“Lift up your eyes and view the fields, that they are white for harvesting.”—John 4:35
[From ws 04/20 p.8 June 8 – June 14]
What a strange theme for the scripture provided.
Does it matter how we view the fields?
No, we can view the fields, and regardless of what we think they are like, if they are not ready for harvesting, they are not ready, regardless of how we may want to interpret the color of the fields. Likewise, if they are ready, they are ready even if we think they are not.
Additionally, today we are not in the position that Jesus has told us to harvest, as he told the first-century disciples. The context of this scripture was that many had been looking for the Messiah, they were oppressed by the religious leaders of the day and the occupying Romans. The Jews of the first century were therefore ripe for the good news about Jesus as the Messiah and the hope for the future.
That is not the situation today. So, to infer that the fields are white for harvesting today is dishonest and misleading without any proof that the harvest is ripe.
Therefore, this whole article is based on a false premise. In fact, paragraph 2 quotes (from a non-verifiable source, which could even be a Watchtower publication for all we know) “One Bible commentary says about this account: “The eagerness of the people . . . showed that they were like grain ready for harvesting”. Rather than eagerness, most people show apathy or even outright opposition. A field white for harvesting is the whole field full of ripe grain, gone whiteish with ripeness. This is clearly not the case today.
Why does the Organization want us to view people as ripe for harvesting? It tells us why in paragraph 3. “First, you will preach with more urgency. A harvest period is limited; there is no time to waste. Second, you will be happy as you see people respond to the good news. The Bible says: “People rejoice in the harvesttime.” (Isa. 9:3) And third, you will see each person as a potential disciple, so you will adapt your approach to appeal to his or her interests.”
Taking the first point, the Organization has been banging the drum about the urgency for the past 140 years. This is not a short time like all harvests usually are. The Organization’s harvest time by contrast to a literal harvest appears unlimited!
The second point is about being happy as we see people respond to the good news. Has there been any notable increase in the numbers getting baptized as a percentage of existing Witnesses or the world population? The answer is NO. There has not been any notable increase in either of these means, in fact, if anything it is a drop in both these areas. In fact, the only reason the baptism rate has not dropped dramatically is because of the push to get children of Witness baptized, by having frequent study articles on baptism. However, the benefits from this only last so long. The pool is limited and shrinking far faster than the number of Witness children being born.
Thirdly, what about seeing a potential disciple in every person? That is just an illusion. The reality is that the ratio of hours spent preaching to baptize one individual is going up, i.e. there are fewer potential disciples being found. Also, when you harvest a field white for harvesting, you harvest almost the whole field. You do not go round deciding how differently to cut each stalk of wheat or barley, which is the equivalent of what is suggested here – adapting our approach to the individual. Jesus’ disciples had one simple message.
Instead of providing proof that the field is indeed white for harvesting, we are treated to instructions as to how to try and harvest people, by finding common ground in what they believe (paragraphs 5-10) and in their interests (paragraph 11-14), and then refusing to accept reality and assume they will become disciples if we preach to them often enough (paragraphs 15-19).
Paragraph 19 then admits “At first glance, it may appear that there are not many in the territory who are like grain that is ripe for harvesting. But remember what Jesus said to his disciples. The fields are white, that is, they are ready to be harvested. People can change and become disciples of Christ”. Here the Organization finally admits that it appears there are not many ripe for harvesting, but then they want us to ignore that reality and instead accept the Organization’s modern application of something Jesus said to his first-century disciples and therefore in their view must apply today.
Finally, how many non-Christians are becoming Witnesses? The vast majority of those getting baptized as Witnesses are poached from other Christian religions. That is not making someone a disciple of Christ, it is just changing some of the beliefs of someone who is already a disciple of Christ. The real test would be how many Chinese, Moslems, Buddhists, and atheists are changing and becoming disciples of Christ according to the Organization. In reality, very few are coming from these groups of people. Most baptized were previously Christians or brought up as Witnesses from birth.
