I didn't got one. But maybe that's because I live in the Netherlands.
I remeber my dad telling me a story about a colleage who is JW. During my dads birthday, he gave to his colleages pie (a Dutch tradition) The JW rejected the pie so my dad says that he gave him it because the pie just tasts good. Then he accepted it.
Ok, before I say anything I would like to say that I am not familiar with this tradition, the other guy most likely knew something that I don't.
It's mainly like I said, we have no problem with gift-giving. Its when things have origins that have ties to things that we don't get involved with. Now, If it were me in that position, I may not have accepted it, just because I was not familiar with the tradition, but if the guy just wanted to give me a pie because, hey its pie, then I would love to accept it.
I didn't get one, but as long as I'm here I'll say that my answer is "no."
Just a question; how do you decide what to believe from the Bible? I see other Christians following different commands from the Bible, and there are certainly other denominations who try to reach others with their beliefs. But the many ways people read the Bible and select what they want to believe from it, leads me ask how you figure out what the Bible means to you, since it can contradict itself or have some misinformation (granted, I know that many denominations look at the Old and New Testament differently).
This is a question I've been getting a lot lately. I personally only know of one other religion that really tries to contact people, but I'm sure there are others, but there are the minority.
As to what we decide to believe about the Bible, over the course of our studies, it is obvious to us that, the Bible really isn't something that has many interpretations. Most of the things that differentiate the many denominations of Christianity, are not really in the Bible, but just traditions that came after the Bible's completion. A quick google search would yield the fact that the Trinity doctrine came into existence centuries after the Bibles completion. Some may think that this is a rare occurrence, but it really is more of the rule, than the exception. Similar things have happened with almost all of the doctrines that Christianity is known for. Hellfire, Immortality of the soul, Use of the Cross in Worship, Christmas celebrations, etc, etc. All of these doctrines came into existence centuries
after the Bibles completion. Once you get rid of those, then the Bible is really is not something that can be taken a million different ways. Another big reason, is that we use gods name. Very few religions even acknowledge it let alone use it.
For anyone who is wondering, take a look in the second link in my sig. It has several questions to questions that people have about the Bible, and take a look at them and compare they answer given to what other doctrines teach, and
you tell me, which answer you think most accurately conveys what was written in the actual text.
Here are some questions that are answered there:
Is the Trinity Doctrine in the Bible?
Does God Have a Name?
What Does the Bible Say About Christmas?
When Was Jesus Born?
What Is Hell? Is It a Place of Eternal Torment?
What Happens When You Die?
What Is the Kingdom of God?
Are There Contradictions in the Bible?
Did Jesus Die on a Cross?