Perfection After a discussion with a couple of current JWs, it's come to my attention that my conception of perfection in "the Kingdom" is very different from theirs. On pages 188 & 189 of the Knowledge book, we see the society's (or artist's) conception. I prompted the discussion by asking, why is there so much sin in this picture? I really enjoyed the moment of silence that ensued, then, the response "Where?" "we don't see any sin". So I asked, why are all the people wearing clothes? After a few chuckles and another moment of silence one said, "I don't see the connection". Then I asked about the garden of Eden and why if it is God's plan to return the earth to a perfect Eden like state, would anyone need to wear clothes? Still no response. So I asked them to turn in their bibles to Genesis 3:7, 10
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Then the eyes of both of them became opened and they began to realize that they were naked. Hence they sewed fig leaves together and made loin coverings for themselves. ... 10 Finally he said: "Your voice I heard in the garden, but I was afraid because I was naked and so I hid myself."What was the first thing Adam and Eve did after they sinned? I asked. "They made coverings to hide themselves" one said. So I asked, if there was no need for clothes in the garden, before A&E sinned why, (if there will be no more sin in the "Kingdom"), would people need to cover themselves?
After 4 years of meetings, this was the first time in months, that these two young guys (both in their early 20s) appeared to think, instead of the usual garbage in, garbage out, responses. They began to speculate, and we all know what that means. I heard words like "maybe this" or "maybe that"and "we don't know...yet" this lasted about ten minutes or so.
Finally one said, "I believe that you can do things wrong and still be perfect". How's that? I asked. He said, "what I mean by perfect, is that in the Kingdom we won't get sick or die." "I see, so perfection in the Kingdom is about the conditions that man will live in, not the change that God would have to make in my sinful nature" I said. That's right! he said. The meeting ended shortly after.
I'll be meeting again with them soon. I would like to talk more about the sinful nature of man. Any Ideas?
D Dog