“Since I first began taking in ‘the milk of the word,’ here are but a few of the many excellent spiritual truths Jehovah’s people have come to understand: the distinction between God’s organization and Satan’s organization; that Jehovah’s vindication is more important than the salvation of creatures…” (w84 10/1 p. 28)
In the first article in this series, we examined the JW doctrine that the Bible’s theme is the “vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty” and saw that it was Scripturally unfounded.
In the second article, we discovered the underlying reason behind the Organization's continued emphasis on this false teaching. Focusing on the so-called “issue of universal sovereignty” has allowed the JW leadership to take upon themselves the mantle of divine authority. Slowly, imperceptibly, Jehovah's Witnesses have gone from following the Christ to following the Governing Body. Like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, the rules of the Governing Body have come to permeate every aspect of the lives of their followers, influencing the way the faithful think and behave by imposing restrictions that go beyond anything written in God's Word.[1]
Pushing the theme of “the vindication of God’s sovereignty” does more than empower Organization Leadership. It justifies the very name, Jehovah’s Witnesses, for what are they bearing witness to, if not that Jehovah’s rule is better than Satan’s? If Jehovah’s rule does not need to be vindicated, if the purpose of the Bible is not to prove His rule is better than Satan's, then there is no “universal court case”[2] and no need of witnesses for God.[3] Neither He nor his method of governing are on trial.
At the close of the second article, questions were posed as to the true nature of the sovereignty of God. Is it just like man’s sovereignty with the only difference being that His provides a righteous ruler and just laws? Or is it something radically different from anything we've ever experienced?
The introductory quote in this article is taken from the October 1, 1984 Watchtower. It reveals unwittingly that to Jehovah’s Witnesses, there is no practical distinction between Satan’s rule and God’s. If Jehovah’s vindication is more important than the salvation of his people, wherein lies the distinction between God's rule and Satan's? Are we to conclude that, to Satan, his own vindication is less important than the salvation of his followers? Hardly! So according to Jehovah’s Witnesses, as regards vindication, Satan and Jehovah do not differ. They both want the same thing: self-justification; and getting it is more important than the salvation of their subjects. In short, Jehovah's Witnesses are looking at the opposite side of the same coin.
A Jehovah’s Witness may feel he is only displaying humility by teaching that the vindication of God’s rulership is more important than his personal salvation. Yet, since nowhere does the Bible teach such a thing, this humility has the unintended consequence of bringing reproach on God’s good name. Indeed, who are we to presume to tell God what he should see as important?
In part, this situation is due to a lack of real understanding as to what constitutes the rule of God. How does God’s sovereignty differ from that of Satan and man?
Can we, perhaps, glean the answer by revisiting the question of the Bible’s theme?
The Bible’s Theme
Since sovereignty isn’t the theme of the Bible, what is? The sanctification of God’s name? That certainly is important, but is that all the Bible is about? Some would suggest that the salvation of humankind is the Bible's theme: Paradise lost to paradise regained. Others suggest that it's all about the seed of Genesis 3:15. Admittedly, there is some merit in that reasoning since a book’s theme runs through it from start (theme introduction) to finish (theme resolution), which is precisely what the “seed theme” does. It is introduced in Genesis as a mystery, one which slowly unfolds throughout the pages of the pre-Christian Scriptures. Noah’s flood can be seen as a means of preserving the few remaining ones of that seed. The book of Ruth, while an excellent object lesson in faithfulness and loyalty, provides a link in the genealogical chain leading to the Messiah, the key element of the seed. The book of Esther shows how Jehovah preserved the Israelites and thus the seed from a monstrous attack by Satan. In the last book of the Bible canon, Revelation, the mystery is finished with the final triumph of the seed culminating with the death of Satan.
Sanctification, Salvation, or the Seed? One thing is certain, these three topics are closely related. Should it concern us to fix on one as more important than the others; to settle on the Bible's central theme?
I recall from my high school English literature class that in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice there are three themes. If a play can have three distinct themes, how many are there in God’s word for humankind? Perhaps by striving to identify the theme of the Bible we risk reducing it to the status of Sacred Novel. The only reason we are even having this discussion is because of the misguided emphasis the Watchtower, Bible & Tract Society’s publications have placed on the issue. But as we’ve seen, that was done to support a human agenda.
So rather than engage in what is essentially an academic debate as to which theme is the central one, let us instead focus on one theme that will help us to understand our Father better; for in understanding him, we will understand his way of ruling—his sovereignty if you will.
A Hint at the End
After about 1,600 years of inspired writing, the Bible comes to its end. Most scholars agree that the last books ever written are the gospel and three epistles of John. What is the overriding theme of the books which constitute the final words Jehovah has delivered to humankind? In a word, “love”. John is sometimes referred to as “the apostle of love” because of the emphasis he places on that quality in his writings. In his first letter there is an inspiring revelation about God found in a short, simple sentence of only three words: “God is love”. (1 John 4:8, 16)
I may be going out on a limb here, but I don’t believe there is a sentence in the entire Bible that reveals more about God, and indeed about all creation, than those three words.
