Masonry....and Christianity are un-Christian according to this.

originally posted by: iNobody
(John 15:19) . . .If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.


(2 Corinthians 6:17, 18) . . .“‘Therefore, get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take you in.’” 18 “‘And I will become a father to you, and you will become sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah, the Almighty.”


Notice a true servant of the true God is separate from this world. And you can only become a child of the Father if you get out from among them, and quit touching the unclean thing.

Nothing like out of context quotes to confuse the mundane.

You read this as "a true Jehovah's Witness must not mingle with "non-believers" " (meaning those who do no follow the JW doctrine).

It's obvious all along the Bible such quotes mean that the world is separated into two spheres: the world of matter, flesh and desire, and the world of the Spirit. It's the common theme of all religions and spiritualities, and the Bible is no exception.

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

"This world" is used when talking about the material world.

You can totally be brother with spiritual people who are not JW or not even Christians.




Reading the Bible is one thing. Understanding its message is much more difficult for many.

a reply to: iNobody
Well, I guess it's true of the adage "a tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny", so will the ignorant justify their ignorance. To accomplish what you want, you need to become a hermit.

All I see is you guys quote verses that support hatred, division, and not the love taught by Christ. It's a pity so much taught by early Christians and the Savior has been thrown aside.

originally posted by: Develo
iNobody, would you be disappointed if you weren't among the 144.000 chosen ones? The seats are limited you see.

originally posted by: KSigMason
a reply to: iNobody
Well, I guess it's true of the adage "a tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny", so will the ignorant justify their ignorance. To accomplish what you want, you need to become a hermit.

All I see is you guys quote verses that support hatred, division, and not the love taught by Christ. It's a pity so much taught by early Christians and the Savior has been thrown aside.

(John 17:14-19) . . .I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. 15 “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one. 16 They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. 17 Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 19 And I am sanctifying myself in their behalf, so that they also may be sanctified by means of truth.


No, a hermit-like life is not Christian. Even Jesus prayed to Jehovah not to take his followers out of the world. But he realized that they were separate, and no part of the world.

A people called by Jehovah's name:

(Acts 15:14) . . .God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

a reply to: iNobody

Hey that's a funny pic. But seriously, do you really expect to know how much ambition is mingled in your faith? People just aren't that introspective.

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originally posted by: BlueMule
a reply to: iNobody

Hey that's a funny pic. But seriously, do you really expect to know how much ambition is mingled in your faith? People just aren't that introspective.

👣

True faith is a gift from God. It is devoid of ambition. I've been around long enough to discern this truth. Although he can be proven by scientific methods, the haughty and arrogant will refuse to acknowledge his existence. Yet he is a humble person, and looks for the meek and humble, and reveals himself them.

a reply to: iNobody

I admit I don't know you very well. But from where I'm sitting, it looks like you could use some humility.

/shrug

So, would you be willing to sacrifice your place among the 144,000? Assuming you have one?

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originally posted by: BlueMule
a reply to: iNobody

I admit I don't know you very well. But from where I'm sitting, it looks like you could use some humility.

/shrug

So, would you be willing to sacrifice your place among the 144,000? Assuming you have one?

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Yes. With all my heart. I would give it away so that the shackles of North Korea would be taken away.

I would for the 12-year-old I saw dying in the hospital because of a gas leak from the near-by military instillation he lived next to. Without hesitation. I would willingly cease to exist, if that meant the eternal life of one other person. Even you.

And if you perceive me as not humble, than I apologize. Humility is something we all must work for to achieve. And the moment you think you have it, you have lost it.

But God gives great things to the humble ones, while he opposes the haughty. If I am not humble I pray that I am taught humility. For it is one of the greatest gifts a man can achieve.

(1 Peter 5:5) . . .God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.

a reply to: iNobody

I think there is a trap of arrogance many religious people fall into, and it has to do with the way they study religion in general, and the way they interpret their personal religion in particular.

'Oh, I don't need to study other religions. I already know everything about world religion and myth that's worth knowing. And I don't need to study alternate ways of interpreting the religion of my culture, my religion. I already have a perfect exegesis'.

I get the feeling those sentiments lurk under your posts.

👣

a reply to: BlueMule

Thank you for taking the time to post what you think. It is always interesting to understand another person. I must strive better to not give away that attitude.

