so, and though I couldn't attach myself to any other organization I still feel that it's up to each individual to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling (all the while I can't admit to so much trembling any more at this stage of my life, recognizing that I'm about as good as I can get right now and that's not so great either, so as the saying goes "so sue me" and "you can't get blood out of a turnip" if someone wants any more out of me. I trust Jehovah will deal with me justly (whatever that might be) and I'm OK with that). If a person feels that some other organization would better suit their spiritual growth, then they have the personal responsibility to go with them. I won't curse them if they choose to go even if that wouldn't be my choice.

What comes to mind as I ramble is "Greetings!  Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, ³ knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance. But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything..." James 1:2

People and organizations are like art. There's a proper viewing distance. Sometimes I see trees, sometimes I see the forest. Sometimes I see defects, and sometimes I see these as an opportunity.

In all this I look for Jehovah and to him and the guidance of his Son, and not to the humans who may or may not be moving in harmony with the Holy Spirit.

For some reason that also reminds me of this clip from "Enter the Dragon"

"Don't concentrate on the finger"

This was a very good post…but for those who have extremely deep scars it’s hard to read or hard to digest….i think just acknowledging the wrongness goes a long way in healing……( they are not actually doing this but they are still changing things )……. SOMEONE is making them bend their knees on certain things…..and he will use whatever he has at hand to do that…..personally I am of this mind……and I keep reminding myself I must still keep bending my knee to that someone…I know who he is using…..he will correct those people not so much for them/me…but for his own name sake.

That was a excellent clip!

[Thinking]

On 12/17/2023 at 1:51 AM, Pudgy said:

I wonder what REALLY prompted this out-of-the-blue with no indication dramatic change?

Not some esoteric contrived fantasy explanation to maintain authority ….

THE REAL REASON?

It may come out later…….

[Thinking]

On 12/17/2023 at 3:49 PM, Srecko Sostar said:

Well, didn't GB tell you a long time ago: Don't think and conclude logically, because our instructions will not look/be logical.

That was WILD TALK ….😵‍💫

[Pudgy]

7 hours ago, George88 said:

It is possible that if AI becomes more diverse, we may witness the emergence of an artificial president. Oh, but hold on! We have already had a taste of that with Trump. Ha! Ha! 

Well … if you had a taste of Trump you   IMG_9292.MOV  

 

know the celery is all you can eat!

[Srecko Sostar]

11 hours ago, Pudgy said:

As usual, Georgie, as always you have missed the point.

I am sure everyone who comes here fully understands the symbolism …

…. but many hate how it has neen consintamtly been misapplied as a tool to manipulate the Brotherhood, to maintain ecclestical power to keep the money waterfall flowing.

Remember it was Aaron that misrepresented Jehovah by making the Golden Calf,  declaring

“This is Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”.

He convinced the Jews to contribute tons of gold to the project.

Someone should have searched his tent.

There is a reason that above the circuit or district level there is ZERO accountability for contributed funds to the Brotherhood.

I have carefully considered your agenda driven perspective, and what I see is a classic case of Stockholm Syndrome.

 

You gave me an excellent new perspective through the example of Aaron and the Golden Calf and the Stockholm Syndrome.

That is why I commented before that the spiritual condition of JWs is in great danger.

They agree to have Modern Aaron (GB) tell them who and what YHVH is. They have come to love their Kidnappers, they depend on their words so much and most JWs cannot leave them, cannot escape.

[Srecko Sostar]

8 hours ago, Many Miles said:

I think the current GB realizes it has a compilation of messes on its hands that can only accrue problematically. It's trying to dig itself out. But the fear is the pile is too deep. Ultimately the 1914 thing will implode on itself. Just a matter of time. Ultimately the blood policy will implode on itself. Just a matter of time. I think the society is looking for an exit ramp. Too many problems, too many informational sources. It'll only snowball.

I see that @Anna upvoted this comment, and she replied me how I was looking at the matter wrongly. What is the difference between this and my comments Anna? The snowball is rolling and getting bigger.