Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story

ozziepost

The story begins.....

The April 1 issue of The Watchtower seeks to paint the followers of the WTs as being superior because they don't pray the Lord's Prayer!

Note how this is presented:

Millions regularly recite Jesus' model prayer in church. But how many have been taught its meaning, especially the first part of the prayer dealing with God's name and Kingdom? These subjects are so important that Jesus placed them first in the prayer.

Interestingly, by using the phrase "Jesus placed them first in the prayer", the WTS ignores the fact that they have substituted another word first, namely Jehovah. Jesus did not direct his words to Jehovah but to his Father. And he did so as a model or example. How curious that the WTS should overlook this. Instead we are led to believe that the name is so important to true Christians, yet it's not used in the model prayer.

As I said, don't let the facts get in the way of a good story!

BTW note the backhander of a comment about the "reciting" of the Lords Prayer in churches. I suppose we never hear the 'reciting' of the word Jehovah in Kingdom Halls do we?

Cheers,
Ozzie

"If our hopes for peace are placed in the hands of imperfect people, they are bound to evaporate."

- Ron Hutchcraft Surviving the Storms of Stress

Room 215

Excellent pot, Oz, as usual,

One question I've always had about the rather thoughtless way JWs vocalize the Divine Name was whether such frequent, off-handed use of it doesn't detract from its stature and actually devalue it?

How, for example, would your dad react if you were to address him so off-handedly by his given name? Is more always better?

Amazing

Oz: Excellent point ... in fact, there is no place in the entire New Testament where Jesus used the name "Jehovah" for his Father ... but instead he always used the title "Father" when praying or speaking about God.

gumby

'Oh great Jehovah who art in heaven..hallowed be thy name'
It just wouldn't fit anyway!

Also ....forgive us our debts as we forgive OTHERS'.
Who are the OTHERS they forgive? Certainly not the world!

Will Power

There are many things about "The Lord's Prayer" that rub JWs the wrong way.
They would have a hard time saying "Our Father" since this would be reserved for the "sons of God" which does not include the R&F so says the GB.

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven"
Sounds like love all, esp. family friends & neighbours but Jesus even included enemies. Does not sound like door to door work.

"Give us this day our daily bread"
the body of Christ - bread of real life, daily

"Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us"
Us-like we can say this together, ask the Father for forgiveness not the BOE, forgive others even over & over & many times a day if necessary.

Matt 6:14-15
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
oooops

Also, Jesus did not say to pray this in his name at the end. It is the Holy Spirit who intercedes for you & makes your prayers acceptable.
Rom 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Who intercedes? Who reads hearts? Confusing?
Amen