DLL, Your words are consistently kind. I'll respond to your main points, aside from your personal conversion experience, which were:
1. "I have always believed deception comes to ones absolutely sure."
2. Your conversations with Mormons ended in anger. [JWs too?}
3. My beliefs are from the Watchtower, I should read Bible as a child.
4. Watchtower has published much error.
5. Discontinue this public exchange.
1.... Your personal belief isn't the measure, DLL. Paul said I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Jesus said Ye shall know the truth The Bible calls Jehovah a God of Knowledge admonishing us: If thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee; so as to incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thy heart to understanding ... Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God. Ro 10:2 Jn 8:32 Prov 2
2.... I'm not Mormon, don't confuse us! I lived in Salt Lake and street witnessed in front of the tabernacle. The lives & harems of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young disqualify them as men of God. Mormons consider the Bible and 3 other books inspired: Book/Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenant which condemns adultery 42:80, then at 133:52 Emma Smith is ordered by God to accept Joe's extra wives. At least 48 of them the record shows! Paul said an overseer must be the husband of one wife Two Mormon elders told me this meant "At LEAST one wife." Every good Mormon girl should marry young, Brigham Young!
Notwithstanding, I hired 2 young Mormons to run my chemical manufacturing company, clean, honest family men, hard workers, did not swear, smoke or drink, fine characteristics of their people. From a lifetime of witnessing I've learned to look for the good in all men, that by some means I might save some.
3.... My convictions come from Scripture alone, the only authority I've cited in these exchanges. I don't think you can deal with that, DLL, because the dozens of scriptures I've quoted have been ignored by yourself and the others. I'm part of a Christian fellowship, even as you are. But I don't accuse you of being controlled by your fellowship. Nor am I. In my home are 3,000+ books: encyclopedias, reference, science, history, religion, no fiction. 15% are Watchtower publications, 100 on evolution half by Darwinists. Paul said Prove all things, hold fast to that which is fine I do that.
4....Watchtower errors: these there have been. There was error among the early Christians, but they remained Jehovah's people: In Mat 20 Christ told the disciples He'd be killed in Jerusalem. Next verse: James, John and their mother ask for preference when He sets up the Kingdom [next week in Jerusalem, they expect] Peter ate with Gentiles only when brothers from Jerusalem were absent. James spoke of fights, wars and coveting in the congregation. David, named 1,000 times in the OT, murdered Uriah to take Bathsheba. Jacob put sticks before breeding goats to influence their DNA, Abraham denied Sarah was his wife. Peter denied Christ. Watchtower mistakenly predicted dates, changed positions, made presumptuous statements. That's the bad news, here's the good:
A. The last financial scandal involving the Society was 30 bushels of wheat donated in 1908, sold for $1,800. [Refunds were offered] Funeral directors have handed me envelopes after the service, which every Witness would refuse. Sometimes after marrying couples I gave them money, never the reverse. Churchgoers today know little Bible, have no sense of the great commission to preach, think of doing God's work as writing checks to the church.
B. We're a people of peace: Wrote Christine King in The Nazi State and The New Religions: "What the Witnesses experienced was not the imprisonment they suffered in America or Britain for their refusal to fight, they experienced a crusade, based on a fear of their influence....Only against the Witnesses was the government unsuccessful, for although they had killed thousands, the work went on, the Witnesses numbers had increased and no compromises had been made."
C.... The Watchtower is the most dynamic Bible educational organization in the world. Wrote Chandler Sterling, Methodist minister, in The WITNESSESS: Every single one of them is a practicing minister, either on a full-time or a part-time basis. They are always ready to brave the scorn, contempt, and abuse of hostile and unsympathetic people who look down them ... yet they are a quiet and peace-loving people...everything in his life must be built around dedication to Jehovah...the kind of instruction that is carried on in their congregational schools has given Jehovah's Witnesses the largest body of poised, capable and regularly performing speakers that will be found anywhere. No other society can make that statement." [1975, Henry Regnery Co, Chicago] Since then our activity tripled, 80,000 congregations! In all the inhabited earth!
We are freed from the mysteries of Babylonish error:
Immortality of the Soul
Eternal Torment
Destruction of planet Earth
Predestination
Christmas, Easter, Halloween
Rejection of the New Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Nationalism, war, racism
A professional titled & paid clergy
And, as you noted, Watchtower changes position, unlike the RCC which took 400 years to admit Galilio was right. Have you stopped celebrating Christmas? Do you agree with eery word your preacher says? We kept it once. We have a perfect God, not a perfect human organization, nor was Israel. When I remember David I think of Goliath, not Bathsheba. If Jehovah would heal Manasseh, perhaps by the blood of Christ I might attain salvation. Put up with one another in love.
5....Dear DLL, I'll witness as long as I have breath, from God's Word on these matters. I made that vow when I was saved when I was 7. But I believe in public testimony, by which I might reach the many, that's why I'll not PM with you.
Sincerely,
Don Martini |