One cannot make a field ripe that is not ripe, which appears to be the aim here. Also, we should ask how many ripe stalks have spoiled and not been harvested because of the scandal of child sexual abuse which is rumbling on and gaining momentum. Would it not be better to ensure that the Organization’s image is, in reality, squeaky clean, instead of the cleanness being an illusion, before attempting to harvest anything? Get the equipment sharp and fit for the purpose is a pre-requisite for any harvesting. The Organization’s equipment is rusty, sullied, and unfit for purpose.
How do you view the fields? Reality tells us that the fields are not white for harvesting, at least not for harvesting by the Organization. Reality is what counts, not an illusion.
Does that mean we should not try and help others to build up or keep faith in God and Jesus? Of course not. But neither does that mean living in denial, and supporting such a corrupt Organization that still has not got its act together to stamp out as much child sexual abuse as possible and instead continues to allow an environment where it can fester undiscovered.
Unless the WT provides its source for the so-called quotes they use, it remains a bit of guessing. In this particular case, Tadua could have added a link to the page with a note that like it was taken from there. I am not sure if the WT uses quotes from webpages. Anyway, the link you provided shows a reference to Tenney, which is likely this person: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrill_C._Tenney As the WT is very much negative on non-WT professors they will not say who the real source of the quote is. In addition, the removed a few words from the quote.… Read more »
Hi Just Asking, I second Tua’s reply. The onus is upon the author to list his source otherwise it is non verifiable and non credible. Listing your sources is one of the foundations of good journalism. Listing sources protects honesty, integrity, credibility, and truth. It gives proper credit to the author of the material that you are quoting from and protects you from accusations of plagiarism. Like Tua, I too wonder why watchtower chose not to name their source? Was this “bible commentator” speaking on condition of anonymity? Does this “bible commentator” lack sufficient education and experience to be credible?… Read more »
Dear Just Asking Being able to verify something requires that you have a Specific reference to the quote being used. As there is no reference it is a unverifiable quote. The fact you claim to have found it in 5 minutes on the internet, is neither here nor there. You cannot prove that was the commentary they were using because there is no reference given with which to back up your claim. True, The wording may be identical, but In court they would throw out your objection. I also find it very sad that you impugn my motives by accusing… Read more »
I would say the main reason they (WT) do not disclose many of their resources is because they (WT) do not want the flock to know which path of destruction they (the flock) are being led down. No.2 would be they (WT) doesn’t want them (the flock) to be able to verify the route coordinates. It’s the same techniques they (WT) have been using on them (the flock) decades upon decades. One other little trick they take advantage of is the use of ellipsis’s just like just asking did in his post above with his quote from the “Enduring… Read more »
I fully agree with the insertions of references. Maybe the reason they don’t use references, is because they are very quick to tell their followers not to read or study publications from “worldly” sources. What would followers think if they realised that the thoughts were not original, and even worse, they themselves were studying publications from “worldly” sources…
How about this take on what Jesus meant by the fields being white for harvesting. The disciples were seemingly perplexed at the fact that Jesus was talking to a Samaritan let alone the fact that she was also a woman! However Jesus shared the good news about the kingdom with her and she put faith in him and also many from the nearby village. Also Jesus and his disciples stayed there for two days the account relates, and many more put faith in Jesus and in his message. Certainly the fields were white for harvesting in this situation. The… Read more »
Hi Tadua, Thank you for your plain speaking. This is not about fields being white for harvesting, but is more about tips on making converts. I wonder how many of those in the US Bethel have applied these suggestions and are reaping ? I note in paragraph 18 “The people I think will make progress often stop studying. But the people I think won’t go far progress very well, So I have learned that it is better to let Jehovah’s spirit lead us” Things have changed over the years. There were intelligent people who became Witnesses in the 1960s and… Read more »
Hi Leonardo, It was before my time but it appears to me that the 1960’s and 1970’s must have been a real time of growth within the organization. Maybe this was because of the 1975 expectations. My mom and dad became witnesses in the late 1970’s and they had a lot of contemporaries. The pattern that I see in the local congregations around here is that a large percentage of the members belong to just a few families. Two or three sets of grandparents came in in the time period that you mentioned and their kids and grandkids are all… Read more »
Spot on, New Englander, especially the point about the larger families. That is an important factor in preventing people leaving. I guess that must be a bigger factor in countries where they have larger families. I have also noticed that those who leave, or seem to think more independently, often are not part of those large family groups. Interesting point.
