Sections
- Disclaimers
- Explanations
- Commenting
- Contact Form
Disclaimers
Not Spiritual Food
This blog conforms to the guidelines of Jehovah's Witnesses, countering opposition, lies and false reasoning. This site must not be considered parallel to any Jehovah's Witnesses literature. JW publications are considered the repository of our understanding of the scriptures. For spiritual enlightenment, or spiritual "food at the proper time" seek out a congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses or go to JW.org. This blog is for countering the lies about the Bible by its false friendsControversial Content
Some may react negatively to these posts. Please stay calm while reading. These posts do not cut at anyone personally, though some statements may seem affronting for their potency. I respect your convictions and loyalties. I wish only to help those who are willing to reason carefully on the Scriptures and reveal the weaknesses in faulty reasoning. (Job 35:2, 16) If the material upsets you, please turn to God for his holy spirit in order to maintain composure or take a break. (Galatians 5:22, 23; Philippians 4:7) Read little bits if needed, breathe deeply. Please take time to consider the information logically rather than emotionally. (Ecclesiastes 7:8, 9; Acts 9:22; 24:12)As to anyone looking for ammunition to use against those with differing beliefs, please desist now. They do not need you to convert them any more than you need to be converted by them. Let Jehovah's holy spirit work. If anyone is seeking truth, they will ask you in their own time as you preach the good news to them. (1 Peter 3:15) Therefore, "be peaceable with all men," being careful not to debate over God's word. (Romans 12:17, 18; 2 Timothy 2:23, 24; Matthew 7:6)
Completely Anonymous
Each post is anonymous so that its author may not be elevated, allowing all glory to go to Jehovah.An Off-hours Project
The post's author does not use posts to count field service time.Explanations
Translations
Unless otherwise stated, all quotes are from the 2013 Revised New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Older articles may still have quotes from the 1984 Reference Edition of the New World Translation.Where the word "Gehenna" appears in the original manuscript, it may be changed to "Trash Heap" for clear expression.
In some places in the Bible text where a word in the original language indicates a plural pronoun or verb, it may be replaced by or include the words "you all" or some variant of it for clarity of expression.
Commenting
I welcome all to visit and comment on this site peacefully. However, I do have standards for what content I allow and I would like to share those standards with you so that you may have a better chance of having your comments accepted. Off-topic posts will be deleted.Posts are Subject to Deletion Or Editing
This blog is not a democracy. The Bible does not teach democracy. This blog is not subject to the rule of any democracy. Democracy is not an international or cyberspace law. If I deem a post or its contents to be inappropriate by my own judgment, it may be edited or deleted as I see fit. In some cases I may simply remind the commenter of the site standards. Whatever course is taken or not is my prerogative and is not subject to question. Do not post if you are not willing to have your comment edited or rejected.The reason I edit is to give your comments a chance to be seen without being deleted. I appreciate your non-confrontational comments and sincere questions.
SPAM-like Comments
If you do not want your comment rejected, please give specifics related to the post or this site. If your comment looks generic, it will be rejected as spam.Please Read Cited Scriptures Before Commenting
Be sure to read the cited scriptures relevant to your comments or study. The linked citations in this series are for your benefit that you may avoid assumptions. (Proverbs 21:24)As you read, check the cited scriptures, along with its context, and compare conflicting interpretations to make sure the scripture lines up with my explanation or your own belief. (Acts 17:11) Always accept the final say of Scripture, not forced interpretations by you or me or anyone else. (1 Corinthians 2:11-13; 2 Peter 1:20, 21) Only by comparing my words to the cited scriptures can you be sure.
I have also provided parallel readings in the accompanying links marked "pa" so that you can compare the parallel text of 24 other translations. A Hebrew and Greek interlinear of the text are found at the accompanying links marked "in".
Be Objective and Address Specific Points
It does not do you any favors to make comments without considering the information objectively. Anyone who comments with the very same claim that is being refuted in the post is only making themselves look ignorant. If you want to look like you know what you are talking about, rather than simply toeing the party line, address a specific point and then be specific about why it is lacking in your opinion.Apostates and Disfellowshipped Ones Will Be Ignored
First and foremost, comments that I believe are posted by JW apostates or disfellowshipped persons will be rejected. An "apostate" is a former or technically current member of Jehovah's Witnesses who has put themselves in opposition to Jehovah's Witnesses by attempting to draw away members after themselves or otherwise undermine the spirituality of other members. They have no respect for us and they will not be tolerated here.A disfellowshipped person is one who has been cast off from the organization for unrepentant wrong-doing. It is for their benefit, and for the cleanness of the Christian congregation around the world, that we do not knowingly interact with such ones.
If we find out that a person is difellowshipped or apostate, we will immediately reject and delete all comments by them. There are thousands of websites apostates can go for voicing their lies or they can create their own.
We Wish to Keep It Civil
Occassionally someone will post things that are less than kind. Commenters that state false information, harass, launch attacks or state disparaging or inflammatory comments will be ignored.I want this site to be a place where Jehovah's Witnesses and the public can come to be respected and perhaps receive encouragement so long as they are respectful themselves. It is okay to state what you believe in a conversational tone, if different than our belief, but not in a way that seeks to challenge us. If you make a harassing comment but say something positive, I will cut out the negative and keep the positive.
