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What makes us a brotherhood?

Are we brethren in Christ? If so, does that mean that all Christian denominations are our brothers and sisters? Is it the baptizm into the JW faith? Are there some doctrines that have to be accepted/rejected to make us one? Is it our good standing?

Who do you consider a brother/sister and why? How does that differ then what you were taught whether in JW faith or a previous one.

Something I have been mulling over...would appreciate your thoughts.

Salaam, Lou :love::hibye:

Good questions for consideration.

It seems that Christian demoninations casts a pretty big net, full of good fishes and not-so good fishes. If someone confesses Christ I generally will welcome them as a brother or sister unless I have knowledge otherwise.

It is good to look at words. What does it mean to be a brother or a sister? It means siblings. It means mutual parentage.

So all who have the spirit of Christ would be a brother or sister of Christ and a child of our Father in Heaven.

"For all who are lead by the spirit of God are Children of God."

"When we cry ABBA FATHER it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God"

When I'm around someone or speaking to someone who has that Spirit I immediately know they are my brother and siser. Even if I don't really know them.

:hibye:  Figured I would take a stab at my feelings of brotherhood.

First I would have to say I have a good size family.  5 in all 4 I know.

I have learnt that  "brotherhood is how someone treats me"
as far as I beleive Every sinle person is my brother or sister.

The only diff for me is some of them are really good family  and some of them are lacking brotherly "sisterly" love.  
The latter I have found over the years can change their attitude and their ways and learn to have brotherly love. I have personally experienced this. I do not know if it was my unloving ways or theirs that caused the seperation thou?

I have learned to remove all the comon walls to some degree.  Race / religion/ politics and things like that. and have found that if they still don't care at all,  they are in a  really dark place and I leave them be.

If they have the Spirit of Christ indwelling/annointing them, they are my brother or sister:

2Cr 13:5   Test yourselves {to see} if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?  

Grace and peace to you in Jesus Chrsit our Lord
iknowhim

What makes ur a brotherhood?
How we and act and treat eachother, our unifing belives.

Are we brethren in Christ? Yes if we do belive in Jesus Christ as our savior and as Jehovas son, and live as Christians.

If so, does that mean that all Christian denominations are our brothers and sisters? No i do not think so, but many of the persons in each denominations are true christians and Jehova will see them as true and honest and lead them into his kingdom when he decide to.

Is it the baptizm into the JW faith? No it is a act, not at proof of our heart condition, but it should be. But we have the opurtunity to proof our faith before and after our baptizm.

Are there some doctrines that have to be accepted/rejected to make us one? Doctrine, from Latin doctrina (compare doctor), means "a code of beliefs", "a body of teachings" or "instructions", taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. All doctrines dont make us christians it is our heart, a doctrine is only a mental way to define your belives, but they do not make you to live after them. It is only your heart that can make you live as a christian and hopefully let the guidence from Jehova help you to proof that you are a christian.

Is it our good standing? A good standing what is that? Do I have a good standing? Compared to what? In whos opinion? Can we see how Jehova looks at us, do he find that we have a good standing? It can only be in our lives we proof how we live and Jehova will judge us as worthy his approval at the day of judgement.

Who do you consider a brother/sister and why? Someone i can share my belives with and he with me and we have a understanding of the bible as Jehovas word to us humans. We do not have to agree in all details because who is to say that i am right and he not if we do really understand it correct.

How does that differ then what you were taught whether in JW faith or a previous one. It might not, but if he do not belive in Christ, is he then a christian? If he do not belive in the bible, even if he call himself a christian can he then be my brother?

This is my personal thoughts for what they are worth maybe 1 cent?

Love Whoowh:heartbeat:

Thanks for the replies guys! I liked all comments especially Anthony's and TD's. I pretty much share the same views.

However, I have a question. Brotherhood has unity...unity to exactly what? I think it means more than just acceptance of Christ in one's life...:confused::confused:if so what is it? JWs are a brotherhood, we hear that and believe that often: sister so and so, brother so....the brothers at the hall, the sisters, sister x, brother y.. is our brotherhood confined to the organization, and does it cease if we choose to leave or get thrown out? And when you are df-ed are you suspended from this brotherhood?