God is love
It is as if everything written to that point covering 4,000 years of human interaction with our Father was all there just to lay the groundwork for this startling revelation. John, the disciple Jesus loved, is chosen at the end of his life to sanctify God's name by the revelation of this singular truth: God IS love.
What we have here is the fundamental quality of God; the defining quality. All other qualities—his justice, his wisdom, his power, whatever else there may be—are subject to and moderated by this one overriding aspect of God. Love!
What Is Love?
Before we go further, we should first make sure that we understand what love is. Otherwise, we could proceed under a false premise which would inevitably lead us to a wrong conclusion.
There are four Greek words that can be translated as “love” in English. Common in Greek literature is erōs from which we get our English word “erotic”. This refers to love of a passionate nature. While not restricted exclusively to physical love with its strong sexual overtones, it is most frequently used in Greek writings in that context.
Next we have storgē. This is used to describe the love between family members. Principally, it is used for blood relations, but the Greeks also used it to describe any family relationship, even a metaphorical one.
Neither erōs nor storgē appear in the Christian Greek Scriptures, though the latter does occur in a compound word at Romans 12:10 which has been translated “brotherly love”.
The most common word in Greek for love is philia which refers to the love between friends—that warm affection which is born of mutual respect, shared experiences, and a “meeting of the minds”. Thus while a husband will love (erōs) his wife and a son can love (storgē) his parents, the members of a truly happy family will be bound together by love (philia) for one another.
Unlike the other two words, philia does occur in the Christian Scriptures in its various forms (noun, verb, adjective) just over two dozen times.
Jesus loved all his disciples, but it was known among them that he had a special affection for one, John.
“So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved (philia), and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (John 20:2 NIV)
The fourth Greek word for love is agapē. While philia is quite common in classical Greek writings, agapē is not. Yet the reverse is true in the Christian Scriptures. For every occurrence of philia, there are ten of agapē. Jesus seized on this little used Greek word while rejecting its far more common cousins. The Christian writers did likewise, following the lead of their master, with John championing the cause.
Why?
In short, because our Lord needed to express new ideas; ideas for which there was no word. So Jesus took the best candidate from the Greek vocabulary and folded into this simple word a depth of meaning and a power it had never before expressed.
The other three loves are loves of the heart. Expressing it with a nod to the psychology majors among us, they are loves that involve chemical/hormonal reactions in the brain. With erōs we speak of falling in love, though today it is more often a matter of falling in lust. Still, higher brain function has little to do with it. As for storgē, it is partly designed into the human and partly the result of the brain being molded from infancy. This is not to suggest anything wrong, as this was obviously designed into us by God. But again, one doesn’t make a conscious decision to love one’s mother or father. It just happens that way, and it takes an enormous betrayal to destroy that love.
We might think that philia differs, but again, chemistry is involved. We even use that term in English, especially when two people are considering marriage. While erōs may factor in, what we look for in a mate is someone with whom they have “good chemistry.”
Have you ever come across someone who wants to be your friend, yet you feel no special affection for the person? He or she may be a wonderful person—generous, trustworthy, intelligent, whatever. From a practical point of view, an excellent choice for a friend, and you may even like the person to a degree, but you know that there is no chance for close and intimate friendship. If asked, you probably wouldn’t be able to explain why you don’t feel that friendship, but you can’t make yourself feel it. Simply put, there is just no chemistry there.
The book The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge says this on page 115:
“Recent fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans of lovers looking at photos of their sweethearts show that the part of the brain with great concentrations of dopamine is activated; their brains looked like those of people on cocaine.”
In a word, love (philia) makes us feel good. That is how our brains are wired.
Agapē differs from the other forms of love in that it is a love born of the intellect. It may be natural to love one’s own people, one’s friends, one’s family, but loving one’s enemies does not come naturally. It requires us to go against nature, to conquer our natural impulses.
When Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, he employed the Greek word agapē to introduce a love based on principle, a love of the mind as well as the heart.
“However, I say to you: Continue to love (agapate) your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Mt 5:44, 45)
It is a conquest of our natural tendencies to love those hating us.
This is not to suggest that agapē love is always good. It can be misapplied. For instance, Paul says, “For Demas has forsaken me because he loved (agapēsas) the present system of things…” (2Ti 4:10) Demas left Paul because he reasoned that he could get what he wanted by returning to the world. His love was the result of a conscious decision.
While the application of reason—the power of the mind—distinguishes agapē from all other loves, we mustn’t think that there is no emotional component to it. Agapē is an emotion, but it is an emotion we control, rather than one that controls us. While it may seem cold and unromantic to “decide” to feel something, this love is anything but cold.
