Search Members

[jbl]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Yes I've been a member to this forum for quite awhile and I don't post frequently. Generally I just read others discussions or post when I have a question I feel needs answering.

I'm a young guy and I've been contemplating getting a small, moderate tattoo. But after some small research I found some scriptures (such as the one listed above) that God forbid tattoos. I don't want to knowingly go against the Law of God but I wanted to know if this law was still to be practiced by modern day Christians? The tattoo wouldn't be for religious purposes nor contain any religious icons. I know the art is dated back to pagan societies but once again so is other practices such as makeup.

In brief, I don't want to do anything to displease God that's why I would just like to hear some input from other members about this. If you all feel it's a bad idea or that that law should still be practiced than I feel it would be unwise to do it.

[jbl]

In response:

Both my parents were both raised Jehovah's Witnessess but neither are religiously active. My mother has a fairly solid faith, my father I'm a little more weary. I'm aware of the scriptures teaching that a believing-woman should not divorce her unbelieving-husband (and vice versa) because the spouse is sanctified through their relationship. However, my father isn't an outspoken atheist.

My brother (I've concluded) is agnostic, and my sister undecided. As for myself, I'm religiously curious.

Anyway, thanks for everyones responses.

[jbl]

Hi Adam Pastor and thanks for the response,

I've saved it and am going to examine it more deeply. I've read arguments saying we 'are the soul' and have some research collected but would still like to keep my mind open and get more research on the argument of the soul being seperate to the body.

Finding the truth is a long process…but well worth it…

[jbl]

Thanks alot for the thread, it's great to be able to read through previous posts.

[jbl]

I believe the dead sleep.

“No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.”
(Jn 3:13)

If no one entered heaven before Christ ascended back to the heavens, wouldn't all of humanity been residing in fiery torment? Scripture even says such figures like David did no ascend at death, then where was he; hell?

I do not want to raise problems, I really would love to hear alternative belief, I have alot to learn.

— jbl

[jbl]

Hi,

I know baptism is truly essential, but it raises a problem for myself. I've been brought up in a Jehovah's Witness family, but do not agree with the faith on a few topics (I'm yet to establish some more solid beliefs and still need more study).

I am now without any definate denomination and am curious, well, how can I be baptised when only denominations offer the service? Does it necessarily have to be a religious leader? A friend with a strong faith? With all this in mind I do not want to be baptised “incorrectly”.

Anyway, some feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

-jbl

[jbl]

I just don't understand how God can “become” a trinity.
I don't see how Moses could believe in a trinity. Nor can I see Noah. Job found favour in Yahweh's eyes, and he didn't worship a trinity. How could he? The Holy Spirit isn't found in the hebrew scriptures as being personified (not that I know of, correct me if I'm wrong!).

Christ even said the God of the Jews (Yahweh) was the Father (John 8:54).

Yahweh ALONE is the “Most High”
(Palms 83:18).

Jesus is the “Son of the Most High”
(Luke 1:32; 8:28, Mark 5:7).

The trinity teaches Jesus is Yahweh.

This would make Jesus (The Son of the Most High) the son of Jesus (The Most High). [Note: I'm basing this statement on the above scriptures!]

Therefore, we have two Yahweh's which goes againts the greatest commandment (Deut. 6:4).

[jbl]

“…whom no one has seen or can see.”
1 Timothy 6:16

20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
Exodus 33:20, 23

It seems that our flesh bodies cannot survive after seeing the face of God. However, regarding the Son:

7Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
Revelation 1:7

I'm scared to be taking these scriptures out of context, but I'm just looking at them in a literal sense. If I am, please forgive me. But it seems we're fully capable of seeing the Son of God in His heavenly form, but unable to see the Father.

This doesn't “prove” that the Father and Son are not co-powerful… though it can be used in argument against the motion…

[jbl]

I'd like to thank everyone just for just giving me the opportunity to share in the knowledge on this network.

I've noticed a couple things about some titles. Jehovah is 'god'. Jesus is 'god'. Satan is 'god'. But there is one 'god'?

Jesus is called “My Lord and My God” and Jesus didn't correct him. To quickly conclude Jesus is the Almighty all because of this scripture is to say Judas Iscariot is Satan the Devil.

I think we can agree there are many demons, but only one Devil, Satan. Well, Judas is called 'devil' (John 6:70). It doesn't mean he's THE devil, just he committed the nature of THE devil. Also, Satan was in Judas and did his works that way (Luke 22:3).

God was in Christ, doing His works. For that reason Jesus is 'god' and Judas is 'devil'. We may be 'gods' by practicing worship to THE God through His Son. Even angels are called 'god' by doing works for Jehovah (Judges 13:21, 22). Angels are called 'god' by man, but the statement is directed THROUGH them (angels) TO Jehovah (God), just like it was with Jesus Christ. Jesus worked salvation for Jehovah, and people called Jesus 'god' because they knew that he was truly the one sent by God (Isaiah 59:16, John 17:3).

Now, the reason Satan is 'god of this world' is because the world partakes in HIS nature and not GOD's nature. What I'm saying is, GOD and DEVIL are just titles describing nature. There may be one God, but many who are in his nature, and likewise with the Devil.

This is just my view on the worry of believing 'many gods'. I won't lie, I am slightly biased, being raised in a Jehovah's Witness family, however I have kept an open heart to alternatives (the Trinity, Jesus is the Father, etc.) I'm still young and I really just want to learn the truth. All of what I just typed could be absoloute dribble, or it could be very insightful, I can't conclude as fact, I'm still quite uneducated. Anyway, this is just my current view. I do believe God is a personal being (a “He” and not a “They”).

