[A Review of the December 15, 2014 Watchtower article on page 22]
“We are members belonging to one another.”— Eph. 4:25
This article is yet another call for unity. This has become the dominant theme of the Organization of late. The January broadcast on tv.jw.org was also all about unity. However, on this occasion the target audience appears to be the JW youth.
“In many countries, a large number of those getting baptized are young people.” – Par. 1
Regrettably, no references are given so that the reader can verify this statement. However, using the statistics provided by recent Yearbooks, it is evident that growth in First World countries is at a standstill or worse. Older ones are dying off, others are leaving, and the youth are not filling the vacancies as they did in decades past. This is worrisome for an Organization that uses numerical growth as proof of God’s blessing.
Of itself, unity is neither good nor bad. The purpose to which it is put gives it a moral dimension. In the history of God's people, from the time of Moses forward, we will come to see that unity has more often than not turned out for bad.
But first, let’s deal with the WT study article's theme text. Ephesians 4:25 is used to give us a Bible basis for calling for unity as a means to survive the end of the world. The publishers go so far as to make this the third of the article’s review points: “How can you personally show that you want to be among the ‘members belonging to one another’?” (See “How Would You Reply” sidebar, p. 22)
Being well trained, the rank and file are unlikely to review the context of Ephesians. They are unlikely to learn that Paul is not discussing membership in an organization. He is speaking allegorically of body members, likening Christians to the various members of a human body, then drawing the comparison to the spiritual body of anointed Christians under Christ as the head. He also refers to them as a temple in Christ. All references Paul makes, even according to JW theology, refer only to the anointed followers of Christ. See this for yourself by clicking on these texts: Eph 2:19-22; 3:6; 4:15, 16; 5:29, 20.
Given this fact, the WT review question makes no sense since the publishers deny 99.9% of all Jehovah’s Witnesses membership in the very body they are asking us to join with.
All the members of a human body can still be united, even if the head is removed, but of what value would that be? The body would be dead. Only with the head attached can a body live. A hand or foot or eye can be removed, but the other body members survive if they stay in union with the head. Every reference to the unity of the Christian congregation found in the Greek Scriptures speaks not of inter-member unity, but of unity with Christ. Use the Watchtower Library program to prove this to yourself. Type “union” in the search field and scan the dozens of references from Matthew through to Revelation. You’ll see that even our union or unity with God is attained by first being in union with Christ. In fact, there can be no true benefit to Christian unity if Christ—the head of the Congregation—is not the key part of that union. Given this, one has to wonder why the publishers have made no mention of Jesus’ key role in Christian unity in this article. He is barely mentioned and never in connection with Christian unity.
Scriptures Misapplied
Based on the title and opening graphic, it is evident that the article’s message is that we must stay within the organization if we want to live through the world’s end.
Using fear as a motivating factor, the publishers hope to secure the continued membership of JW youth. To this end, they use Bible examples of God's servants who were allegedly saved by being in unity. However, even a superficial knowledge of these historical events reveals this application to be specious.
The article starts with Lot. Was it unity that saved Lot and family or obedience? They were united yes, but in not wanting to leave, and had to be dragged by the angels to the city gates. Lot’s wife left with Lot, but her so-called unity didn’t save her when she disobeyed God. (Ge 19:15-16, 26) Additionally, Jehovah would have spared the entire city for the sake of 10 righteous men found within its walls. It would not have been the unity of these men—had they been found to exist—that would have saved the city, but their faith. (Ge 18:32)
Next, we consider the Israelites at the Red Sea. Was it sticking together in unity that saved them or was it following (being in unity with) Moses, that saved them? If it was national unity that saved them then what about three months later when national unity caused them to build the Golden Calf. Another example used only a few months back in The Watchtower was the unity of the nation under Moses that saved them from suffering the fate of Korah and his rebels. Yet the very next day, that same unity caused them to rebel against Moses and 14,700 were killed. (Nu 16:26, 27, 41-50)
Throughout the history of Israel, which the publication often refer to as God’s earthly organization, those who remained united were those who rebelled. It was the individuals who went against the crowd that were most often favored by God. The few times the united throng were blessed, it was because they were united behind a faithful leader, as was the case in our third WT Study example, King Jehoshaphat.
