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Post by worldly on Aug 30, 2007 5:22:44 GMT -5
Knowing that this is a man-made group, (false-teachings) why then are worldly people attracted to the teachings? Is it: * Lack of self confidence? * A need for fellowship?
I ask this because I have relatives that are in "awe" of this way of life. The family has noticed some major changes in their lifestyle, such as the TV's are no longer in their home, given away two vehicles, no more attendance of family gatherings, children look depressed, they constantly are reading their bible, etc.
They both are professionals (medical field) and seemed to be happy and willing to help anyone in need before, but now they work and come home. Rarely answering the phone. However, we notice that about once a month they seem to have a dinner party and lots of folks from this group attend. I am sure that they really put on quite the feast but I am not sure about that because they have totally shut the family out.
I have tried to just talk and visit about general family stuff, but the subject always turns to "The Truth" "The Way" "Friends" and of course "Workers". I googled these words and just can't believe what I have learned! We were not raised like this. Our parents were professionals (father dr. mother psychologist) so when I say we are in shock I really mean that.
What is the draw? What would cause someone to sell or give away their possessions? What would make a parent allow their children to dress so different than other children and look so sad all the time? What can we do to pull them back to reality?
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Post by ranman77007 on Aug 30, 2007 5:34:59 GMT -5
Knowing that this is a man-made group, (false-teachings) why then are worldly people attracted to the teachings? Is it: * Lack of self confidence? * A need for fellowship? I ask this because I have relatives that are in "awe" of this way of life. The family has noticed some major changes in their lifestyle, such as the TV's are no longer in their home, given away two vehicles, no more attendance of family gatherings, children look depressed, they constantly are reading their bible, etc. They both are professionals (medical field) and seemed to be happy and willing to help anyone in need before, but now they work and come home. Rarely answering the phone. However, we notice that about once a month they seem to have a dinner party and lots of folks from this group attend. I am sure that they really put on quite the feast but I am not sure about that because they have totally shut the family out. I have tried to just talk and visit about general family stuff, but the subject always turns to "The Truth" "The Way" "Friends" and of course "Workers". I googled these words and just can't believe what I have learned! We were not raised like this. Our parents were professionals (father dr. mother psychologist) so when I say we are in shock I really mean that. What is the draw? What would cause someone to sell or give away their possessions? What would make a parent allow their children to dress so different than other children and look so sad all the time? What can we do to pull them back to reality? blame it on the rain...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2007 5:41:00 GMT -5
quote - Knowing that this is a man-made group, (false-teachings) What makes something false because it came from a man? There are good men in this world. Wasn't Paul a good man, for instance?
quote - why then are worldly people attracted to the teachings? It is more than a "teaching" thing. It is a "spiritual" thing.
quote - Is it: Lack of self confidence? That is arrant nonsense. The people I know in this way are quite confident.
quote - Is it: A need for fellowship? More nonsense. You can find a lot more fellowship outside the church.
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Post by Jessi on Aug 30, 2007 5:48:17 GMT -5
Giving away possessions doesn't seem to be a trait of the F&W. Hoarding, maybe, but certainly not giving away or giving to the poor. Even if they are workers, I think they tend to leave their stuff with thier family. Some even keep bank accounts. It seems especially odd for F&W not born and raised to give stuff away.
The giving stuff away is usually something that you see online a lot as a standard cult thing, but I have not seen that in the F&W. In my experience, anyway.
Christ's Forever,
Jessi
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Post by Jessi on Aug 30, 2007 5:56:31 GMT -5
quote - Knowing that this is a man-made group, (false-teachings) What makes something false because it came from a man? There are good men in this world. Wasn't Paul a good man, for instance?quote - why then are worldly people attracted to the teachings? It is more than a "teaching" thing. It is a "spiritual" thing.quote - Is it: Lack of self confidence? That is arrant nonsense. The people I know in this way are quite confident.quote - Is it: A need for fellowship? More nonsense. You can find a lot more fellowship outside the church.No, Bert. There is not one man who is good. No, not one (Rom 3:10, Jer 17:9). That is the F&W problem. They think people are good and they look for good in people and they put their faith in them and glorify them and praise them. Then when they fail them, they don't understand . . . and they go look for other people to put on a pedastal - because that is how we were raised. We don't know any better. The Bible does NOT say people are good. Man is evil and comes from the womb speaking lies (Ps 58:3) and the imagination fo the thoughts of his heart are only evil all the time (Gen 6:5). Until we realize this, we cannot even see ourselves in the light of the Holiness of God. But Jesus is the only one who is good. So, the only only one we can trust is Him. He never fails us. Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2007 6:07:28 GMT -5
Jessie, when I say there are "good people" in the world I mean they are good because of good behavior. I think Nelson Mandella, for instance, is a "good" man. The verse, "there is none good but one..." refers to the standard of Godliness. This I was not referring to. But as for my church putting people on a pedestal. It can happen - certainly happened in Paul's churches. But we do understand that Christ is on that pedestal. We have all come short of the glory of God.
