[From ws2/16 p. 8 for April 4-10]
“You, O Israel, are my servant, you, O Jacob, whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham my friend.” – Isa. 41:8
For the next two weeks, the Governing Body is using the Watchtower study to convince eight million Jehovah’s Witnesses round the world that they can be Jehovah’s friends. Not his children…his friends.
Most will accept this premise without question, but will you be counted among them?
“What’s wrong with being Jehovah’s friend,” you may ask? Rather than answer that directly, allow me to raise a similar question: What’s wrong with being Jehovah’s son or daughter?
I don't know if my biological father every considered me as his friend, but I do know he considered me as his son, his only son. That was a very special relationship which I alone possessed with him. (My sister, as his only daughter, had a similar unique relationship with our father.) I'd like to think that he also viewed me as a friend, but if it ever came down to a choice—an either-or situation—I'd choose son over friend every time. Likewise, there is nothing wrong with Jehovah viewing us as friends, in addition to sons and daughters, but that isn't the message of these two Watchtower studies. The message here is either-or: either we are part of the elite "little flock" of anointed Jehovah's Witnesses and are therefore adopted children, or we are part of the vast group of "other sheep" who can only aspire to call Jehovah their friend.
Here’s another pertinent question: Given that the issue is, “What kind of relationship should a Christian have with God?”, why is the Governing Body focusing on the non-Christian, pre-Israelite Abraham rather than someone like Paul, Peter, or best of all, Jesus?
The answer is that they are starting with a premise and then looking for a way to make it work. The premise is that we cannot be God’s children, only his friends. The problem this creates for them is that no Christian is called God’s friend. However, there are many instances where we are called his children. In fact, in the entire Bible, no human with the exception of Abraham is called God’s friend.
Let's just restate that for clarity. No Christian is called God's friend. All Christians are called his children. Only one human in the entire Bible is called his friend, Abraham. From this would you conclude that Christians are to be God's friends or his children? Perhaps you reason: "Well, anointed Christians are his children but the rest are his friends." Okay, so there are (according to JW theology) only 144,000 anointed, but since 1935, there have been possibly 10 million "other sheep". So let's ask the question again: Would you conclude from the boldfaced text above that 69 out of 70 Christians are not God's children, but only his friends? Seriously, would you? If so, what's the basis for that conclusion? Are we to deduce that the 69 Christians have more in common with a non-Christian, pre-Israelite nomad than they do with Peter, John, or even Jesus himself?
This is the task which the Governing Body has set for itself. They must convince eight million Christians that they cannot be Jehovah’s children. So to keep them motivated, they offer them the next best thing: friendship with God. In doing this, they hope the flock will overlook the dozen or so Scriptures directed to Christians calling them the children of God and instead focus on a single Scripture about a non-Christian who is called God’s friend. They hope that these millions will say, "Yes, I want to be a friend of God like Abraham, not a child of God like Peter or Paul."
You may be reading this and thinking, but if we are to be children of God, why wasn’t Abraham, “the Father of all those having faith,” also called a son of God?
Simple! It was not yet the time. For that to happen, Jesus had to come.
“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)
When Jesus came, he gave his followers the “authority to become God’s children.” It follows that prior to Jesus’ arrival, such authority did not exist. Therefore, Abraham who existed 2,000 years before Christ could not have the authority to become one of God’s adopted children; but we, who come after Christ, most certainly can and do have that authority, as long as we continue to exercise faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
There is no recorded prayer in the Hebrew Scriptures where a man or woman of faith is seen addressing Jehovah as Father. It was not yet the time, but that all changed with Jesus who taught us to pray by saying, “Our Father in the heavens….” He did not tell us to pray, "Our Friend in the heavens..." The Governing Body thinks we can have it both ways. We can be God's friend, but not his adopted children just like Abraham was, but still pray to God not as Abraham did, but as Christians ought, addressing him as Father.
Let’s call a spade a spade. Jesus Christ opened the way for us to be called children of God. Our Father is now calling us out of the nations to be his children. The Governing Body is telling us: “No, you cannot be God’s children. You can only aspire to be his friends.” Whose side are they on anyways?
