"God is not a respecter of persons...."

by compound complex 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  compound complex

  Dear Friends,

  "But Peter began, and said, 'Now I really understand that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every nation he who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.' " --- Acts 10:34, 35; DOUAY VERSION

  As a JW, if you were one, did you truly believe that God would answer the prayer of a "worldly" individual only if he were praying: "Dear God, I'm desperate! Help me!" (JW appears at door with life-saving message). Or, according to Peter's declaration, did you feel God could and would bless anyone praying to him, without the agency of a Witness? Your thoughts are appreciated!

  Yours truly,

  CoCo
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  Mrs Smith

  CoCo, as far as I remember Witnesses are taught that they are the only organization who's prayers are answered and that everyone else is basically praying to satan! That God does not listen to any of their prayers no matter how ernest they were because they were praying to the wrong god.Then again there were reports of people desperate for help and while praying JW's would knock at their door, but I think this was just "advertising" or encouragement to send everyone out from door to door. I was a witness for 12yr and I always thought that God only listened to JW everyone else was just wasting their time. Don't know if any has changed in their teachings on this in the last 8 yrs on this matter.
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  darth frosty

  I forgot about the Douay version of the bible I use to love quotes from that version.
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  choosing life

  The Witnesses believe that God has many conditions that must be met in order for God to listen to someone's prayers. They even had a chapter in each study book on how to make your prayers acceptable to God. They believe that god does not listen to the prayers of those outside of their organization, unless they are seeking to learn "the truth". Then he would send a JW to teach them.

  Even when I was a witness, though , I believed that God would listen to anyone who was sincere. The scripture cited shows that is true. I knew that he had listened to my prayers before I was ever a Witness.

  It always embarrassed me when someone in service would want to pray with a Witness. The brother would refuse to pray with them unless he said the prayer. It often offended the poor person whose prayers were scorned.
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  compound complex

  Dear Friends,

  Thank you for your replies. I understand and agree with your comments about the WT's viewpoint. Your touching on how YOU reacted to that narrow view was my chief concern. When at the door, we sincerely wanted the householder to see the love of God and understand his desire that none should be destroyed. But the official stance that all should get into the "ark of salvation" and be in association with the FDS was always in the back of my mind, bothering me. 'How are these people, on the basis of a few brief calls, going to go through all the hoops?' I was simply too overwhelmed, believing that their salvation was truly dependent upon my complete devotion to their Bible training. Hence, the quotation of Peter's words. It really is quite simple, isn't it?

  Thanx again!

  CoCo