Posted by Tantalus [Tantalus] on November 08, 1999 at 14:52:11 {Nq8EnQ8RVA5mhrmu9.YkAJToxO4pJo}:
In Reply to: ****For Greg Stafford posted by Zadok on November 08, 1999 at 13:38:15:
Hi Zadoc,
I just want to say that I commend both you and Disko for following the debate on this board, for being willing to admit to errors in the society and for calling a spade a spade. I agree that the debate got a little long-winded. What I would have enjoyed seeing them debate never came up, the relationship of Jesus Christ to the "Great Crowd." Mediator and High Priest go hand in hand, yet the Society acts as though these are two different functions that Jesus fulfills for two different groups. If he is not your Mediator, then how can he be your high priest? If you are not a part of the New Covenant and the Old Covenant has been concluded,
then where does the Great Crowd fit into the scheme of things? I would also have liked to have seen the issue of going beyond the teachings of the Bible addressed. It seems to me that the Society goes far beyond what is in the Bible, even says that you could make it without the Bible but not without the publications, and we are told that an angel from heaven should be cursed if it goes beyond what is in the scriptures. The issues get clouded quickly I guess, but I kept waiting for Greg to say "What is, is?" I like straight forward questions, like "are the Jehovah's Witnesses the exclusive channel being used by Jehovah to spread the truths from the Bible to all of Mankind?" I felt like AF asked some pretty straight forward questions but his wording left loopholes that could be clouded and Greg grabbed the opportunity to argue the loopholes instead of the question. It seemed after he argued a long time, he said, "Ok, now we both know what you really asked, and the answer is........" I guess he makes a point by saying "Your question could be taken as....." but I like clear questions, and clear answers. If you ask me a question, I don't look for a way to confuse the question, but for a way to really answer it. Maybe he felt they were trick questions. Probably why I am not a debater.
I am glad you are both on the board. Please express your opinions frequently and stand up for what you think with biblical proof. It would be nice to hear some rational feelings from some who don't profess to be of the Annointed and on a special mission to this board. I would enjoy hearing your views. You both have already given a good example of "A soft answer turns away wrath." Thank you, I sometimes fail to exhibit that proverb very well.
Tantalus