Sept 1, 2001 Peace of the Christ in your heart

by ozziepost 1 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  ozziepost

  Let the peace of the Christ control in your hearts, for you were, in fact, called to it in one body. - Colossians 3:15

  Watchtower view:
  It's the inner calm "that we gain when we become Jesus' disciples and learn that we are loved and approved by Jehovah God and his Son."

  The article states that this "inner calm" will help you when you face injustice, are beset by anxiety, and in conquering your limitations. That inner peace needs to be preserved by prayer, "regularly consulting that inspired Book", and "reflecting on the fact that Jesus never said that our value is measured by comparing what we do with what others do." In other words, it's focusing on what we, as Christians, do to develop this peace of Christ.

  The focus of the article is on control; controlling one's emotions and reactions, acquiring and then preserving this inner calm which they liken to the peace of the Christ.

  What is the Christian view?
  The peace of Christ is an attitude of peace that he alone gives. A Bible commentary states: "This exhortation is sometimes misunderstood as a subjective guide to decision-making. Paul is not speaking here of an inner sense of peace as God's gift to those who are in his will: this would make little sense of the second half of the sentence which must control the interpretation, especially if this interpretation is to be kept in with the context." (The Message of Colossians & Philemon by Dick Lucas. "The Bible Speaks Today" series, published by Inter-Varsity Press)

  So what is "the second half of the sentence"? The Christians have been called into 'a single body'. "Now the rule of Christ is the rule of peace...... When Christ rules in the heart, his peace will rule in the fellowship."

  Verse 16 reads: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you. The matter of having Christ dwell in the heart was discussed in a previous study article. (Watchtower, July 15, 1999) In referring to Ephesians 3:17 "to have the Christ dwell through your faith in your hearts" it stated that in the Bible study ministry, "it means making Jesus so real to them that he virtually dwells in their hearts." (page 14)

  Cheers,
  Ozzie

  "You can know the law by heart, without knowing the heart of it"
  Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace?
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  outnfree

  Dear Ozziepost,

  One of the things I most value about my freedom from Watch Tower control is that I can now freely admit the unity I feel with other Christians worldwide.

  Growing up I worshipped at various churches -- Reformed, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Roman Catholic -- and never felt at odds with the congregants at those places over any of the IMPORTANT things:
  Christ came, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

  My husband is Catholic and my children are all attending parochial schools. The whole time I had been a JW, I was internally at odds with the teaching that only Witnesses would be saved and that only Witnesses were heard in prayer by God, that His holy spirit operated at the Kingdom Hall only and not in all those churches of Christendom!
  Preposterous! I knew too many families where prayers were answered, people were living godly lives, and holy spirit was effecting good.

  It is an excellingly wonderful thing to feel that unity of the 'one body' once again, openly, without reservation.

  Thank you for the reminder.

  outnfree