Chapter 19 -- Remain in God’s Love
The book says;
“We are living in stormy times. World conditions are going from bad to worse”.
God is our refuge like a shelter from a storm.
We need to appreciate how God has shown love for us. “Think of some of the Bible teachings you have learned with the aid of this book”.
Jehovah has given this earth to us, told us his name and allowed “Jesus to suffer and die for us” giving “us hope for a wonderful future”. Jehovah’s “Messianic Kingdom…. will soon bring an end to all suffering and will make the earth a paradise”.
“God had given us guidance on how to live” and “the gift of prayer”..... Love for God is much more than a feeling“. It is only a start. We must observe his commandments and show our love for Jehovah by our actions. “What, then, are Jehovah’s commandments that we need to observe?”
We must never stop learning about Jehovah. It is like stoking a fire so that it does not go out. Otherwise, our love will cool off. Prayer is also important. “We need to speak to Jehovah as a child would talk to a beloved father“, with respect. “Personal Bible study and prayer” are “private”, but we also must preach publicly, for this “increases your own faith….. Staying busy in such work helps you to remain in God‘s love….. The kingdom preaching work is urgent” because “the great day of Jehovah is near! It is near and it is approaching very quickly!”
We must attend meetings to strengthen the “love and friendship in the congregation…… Do not expect perfection from your fellow believers…. All are at different stages of spiritual growth .... Build close friendships with those who love Jehovah intensely”.
“Jehovah rewards his faithful servants with life,,…. The real life is something we hope to attain in the future, yes, when we are perfect”
We will enjoy future benefits and life if we serve God in the approved way and “have the hope of enjoying the real life“.
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My response:Until the 1960s, Jehovah’s Witnesses conducted “Bible” studies with interested people over several, even many, years. At a time when people still believed the Bible, it was a friendly, weekly, social call. After a few years of such contact, the Witness would suggest that the interested person might like to attend a meeting or convention and gradually, after perhaps ten years, the student would finally be at the stage where you are now, after 19 weeks.
This change came about thanks to an ingenious marketing plan, in which I was a willing participant, in the late 60s. It was decided that, “due to the urgency of the times before 1975”, those studying should have only about 6 months to make up their minds about joining Jehovah’s Witnesses. Then the Bible study would be stopped, so that another worthy person might have the opportunity to gain eternal life “soon”.
During just a few years, millions of books were sold (“The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life” - a best seller noted in the Guinness Book of Records) and millions of “Bible” studies were conducted, using that book, which had a similar outline to the one you are studying now. Worldwide, the Witnesses increased from 500,000 in the mid- 60s, to 3 millions by 1975.
Your life is becoming more and more involved with the Watchtower congregation and your friends and "family" are now Witnesses, rather than relatives.
You are told to keep reading and hearing and talking about the religion’s message. Continual repetition is a mind-control technique to reinforce teachings. You are also told to “stay busy in such work”.
Notice the repeated use and emphasis on the future tense in the promises offered. Have you noticed also how this “Christian” religion makes repeated reference to the Old Testament, written nearly 3,000 years ago, usually quoting isolated verses from ancient prophets and applying them to today?
Although there is an attempt to downplay the idea of “reward”, the fact is, eternal life is dependent on our works for ““Jehovah” or, to be more accurate, “Jehovah’s organisation”, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society publishing company.
I would be sincerely disappointed if you have come this far and are still pondering whether to join this cult.
No-one ever joins a cult. People are drawn into them gradually, as you have been and it is only when we try to leave, later, that we discover we were in a cult, when sanctions and threats are made against us when we leave.
I have already told you how you would be shunned by all those “friends” and your Witness relatives if you leave. You would find that the friendship is entirely dependent on your holding the same religious opinions as them. There are many, many examples and experiences of shunned former Witnesses for your perusal, on-line.
What is the alternative?
Well, belief is something that you have to choose and decide upon yourself, but if you are attracted to Christianity, try it!
Read the Bible. The basic message is not difficult to understand, especially if you read the “message for today“, the New Testament.
Visit Christian churches of different denominations for a few weeks. Listen to their sermons. Observe the people.
But use the same caution in assessing other groups, as you should have done before studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Always be wary of a religion which claims to have "special knowledge" or insight that others don't have.
Avoid churches which criticise other Christian denominations, instead of getting on with being Christians themselves.
Be cautious about "religion" and "organisation". Organisations start with wonderful intentions, but soon take over people. Christianity is about faith and a relationship with Jesus Christ, not men.
One day, you will realise you feel comfortable in one particular church and you won’t feel the need to continue your search. Later, you may decide to move on to another church or denomination. That is a natural progression in your Christian life. All the mainstream Christian churches have one thing in common - they accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour and follow the Bible, with only minor variations in procedure.
Further Reading:
Twisted Scriptures -- Mary Alice Chrnalogar
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