Today, the Greater Moses is Jesus. Only by staying in union with him can we survive the end of the world. If his teachings lead us away from an organization of men, should we abandon him to remain united with the majority?
Rather than use fear as a motivating factor for unity, Jesus uses love, the perfect bond of union.
“I have made your name known to them and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them.”” (Joh 17:26)
Jesus’ Jewish disciples already knew God’s name was Jehovah (יהוה) but they didn’t know him “by name”, a phrase that to the Hebrew mind meant knowing the character of a person. Jesus revealed the Father to them as a person, and as a consequence, they grew to love God. Perhaps they had only feared Him before, but by means of Jesus’ teaching, they came to love Him and union with God through Jesus was the blessed result.
“For in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any value, but faith operating through love is.” (Ga 5:6)
A form of worship—a religious belief system—is nothing without love. Even raw faith is nothing unless it operates through love. Love alone endures and gives value to all the other things. (1Co 13:1-3)
“Keep holding to the standard of wholesome words that you heard from me with the faith and love that result from union with Christ Jesus.” (2Ti 1:13)
“God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in union with God and God remains in union with him.” (1Jo 4:16)
Union with God and Christ can only be achieved by means of love. Neither will accept unity with a human or group of humans on any other basis.
Finally, the Bible instructs us: “…clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union.” (Col 3:14)
Why do the publishers ignore these powerful and motivating Bible truths, and instead choose fear to motivate.
“Of course, we will not survive just because we are part of a group. Jehovah and his Son will bring those who call on Jehovah’s name safely through that calamitous time. (Joel 2:32; Matt. 28:20) Nevertheless, is it reasonable to think that those who have not maintained unity as part of God’s flock—those who have strayed off on their own—will be saved?—Mic. 2:12.” (Par. 12)
The message is that while being in the Organization isn’t a guarantee of survival, being outside of it is a virtual guarantee of death.
A Sanity Check
If the Israelites at the Red Sea had unitedly abandoned Moses and returned to Egypt, would their unity have saved them? Only unity with Moses resulted in salvation. Is the situation any different today?
Substitute every reference made to Jehovah’s Witnesses in the article with the name of another prominent Christian denomination—Baptist, Mormon, Adventist, what have you. You will find the article’s logic, such as it is, works just as well. Those religions believe they will be attacked before the world’s end by a newly formed world government under the Antichrist. They tell their respective flocks to stay united, to attend meetings, to engage in good works. to proclaim the Christ and share the good news. They have missionaries and they also practice charitable works, often surpassing those of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are active in disaster relief efforts as well. In short, everything in the article works for them just as well as it does for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
If asked, your average Witness will dismiss this line of reasoning by saying that the other religions teach falsehoods, not the truth; so their unity will result in death for their flocks. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses only teach the truth; so unity with them is unity with Jehovah.
Very well. If we are to test the inspired expression, how much more so the uninspired one? (1Jo 4:1 NWT) Therefore, please consider the following:
“Everyone, then, that confesses union with me before men, I will also confess union with him before my Father who is in the heavens;” (Mt 10:32 NWT)
“He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him.” (Joh 6:56 NWT)
Clearly, for Christ to confess union with us before the Father, Jehovah God, we must be feeding on his flesh and drinking his blood. Of course, this is symbolic of what his flesh and blood represent, but to demonstrate our acceptance of that symbology we must partake of the bread and the wine. If we refuse the symbols, we reject the reality they represent. Rejecting those emblems means rejecting union with the Christ. It is that simple.