I’m going to throw something in here that will be seen by many as an antithesis to our expectations. Given that to live forever in God’s Kingdom all citizens will need to both acknowledge the true God and to love him and worship him. Similarly with Jesus Christ who’ll be ruling God’s Kingdom as a King, his role in our salvation and our love and devotion to him must also have priority in all permanent residents. Following on then, there will be millions possibly billions of people that God will choose to resurrect right down to the beginning of the… Read more »
You state: “Given that to live forever in God’s Kingdom all citizens will need to both acknowledge the true God and to love him and worship him”
Really? Believing in Jesus would be sufficient (John 3:16, John 6:47, Matt. 19:17,18 –> interesting as in this summary, nothing about worshiping, preaching or whatsoever, John 5:39,40 shows that approaching Jesus would be sufficient, not studying scriptures etc). My point: life is a gift, not something that can be earned. WT keeps its member suppressed by teaching that works might generate approval from YHWH and may be you earn eternal life.
Croire et avoir foi au Christ est indispensable mais peut-être pas suffisant. Marc 3:11 [11]Les esprits impurs, quand ils le voyaient, se prosternaient devant lui, et sécriaient: Tu es le Fils de Dieu. Jacques 2:19,26 [19]Tu crois quil y a un seul Dieu, tu fais bien; les démons le croient aussi, et ils tremblent… [26]Comme le corps sans âme est mort, de même la foi sans les oeuvres est morte. Les œuvres ne nous font pas gagner la vie. Seul Christ nous sauve mais cela n’exclut pas que Dieu nous demande de demontrer notre foi. La bible ne présente pas… Read more »
Their insistence that matter are urgent seems to be an unending line that they feed their followers. Yes, things are bad in the world and I would be pleased to see deliverance happen, but the timing of this is not ours to know. The Adventist roots of the JW Organization are never left behind, and the debacles of the past seem doomed to be repeated. Building excitement and a sense of urgency is a well known tactic for sales training. Convince a room full of salespeople that there is a short window of opportunity and at least some of… Read more »
Hi Chet, Not only are the witnesses very good at building excitement and creating a sense of urgency but they are also very good at convincing their membership that their salvation depends upon their support of the organization. I think that the number of times that they have revised the “generation” doctrine proves that they know nothing about the timing of the Lord’s return.
Great review as always Tadu just to add to this portion, “The vast majority of those getting baptized as Witnesses are poached from other Christian religions. That is not making someone a disciple of Christ, it is just changing some of the beliefs of someone who is already a disciple of Christ.“ True but remember all other Professed Christians are not considered “True Christians” so they are fair game, as only Jehovah’s Witnesses are Considered “Real” Christians! Of course those awake now know that is not how Jesus views them and his view trumps JW’s. Thank you for tying in… Read more »
C’est en effet au premier siècle que Jésus a dit à ses disciples que les champs SONT BLANCS POUR LA MOISSON. Pourquoi donc parler d’urgence sur ces paroles du Christ ? Si les champs sont DÉJÀ blancs pour la moisson au premier siècle, n’est-ce pas parce que Jésus a commencé à parler à cette samaritaine du « don gratuit de Dieu » ? Jean 4 : 14 « CELUI qui boira de l’eau que je lui donnerai n’aura plus du tout soif, jamais+, mais l’eau que je lui donnerai deviendra en lui une source d’eau jaillissant pour communiquer la vie… Read more »