Fighters Against God
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel.”” (Ge 3:15)
Since before the founding of the world, the battle lines have been drawn between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. Satan has sought to crush the seed at every chance he's gotten. He does whatever he can to stifle the ingathering of those making up the seed of the woman. This seed or offspring are the children of God, the ones through whom all creation is set free. (Ro 8:21)
Any effort made against the gathering of these ones will fail. By encouraging millions to reject the call to become children of God, the Governing Body is serving Satan's purpose, not Jehovah's. This makes them into fighters against God. Given that they have had ample opportunity to correct this abominable Rutherford doctrine over the past 80 years and have failed to do so, can any other conclusion be possible?
You may still have doubts, so strong is the power of decades of indoctrination. Therefore, I invite you to read the scriptures that speak to the children of God:
“You well know that we kept exhorting and consoling you and bearing witness to each one of you, just as a father does his children, 12 so that you would go on walking worthily of God, who is calling you to his Kingdom and glory.” (1Th 2:11, 12)
“As obedient children, stop being molded by the desires you formerly had in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all your conduct, 16 for it is written: “You must be holy, because I am holy.”” (1Pe 1:14-16)
“See what sort of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. That is why the world does not know us, because it has not come to know him.” (1Jo 3:1)
“Happy are the peaceable, since they will be called ‘sons of God.’” (Mt 5:9)
“Caʹia·phas, who was high priest that year, said to them: “YOU do not know anything at all, 50 and YOU do not reason out that it is to YOUR benefit for one man to die in behalf of the people and not for the whole nation to be destroyed.” 51 This, though, he did not say of his own originality; but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was destined to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that the children of God who are scattered about he might also gather together in one.” (Joh 11:49-52)
“For the eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Ro 8:19-21)
“That is, the children in the flesh are not really the children of God, but the children by the promise are counted as the seed.” (Ro 9:8)
“YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus.” (Ga 3:26)
“Keep doing all things free from murmurings and arguments, 15 that YOU may come to be blameless and innocent, children of God without a blemish in among a crooked and twisted generation, among whom YOU are shining as illuminators in the world, 16 keeping a tight grip on the word of life, that I may have cause for exultation in Christ’s day. . .” (Php 2:14-16)
“See what sort of love the Father has given us, so that we should be called children of God; and such we are. That is why the world does not have a knowledge of us, because it has not come to know him. 2 Beloved ones, now we are children of God, but as yet it has not been made manifest what we shall be.” (1Jo 3:1, 2)
“The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not carry on righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother.” (1Jo 3:10)
“By this we gain the knowledge that we are loving the children of God, when we are loving God and doing his commandments.” (1Jo 5:2)
The words of men—the words written in this week’s study—may seem convincing on their own. However, the verses you’ve just read are the words of God. They have power and are backed up by the assurance that God, who cannot lie, has made you a promise. (Titus 1:2) The question is, Who are you going to believe?
At some point for each of us, it stops being about the Governing Body and starts to be about our personal determination.
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Comment by Maria on 2016-04-07 09:02:30
Just like separating the wheats from the weeds. Only 2 choices. There is no rye, corn or something else.
Menrov: I tried the 1 John 3:10, with the only 2 choices, the brother looked at me and said, well so what.
Another day and maybe another chance to rip that veil, I hope.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-07 11:56:27
I've encountered similar reactions, Willy. The Witnesses talk about being in the truth, but the fact is the majority don't appear to love the truth. When presented with the truth, most seem to go into an immediate state of denial.
Comment by Dajo on 2016-04-06 20:36:15
Jesus identifies his brothers - Mark 3:34,35 Matt 12:50.
These then would be Jesus brothers so his fathers sons...
We are God's sons then.
Puts a whole new slant on the parable of the sheep and goats.
If we are God's sons because of Jesus saying we are his brothers, then we should also
partake.