The Real Path to Unity
What we should be teaching our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom hall is the real path to unity. John puts it so succinctly:
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God, and everyone who loves the one who caused to be born loves him who has been born from that one. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and carry out his commandments.” (1Jo 5:1-2 NWT)
Love is the perfect bond of union. Why use anything else when you have perfection to work with? John says that if we believe Jesus is God’s anointed one, we are “born from God”. That means we are God’s children. Friends are not born of God. Only children are born of the Father. So believing that Jesus is the Christ makes us God’s children. If we love God, “the one who caused to be born”, we will naturally love all others who have “been born from that one.” Unity with the Christian brotherhood is the inevitable result; and loving God means obeying his commandments.
Telling God’s children that they are not his children is an act of lawlessness. Telling your brother that he is not your brother, that your Father is not his Father, that he is in fact, an orphan and can only aspire to be a friend of your Father, is one of the most unloving acts imaginable; especially so when the Father in question is the Lord God Jehovah. In doing so, the Governing Body deny us the very best means at our disposal for achieving unity.
You can be sure that the leaders of God’s people were calling for unity when they got their brothers and sisters to contribute their gold for the building of the Golden Calf. You can be sure that any who held out were pressured to conform for the sake of unity. Even Aaron caved under the pressure to conform. Their unity, their solidarity, stood in opposition to God, for they broke unity with God’s representative, Moses.
While the constant calls for unity and solidarity made by the Governing Body through our publications dresses them in a cloak of righteousness, they are in fact breaking our most important union or unity—that which saves us—the union with the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ. Their teaching breaks the Father-Son bond Jesus came to the earth to make possible so that we could all be called Children of God.
“However, to all who did receive him, he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name.” (Joh 1:12 NWT)
Archived Comments
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Comment by donotforgetus on 2015-02-16 12:46:00
Thank you, Meleti.
The great youth exodus in the Organization is a unity in itself. A unity which gives irrefutable evidence that Jehovah God is not blessing the current Governing Body. Try as they may with articles and videos directed at children and teens their audience is drying up, the young are leaving.
When "He Causes to Become" no longer acts to do so it means he has left. The Governing Body today lives in the darkness that results.
With respect,
Laura
Comment by BeenMislead on 2015-02-16 13:37:16
Thanks Meleti,
Yes ... There is a difference between unity and uniformity.
To say that I have to agree with everything an organization (the GB) says is uniformity, not unity and it is authoritarianism, not authority.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformity
“Religious uniformity, the promotion of one state religion, denomination, or philosophy to the exclusion of all other religious beliefs.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism
“Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by absolute or blind obedience to authority, as against individual freedom and related to the expectation of unquestioning obedience.”
==========================================================
This is what the Watchtower says:
UNITY MAINTAINED BY SUBMISSION – (w67, 10/1, Pg. 592, Following Faithful Shepherds with Life in View)
This is what the Bible says:
Col 3:14 - “But, besides all these things, [clothe yourselves with] love, for it is a perfect bond of union.”
So is unity maintained by Submission, or by Love?
Comment by InNeedOfGrace on 2015-02-16 15:06:47
Saying that a high percentage of the baptized ones are youth is kind of a non-informative statement. The question would have to be asked, are those young ones who get baptized coming from JW parents? Or are it non-JW young ones who sincerely are attracted by the message?
Of course, when baptisms as early as 6 years old are considered normal and encouraged, we should not be surprised about those statistics ;)
Comment by The Way on 2015-02-16 15:29:30
Well spoken, Meleti.
What also strikes me in this WT article is the theme of 'surviving' the end of this world alive. This is the leitmotif of the whole discussion, how staying united with a certain group is a prerequisite for our being 'protected' as an individual throughout the great tribulation. But if our primary motivation and main focus is our own 'survival', then what about the following principle taught by Jesus?
(Mark 8:34, 35) He now called the crowd to him with his disciples and said to them: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the good news will save it.
(John 12:25, 26) Whoever is fond of his life destroys it, but whoever hates his life in this world will safeguard it for everlasting life. If anyone would minister to me, let him follow me, and where I am, there my minister will be also. If anyone would minister to me, the Father will honor him.
The same counsel is also given specifically for the time of the end and the Day of Christ (see the context in Luke 17 and v. 30, 'the Day of the revelation of the Son of Man'):
(Luke 17:33) Whoever seeks to keep his life safe will lose it, but whoever loses it will preserve it alive.