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Post by duh on Aug 30, 2007 8:29:11 GMT -5
Why do some posters feel the need to provide possible answers to their questions, instead of leaving it all up to the responders?
Is it because they believe that the responders won't be able to think of an answer on their own,
Or is it because they were raised on multiple-choice tests?
;D
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Post by Jessi on Aug 30, 2007 15:02:08 GMT -5
Jessie, when I say there are "good people" in the world I mean they are good because of good behavior. I think Nelson Mandella, for instance, is a "good" man. The verse, "there is none good but one..." refers to the standard of Godliness. This I was not referring to. But as for my church putting people on a pedestal. It can happen - certainly happened in Paul's churches. But we do understand that Christ is on that pedestal. We have all come short of the glory of God. Good behavior? Standards of godliness? That is a sort of work, isn't it? Nelson Mandela is a dirtbag like all the rest of us, sorry to inform you. He is a sinner. Good is not about "standards of godliness" that I have ever read in the Bible. The only reason we CAN be good is through Jesus Christ, who fulfilled that "standard of godliness" for us. One little sin violates the Holiness of God, according to the Bible. Not one person has been sinless and empty of deceit and lies but only One - Jesus Christ. I never knew of this "standards of godliness" before. My Bible says "FALL" short, not COME short. "Come short" seems to lessen the impact a little. FALL seems to be more realistic -- reminds me of FALL OF MAN, which for sure is the reason why no one is good. So, when you say that someone is good . . . they really aren't. If you get close to them and you love them . . . they WILL fail you somewhere along the way. Nelson would fail you, Bert, and you would see once you got to know him, that he FALLS short of your expectations of him. As all men do -- especially for F&W and many exes, because we tend to rely on outward appearance, while the Lord looks on the heart. There is only One who has fulfilled God's "standard of godliness", and that is Jesus, ONLY one who can make us stand before Holy God on the last day. If we were to stand before Holy God without Jesus . . . we would be consumed with fire and then sent to eternal conscious suffering for eternity. Hail, King Jesus -- the Deliverer, Who deserves ALL the glory for anyone who is "good." Christ's Forever, Jessi
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Post by CherieKropp on Aug 30, 2007 16:28:07 GMT -5
Your might... Try asking them when their new church began. The answer may tell you why they got involved. (If they believe it went back and started with Jesus and think it its Jesus genuine authentic church; or apostolic succession)
Also, ask if they believe only members of their church will get to heaven; or if believers in other churches will also be there. (find out if they believe theirs is the ONLY church/way to heaven) (This can get people in--if they believe the lie that its their church or hell and that there are no other alternatives.)
These are the groups two big carrots...and both are based on falsehoods. I can show you how to prove to them their church was not started with the apostles/Jesus (but rather in 1897 with a man named Wm Irvine) and that even they themselves didn't always believe it was "the only way". This belief was added several years after they got started.
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matia
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Post by matia on Aug 30, 2007 21:43:10 GMT -5
Just my 2 cents Born into verses worldly / You no if you were born catholic , you are almost sure to be one in later life ,/ the same thing applies , if you are a Morman, 7 th day adventist, jehovah witnesses presi, and so on By the way why did they change from BLACK stocking , if you wore them now in the truth you would be spoken too While we are talking about Nelson Mandela , What about Watchman Nee , he was imprisoned for 27 years for proclaiming Jesus , he said that if I could save 1 man from a lost eternity, my time would be well spent
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Post by randall on Aug 30, 2007 22:17:38 GMT -5
mjr207, I appreciated your post. How true it is, people will normally stay in or come back to the religion of their youth. I have also wondered about the way the standard in the gospel has changed over the years. If it was true and right 50 years ago how come it is not true and right today? Years ago you would have never heard of anyone going on a cruise ship. It just was not acceptable, Just a couple of years ago 2 of the sister workers were in our home talking about how they would like to go on a cruise ship. Talk about confusing our children. What do you think?
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