Last week and this week it is taken from pages 8 and 9 of the newest edition of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT Edition 2013). The theme is: How can you learn about God?
Here are the Scriptures which the students are expected to use for the discussion. They are discouraged from straying from the source material.
- Joshua 1:8 - Message: Read the Bible
- Nehemiah 8:8 - Message: Listen to those teaching you the Bible
- Psalm 1:1-3 - Message: Don't listen to the world, but read the Bible
- Acts 8:30, 31 - Message: We need someone to explain the Bible
- Romans 1:20 - Message: Creation teaches us about God
- 1 Timothy 4:15 - Message: Meditation helps us to learn about God
- Hebrews 10:24, 25 - Message: We learn about God from our meetings
- James 1:5 - Message: Pray for wisdom
Now there is nothing wrong with any of this reasoning. It is, after all, biblical. However, something is missing, something vital. "Vital" refers to something that is "maintaining, supporting, or sustaining life." What life-sustaining element is missing?
The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus "is the reflection of God's glory and the exact representation of his very being..." - Heb. 1:3
He told the Corinthians that while no one can truly know the mind of God, we do have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:16)
He gave this gem to the Colossians, treating it as a cautionary warning.
“Carefully concealed in him are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. 4 This I am saying that no man may delude YOU with persuasive arguments.” (Col 2:3, 4)
Since Jesus is the exact representation of God; since we can only know God's mind through the mind of Christ; since all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge are found in Jesus; why are men excluding him from the message of the Good News being preached from our new Bible? Those twenty topics at the start of our new NWT Bible are intended for the preaching work and Bible study instruction of beginners. The second topic presumes to teach us how to learn about God, yet completely ignores the "Chief Agent and Perfector of our faith, Jesus." - Heb. 12:2
The reasoning that is to be presented in these two student talks on the TMS program will sound most persuasive to the audience members, because it follows the Organization's agenda: Read the Bible, listen to what the elders and publications teach, meditate on what you are taught, keep attending meetings and of course, pray in line with our Kingdom message. But if this message slowly distances us from the true treasures of wisdom and knowledge bound up in the Christ - if this vital element is missing - then what will sustain our spiritual life through times of real trouble?
Paul's warning to the Colossians should be resounding in our ears.
Since the #2 study topic in the NWT asks "How you can learn about God?", we can answer that you can learn about him by learning about the one who is his image and in whom are concealed all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge so that no man (or group of men) might delude you with persuasive arguments that wisdom and knowledge can come from another source, their source.
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Comment by on 2015-01-28 11:15:10
I have this part tonight, Meleti, and I'm going to conclude it by mentioning The One through whom all the wisdom of God is revealed...........Christ Jesus.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-01-28 12:16:28
Let us know of the reaction if you can do so safely.
Comment by on 2015-01-28 14:26:50
I do try to be cautious. However, there are some "theocratic" terms I never use in any of my parts, comments, or prayers-governing body; organization; FDS. All to often Jesus is ignored and considered of no consequence. I'll let you know how it goes.
Comment by donotforgetus on 2015-01-28 14:27:24
Very fine comments Meleti.
Respectfully,
Laura
Comment by Rufus on 2015-01-28 15:03:52
This talk was an eye-opener for the reasons you posted.
I handled it as a follow-up to placing the January Awake on the question of “How Did Life Begin." Presentation at door for the original placement: "Life can only come from life and a creator of life.” (That was my take on how to use the great cover Hubble-photo update on the “finger of God.” as visible evidence of creation of life.)
This week's #3 featured only the last four scriptures of the eight, and I was obligated to use those. With only 5 minutes, there was no time to digress. Nevertheless, with the insights gained from weekly study on this site, my four points were:
Romans 1:20 – Meleti: Creation teaches us about God
New Living Translation: "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God."
My comment: The glory of the visible creation forces us to use our five given physical senses and our power of reason to ask the obvious: Who created us and why? With what purpose, both regarding his own power for beauty and goodness, and well as his permission of evil and suffering? And what does he ask back from us?
1 Timothy 4:15 – Meleti: Meditation helps us to learn about God
New Living Translation: "Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress."
My comment: To answer the questions, we cannot take the matter lightly, but must earnestly seek the correct answers in the few years were are given to do so.
Hebrews 10:24, 25 – Meleti: We learn about God from our meetings
New Living Translation: "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."
My comment: God's spirit moves us to seek out the counsel, wisdom and encouragement of other Christians, who are moved by spirit to do the same. Thus we find the congregation established by the Christ. It is our obligation, once finding it, to join it and support it with our resources.
James 1:5 – Meleti: Pray for wisdom
New Living Translation: "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."
My comment: God in turn provides us, not only with wisdom and the answers we seek, but with access to the new covenant, brotherhood with the Christ, and an adoption as his spirit-begotten sons.
My Conclusion: the creation leads us to the creator, who in turn leads us to the Christ, his only means of salvation and eternal life.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-01-28 15:41:07
Well done, Rufus, though isn't it a shame we have to walk such a delicate line?
Comment by kev c on 2015-01-29 13:34:39
Yet again its all geared to accepting the GB as gods spokesman your acts 8 v 30 to 31 . What they have missed it was a prophesy about christ .verse 35 phillip declared the good news about the christ . As to the eunuchs statement how could i understand unless someone guided me may carry some truth among those who are new to christianity . It should not be true of a mature christian . What of 1 john 2 v 26 and 27 . These things i write to you about those who are trying to mislead you .and as for you the anointing that you recieve remains in you and you do not need anyone to be teaching you . Yes infact its the holy spirit that teaches us and always leads us to the christ ..Not to some human organisation .The state that the jws find themselves in is described in fact at hebrews 5 v 12 v 14 .sorry but that is the truth kev c
Comment by on 2015-01-29 15:56:50
I must say i have enjoyed your comments about these watchtower articles thanks .
Comment by Kyp on 2015-02-06 08:00:58
Meleti, don't you think following and imitatingJesus is included in reading and listening to the Bible? I do so, so actually there's nothing missing.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-02-06 09:13:37
True, but every point made in Topic 2 is included in reading and listening to the Bible. So why do they make points about meetings, and meditation, and prayer, and obeying the elders, if all those points are included in reading the Bible? The fact is, simply telling someone who wants to learn about God to "read the Bible" isn't particularly helpful, so Topic 2 chooses to point the reader in the right direction by highlighting those portions of the Bible that give specific counsel on how to best learn about God. Given that, why overlook the very best way there is of getting to learn about and know God?
Reply by Kyp on 2015-02-06 10:35:23
Also true :)
Comment by Ray Byrne on 2015-03-29 00:13:40
I have always felt that in an effort to be different from christendom churches who worship Jesus as God the organisation has gone too far in the other direction & not given Jesus enough emphasis