Almost entirely transcribed from the audio provided by Fading Away (thanks, Fading Away!!). I couldn't bear to type out all of one experience, you'll have to listen.
The Audio link: Education Talk from Follow the Christ DC
The Superiority of of Being Taught By Jehovah
Brother Edward A. Prince, Jr.
Jesus Christ, who we all are at this point committed to follow, he received the finest education. But what's interesting about Jesus; even though he received the finest education, he really didn't go to first-century College. He didn't go to institutions of higher learning.
What's interesting, those who had attended such institutions were amazed by Jesus. See, when they would have intellectual dialog Jesus Christ would speak as if he had been to an institution of higher learning. So they were puzzled and said, "How does this man..." in John chapter 7, verse 15, "How does this man have a knowledge of such letters when he hasn't studied at the schools?"
Well, how did Jesus know? Who taught him? He was taught by Jehovah. Who teaches us? We have the greatest teacher. We are taught by Jehovah.
Now, how we can prove that that still works so effectively; Many here in the audience today, maybe you have been to a Special Day Assembly or you've been to your Circuit Assembly at the Conyers Assembly Hall. Isn't it a beautiful place of worship? If you was able to participate in helping with the work, didn't you feel special? When you went there for your first time, and it was time for your first Assembly, didn't you just kinda walk in a little ... a little proud?
Now, what key quality was needed for those who would help out on that very special project? To be a spiritual person. Spirituality: Being taught by Jehovah assisted brother in building such an incredible place of worship in praise to Jehovah.
So the most valuable thing all of us can have is focused on at Isaiah chapter 54 and verse 13. I invite you to turn there. Isaiah chapter 54 and verse 13 ... where it says, "And all your sons will be person taught by Jehovah, and the peace of your sons will be abundant."
Yes brothers, we are taught by Jehovah; divine education, it frees us from enslavement to false teachings. Think about what some are taught happens at death and how confused it can make them about Almighty God, Jehovah. But when we are taught by Jehovah we're freed from false teachings, superstitions, human philosophies.
Divine education also helps us overcome bad practices. Maybe we've struggled with some sinful tendency; when Jehovah God instructs us, he teaches us how to overcome such things. And as Colossians 3:9, 10 'bout when we're taught by Jehovah we can turn our entire lives around, our personality can be totally transformed as we put on the new personality.
Yes my brothers, divine education also helps us develop a relationship with our Grand Creator. We draw close to Jehovah. And yes, we can share in the only work that can help people gain everlasting blessings. Wasn't you moved this morning as you saw all those young and old alike dedicate their lives to Jehovah? And what do you think moved them to do that? They were taught ... they were taught by Jehovah.
My brothers, aren't we grateful for the privilege of being taught by Jehovah? [*thunderous applause*]
Now let's put something else into perspective. Let's get a realistic view of secular education. Well, a basic secular education can equip us to care for our Scriptural responsibilities as ministers of God. Some things it will help us do [*ahem*]
A basic secular education can help us acquire the ability to think logically.
It can help us to speak clearly. It can also help us to read and write. And we recognize this as important because we've been encouraged to read our Bible every single day, and for those of us here who are taking notes it could be that the basic secular education that we received helps us to write, and write well.
It can also help us to obtain employment that will allow us to support ourselves and share fully in spiritual activities.
If you notice the focus: The things that we learn, like Jesus Christ who we follow, is used to praise Jehovah. The things that we learn are not used to benefit ourselves or puff ourselves up. We're thinking, "How can I take what I've learned and praise our he- Great God, Jehovah?"
Let's talk about higher education. What does "higher education" mean? Well, in this country [*cough*] school goes from let's say Kindergarten to about the 12th grade. And you can get a basic education that teaches you how to read, write, add, subtract, basic things like that. Higher education means you may feel that in order to pursue certain goals, you need additional training.
Well, what can a Christian youth ... what can those of us who serve Jehovah expect if we was to pursue higher education? Here's some points to consider:
Higher education is very expensive in many places. It can take years of secular work to pay off student loans. So, higher education is not free, you have to pay for it and it's gonna take you some time to possibly pay off money that you've borrowed.
And even if you get, let's say, a scholarship, students are then expected to devote their lives advancing ... what? The present system of things, and we realize that we wanna take education to praise Jehovah.
There's also lots of demands. The demands of keeping up with schoolwork and doing well on examinations can crowd out your spiritual activities. It's demanding. You have to try to maintain certain grades and things of that nature, it can be very demanding.
And now what's interesting: Those who typically are faced with the pressure of wondering what to do is our precious young people. So I'll talk to you now for a moment.
You're 16, you're 17, y-you-you're about to finish school, now you're wondering, "What do I do?" Think about the Scripture at Matthew chapter 6 verse 33, where it tells you, if you put the kingdom first—if you trust Jehovah enough to put the kingdom first—he says, "I will add everything else to you." And when you're young there's certain advantages that you have: you have more strength, you have more energy, you have more power. You can do more. And as time goes by, as you get a little older, you can't do as much as you once could.
And so, a wise man said in Ecclesiastes, "Remember your creator in the days of your young manhood." And you look back on the time when you was 16 and 17 and you say, "Boy, I remember when I went to Pioneer Service School, and I had a ball!" or, "Boy I can remember when I went to Ministerial Training School, and we had a ball!" because you put Jehovah God first and everything else that you need in life, he said, "I'm going to take care of it."
