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Disciple.Luke

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  1. Thanks
    Disciple.Luke got a reaction from TheGloryLand in Senior old woman Jehovah Witness knocked on my door today   
    So the members actually pay for publications they give out for free. While it isn't mandatory...it is still encouraged that a witness donate for a publication they have given out .
    Also while they have always been critical of churches who demand a weekly tithe they still practice it by just calling it something else. Several years back every congregation was asked to announce a new way of giving and the members were asked to anonymously write down what they could afford to give monthly. This was then added up and whatever the giving amount in each congregation was ended up being what the Watchtower expected monthly. So whether they call it donating, giving, or tithing they still get money from it's members in a regular basis.
    Another source of getting money was that even after a congregation has paid back the Watchtower loan it was given to build the congregations they still "encourage" members to continue contributing the same amount monthly except a few hundred dollars a month that is reserved for building repairs or expenses. I believe this was discontinued but not positive.
    The congregation loans are complete scam to begin with because even though the congregation pays the Watchtower back the Watchtower Society takes complete ownership of the building. This gives the Society a higher net worth and the ability to sell congregation buildings whenever they want. This has been a recent move by the Watchtower because of the money they are out from losing sex abuse cases. They started selling Kingdom Halls and  having 2-5 congregations worship at different times in the same buildings.
    Here where I live there used to be three congregations with two kingdom halls. The West and South Sharded a building and the North congregation had its own building. But they sold one building a few years ago and combined three congregations into two and  meeting in one building.
    It is absolutely unbelievable to me that JWs don't see the scams and so easily believe everything the Watchtower teaches and requests. JWs spend hours each week preparing and attending services while also being pushed to go door to door as much as possible and donate as much money from what little work hours they have to work.
    They are the Societys slaves and workforce. The Watchtower parades as a religion but is really a pyramid scam that sells publications and  brings in probably billions a year. I haven't even brought up money that JWs members "donate" to use buildings for regional conventions that have been paid for years ago.
    As long as the majority of JWs remain "sheep" the Society will always find a different way to get money.
    They will most likely always have some paper publications like tracts and hard copies of their Bible. For America and other countries that have the same digital technology as us I believe will mostly become digital. Obviously in poor countries in Africa and South America they will have to continue using paper so they will always have some form of printing available...but I believe they will push into into mostly online material as printing continues to get more expensive and less popular here.
  2. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Jerry in What drives men like this?   
    It is not a prayer that saves - it is the faith behind that prayer. Typically, 1-2-3 pray after me scenarios usually involve pressuring a person into praying a prayer without understanding their sin and their need for a Saviour. If a person truly believed who Jesus is and what He has done to save us, repents of their sin and receives the Saviour, that ONE prayer truly saved them. But if there is no truth or repentance behind a prayer, you could pray it a million times and never be saved.
  3. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to heartstrings in What drives men like this?   
    Now, stuff like this....
    Step 1 Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner,
    2 I ask for Your forgiveness.
    3 I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead.
    4 I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life.
    5 I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
    The 1, 2, 3 repeat after me "salvation" yeah, I agree, I doubt very seriously many if any get truly born again that way. But to basically say that people can't have any assurance in their salvation because they prayed a one time prayer? I mean, what's up with that?
  4. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to heartstrings in What drives men like this?   
    "So many people are deceived! And so many youth are deceived! And so many adults are deceived! Into believing, that because they prayed a prayer one time in their life they are going to heaven." -Paul Washer 
    That would depend on the faith and repentence that went into that "one-time" prayer. Because, if the Holy Spirit indwelled that person during that prayer, he's as saved as he can possibly be. I certainly wouldn't make such a statement as he has here.
     
  5. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke got a reaction from TheGloryLand in Senior old woman Jehovah Witness knocked on my door today   
    But I absolutely agree that we could learn from their zeal to preach their faith.
    If only a third of church members would do public witnessing there would be some fruit. If JWs can baptized hundreds of thousands each year with lies... surely the truth can win souls and add to the local churches.
    Everyone now a days is more afraid offending people more than winning souls.
  6. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to TheGloryLand in Senior old woman Jehovah Witness knocked on my door today   
    I have an update regarding the Jehovah witnesses. They are no longer knocking on doors. Now, I see them in the public park walkways with a stand with hand out flyers stuff, but they don’t approach you. They are letting you approach them, so you can just walk by and say hello, and they’ll say hello back, that’s all. Now,if you ask them regarding what is on that display, now you open the door to them to minister to you. The Jehovah witnesses are doing something, that we are not, that is reaching out in public places. I was wondering if we can do the same thing, but have the display full of Christians tracts, free information. We might be able to learn something from them? What do you think. In the area of reaching out with the gospel.
  7. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to BrotherTony in Are people still getting Saved and Baptized at your church?   
    Our church has had 11 baptisms since December. 
  8. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Pastor Matt in "I changed Bible Versions For my Kids" -   
    BTW, Pastor Stacey Shiflett is a great pastor that stands up against abuse in churches. 
  9. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke got a reaction from Pastor Matt in "I changed Bible Versions For my Kids" -   
    Yes thats the clip from about 16 minutes into the original video you posted.
    I guess the first time I watched it the way he used "conviction" just didn't click in my mind because he had just said something about Eugene Petersons Message "bible" right before that and I assumed was gonna keep rambling on different translations.
    But I for sure agree with girl who originally posted it on Twitter when she described it as "scorning" the KJV rather than decision for his kids.
  10. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to MikeWatson1 in Saved at the door, but doesn't want to come to church?   
    We had to contact the city council to use the city Square. It cost a little to use an area there. 
    We also set up a table at an outdoor market area. That cost a bit more,  but there was plenty of people around to talk to.
     