Para. 7 - It may be noted that the spiritual meaning of the 'protection' of the Israelites at the Red Sea is given in the Bible itself and has rather to do with BAPTISM and the salvation resulting from it - salvation whether one has to die first or not. Note here the parallel: baptized into Moses - baptized into the greater Moses, Christ, by getting baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 10:1-5) Now I want you to know, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea and all got baptized into Moses by means of the cloud and of the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they used to drink from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock meant the Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness.
Alas, being united with the group did not save them... They did not enter the Promised Land alive.
Comment by on 2015-02-16 18:23:10
As soon as i realised this study was about unity the first thought that went through my mind was .yes but its unity not just with each other its unity with the christ that is important . And the words of john 17 instantly came to mind . Anyone who is a good bible student would recognise that . Hebrews 5 v14 . Who is it thats writing these articles. ??? Thanks yet again meleti for teaching the real bible message to the flock .for goodness sake someones got to do it mark 6 v34 .
Comment by on 2015-02-16 19:04:53
I found it disturbing that jesus is only mentioned in passing in paragraph 17 of the article only as an example of a young person .attending meetings . reading between the lines though the message is leave this organisation and you will die soon . When the message should be stick with jesus and you will live . . Fine article meleti thanks kev .
Comment by menrov on 2015-02-17 03:38:35
Thanks Meleti, for all the efforts and energy you put into analyzing the WT weekly.
I was reading 1 Cor. 12:12-31, which is about being united in one body, It also says we are all baptized into one body, Verse 27 explains that all are Christ's body. In other words, these verse confirm we, Christian believers, are baptized in one body and all are part of Christ's body, He is the factor that unites all Christians.
If we are part of that body, one will be saved. Being part of a group, is and has never been an insurance for being saved. Biblical history shows that only individual loyal and faithful people are saved. It is grace from the side of the Father to include relatives when He promises to save the loyal person. Noah was loyal and his relatives were allowed to benefit from that. Lot was loyal but his family were allowed to benefit, although the wife did not obey in the end (funny this is not mentioned in the article). It is in line with what Paul reasons regarding a believing man with an unbelieving woman and v.v., He suggests they stay together as the believer might be able to save the unbeliever. (1 Cor. 7:12-16).
To focus on young people and use the same old arguments that the world is bad, and that they have to choose between the organisation or the world in order to have some hope for the future, is not working anymore. Yes, those who fail t have a descent Christian life in the world outside the organisation will be happy to go back. But many others have noticed that one can still live a descent Christian life outside the organisation, that one can be very happy etc.
As I read the article, I realized it is (again,as always) written in such a way the the majority of JW's will not feel any trigger to disagree or to question. It is intended to be a feel-good article. No one will see that the objective is to "hail" the organisation, not to honor the head of the Church and King.
Comment by Glenda Beanland on 2015-02-17 04:26:37
Hi Meleti
I enjoy reading your articles because you provide plenty of verifiable information which my type of person needs for studying purposes, and most scriptures quoted, altho Biblehub is quick and very useful for comparisons,
Please don't make negative comments tho - criticism is best left to just bland statements - there is enough negative/bad/hate talk from other web sites. Eg (As is typical of our publications these days, no references are given so that the reader can verify this statement.) I would have preferred .... It was have been helpful to have references given ..... Or something like that. Even just the facts - "no references were given so we can't verify this statement" Makes it easier to read and refer to friends without making them defensive at the start.
Just a point, and sorry I'm being picky. Must get back to finish doing the "illustrations" - good to have back information for previous thoughts on the various matters. Thank you GlendaReply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-02-17 07:54:58
You make a valid point, Glenda. I've edited out the comment--one of the benefits of electronic media.
Comment by menrov on 2015-02-17 08:15:36
Regarding Eph. 4:25, as opening text. I looked it up and the word used for MEMBERS seems to mean BODY-PARTS, Strong number is G3196 and can mean:
LSJ Gloss:
μέλος
a limb
Strong's:
μέλος
a limb or part of the body
Derivation: of uncertain affinity;
KJV Usage: member.
