Christian Evangelism - Is it Off Track?

Dear Randman; That seems to be a common misconception about the New World Translation, but it is a very accurate translation and I have found it to be extremely reliable in it's renderings. Here are a couple of links to sites which rate the NWT very highly. The first uses Colwell's Rule of Bible Translations of using 64 different test verses to determine accuracy in a translation of the New Testament. hector3000.future.easyspace.com is no longer available "What Is The Best New Testament" .
Here is a link where the NWT is ranked the highest out of 21 commonly used Bible translations.
hector3000.future.easyspace.com is no longer available
As the links show, the NWT is one of the best Bible translations available today.As for creating a altered translation to support nonbiblical doctrines, that would be foolish in the extreme, what would be the point? All people would have to do is to point out the alterations, and we wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Now when you consider how many people oppose us and say bad things about us, why are they so vague on the claim of us having an altered Bible? Simply because the NWT is faithful to the original language text and a good case can be made for the wording used in the NWT and frequently another translation will use the same word or phrase in question. Now changing the Bible to try to fit your doctrine is of course pointless, what Jehovah's Witnesses have done is to change their doctrine to fit the Bible. If we see a difference, we change what we believe to better conform with God's Word, which is why you hear the old complaint about us changing our beliefs all the time. But which is it better to do, to change what you believe to better fit what the Bible teaches, or to keep a doctrine that you know conflicts with the Bible? In a way, we cheat, instead of trying to defend a traditional doctrinal position that has some problems, we have simply moved to the best position that we know of, which is why we always have the high ground in a biblical discussion. We jettisoned all the old doctrines that have scriptural problems from their being based more on the word of man than the Word of God.Since this thread is supposed to be on Christian preaching, it is appropriate to discuss our preaching work, yes some of us can sound a bit stiff at the door at times, it is not an easy thing to do. Could you image yourself getting up one Saturday morning and going out door to door talking to people you don't even know about your religion? Ever wonder how Jehovah's Witnesses are able to do what other Christian religions would love to be able to do, but can't? Simple, we have help, it is only through the support of God's holy spirit that we are able to go door to door preaching the Good News of the Kingdom day after day as a group in the face of opposition and indifference. And that is what is really wrong with Christian evangelism today, they don't have the holy spirit and their conduct doesn't match what they preach in the churches. If all Christians had the holy spirit, they would all be preaching publicly and living up to what they were saying. (there, wanted to at least try to be on topic in this thread.)Sincerely Yours, Wm Scott Anderson(oh, yes, since it annoys Charles to no end, be sure to e-mail me if you have any questions.)This message has been edited by wmscott, 08-17-2005 06:01 PM

insertion of the name of god into the greek of the nt is not exactly accurate -- although probably acceptable. however: ever read the mormon bible? there are a few additions, but it's obvious that the text itself is not a new translation -- it's more or less word for word the kjv.i haven't seen anything to suggest that nwt is biased to this degree. it seems like about an average translation, just with the name "jehovah" instead of "LORD" or "Lord" in the nt.

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אָרַח

(oh, yes, since it annoys Charles to no end, be sure to e-mail me if you have any questions.)

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i soon found out as did he that a bamboo cain is only strong enough for 5 or 6 lashes form an 18 stone man, so eventually when 1 cain didnt satisfied him i would have to wait for to get another from the garden and go though it again. Hidding 10 or 15 lash marks from the teachers at school was hard but out of some weird resoning i did it. These thing went on untill a very violent two months just after my 15 birthday, things in the house just went crazy, on one occasion he knock me clean out, another time he sat on me in my bed untill i passed out, right before i was kicked out of home by him i remember we were all sitting around the dinner table eating, he was sitting to my immediate right when in front of the whole family he swung his left out at me stricking me on the cheek bone with enough force to knock me off my chair and my face into our artexed wall, this was the first and only time my mum stood up for me,she told him to go out for some fresh air while she picked bits of the wall out of my face. I later found out that he hit me for having my knive and fork in the wrong hand.

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During this time we had an elder come round to see us because jws from our hall had noticed some marks on me. When he came round i was so releived i thought it was all going to stop now. he asked to speak to me on my own witch i though was a good sign. we went to our living room so we chould talk but when he asked me questons i just couldnt answer him, i did manage to pull my top up to show him my bruses. after an hour of me not talking to him he said that every thing was going to be aright and we should go and speak to my parents. We went up stairs and to my horror he told my parents that i was the most dissrespectful, rude boy he had ever meet and the only advise he could give them was to give me a hiding.My friend who was older than me and who i had a study with also knew but later told me he had been silenced.

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I ran away from home that day and lived with my mum or brothers or sister again. why didnt someone do something to stop this.

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http://www.lambsroar.com/db/index.php?showtopic=2162&st=0...

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I made a last attempt to beg the elders to help control him. I left all sexual matters out of the discussion, and told them about the verbal abuse, etc. They told him that he should control himself. Then they told me that he was depressed and so was I and that I had to be patient with him. They read me a scripture about Job's wife, believe it or not. Then they left. And my ex only got worse.

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I knew that the organization wasn't going to help me, my father in law was the PO of our congregation and therefore my ex had carte blanche to do as he pleased. I realized that it was up to me to get myself out of the situation.

