JW organization.

[Elijah John]

Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to:

-vote
-celebrate birthdays
-celebrate Christmas or Easter
-donate or receive blood transfusions.

And if any JW openly persists in doing these things[edit to add publicly], they will be shunned or disfellowshipped, [edit to add or otherwise admonished or disciplined.]

For debate,

1) what do any of these check-list prohibitions have to do with Christianity?

2) And are any of these prohibitions compatible with the idea of Christian freedom?

3) Are these prohibitions arbitrary or legalistic?

4) And could Jehvoah's Witness as an organization flourish without these particular prohibitions and still honor God?

Please address any or all of the above.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 388 by Tcg]

I'm more than happy to stand before my Lord. So I guess you and I are done.

Have a most excellent weekend,

JW

[Tcg]

I'm more than happy to stand before my Lord.

You can stand wherever you want. That doesn't change the fact that I didn't interpret Jesus' instructions, but rather repeated them. You are the one who has ignored the clear instruction he gave.

So I guess you and I are done.

You may be done. I just replied to your rather puzzling response that fails to address Jesus' instruction.

[JehovahsWitness]

You who simply observe the Lord's Supper aren't following Jesus' direction. He didn't say, "Watch this in remembrance of me". He said, "Do this in remembrance of me."

Your post has been duly noted. While you made a statement of fact, my understanding is that you are implying that those that did not eat and drink the emblems (bread and wine) where disobeying Jesus' instructions; althuogh granted those wrre not your actual words. Feel free to correct me if that is not your point.

QUESTION: Can those that simply attend the memorial of Christ's death as respectful observerse but do not partake of the emblems (eat the bread and drink the wine) be accused of "disobedience"?



When an instruction doesn't apply to you ("you" general) then it is not disobedience not to follow it. Jesus made no explicit (or even implicit statement) prohibiting attendence at this ceremony as respectful observers.

To illustrate: In the UK the traffic Laws are that vehicles are driven on the left. Is a child watching a lorry drive on the left disobeying a traffick law? It's true he "isn't following" the law (because he isn't driving) but is what he is doing "wrong"? Is he disobeying any law?

Since the law doesn't address the legalities of "watching" and only applies to drivers (which the child is not) then all we can say is: It is true the child is indeed not doing what the law says (he is not driving on the left). But since the law to do so doesn't apply to him, he should suffer no reproach. Nor is there any law prohibiting what he *is* doing (ie watching those that are driving on the left.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus instructions apply to a specific group. This is based on how we interpret both explicit and implict statement related to this topic, not just in the gospels but throughout the entire bible which we accept to be the Word of God. The bible is quite clear, those that do not qualify to actually participate in the last supper ceremony but do so risk divine condemnation, so Jehovah's Witnesses are very careful whether they actively participate or not.



JW

[tam]

[Replying to post 391 by JehovahsWitness]

Since Jesus never said, "What I'm saying to you applies to all individuals throughout the rest of time that believe I'm the Messiah and i want all those people to eat and drink the bread and wine..."

Speaking to His apostles:


"Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."





Peace to you both,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[Tcg]

Your understanding is that the above words to mean

• a) all people that profess faith in Christ
  b) eating and drinking wine and bread
  c) at least once a week

I didn't mention a single one of these things. Perhaps you can review what I actually said and address that rather than a straw man of your own creation.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 393 by Tcg]

see edit


(I went back and re examined your post, which I should have done before, and so edited my own. My bad)

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 391 by JehovahsWitness]

Since Jesus never said, "What I'm saying to you applies to all individuals throughout the rest of time that believe I'm the Messiah and i want all those people to eat and drink the bread and wine..."

Speaking to His apostles:


"Go and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."





Peace to you both,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

I see you have some words in bold tam, did you have a POINT to make about how you have applied each of those bolded words? If so can you make your point in a few complete sentences so that I can consider addressing them.

[Tcg]

[Replying to post 394 by JehovahsWitness]

Neither your revision nor your original statement addresses my post which was in fact a repetition of Jesus' instruction. Your argument continues to be with Jesus, not me.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 394 by JehovahsWitness]

Neither your revision nor your original statement addresses my post which was in fact a repetition of Jesus' instruction. Your argument continues to be with Jesus, not me.

Whether it is "an argument" or "an agreement" is a matter of opinion. For the second time I repeat: I am more than happy with that, in fact I look forward to "meeting" Jesus on the basis of this matter. Absolutely not a problem for me.

If that is your only point, I do believe this particular exchange is done.

[Tcg]

Whether it is "an argument" or "an agreement" is a matter of opinion. For the second time I repeat: I am more than happy with that, in fact I look forward to "meeting" Jesus on the basis of this matter. Absolutely not a problem for me.

None of this addresses the point I have made, in fact it totally ignores it.

If that is your only point, I do believe this particular exchange is done.

Given that you continue to refuse to address the point I have made, there is no need to bring up any other. You are free to either address it or continue to ignore it as you please.