WinsomeX:

If I were you, I will have a lot more to bother myself with than that slip or error. To think that I was even trying to make a case for your homosexuality only to find out that as early as June this year you were going three rounds of sex with a girl you barely knew.

You have a lot more trouble to contend with young man.

If you talk too much now, I will call Gombs to come and thrash you

Gombs:

Drummaboy



Did you just say Jesus used the word Power only twice? What of matt 28:8? In fact in the book of Matthew, Jesus mentioned power 7 times dunamis and exousia...it may surprise you to know some word written miracle is actually dunamis-power... it is now evident you don't study nor know scripture, and confirmed mba's claim that you are pseudo intellectual, , and for me, that's putting it mildly

LWKMD

^^^ well said.

Gombs:

Online, Heheheheheh
Like reactiongifs.com or photobucket.com

They became necessary to communicate my facial expression when I read some posts here!

Thanks.

@Gombs, I like your gifs, how do you get them?

Bidam: My apostle, i dey hail o. I saw your great teachings at the convention and i learnt alot. Thanks a zillion sir!

Small boy like me na eim you dey call apostle. Anyway thanks 4 the compliment

@Bidam, welcome back loooong time.

U-connect=gnld?

The watchtower believes that 144,000 is a literal number refering to their organization. As per when the 144,000 number was closed here is a number of contradictions in their teachings.

Russell had said that all 144,000 had been chosen by 1881 and presented a number of Biblical reasons why this was the case.

"Remember, too, that the Scriptures proved to us in various ways-by the Jubilee Cycles, the 1335 days of Daniel, the Parallel Dispensations, etc.-that the "harvest" or end of this age was due to begin in October, 1874, and that the Great Reaper was then due to be present; that seven years later-in October, 1881-the "high calling" ceased, though some will be admitted to the same favors afterward, without a general call being made, to fill the places of some of the called ones who, on being tested, will be found unworthy." Thy Kingdom Come p.362

"And the three and a half years following the Spring of A.D. 1878, which ended October, A.D. 1881, correspond to the three and a half years of continued favor to individual Jews in the last half of their seventieth week of favor. As in the type that date-three and a half years after the death of Christ-marked the end of all special favor to the Jew and the beginning of favor to the Gentiles, so we recognize A.D. 1881 as marking the close of the special favor to Gentiles-the close of the "high calling," or invitation to the blessings peculiar to this age-to become joint-heirs with Christ and partakers of the divine nature." The Time Is At Hand 1916 ed. p.235

Rutherford recycled this concept, and without any Biblical basis moved the sealing of the 144,000 from 1881 to 1931.

"God having a fixed time for every purpose (Ecclesiastes 3:1), his time to give creatures on earth the opportunity to get in line for a heavenly reward has been from A .D. 29 until, chiefly, 1931, called the "day of salvation". "Let God be True" 1946 ed. p.298

"Although Jehovah had come to his temple in 1918 and had begun judgment of this anointed class, still others must be brought in, because some were found unworthy and they must be replaced. The evidences show that this continued until especially 1931, when there began a work of gathering those recognized as "other sheep" of the Lord Jesus Christ." Jehovah's Witnesses In The Divine Purpose 1959 p.139

This was later changed to 1935.

"Hence, especially after 1966 it was believed that the heavenly call ceased
in 1935."
Watchtower 2007 May 1 p.30

"Their being identified in 1935 as the great crowd of other sheep was an indication that the choosing of the 144,000 was then about complete." Revelation, Its Grand Climax Now at Hand p.125

In recent years, those that chose to partake of the emblems have been criticised as having emotional issues.

"Over the years some, even ones newly baptized, have suddenly begun to partake. In a number of cases, after a while they acknowledged that this was an error. Some have recognized that they partook as an emotional response to perhaps physical or mental strain. But they came to see that they really were not called to heavenly life. They asked for God's merciful understanding." Watchtower 1996 Aug 15 p.31

These comments a reminiscent of the words of Jesus at Matthew 23:13:

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."
In 2007 this teaching was once again changed, with the admission that the Bible does not give a date for when the closing would occur.

"As time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness borne to them that they have the heavenly hope. Thus we cannot set a specific date for when the heavenly hope ends." Watchtower 2007 May 1 p.31

ANYONE WHO STILL FOLLOWS THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY AFTER READING THIS IS A FOOL.

Someone who offends you on a daily basis is a troll. Try to get to the root of the matter, try to understand why that person is hurting you, like tell him how his actions make you feel. Plus remember the problem is not with you, its with him. If after that he still persists, shun him. Treat him as though he were dead.

