As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude

When we seem to receive everything why are we not much more showing gratitude to that One Who provides?

Not many people today are seeing that it is the Great God Who gives us everything we need for life. Not much seems to have changed by the years. Like we can find godliness in His Book of books, though it may be a Best-seller, not many people are following all the advice which is given in it.

In that ancient writing we are given words which should be precious and should be burned in the hearts of many.

Our hearts should be be comforted (+) and all that say they love Jesus should be harmoniously joined together in love (+). We that call ourselves Christians should be true followers of Christ Jesus, accepting that what he, Jeshua, Jesus from Nazareth says, but also should accept what his heavenly Father, the God of Jesus, says, Who is also the God of Abraham. In our faith in Jesus accepting him to be the son of God, and not making him a god son, we may have all the riches that result from the full assurance of our understanding, in order to gain an accurate knowledge of the sacred secret of God, namely, Christ.(+)

It is true that for many it still may not be clear and that even a lot of Christians do not believe a man could keep to God’s commandments. Though all that call themselves Christians should know that carefully concealed in this Nazarene man, Jesus, are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. (+)

The apostle Paul said this already some two thousand years ago so that no one may delude the first nor the later Christians with persuasive arguments. Having accepted Christ Jesus the Lord, we should go on walking in union with him, being rooted and built up in him (+) and being stabilized in the faith, (+ ) just as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving. (+)

It is in Jesus that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily. (+) and by means of him we have acquired a fullness and can receive so many more blessings already in this life. Though we should know that our baptism is not a stop in our way to search. We continuously have to go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (+) Though there may be many things to get our minds from Scripture and to distract us from the real Truth, we have to keep your minds fixed on the things above, (+) the more important things than worldly gain.

We see that the majority of this world is most interested to enlarge their gain and to provide themselves with a name so that others can look up to them. But we should not be bounded to this earth and to the gains of the earth. not on the things on the earth.

Black and white student clasping hands – Unity – Photo Frerieke

Several Christians do see in the union of Christ a proof for their three headed god, but forget that God as well as Jesus do ask us to become in the same union. Our life has should not be one of being on our own but be one of being in union with Christ like Jesus was and is in union with God. Being united with Jesus like he is united with God, does not make us Jesus nor will it make us God, but it will give us divine force of being stronger than the world.  When the Christ, our life, is made manifest, then we also will be made manifest with Jesus in glory.

3 If, however, You were raised up+ with the Christ, go on seeking the things above,+ where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God.+2 Keep Your minds fixed on the things above,+ not on the things upon the earth.+3 For You died,+ and Your life+ has been hidden with the Christ in union+ with God. 4 When the Christ, our life,+ is made manifest, then You also will be made manifest+ with him in glory.+ (Colossians 3: 1-4)

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians, highlights the superiority and supremacy of Christ in the first two chapters. Then, he teaches the believers how to live in Christ. He sums up a lot of things we do have to do. though in certain faith groups the believers do think we do not have to do anything any more because we are saved, Paul assures them they are mistaken and confirms what James said that faith without works is dead, and we should be alive in Christ doing the works of Christ.

12 Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones,+ holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion,+ kindness, lowliness of mind,*+ mildness,+ and long-suffering.+ 13 Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely+ if anyone has a cause for complaint+ against another. Even as Jehovah* freely forgave You,+ so do You also. 14 But, besides all these things, [clothe yourselves with] love,+ for it is a perfect bond+ of union.*

15 Also, let the peace+ of the Christ* control in Your hearts,+ for You were, in fact, called to it in one* body.+ And show yourselves thankful. 16 Let the word of the Christ* reside in You richly in all wisdom.+ Keep on teaching+ and admonishing one another with psalms,+ praises to God,* spiritual songs+ with graciousness, singing in Your hearts to Jehovah.*+17 And whatever it is that You do in word or in work,+ do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,+ thanking+ God the Father through him. (Colossians 3: 12-17)

We should have the words of Christ dwell in us richly. We should accept what Jesus tells about himself and about his heavenly Father and should not fabricate other ideas to confirm with the worldly thinking of the many gods and idols. We should honour the words of Christ and be willing to accept what he tells about his Father and what the Father tells about him.

