Dear friends, brothers and sisters,
The passover season is here and the "memorial" is just around the corner. Many here have come to accept the truth regarding the New Covenant and have partaken in response to that. However, this precious truth is still hidden in our "hometown", among those that we love, our friends and family at the Kingdom Hall. They are routinely told to reject our Lord's body and his blood - even though it is in partaking of him that we have everlasting life. (John 6:54-57) Who will tell the Truth among them? My friend, what will you do with the light that has been given you? Will you hide it under a basket?
If you have yet to publicly partake - then please consider your reasons for doing so. Often the reason is simply fear. Fear of being rejected. Fear of ridicule. Fear of losing family. Fear of being disfellowshipped. Fear of being different. These are natural emotions - but we must seek love. The kind of love that conquers fear - and drives it out! (1 John 4:18)
Our love for Jesus and what he has done compels to partake, not in secret as if he is something shameful, but openly expressing our union with him. Our love for our family and friends compels us to share this good news with them - that they may also taste and see that the Lord is good. Can you stand up among your household and faithfully set an example? How do you know that but that you will "save" your husband/wife?
The encouragement is this - do not continue to hide, partaking in dark, as it were. Set your light on the table where it can be seen.
How do you know that in that very place there aren't others who have heard the call of our Lord but have held back for the very reasons you have? May your Godly conduct and obedience in this matter encourage them likewise to take a stand on the side of the Truth!
May his rich blessings be upon you during this special occasion and every day of your lives!
Yours in Him,
Anthony
Hi anthony ...
What exactly do you mean by ... 'publicly' ...?
Luv BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
Justin,
I will be partaking in my own home.
I do not want to be found eating the emblems and drinking the wine with the drunkards at a Kingdom Hall.
Revelation 3:19
“‘All those for whom I have affection I reprove and discipline. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his [house] and take the evening meal with him and he with me.
In Christ
abe
Im with abe on this one.
Partaking at the hall means an entirely different thing to the people there, then what its supposed to mean.
When someone partakes there for the first time, they are viewed with disdain, and their credibility is questioned.
Partaking at the hall is also an affirmation that the person believes he is an anointed Jehovah's Witness who has been chosen to live in Heaven and rule with Christ over lessor JWs.
Yes, I do at church.
I would consider it an honor to be treated with disdain for doing it.Maybe something more might get questioned than our credability.
But I wouldn't want to partake at the KH for the other reasons written by previous posters.
Blithe
hi Bl, The disdain isn't because you're proclaiming your union with Christ, it's because you're claiming to be in an elite class!
hi Bl, The disdain isn't because you're proclaiming your union with Christ, it's because you're claiming to be in an elite class!
Wow! Is that how it's seen? :(I always heard the partakers talked of with an air of mystery & awe. But they were always oldsters and dead now.I was always taught they were so humble. :confused:They must have really stood out!
I have heard tales of a younger man being treated strangely by his family.Like he was abandoning his wife & children, with much weeping & carrying on mourning for her future without a mate . Teaching their kids to cry why Daddy? That was an odd situation the family not yet in their 30's.
I guess I never got the the elite message , just different. But then I was a nobody & everyone was mo impotent than me.;)
Is this a change in view towards the anointed or always been there & I not in the know?
Blithe
Dear people,
Will someone inform me when is the passover. I partake and at home with a simple wheat bread (chapati) and Nestle Red Grape Juice (alas! Pakistan being a muslim country and liqour not being freely available)!
I am 5 hours ahead of GMT i.e., when it is 12 pm in England it is 7pm in Karachi Pakistan.
Thanks
fz
We also partake at church, on the first Sundays of each month and on special occasions. :)
In the past, when we attended the online Memorial via paypal, we also partook then as well. (I've really gotta get back to those paypal discussions!)
:grouphug:
[admin. note to tami: that's Paltalk, not paypal lol. It's actually hot conference now. There will be a thread going up today for the online memorial]
For me the memorial is a very personal and close thing as I know it is to all of us ...
Is it necessary for it to be 'public' ...?
By that justin I am wondering if you are thinking it has to be a 'statement' of some kind ...? :dontknow:
That if we do not do it in a building, church, kingdom hall or whereever that we are somehow 'ashamed' ...?
I cannot help but reflect on words such as our heavenly Father liking gifts made in secret ... or not being Pharasaical by making a showy display of our 'spirituality' and many other such like sentiments ... :love:
If someone chooses to go among people, then it is good for them ... if others choose, like myself, to do it with friends in my home, then that is good for me ...