Thayer:
1) a member, limb: a member of the human body
1a) of bodies given up to criminal intercourse, because they are as it were members belonging to the harlot's body
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
In other words, like in 1 Cor. 12, Paul is again comparing Christians to parts of a body, body of Christ. Not part of an organisation. The organisation is not synonym for body of Christ.
Comment by Billy on 2015-02-18 06:01:48
So grateful for you efforts Meleti
It's great to see so many of us who stick to what the bible has to say versus what man tries to tell us it says
I guess this problem has been round for along time
Was watching a doco on William Tyndall - 1500's same old storey- religious leaders incensed if any one disagrees with their views only in stead of being disfellowshipped you were burned at the stake !
Keep up the good work
BillyReply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-02-18 09:35:49
Much appreciated, Billy. You're right that they don't burn us at the stake anymore. All the law allows them do to us for speaking the truth is to cut us off from all friends and family. Perhaps this is part of the fulfillment of Rev. 12:16.
Comment by brendaevans32 on 2015-02-18 07:35:44
Hello everyone
The underlying importance, which so many have (automatically) identified, which I repeat, is the love and unity with Jehovah and Jesus.
Yet again, I answered away from the gist of the article and put in the answers I felt - which didn't really conform with the gist of the article!
When I saw the heading, I thought it might have been a more universal how-to-do-it survival of the end of this world, and was quite surprised to see the younger people being its target audience. And this got me wondering about the similarity of the younger minds of any group of people changing so much in line with this world.
Paul makes a cracking point when he reminds us that once upon a time, we were equally inhabitants of the former ways and world. And it is something we should be very grateful for. And walking home today along a local path, the birdsong was really lovely - putting it in context with the loving reminder from Paul, then the birdsong is exhilerating.
And this is all thanks to loving, and being allowed, to love Jehovah and Jesus and our neighbours.
One of my answers was to ask, "Does belonging to a given organisation" save you or is the yardstick to survival? I feel really out on a limb because all I, and many others both on this website and other places, simply want to please Jehovah and love Him - and then this begs the question, am I doing enough for Him? I keep asking, and I know the question is being heard. I am just happy to love Jehovah, Jesus and to tell Them this.
Going to the examples of the article - all I could think was that their acts were based on faith and following the instruction given from Jehovah. I have just recently brought up this same point - how many times have we planned something and told a loved one to simply trust us but without revealing what the course of action and result is (mainly because we want to do something nice for them) - and the excitement mounts when you know how much your loved one will enjoy or benefit. I get the same feeling when Jehovah told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and cross the Red Sea. Jehovah knew what He was doing and the outcome. All He asks is a bit of faith.
My answer to my question is simple - to love and trust in Jehovah.Reply by menrov on 2015-02-18 08:52:16
Hi BrendaEvans, I support your conclusion and I agree that Moses and Lot etc were assigned by YHWH to perform a task and His people could show their faith in Hi by following His appointed Leader. That leader had ample proof they were appointed by YHWH.
In the case of WBTS (GB), they ask (demand) its members to put the same faith in them as people had put in Moses and that its members must believe that the GB was also appointed by YHWH like Moses. However, the GB has never been able to provide the proof like Moses could nor is there any scriptural proof available to justify that claim.
I therefore do agree that we must have faith in the One who is clearly identified and proven to be appointed by YHWH to lead His People. That one being Jesus.Reply by on 2015-02-18 10:26:32
Um, Jehovah DID provide proof of Moses' being appointed by him, that's agreed, but if proof anything like THAT were supplied by the men at head office, would we not all think they were actually demonised, or using occult powers, or something, I mean, what exactly did you want them to put forward as proof? ..... I think I remember that Jesus said, "by this all will know you are my disciples - if you have love among yourselves" (are we not also asked to supply brotherly affection to our faith etc 2Pet 1 5-7)
Unhappily none of us know them on an intimate level, as friends or family, we only have our local congs, where imperfect men are supposed to follow their Bible based guidelines. Clearly that never worked even back in Moses time - right down to this day,, everyone had or has, their own ideas of what's good or bad, ... Jesus Christ and Jehovah God obviously see things from a different perspective than us, but they are still in charge, one way or another, even if they didn't always act in the way we humans might have expected, or, .. when we might have expected. .?Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-02-18 11:33:24
I think that if the Governing Body were to turn the Hudson River to blood, I'd lean toward the miracle-from-God camp.
