Today's Daily Text is a prime example of the ridiculous places a false doctrine can take us. It says, "If we want to 'prove ourselves sons of our Father who is in the heavens,' we must be different." and farther along, "Our love for fellow believers goes further. "We are under obligation to surrender our souls for our brothers." (1 John 3:16, 17)"
The problem is that according to our teaching only ten thousand of the seven million Christians on earth are sons of God and brothers of Christ.
By being "different" as the Daily Text exhorts, the vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses cannot prove themselves to be God's sons. What we comprise is seven million 'friends' of God. Does this mean we are not under obligation to be different, or is it merely that, unlike his sons, our efforts prove nothing?
And what about being willing to surrender our souls for our brothers? They are not our brothers. They are Christ's brothers, but if we are not God's children than at best, Christ and his brothers are our friends.
It's important to obey Christ and if needs be, to surrender your soul for your brother, but for the rest of us, either we're free of that commandment because there is no counterpart exhorting us to surrender our souls for our friends, or we can obey the command anyway and be even better than the 'brothers' because we will die not for a family member, but for a mere friend.
Silly, isn't it? But that's where this mistaken belief takes us.
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Comment by Andronicus on 2013-08-08 11:11:22
I agree with you, Meleti. I find it hypocritical to apply some scriptures to just a few and yet expect the entire brotherhood to be obligated to others. In ancient israel everyone was under the Law covenant, from beggar to king. Yes, there were kings and priests with special responsibilities, but the general populace was considered sons of the covenant just the same. The parallel doesn't seem to work the eyes of the GB.
Comment by vascagase on 2013-08-08 11:23:57
Meleti V. Exposing the falsehood of the WTS is deserving, congratulations on being honest with yourself...
Comment by hezekiah1 on 2013-08-08 16:35:10
Thanks for pointing this out Meleti, it truly does seem strange to apply the scripture one way when discussing one set of circumstances, yet exclude millions in another set of circumstances. I hope we can come to a better understanding as a people soon.
Comment by Ruiz on 2013-08-08 17:08:39
No Its NOT SILLY. Your just overeacting! You just need to take a chill pill and stop being overly paranoid and critical
Reply by hezekiah1 on 2013-08-08 17:26:45
Thanks for your comment Ruiz. Are you suggesting that we should just relax even when we see things being misapplied? If so, what scriptural backing is there for that thought. Also, are we not following the churches of Christendom if we do that? We have simply pointed out something that is factual. As you are probably aware we can prove that by a simple review of the WT. So I am just wondering why you think we are being critical? Given that we prove others wrong using the Bible all the time. In fact I do that every weekend in service. Your thoughts?
Reply by Andronicus on 2013-08-08 17:26:53
Please address the issue and offer an observation with respect and tactfulness.
Reply by Andronicus on 2013-08-08 17:55:39
My last comment was referring to Ruiz. Hearing something over and over again doesn't make it true. I think this is one of the reasons why some of us will not speak out in the congregation. Not because we don't have the courage, but because of the reactions we're sure to get form people like Ruiz.
Reply by Chris on 2013-08-09 18:30:24
Ruiz,
You've probably had your jab and gone, but if you are still there can you please explain the difference between a blood transfusion and blood fractions to us?
If ever there was an example of "paranoia" and legalistic nit picking then the WTS policy on blood has to be at the top of the list. Its like being told you can't own a car but its ok to buy all the parts and assemble what you want to. Then, once assembled you can drive it if you tell yourself its not actually a car.
Comment by emilyjeff on 2013-08-08 18:07:28
Hi Meleti,
I agree with you. Using 1John 3:18 as the Daily Text which is read by millions of JW’s who have been told they are not “sons of God” but rather “God’s friends” seems to make no sense to me but perhaps it indicates a lack of respect for their followers. They may feel that the rank and file will not notice or worse not even realize that they are not sons of God. The JW’s I’ve spoken to don’t seem to know that Christ Jesus is not considered their mediator. Below is a quote taken from a recent Watchtower stating their stand on the subject of friends vs sons of God.
7Although Jehovah has declared his anointed ones righteous as sons and the other sheep righteous as friends on the basis of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, personal differences will arise as long as any of us are alive on earth in this system of things. w12 7/15 pp. 27-31 - The Watchtower—2012Reply by smolderingwick1 on 2013-08-08 22:41:48
I'll always remember the admonition given me when I asked how some things applied more to the anointed 'little flock' than 'other sheep' and the answer given. When the gospels and epistles are read they are as personal letters to the anointed 'little flock' but only indirect dialogue to the 'other sheep'. Segregation of 'little flock' from 'other sheep' has been our ongoing dogma from the beginning (not as Jews from gentiles as one would naturally assume from scripture) despite absolutely no scripture confirming otherwise.
Reply by smolderingwick1 on 2013-08-08 22:52:09
My mistake.....should've read "despite absolutely no scripture confirming it!"
Comment by Robert on 2013-08-08 23:24:59
I would like to see one scripture, just one scripture, that clearly defines christ's brothers as being limited to those anointed with holy spirit. I am not saying that Christ's brother aren't anointed with holy spirit, I am asking if that truly is the defining characteristic of who are christ's brothers.
Jesus actually gives a definition of who are his brothers at Matthew 12:50, He mentioned nothing about being anointed with holy spirit - just the need to be doing the will of his father in heaven. So if a great crowd of unanointed christians exist and they are doing God's will, how can than they not be christ's brothers? And if they are christ's brothers, would they not be "the least of christ's brothers" mentioned at Matthew 25:40 when compared with his other brothers having the heavenly hope?
Comment by A searcher for truth on 2013-08-08 23:36:11
Here is a scripture worthy of note in regards to this particular subject.
I will quote it here just below.
Galatians 3
26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ.
28 There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is no slave nor freeman, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are of Christ, then you are a seed of Abraham, even heirs according to promise. [LITV]
Comment by Meleti Vivlon on 2013-08-08 23:50:30
In a similar vein, please read the entire 5th chapter of 1 John. It starts off by declaring that "everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God." It is virtually impossible to read this chapter with an honest and open mind and still think that somehow it doesn't apply to the vast majority of Christians, or that there is room for a two-tier system of salvation.
Comment by Andronicus on 2013-08-09 11:21:37
I think we should keep in mind that much of what we believe as Witnesses is based on the theologocal opinions of Brother Rutherford. Only when we have the courage and humility to admit that his opinions are flawed will we be able to move on in the light.
Reply by smolderingwick1 on 2013-08-09 12:07:02
Yes I agree. Talk about separating the wheat from the chaff! How did Rutherford himself put it? "Religion is a snare and a racket!"?
Now we now HAVE a religion! And we keep saying is the only true religion while smugly extracting the straw from Christendom's eye and patting ourselves on our the back for our neutrality, preaching and explicit medical procedures. Yet our never really seeing the rafter in our own eye puts us on the same level as the Pharisees whom Jesus accused of sitting on the seat of Moses while withholding entrance to the Kingdom!
From Jesus perspective, will he not hold us even more reprehensible for such hypocrisy?Reply by Andronicus on 2013-08-09 12:27:47
Very insightgul, smolderingwick1. Rutherford would not tolerate anything that would challenge his position as the FDS. I say that because from 1919 to 1942 brother Rutherford was it, the sole voice of the Witnesses respecting doctrine and prophecy.
Comment by Andronicus on 2013-08-09 15:21:48
"But we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us intellectual capacity that we may gain the knowledge of the true one." 1 John 5:20
I guess some brothers think that intellectual capacity is limited to just a few.