^^^ even the jehovah's witness interpretation of the 144,000 doctrine is not consistent. I will come with their quotes to back up my claim shortly.

Though condemning the world's commercial system as part of Satan's system, the Watchtower Society has not held back from utilising it to the fullest, in the process becoming a multi-billion dollar organization. In 2010, the valuation of Watchtower real-estate in Brooklyn alone exceeded a billion dollars. By claiming religious or charity status, the billions earned over the last century have been largely tax free.

The Watchtower Society has used stocks, bonds and trusts as investment vehicles. One such trust was the H M Riley Trust, from the deceased estate of Henrietta Riley.



This trust trades in a wide spread of bonds and shares in companies such as Exxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Proctor & Gamble and[b] Phillip Morris, one of the world's largest cigarette manufacturers[/b].



In 2012, the trust was worth over 3.5 million dollars, and provided the Watchtower with tax free income of $752,859, as shown in the Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.

Conclusion

Witness school children endure embarrassment and humiliation, sitting whilst other students stand during remembrance days, anthems and flag salutes, due to the political nature of such occasions. Yet at the same time, the leaders actively attend and lobby political events.

The Watchtower Society holds associated NGO status with political organisations and sends representatives to political enquiries. If the Watchtower Society can send attendees to influence government on matters of religious tolerance why are individual Witnesses forbidden from voting or holding political cards, at the risk of torture and death?

This is yet another area where illogical Watchtower doctrine has created unnecessary suffering for members, and shown the hypocrisy of the leadership. Political neutrality is at odds with the long-term prosperity of the Watchtower organisation and will no doubt be another area in which the rules loosen over coming decades.

Nwaoguta: Go and die with your lies

Please kindly quote the lies in this thread, so that I will take correction.



Am waiting.....

Jimmy Swaggart

In 1988, Jimmy Swaggart was taken to court in the case Swaggart Ministries v. California Board of Equalization. This regarded paying tax on profit derived from sales of religious material. See www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1989/1989_88_1374/argument/ (6 Apr 2007)

Realising a ruling against Swaggart could result in the sale of Watchtower publications being taxed, the Watchtower Society filed a Brief of Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) for United States Supreme Court Docket # 88-1374. This was to show support for Jimmy Swaggart Ministries retaining tax exempt status. Other groups to similarly do so included International Society for Krishna Consciousness of California, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and the Prison Fellowship. The Supreme Court ruled against Swaggart on January 17th, 1990, ordering him to pay back taxes.

With the decision going against Swaggart, the Watchtower Society initiated the 'voluntary donation' arrangement. A letter to elders in the United States was sent on February 21st 1990, changing the distribution of magazines to a donation arrangement, effective from March 1st 1990. This was rolled out to other countries over coming months. Information explaining the arrangement to congregations was provided in the Our Kingdom Ministry,1991 March pp.3,4 titled "Our Simplified Literature Distribution Arrangement". To ensure that the Watchtower would not be disadvantaged by the new arrangement, Witnesses were told to donate for the literature they pick up at the kingdom hall, and then also donate any money received from householders, something akin to double-dipping. A further letter to congregations followed January 24th 1991, with the following explanation for why the double donation was not to be considered donating twice.

The Watchtower Society strongly condemns the world and its commercial, political and religious systems. Described as part of Satan's system, these are said to be shortly devoted to destruction.

"False religion’s involvement in the affairs of the political nations will lead ultimately to her own devastation." Watchtower 1985 Mar 1 p.13

"Indeed, consider what the situation will be the day after God brings this system of things to its end. Satan, his demons, and his political, commercial, and religious systems will be gone - every one of them! Satan's entire propaganda apparatus will be gone too. Thus, after the great tribulation, there will never again be printed a single newspaper, magazine, book, booklet, or leaflet that supports this wicked world. There will be no corrupting influences broadcast from worldly television or radio stations. The entire poisonous environment of Satan's world will be cleared away in one mighty stroke!"" Watchtower 1993 Apr 1 pp.17-18


Witnesses are warned away from involvement in these systems. Voting, jury duty, working in the military or religious institutions or joining related clubs are either warned against as conscience matters or forbidden and reasons to be disfellowshipped. Something as simple as painting a Church roof as a contractor can be grounds for being disfellowshipped. In Malawi, thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses were tortured and killed because the Watchtower told them it was unchristian to hold a political card as required by the Malawian government. (Yearbook 1999 pp.149-223)

Despite its scathing attacks on other Religions for political involvement and the censoring of its followers, the Watchtower Society as an organization, has not held back from political involvement and lobbying when considered beneficial for its own means. This double standard has been a major source of stumbling for many followers. Since 2001, a number of people have left the Watchtower Society on learning of its application and involvement as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Associate Member of the United Nations Department of Public Information, as detailed at United Nations NGO.