    So you don't commit some kind of offense, I'd check the local by laws about what to do to have a table in s public space.   Here in Christchurch NZ, if it wasn't the city Square or a market.. we could set up a table at any park, and it cost nothing. Especially effective setting up by a skate park.
     
    We had a sign set up.. advertising the drink for a survey.  The survey was general questions about life. The last question about whether they wanted to hear about Jesus.   
     
    We also had chairs set up so people could sit and chat.
    I would be careful setting up close to vendors.. they would likely get anti at having possible customers getting free stuff.  Also if they are anti Christian they may do some under hand tactics. But guess that's normal. 
     
    The tract we had with the gospel presentation was a bit like the 4 spiritual laws from campus crusade.. except the emphasis wasn't on changing all areas of life.. and then God saves you..  but God saving you and as you are.. warts and all. The changed life happening as a response.. but not the means of salvation. 
    Hope this is useful 
     
     
  11. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Donut_brand_donuts in Saved at the door, but doesn't want to come to church?   
    Yeah the "1,2,3 repeat after me" stuff is useless. When I go out I do my best to be thorough presenting the gospel and asking questions along the way to make sure they are tracking and actively understanding what's being said. Even those that do seem to "get it" and do profess to believe in the death & resurrection and call upon the Lord, many times we don't see them come, and when we follow up there seems to be a lack of interest or "I'm too busy right now".
    Ultimately it's between them and God, if they do truly believe I trust God will work on them even if we don't get to see the direct fruit ourselves.
  12. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke reacted to BrotherTony in Two dollars for a cup of coffee   
    I agree. I don't have $2 for a cup of coffee either. We make ours at home. My brother and his wife in Riverside, FL pay over $5 each for a cup of coffee most mornings, and then several times a day. I don't see how. Now, as to the panhandler, my wife and I would offer to buy him a cup of coffee from Mcdonald's or Burger King, but, there's NO WAY I would put money into his hand if I witnessed what you say you did. 
  13. Like
    Disciple.Luke got a reaction from BrotherTony in "I changed Bible Versions For my Kids" -   
    Pastor Matt - I watched the video but I've never heard of this Pastor before. Is he considered IFB?
    While listening to him I specifically looking for his reasoning because like you said he has every right to change it in his congregation.
    I agree with you that his reasoning behind it doesn't make sense.
    My son attended an IFB school that used some Abeka curriculum and the KJV I don't personally recall having any issues with my son not being understand the KJV references.
    IF the KJV is so difficult for kids to understand now Im surprised they haven't had to make a revision of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special using another version of when he quotes Luke 2. I never read any Bible as a kid but Charlie Brown's quote about what Christmas was really about wasn't difficult to understand.
    I have a couple work books I collected over the years when I was going to a Church of God and attend a Sunday school class. In those workbooks when scripture was used it was always the NIV/KJV side by side. The NIV was the the first Bible I owned and became familiar with but I remember feeling like I understood the KJV more clearly than the NIV. So I disagree with him when he implies he had to change translations to save the next generation in pews understanding of the Bible.
    He apparently attended a church that was KJV only to the point where he or his kids felt like they were in "trouble" for using another translation. I have not experienced that so it's hard to relate with that point as a reason for his change.
    I've attended KJV IFB churches where ONLY the KJV was used from the pulpit or in Sunday school material but it was hardly a sin or something negative to reference another decent translation.
     