Not keeping to human traditions and not adhering to human doctrines we should follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and whatever we do, in word or deed, we have to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. With these words of Christ we should let others know those words and show them the way Jesus showed to his disciples. By the servant of the heavenly Father we are liberated from the chains of this world. As we were slaves of the world enjoying all the temptations we now should know better and look further than our nose and look for a better future. Though we should know that we can not do differently than living in this world at the moment, we should make the best out of it, but by keeping to God’s commandments, doing Jesus and doing God His Will, like Jesus did not his will but the Will of God.

Being a good Christian we should, like Jesus asked, give the Caesar what the Caesar wants, being obedient in everything to those who are your human fleshly masters, (+) not only when they are watching, just to please men, but with sincerity of heart, with fear of Jehovah. We as Christ’s slaves should be doing the will of God whole-souled, loving Jehovah our Only One God with our whole heart and with our whole soul (*) and with our whole strength and with our whole mind. (Ephesians 6:5, 6)

* 23 Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled* as for Jehovah,*+ and not for men, 24 for you know that it is from Jehovah* you will receive the inheritance as a reward.+ Slave for the Master, Christ. 25 Certainly the one who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong he has done,+ and there is no partiality.+ (Colossians 3: 23-25)

At all moments we should be thankful for what Jesus has done for mankind and praise God in His sanctuary, in the firmament of His power, showing our gratitude for Him willing to accept the ransom Jesus offered Him.

To praise God we can use the many Psalms God has provide us by his servant King David. God His other servant, Jeshjua, Jesus Christ showed us the way to his Father in heaven. Jesus also prayed to this God of Abraham in Whom he had put his faith and in Whom we also should put our faith. Jesus was fully penetrated by the Words of God and we should come one with God like Jesus is one with God.

21 so that they may all be one,+ just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you,+ that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:21)

Everything what Jesus has done, was in accordance not to Jesus his will but along the lines and wishes of his heavenly Father, The Only One True God Who is One. For Jesus the Words of his Father sounded like music in his ears. All the words God said, should also resound as music in our ears.

As James Faris in Christian Living writes:

God has given us the whole Scriptures for our aid. But, God created the human heart to respond in special ways to his word set to music. In song, the word of God penetrates the soul. In song, we experience union with Christ. In the throes of life – the crisis moments – it is words set to music that first come to mind. In those moments, we can’t always run to the desktop, but we should have the smartphone of soul embedded in our hearts.

Apple used to use that catchy phrase “there’s an app for that.” Need to send flowers to mom? there’s an app for that. Need to know the name of the constellation of stars in the sky overhead? There’s an app for that. Need supper? There’s an app for that.

Well, whatever your circumstance of life, there’s a Psalm for that:

• Contemplating origins? Think Psalm 33.
• Considering the consummation of the age? Think Psalm 149.
• Rising from bed? Think Psalm 5.
• Going to bed? Think Psalm 4.
• Awake at night? Think Psalm 63.
• Ready to eat? Think Psalm 145.
• Thirsty? Think Psalm 42.
• Going to work? Think Psalm 104.
• Celebrating the Lord’s Day? Think Psalm 122.
• Checking your genealogy? Think Psalm 16.
• Your beginning? Think Psalm 139.
• Your birth? Think Psalm 71.
• Celebrating a birthday? Think Psalm 104.
• Enjoying childhood? Think Psalm 34.
• Need motivation to study well? Think Psalm 111.
• Gazing at the stars? Think Psalm 19.
• Maturing as a youth? Think Psalm 119.
• Ready to pop the question? Think Psalm 45.
• Bringing children into the world? Think Psalm 128.
• Questions about parenting? Think Psalm 103.
• Playing with your grandchildren? Think Psalm 71.
• Harvest time here? Think Psalm 65.
• Seasons changing around you? Think Psalm 147.
• Traveling? Think Psalm 121.
• On the water? Think Psalm 107.
• Remembering history? Think Psalm 78.
• Talking with your financial planner? Think Psalm 49.
• Tempted by the world? Think Psalm 73.
• Disappointed by life? Think Psalm 77.
• Weeping over your sins? Think Psalm 51.
• Engaged in evangelism? Think Psalm 96.
• Overcome by fear? Think Psalm 91.
• Angered by the wickedness of men? Think Psalm 94.
• Disappointed by civic elections? Think Psalm 2.
• Rejoicing in the incarnation? Think Psalm 113.
• Prone to worry? Think Psalm 130.
• Growing old? Think Psalm 92.
• Butchering or preparing meat? Think Psalm 8.
• Going to war? Think Psalm 18.
• In the process of dying? Think Psalm 6.
• Mourning the death of a loved one? Think Psalm 116.
• Anticipating eternity? Think Psalm 73.