The Watchtower is vague as to its definition of politics and where it draws the line between what involvement is or is not acceptable. In democratic countries there are three main political aspects:

>Executive - General administration of state bureaucracy
>Legislative - Create and maintain laws
>Judiciary - Court system for interpretation and application of the law

Whilst all three tiers are critical to the governing of a country, the Watchtower appears to be against the Executive aspect more-so than the Judiciary and Legislative functions. However, whilst against influencing the Executive function through the election of representatives, they have not shied away from political lobbying as a form of influence. The following information shows how the Watchtower Society is actively involved in political affairs, such as through lobbying and use of the Judiciary.

Judiciary Court Systems

The Watchtower Society is proud of its extensive use of the world's court systems, claiming it has benefited the preaching work and freedom of speech for people in general.

"Legal cases involving the Witnesses have numbered many thousands, and hundreds of these have been appealed to higher courts. This has had a profound effect on the law itself and has often fortified legal guarantees of basic freedoms for people in general. But this has not been the main objective of Jehovah's Witnesses. Their principal desire is to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. Legal action that they take is not because they are social agitators or legal reformers. Their objective is to 'defend and legally establish the good news,' even as was true of the apostle Paul." Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p. 678

Ironically, while using the world's courts to gain freedom of speech for the organization, the same cannot be said for its own members. Open disagreement with any doctrine of the Governing Body is grounds for removal from the Organization, with members strictly forbidden from speaking to such members.

It is interesting to examine the lengths Watchtower lawyers are prepared to go when using the Judiciary system for rights pertaining to the "Organization".

According to the law of Moses, which set forth shadows of things to come, the receiver of a blood transfusion must be cut off from God's people by excommunication or disfellowshiping. ... As a rebellious opposer and unfaithful example to fellow members of the Christian congregation he must be cut off therefrom by disfellowshiping.” Watchtower 1961 Jan 15 pp.63,64
“When one is near death is no time to tamper with or violate the law of God, but a time to draw as near as possible to God by remaining faithful. Everlasting life is the reward for faithfulness. How foolish it would be to gamble away the prospect of life eternal for the very uncertain promise of a cure by blood transfusion!" Watchtower 1970 Apr 15 p.249
Can it be said that a person has freedom to choose medical treatment if their religious leaders threatened them with shunning and the loss of life eternal? It would be like the taxation office saying you are free to refuse to pay tax, but when you are caught you will go to jail. That is not freedom. Furthermore, whilst the Watchtower may try to skirt around definitions of freedom, there certainly can be no doubt that it is a direct lie that Witnesses do not face “controls or sanctions” if they have blood.

In 2000 the Watchtower issued a press release stating that the requirements from Bulgaria had resulted in no changes in policy.



The Bulgarian government attempted to allow individual Witnesses the right to choose a blood transfusion, and the Watchtower gave the impression that they were changing their procedures on blood when signing Application No.28626/95. There can be no doubt that Bulgarian authorities felt this document meant they had paved the way for Witnesses to enjoy freedom of choice in regards to blood. Maybe the Bulgarian government was naïve in thinking a religion that prides itself on political neutrality would abide by political documents that it signed.

Although the term “theocratic warfare” is no longer used in Watchtower publications, the situation with Bulgaria shows the Watchtower Society still finds it acceptable to follow the principle of deceiving governments in furthering its own interests.

“Today God’s servants are engaged in a warfare, a spiritual, theocratic warfare, a warfare ordered by God against wicked spirit forces and against false teachings. God’s servants are sent forth as sheep among wolves and therefore need to exercise the extreme caution of serpents so as to protect properly the interests of God’s kingdom committed to them. At all times they must be very careful not to divulge any information to the enemy that he could use to hamper the preaching work.“ Watchtower 1957 May 1 pp.285-286


THE END

The cunning wordplay is a shocking indication of the lack of respect Watchtower leaders hold for governments of the world. Whilst the Watchtower signed in the European Commission of Human Rights application that a Witness could act “freely at their own discretion, without any controls or sanctions ”, the above letter shows there are repercussions that are highly persuasive in preventing Witnesses from exercising their own freedom and discretion.