Best regards!

[jbl]

I don't know if I'd consider it fair for me to respond, as I read far more than I contribute to these discussions. However, from reading I think it's a bit of an unfair question to disprove the belief that Jesus had a beginning. God's thoughts are infinite, while ours are finite, time is just a subject human minds cannot fully comprehend, and never will. How can God have always existed, having no beginning and having no end? It blows our minds to try to understand.

Jesus I believe was begotten (had a beginning) perhaps even before time. Does that make sense to us? Not really. But, obviously before God created time he wasn't in a frozen state. Time didn't exist but his thoughts must have existed. If he thought of things, perhaps planning his creation of the universe, wouldn't time still progress? We would think so, but we can't comprehend it not existing.

God must be beyond time. I dont think “the beginning” really signifies anything, but more or less the beginning of the creation of Earth (as seen in Genesis 1). I believe God must have created Heaven and angels before he created Earth and beast. Am I correct? I can't say, this is just theology trying to answer questions we were never meant to know.

A more worrisome question (not to attack anyones beliefs but it really should be a simple question) for those who enter Heaven, what will God look like (if He's a trinity) when they see him? One being, who is three persons. Does God have three bodies bound together? Does he have three heads? Or does he just have multiple personalities? No one has ever seen God. But, we should know what God looks like, as Jesus is image of God, he who was seen Jesus has seen the Father, and we were made in His image.

Understanding time is not a topic we were meant to know, the God we worship is something we should know, as it is written: God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). I think God has perfectly displayed what we should know of Him, our sinful behaviour has twisted it dramatically, however. These are just my views.

Take care.

[jbl]

I don't know if this could be considered relevant to Christmas, as there was no such thing when the scriptures were written. I'm sure everyone may have seen these:

Jeremiah 10:2 says
“Do not learn the ways of the nations”

and continues:

3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.
5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good.”
Jeremiah 10:3-5

By practicing Christmas, aren't we violating these scriptures? YHWH depicts these customs as being “worthless”. By bringing an image into our house, decorating it, and giving this object undeserved glory, haven't we created an idol, as stated in these scirptures? Now, people don't bow down and worship the Christmas tree, however, I understand December 25th was associated with these similar customs honouring pagan gods. It seems like Christians are indirectly continuing that worship.

[jbl]

I'd like to comment on “more” than one God.
Men are gods, Satan is a god, the Father is God, (2Cor. 4:4, Psalms 82:6, Ephesians 1:3), etc. I know this is old knews, but 'god' is a title given to more than just the Almighty God.

11 “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
Exodus 15:11

No one is like Yahweh. Is it speaking of idols? Well, idols are not mentioned once before this scripture nor are they after.

I'm curious what everyone on this network believes idols are. Are they the figment of man's imagination or inspired? I believe they're inspired by wicked spirits.

16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods
and angered him with their detestable idols.
17 They sacrificed to demons, which are not God—
gods they had not known,
gods that recently appeared,
gods your fathers did not fear.
Deuteronomy 32:16, 17

Over half the world worships images of their gods. Are they all fictional and unreal? Is it coincidence every society on this planet has believed in higher spirit beings. Why have these spirits told people to do things not always correct (i.e. drinking blood, sacrificing)? Why have they all crafted images of them? I do not believe that these Non-Christian gods are fake. Hindhu deities have performed miracles in the past.

Because Yahweh acknolwedges that these idols are gods, and because these demons are behind them, I believe demons are gods. I'm only man and imperfect so perhaps I am mistaken, I don't know. I do feel that that this should be worth consideration.

[jbl]

I have a question referring to this bible chapter.

22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;

23 I was appointed from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.

24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;

25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

26 before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,

Proverbs 8:22-30

Who else was there before the world began? Well:

BEFORE THE WORLD
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 17:5

APPOINTED
23 I was appointed from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.
Proverbs 8:23

Also, Jesus is 'anointed'

18″The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
Luke 4:18

—————————————–

33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.
36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death.”
Proverbs 8:33-36

36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.”
John 3:36

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
John 6:68

————————————-

I list these scriptures out of curiosity. In the beginning of this chapter, in some bibles it's listed as a woman speaking.
1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

Is this chapter referring to Jesus in verses 22-36? Or another?

[jbl]

A quick addition, I do not mean two Gods together who are co-equal, I mean Jehovah God the Father, and his firstborn Son, Jesus Christ, a lesser God, but still very high and powerful.

[jbl]

Hello all! I am actually the originator of this topic, and would firstly like to thank you all for giving me such helpful advice. There are certainly very friendly people on this network.

I really do not accept the trinity, though as their is evidence to support it, there is much to deny it. The problem is, I understand Jesus is a spirit being, but, in what form does he possess?

Concerning the Michael/Jesus dilemma, I have wondered, though do NOT want to come off blasphemous in any way, is it possible, if Jesus is not an angel, that he is a God, aside from Jehovah God the Father. Not the One TRUE God, but a God, God's Son. I know this promotes polytheism and would make the trinity seem correct now. I am aware the bible says there is only one true God (as proven below).

John 17:3 (KJV)
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

However, the bible does refer to Satan as 'a god'.

2 Corinthians

3 And even though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing,
4 in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Exodus 20:3

3 You shall have no other gods before me

It's even in the ten commandments of other gods. But truely, not the One true God Almighty. These gods could easily be the works of demons. Is it unethical to propose Jesus as the Lord, Son of the living God, higher than all the angels, but a seperate God from Jehovah?

Thank you all, and I hope for a response!

God bless.

[Author]

Posts