The following is an email I received
On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 23:10:37 -0800, "Steve" said:
> Franklyn.
>
> Dont ever try to do battle a Witness using logic. I have an Ex- wife who
> belongs to that particular cult. She was the last person on earth who I
> thought could have been manipulated, and brainwashed in such a manner.
> By the way if your really bored some day look up the Websters definition
> of the words "cult", and "religion" you may find them remarkably
> similar.... hmmmm. Anyway. Send me the rest of the Witness story if you
> could.
> Thanks, Steve
This is my response
Steve,
I am a born again Christian. I was raised Luthern so I did know my Bible as I studied it in Sunday school every Sunday which really helped. I really recieved the Holy Spirit in an all black Apostolic Pentacostal church. I was the only white person there. Pretty wild.
I became interested in the Jehovah's Witnesses when I was invited to a communion service. I had always just avoided really looking at what they believed in but was curious as I never knew they even had communion so I went to check it out. I was just totally surprised to learn that only a select few could actually partake of the bread and the wine and that they held a Memorial Service just once a year.
I also found that they quote scripture and then instead of letting you find the scripture to read along as is common in most protestant churches they just started reading. I was really frustrated as I couldn't focus on what was being said.
I was so fascinated by this denial of partaking of the elements by most of the congregation that I stayed for a second service as there was a second congregation using the same Kingdom Hall. I have yet to find any scriptural basis for it.
I started a Bible Study with them. I asked lots of questions. Hard questions. Too many questions. I ended up getting a copy of the Reasoning book and the Insight into the Scriptures and was told basically to find my answers myself. I also recieved a CD with all their books on it and lots of back watchtowers. It was all searchable and cross referenced. I really got pretty deep into study and started showing up to the Bible Study with a computer printout of the lesson from the CD. They actually started having an Elder sit in on my Bible study. I occasionally got the "apostate" label and was watched pretty closely. I didn't have any problem becoming a JW if I could find that what they taught was scripturally sound. To me it was a very serious commitment and to make that commitment I needed some answers to some really tough questions and they had to be scripturally sound answers. I found few things that would hold up to thorough scriptural verification.
I took my study as far as going door to door with them as an unbaptised publisher which means I am not a Jehovah's Witness but can go door to door with them. I learned lots and lots doing that. I dressed the part and they seemed to think I was going to become a JW. The problem was I had way too many unanswered questions.
I believe that the "New World Translation" is a totally corrupted version of the scriptures. By doing the study the way I was I stumbled across Acts 13:33 which reads: 32 "And so we are declaring to YOU the good news about the promise made to the forefathers 33 that God has entirely fulfilled it to us their children in that he resurrected Jesus, even as it is written in the second psalm," You are my son, I have become your Father this day.
The questions I have about this are 1) What day does this refer to? 2) If he became his Father this day, was he not his Father before this day. 3) Why is "son" not capitalized yet "Father" is?
After they would explain to me or should I say try to explain to me why "son" is not capitalized but "Father" is I would then go to Psalms 2:7 from where this QUOTE comes from and ask OK why isn't "father" capitalized here? Doesn't it still refer to Jehovah? I have never found a Witness that could explain this. The problem is it is a mistake in the translation which they will never admit to.
If they want to say capitalization isn't important I go to John 1:1 which reads 1 In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.
Where they don't capitalize the last "god" which totally changes the meaning of the verse. Actually it says there are two gods when you don't capitalize the last "god".
I also have problems with Jesus and Michael the Archangel being one and the same according to them.
I also have a problem with this use of the name "Jehovah". Let me explain it like this. I have two 24 year old sons (twins) and a 26 year old daughter. All three children know for a fact that my name is "Franklyn" but they never address me as "Franklyn" They call me "dad" I would actually feel hurt if they called me "Franklyn" as I feel it would be disrespectful and would also deny the intimate relationship that we have. (Kinda like step children that use the first name of the step parent to show lack of relationship as well as disrespect). I believe God feels the same way and would prefer to be called "Lord" or "father" as both these terms show repect as well as intimate relationship. Isn't it strange Jesus never used the word "Jehovah" in the Lord's Prayer?
I have given up trying to talk logic to Witnesses. It is kinda like mud wrestling with pigs. After a while you realize the pigs like it and you just get dirty. I am prepared according to 2Timothy 2:23-26 however if I find a witness who will listen. I got so I could hold an intelligent discussion with elders but felt I was throwing pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6)
Catholics are a prime target for Jehovah's Witnesses. They are taught that the Bible is the Word of God however they rarely read or study it. So when they start talking to Witnesses and the Witnesses use the Bible to reason with they are on unfamiliar territory and get sucked in.
I hope this helps. I hope I haven't bored you. Are you still trying to talk some sense to your ex? You are in my prayers. I am looking to make this email into a webpage and will send you the link if you would like. I will delete your email address and email name and replace it with just "Steve". I'll make the words "but that's another story" in the answer to the missing money a link to it.
Franklyn
If you need some help with repair work installing, sanding or finishing wood floors email me at
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Sometimes a Phone call is better than 10,000 words on a website. Need
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