The Watchtower may not prevent members from taking blood, such as by physical restraint, but they are doctrinally prevented and as a result emotionally prevented, by threats of shunning and death at Armageddon. When blood is required, elders will discuss and pray with the patient to be strong in their resolve to reject blood, fill in legal paperwork for the patient and reason with doctors. On occasions, elders will even provide a 24-hour watch to ensure a member does not receive blood. If, despite all this pressure to comply with Watchtower doctrine, the Witness does accept blood, they face the sanction of disassociation and eternal death.


“Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock” p.21

“Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock” p.22

People that enquired to Watchtower headquarters about the Bulgarian changes have received explanations such as the following.

.

This is far from true in two regards.

1.We have already seen that there was a doctrinal change to allow Witnesses the right to engage in civilian military service.
2.As will be discussed later, individuals do not have “freedom to choose” a blood transfusion if they are to remain Witnesses.

Finnish journalist Pasi Turunen writes that in an interview in Finland on a local Christian radio station in April 1998 a Watchtower representative made the following comment:

"...this deal by Bulgaria is such that when the European human-rights court gave two weeks ago a decision, that the Bulgarian government must register Jehovah's Witnesses, that Jehovah's Witnesses cannot be classified as a destructive sect or religion, so Jehovah's Witnesses do not tell what a particular individual does, so this deal means this, that every individual has a full freedom of conscience to do, and Jehovah's Witnesses do not tell in a centralized way what someone does or does not do. And that's what that deal means."
It seemed that a dramatic shift in policy had occurred. In reality nothing had changed, as Watchtower’s policies and procedures remained virtually the same. The words conveyed by the Watchtower representatives are deceptive, as Witnesses are subject to identical repercussions if they have a blood transfusion or allow their children to have one.

Following the Watchtower’s agreement with Bulgaria, blood transfusions were removed from being a disfellowshipping offence. This was of little consequence, as the consumption of blood was simply reclassified from being a disfellowshipping offence to one of disassociation. This change was released as a letter to Traveling Overseers dated: 4/26/00: For KS/91 page 95 – Blood Issue. 5/21/00: New procedure for handling cases where ones take a blood transfusion.



The Notification of Disfellowshipping or Disassociation form (S-77-E 7/01), used when a person is to be announced as "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses", included taking blood under the disassociation check box.



In 2010, the new Elders manual outlined that taking blood can lead to being disassociated.

"Willingly and unrepentantIy taking blood.
If someone willingly takes blood, perhaps because of being under extreme pressure, the committee should obtain the facts and determine the individual's attitude. If he is repentant, the committee would provide spiritual assistance in the spirit of Galatians 6:1 and Jude 22,23. Since he is spiritually weak, he would not qualify for special privileges for a period of time, and it may be necessary to remove certain basic privileges. Depending on the circumstances, the committee may also need to arrange for an announcement to the congregation: "The elders have handled a matter having to do with [name of person]. You will be glad to know that spiritual shepherds are endeavoring to render assistance." On the other hand, if the elders on the committee determine that he is unrepentant, they should announce his disassociation." Shepherd the Flock of God pp.111,112

The difference between being disfellowshipped and disassociated means that Witnesses have actually been disadvantaged by this change. Whereas a committee is formed for disfellowshipping where the subject can plead and then appeal their case, with disassociation the subject is considered to have by their actions chosen to be removed from the congregation and hence have no right of appeal to the decision. Despite the subtle difference in procedure, it is important to recognise that both result in shunning, as shown in the following copy from Pay Attention to Yourselves and All the Flock p.102.

In order to gain legal recognition in Bulgaria during the 1990's, the Watchtower was required to change its doctrine on military service, and allowed civilian service in 1996. It also signed a document before the European Commission on Human Rights, deceptively stating it does not sanction followers for taking blood transfusions.
The situation regarding the Watchtower Society and blood transfusions in Bulgaria demonstrates that the Watchtower is prepared to bend the truth in furthering its own political needs. It is hard to reconcile how Watchtower actions before the European Commission on Human Rights could be construed as anything other than perjury.

On June 28, 1994, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers refused to renew the Watchtower’s registration as a religion.1 The two main issues behind this decision were Watchtower doctrine forbidding:

Witnesses to participate in military service
Witnesses and their children to receive blood transfusions
A four-year legal battle ensued, resulting in compromise on both sides. The Watchtower Society and government of Bulgaria brokered an agreement through the European Commission of Human Rights that was adopted on March 9th 1998 under Application No. 28626/95. This states in part:

16. By letters of 8 and 12 September 1997 the parties indicated their willingness to reach a friendly settlement. The parties exchanged correspondence and proposals for a friendly settlement and held meetings in Sofia on 20 and 21 November 1997. On 17 January 1998, upon the parties' request, the Commission made proposals to the parties with a view to resolving some remaining differences in their positions. The parties again met in Sofia on 10 February 1998.