For centuries, writers and poets have romanced about 'falling in love', 'being swept away by love', 'consumed by love'…the list goes on. Always, it is the lover who is unable to resist being carried along by the power of love. But such love, as experience has shown, is often fickle. Betrayal can cause a husband to lose the erōs of his wife; a son to lose the storgē of this parents; a man to lose the philia of a friend, but agapē never fails. (1Co 13:8) It will continue as long as there is any hope of redemption.
Jesus said:
“If you love (agapēsēte) those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:46-48)
We may deeply love those who love us, showing that agapē is a love of great feeling and emotion. But to be perfect like our God is perfect, we must not stop there.
To put it another way, the other three loves control us. But agapē is the love that we control. Even in our sinful state, we can reflect the love of God, because we are made in his image and he is love. Without sin, the predominant quality of a perfect[4] man would also be love.
Applied as God does, agapē is a love that always seeks the best for the loved one. Erōs: a man may tolerate bad traits in a lover so as not to lose her. Storgē: a mother may fail to correct bad conduct in a child for fear of alienating him. Philia: a man may enable wrong conduct in a friend so as not to jeopardize the friendship. However, if each of these also feels agapē for the lover/child/friend, he (or she) would do whatever possible to benefit the loved one, no matter the risk to self or to the relationship.
Agapē puts the other person first.
A Christian who desires to be perfect as his Father is perfect will moderate any expression of erōs, or storgē, or philia with agapē.
Agapē is a triumphant love. It is the love that conquers all things. It is the love that endures. It is a selfless love that never fails. It is greater than hope. It is greater than faith. (1 John 5:3; 1 Cor. 13:7, 8, 13)
The Depth of God’s Love
I have studied God’s word all my life and now I am officially an old man. I am not alone in this. Many reading the articles on this forum have likewise devoted a lifetime to learning about and trying to comprehend the love of God.
Our situation brings to mind a friend of mine who owns a cottage by a northern lake. He has gone there every summer since he was a child. He knows the lake well—every nook, every inlet, every rock just below the surface. He has seen it at dawn on a still morning when its surface is like glass. He knows its currents that come up on a hot afternoon when summer breezes churn up its surface. He has sailed upon it, he has swum it, he has played in its cool waters with his children. Yet, he has no idea how deep it is. Twenty feet or two thousand, he does not know. The deepest lake on earth is just over a mile in depth.[5] Yet it is a mere pond by comparison with the depth of God’s infinite love. After more than half a century, I am like my friend who only knows the surface of God’s love. I have barely an inkling of its depths, but that’s okay. That is what eternal life is for, after all.
“…this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God…” (John 17:3 NIV)
Love and Sovereignty
Since we are only cruising the surface of God’s love, let us chart that part of the lake—to extend the metaphor—that concerns the issue of sovereignty. Since God is love, his exercise of sovereignty, his rule, must be based on love.
We have never known a government that operates on love. So we are entering uncharted waters. (I shall leave the metaphor now.)
When asked if Jesus paid the temple tax, Peter reflexively answered in the affirmative. Jesus later corrected him by asking:
“What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive duties or head tax? From their sons or from the strangers?” 26 When he said: “From the strangers,” Jesus said to him: “Really, then, the sons are tax-free.” (Mt 17:25, 26)
Being the son of the king, the heir, Jesus had no obligation to pay the tax. What is interesting is that soon, Simon Peter was to become a son of the king also, and therefore, also tax-free. But it doesn’t stop there. Adam was a son of God. (Luke 3:38) Had he not sinned, all of us would still be God’s sons. Jesus came to the earth to effect a reconciliation. When his work is done, all humans will again be God’s children, just as all the angels are. (Job 38:7)
So right away, we have a unique form of rule in God’s kingdom. All his subjects are also his children. (Remember, God’s rule does not start until the 1,000 years have ended. – 1Co 15:24-28) We must therefore abandon any idea of sovereignty as we know it. The closest human example we can find to explain God’s rulership is that of a father over his children. Does a father seek to rule over his sons and daughters? Is that his goal? Granted, as children, they are told what to do, but always with the purpose of helping them to stand on their own feet; to achieve a measure of independence. The father’s rules are for their benefit, never his own. Even after they are adults, they continue to be guided by those laws, because they learned as children that bad things befell them when they didn’t listen to father.
Of course, a human father is limited. His children may very well grow to surpass him in wisdom. However, that will never be the case with our heavenly Father. Still, Jehovah didn’t create us to micromanage our lives. Nor did he create us to serve him. He doesn’t need servants. He is complete in himself. So why did he create us? The answer is that God is love. He created us so that he could love us, and so that we could grow to love him in return.
While there are aspects to our relationship with Jehovah God that can be likened to a king with his subjects, we will understand his rule much better if we keep the image of a family head foremost in our mind. What father puts his own justification over the welfare of his children? What father is more interested in establishing the rightfulness of his position as family head than he is in saving his children? Remember, agapē puts the loved one first!