Of course, you can add other life experiences to the list. Why is the Psalter the smartphone of the soul? Rowland Prothero notes:

“The Book of Psalms contains the whole music of the heart of man, swept by the hand of his Maker. In it are gathered the lyrical burst of his tenderness, the moan of his penance, the pathos of his sorrow, the triumph of his victory, the despair of his defeat, the firmness of his confidence, the rapture of his assured hope. In it is presented the anatomy of all parts of the human soul. In it, as Heine says, are collected ‘sunrise and sunset, birth and death, promise and fulfillment – the whole drama of humanity.’”

Thus, we carry the Psalms in our mental pockets daily. Our minds race here to check for truths, to hear from God, and see our decisions and emotions governed when we cannot access the rest of Scripture. This has been my experience of life…from birthdays, to emergency room visits, to maternity wards, to the graveside, and beyond.

Smartphones are great, but they only go so far. They may reveal where you are in a building, but they cannot reveal what is in your building. They may map the stars in the sky, but they cannot unite you to the maker of the stars. They may point you to bread on earth, but they cannot feed you bread from heaven. The Psalms do all of these things and more. Phone programs fail, contracts expire, and phones are dropped in toilets. The Psalms hidden in the heart will never fail you. They will cause the peace of Christ to rule in your heart. They will order your life. But the Psalms only function this way in the hearts of those who own them. {The Psalter: Smartphone of the Soul (revisited)}

We shall praise God for His creation and all the wonder-works He did but also to show our thankfulness for accepting the ransom offer Jesus brought for us all. We shall bring praise to God because He has verified His promise to bless all those who wait upon Him in faith and sincerity. Even we do know that we or those who come behind us shall have to face an other terrible war, we can see the signs of the end coming near.

Bringing praise to God let us step in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and let us share our blessings with others by taking to as many
as possible who are truth hungry the “sincere milk of the Word,” and the “meat in due season” from His storehouse.

Praise God from whom all bless is honour to his beloved Son!

+

Preceding articles:

Be vigilant with a view to prayers

Psalm 150 Praise Jah, You people!