17. By letters of 10 and 11 February 1998 the parties informed the Commission of the final text of the friendly settlement.
Click here to read the full document
The Watchtower reached a “friendly settlement” by indicating a change to its rules regarding blood transfusions and military service. In order to accommodate the wishes of the Watchtower Society, the Bulgarian government created a non-combative military service option for conscientious objectors to participate in.

If only it were that simple. Scratch beneath the surface and a raft of issues become apparent, highlighting the Watchtower’s willingness for deception in what is an example of “theocratic warfare”.

“It is proper to cover over our arrangements for the work that God commands us to do. If the wolfish foes draw wrong conclusions from our maneuvers to outwit them, no harm has been done to them by the harmless sheep, innocent in their motives as doves.” Watchtower 1956 Feb 1 p.86
Military Service

Bulgaria had an issue with the Watchtower’s refusal to participate in military service. For many decades, Witnesses were not allowed to engage in military service. Not only was combative military service disallowed, also non-combative or civilian service was also forbidden. Many young witnesses around the globe were jailed for such a stance, some for years.

"Jehovah’s witnesses are according to God’s Word no part of this world which is governed by the political systems. For this important Bible reason they tell officials of the government that they conscientiously object to serving in any military establishment or any civilian arrangement that substitutes for military service." Watchtower 1951 Feb 1 p.77
"An examination of the historical facts shows that not only have Jehovah's Witnesses refused to put on military uniforms and take up arms but, during the past half century and more, they have also declined to do noncombatant service or to accept other work assignments as a substitute for military service. … Many of Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned because they would not violate their Christian neutrality." United in Worship of the Only True God p.167
"Before 1977 the [Greek] brothers would be called to serve prison sentences repeatedly; some spent over 12 years in prison!" Yearbook 1994 p.108
Other Witnesses, such as in Mexico, have been permitted by the Watchtower to bribe officials to receive documentation dishonestly claiming they had completed military service. See Malawi vs Mexico

To settle the dispute in Bulgaria, compromise was required on both sides. To accommodate the conscience of Watchtower followers, the Bulgarian government introduced civilian service into their military service program. In 1996, the Watchtower conveniently changed its stance on military service, allowing non-combative or civilian service.

"What, though, if the State requires a Christian for a period of time to perform civilian service that is a part of national service under a civilian administration? … That is his decision before Jehovah. Appointed elders and others should fully respect the conscience of the brother and continue to regard him as a Christian in good standing. " Watchtower 1996 May 1 pp.20,21
This change in policy seems somehow disappointing after the hardship young Witness men endured for decades. By determining that civilian service was not actually an important issue before Jehovah, Watchtower leaders showed Bible interpretation can be shaped by governmental requirements as readily as by holy spirit.

Blood Transfusions

The other issue of importance to the Bulgarian government was regarding blood transfusions. The authorities felt Witnesses should not be coerced to forgo life saving treatment at the threat of being disfellowshipped. For Jehovah's Witnesses to be recognised as a religious organization in Bulgaria, the Watchtower Society had to ensure that, regarding blood transfusions, "members should have free choice in the matter for themselves and their children, without any control or sanction on the part of the association."2

As part of the reconciliation, the Watchtower agreed that they would not sanction the use of medical treatment for Witnesses.

“2.1 - Jehovah's Witness patients resort to the use of the medical system for themselves and their children; each member having the right to make use of this [medical system] freely at their own discretion, without any controls or sanctions on the part of the petitioner;” - Translation of Application No. 28626/95
Watchtower representatives publicly announced that though they continue to highlight Bibles principles regarding the requirement to abstain from using blood, they do not prevent followers from taking blood. In a Watchtower press release of April 27th 1998, they stated:

“The agreement also includes an acknowledgment that each individual has the freedom to choose the type of medical treatment he receives. …. The terms of the agreement do not reflect a change in the doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

mbaemeka:

The verses he quoted, who made them- Jesus or him?

The answer to the question is obvious. I don't see any reason for you quoting him, because he is not here to seek clarification, he wants to troll this this thread. Am not suprised though, because he opened a thread criticizing pastor Chris with his BERNIMORE handle.

https://www.nairaland.com/1896606/when-properties-aquired-tithe-offerings

Is yooguyz a catholic christian who doesn't know the bible?/ athiest/??.... (God knows what other accusation?)

I explained myself in this thread.

https://www.nairaland.com/1877865/yooguyz-athiest

.

Gombs:

Am lost... are you trying to prove he is a CEC member or a Pastor or Homosexual or Fornicator?....