Brothers, do we trust that Jehovah God will take care of us? [*thunderous applause*]
Higher education exposes ones to corrupting influences. You know I spoke to a recent College graduate, she graduated before she came to a full knowledge of Jehovah's organization, and I says, "Sis, tell me: What was College campus like?" She looked at me, sh-shook her head, say, "Brother Prince, it's girls gone wild." And I said, "I guess it applys to boys, too." But the point is, the atmosphere was very dangerous if we choose to serve and follow Jehovah.
Ungodly conduct such as binge drinking, sexual immorality is common on many University campuses.
Higher education does not guarantee success. Many who pursue higher education fail to earn a degree. And those who graduate are not assured of finding suitable employment.
But now true, not all who pursue higher education experience these pitfalls. But the question remains: Does pursuing higher education help a Christian bring praise to Jehovah? Experience shows that often it does not.
We're gonna now talk to a sister who was able to go to College before she became one of Jehovah's Witnesses. So we're gonna invite sister Tracy Fuentes to the platform at this time, we're gonna ask her some questions about what she experienced while she was in College before she became one of Jehovah's servants.
Now, sister Fuentes, why did you pursue higher education?
[*long silence*]
Technical difficulty ...
TF: Well brother Prince, I was taught that after High School you needed to go to College in order to take care of yourself financially in the future.
Okay. She was told, "After High School, next step, go to College." So, what degree did you get when you went to school?
TF: I received a Bachelor in Science in Kinesiology, which is the study of human movement, and that took four years.
Okay. Now, what challenges were you faced with even after you received your Bachelors degree.
TF: Well, the challenge was that my degree wasn't ... didn't qualify me for anything real specific, I wasn't able to go get a ... a real job. So, in order to be more specific within my field I needed more schooling, which I wasn't willing to do from a time standpoint, but also financially because it was getting very expensive.
Okay. Well, something I want to know as well, sister Fuentes—as all of us here would, too—would you say that University life had its pitfalls?
TF: Yes, it did. I worked and studied five days a week, and on the weekends we partied. I lived in a apartment complex that was all College students, and many times there would be entire apartment complex parties on the weekends ... um, which consisted of lots of alcohol, binge drinking, kegs of beer, music coming from many different places, that would be by the swimming pool which was right below my apartment. And then during the week on campus you'd be invited to different parties, also. So, if there wasn't a party to go to then there was Aggieville, which was the local bar scene, and it was at one of those bars that I met this very handsome football player that everyone knew.
Okay, so, you had a little party situation going on and met a football player. Okay, so, now would you say that higher education lived up to your expectations?
TF: No. It was a disappointment for me. I did work within my field for a little while, but, I didn't even need my degree for what I was doing. And my current employment has nothing to do with the field that I studied. And Brother Prince, let's not even mention the student loans that I'm still paying, and I've been out of school for over ten years now.
Alright. Well, sister Fuentes, having said that, have you found your divine education to be superior?
TF: Yes, I have, in every way possible. Do you remember that football student I told you about? er, football player I told you about?
Yeah, the one, the cute guy, go ahead.
TF: Well, we had a son together and we lived together. Within time, he started studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. I would go to the meetings with him and our son and soon I was studying the Bible, too. Eventually we were married and we've been baptized for six years now. Our oldest son is twelve, is a unbaptized publisher, has the desire of being baptized, and has privileges within the congregation. Our desire now, Brother Prince, is to teach all four of our sons the ways of Jehovah. And if you do things Jehovah's way, he will take care of you. My husband and I enjoy to continue to being taught by Jehovah because we know from experience that divine education is the best education you could ever have.
Thank you sister Fuentes. [*thunderous applause*]
By the way, I ... this morning I talked to sister Fuentes' twelve-year-old son and he said, "Well, Brother Prince, I'm already dedicated and I am just waiting for my chance to get baptized." I thought that was very encouraging. So now, sister Russo, how long have you been pioneering?
sister R: Brother Prince, I'm happy to say that it's now been four years.
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Sister Russo went on to prove that Divine Education helps you acquire a fine reputation as a baby sitter (I kid you not) for the children of degree holding professional women (who, no doubt, have benefits and retirement plans). I can't stomach typing it all out, the woman reeks of softheadedness and sophistic logic. You'll have to listen to this part for yourself.
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Very good, thank you for your fine example sister Russo. [*thunderous applause*]
Jehovah God is making available today abundant spiritual provisions for divine education. Parents we know that you have a very serious task, caring for your children and trying to give them proper direction. We know that you love and care for your children, and Jehovah God loves them, too. And so, when you try to guide them as to what course they should pursue, to preserve their relationship with Jehovah consider this: Sometimes a parent may think, "Well, I don't want my child to struggle financially. I don't want them to have to suffer." And neither does Jehovah.
But the most precious gift you can give your child is teaching them the truth about Jehovah. That's a gift they'll treasure, that's a gift that will never be taken away, that's something they will presh-treasure for the rest of their life.
Jesus Christ urged others to give priority to the life-giving spiritual provisions from his Father. So brothers and sisters, may we follow our exemplar Jesus Christ closely, thus showing that we appreciate the superiority of being taught by Jehovah. [*thunderous applause*]
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