Posted on 04/24/2011 6:34:14 PM PDT by Mary Kochan
If you look at all the ancient depictions of crucifixion, they show various forms of crosses and rarely a crucifixion on a pole without a cross beam. But we know that Jesus was crucified on a cross with a cross beam.
I find it very interesting that JW’s came very early in their history to reject the cross, but then again it makes sense if you consider what St. Paul said in Phil 3: 18, 19 about those who were enemies of the cross with their minds set of earthly things — JW’s minds are set on life in a paradise earth.
You should join the Fellowship of Catholic Ex-JW’s. If you Google it, you can find it. They have a forum/list and give a lot of support to Catholics who have JW family members in how to deal with them.
And no, I’m neither delusional or a liar
Are you?
you’ve never lied ?
really?
My gosh, there isn’t a hateful word in Ms. Kochan’s comments or, if you please, her witness (no pun intended), for it certainly is that. If anything, her witness is the truth of what real Christian love is, and means. If someone (for example) is drinking themselves to death or snorting cocaine everyday, is it hateful for another person to want the best for them and to try to help them kick the habit (knowing full well it is the person with the problem who must take the first real/true steps to sobriety or being clean). Is it hateful or loving to tell the afflicted person the truth? Is it a hateful or a loving thing to let them continue down the road to physical, mental and spiritual ruin? According to what you are saying to Ms. Kochan, you apparently think the former. The way I read and comprehend Ms. Kochan’s heartfelt statement of Christian truth is one of love; love for her God and love for her fellow man who in this instance happen to be JWs. Surely, you know that this is the Summary of God’s Law. It is the same for RCs, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and even some Episcopalians.
I have three specific friends who are “Witnesses”. I find their beliefs to be incredulous and outrageous at times as well as woefully misguided. I don’t hate these people and I do pray for their conversion. They are really good and nice people and I surely enjoy being with them when I see them, but just as their belief suggests that I am bound for perdition, my faith and your faith says that “no one goes to the Father but by and through Jesus the Christ. Jesus’ statement is really strong stuff and quite dogmatic, but He most certainly says it in love, without guile and certainly without the slightest shred of hate.
FYI, here are the steps that a canoization goes through before a person is pronounced Venerable, Blessed or Saint.
Holy confusion? Beatification, canonization are different (Catholic Caucus)
Vatican to encourage greater caution in opening sainthood causes
Pope clarifies Church’s traditions, norms for canonization; announces new instruction
They Need A Miracle Will a future pope relax the rules for sainthood?
Role of Miracles In Sainthood Eyed
Saint-making Pope is ready to ditch the miracle clause
Contribution to a Canonization
Catholic Biblical Apologetics: The Canonization of Saints: Current Canonization Process, Biblical Description of Miracles
Thank you Mary...I am now praying for guidance in how to profess my new found faith to my parents. They are not practicing JWs, however, they still believe in it as the “truth.” My dad is coming for a visit in June and I would like to be able to share this with him but I feel that it may turn into a bad visit if I do. He’s pushing 80 now and I don’t want to cause a rift between us. As you know, if you were previously a JW and then choose to leave...even family members will shun you.
Artemis, is telling the truth about Obama the same thing as running down Obama?
If we tell the truth about Islam, is that the same as running down Islam?
Mary,
Thank you for that beautiful testimony. My wife and I have witnessed to Jehovah’s Witnesses from time to time over the years and know how difficult it is for a Witness to turn from the WatchTower to orthodox Christianity. I appreciate your sharing what you were going through.
That hymn, “And, Can It Be”, truly is a great hymn of the faith and eloquently speaks wonderful doctrinal truths of what God in Christ has accomplished for us in love.
I had a similar “awakening” experience in regard to the wonder of the incarnation of Christ. Many years ago, I was witnessing to a friend about the Gospel. He listened respectfully, but shook his head and said that he just couldn’t believe in a God who would cause His own son to suffer so horribly on the cross. Now, mind you, although I was a Christian, I really didn’t know much about doctrine. I didn’t know much about the Trinity, but as my friend was speaking, a thought entered my head to say to him, “That was not just God’s Son on that cross - it was God Himself suffering for us in our behalf”. My friend looked at me with a shocked look on his face. He said, “Wow, I’ve never heard that before. That put’s it in a whole new light.” I didn’t say outloud, but I was thinking the same thing.