We cannot be the "other sheep" helping a few annointed because in that parable they don't know
who the annointed are ...Reply by katrina on 2016-04-07 06:44:49
2 Cor 6:17 "Therefore, come o," says the Lord. "come out of their midst and do not though was is unclean ; And I will welcome you. 18"And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Romans 8:14-17,29 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God…
Galatians 3:26 For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.Reply by Dajo on 2016-04-07 12:28:42
Hey Katrina!
Thank you for those very plain and truthfully encouraging words.
Comment by pquin7 on 2016-04-05 17:34:44
Just to let the you know the Hebrew text for Isa. 41:8 the last part where it is rendered my friend.” is incorrect The Hebrew does not say that. but says You, O Israel, are my servant, you, O Jacob, whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham who loved me.” the hebrew there is O'hav'i from the root word aw-hav meaning to have an affection. there are two hebrew words for friend one is (ray'-ah) the other is (may-ray'-ah) the same root word..raah that means companion, or friend. neither words are used here in the Hebrew text.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-05 18:05:05
Thanks pquin7. I found a similar disparity between the Hebrew text and the rendering in the NWT for Psalm 25:14 which is used in both studies. To me this is further evidence of doctrinal bias which is influencing the translation of the NWT.
I'll use your point and comment on that Psalm as well when doing next week's review. I appreciate the insight.
MeletiReply by pquin7 on 2016-04-06 12:27:29
Thanks Meleti, also they use the same term close friendship in Proverbs 3:32 when it should be secret counsel, or intimacy from the Hebrew word So'd. which carries the idea of confidential conversation or secret, or intimacy. although i did notice that the ESV uses friendship Psalm 25:14 but does put a footnote that says: The secret counsel.
Comment by Joshua on 2016-04-05 18:18:13
(I have put "friend" in caps for emphasis.)
Joh_11:11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, "Our FRIEND Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep."
Joh_15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his FRIENDS.
Joh_15:14 "You are My FRIENDS if you do what I command you.
Joh_15:15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you FRIENDS, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Christ's disciples are his friends.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-05 19:16:40
Thanks Joshua, but I'm not sure what point you are trying to make.
Reply by Joshua on 2016-04-05 20:18:56
Hi Meleti,
If we are a friend of Christ we are also friends with God. In their ignorance the Governing Body is, in effect, declaring all Witnesses sons of God by virtue of being friends with God and Christ.
If we are friends with God then we are also friends with Christ and as such his direct disciples.
Comment by pquin7 on 2016-04-05 18:32:15
And even the text of James 2:23 the Greek there the word is philos I do understand the Bible, however, speaks of love in two ways. There is the family and friend type of love, but Technically the verse there can be rendered And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called "he who loves God. since he was quoting from the Hebrew bible.
Reply by pquin7 on 2016-04-06 12:36:54
What i do find interesting when you do a word study on this Greek word Philos one of its meaning is someone dearly loved (prized) in a personal, intimate way; and that philos denotes a GENERAL type of love. so based on this info the greek technically can Coincide with the Hebrew of Isa. 41:8.
Comment by Yehorakam on 2016-04-05 18:58:55
Hi Meleti. I'm sitting at my desk at work and can only spare 15 minutes for a short comment over my break and therefore keep a clean conscience...and keep my job. Haha.
I can understand your indignation with the total absence of an invitation to be God's children, especially because that is the first, best and most important invitation, and it's still open! But, one thing to remember is that one specific word is not always what determines a doctrine. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it isn't. In this context, we are comparing "friend" of God vs. "child" of God. Two words. One that indicates a position, another a relationship that is conditional. In our world, you could be called so and so's "son", but it doesn't mean you are loved, liked or in a friendship. Not with God and Christ. You cannot be their children if you are not their friends, because the adoptioon to be a "child" is not an automatic, but rather intrinsicly based on our friendship with God and Christ. Think, what intiates and adoption? It's an interest the adult has in a child that is not yet his. Something attacts him. He's under no obligation to adopt, for the child is not his. Yet, he choses to declare that child as his. Why? What normally comes first? Would God or Christ invite someone to be an adopted "child" if there wasn't an exisitng "friend"ship? In almost all cases, the servant of God enjoys a friendship with God, and then at some point in time later, God or Christ bestow upon him an adoption. Part of the sacred secret is regarding who will be identified as children of God, something which the angels are waiting anxiously to know. What a joyous occasion in heaven when God or Christ identify someone before the host of angels as now being adopted. For myself, I encourage all who I speak with to concentrate on strenthening and holding dear their "friendship" with God and Christ, and to press forward towards life in heaven while waiting upon their adoption as sons and daughters. They will know when they are adopted. Christ does not leave that unclear. Perhaps, it wouldn't be wrong to say that all who are TRULY God and Christ's friends, will eventually end up being adopted as his children.
