03-16-2008, 02:56 AM
03-16-2008, 09:00 AM
Its hard to imagine a more obscene misuse of clergy-laity priviledge.
Fortunately the newspaper did the right moral thing and warn the public.
How can the Witnesses in Temecula in good conscience invite the public to their Kingdom Halls with such a case pending.
Fortunately the newspaper did the right moral thing and warn the public.
How can the Witnesses in Temecula in good conscience invite the public to their Kingdom Halls with such a case pending.
03-16-2008, 11:08 AM
Ah...betwixt the rock and the hard place. It's a tough place to be.
Does the watchtower enjoy ecclesiastical privilege when it has no clergy? If it is all laity, it's all laity. You can't have your cake and eat it too. It's got to be one way or the other. I was smitten by the watchtower's lack of clergy in 1979. It was a big selling point. Finally...a church without a caste system! After-all...the truth is transparent, right?
I was only later to be enlightened to the multiple dimensions of watchtower classes. They are everywhere and in-between, overlapping at times and - with so many monikers - it's even hard to track down exactly what YOU are! I call it, "job security."
Does the watchtower enjoy ecclesiastical privilege when it has no clergy? If it is all laity, it's all laity. You can't have your cake and eat it too. It's got to be one way or the other. I was smitten by the watchtower's lack of clergy in 1979. It was a big selling point. Finally...a church without a caste system! After-all...the truth is transparent, right?
I was only later to be enlightened to the multiple dimensions of watchtower classes. They are everywhere and in-between, overlapping at times and - with so many monikers - it's even hard to track down exactly what YOU are! I call it, "job security."
Quote:
5 All the works they do they do to be viewed by men; for they broaden the [scripture-containing] cases that they wear as safeguards, and enlarge the fringes [of their garments]. 6 They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues, 7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men. 8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. (Matthew 23, NWT)
gus
03-16-2008, 06:26 PM
Succinctly, we have no clergy. Neither have we any "father confessors." If we had, far more of us would be forgiven. Judical action is as far from fatherly love and guidance as sin and repentance is from crime and punishment.
The problem now is, we are more concerned with internal protectionism than we are in shepherding our lambs given by Christ.
Love,
sw
The problem now is, we are more concerned with internal protectionism than we are in shepherding our lambs given by Christ.
Love,
sw
03-17-2008, 01:20 AM
smoldering wick Wrote:
Succinctly, we have no clergy. Neither have we any "father confessors." If we had, far more of us would be forgiven. Judical action is as far from fatherly love and guidance as sin and repentance is from crime and punishment.
The problem now is, we are more concerned with internal protectionism than we are in shepherding our lambs given by Christ.
Love,
sw
The problem now is, we are more concerned with internal protectionism than we are in shepherding our lambs given by Christ.
Love,
sw
Amen, SW. That's what unsmittened me by 1989. I call them, "my formative years."
gus
03-17-2008, 01:53 AM
Third Witness has posted some new information regarding the child abuse issue.
http://ewatchman-exposed.co.uk/research/...ply=5#msg5
Warm Christian Love
Bangalore
http://ewatchman-exposed.co.uk/research/...ply=5#msg5
Warm Christian Love
Bangalore