And I'm really not saying they are a faith based on gloom and doom. What I am saying is that in order to preach about the "truth," the publications illustrate all the "hell" going on in our current world.
For instance, in the June 1, 2011 Watchtower, the cover says, "END of POVERTY How?" Upon entering the magazine, the articles in the issue are as follows: "What is Extreme Poverty Like?", "Efforts to End Poverty", "Good News for the Poor", "Is There Hope for the Dead?", and "Have You Ever Felt Like An Outsider?" It humbly ends with an article called, "Will Humans Ruin This Earth?"
The June 2011 issue of Awake! also has a laundry list of hellish stuff. The cover says, "Terrorism: Why does it happen? Why will it end?" Articles on the subject include: "Will I Wanted Was To Get My Mail", "Why Some Resort to Violence", and "Is a World Without Terrorism Possible?"
I just don't understand how people can be persuaded by gloom and doom. No, I'm not insinuating that God is a "feel good" God. But I feel that this gloom and doom gets really old. In the end, the same thing is told: Believe in Jehovah and you will get to see a New Earth without these horrible problems.
I am much more touched by personal stories from people who found Jehovah and the Witnesses after choosing a different life. Sometimes the stories are a bit far-fetched, but honestly they are more powerful then a horrific picture depicting a man driving from getting his mail to see a fire-scape in his rear-view mirror. Or the picture of the man in a vest that is wired to a bomb so he can suicide bomb a location. Really? I know this works for some, but after 2 years of getting these publications I only see the same gloom and doom illustrated over and over ad nauseum.
Bonnie stopped over again on Thursday. She said that 2 Corinthians 4 was very life-changing for her. Here is the chapter from the NIV:
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Bonnie implied that the god of this age is Satan, and that he puts a veil over our eyes to the truth. She implied that may desire to continue celebrating holidays, and other non-truth events I am just covering my eyes with a veil to the truth. Satan, in her opinion, is a god because it he wasn't how would he be able to control people as he does? Anyway, he also "has the whole world in his hands" according to Bonnie. Interesting viewpoint.
She will talk of this beautiful place - a rebirth of the Earth. A paradise Earth that those that truly believe will live forever. However, just like I've said before...a paradise Earth would not be so if I didn't have my friends and family with me. Just like heaven wouldn't be all that spectacular if I was amongst strangers.
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