Psalm 150 Praise Jah! Praise God

+++

Related articles

• Culture Change by the Apostle Paul (bpardekooper.wordpress.com)
  The Apostle Paul was a dynamic leader as a founder of Christianity and the church of Jesus Christ. As a Jew, Paul was keenly aware of the culture of the Jewish people and their customs, but recognized growth was necessary for his people to follow Jesus the Christ. Paul’s central message throughout his ministry focused on a simple concept: to become like Jesus Christ and live a life in accordance with his teachings and example. (I Co. 11:1, Ep. 5:1, 4:22-24, Ga. 3.27, Ro. 8:29) In establishing Christianity, Paul was on a journey to change the culture of the Jewish people to embrace a new reality given to them by Jesus.
• A New Past, Present and Future in Jesus (revolutionarypaideia.com)
  We enter into this blood-bought Grace Covenant with Jesus when we receive the Salvation He has made available to everyone.
  +
  Jesus expects for you to no longer live a life where you’re sin-conscious: “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins” (Hebrews 10:2). When you’re constantly worried about sin threatening your position of righteousness in Christ Jesus, this sin-consciousness causes you to receive bondage and fear—this bondage and fear is not a part of your reborn spirit in Christ Jesus,
• Real Truth Will Set You Free (mylordmyfriend.com)
  Teaching that takes away from Christ teachings or demotes Christ Jesus from His central place place with The Father, is dangerous to the Christian message.
• Hugh’s News & Views (Preaching Jesus) (fellowshiproom.org)
  Jesus was always available to those who were in need and that He is still accessible today [Hebrews 4:15-16]).
  +
  Jesus instructed the apostles to teach those they baptized “to observe all things whatever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). The early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). If I likewise instruct people to observe all that Christ commanded and to continue faithfully in the doctrine of Christ’s apostles, am I not, in reality, preaching Jesus?
• 2015 Fasting Devotion, Day Twenty-One (stacylynnallen.com)
  In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever.
• Attitude is Everything (faithandfootsteps.wordpress.com)
  We carry around with us the knowledge of this great gospel of Jesus Christ, so we should respond to life’s circumstances as he would.  Sounds pretty hard to do considering that Jesus responded perfectly to all that life threw at him.
• Accidental Discipleship (defendingcontending.com)
  It’s what the flesh wants and it’s a shortcut that will lead to disappointment or destruction. Knowing Jesus is the correct goal. In Him we are complete (Colossians 2:10). Whatever change is truly needed in our lives will be wrought by the Spirit of God if we abandon our plans for self-justification and pursue Christ. Not improvement, not change for the better, not relief from our pain; just Jesus.
• Sunday, 22 February 2015 : First Sunday of Lent, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle (Second Reading) (petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com)
  baptism is not a matter of physical cleansing but of asking God to reconcile us through the resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Belonging to or being judged by

What to be and where to belong

Many Christians may have lots of questions about why we are created so and so, what we do have to do, how we have to behave and form our selves.  Jehovah’s Witnesses also can become confronted with such questions which can bring them into many doubts. They also can become frustrated.

Jehovah’s witnesses from door to door (Photo credit: ideacreamanuelaPps)

Strangely in our world today we may find people who are excluded by the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW), but who are still feeling 100% pro-Jehovah’s Witnesses. This despite the fact that the organisation has removed them from the congregation, and despite the believer his or her belief that the organisation happens to be in error for doing so!

What we do find strange by many ex-Jehovah Witnesses is that they either go totally against the Faith in One God or that they go totally against the non-trinitarian idea and go to an other organisational church. Many of them keep thinking you need A Organisation, others came to come to see clear and do find it is not as such the church of men but the church of God they have to look for.

Witnesses for Jehovah

A few believe that there is no other religious organization on earth today that is so completely committed to doing the work Jesus asked of his followers, and following in his footsteps, worshipping the God of the Bible, in the way that he prescribes, doing their utmost to be continually teaching and living by the truth of his word, and not simply the often-vacillating moral and secular opinions of men. They stay blinded that there are no other serious Bible Students who try to do the task Jesus had ordered his followers to do. This mainly because they limit their idea about preaching to having to go on the streets and to knock at the door or ringing the bell.

We do agree that the Jehovah Witnesses organisation is a powerful organisation, very well structured, and because having enough money and interested people, able to bring the tasks together, organise editions and meetings, much better than many others. They have very beautiful good publications to help people willing to learn about the Word and Work of Jehovah God. Though sometimes they seem to forget that it is “God’s word is alive, and exerts power,” (Hebrews 4:12) and that it is God’s Hand which hovers over the world bringing all sorts of people active in the Word of God. The Jehovah Witnesses  and the excluded ones who still hope to be part of the Jehovah Witnesses (JW) overlook that there are also other witnesses for Jehovah active in the whole world. We consider ourselves some of them.

When all in union or being united

The congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses mistakenly consider them as the only people who are truly united by their religion “in the same mind and in the same line of thought” as Jesus Christ, not just locally, but everywhere around the globe. The JW rightly consider that if all people on earth were Jehovah’s Witnesses, there would be no wars, no violent conflicts. But we also could say in case all Christians would follow the teachings of the one they say they take as their master, than also there would be already less fighting and less problems in the world. In case all people would be real Christians, and not just name Christians, really following the commandments of God, than also there would be no wars, no violent conflicts. The same simply cannot be said of the myriad of other religions on earth today, because there are so many divisions and many having non-Scriptural teachings. Taryn Viv having been a JW, and still feeling like one, seems to know one of the problems of the people in the organisation. She writes:

To their credit, Jehovah’s Witnesses are sincerely diligent when it comes to applying Bible counsel to themselves, and to the congregation. Faithfully doing so has proven to have tremendously positive results, which only makes sense. If the Bible really is, as it claims, the word of our creator, his wisdom certainly must surpass ours, and as it is summed up at Isaiah 48:17, “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself.”