Also, when Christ said that his disciples will have love amongst themselves, might it be that he adviced that his follower should have love amongst themselves, that love should be a common theme amongst them? To be a disciple of Christ, a true follower, we have to love our brothers and sisters? And as such should we do more to connect we our fellow Christians and should we treat them as our brethren until we see something different? :detective:

Love to all and Jah's blessings!:heartbeat:
Lou

“I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word; in order that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me forth"


Hey SOJ, It's funny you would use this script to back up your statement of compliance to show unity??


Was Jesus simply compliant to his father? I sure hope not..
I know how to be compliant with many rules in this world. yet I don't beleive in them.
It is what I beleive in my heart that matters not wether I am compliant or not.. This beleif is called Faith..
are their not rules that you to consider "of no consequence" because they really make no real diff in the big picture?

Good topic!

Just a couple of thoughts...

Mark 3:31-35 "Now his mother and his brothers came, and, as they were standing on the ouside, they sent in to him to call him.  Asit it was, a crowd was sitting around him, so they said to him: "look!  Your mother and your brothers outside are seeking you."  But in reply he said to them: "who are my mother and brothers?"  And having looked about upon those sitting around him in a circle, he said: "see, my mother and brothers!"  Whoever does the will of God, with one is my brother and sister and mother."

So there were people gathered around Jesus feet to learn from him.  He says these ones are my brethren!  He even expands it a little more, Whoever does the will of God, is my family!  These people sought Christ in order to learn of God's will.  Therefore Jesus lovingly calls them family!  Did they have to have a special annointing?  No, they were people who were seeking God and Christ.

Another scripture came to mind also...

Matt 10:32 "Everyone, then, that confesses union with me before me, I will also confess union with him before my father who is in the Heavens."  So as was brought out by Anthony and others, ones who confess Jesus are our brothers in Christ.

But does our love end there?  Do we limit ourselves to considering others our Brethern only when they display loving and likeable Christlike qualities?  Or they show signs of Holy spirit?

  Of course not, do we not know many scriptures that show us to love our neighbor?  To even love our enemies?  Even Stephen right before his death prayed:"Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them."  He knew despite their actions that he should show love to them.  It is easier to show love to those who give us love in return.  Easier to consider them our brothers.  But really, all are God's creation, and he wants all to be his Children, there are many, many lost sheep, and we know not which ones are going to become our Brethren in Christ.  

For me, it involves a couple of things.  Love for others, Hope for thier hearts.  And even if they are not showing those qualities now, hope for repentance.  Because ALL have the potential to confess Christ and be our spirit Brothers, we must consider all brothers.

Yes, those who display the Spirit now, our love of Christ, draws us to them.  But our love of Christ also will draw us to those who are less easy to love,  our lost brethern.

Love to all my Brothers and Sisters today
Lynn

I think if someone tells us that he or she is a Christian, we should accept it at face value and take that person in. It would be the same as if someone came up to me and told me he was my fleshly brother. I don't think I would ask him to take a DNA test or provide documentation to prove it. Those things would only be necessary if there was a legal matter to handle (such as inheritance). But when it comes to the Christian family, the legal matters are in God's hands, not ours.

More thoughts on this subject in the following post:
http://www.paradisecafediscussions.net/s...hp?tid=691

Greetings.

Luke 9:49...

" In response John said: “Instructor, we saw a certain man expelling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he is not following with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him: “Do not YOU men try to prevent [him], for he that is not against YOU is for YOU.”

Christian love,

gogh

Hi Anthony,

Good thoughts...all who are lead by the Spirit. Quick question for anyone who desires to answer it: Would you consider a person that is not Christian to fall into this catagory?

HI SOJ,

Following the scripts is not that simple. is it?
And how does that relate to "compliance"
I guess u are using this def ?
Compliance (regulation): In management, the act of adhering to, and demonstrating adherence to laws, regulations or policies

How do you measure LOVE.. can you measure Someones LOVE of God
andlove of neighbor? and if you can do the scriptures teach us to measure someones LOVE?

BTW maybe if you would like to continue show we move this?
TD