You can't make yourself holy by following a list of do's and don'ts. All holiness originates from God and we are called to live a holy life-a life like God wants us to live. The great commandment in the Law as stated by Jesus was "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment." And the second is like it" You shall love your neighbor as yourself." "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prohphets." If JWs can have honeymoons, weddings, and rings, let them enjoy Christmas and birthdays. Your organization should consider re-thinking this.
Peace <><
2007-11-23 10:16:46 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Was just trying to help you guys out. Merry Christmas
2007-11-23 11:02:04 · update #1
If you are trying to be helpful, making rude remarks about one's faith keeping it's members in bondage isn't the way to do it. I assume you copied this, correct me if I'm wrong.
Consider, Christ's first recorded miracle was at a WEDDING celebration.
Repeatedly we are reminded in the Bible to strive to avoid pagan activities. Christmas is considered by MANY, not just Witnesses, to be pagan.
If our actions didn't matter, then why would Jesus have spent time helping correct his disciples. Wouldn't he have simply said be loving, and then left?
2007-11-23 14:43:50 · answer #1 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What are you on about?
Do you know what you are talking about?
There is nothing wrong with weddings, honeymoons, and rings.
There is LOADS wrong from the Bible's viewpoint with Christmas and birthdays.
We do not celebrate pagan holidays because we are trying to keep our worship clean. We do not have any Do's or Don'ts except those in the Bible.
We follow those great commandments.
We love Jehovah, that is why we follow his laws, even when the rest of the so-called Christians ignore it.
We preach as we are commanded to.
We love our neighbours just as we love ourselves, that is why we do not swear, smoke, abort, commit adultery or fornication or go to war just because the government has picked a fight with another government.
Can you say that about your "free from any legalistic bondage" religion?
2007-11-23 18:22:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Hi Daisymae! I have an ex-brother in law that became a JW after being Catholic. I don't understand the birthday things so much but they don't celebrate Christmas as is is based on a pagan tradition. This came up in a question that I read here at Ya. In Jeremiah 10:2-5 it speaks about the use of a tree. In the answers someone said "well we don't worship the tree. And someone else said "you do admire it and put presents under it and kneel before it. This is probably where the JW gets these ideas. This is of course in the old testament and we are not bound by the laws of the old testament since Jesus came and died for our sins. However, I did feel some conviction about what was said on the ya answers...still haven't figured out if it is from God or the evil one! lol!
2007-11-23 19:37:24 · answer #3 · answered by Meeshmai 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Grace is what saves us, NOT works:
Ephesians 2: 8, 9--"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God--not of works, lest any man should boast."
Isaiah 64: 6--"all our righteousness are as filthy rags" before God.
When we truly have God, we have liberty:
2 Corinthians 3:17--"Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
John 8:32--"And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."
Legalism=bondage. The entire book of Galatians was the Apostle Paul's warning to the believers in Galatia not to put themselves back under a legalistic yoke. Why? Because legalism does not save. The new covenant is based on GRACE, GRACE, GRACE. It is a free gift of God.
Jesus said that he was the only way, truth and life. He died to bring us into the new covenant of grace. Does he need to be crucified over and over again in order to bring us back out of bondage to the law on a consistant basis? God forbid!
BTW, although some seem to be uninformed on the matter, there are many traditions incorporated into the wedding ceremony--including wedding rings--that have pagan origins or parallels.
2007-11-23 22:20:23 · answer #4 · answered by Simon Peter 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It's a stupid question for several reasons. (1) God instituted marriage, and so there's nothing wrong with enjoying a wedding or honeymoon or wearing a wedding ring. (2) Christmas and birthday celebrations are not scriptural, and Jehovah's Witnesses use the Bible as their source for guidance in what to teach and what practices to follow.
There's nothing to reconsider. Pagan celebrations like Christmas and observing birthdays go against Bible teachings.
2007-11-23 18:22:33 · answer #5 · answered by X 7 · 7⤊ 1⤋
When I first found out that Xmas was a lie, then I knew I had found the truth. I came from a large family and my father did not have money to buy us gifts at Xmas, it was always so embarrassing when I went back to school and everyone was talking about everything they got. I feel that if God approved of the holiday, then everyone would have had the money for gifts. My father worked 30 years at the same job, so it wasn't because he did not work.
It's nice that you feel the need to have compassion for the JWs and the lack of holidays, but to quote a famous actor.
"Quite frankly I don't give a damn!"
Edit: I have to laugh when people use the control word when referring to JWs. Like your religion doesn't control you? 10 percent of your earnings is expected, now that is control.
2007-11-23 21:52:22 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Traditions that conflict with truth are like polluted water supplies. We might innocently hold fast to traditions—information, opinions, beliefs, or customs handed down from one generation to the next—that have, in fact, been contaminated by “a witch’s brew” of false, misleading ideas and philosophies. Just like contaminated water, these may cause untold harm—spiritual harm.
Even if we feel that our traditional religious beliefs are based on the Bible, all of us should take the time to examine them carefully.
Today, also, many traditional beliefs are ‘at variance with the very writings of the apostles.’ Christendom has poisoned the waters of truth with numerous demon-inspired ideas, such as the Trinity, hellfire, immortality of the human soul, nationalism, and idolatry. (1 Timothy 4:1-3) History testifies to the spiritual sickness that has overtaken people who fell prey to the demonic teachings that have become the traditional teachings of Christendom.—Compare Isaiah 1:4-7.
Such contaminating of truth has, in fact, been going on from man’s beginning. Satan has continued the process he started in Eden of poisoning people’s minds with lies and deceit. (John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3) As the human family spread throughout the earth following the Flood of Noah’s day, people of all cultures became victims of a deliberate poisoning of the reservoirs of human knowledge with demon-inspired philosophies and ideas.
2007-11-23 18:22:21 · answer #7 · answered by Just So 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
And so when God gave all the laws to the Israelites that was for what exactly? What is the point of revelation if it is not to be a guide in how to live your life? That would include some do's and don'ts, don't you think?
2007-11-23 18:23:50 · answer #8 · answered by MBC 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You mean if I was one of Jehovah's witnesses I wouldn't have to endure these family gatherings? No one would get mad because I forgot valentines, birthdays or the christmas present wasn't what they expected?
I wouldn't have to be tortured over a list of who gets what?
What did they buy me last year so I know what to spend this year? The crowds shopping and carrying presents and dragging my kids all over the store while they cry?
I need to change my religion. Who ever thought of that must be a genius.
2007-11-23 18:27:54 · answer #9 · answered by Steven 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
They keep them in legalistic bondage because they are easier to control that way. They don't realize, like other religious organizations, that if you aren't doing what you do for God. You may as well not do it at all.Their is ni biblical reason for not celebrating birthdays or holidays. That is simply a man made idea.
2007-11-23 18:24:10 · answer #10 · answered by paula r 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