Comments You Will Not Hear at the 3-7-04 WT Study Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()
WT quotes
will be in red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources
will be in blue***Due to time constraints I will only be discussing certain points in the paragraphs and quoting only applicable WTS material from the current WT***
"LORD, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY"
"A certain one of his disciples said to him, ?Lord, teach us how to pray.?"?LUKE 11:1
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."?Luke 11:1 (NIV)
www.biblegateway.com /cgi-bin/bible
Opening Comment
Why did the disciples want Jesus to teach them to pray? Didn?t the Jews already pray personally to God? (re: Hannah praying for a child) Of note, the Jews at that time and those who followed the God of the Bible had been praying to him directly without going through anyone else to do so. Even here, Jesus does not say to pray through him. Notice that Jesus? model prayer starts out addressing God as "Father" not by his personal name. Snippet alert: Notice that the WTS doesn?t quote Luke 11:1 in its entirety leaving out "just as John taught his disciples." What and how did John teach his disciples about prayer?
START OF ARTICLE
Paragraph 1
"On one occasion in 32 C.E., a disciple of Jesus observed Him praying."
I have seen pronouns capitalized when referring to God in the WT publications but this seemed new to be capitalizing a pronoun referring to Jesus? What have you observed?
Doubtless (buzz word meaning there is no scriptural support, the WTS is expanding the Bible account), he was familiar with the formalistic prayers of the religious leaders. But now he had observed Jesus praying, and he likely (another buzz word meaning there is no scriptural support, the WTS is adding to the Bible account) sense that there was a big difference between the sanctimonious prayers of the rabbis and the way Jesus prayed.
Can you see the formulas in WTS prayers? "Please forgive us where we have fallen short" was a common phrase in prayers at the meetings. Can you think of some?
Paragraph 2
Possibly (another buzzword meaning there is no scriptural support, the WTS is reading God?s mind) this particular disciple was not present at that time,
(when Jesus had given the prayer initially, a point used by the WTS in another publications to show the importance to attend every meeting. Notice that Jesus did not chastise him for not being at the previous "meeting.")
so Jesus kindly repeated the essential points of that model prayer.
A Loving Father
Paragraph 3
According to one scholar (not named, no reference given) whether Jesus spoke in a popular form of Hebrew or in Aramaic, the term he used for "Father" is akin to the intimate expressions of an infant, ?a child?s word."
How often do you hear God addressed as "Father" in WTS prayers? Start listening and report back to me if you can.
Paragraph 4
Spirit-begotten Christians are adopted as "God?s sons," and to him they can "cry out: ?Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:14,15) According to the WTS, only the 144,000 are God?s sons at this time. The other sheep will not experience such sonship until they prove loyal at the end of the 1,000 Year Reign. w01 9/1 p. 9 "Seek Peace and Pursue It" Jesus said: "Happy are the peaceable, since they will be called ?sons of God.?" (Matthew 5:9) Jesus was speaking to individuals who would later have the opportunity of becoming spiritual sons of God and receiving immortal life in heaven. (John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17) And eventually, all of faithful mankind who do not have a heavenly hope will enjoy "the glorious freedom of the children of God." (Romans 8:21) w98 2/15 pp. 18-19 Glorious Freedom Soon for the Children of God Since this is a promise to "mankind," it assures us that a new earthly society of humans living under Kingdom rule will experience restoration of mind and body to full health and everlasting life as earthly "children of God." During Christ?s Thousand Year Reign, obedient humans "will be set free from enslavement to corruption." After proving loyal to Jehovah during a final test, they will be free forever from inherited sin and death. (Revelation 20:7-10) Those on earth will then "have the glorious freedom of the children of God. How then does the WTS explain how those without this "sonship" can call God "Father"?John 10:16 ("other sheep" snippet in paragraph) Could other sheep mean the Gentiles? Hmmmmm?
and
John 14:6 (a scripture that only says we must pray through Jesus, no mention of a secondary group)
Love for Jehovah?s Name Paragraph 5"The sanctification of Jehovah?s name should be of primary concern to us because we love him and hate to see all the reproach that has been heaped upon his name?Jehovah?s name has been reproached by the shameful acts and teachings of those claiming to represent him. Who have said that the name "Jehovah" belongs exclusively to their organization? The WTS or "Jehovah?s Witnesses."
How has God been reproached by their shameful acts regarding child abuse?
These acts are chronicled at the website: www.silentlambs.org What really is of primary concern to JWs? "live forever in the Paradise promised by Christ" (paragraph 17) How often does the WTS mention the sanctification of God?s name compared to the life forever in a paradise on earth? The highlighted books are the primary WTS publications used to study with new people.