As regards the adoption as sons, before Christ came to earth, I believe Jehovah had been doing the adopting. Abraham and many other faithful ones were not only friends, but heirs with reference to a promise, part of the "seed." The first part of the earthly seed started with Abel, not with the first Christian anointed at Pentecost. In a previous comment, I brought out biblical references that the choosing to be sons started long before Christ, "from the founding of the world." Just think Meleti, you used 1 John 3 to show who the "children" of God are. Don't forget the CONTEXT. Yes, the context is identifying Abel as a "child" of God. That concurs with Hebrews 11:4 when it mentions Abel and then later on in vs. 13-16, it shows that he and others declared themselves temporary residents on earth and had the heavenly hope.
I feel that the difference is that after Christ came to the earth, died and was appointed high priest, he was given all authority, which included the authority to do the choosing. I have found verses in the Christian scriptures that say Jehovah chooses and that Christ chooses. I believe there is no inconsistency. Jehovah did the choosing before there was a mediator and undefiled high priest, the principal one of the "seed." But once Christ arrived and was appointed over all things heavenly and earthly, he has been doing the choosing.
In the end, true "friends" of God and Christ have the possibility of being adopted by them. Christ is doing the adopting now. He will let those of his children know they are his friends and have been adopted as children. They will not remain his sons and daughters if they do not remain his friends. "Friend" or "son/daughter." Both extremely important. Too bad the GB only encourages friendship with no hope of being adopted as a child. Well spoken Meleti.
Much love,Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-05 19:31:34
We are of one mind on this, Yehorakam. I believe as well that such ones as Abraham, Abel, and others will also be part of the Kingdom of God since there are Scriptures that lead us to that conclusion. While not referred to as adopted sons in the Hebrew Scriptures, the held to the hope of a "better resurrection" which the Messiah made possible. So they can be adopted retroactively by virtue of the blood offering of the Christ. Of course, while adoption is a legal process, Jehovah does nothing that is not motivated by love since He is love. It follows then that those who love him as friends or children or both are loved by him and so the adoption follows. I believe that all humans will eventually be adopted back into God's family when the reconciliation of mankind is complete.
Of course, in this article I was not disparaging the relationship of friendship, be it with God, Christ, or each other for that matter. But to avoid getting off on tangents, I was focusing on the agenda the Organization has to divert our attention away from the calling to be children of God, so that we are content to stop at friendship. The distinction between friendship and sonship (if I can coin a term) is that the former does not include the provision for inheritance. As sons, --whether we speak of anointed Christians, or redeemed humans at the end of Christ's reign--we inherit that which the Father possesses: everlasting life.
I should add that I very much enjoy your insightful comments. Please continue as they benefit us all.
Reply by 1984 on 2016-04-05 22:10:05
Yerohakam, I have to agree with you on the distinction between position and relationship. My dad was a loathsome man, an alcoholic, atheist, aggressive and very abusive. I avoided him like the plague when I was growing up and I have nothing to do with him now. We haven't spoken for 12 years and that suits me. I'm not angry with him any more, I just don't like him. While I acknowledge he is my "father" technically, there was never any love there so I consider that he has vetoed any rights he might have in that position, because he never fulfilled his role as father, quite the opposite in fact.
With my own sons, I shower them with love and I often emphasise that we must be friends also. So while I often have to step in in my capacity as a father and wield that authority (in a loving way of course) I more often appeal to them as a friend, especially in high school school as I have to compete with the influence of their peers and try to help them make good choices. Of course, the friendship they share with me will be different from any other friendship they ever have, it is a special and unique bond.
