Dearest Dyan... again, peace to you!
You asked me how I was able to move on with my faith. Truly, my faith in God and Christ was NEVER dependent upon the Watchtower! Never! Almost the entire time I was "in", while I was obedient to them, I kept trying to "make sure" that THEY were obedient to God. And based on the Law Covenant, it appeared that they were. However, they spent SO much time teaching me the Law Covenent, and sloughing over the NEW one, that eventually something was going to come to "light", yes? Sooner or later.
For me, then, I had the privilege of having them exposed to me, NOT because they had done some cruel, unloving thing to my family or a member thereof (which they had, many times... particularly with me, as I "professed" to be "anointed"). I figured, hey, they're imperfect. For me, though, it was my Lord himself that came to me and showed me things I had NOT seen, and told me that he would show me more... including the very "weeping and gnashing of their teeth." And all that he promised to show me, he did.
My privilege came, though, Dyan, NOT because I am "special" (many folks here think I think that is the case...). It simply because I DIDN'T lose my faith: okay, so the WTBTS wasn't the "truth". By the time I realized that, I also realized that neither God, Christ or the Bible EVER said they WERE! But now, because they AREN'T, did that mean there was NO truth? I wasn't buying that. Truth was out there... and I still wanted to fine [it]. So... I asked God.
In addition to asking him to show me the truth, I also asked Him at some point during a meeting, to let me know Christ. Why? Because it seemed to ME that if that One was the one whom I was to glorify, and the One who gave his life for me, and the One through whom salvation came, I needed to know HIM a little bit more. I mean, the WTBTS kept directing me to "Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah," yet, I kept reading that my SALVATION lied with Christ. Why wasn't he, then, given MORE attention, rather than the usual wash-over? I couldn't take it any longer... and so... I asked.
Needless to say, I have since had revealed to me BY the Truth, that he IS the Truth... that Truth and the Son of God, Christ, are one and the same. And nothing has been the same for me since.
I don't need a church or an organization to worship God, Dyan, because... I AM the "church". I am a member of the "Congregation of the Firstborn," which congregation is simply made up of people are who LIVING "stones"... in a house NOT "made with hands." A TRUE temple, to replace the former "visible" one that was rejected, when the "cornerstone" of the true one, my Lord, was "rejected."
May I give you something to read that might help you? Thank you! John 14-16. Read all three chapters. Before you read, though, if you can, ask God to grant you a bit of His holy spirit, by means of Christ. He will do it, Dyan. All YOU need do is believe. (Luke 11:13) Then, as you read, try not to just read words but HEAR what the Spirit reads TO you! You will be amazed, I promise. Start there. Afterward, read the Psalms... in the same way. Ask for holy spirit... then LISTEN. Hear the voice that "guides" you as you read. After that, you won't need "scriptures" too much more often. Your need to "see" the law written will decrease... as you hear the Master himself "guide you into ALL truth." You will rely less and less on the "stone tablets"... and more and more on what he writes... on your heart. And you... will begin to transform and become "a new creation."
Don't worry about what some folks here say: they are much like the WTBTS: they THINK they are rich and have acquired riches... but they don't know that they are truly blind... among other things. People get on me about what I "know" and I tell them, I "know" NOTHING! This is the TRUTH! I also tell them that all that I know, they, too, can know. But... apparently, they don't REALLY want it: they just want to belly-ache and lay blame. Well, okay, then... let their ignorance remain. It is not my concern. And it shouldn't be yours. Just "keep seeking" entry into the kingdom... and allowing the Way to enter into YOU... and you will get where you're trying to go. Here, and now.
You also asked what part God plays in mans life on earth or what he expects you to do. It is VERY simple: God is only operable in the lives of those in His Covenant by means of Christ, those "in union" with Christ. And such "union" is shown at least two (2) ways: John 6:48-53... and my walking in Christ's footsteps CLOSELY. How does one do that? Love. Forgiving. Releasing. Having pity and compassion. Not closing your heart... or your hand to any who come to you or are "sent" to you... or you to them. Do you have to "convert" them? Did our Lord? Other than fleshly Israel proper? The Phoenician woman... what "requirement" did he have in order to show mercy to her daughter? The Army officer's servant? The Samaritan woman? None. He gave, helped, healed... because he WANTED to. And THAT is what we, too, must imitate. Love. TRUE love. That is all that God "requires" of us.
But He requires it of us toward our ENEMIES... as well as our "brothers." For loving even one's enemies... THAT is "perfect" love. And THAT is what makes US "perfect." Matthew 5:43-48
So, from time to time, Dyan, you will hear a voice directing you to do something, something loving, that you would not ordinarily do. For example, you might here a voice that says "That family needs food." You can return to your WTBTS thinking and say, "Well, they're not MY responsibility; I am not my brother's keeper and those folks aren't even my brothers." OR... you could simply say, "Yes, Lord," and do "just so". Where does faith come in here? Faith says you heard a voice, NOT your own, and it gave you direction. Faith says the direction is "good" and true. Faith says... you follow it, that voice, and its direction. You start out with something like that, something small. And it is small, for FAITH says that whatever such deed cost you, God, through Christ, will repay you. You KNOW this, so you don't worry about the cost. You don't worry about the recipient. You are doing the deed because God, through Christ, directed you to. Like building an ark: Noah heard a voice... and he obeyed.
And as you obey that voice and do "just so"... you will hear more. The more you LISTEN... the more you HEAR. And what if the voice tells you to do something wrong, something heinous, like harm your children? Truly, if God is love, and Christ is the "exact representation" of God, how then could they tell you such a thing? No, it would HAVE to be another "spirit". And that, too, can be, for not all inspired expressions originate with God. So, you have to TEST the expression. How? By love: if it is loving, born of love, manifests love, builds love and results in love... it is from God. If, however, it is spiteful, mean, angry, contentious, hurtful, etc., it is NOT from God... and you should KNOW this. Why? Because we have the life of Christ recorded for us and he never did ANYTHING that was not born of "love". And again, since he is the "exact" representation of God... then all you need do is whatever it is that HE would do!
What about Israel, you and others ask. And what about the nations He (God) annihilated. Sigh! Israel... was like Adam: stupid. Never heeded the WARNINGS! Never. Thought God a liar and so His warnings "weak". Ah, well... they found out different. In all cases, a warning was wrought. They were TOLD what would happened. And God is not to blame because they didn't believe it and put it to the test. Same thing with any parent who lays down rules, or warns their children of danger: "Don't do that because if you do, this is what will happen." In order for us as parents to be effective, whatever we say will occur MUST occur, if we are to keep our children's respect, as well as save their lives. If we run around saying, "Drug are bad and if you get involved in them, bad things could happen," but bad things NEVER happen... to anyone... eventually we lose credibility. It is the FACT that bad things DO happen, that many "smart" children save themselves a world of trouble. The warning was TRUE.
Don't concern yourself overmuch. If you start by simply wanting to extent love, in every way that YOU can, JAH will be with you, through Christ. Your "vessel" will be such that they can "reside" within it, dwell in YOU. And you will grow in the spirit.
I know this is a lot in a little bit of space/time... but I have given you what I have been directed. Eventually, you will receive what you need... directly from him. I am just a servant; he is the Master and it is to HIM that you must listen. My "commission" is to just cry out and try to wake folks up so that they CAN... and WILL... hear.
May the undeserved kindess and mercy of my God and Father, the Holy One of Israel, whose name is JAH... of Armies (Psalm 68:4), and the peace of His Son and Christ, my Lord, JAHESHUA MISCHAJAH... be upon you... you and your entire household... if you so wish it.
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SJ