While the vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty is not mentioned in the Bible, the sanctification of his name is. How can we understand that as it relates to us and to his agapē-based rule?
Imagine a father is fighting for custody of his children. His wife is abusive and he knows the children will not fare well with her, but she has slandered his name to the point that the court is about to grant her sole custody. He must fight to clear his name. However, he does not do this out of pride, nor out of a need for self-justification, but rather to save his children. Love for them is what motivates him. This is a poor analogy, but its purpose is to show that clearing his name does not benefit Jehovah but rather it benefits us. His name is sullied in the minds of many of his subjects, his erstwhile children. Only by understanding that he is not as many would paint him, but rather worthy of our love and obedience, can we then benefit from his rule. Only then can we rejoin his family. A father can adopt a child, but the child must be willing to be adopted.
Sanctifying God’s name saves us.
Sovereign versus Father
Jesus never refers to his Father as sovereign. Jesus himself is called king in many places, but he always referred to God as Father. In fact, the number of times that Jehovah is referred to as Father in the Christian Scriptures outnumbers even the number of places Jehovah’s Witnesses have presumptuously inserted His name in the Holy Christian Writings. Of course, Jehovah is our king. There is no denying that. But He is more than that—He is our God. More than that, He is the only true God. But even with all that, He wants us to call him Father, because His love for us is the love of a father toward his children. Rather than a sovereign who governs, we want a Father who loves, for that love will always seek what is best for us.
Love is the true sovereignty of God. This is a rule that neither Satan nor man can ever hope to emulate, let alone surpass.
Love is the true sovereignty of God.
Viewing the sovereignty of God through glasses colored by the governmental rule of man, including the rulership of religious “governing bodies”, has caused us to defame the name and rule of Jehovah. Jehovah's Witnesses are told they live in a true theocracy, a modern example of God's rule for all the world to see. But it is no rule of love. Replacing God is a body of governing men. Replacing love is an oral law that infringes on every aspect of the individual's life, virtually eradicating the need for a conscience. Replacing mercy is a call for more and more sacrifice of time and money.
There was another religious body that acted this way, claiming to be a theocracy and to represent God, yet so devoid of love that they actually killed the son of God's love. (Col. 1:13) They claimed to be children of God, but Jesus pointed to another as their father. (John 8:44)
The mark that identifies the true Disciples of Christ is agapē. (John 13:35) It is not their zeal in the preaching work; it is not the number of new members joining their organization; it is not the number of languages into which they translate the good news. We will not find it in beautiful buildings or splashy international conventions. We find it at the grass roots level in deeds of love and mercy. If we are looking for a true theocracy, a people who today is ruled by God, then we must ignore all the sales propaganda of the world's churches and religious organizations and look for that one simple key: love!
“By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.”” (Joh 13:35)
Find this and you will have found the sovereignty of God!
______________________________________
[1] Like the oral law of the Scribes and Pharisees which regulated the minutia of life such as whether it was permitted to kill a fly on the Sabbath, the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses has its own oral traditions which prohibit a woman from wearing a pantsuit in the field ministry in the dead of winter, which keep a brother with a beard from advancement, and which regulate when a congregation is allowed to clap.
[2] See w14 11/15 p. 22 par. 16; w67 8/15 p. 508 par. 2
[3] This is not to suggest that there is no need to bear witness. Christians are called to bear witness about Jesus and our salvation through him. (1Jo 1:2; 4:14;Re 1:9; 12:17) However, this witness has nothing to do with some metaphorical court case in which God’s right to rule is being judged. Even the much used justification for the name from Isaiah 43:10 calls upon Israelites—not Christians—to bear witness before the nations of that day that Jehovah was their savior. His right to rule is never mentioned.
[4] I use “perfect” here in the sense of complete, i.e. without sin, as God intended us to be. This is in contrast to a “perfected” man, one whose integrity has been proven through fiery test. Jesus was perfect at birth but was perfected by trial through death.
[5] Lake Baikal in Siberia
Archived Comments
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Comment by qspf on 2015-06-06 11:11:57
Meleti, allow me to commend you for a fine article I think sometimes we get so caught up in the minutia of debating doctrines, policies and the flaws of men's organizations that we lose sight of what is important, which is reflecting the love of God through the loving example of His son. I especially appreciate the thought that God's sovereignty is nothing like man's, since man has never ruled with love as the primary operating principle. In terms of what is really important to Him, humans have shown they have no clue what the real sovereignty of God means. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this article, and it is fitting that you presented it in a loving way.
