oldiesman

Here's another thought. God is the Word. Jesus is the Word in the flesh. The Bible is the Word in writing. But wasn't VPW really talking about "action" and not mere form or existence? The thing that makes Christianity meaningful is Christ's amazing action on earth, and what we may do to imitate his great works of perseverence and gritty resolve. Hence, a possible definitive thought that agrees with the Book of Acts (action) is this: "The [preached] Word takes the place of the [physically] absent Christ"

YW Mike. And as VPW "might" say is one of those 'literals according to usage' Now then we are ambassadors for the physically absent Jesus Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in the physically absent Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

I began listening to Craig's talk on 9-3-22 Discerning of Spirits. It's long-- haven't finished yet. He talks about Jesus learning about the spiritual realm and how devil spirits operate from the wild beasts in the desert during his 40 days/nights of temptations. I don't remember ever hearing anything about this--- does anyone remember this from twi?

I think the way I understood the 'absent Christ' quip was: Christ is not here physically. I didn't see him physically nor ever saw him physically, has anyone seen physically? I vaguely recall in one of those old threads of Greasespot, that someone posted that twi used to refer to "absent" as "unseen". He hasn't been seen physically, with the eyes, since the first century. Another usage: I believe twi was conveying that you and me (when we are preaching the Word) takes the place of the "unseen" Christ. We are ambassadors for Christ. He cannot be here physically. If he were here physically he wouldn't need an ambassador. At least that's they way I understood it in twi so I didn't have a problem with the statement.

Thank you Raf.

I did not. Can you provide a link please? Thx.

When I read Raf's comment, I didn't think he was mean or arrogant at all but rather loving, explaining that its truly possible to logically, thoroughly and thoughtfully change over time. It is quite intriguing to me and I would love to hear his story and how it all came about!

Good topic! Perhaps the biggest difference for me is the lack of confidence in "the gathering together" as taught in twi. My involvement with a preterist church on Long Island the last few years got me thinking that Christ came back in 70A.D. already, Nero is 666, and so forth; and when we die, we immediately go to our judgment, then proceed to heaven, hell, or purgatory. (catholic faith). Also, no more "law of believing" the way twi taught it. No more 'fear brings results' like twi taught it, and waiting to be a greasepot.

Oh thanks Nathan, what I meant was I would like to be notified by an email when someone posts any new topic. (If that is possible.)

Only ones that I choose to follow but I want to see all new topics everywhere.

Thank you.

Thank you. I turned everything on but it doesn't look like there's a selection for "all postings." Oh well...

After we took PFAL, when we went out witnessing we all were salesmen for twi, that's for certain. In our minds (at least in mine) I didn't make a distinction between twi and the kingdom of God; so thought I was doing God's will. I believe one day we all will find out for certain whether or not that was the case.

It was a big shock to me too, but then again we now know that's what the corpse can help do to folks. There was another guy from our branch in the Bronx, Ken B. once the branch leader, who died in the corpse getting hit by a bus on one of their programs. But what some folks don't know is, this lovely man was joy personified when he went in, a pleasure to be around at all times; then I saw him about a year later and I couldn't recognize him ... he was visibly too serious, sullen, like all the joy was taken out of him. The change was astonishing. So, when someone has that amount of joy and happiness in the Bronx and lose it in Ohio something's gotta be wrong.

Thank you.

I apologize for typing the above name and I tried to remove it but couldn't.

No... and I didn't realize you were talking about the motives of twi. In that case probably not.

There was "None Dare Call It Conspiracy" in the TWI bookstore. And I remember TWI campaigning against "The Newstates Constitution" in 1976 which was all about gutting our U.S. Constitution in favor of that one. So TWI definitely was in favor of retaining our U.S. Constitution.

T** Mit*****?

I haven't been on GSC for a few weeks and find topics that I like to regularly review. How may I set it so that I am informed of all new topics posted? (if it exists.) Thank you.

Raf, I have not been informed about your journey into atheism but would like to read about it, if you want to share it. Am genuinely curious as to what, where, how, why, etc.

Thank you for posting BM. I'd like to follow this thread if it gets more activity and questions, and likely ask a question or two myself.

It may have started with the Catholic mass. Everybody stands when the processional rolls in.

Something about Genesis 1:7 -- And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. So the expanse is the water bubble. That's what I once heard from someone at twi don't remember who.

Never heard anything about a dome that's news to me. Are you referring to the teaching that the universe is a big water bubble?