Since none of us can claim the credentials of Moses, can we use John 13:35 as the criteria for authorizing religious leadership?
Jesus said love like he demonstrated would his disciples. So it isn't a badge of office, but a characteristic all Christians should manifest. Nevertheless, anyone taking the lead would have to manifest that same self-sacrificing love of the Christ, and be exemplary in doing so.
By contrast, the evil slave is known for beating his brothers. Each of us will have to look at the Governing Body and those under their command to determine for ourselves which characteristic they display, that of the faithful and discreet slave or that of the evil slave.
Personally, I find it hard to see how a group of men can claim to be loving, faithful and discreet who have denied several generations of faithful Christians the hope of becoming Children of God.
Reply by donotforgetus on 2015-02-18 14:15:47
Anonymous,
Love, humility, honesty.
The Governing Body and their Helpers are not trusting in Jehovah enough. They are leaning on their own thinking and when we do that there is no way to go but down. Good men and women who love God can mistakenly go the wrong way.
Deep love for Jehovah and love for our neighbor makes us humble because we learn to put our Father and our brother before ourselves.. Humility opens the door to honesty because a humble heart does not fear exposing its mistakes and wrongs. A humble heart trusts in Jehovah and does not lean upon its own thinking.
We should pray for each member of the Governing Body that Jehovah may open their eyes and hearts. That Jehovah may help them to see that they have been misled by some of the very Helpers they are today leaning on rather than on Jehovah.
With respect,
LauraReply by menrov on 2015-02-18 14:53:54
Laura, following your reasoning, should we equally pray for the Pope and his bishops, and for leaders of Adventis, Mormons etc???
Reply by on 2015-02-18 15:10:08
I would at least expect them to get thier predictions correct dueteronomy 18 v 22 . and i certainly would not be expecting them to mis apply scripture .2 peter 3 v16 . Also for those of us who think that signs such as miracles are not needed to establish proof of being gods spokesman what of the two witnesses of revelation 11 they seem to have the proof verse 6 . Kev c
Reply by donotforgetus on 2015-02-18 15:17:27
Menrov, there are sincere Christian men and women in every Christian religion and all of us could use God's help to better see what Jesus taught and what God's spirit is directing. If we are to love our enemies how much more should we also pray to our Father that the leaders of Christian religions around the world may become closer to what Jesus would want them to be and thereby help even more Christians do be as Jesus would want them to be as well.
Respectfully,
Laura
Comment by on 2015-02-18 13:43:56
Do you really believe that either Jesus Christ or Jehovah God could be hampered by the words of men, well-meaning or otherwise? Those chosen for the body of Christ will never be deterred by anything other than their own fallen flesh.
The only ones qualified to say who is or who are the evil slave, is the master himself, when he comes at the finale, and his Heavenly Father.
However, it has been said often in my hearing, that while dying for the brothers is not a problem, living with them definitely is! That is to say compassion and empathy often stops short when it comes to those we find hard to like, for whatever reason that is. Look around your cong next time you go to a meeting, there are at least a few that you may not know very well if at all, maybe they are elderly, or diffident, maybe new, perhaps very ill or having problems of one sort or another. For sure they could do with your tender affection and encouragement, please, try to get to know them better, especially the elderly who often feel sad they can no longer keep up with the rest of you. And maybe also those who for whatever reason feel isolated, perhaps by their shyness. Even those hard-nosed elders, be kind to them, next year they may be in your socks. The fruitage of Gods Spirit is joy, as well as love, you will find plenty of both if you extend yourself even more than you have been doing, along with peace.