You made one statement I would have worded slightly differently: "Agape puts the other person first." Because agape is loved based on principle, and is a choice, I would say that Apage puts the true, best interests of the other person first. We might "enable" someone to make bad choices if we unconditionally put them first, even if we know full well they are making bad decisions with their life. True love would not allow our attachment to someone be so great that we put them ahead of their own good. For example, we may love a relative, but if they are an alcoholic, we would not be showing love to allow our attachment to them override good sense. That is sometimes described as "tough love", but even tough loving can be applied in a loving way. I am sure you would agree.
Again, my compliments on a very thoughtful and encouraging article.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-06-06 13:25:40
Thank you for that insight, qspf. You are quite right. Agape love puts the best interests of the loved one in first place.
Comment by Katrina on 2015-06-06 11:18:32
This brought tears to my eyes, thank you so much brother Meleti, so much in this to ponder meditate on, truly an encouraging wonderful article, I feel better, I really do, I would like to print a few copies of this to give to a few people I am sure will help them, or perhaps email of also, hope you don't mind.
Thank you.Reply by on 2015-06-06 12:08:45
If justification of his rightful rulership is not the theme, then why does a God of agape love allow endless generations to suffer unimagible horrors? If he provided the means for salvation, why do more generations continue to suffer? Time is no longer part of the equation if he does not have to prove (to angels or anyone) that man cannot rule himself apart from God.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-06-06 13:49:23
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways! (Ro 11:33 NET Bible)
I believe that we will only understand fully the reason for all that God has permitted when we can look back with perfect hindsight. But for now we have this: Satan and man both challenged God as their ruler. They wanted self rule. For better or worse, they wanted self determination. God could have denied them that, but he chose not to. Perhaps the case was made that they could do just as well, if not better, than God on their own. If so--and I'm speculating here--then we could reason that God gave them the opportunity to make their case. He didn't need to justify his rule, nor to vindicate it. It was they that needed the time to justify their rule; they needed to vindicate their sovereignty. How much time did they need? Why has so much time been permitted? We'll have to wait and see.
Many see the horrors that man has visited upon his fellow man and condemn God for standing by and permitting it. What they fail to see is that if they are right, then God is unjust and there is no hope of any kind. In fact, there is only horror, for the idea of an unjust God with unspeakable power is just too horrific to contemplate.
Faith is needed. Faith isn't about believing in the existence of God. Faith is about believing in the character of God. His judgments are unsearchable. His paths are beyond our comprehension. we see a tiny piece of the picture and with the knowledge of a flea, presume to pass judgment on God?! No. Faith in his righteousness, his goodness, his love, his trueness to himself will assure us that whatever has happened has been for a good purpose. I believe we will eventually come to see why it all unfolded as it has and thereby gain new and deeper appreciation for our Father. It will all come in due time.Reply by Hamilton Grey on 2015-06-07 05:43:11
As you rightly mention it's a simple paradigm shift, Jehovah has no need to prove his sovereignty, if you want to debate "universal sovereignty" simply quote the faithful angels who kept integrity when their brothers chose to forsake their heavenly position to have relations with the daughters of men. Issue settled.
Jehovah has allowed time for men to prove their sovereignty! But ultimately I concur with the quoted Scripture: Rom:11:33
"Where were you when I dug and laid the foundation of the earth? Explain to me if your acquainted with understanding" - Job 38:4 The Voice
Reply by Silvanus on 2015-06-08 07:00:12
Apostel Paul gave in Romans 8 a reasonable explanation, why we are still suffering after Christ death. He wrote:
"The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free." Romans 8:19-23 CEB.
Furthermore in chapter 11 Paul speaks about the fullness of the gentiles to be saved: "I don’t want you to be unaware of this secret, brothers and sisters. That way you won’t think too highly of yourselves. A part of Israel has become resistant until the full number of the Gentiles comes in." Romans 11:25 CEB
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-06-06 13:26:39
Not at all. It makes the effort all worthwhile. Thank you.
Comment by MarthaMartha on 2015-06-06 11:44:08
Thank you, Meleti. Your thoughts touched my heart. I could comment on so much, but it would only be to agree; so I'd like to pick one point that stood out. It isn't the real theme of your article, but I stopped and re-read and almost applauded!
" Still, Jehovah didn’t create us to micromanage our lives. Nor did he create us to serve him. He doesn’t need servants. He is complete in himself. So why did he create us? The answer is that God is love. He created us so that he could love us, and so that we could grow to love him in return."
He doesn't need servants.
This idea that we were created to serve God, or that the meaning of our existence is to serve God, has always puzzled me. It didn't make sense.
Of course, the teaching that the purpose of our existence is to serve God then leads to the assumption by men, of the right to tell us what they believe that service should entail.
Whereas, if we accepted the real reason we were created, because God loved us, then we reciprocate that love and show it without any coercion or guilt trips.
Honestly, this article has made me feel so much better inside. It's such a contrast from how I have felt after watching the monthly broadcasts.
I'll be keeping this one bookmarked.
Thanks for your hard work, spiritual insight, and kind diligence on our behalf.