But I take your point Meleti, and it is well made. Actually I do agree with you, and your analyses of this subject in recent years has helped me to appreciate this point of being God's children better, it is something that I have perhaps overlooked or approached from the wrong angle. I think one of the issues for me is that I have always struggled to identify with Jehovah as my "father" because of my relationship with my own dad. I still struggle with it today. The concept of a loving father is not one I grew up with, and I have had to contend instead with my experience of having an extremely abusive father. So I have often tried to connect with Jehovah as a friend, albeit a far superior one, definitely not as equals. I guess using the term "friendship" helps me to feel the affection which I never had from my dad.
I should say also that my conviction that there is a God is based on other things, mostly creation. My love for the bible, while I read and enjoy the whole thing, is based mostly of the person of Christ. In the absence of a good role model and good direction growing up, I try to model myself on Christ as much as possibly (and fail miserably most of the time!) I believe love is the answer to everything.
Comment by Menrov on 2016-04-06 09:00:59
I like this verse: The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not carry on righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother.” (1Jo 3:10)
So, if someone is not considered a child of God then what is the alternative according to this verse? I believe such verse can make people start to think
The other related challenge I see when discussing this doctrine, is that most JW's link this with the so-called heavenly hope. And they say: "I do not have that hope, I do not feel that". As such, their conclusion is that they are not a child of God. They do not see that there is no in-between relationship. It is either a father-child relation with God or a father-child relation with the Devil. You are either a sheep or a goat. It is light or dark. If one is not with Me, he is against ME. You cannot worship God AND Richness. It is always THIS or THAT. 2 opposite options.
I agree that one can have no only a Father-child relation but can also have a friendship relation. There are daughters that see their mother not only as their mother but as their friend as well.
In relation to the bible, I believe it is a bit different. The relationship God-Child is based on love. I do not see that one can have a friendship relation with God and not a Father-Child relationship. In my view, I do not see you can have one without the other. Because it is based on LOVE. God loved the world / us and acted accordingly. (1 Joh. 4:9, Joh. 3:16)
It is true that none of the characters in the Hebrew scriptures / Old Testament seem to have addressed his God as Father. It could be that the Jews did see YHWH more as their God (leader of Authority) than as their Father (relation of love). One could say that the Law further created a distance between God and His people as the Law was considered as a set of rules. I guess it is good to take into consideration that overall the Jews did not always have a proper / correct view of their God. So often they (Jews) followed a path away from their God instead of a path that would bring them closer. A son would not easily leave his father unless that father would do something really bad against the son. I have never read that God did anything that would justify the Jews to see/accept YHWH no longer as their father. It was always the other way around and very often God made a plea for the Jews to return to Him and He would accept them: Isa 44:22 I remove the guilt of your rebellious deeds as if they were a cloud, the guilt of your sins as if they were a cloud. Come back to me, for I protect you.” This sounds more like a father speaking than a master (although the context shows a master - servant relation). But in various other verses you can read same type of plea or invitation. They sound very much like a father is telling his bad-behaving son to please return so the father can help him. A master would not do that.
My point: God has a relation with this creation based on love (God is Love). The Jews did not appreciate that relationship and considered YHWH more as their Master, a God of Authority a Law giver. But many times hat authority was not respected and they followed their own path, trespassing His Laws. They (as a people) got as far as even supporting the killing of Jesus. So, after that, the situation was changed. In the sense that God did not consider His creation automatically as His sons but now they needed to show that they wanted to be His son / Him to be their Father. How? By showing faith in HIs Son. Believe His Son. Accept His Son. Listen to HIs Son.
So, when Jesus suggested to pray as recorded in Matt. 6, I see tis as He was inviting the Jews again (as He came to the lost sheep) to see God as their Father. In such a relation, you would see Jesus as your brother and you would accept Him and not kill him (unless they are like Cain).