Fallible or infallible organisation

Diagram Representing Organisational Structure of Jehovah’s Witnesses (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to us some Witnesses give the impression their organisation is infallible and only brings the Words of God. They have given the Watchtower and tract Society (Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania + Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York + Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses) with their so called ‘Faithful Slave’ the same position as many Christians do give the Pope of the Vatican. It is that Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses based in Brooklyn, New York which is the ruling council of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They may formulate the policy and doctrines everybody has to follow. Strangely enough the members of the Governing Body say they are followers of Christ rather than religious leaders, but take the position of dictatorial leaders, whose rules and ideas everybody has to follow.
When the Society’s second president, J.F. Rutherford, encountered opposition from directors in 1917, he dismissed them; in 1925 he overruled the Watch Tower Society’s editorial committee — selected by Charles Taze Russell to have editorial control of The Watch Tower after his death—when it opposed publication of an article that altered doctrines on Bible chronology related to 1914. In 1931, the editorial committee was dissolved and until January 1976, the president of the Governing Body exercised complete control of doctrines, publications and activity of the Watch Tower Society and the religious denominations with which it was connected — some of the Bible Students Movment and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The ones to tell what is right or wrong

Though not one man is infallible and knows everything. Even Jesus did not know when he would return to the earth. But the organisation claims that they can tell all people what is right and wrong, and that they are the only ones who can bring people to God. For sure they will help a lot of people to find the Only One God and to come to see the difference between the man made gods and the Only One God, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah. We should know that we as human beings have all our limitations and cannot expect perfection of one another in this system of things, nor can we expect it of the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor those appointed to positions of responsibility, in spite of the tremendous good that Jehovah clearly is using the JW, Bible Students, Christadelphians and other non-trinitarian Christians who freely  and sincerely, contribute to the work of God.

Transgender – Being and feeling in a body

As a transgender woman for many, many years, the writer was quite frankly a bit shocked that, within weeks of her first surfacing the truth of her situation openly with a brother whom she considered a long-time friend, the congregation elders had decided this was a “judicial matter,” and scheduled a meeting to essentially determine whether she would be “repentant,” or would need to be removed from the congregation. Strangely enough you could wonder how it did happen they did not know earlier.
Such people with a gender problem, which we encounter much more today (also have a look at the articles on Stepping toes) are not only in trouble with their own situation, having to suffer from major depressive illness for some years and as a result having very little contact with their own family, do not have it always easy  to mix with others and to enjoy friendly contacts and group meetings in Christian groups.

Exclusion because of gender choice

Dr. Camille Cabral, a transgender activist at a demonstration for transgender people in Paris, October 1, 2005

Because Taryn Viv cannot, and will not dress and present herself as the “man” she had come to realize she never truly was in the first place, she has been removed from the congregation. This is somewhat shocking which we often have to hear about the JW, who exclude followers and have their family members and friends of the faith-group charged not to meet the excluded person any more.

When we do know that everybody is created in the likeness of God, and that we do bear the image of God, you may wonder if those who do not feel at ease in their body are really doing something against the Will of God ,when they let science help them to become the person they, in first instance feel to be?

For sure, those who would knowingly and wilfully practice such things that Jehovah condemns as seriously harmful, unloving and wrong, could not rightly still be considered a follower of Christ. Those who practice fornication, theft, murder, and do not regret what they have wrong, even when baptised, can not be any more be considered a person being part of the Body of Christ. We do agree that in many Christian denominations there are a lot of people who believe we do not have to work any more once we are ‘reborn’. They think once baptised that they would enter in heaven because they are saved by Christ. But Faith without works is death.