Unless We're Actually Friends, We're Not "Friends"
God's word states, "friendship with the world is enmity with God". (James 4:4) Thus, paying some insincere lip-service to us by calling us "friends" or "brothers" when you are not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and especially when you are harassing us, you will be ignored.Anyone, including Satan, can call us "friend", but that does not make it so. Friends do not seek to upset their friends. Keep the insincere flattery and manufactured friendliness to yourself. Artificial people stand out like a sore thumb. Do not be fake and we might allow your comment. Fakers are liars and thus cannot be trusted. If you call us "friend" in that way, consider self-evaluation.
Again, God's word states, "A true friend shows love at all times, and is a brother who is born for times of distress." (Proverbs 17:17) But it also says, "There are companions ready to crush one another, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18: 24) This does not mean someone who obsessively harrasses us and calls us "friend" as if trying to "help" us. We don't need that kind of help. But if you want to protect us when we're under persecution, then you will receive a reward from Jehovah.
I Reject Debates of Any Kind
The reason that most Jehovah's Witnesses do not engage in debate, whether in chat rooms or professionally, is that debates are a source of contention. We, however, seek to maintain peace in our lives.Also, we do not have need to debate if we are secure in our beliefs. If we do not need to debate our sitting down or rising up, or whether the sun rises and sets, then we do not need to debate our beliefs. Only those among us who are weak in faith will give in to bait.
So instead of arguing with you, we will teach you something about our beliefs and why we believe them if you simply ask us to tell you. We are also open to hearing your beliefs as long as it is not your goal to convert us to your way of thinking. All of this allows for a peaceful exchange of ideas without expecting anything out of the other.
I Reject Foolish Questions
This is not to say that I reject questions in general, as there are many ways to ask fine questions. However, questions clearly designed to undermine faith in our beliefs or in those taking the lead among us will be rejected. What I accept and encourage are questions geared toward one's own edification in honesty and sincerity and questions used to express a line of reasoning.Intellectualism and Sophism is Discouraged
I realize that some are quite accustomed to a complex intellectual vocabulary and grammatical structure and even sophism, but when it gets to be a bit thick, I am likely to ask you to reword your response or edit it myself.Christians do not need to put on such airs because we recognize that Jehovah rejects the wisdom of the wise and intellectual ones while he is merciful to the humble and the meek. The good news is simple and should be presented simply and humbly, not with exotic words, extravegant speech and flourid delivery. We want to attract people to the truth, not overwhelm them to the point of their eyes glossing over. Use of Latin and French phrases is also discouraged. Keep it real and you should be fine.
Speculation is Strongly Discouraged
Christians do not need to speculate over uncertainties. If we are uncertain, we execise patience until we discover the facts. Speculation can give rise to debates, dissension and even apostasy. Many times speculation in comments is removed or the comment rejected. Only if the speculation would prove harmless might it be allowed to remain.Only Anonymous References to Apostate Sites Permitted
If you wish to make an anonymous reference to an apostate website, you may do so without indicating your personally having visited the website, the name of the website or individuals that visit or operate the site. I do not allow members to indicate their personal viewing of apostate material. Such activity is up to an individual's conscience, but such viewing should not be promoted by its mention.Linking Is Discouraged
I accept links to JW.org and to non-apostate websites not persecuting Jehovah's Witnesses that are related to the material under discussion. Most external apologist websites will be rejected except those that meet our high standards. All other links are subject to removal or deletion.Say It In One Post
Some of us have a tendeny to edit our comments by reposting them, and that is absolutely okay. But it is very annoying to receive many replies in a string that could have been said in a single post. If you have a lot to say, please write it in a document and then post in a single comment, if possible. If it goes beyond the comment's word limit, then it is certainly natural to post a second or even third comment, but only because they're past the word limit.There is no penalty for failing to do this, but I would appreciate not having my inbox blow up with separate comments by the same poster. Comments on a post's page containing corrections might not be approved unless the whole comment is reposted with the corrections; then the original post will be deleted in favor of the corrected one. I may edit a comment to provide corrections if the errors prove distracting.
Proposed Corrections to Posts
I. welcome corrections to information in posts, but please send them via the comment form on the slideout sidebar with the name of the post in question. This will allow me to interact and get more details if I need them.I hope that your understanding our standards will encourage you to post because I want to hear from you.
Contact Form
I appreciate the viewers' enthusiasm for this service and thirst for understanding the Bible, but my time is limited, so I would appreciate it if you restrict your questions to those of great significance that you do not feel comfortable asking someone in person, and particularly of a personal nature.I would appreciate not being bombarded with general Bible questions not related to the subjects on this site. My time is limited, so I do not have the time to field every Bible question by all those who contact me. This website is available to the entire world. If I started fielding Bible questions, I would end up doing nothing else.
Additionally, the organization has asked that everyone do their own research where possible and pass hard questions directly to them. Having other people do your research undermines your own ability to retain the information. If you have a Bible subject for which you can find nothing in the organization's publications, you can ask an elder or contact the address in the Watchtower.
I apologize, but I cannot budge on this matter. I ask that you restrict your questions to subjects directly related to the very purpose of th is site. Please respect my boundaries and obedience to the brotherhood in Christian love.
Comments