The WBTS is creating two worlds with their FRIEND doctrine. The so-called anointed are the ones living in a post-ransom era whereas al others are stil living in a pre-ransom era. Or in simple words, the other sheep are made synonym for the Jewish people who saw their creator as a God of Authority and a Law giver. Not as a Father.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-06 12:53:03
You make an excellent point, Menrov. While often with human fathers there is no friendship and there are many cases where children hate their father for his bad conduct, that is never the case with Jehovah. His relationship with all his children is based on love, so being his intimate friend goes hand in hand with being his son or daughter. In fact, I find that--in English at least--friend is too weak of a word to describe the type of love that God has for us and that we should have for him as his children. There are friends who have intense love for one another such as Jonathan and David and whose love surpasses common family relationships. (Pr 18:24) I think that the problem is a lack of terms that can properly describe the special relationship we are to have with our heavenly Father. "Friend" has too broad an application, describing relationships from the casual to that of BFF. Child likewise is colored by the human relationships, so it can bring to mind ideal familial relationships, or conjure up horrific images, such as 1984 describes here.
Time for some "Brave New English" word creation. :)Reply by Maria on 2016-04-06 14:21:14
Meleti :
In Dutch you can be "bosom friends " with some one. John 1:18 speaks about Jesus in the bosom position with his Father. So bosom friends or bosom children. ?Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-06 15:02:26
Bosom buddies! I like it. Not sure it will fly though. :)
Wasn't it Crocodile Dundee who said, "Me and God. We be mates."?Reply by Maria on 2016-04-06 15:48:27
John his head was at Jesus bosom during the Passover meal. John was a very loved discipel. You can have a lot of buddies , but one bosom friend, a very special one.
Comment by sackcloth on 2016-04-06 14:59:22
Jesus always spoke of God as “Father”. If we are brothers (sisters) in Christ, it seems appropriate to call God, Father; at least for now. He is the Almighty, our Rock. 1 Sam 2:2; Deut 7:21; Ps 111:3
As usual, the WT vacillates in its teachings. I had remembered this article - “Do You View Jehovah as Your Father?” WT ‘10/2/15, that exemplifies having a close relationship with our “Father”. I don’t believe the GB knows how to call a spade a spade but only uses devious tactics to confuse the sheep. Their reasoning in their latest article not only confuses the anointed ones, but all God’s children.
To throw in another thought, we have Isa 9:6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
It seems appropriate to consider why Jesus would be called Everlasting Father. Christ and the chosen Bride produce children; if Christ becomes father to all mankind (in a sense), God would be the greater Father to all.
There is reference in the Hebrew Scriptures concerning God as our Father – rather discreet, but noteworthy:
Mal 1:6,7 - “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ “By saying that the Lord ’s Table is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.
I can’t help but correlate this to the GB (anointed priests) shutting out the Kingdom to all through deceptive teachings. “Try offering them to your governor!” Could this be a reference to Jesus’ “government”? Just speculating.
Our spiritual relationships with “fathers” have been crushed by the organization. It appears each us of are in the restoration process, repairing, renewing them now with truth. Jude 1:17-19
With God – Mal 1:6; Luke 1:16; Mal 4:6; Ezek 14:5,6; Col 1:20; Matt 17:11
With Christ – Isa 9:6; John 14:15; Eph 6:1-3; Gal 4:28
As well as those among the anointed and extending to all – 1 Cor 4:15; 1 John 2:1; 1 Thess 2:11; 2 John 1:4
Does Satan know what is imminent, what is becoming more vivid in our spiritual perceptions as to the need of connecting wholly with our Father and Christ? Is he using the GB and the organization as tool to slow down this restoration of our spiritual relationships? We know he is fully aware of the awakening process that is rapidly increasing. It's like you said, Meleti, the GB is serving Satan’s purpose, not God’s. Luke 1:16; Zech 5:3; Isa 61:1-4Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-04-06 15:09:58
Well said, Sackcloth. I've also wondered about the relevance of Isa 9:6. Adam was to be our father, the father of all humankind. Jesus, the last Adam became a life-giving spirit, so that he could transfer humankind from the moribund family of Adam into his eternal family. Humankind will therefore inherit what their new father, the last Adam, possesses, which is everlasting life. Jehovah will still remain the father of all, just as he would have if Adam hadn't sinned. Jesus, as the man who gave up his human life to redeem all humans, becomes the equivalent to the human father Adam, while Jehovah continues as the Father of all. (1Co 15:45)
Comment by Dajo on 2016-04-07 12:01:38
Thanks for fixing those 2 scripture links to make them open properly.