Of course, we all have an arch enemy who is ready to make us his spiritual sons, and to that end, please take care.Reply by donotforgetus on 2015-02-18 15:48:43
Anonymous, beautiful encouragement to have love and loving interest toward all. Thank you.
With respect,
LauraReply by on 2015-02-19 03:56:50
Hi Laura, a shepherd may be concerned what one of his sheep eats or does, or where he strays, but generally can't stop it happening, only lovingly try to heal up any damage done to itself later. Depends on what you are praying for concerning leaders of other religions, Jesus had the same love for repentant Pharisees as he has had for anyone else, but while their heart motivation is selfish, or as the scripture says, they are trying to prove their own righteousness, not God's, then all we can pray for is for "God's will to be done" .
Nonetheless, in the meantime, we have a hard enough time keeping a check on our own hearts, without trying to second guess what's going on in the minds and hearts of others, so please take care of yourself, by the way, real sheep sometimes struggle violently and appear to resist help when it has to be administered, as a result, an elder, oops, sorry shepherd, may get hurt, stressed, even exasperated, but in the end, the aim is to restore the little lamb.....
Comment by on 2015-02-18 15:41:20
I think your reasoning is correct laura 1 timothy chapter 2 v1 and 2 we should pray for others that we may life a life full of godly devotion . Although im not sure the GB would be happy about us praying for the leaders of other religions .
Comment by BeenMislead on 2015-02-22 10:33:03
Here is what it says in the new May 1, 2015 Watchtower:
“A book on religions commented that the preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been “almost unparalleled in its intensity and scope.” This witnessing emphasizes the good news that very soon “the end will come” through the action of God’s Kingdom.” – (Watchtower 2015, May 1, Pg. 7, IS THE END NEAR?)
They don’t say the end COULD come very soon, or that it MAY come very soon, or we HOPE it comes very soon. NO, they say it in absolute terms, “very soon the end WILL come”. This is no different than Rutherford saying in 1919, “Millions now living will never die”.
I personally have been hearing “Very Soon” for 50 years. If you look at the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses you will find that they have been saying it for over 100 years. History proves that what they are saying is misleading and manipulative.
And it is obvious from their own actions that they don’t believe it themselves, the way they building a new headquarters at Wallkill, and are pushing to build new commercial-style Kingdom Halls.
How sad that most Jehovah’s Witnesses just stick their heads in the sand to the facts!Reply by BeenMislead on 2015-02-22 11:51:31
Oops, Sorry meant new headquarters at Warwick.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-02-22 12:19:02
I just did a search on that quote from the Watchtower and could not find a reference to this book. So again, the magazines makes statements without providing the reader the means to verify and quality what is being said. It would be interesting to find out who wrote this book and what his/her overall message was. But even a google search failed to reveal the source material.
Reply by MarthaMartha on 2015-02-24 05:53:28
It frustrates me so much when quotes are made with no source stated.
I remember my tutors insisting that quotes must have their source stated somewhere (even if it is as a footnote) or the integrity of the quote and the argument you are proposing through use of said quote, is useless.
'Provenance, provenance, provenance!'
Comment by Andres on 2017-05-31 14:01:29
españolSince I learned the truth of God's word I can not really read the publications of the watchtower without a considerable degree of mistrust. I see that it is all about infusing fear, everything is in order to dominate, to control. This post reminds me of the February 2016 watchtower: on page 14, paragraph 9 tells us about Hezekiah as an insensitive man who did not have to be bitter about everything his father made him live. Then I did a little more research and found that texts like job 7:11; 10: 1; Isaiah 22: 5 and 38:15. Then I wondered why the "organization does this, and it was simple: it wants us to have an attitude of total submission ... that was not seen in antiquity." I remember when an old man spoke to me and told me to obey. That obeying and respecting authority does not mean that justice can not be demanded and that there is an almost invisible line between obedience and following man.this way of directing God's people is not correct