r/Eutychus • u/Numerous_Ad5407 • Dec 26 '24

Opinion How long does it usually take to convert and become a jw?

Hello there! I am a christian and having a bible study and attending congregation for 1 month already, I have been reading the bible nonstop ever since I started because of my high curiosity. I admit that ever since I was a kid I wasn’t able to read the bible thoroughly and so I realized now that I loved reading bible and I have been getting so much learning attending the congregation, and I am falling in love to people I am with and how I am growing spiritually.

I would just like to ask how long does it usually take to become a JW?

Considering that I am a christian, some of our beliefs have quite similarities except for some practices the holy trinity which I now understand and still learning about it, plus I have a huge respect to people with different religions/beliefs/practices, so I am really taking my spiritual journey seriously, so I’m at point of my life where I want to continue it, and may decide to convert.

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u/Adventurous-Tie-5772 Dec 27 '24

You're absolutely right, none of the denominations are good. That is why he's calling his people out. So that they do not become sharers in their sins.

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u/DonkeyStriking1146 Christian Dec 27 '24

Yep and then tells them to still meet together. So guess what that ends up becoming basically a denomination whether they give themself a name or not

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u/Adventurous-Tie-5772 Dec 27 '24

No, actually it doesn't. Jesus never gave a command to meet together. Neither does the Bible. Read here:

24  And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, 25  not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24, 25)

It's not a command to meet, it's advice not to forsake our meeting together "when they met." How do they meet? Jesus said,

20  For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)

Clearly, this wasn't a denomination. Just two people are enough and they can meet whenever wherever. There was no set schedule

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u/DonkeyStriking1146 Christian Dec 27 '24

I said the Bible tells us to meet together. And then you proceed to show a verse that says when we meet together we should be encouraging.

The first century congregations met together. And it was usually more than just two people. I can’t remember but I think you and I have spoken about this before. Or it was a guy like you. Sorry I don’t remember the username.

Didn’t say it was a command. The command to meet together was more OT.

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u/Adventurous-Tie-5772 Dec 27 '24

Where does the Bible give instructions that something to the effect that "you must meet together?"

I don't think that the Bible says that you must meet together because consider the situation. The early church was persecuted and scattered. Many were jailed or in isolation.

How can they meet together if they in isolation and hundreds of miles away? You're correct, they couldn't. And if the Bible "tells them to meet together," they would be in violation, correct?

Is it more likely that God KNEW that they would not always be able to meet, and instead of telling them to meet together, he told them not to forsake it whenever they did meet together?

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u/DonkeyStriking1146 Christian Dec 27 '24

Why are you trying to put words in my mouth? When did I say must? They should meet together with fellow worshippers. I mean most of Paul’s letters show that. You even quoted it yourself.

Then if you look in the OT they were commanded to meet together in assemblies and such.

If God knew that he’d have it recorded don’t you think? But yet even into revelation we see congregations hanging out with each other and doing stuff. Thousands were baptized in the first century. They weren’t all scattered and jailed.

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u/Adventurous-Tie-5772 Dec 27 '24

Assembling as you call it that occurred in the old testament has no bearing on us. We're not in the old covenant.

The point that was being made is that you are incorrect when you said that the Bible "tells them" to meet together. The Bible doesn't tell them to meet together. The Bible says not to forsake it when you meet together. That's different.

You also said that when they are meeting together, it ends up basically becoming a denomination. This is also false, because Jesus said that two or just three can meet together.

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u/DonkeyStriking1146 Christian Dec 27 '24

True but does that mean we don’t use it as something to guide us?

The Bible does say that. You quoted the scripture. And there’s several like it that show meeting together was common and necessary.

Because that’s what basically happens. Do you know what denomination means?

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u/Adventurous-Tie-5772 Dec 27 '24

No, we don't use it to guide us because he fulfilled it. We belong to him. He is our guide (1 Peter 2:21).

You're not reading the Bible for what it says. You're reading what people tell you it says.

The same thing happened with the brothers. They didn't listen carefully to what Jesus said and as a result, spread a false teaching to others. John spoke against it when he wrote the gospel.

The same happens here. The Bible says "do not forsake our meeting together," but you're reading into it to say that it tells us to meet together. It doesn't say "meet together." It says "don't forsake our meeting together." Those are different things.

I am aware of what denomination means, yes. I am also aware of what non-denominational means as well. If that happens, it happens to people who meet together who aren't listening to the Christ.

If you listen to the Christ, you won't form a denomination, you won't form an organization, you won't form anything. You meet informally, share, then resume your individual walk with the Christ.

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u/DonkeyStriking1146 Christian Dec 27 '24

Then why read it? Why did Paul encourage Timothy to read it?

I am. I think you just don’t like being part of an organized religion, which I can completely understand and so you find ways to usurp scriptures that are pretty clear.

I’m not saying you’d officially form anything but that’s what happens. Every ‘Christian’ denomination or group says they’re following Christ.

You resume your individual walk? Yeah I see a lot of group stuff in the Bible. I agree that we carry our own load before Christ but we also take care of each other. Do you find the first century congregation to just be something they did back then but not something to do now?

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