For to me to do it in the kingdom hall would be a 'mockery' of what it is all about ... to see my dear brothers pass away them emblems ... well ... it would take away from the real meaning wouldn't it ... and since I am also not comfortable with the views of various 'churches' ... well for ME ... I know that my Father and his Son will SEE ME no matter where I am ... and think that my home will be good enough for them ... :blush::)
Luv BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:
PS Justin ... :giverose:
You said ...
If you have yet to publicly partake - then please consider your reasons for doing so. Often the reason is simply fear. Fear of being rejected. Fear of ridicule. Fear of losing family. Fear of being disfellowshipped. Fear of being different. These are natural emotions - but we must seek love. The kind of love that conquers fear - and drives it out! (1 John 4:18)
Which scripture :read:are you basing the idea that the memorial has to PUBLIC ...?:dontknow:
Was it not celebrated in HOMES in early Christian times ... and depending upon how many lived there, or who was close would depend upon who celebrated in that home?
Just curious as you sound a wee bit kind of 'condemning' somehow (although I am sure you don't mean to) for those of us who choose to celebrate with friends and family?
For to me to do it in the kingdom hall would be a 'mockery' of what it is all about ... to see my dear brothers pass away them emblems ... well ... it would take away from the real meaning wouldn't it ... and since I am also not comfortable with the views of various 'churches' ... well for ME ... I know that my Father and his Son will SEE ME no matter where I am ... and think that my home will be good enough for them ...
Well why not help those dear brothers accept the emblems? Why not share the good things that the Lord has given you?
Which scripture :read:are you basing the idea that the memorial has to PUBLIC ...?:dontknow:
Dear sister, the memorial is PUBLIC, it is held in Kingdom Halls (and other public places) and the public is invited.
Was it not celebrated in HOMES in early Christian times ... and depending upon how many lived there, or who was close would depend upon who celebrated in that home?
Yes indeed, the early Christians took the meal in private homes.
Just curious as you sound a wee bit kind of 'condemning' somehow (although I am sure you don't mean to) for those of us who choose to celebrate with friends and family?
Then I would condemn myself as that is my practice.
However there are some that have never made public declaration of their faith and union with Jesus before men.
"Everyone, then, that confesses union with me before men, I will also confess union with him before my Father," - Matthew 10:32, 33
There are some who will go to the Kingdom Hall this year and will simply pass the emblems that they know they should partake of out of fear. Some may go to the Kingdom Hall in the light and pass the emblems and go home and partake in the dark. Some may not attend the meetings anymore but hide their partaking from their brothers and sisters and even their own family and even spouses.
The early Christian were not shy about sharing the Truth. Jesus used the Jewish festivals as a time to teach publicly. Our early brothers and sisters confessed Jesus publicly in the synagogues and at the temple. It is good to examine ourselves by peering in to Jesus and see how we are measuring up in this regard.
It is well and good that we know the Truth and accept that his body and blood is for us. Why not share this with those from our "household" that do not know this precious truth? For those who make room for it they can set a good example by not hiding their partaking but letting their light shine before men.
No condemnation - just encouragement and things to think about. If this helpful to you than that is fine -- if not, then don't worry about it.
justin, the memorial of our lord's death was instituted as a private ceremony between jesus and his chosen twelve (yes, judas was still there). for us today, it is a time of celebration and sacred commemoration of what our lord's death means to us and has done for us. it wasn't and isn't a time or occasion for "testimony" or "witnessing." at least that's how i see it.
"there is a time for every affair under the sun."
Dear people,
Will someone inform me when is the passover. I partake and at home with a simple wheat bread (chapati) and Nestle Red Grape Juice (alas! Pakistan being a muslim country and liqour not being freely available)!
I am 5 hours ahead of GMT i.e., when it is 12 pm in England it is 7pm in Karachi Pakistan.
Thanks
fz
It depends on whose calendar you use. For Orthodox Judaism it begins Monday March 29 after sundown. The JW's are using Tuesday March 30 after sundown. Karaite jews uses the ancient methods for them it begins on Wednesday April 1 after sundown.
May our father bless you dear one!!
justin, the memorial of our lord's death was instituted as a private ceremony between jesus and his chosen twelve (yes, judas was still there). for us today, it is a time of celebration and sacred commemoration of what our lord's death means to us and has done for us. it wasn't and isn't a time or occasion for "testimony" or "witnessing." at least that's how i see it.
"there is a time for every affair under the sun."
I don't disagree with you.
However if you go to a Kingdom Hall and a cup and a loaf is passed to you then you are given the opportunity to testify to the Truth. How you respond it up to you.
Out of love for their brothers and sisters, family and friends some choose to go to the Kingdom Hall and bear Witness to the Truth.
There are some among us that have never confessed union with Jesus in this way before because of fear - fear or ridicule, fear of being disfellowshipped, fear of "losing" family. May perfect love cast out fear!
It is merely something to consider.