- - Can You Live Forever in Happiness on Earth?
1958 - From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained
1963 - Report on "Everlasting Good News" Assembly
of Jehovah?s Witnesses
1966 - Life Everlasting?In Freedom of the Sons of
God
1968 - The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life1972 - Paradise Restored to Mankind?By
Theocracy!
1982 - Enjoy Life on Earth Forever!
1989 - You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth (Revised)1993 The Government That Will Bring Paradise
1995 - Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life1999- The Guidance of God?Our Way to Paradise
Sanctification of God?s Name?1961 - "Let Your Name Be Sanctified"
1984 - The Divine Name That Will Endure Forever
Paragraph 6 Our prayer for the sanctification of Jehovah?s name shows where we stand on the issue of universal sovereignty?joyfully submit?refrain from doing anything that might bring reproach upon?loving submission.w96 3/15 p. 15 Meeting the Challenge of LoyaltyCertainly, the course of loyalty to Jehovah God is to suffer personal loss rather than bring reproach upon Jehovah and his organization w92 9/15 p. 10 Jehovah Forgives in a Large Way A truly repentant person would show remorse over any reproach, sorrow, or problems his sin had brought on Jehovah?s name and organization.w87 9/15 p. 14 Breathing This World?s "Air" Is Death-Dealing!Be quick, therefore, to reject the immoral, death-dealing "air" of this world. Instead of submitting to its alluring smell and bringing reproach upon Jehovah?s name and organization, become a pleasant odor to God by your godly attitude and conduct. w70 3/1 p. 150 Youths, Prove Yourselves Christ?s Disciples They had to be put out of the organization as the apostle Paul instructed, in order to keep the organization clean and free from reproach. Kingdom Ministry 1/92 pp. 5-6 1992 "Light Bearers" District Convention of Jehovah?s Witnesses" However, it is still necessary to request that everyone PLEASE OBSERVE THE GUIDELINES ON PAGE 6 FOR OBTAINING MOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS.
Violations in these areas make it difficult to negotiate good rates, and they bring reproach on Jehovah?s name and organization.The Kingdom For Which We PrayParagraph 7Jehovah?s instrument for sanctifying his holy name is the Messianic Kingdom, his heavenly government, of which his Son, Jesus Christ, is the duly appointed King?
So did Jesus become King in 33 CE or 1878 or 1914?
Proclaimers book chap. 28 p. 632 Testing and Sifting From WithinBased on the premise that events of the first century might find parallels in related events later, they also concluded that if Jesus? baptism and anointing in the autumn of 29 C.E. paralleled the beginning of an invisible presence in 1874, then his riding into Jerusalem as King in the spring of 33 C.E. would point to the spring of 1878 as the time when he would assume his power as heavenly King. Paragraph 8 Associated with Christ in this Kingdom government are 144,000 others, "bought from among mankind."How many were chosen between 100 and 1879 CE? Were all of them chosen by 100 CE due to the large increase mentioned at Colossians 1:23,
Colossians 1:23 provided, of course, that YOU continue in the faith, established on the foundation and steadfast and not being shifted away from the hope of that good news which YOU heard, and which was preached in all creation that is under heaven. Of this [good news] I Paul became a minister.Why Still Pray for the Kingdom to Come?Paragraph 9The fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that the Messianic Kingdom was established in heaven in 1914.* (*See chapter 6 of the book Pay Attention to Daniel?s Prophecy! published by Jehovah?s Witnesses.)Did you know that Jehovah?s Witnesses were in the publishing business rather than the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society? Why and when (after 2001) did the WTS stop using the phrase "published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society"?
Paragraph 10 We long to see God?s Kingdom come?because this will mean?the removal of all opposers of divine sovereignty.Of course, the WTS leaves out that they mean any only dedicated, baptized JWs and their minor children will not be destroyed, but over 6 billion people, including children will be.
"Let Your Will Take Place" Paragraphs 11 and 12By this prayer we also manifest our willingness to conform our lives to Jehovah?s will.But of course, only as interpreted by the WTS.
Our love for Jehovah and his Son (an honorable mention for Christ) moves us to live our lives "no more for the desires of men, but for God?s will."When comments are given at WTS meetings do they say, "the Bible says" or "the Watchtower says" or "the paragraph says" or "the slave says"? Whose desires, men?s, whose will, God?s?