Comment by Skye on 2015-06-06 13:03:19
Agape then is a unique brand of love. And love celebrates the truth.
1 Cor 13:6 "Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth." Truth and love for a Christian are inseparable.Reply by Hamilton Grey on 2015-06-07 09:02:26
The Greek word agape means more than just Godly or principled love. It is also romantic love. Even the lust Amnon felt for his half-sister Tamar is translated as agape in the Greek NWT.
2 Sam 13:1, 4, 15:
1 "...and Amnon the son of David fell in love (αγάπη) with [Tamar]...
4 ...At this Amnon said to him: "With Tamar the sister of Absalom my brother I am in love (αγάπη)."
15 "And Amnon began hating her with a very great hatred, because the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love (αγάπη) with which he had loved (αγάπη) her..."Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-06-07 09:46:29
That is how translators rendered it in this passage. But we must look to how Jesus employed it to get the meaning for Christians. It is never used in the Greek scriptures as a substitute for eros.
Reply by Hamilton Grey on 2015-06-07 18:14:56
Agape (αγάπη, η) as used in the Bible according to the New World Translation, Greek version (Printed 1997):
-God is agape, — 1 John 4:16
-God's agape for us, — John 3:16
-Our agape for God, — Matt. 22:37
-Agape for neighbor, — Matt. 19:19
-Agape for the world, — 1 John 2:15
-Agape for our enemies, — Matt. 5:44
-Agape for the darkness, — John 3:19
-Agape for glory of men, — John 12:43
-Agape of dishonest gain: — 1 Peter 5:2
-Agape for one's wife, — Eph 5:28, 33; such as Isaac's agape for Rebekah, — Gen 24:67; and Jacob's agape for Rachel, — Gen 29:18, 20
Comment by Dorcas on 2015-06-06 14:30:51
I applaud you, Meleti. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to lift this dark cloud I've been under, but you have succeeded! This is one of the most beautiful articles I have ever read. It has truly touched my heart.
More than that, it has turned around my thinking. I seem to have more questions than answers these days, but you have simplified everything. I agree with Martha Martha, I am bookmarking this one.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you and all those who contribute to this site.
Comment by qspf on 2015-06-06 16:38:55
The notion of Agape love brings with it a number of interesting consequences.
Comment by qspf on 2015-06-06 16:49:39
(my post got ended before I finished ...)
The notion of Agape love brings with it a number of interesting consequences.
1. Since Agape is love based on principle, it is possible to love (Agape) someone you don't like. No doubt our Father often feels that way about us, since we do so many things He doesn't like. We can show Christian love (Agape) by being kind to people who we don't like and who don't deserve it.
2. Showing love (Agape) to someone may not always mean being nice to them, when being nice is not in their best interests. Someone may need some firm discipline or a serious, urgent warning, which may not sound "nice" when they hear it, but it is the loving (Agape) thing to do, since it is in their best interests to get that counsel at the right time.
3. Since Agape is love based on principle that acts in the true best interests of others, it is not possible to love (Agape) someone "too much". Often, the expression is made that a person loved someone "too much", when that means being controlling or domineering. But, such actions are not in the best interests of others. When our actions toward others are based on true love (Agape), we CAN'T "love them too much".
Since true love (Agape) is the principle that acts in all of our best interests, it is only logical that our Father would choose THAT as His guiding principle to administer His sovereignty to the benefit of His creation.Reply by Silvanus on 2015-06-07 03:20:27
I personally find the definition "Agape is love based on principle" a little bit twisted, even though the definition in itself is not wrong. The term doesn't appears in the bible but in the Watchtower publications it is used inflationary. They write "principal" but actually the meaning behind is obeying man made rules.
In my opinion this definition is more fittingly:
"Agape love ... is not a feeling; it's a motivation for action that we are free to choose or reject. Agape is a sacrificial love that voluntarily suffers inconvenience, discomfort, and even death for the benefit of another without expecting anything in return. We are called to agape love through Christ's example: "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).
We are to agapao God (Matthew 22:37), our neighbor (Matthew 22:39), and even our enemies (Matthew 5:43-46). We are not to agapao money (Matthew 6:24), darkness (John 3:19), or men's approval (John 12:43)."Reply by Skye on 2015-06-07 08:54:07
Agree. And 1 John 4:11 "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." Our motivation is that God loves us - we are loved by God and so we can love others. And love is central to the whole idea of serving Him.
Reply by qspf on 2015-06-07 11:27:23
I wouldn't say that "love based on principle" is wrong, but it greatly depends on what principle we are speaking of. The nation of Israel was under Law, and the scriptures say that love is the Law's fulfillment. Yet, the kind of love Jesus taught and exemplified is not exactly the one the Law asked people to follow. If a person followed the Law, that was pretty much the end of it. But that concept became so rigid and entrenched that the Jews in Jesus' day, under the influence of the Pharisees, followed the Law like robots. Their heart wasn't in it. It became a "contest" to see who was more "Lawful" than whom.