I have a question for you, to make you think, and reason. For you seem to be a reasoning person. If you were, say, a part of the Secret Service, and in charge of keeping fake money out of circulation. What do you do? Do you study all of the fakes? Or do you take what is real and study that, and then if you find a fake you can compare it to what is real?

Do you really need to study every religion, if you have the truth which is God's word? Does not everything either stand or fall based on what God's word says?

(Psalm 119:151) . . .You are near, O Jehovah, And all your commandments are truth.

(Psalm 119:160) . . .The very essence of your word is truth,. . .

a reply to: iNobody

Is it even remotely possible that someone else may have a better understanding of things than you do at this moment?

I ask this only because I do know about masonry and I understand that some of your ideas about it are wrong and fueled by some ignorance taught by a group with a direct agenda against it. If you can be misled by them on that one subject, I wonder how accurate you might be about other things.

Hearsay, second hand knowledge, and reading can give you some great talking points, but living the experience is key to understanding. Much like an atheist can tell you all about what they read in the Bible, but fall short when describing the feeling of the Joy of the lord.

a reply to: iNobody

In that scenario I would be trained and given tools to do the job. The job would take place entirely in an objective man-made box (the economy) dealing with a currency that is man-made. There would be no way to think outside that box, and no danger from thinking in it.

But it's different with religion. There is no one to hand you some mana and say, 'ok this is genuine mana from Heaven, from our cultural religion, which is true religion. And this over here is false mana from foreign religions. See the difference between them?'

No, with religion you are born into a local story. A man-made box dealing with a kind of currency that is NOT man-made, and not available on demand.

“[...You] can’t think yourself out of the story you are caught in with the rules and elements of the very story in which you are caught. You can’t free yourself with the tools that the master provides you. You need a new story and new cognitive tools” -Jeffrey Kripal

That's why everyone should be a comparativist.



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a reply to: BlueMule

Thank you again, for sharing with my your thoughts. I respect them very much. And thank you for taking the time to contemplate those of mine.

originally posted by: network dude
a reply to: iNobody

Is it even remotely possible that someone else may have a better understanding of things than you do at this moment?

I ask this only because I do know about masonry and I understand that some of your ideas about it are wrong and fueled by some ignorance taught by a group with a direct agenda against it. If you can be misled by them on that one subject, I wonder how accurate you might be about other things.

Hearsay, second hand knowledge, and reading can give you some great talking points, but living the experience is key to understanding. Much like an atheist can tell you all about what they read in the Bible, but fall short when describing the feeling of the Joy of the lord.

Of course. My thoughts are only my own, and I am sure to be wrong about most things.

In fact I have come to this realization. Most people are mostly wrong about most of what they think most of the time. I am not excluded from that.

The only thing that is reliable is God's word, found in the Bible. His holy spirit helps us to understand truth as we read it.

As far as God's word. It is not wrong. If what you or I think or are taught goes against it, then it is wrong. That is the only true gauge in this world.

a reply to: iNobody

It was no trouble, I used to be a lot like you. I remember when I was young and the counterfeit currency logic made sense. Then I thought about it some more, and realized I was putting conceptual and cultural limits on God. God transcends concepts, thought, knowledge, and culture. But not Love.

"And so I urge you, go after experience rather than knowledge. On account of pride, knowledge may often deceive you, but this gentle, loving affection will not deceive you. Knowledge tends to breed conceit, but love builds. Knowledge is full of labor, but love, full of rest."

en.m.wikipedia.org...

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a reply to: iNobody

Thanks, that was a nice answer.

Silence is golden... God's word!?! Fundamental.
My Thoughts?!? Eradic...

Its about time some rules to be updated , like “not talk about religion or politics”
, the word must be used . lots of people can have a good help on their journey toward the perfection .a reply to: network dude

originally posted by: MightyWizard
Its about time some rules to be updated , like “not talk about religion or politics” When in lodge assembled
, the word must be used . lots of people can have a good help on their journey toward the perfection .a reply to: network dude

I added a little to your post to clean it up.

originally posted by: visitedbythem
a reply to: network dude I wastold last year that my Ex wifes great grandfather was a 33 degree mason by the name of Merlin. My grandson has the same name. My ex wife has a glass bowl from the great grandfather that has the Satanic cross etched on it.

What do you mean by satanic cross? If you mean upside down cross then that is not a satanic symbol. The upside down cross is the cross of St. Peter, he was crucified on a cross upside down.