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http://www.lambsroar.com/db/index.php?showtopic=1602However I don't want it to appear it's all doom and gloom, many do manage to escape the clutches of this cult

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Well, I was having a garage sale and I saw them coming... So did my Steve... He said, "I saw them coming and I thought you were going to be polite."ME: "No, I wasn't." I told the old man that wanted to give me a tract,"I disassociated myself in 1987. I was molested by my Grandfather, and Elder in the Jehovah's Witness religion."
He hung his head and quickly walked away. THIS WAS THE FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH JW'S THAT I DIDN'T FEEL TERRIBLE AND CRY!!! YEAH!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH LAMBSROAR!!! I did ROAR AND it felt GOOD!!! Just the knowledge of the amount of sexual predators in the JW religion MADE me speak up!!!

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http://www.lambsroar.com/db/index.php?showtopic=1435This message has been edited by Charles Knight, 17-Aug-2005 06:01 PMThis message has been edited by Charles Knight, 17-Aug-2005 06:20 PM

Dear schrafinator; If the stand against blood is scriptural, then it should be obeyed, and if life was lost as a result, could it be called senseless or needless if it was indeed a divine command? As Christians we are required to be willing to die for our faith, would such deaths be considered by you to be senseless or needless? I don't think you or any Christian would say so. So it really all hinges on whether or not rejecting blood is scriptural or not. Here is a recent post wrote in another thread on this issue. I hope that answers your question. I should also mention that there are many other options available today beside taking blood, bloodless surgery etc., and due to things like AIDS and such, more lives have probably been lost by taking blood than not taking it. In medicine, blood has increasingly become the treatment of last resort due to the risks associated with it.Sincerely yours; Wm Scott Anderson

Are you actually qualified to answer that question for your cult? Are you a HLC member?

Scott,I have witnessed door to door. I know it's tough. I believe it's easier when the Lord confirms the word with signs following, just like in the Bible. The Lord healed and did miracles in the OT. One of the names of the Lord is Jehovah"ourHealer".He healed in Jesus' ministry, and in all of the New Testament, and all of Church history, God has healed and done miracles at various times. It's part of the very nature of the Holy Spirit to do so.That doesn't mean that someone preaching the kingdom is not a Christian, but the kingdom of God is not just in word, but in power.The cessationist teachings to claim the power gifts of the Holy Spirit died with the early Church are based on a false reading of the text, but just as importantly, a false understanding of the nature of God, as He is seen and acted throughout history.

If I were a mod, I'd probably ban Charles for flame-baiting.

Good point on contaminated blood, although I don't ascribe to the same doctrine.

How many times do you need to be told? I CANNOT see your posts, the script wipes them. changed img tags to fix page width - The QueenThis message has been edited by AdminAsgara, 08-17-2005 06:11 PM

That's OK with me. I don't really enjoy your brand of "discussion" but don't mind pointing out some things about your posts.

Why are you replying to me?????Like I said at the time, I'll debate most fundies but you went beyond the pale - you are a straight out liar. I have no interest in debating liars.DO NOT REPLY I CANNOT SEE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!I would draw you a picture...but I did and you still replied.This message has been edited by Charles Knight, 17-Aug-2005 07:07 PM

Charles, this is getting a little ridiculous. Ignoring someone generally means ignoring them not getting personal. Take 24 hours to think about it.This message has been edited by AdminAsgara, 08-17-2005 06:19 PM

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AdminAsgara Queen of the Universe

http://asgarasworld.bravepages.com http://perditionsgate.bravepages.com

Why are you wasting effort talking to someone who doesn't want to talk to you, and has shown he can't even see the content of your texts, when you still have a question outstanding from me?I will repeat it again here: Since you are against people altering holy scripture to suit their own doctrine, how do you accept the Bible at all, in any of its modern forms? How do you pick and choose the inherently altered version you believe in?

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

So you believe that it is OK to let someone die rather than save them if the only way they can live is to give them a blood transfusion, correct?Talk about mindless, senseless, self-destructive selective book-worship.You are drinking the Kool-Ade.

Dear Randman; Congratulations, I am very happy to hear that, you know what I am talking about. Now imagine doing it every week, and imagine if everyone in your church did the same and kept doing it. For a whole religion to witness door to door and every member does it and keeps at it, that takes the power of the holy spirit. I believe that is why most Christian religions don't go door to door, they don't have the power of the holy spirit to sustain them in witnessing. Here is the text in question; (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) "But whether there are [gifts of] prophesying, they will be done away with; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we have partial knowledge and we prophesy partially; but when that which is complete arrives, that which is partial will be done away with."Four times Paul repeated that the gifts would be done away with, when that which is complete arrives; 'that which is complete' is the complete Bible, so once the congregations had the complete word of God they would no longer need the gifts. Jesus said that his followers would be known not by their ability to heal, but by their love. (John 13:35) "By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves." Why did Jesus say that?, because there would be those who were not his true followers, but would do powerful works. (Matthew 7:22-23) "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?' And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness." So being able to do healing or other powerful works is not a sure fire sign of having the truth or having God's or Jesus' approval. The identifying sign of Christ's true followers is that they would have love among themselves and for others. They would show love for each other, no racism or divisions between them, no splitting into differing groups, and they would not fight in wars killing each other or others. Jesus said that we would recognize such by their works, their conduct. (Matthew 7:16) "By their fruits YOU will recognize them." Jesus wasn't referring to powerful works, since he stated at Matthew 7:22-23 that even workers of lawlessness would be able to do those, he was referring to conduct. That even if a person or group did many powerful works, even healings, but they did not have peace among themselves or did other things that Christ's followers should not do, they have bad fruitage and are not true followers of Christ. That is why in itself, healings are not a sure sign that someone has the holy spirit.Sincerely Yours; Wm Scott Anderson