Mere obedience to rules, even good rules, is a principle too, but not a good one. As Jesus said regarding the Sabbath (a principle that could be applied to the whole Law), "The Sabbath came into existence for the sake of man, and not man for the sake of the Sabbath." Yet today, we see an organization that purports to be ruled by God, and acting in "principled" love, but seems determined to command the lives and loyalty of its followers without the slightest evidence of love as its real principle. I can understand why you would chafe at the suggestion that "love based on principle" is a good thing, when we have been given such a bad example to follow.
Love based on principle in no way means love without feelings. We would not be able to sustain such "principles" if we didn't truly believe we were doing the right thing, and we did not derive a measure of pride of accomplishment in doing so. Most people of good heart and good conscience want to believe that they are reasonably good persons, and showing Agape love is the way to do that. That's a good principle - helping people because it's the right thing to do, not because an organization told us (or even ordered us, pressured us, or forced us) to do so.
I don't want to be a robot, either on the orders of an organization, or from my own (perhaps misplaced) compulsions. I need to both believe (mind) and feel (heart) that I am doing the right thing. True love based on principle is not a heartless love. Otherwise, our Father and His son would not have taught us to follow their superlative examples of what real love is.Reply by Skye on 2015-06-07 13:26:37
Yes, and that would be true because in the Bible the heart and the mind are the same.
Reply by menrov on 2015-06-08 05:25:45
I agree, it is related to motivation. If it is principle based, it becomes a rule. But it is a choice. People.are.characterised by the choices they make. Jesus will judge our choices and the motivation behind these choices.
Meleti, I also commend you for this article. It is heartwarming the positive effect it has on many on this forum.
Comment by Alex Rover on 2015-06-06 20:17:40
Love your work Meleti. Another masterpiece.
Comment by Gwen on 2015-06-06 22:15:40
This article has really touched my heart and I thank you for writing it. I never really thought about what those words mean - God is Love. Your explanation makes perfect sense. In my 20 years as a witness (I grew up in the religion), I sensed that there was something lacking. I never felt truly loved by anyone in the congregation and I knew that what they called "love" was contingent upon me keeping up my field service hours, commenting, making all the right choices (i.e. not going to college). In retrospect I realize it was an artificial love. It wasn't the individual members' fault. They were just doing what they were told and following the lead of those in charge. I experienced it as an incredibly cold and joyless religion...and very eerily similar to the Pharisees. It amazes me that they lack the insight to see exactly how closely they, as an organization, resemble that evil group!
Comment by Katrina on 2015-06-07 02:23:05
Martha Martha, You nailed exactly what I thought. And a very good point you made
"He doesn’t need servants.
This idea that we were created to serve God, or that the meaning of our existence is to serve God, has always puzzled me. It didn’t make sense.
Of course, the teaching that the purpose of our existence is to serve God then leads to the assumption by men, of the right to tell us what they believe that service should entail.
Whereas, if we accepted the real reason we were created, because God loved us, then we reciprocate that love and show it without any coercion or guilt trips."
______________________
Yes to make out that God needs servants or created us to be his servants, is really making God out to be selfish and conceited, that his love is self serving which is not genuine love at all.
Comment by Hamilton Grey on 2015-06-07 04:53:30
Lovely paradigm shift, makes perfect sense, the sovereignty doctrine is about control in the same way the society links baptism and dedication together. Baptism is not about dedication or what WE can give God, it's all about what Jehovah GIVES us, the forgiveness of sin. If the society implies Jehovah needs us to resolve universal sovereignty then we need to obey his "earthy organization" so as not to assist satan in his claim. A very nice control technic for any enabler.
In the book "Journey to God's House" the author Brock Talon was at Bethel HQ when Karl Klein came up with the above mentioned quote. At this time Karl was not being used extensively by the GB due to the fact his views had become eccentric with age. When the GB accepted his view on Jehovah's sovereignty Karl made it his priority to inform as many bethelites as humanly possible it was he who was inspired to bring this point to light.
Perhaps the sovereign dogma was given birth to by a man who felt his contemporaries no longer valued his intellect and he had an agenda in creating some "new light", to gain some self worth.Reply by qspf on 2015-06-07 19:06:01
It would truly be a shame if this sovereignty doctrine were a mere power play or exercise in vanity by an old man seeking self-worth, rather than a sincere effort at Bible understanding, when the lives of so many adherents hang in the balance, whether he is right or wrong in his biblical calculus. Meanwhile, the rest of us are caught in the middle, wondering which way is up. To think, that this religion has become reduced to this. No wonder there is no love to be found in it.
Reply by Hamilton Grey on 2015-06-08 04:21:33
Dear qspf, i understand your disappointment but remember Jehovah has forewarned us:
Do not put your trust in princes
Nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation.