Thanks

Please ask her to kindly quote the comments I made supporting CEC.

honeychild:

Here's another topic you recently opened o......if you like go and beg the mods on romance section to remove it too!

https://www.nairaland.com/1807818/she-stopped-picking-calls-after#24599343

If my eyes serve me correctly, I can't find the words: gay pastor, priest, athiest, south africa, e.t.c. In that thread....










Oh I forgot, I don't quote internet trolls.

^^^ oh forgot to add two more

3. You guys are jehovah witness trolls

4. You guys are having watchtower withdrawal symptoms. Don't worry I understand what you are going through I can help, just humble yourself, ok?

honeychild:

Yooguyz you know I have been on to you from the moment you came to nairaland.

You and I know your first post was about how a guy can get a girl to sleep with him on the first date.
Next you posted about how you are a guy having feelings for other guys. And how you were introduced to homosexuality by a junior pastor in your father's church while you were on crusade in South Africa.

When you claimed to have imparted Holy Spirit to one of Jehovah's Witnesses (that was your first post on religion section) and I challenged you on what type of Hoky Ghost you have that sticks with you despite your immoral ways, you didn't deny it. Only for you to go running to the mods to remove your immoral topics.

When someone challenged you on your gay Christian thread, you made the boast about being a pastor despite being gay.

It's either you are a pathological liar, or you are a schizophrenic demon posessed person.

Bernimore/Barristers/truthislight has also been unto me since resumed nairaland, the latest lie against me is that I am an athiest.

You guys have 2 things in common

1. Hatred and bitterness towards me because of my threads exposing watchtower hypocrisy right from the onset. Isn't it a coincidence that you started this funny accusations the moment started criticizing the watchtower?

2.Inventing all sort of rubbish against me. (Where do you guys even pick these stuff from?)

honeychild:

j should have known yooguyz goes to CEC!

Oh I see, the pastor and priest accusation isn't functional again. Now am now called a CEC member

What other church will tolerate a confessed homosexual and fornicator to continue to 'pastor' a church. You people's immorality sinks to lower levels every day!!

Am not suprised by your lies, you simply living out the example set by the leaders of the watchtower society. You are a true Jehovah's witness.

honeychild:

common shut up!
And her friends who were 'healed' of cancer and have all died too? They were faithless? I don't believe in hell fire. But if there was a hellfire, the hottest place should be reserved for heartless bastards like you and your demonic false pastor.

Am not suprised that you wrote that rubbish! Its much better for you to quote Bernimore/Barristers/truthislight moniker, or your watchtower magazine. You don't understand spiritual things.

Watchtower Reasons for Disfellowshipping

Bible discussion of shunning in 1 Corinthian's 15 and 2 John is limited to just the following areas; Fornication, Greed, idolatry, Revilers, Practicing Drunkenness, Extortion and One who does not remain in the teaching of the Christ.

This list should be the full extent of reasons for which to be disfellowshipped. In fact, Diotrephes was reprimanded for attempting to throw people out of the congregation unnecessarily.

3 John 9,10 "I wrote something to the congregation, but Diotrephes, who likes to have the first place among them, does not receive anything from us with respect. That is why, if I come, I will call to remembrance his works which he goes on doing, chattering about us with wicked words. Also, not being content with these things, neither does he himself receive the brothers with respect, and those who are wanting to receive them he tries to hinder and to throw out of the congregation."
Following is the vast list of offences the Watchtower has created for which a Jehovah's Witness can be disfellowshipped or disassociated.

The abbreviations refer to the following publications:

- Kingdom Ministry (km)
- Watchtower (w)
- Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of Gods Kingdom (1993) (jv)
- Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock (ks91-E)
- Organised to Accomplish Our Ministry (om)
- Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 1 or 2 (it-1 or 2)