Looks, judging and counselling

In case people of the congregation see that there is something wrong they should bring this into discussion. Faithful brothers and sisters should be counselled then to avoid any association with such a person, even to the point of just sitting down to a meal with them, where others could see the association with that person. But we do not find it right that natural brothers and sisters and parents are not allowed to speak or associate with their brother or sister or child.

According to us they should be the first ones to bring the other to get to see what he or she did wrong, but than there have to have been something wrong. Therefore we as Christians should examine everything very careful and be attentive before we judge some one else. We also should be aware that by the ages many traditions came into our life as well as ideas how we should be or what would be accepted as normal or acceptable in our community.
For example the JW always like to go around in business suits and do not find it appropriate to wear casual clothing in service. Their way of dress is also not always conform the dress in the country they preach. As such, in West Europe everybody straight ahead recognises the JW because of their Americanised out of date dressing. But that has nothing to do with commandments of God, where no where in Scriptures is written that a dress for a girl has to have a length of so many centimetres beneath the knees or up to the ankles.

Exclusions of persons

Christians should be very careful with exclusions of persons from their community and should also try to do every effort to get the person back on the right track. They never may forget that the rules of exclusion are about someone who has not shown any repentance, remorse or regret for such serious wrongs, and that the purpose of such “disfellowshipping,” as Jehovah’s Witnesses call the practice is twofold.

• First, it may move the person to reconsider the seriousness of what they have been doing and to turn around, thereby restoring a good relationship, first and foremost, with Jehovah God, but also with their spiritual family, who are urged to “kindly forgive and comfort” them. (2 Corinthians 2:7)

• A second key reason is that, in the event they should remain unrepentant, “a little leaven ferments the whole lump.” (1 Corinthians 5:6)

Wisdom of scriptural admonition evident

The writer of the article A Matter of Judgement recognises that the wisdom of the scriptural admonition is evident, and can be clearly seen by counterexample. No doubt we’ve all heard of some widely publicized cases of unthinkably horrid offences committed by members of various religions. (Child molestation, for example, comes to mind. Murder is another, such as the bombings of abortion clinics, for example.) When those engaging in such acts, even repeatedly, can yet remain affiliated with others of their “faith,” as though even such gross wrongs are tolerable, or beyond judgement, what does it say to the world at large about that faith?

“Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26)

More believers should hear the call of those who came onto this world in an other body than there mind tells them.

For now, though, I’ll conclude by saying I am grateful to be attending meetings regularly at the Kingdom hall again, and despite being considered “disfellowshipped” I find them spiritually strengthening and encouraging.
These days I am glad to say I can be more sociable again, and although it saddens me that I cannot now freely associate with many of my friends, brothers and sisters in the congregation, I find I am being given precious opportunities to speak about the good news of God’s Word with others I come into contact with.

Far from letting my circumstances cause me to be negative, many an acquaintance has told me they have come away after a conversation with a better view of both the Bible and Jehovah’s Witnesses than they had before.

It pleases me know that I can still plant seeds of truth. I would encourage anyone in my sort of situation to do the same. Jehovah is a rewarder of those loyal to him, and so although the appointed elders may still expect to see me doing things that I cannot do, I know that Jehovah is pleased to see me doing what I can.

We only can hope that those who found their way to Jehovah the Only One God, by the help of the marvellous work of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, when they leave that organisation will continue in the Faith and in the Truth, loving God and all His creation, the good and the bad people also.

Moordown: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses Tucked away in Elmes Road, otherwise a residential back street of Moordown. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

+

Please do find:

1. Taryn Viv a Wrongful Imprisonment ~ Faithful reflections of a transgender Jehovah’s Witness
2. A Matter of Judgement
3. Food for thought, that’s all.
4. Failing to Answer the Most Vital Question About “Becoming Jehovah’s Friend”
5. Jehovah’s Witnesses Shun Family Members for Selfish Reasons
6. Focus on Jehovah’s Witnesses
7. Jehovah’s Witnesses not only group that preach the good news
8. A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
9. Followers with deepening
10. The business of this life
11. Preaching to an unbelieving world
12. Determine the drive
13. Does the method of preaching from house to house have its basis in the Scriptures?
14. Blogging for Jesus…
15. Creator and Blogger God 4 Expounding voice
16. Proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation
17. Bringing Good News into the world
18. Preaching to an unbelieving world
19. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #5 Prayer #2 Witnessing
20. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #5 Prayer #3 Callers upon God
21. A Voice to be heard
22. Breathing to teach
23. Church sent into the world
24. Church enemy of faith
25. Breaking up with a cult
26. Dependence
27. Feeling-good, search for happiness and the church
28. Casual Christians
29. Follower of Jesus part of a cult or a Christian
30. Uncovering the Foundations of Faith
31. Self-development, self-control, meditation, beliefs and spirituality
32. Testify of the things heard
33. How should we preach?
34. When discouraged facing opposition
35. Reasons to come to gether
36. Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
37. Manifests for believers #5 Christian Union
38. Witnessing at LaGuardia Airport
39. Bible for you and for life – TheBible4Life Committee explain what is planned for the national preaching effort next year.
40. Good or bad preacher
41. Holland Week of billing
42. Trying to get the youth inspired
43. Jew refering to be religious or to be a people
44. Christian fundamentalism as dangerous as Muslim fundamentalism
45. Faith and works
46. Repentance and conversion are not milestones which we pass on the way of life and never see again
47. God receives us on the basis of our faith
48. God loving people justified
49. Creation and the Bible

+++

Related articles

• Jehovah’s Way: At the First Sign of Their Religious Doubt, Freeze Out Your Own Flesh and Blood (patheos.com)
  The elder Gonzalez is a Jehovah’s Witness. After his son expressed doubts about the movement, its Watchtower Governing Body promptly ordered the father to shun Rick and Lucas.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses Hateful practice of unbiblical shunning (christiansparlock.wordpress.com)
  

  “The result of ‘shunning’ is extreme anxiety, depression, self hatred, increased blood pressure, loss of appetite, self injury and suicidal thoughts and attempts. This is not only painful but excruciating.” – Allan N. Schwartz, PhD

• The Redemption (and Apostasy) of a Devout Jehovah’s Witness (patheos.com)
  James Zimmerman grew up as the kind of Jehovah’s Witness who might have knocked on your door. Devout and fervent, he knew what the consequences were for apostates. And yet he found a way to break free.

  His new memoir detailing his upbringing — and how his questioning of the faith eventually led him away from it — is called Deliverance at Hand!: The Redemption of a Devout Jehovah’s Witness (Freethought House, 2013):

• Jail for Jehovah’s Witness elder who molested girls (manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
  A Jehovah’s Witness elder who was exposed as a paedophile on Facebook has been jailed.

  Jonathan Rose was branded a hypocrite as he was locked up for molesting two little girls he met through the church.
  +
  The family of Rose’s first accuser say they were encouraged to cover up their allegation. He was cleared of groping the then teenage girl in 1995 trial, but she would go on to be a witness in the latest court case. Her family say they were hounded out of the Jehovah’s Witnesses when they expressed concerns.

• What Does The Bible Really Teach? – Chapter 18 Review (watchtowerinvestigated.co.uk)
  You are not baptised in the name of the father, son and holy spirit you are baptised into the organisation. In fact the last question they is “Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?”
  +
  Gods law are not burdensome, but let me list some things that the watchtower burden with when you are baptised:-• Fill out a report card every month detailing how much ministry you have done (or not as the case may be).
  • You Must go to all the meetings.
  • You Must go on the field service.
  • You Must not have a blood transfusion even if your life depended on it.
  • You Must not get involved in any holidays, Christmas, Birthday, Mothers Day, Fathers Day…the list goes on.
  • You Must cut off love ones if they reject the religion…
  • The list goes on…
• Jehovah’s Witnesses call on Christians to safeguard their consciences (modernghana.com)
  Jehovah’s Witnesses at the weekend held a special assembly day programme with a call on Christians to safeguard their consciences to aid them walk with God and follow Jesus’ footsteps.

  The aim of the programme was to help the delegates to work towards acquiring a bible-trained and holy spirit-led conscience, which together with the bible, could serve as a reliable guide in deepening their relationship with God.