And don?t forget
"having an active share in preaching"Jehovah?s Will in HeavenParagraphs 13 and 14Jesus was
"glad before him all the time," happy to do his Father?s will."Wake up out there JWs, you aren?t happy enough according to the WTS.
Paragraph 15 That time (after Satan?s eviction) apparently came shortly after Jesus Christ received Kingdom power in 1914 (or was that 1878?).Notice that the buzzword "apparently" is used. This means that the Bible does not say and even the WTS can?t pinpoint the year with their prophetic skill.
Jehovah?s Will for the Earth Paragraph 16The churches of Christendom exclude the earth from God?s purposes, claiming that all good people go to heaven.Is that true? While some teach that the earth will be destroyed and recreated, they teach that it will be repopulated. Don?t you know of religions that teach that the kingdom government will be in literal Jerusalem? Doesn?t that imply that good people will be living on earth?
Then the WTS uses an insert-words-in-a-scripture technique.
"There are new heavens [the Messianic Kingdom government by Christ] and a new earth [a righteous human society] that we awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell."?2 Peter 3:13Just in case you are too stupid to figure it out just by reading the Bible by itself, the WTS gives you a helping hand. I wonder when they will put out a new version of the NWT, called "The New World Translation with bracketed explanations by the FDS, God?s true prophet."
Paragraph 17 Quite clearly, the Creator?s purpose is that the earth be inhabited by a perfect race of righteous humans who happily submit to Jehovah?s sovereignty and live forever in the Paradise promised by Christ.?Psalm 37:11,29; Luke 23:43.Yes, you must "happily submit" to the WTS sovereignty in your life since they represent Christ on earth.
w94 7/1 pp. 22-23 The Christian View of AuthorityIn this time of the end, Christ has appointed the collective "faithful and discreet slave" over "all his belongings,"or Kingdom interests on earth. (Matthew 24:45-47) As in the first century, this slave is represented by a governing body of anointed Christian men to whom Christ has given the authority to make decisions and appoint other overseers. (Acts 6:2, 3; 15:2) In turn, the Governing Body delegates authority to Branch Committees, district and circuit overseers, and elders within each of the more than 73,000 congregations of Jehovah?s Witnesses throughout the earth. All these devoted Christian men deserve our support and respect.?1 Timothy 5:17. With regard to the respect we owe to those in authority within the Christian congregation, an interesting comparison can be made with the submission we owe the secular authorities. When a person violates a human law that God approves, the punishment meted out by "those ruling" is, in fact, an indirect expression of God?s wrath "upon the one practicing what is bad." (Romans 13:3, 4) If Jehovah is angry when a person breaks human laws and lacks proper respect for worldly authorities, how much more must he be displeased if a dedicated Christian flouts Bible principles and shows disrespect for fellow Christians who are in authority! Paragraph 18 Jehovah?s will regarding the earth can never be fully accomplished while the earth is peopled with men and women (and children) who defy his sovereignty. Using mighty spirit forces under Christ?s leadership (Jesus is only a tool used by God), God will "bring to ruin those ruining the earth."How many JWs realize that means they are praying for the eternal destruction of over 6 billion men, women, and children?
Concluding CommentsWell, kiddies, this is the abbreviated version (right!).
The WTS teaches that the prayers of those who are not JWs are not heard.
w87 7/15 p. 16 Prayers Require WorksFor our prayers to be heard by Jehovah God, not only must we be morally and spiritually clean but we must also prove the sincerity of our prayers by working at what we pray for. Awake 1/8/74 p. 10 What Do You Know About Prayer? In view of Jehovah?s words through Isaiah, only persons who return to Jehovah?s ways and his teachings, thus drawing their hearts toward him, can expect their prayers to be heard favorably. w90 5/15 p. 12 Fear Jehovah, the Hearer of Prayer Aware that prayer is a restricted privilege, King Solomon asked that Jehovah hear only foreigners who prayed toward God?s temple in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 8:41-43) Centuries later, the Gentile foreigner Cornelius "made supplication to God continually" as a devout man. Upon gaining accurate knowledge, Cornelius dedicated himself to God, who then gave him the holy spirit. Following this, Cornelius and other Gentiles were baptized. (Acts 10:1-44) Like Cornelius, anyone today progressing toward dedication may be encouraged to pray. But an individual who is insincere about studying the Scriptures, does not know the divine requirements for prayer, and has not yet displayed an attitude pleasing to God cannot be said to fear Jehovah, have faith, or be earnestly seeking him. Such a person is not in position to offer prayers acceptable to God.Next week, the discussion of the Lord?s prayer concludes.
Blondie