Posted by Rick [Rick] on November 02, 1999 at 00:31:11 {.c1iAaocfM7mY4XD8K2cFMFBt36Xyc}:
In Reply to: To H2O Readers From 'GB' posted by ros4GB on November 01, 1999 at 18:53:51:
Hello brother, a comment based upon Nimrod's question about why haven't you ever read Ray Franz's books "Crisis of Conscience" and "In Search of Christian Freedom." I suspect the reason is that if these books were found by Bethel staff while housecleaning, then, as the modern adage taken from the video game industry goes, "Game Over."
I read "Crisis of Conscience" and highly recommend it. I warn you that there is a point in the book when suddenly the "veil" is lifted, and you feel intense anger toward the Watchtower Society and those presently in charge of its affairs. This will pass, as the spirit of God starts to tell you they are only frail humans who tried to make our utopian "spiritual paradise" work. In their zeal for righteousness, they (perhaps including yourself as one of "them" on the GB), forgot that Christendom tried and failed to kill the fleshly desires of man. Their ministers forgot that as we attempt to put on the spirit of Christ, our flesh is weak and we must make allowances throughout our entire lives for this weakness. This is not an "excuse for loose conduct" but rather the recognition of frailties that will always ebb and flow like the tides as we pass from youth to old age to death. Christ died so that we could let go of the guilt and become kinder to ourselves and weaknesses, and stop punishing ourselves mentally for inevitable sins we shall commit in our imperfection, whether these are social, sexual, or the struggle to maintain faith. Because after it's all said and done, and life passes, and we are sleeping peacefully in death, the blood of the Lamb of Jehovah atones for our sins and paves the way for a glorious resurrection to eternal life. Remembering all of this will help you to see that, in spite of the unforgettable and life altering truth you must endure after reading Ray Franz's "Crisis of Conscience," that Jehovah's Witnesses are a unique Christian denomination serving the spiritual good of over 5 million souls. It's a faith with a form of "cancer" that Christ can and will cure, if you can muster the faith to believe in the impossible.
If you can, listen to the theme song from the new Steven Spielberg movie The Prince of Egypt, "When You Believe." It's a song that I believe was inspired by Jehovah that always stays with you, it's message so true. (Of course, I highly recommend this movie if you can get the video or DVD to see it, it is a beautiful animation of Walt Disney quality that is so faith inspiring.)
Comment to Ros: If you could provide this brother a URL link to Ray Franz's book on the internet, or even make a special effort to provide a secret link for such ones as this GB member and others to follow his footsteps, this would be a great contribution on Ray's part.
Rick