Blog disclaimer:I am no longer a Jehovah's Witness.I disassociated.But much of this reasoning is still relevant and I still think it is important to proclaim the good news of God's kingdom in any way we can anywhere we can.Out of faith and love though instead of via organizational policy,seeking "acceptable" numbers on time slips.Much like their duplicity in many other areas,JW's will tell you not to compare your time slips and meeting attendance etc to others but yet if you don't go out in service enough nor attend every meeting,you are thought of as spiritually weak and possibly a bad association in many cases.Anyway,woe is us if we do not declare the good news out of faith and love however and I do admire the door to door work the JW's do.However,I think because they have many false teachings they're spreading,I recommend when they show up at your door to stress freedom in Christ as our mediator and savior alone.And that when an organization boasts for itself such titles,we have a real problem in the eyes of God who gave them to his Son alone.
Any way,here's the old blog:
Is an idle faith an acceptable faith?What does the love of God mean?What does being obedient entail?To examine all scriptures and mold our lives accordingly..or to take a few and assume we're ok because Christ died for us?Is neglecting to observe Christ's footsteps closely ok for a christian(1 Peter 2:21,matt 10:38)?Again,what did Christ do?Did he constantly supplicate,rely on Jehovah for power and blessing,and minister to others the good news and the proclamaton of his father's name and purpose and kingdom?(john 17:26)Or did he pay mouth service while he simply waited for salvation and rested ?BUT is that faith like Christ's faith if it is confined to the heart and mind with no EXERCISING of it involved?In no way,shape or form can we "earn" salvation,but faith implies more than a heart condition..unless the heart condition moves us to service obedience and conformity to the standards of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.(Is 64:8,1 John 5:3)I'm sure many in Noah's and Lot's days believed in God and thought they loved him..where did they go wrong?
*Proverbs 24:12-shall not he render to every man according to his works?
*James 1:22-But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
*James 2:24,26-You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone..For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
*Hebrews 10:26-If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left
*Matthew 4:4-Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
*Acts 1:8-you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."
*John 14:12-Truly, I tell all of you with certainty, the one who believes in me will also do what I am doing. He will do even greater things than these
*Psalm 118:17-shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
*Matthew 24:14-This Good News about the kingdom will be spread throughout the world as a testimony to all nations. Then the end will come
*Romans 10:13..Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.14.."How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15..How can people tell the Good News if no one sends them? As Scripture says, "How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who announce the Good News."
*1 Corinthians 15:58-Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
*Acts 20:20-I never shrank from telling you anything that would help you nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house(see also Luke 10:1-6)
*2 Timothy 4:5-Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry
*Matthew 5:16-In the same way, let your light shine before people in such a way that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven
*Psalm 68:11-The women who announce the good news are a large army.
*2 Corinthians 5:20-we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
*2 Timothy 2:4-No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier
*Acts 28:30,31-preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered
*1 Timothy 4:16-Pay close attention to your life and your teaching. Persevere in these things, because if you do so, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
*Colossians 3:23-And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men
*Titus 2:14-Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works
*Ephesians 6:15-and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
*Ezekial 33:7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.
*Isaiah 6:8-Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
11Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
Not only is it of utmost importance to declare the only way for peace is through God's kingdom(dan 2:44) but to do so in all sincerity and love,hoping for those rightly disposed(acts 13:48) to become reconciled to their creator and Father and his King and son.It's a serious and life giving invitation and message(Revelation 14:6,7) that anyone can accept who is willing to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God and succumb to His benevolent and loving authority.Even though the road is narrow(matthew 7:14),as a loving father,he DESIRES all to attain to repentance(2 peter 3:9) and accept his provisions(rev 22:17).His standards are high because he is holy( 1 Peter 1:16) but with his spirit that he provides obedient lovers of truth,all things are possible.Praise Jah!
The road is narrow,so what can we conclude from that?(matt 7:21-23)Not only do we have the Word of God but we have resources everywhere now from the library to googling to our ability to reason(all along WITH the bible) to "make sure of all things"..Allow the word to mold you even when others accept tradition as truth.(mark 7:13,Gal 1:14,2 tim 4:3,2 thes 2:11,12)That way your teachings to others will be based in the good and acceptable truth and will of God.
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