Later on I talked with some other more doctirnally solid Christian friends about it and they explained that what I had told my friend was true. They went on to explain the Trinity more fully and the more I’ve learned about it, the more I am amazed at the humility and love of God to do what He did.
Again, thank you for sharing your testimony. My wife and I pray many more “Happy Easter” days to you and yours.
God bless you.
Wonderful to hear of a JW saved. They seem so “impossible.” But nothing is impossible with God.
“3. If you are a strong Christian and you can detain them by inviting them in, giving them some refreshment and talking to them, you kill two birds with one stone: you show them the love of Christ AND you keep them from visitng someone they might mislead.”
Heh - I didn’t think of the “keeping them occupied” aspect. As a college kid I invited the two JW into the house where I rented a room and talked. Then they came by once a week for Bible Study. After several weeks of this, I, the naive college kid gave up, and told them “It’s been interesting - but I’m not going to convert you - and you’re not going to convert me, so we might as well end this.”
I did still talk about the Bible and have discussion’s with my landlady that lived upstairs when we would share the kitchen. She was Morman! We both kept it very friendly, although we both knew where each other stood.
I did tell one of the other housemates though to stop visiting me in her dreams - some New Age stuff with dream guides or something! Probably a bunch of hooey, but I figured one never knows - “so knock it off!”
Happy Easter Mary. Being like your grandkids, I never had a huge “Ah Ha!” moment. (Lot’s of little ones though when I would finally better understand something!). But as joyous and amazing as the death and resurrection is to me - it must be even more powerful and joyous for you.
Thank you for telling your story.
I'll let you slide on the "paganism" (today), but trying to imply that Catholics don't have pot-luck is a an utter fabrication...and trying to make a convert by it!! --Happy Easter.
Happy Easter! Thanks for sharing.
Happy Easter!
Thanks for posting
I LOVE your number 3:
3. If you are a strong Christian and you can detain them by inviting them in, giving them some refreshment and talking to them, you kill two birds with one stone: you show them the love of Christ AND you keep them from visitng someone they might mislead.
Happy Easter!
In Catholicism, saints are venerated, not worshiped. They are exemplars of how to live one's life, usually some specific aspect. Thinking that Catholic saints are some sort of pantheon is a common perception of those that have never had this fact explained to them. Hopefully you won't continue to use this misconception in your contempt for the Church.
That’s a really lame comparison. I see I’m not the only one who thinks so.
This is not like a Ford/Chevy rivalry. We’re talking about eternal life and truth here.
Mary, just curious about what led you to question the Watch Tower’s authority and interpretations? What was the crack in the dike, so to speak?
I had a nervous breakdown — mental health problems are common in that group. As I began to recover and fight back from depression, I started reading more about recovery and mental/emotional health. I started talking with other JWs who were also experiencing depression. I started to ask myself, “If we have the truth, why are the people in this organization so messed up?” I had a lot of faith in the Bible and I figured the answer had to be in there. So I started really poring over the Bible to understand what it said from the perspective of mental and emotional health. I started to recieve the message of forgiveness in Christ and recognize that that was the key to peace of mind. And I started to see that the messages we were constantly getting through the Watchtower were ministering stress and guilt and fear, quite opposed to the Gospel. I started to talk a lot about Jesus and forgiveness to my JW friends. In a short time, they called me for an apostasy hearing, to which I responded with a letter of disassociation.
BTW — do not under any circumstances, let the JWs know that you read anything by me. If they know that you have ANY contact with an ex-JW they will cut off all communication with you. That will keep you from being able to help them, so I do not recommend it.
Howeer, here is something you can use with them at the door. Say: “I have heard that you never talk to or have any contact with JWs who have left and joined another religion. But JWs themselves include many people who have left from some other religion. You go door-to-door and expect current members of that faith to talk to you. What if all the other religions treated their ex-members like you do? Then you wouldn’t have any one to talk to, would you?”
That will make them think.
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