His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground;
On that very day his thoughts perish.
Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob as his helper,
Whose hope is in Jehovah his God,
The Maker of heaven and earth,
Of the sea, and of all that is in them,
The One who always remains faithful
Trusting men will always lead to disappointment, we need not be like Eve and allow ourselves to be deceived as Jehovah has given us his word and the living example of himself through the life of his son. By just reading the gospels we can see through any deception contrived by men. Never allow men to rob you of your faith and joy, take Jesus yoke as it is kindly and light. It's the yoke of men that burdens us and may even steal our precious relationship with our father.
Then he told them many things by illustrations, saying: “Look! A sower went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seeds fell alongside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on rocky ground where there was not much soil, and they immediately sprang up because the soil was not deep. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. Still others fell on the fine soil, and they began to yield fruit, this one 100 times more, that one 60, the other 30. Let the one who has ears listen.”
You will find it a difficult task to find love amongst those who hold power in God's Household but look towards your brothers and sisters and you will find it, the salt of the earth. The beautiful article written brother Meleti is proof of love and the gifts in men Jehovah promised us. We all need to cultivate a deep love for our brothers and sisters as our Lord did when he saw those mistreated by men in positions of power.
On seeing the crowds, he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples: “Yes, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”
We all have the choice to be either the victim or the survivor, to be deceived or enlightened.Reply by qspf on 2015-06-08 09:45:35
Thank you for your thoughtful reply; it is much appreciated.
Comment by Disappointed on 2015-06-08 10:11:24
When I read the watchtower articles, they make me feel at worst, angry and sick with the constant tirade of 'musts', at best lethargic with the same slop being dished up every week. As you so eloquently put it in a previous post 'a McDiet' (made me laugh!). These three articles Meleti, have been a real spiritual feast. Something to really get the teeth into. Eye opening, insightful and getting into the meat of God's word without putting a 'spin' on it. Excellent! Thank you so much for all your hard work. At the end of it, it makes me feel as if I am beginning to understand who our God and Father really is and what he wants of us. If there really is a single theme of the Bible then of course it must be 'God is Love'.
Comment by Wild Olive on 2015-06-09 05:35:34
This can be the first chapter of the beorean pickets "truth book", can't think of a better way to start, beautiful and moving, thanx so much .
Comment by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-06-09 11:05:08
I'd like to thank everyone for the kind comments. This post was special for me and I'd been wanting to write it for months, but kept feeling I still wasn't ready. Even now I feel that way. There is just so much more to explore and learn about God's love.
Comment by Just a thought [J-A-T] on 2015-06-09 22:34:09
Thank you Meleti for this stimulating article.
Rather than comment here, I have started a post in the forum with the title: ‘God is love’ and the ‘vindication of His sovereignty.’
Comment by poetryofprovidence on 2015-06-10 02:12:00
Been gone and missed my "sunday talks" ...it's always good to consider "A Blueprint for a Kingdom" ..and all that that encompasses ...or requires as the case may be ...frequently our minds travel the same avenues ...and I suspect the spirit knows which method will those ears hear ..
Everything you plan to your children you do inform
the blueprint for the future your purpose to perform
every framework and design will earthly place transform
a government that loves on the verge of being born
now I know our paths of thought travel the same avenues ...or perhaps the same spirit ..again a well thought out presentation for those who need to consider why they exist .
as for the old man , many of us would enjoy "his company" ..take care have to read the next sunday talk ....
Comment by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-06-10 07:48:40
And I yours. :)
Comment by Hamilton Grey on 2015-06-10 18:10:29
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. One of them, a legal expert, tested him. “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” - Matthew 22:34-40 CEB
Comment by em on 2016-04-15 12:25:31
I might be wrong...but you mention that Jesus chose "agape" out of the greek vocabulary. My understanding is that Jesus did not speak Greek. The scriptures were written in greek, but :Jesus spoke Hebrew. Is that your understanding?
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-15 15:16:15
Hi Em,
My understanding is that he spoke and used both languages in his preaching. Koine Greek was the common language which is why the Hebrew Scriptures had been translated into Greek in the Septuagint version. Almost all of the New Testament was written in Greek, though there is apparently some evidence that Matthew's gossip and possibly the letter to the Hebrews were written in Hebrew.Reply by em on 2016-04-15 15:18:30
Thanks!
Comment by Brian on 2017-03-24 18:12:39
Great articles, Meleti. You have provided needed insight, at least for me. This makes sense of a number of JW doctrines, practices, and mindsets that were puzzling to me before now.
There's a recent article in the June 2017 Watchtower called "Keep your Eyes on the Big Issue," about this very subject. Pathetically, toward the end of the article, the practical application is an exhortation to dress modestly. By doing so we "show our support for Jehovah's sovereignty." Wow. You're right on--where's the love?