  14. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Salyan in Altar Call for Salvation   
    Goodness gracious, TGL. Sin?!? I don't remember a commandment entitled 'thou shalt have altar calls.' Don't be extraneous.
    Not all altar calls are for salvation, either.  And in Canada, anyone who wanted to be saved might be encouraged to talk to someone privately after, but would be extremely unlikely to actually walk down an aisle. 
  15. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to BrotherTony in Showing "The Chosen" during midweek services   
    I, too, was shocked that many of the churches that fellowship as SBC went to the CSB after such a short time with the HCSB. I'm not a fan of the HCSB, but, our church used it for several years until the new "revisionist" CSB made its way into view. Our pastor started using it and sees no potential problems with it. I disagree. It's heading towards being an "all-inclusive" sort of language inside. We don't use it ourselves...we still take our KJV to services. 
  16. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Jim_Alaska in Is the R.C. church a christian church?   
    The word Christian means "Christ like". The RC church is anything but Christ like. I even hesitate to call it a church.
  17. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke got a reaction from BrotherTony in Senior old woman Jehovah Witness knocked on my door today   
    When I first started learn about Jehovah's witnesses beliefs my initial thinking was that if I could clear up the who goes to heaven issue then they would see the truth.
    It took me a few years to realize that the topic of "heaven" was a useless subject in one on one evangelism.
    If you read any of the current watchtower publications  from the last twenty years you'll notice that when they are referring to the nature of Jesus now, angels, demons, and the 144,000 that go to heaven are described as "spirit creatures".
    So when the anointed die they become some sort of invisible immortal "spirit creature"  who apparently will be "working" while in heaven as co rulers with Jesus.
    it took awhile but I eventually realized that MOST JWs DONT want to became some "creature" and prefer the idea of living on a paradise earth with all their resurrected family, friends and loved ones.
  18. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke got a reaction from Jim_Alaska in Senior old woman Jehovah Witness knocked on my door today   
    When I first started learn about Jehovah's witnesses beliefs my initial thinking was that if I could clear up the who goes to heaven issue then they would see the truth.
    It took me a few years to realize that the topic of "heaven" was a useless subject in one on one evangelism.
    If you read any of the current watchtower publications  from the last twenty years you'll notice that when they are referring to the nature of Jesus now, angels, demons, and the 144,000 that go to heaven are described as "spirit creatures".
    So when the anointed die they become some sort of invisible immortal "spirit creature"  who apparently will be "working" while in heaven as co rulers with Jesus.
    it took awhile but I eventually realized that MOST JWs DONT want to became some "creature" and prefer the idea of living on a paradise earth with all their resurrected family, friends and loved ones.
  19. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Jim_Alaska in Senior old woman Jehovah Witness knocked on my door today   
    They will readily "shun" their members, but will think nothing of downing alcohol when they should be "shunning" it.
    Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
  20. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke got a reaction from Jim_Alaska in Showing "The Chosen" during midweek services   
    Glad to hear he changed his mind. Just out of curiosity did explain why he reversed his decision?
    I couldn't really think of any appropriate reason to have any form of visual entertainment in a church building. Maybe recorded testimonies on the monitors before baptisms but certainly not for just entertainment.
    I personally would prefer to not even use musical instruments as I enjoy hearing Acapella voices of congregation praising God. I don't have anything against appropriate instruments.. Acapella is just my preference. 
    But I would definitely be opposed to theatrical entertainment with the exception of the children's Christmas programs and things like that 
  21. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke reacted to TheGloryLand in Senior old woman Jehovah Witness knocked on my door today   
    What I understood of the JW they are like the Catholics, party time after Church… ? no birthday, just happy hour. 
  22. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Napsterdad in Altar Call for Salvation   
    Noone on this forum can possibly answer this question. Why don't you ask the pastors you actually witness "not asking visitors or members if they will like to accept Jesus Christ for Salvation". Right or wrong, they are the ONLY ones that can give an answer to this. Perhaps you can then help them in some way. I certainly can't. I don't even know them or their church.
  23. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to BrotherTony in Showing "The Chosen" during midweek services   
    Thankfully, our pastor has decided to do these things at a time other than the midweek service. I'm thankful for that!
  24. Like
    Disciple.Luke reacted to BrotherTony in Holy Spirit baptism   
    Side note here and question...the way you've worded this about salvation makes it seem like you hold a belief in Calvinism. Is this the case? 
  25. I Agree
    Disciple.Luke reacted to Jim_Alaska in Holy Spirit baptism   
    TGL,
    no, the thief didn't get baptized, but he was not a member of any church either.
    Scriptural Baptists have never accepted anyone that was not scripturally baptized as a member. This was why we were called Anabaptists (meaning re-baptizers) by the Catholic Church. We would not accept  as members, anyone that was not scripturally baptized; so we baptized them scripturally before accepting them as members. Baptism is a mandatory prerequisite to membership in a scriptural Baptist Church.
    Acts 2:41 (KJV) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
    Do you see the proper sequence here? Baptized, then added.
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