The last sentence is a thought I am still trying to grasp. I might not be correct on that one.
Prayerful consideration is ongoing.
Comment by Imitate Jehovah’s Close Friends | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2016-04-11 17:50:55
[…] What about Isaiah 41:8? Last week, pquin7 shared an interesting observation. […]
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Comment by Alberto on 2020-06-19 10:11:12
En internet uno encuentra paginas con propósitos definidos e ideas sinceras, sin motivaciones escondidas. Pero muchas otras carecen de esto. Parten con títulos como este REVISORES DE JW.ORG. Se parece mucho a lo que hacían Empresas chinas, coreanas. Si una marca establecida de un producto es SEIKO...ellos sacaban una con nombre ASEIKO, ASEIKON. Eso llevaba a cierto tipo de engaño. Como una conocida marca de enlatados usa la frase JUREL TIPO SALMÓN.
En lo religioso la sabiduría practica nos enseña que hay que ser cuidadoso.¿A donde están conduciendo a los lectores? ¿Es esta la verdad?¿Cual es el objetivo? ¿Una nueva religión? ¿Es eso lo que desea Dios?
No creo que tenga en mente decir: busca tu verdad. Como si Dios o Jehova no pide estar organizados para adorarle sino que cada uno siga solo, individualmente.
Por otro lado en mis largos años he visto que aquellos exTJ que critican, salieron no por razones de falsedades sino por otras menos teocraticas. Son como ese jugador de futbol que es expulsado del partido por juego ilícito y luego dice...el juez me echo por prejuicio, por molestarme.
Paginas, personas como esta van y vienen...y eso es todoReply by Meleti Vivlon on 2020-06-22 10:31:18
Con toda modestia, diría que mi experiencia personal con la comunidad exTJ y por qué se van si es mucho mayor que la tuya, ¿o recibes correos electrónicos, mensajes de texto y comentarios todos los días por miles? En mi experiencia, se van por una de tres razones.
1) Han sido abusados emocionalmente y con frecuencia físicamente y cuando denunciaron el abuso, fue encubierto o, a veces, exacerbado por el abuso de los mismos asignados para pastorear el rebaño de Dios.
2) Se han horrorizado por la gran hipocresía al enterarse de una membresía de 10 años en las Naciones Unidas y / o el encubrimiento global y sistemático de delitos (abuso infantil, abuso de ancianos, abuso conyugal) por parte de la Organización.
3) Aprendieron que las enseñanzas exclusivas de los Testigos no son bíblicas y su amor por la verdad los llevó a buscarla en otra parte.
Sé que probablemente escribiste lo que escribiste por la necesidad de defender el status quo que te brinda comodidad y un propósito en la vida, pero es una farsa y resultará en tu eventual desilusión y pérdida si no te levantas La realidad de la situación.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
In all modesty, I would say that my personal experience with the exJW community and with why they leave if far greater than yours, or do you get emails, texts, and comments every day numbering in the thousands? In my experience, they leave for one of three reasons.
1) They have been emotionally and often physically abused and when they reported the abuse, it was covered up, or at times exacerbated by further abuse from the very ones assigned to shepherd God's flock.
2) They have been appalled by the gross hypocrisy at learning of a 10-year membership with the United Nations and/or the global and systematic coverup of crimes (child abuse, elder abuse, spousal abuse) by the Organization.
3) They learned that the teachings unique to Witnesses are unscriptural and their love of truth drove them to seek it elsewhere.
I know that you probably wrote what you wrote out of a need to defend the status quo that give you comfort and a purpose in life, but it is a sham and will result in your eventual disillusionment and loss if you don't wake up to the reality of the situation.