Adultery (sexual intercourse with a person other than your marriage mate), includes;
Abandoning wife and eloping with another woman - w79 11/15 31-2, w76 p.728
Planned adultery to break Scriptural marriage ties - w83 3/15 p.29
Remarriage without Scriptural permission - w56 10/1 p.597
Polygamy - jv 176
Dating a person not legally divorced - ks91-E p.135
Apostasy - w83 4/1 pp.22-4, km 8/80 pp.1, 4. includes;
Rebellion against Jehovah's organization - w63 7/1
Promoting sects - it-2 886
Associating with disfellowshipped people including;
Friends - ks91-E p.103, w81 9/15 pp.25-6, w55 10/1 p.607
Family - ks91-E p.103
Blood and blood transfusions - w61 1/15 ks91-E p.95, jv p.183-4
Drug use - ks91-E p.96
Drunkenness - ks91-E p.95, it-1 656
Dishonest business practices - w63 7/1, w86 11/15 14
Employment violating Christian principles - km 9/76 p.6, km 2/74
Working for any religious organization - ks91-E p.95
Working in a gambling institution - ks91-E p.136
Selling tobacco - ks91-E p.96
Contract work at a military establishment
False worship. Includes;
Attending another church ks91-E p.94
Following mourning customs that involve false worship - w85 4/15 p.25
Fornication it-1 863
Bestiality - w83 6/1 p.25
Incestuous marriage - w78 3/15 p.26
Artificial insemination and surrogate motherhood.
"True Christians, therefore, avoid surrogate motherhood as well as any procedures that involve the use of donated sperm, eggs, or embryos" g04 9/22;
"Artificial insemination of a married woman by a donor other than her husband makes her guilty of adultery" g74 8/8 p.28
sexual abuse of children - g93 10/8 p.10Reviling - ks91-E p.94, w96 7/15 pp.17-18; it-1 p.991; it-2 p.802
Fraud - ks91-E p.94, om pp.142-3
Gambling or related employment - w80 9/1, ks91-E p.136
Gluttony - w86 5/1
Greediness, this in used to include;
gambling ks91-E p.95
extortion ks91-E p.95, w89 1/15 22, it-1 p.789
greed in relation to bride-price: w98 9/15 p.25
Homosexuality - w83 6/1 pp.24-6
Idolatry - w52 3/1 p.138
Loose conduct - ks91-E pp.93, 96, w83 3/15 p.31, w73 9/15 p.574, it-2 p.264, ks91-E p.93, w83 3/15 p.31, w73 9/15 pp.574-6, w97 9/1 p.14, it-2 p.246.
This includes;
Sexual perversion
Disregard for Jehovah's moral standards
Disrespect, disregard or even contempt for standards, laws and authority,
Rather than restricted to the usual definition of sexual perversion, the Watchtower defines "loose conduct" as including "disrespect to elders". This enables this term to be used to disfellowship for a wide range of offences not elsewhere covered, and as such is used to cover all manner of sins, such as refusal to cease fellowship with disfellowshipped people, or even being contemptuous in a judicial meeting where no other sin can be proven.

Lying - ks91-E p.94, g00 2/8 p.21
Non neutral activities (involvement in politics and the military) - ks91-E p.96
Military service and non military service including working casual work (certain civilian work has recently been made a conscience matter w96 5/1 p.20) - ks91-E p.96
Obscene speech - ks91-E p.95
Parents condoning immorality - w56 p.566
Political involvement, including voting or holding a political card in Malawi - ks91-E p.96 (w99 11/1 p.28 made voting a conscience matter)
Porneia. Includes oral and anal sex between married couples, mutual masturbation between persons not married to each other, homosexuality, lesbianism, fornication, adultery, incest, and bestiality. - ks91-E p.93
Slander - ks91-E p.94, w63 7/1, w89 10/15 p.14, om p.142
Smoking or selling tobacco - km 2/74, ks91-E p.96
Spiritism (includes yoga w02 8/1 p.22) - w55 10/1 p.607
Stealing, thievery - om pp.142-5, ks91-E p.94
Subversive activity - w95 10/1 p.31
Uncleanness
Sexually perverse practices within marriage, such as oral and anal sex - w83 3/15 p.31
Heavy petting and breast handling - ks91-E p.92
Touching of sexual parts - ks91-E p.91
Practice of viewing abhorrent Pornography - w2012 3/15 p.31
Violation of secular law if flagrant attitude - w86 10/1 p.31
Violence, extreme physical abuse, fits of anger - ks91-E p.96, w75 p.287, g01 11/8 p.12
Includes Boxing w81 7/1 pp.30-1, ks91-E p.142
Wilful non support of family, endangerment of mates spirituality - w88 11/1 pp.22-3, km 9/73 p.8, ks91-E p.95
Worldly celebrations such as Christmas - ks91-E p.95 (It appears celebrating birthdays is not a reason to be disfellowshipped)
Bible guidelines on disfellowshipping

Examining the Scriptures used to justify disfellowshipping, it becomes apparent that Christian writers prescribed marking a Christian wrongdoer but did not provide for the Watchtower practice of disfellowshipping and strict shunning.

Jesus Advice

Jesus commanded that we not judge but love all, particularly those we consider our enemies.

Luke 6:27-37 "But I say to YOU who are listening, Continue to love YOUR enemies, to do good to those hating YOU, to bless those cursing YOU, to pray for those who are insulting YOU. To him that strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also; and from him that takes away your outer garment, do not withhold even the undergarment.Give to everyone asking you, and from the one taking your things away do not ask [them] back. Also, just as YOU want men to do to YOU, do the same way to them. And if YOU love those loving YOU, of what credit is it to YOU? For even the sinners love those loving them.And if YOU do good to those doing good to YOU, really of what credit is it to YOU? Even the sinners do the same.Also, if YOU lend [without interest] to those from whom YOU hope to receive, of what credit is it to YOU? Even sinners lend [without interest] to sinners that they may get back as much. To the contrary, continue to love YOUR enemies and to do good and to lend [without interest], not hoping for anything back; and YOUR reward will be great, and YOU will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind toward the unthankful and wicked. Continue becoming merciful, just as YOUR Father is merciful. Moreover, stop judging, and YOU will by no means be judged; and stop condemning, and YOU will by no means be condemned."
Jesus introduced the standard on how Christian wrongdoers should be treated, saying at Matthew 18:15-17:

"Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector."
Jesus did not say to never utter a word to an unrepentant wrong doer but to treat them as a tax collector. He himself spoke to and ate with tax collectors. (Matthew 9:11).

1 Corinthians 5:11

The majority of information on how to treat wrongdoers within the congregation comes from Paul and the main support the Watchtower uses to enforce shunning is from 1 Corinthians 5.

Paul showed a balanced approach to wrongdoers, advising not to socialise with such ones, but to still admonish [them] as a brother. 2 Thessalonians is key to understanding that wrongdoers should be marked, not disfellowshipped.

2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15 Now we are giving YOU orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition YOU received from us . 14 But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed. 15 And yet do not be considering him as an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother.
Paul did not indicate that marking was only for non-serious sin as the word through this letter at 2 Thessalonians included those not glorifying the name of our Lord Jesus, those refusing to work for a living, and any who had been seduced by apostasy. Paul did not say to disfellowship and shun such people, but rather instructed the congregation to mark or take note of such a person, yet continue admonishing him as a brother. In similar vein the following scriptures do not instruct complete shunning of the person, but rather to take note so as not to be influenced by their wrong ways.

Romans 16:17 "Now I exhort YOU, brothers, to keep your eye on (the word 'mark' is used in many translations) those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that YOU have learned, and avoid them. "
Titus 3:10 "As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition; knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is sinning, he being self-condemned."
At 1 Corinthians 5 Paul specifically outlined practices for which to cease mixing with a brother, yet this too is similar to the advice given when marking a brother.

1 Corinthians 5:11 "But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, while God judges those outside? Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves."
1 Corinthians does not say to totally shun a brother who is a wrong doer, rather it says to quit mixing in company with such a person and not eat with such a man and hence refers to socialising. As the Watchtower has explained, this refers to socialising as friends.

"God's Word states that we should 'not even eat with such a man.' (1 Cor. 5:11) Hence, we also avoid social fellowship with an expelled person. This would rule out joining him in a picnic, party, ball game, or trip to the mall or theater or sitting down to a meal with him either in the home or at a restaurant." Kingdom Ministry 2002 Aug p.3
This does not state that this type of person must never be spoken to. As Paul explained at 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 (quoted earlier), if they are at a meeting it would be reasonable to encourage them. Most certainly a polite greeting is acceptable.

1 Corinthians is also specific as to who these words apply to. This advice is in regards to a person "called a brother" who "is" a wrongdoer. No indication is given that they should be avoided when they are no longer recognised as a Jehovah's Witness brother. Nor does it say to shun a person who has stopped their wrongdoing. It is regularly the case that a teenage Witness is disfellowshipped for smoking or fornication. Years later they no longer practice what they were disfellowshipped for and are no longer known in the community as a brother, and so their continued shunning is unjustified.

It can also be noted that Paul did not insist that everyone participate in the shunning. Later he wrote that the "majority" participate in the rebuke, showing that some in the congregation may choose not to show rebuke to the person.

2 Corinthians 2:5-6 "Now if anyone has caused sadnessM, he has saddened, not me, but all of YOU to an extent-not to be too harsh in what I say. This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man, …"
The New World Translation reference M shows Paul was here referring to the situation discussed at 1 Corinthians 5, (as do Christian scholars).

Paul gave similar advice on a number of occasions to 'mark' and 'avoid' wrongdoers. This does not mean that the person must be totally ignored, never uttered a greeting, avoiding eye contact, crossing the street to get away from, all common experiences of disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses.