COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE 3-23-03 WT STUDY
February 15, 2003, page 18
(The reviewer’s comments are in black or within parentheses. WTS quotes are in
red )
"KEEP BEARING MUCH FRUIT"
John 15:8
John 15 (NIV)
8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit,
showing yourselves to be my disciples.
The NWT uses "prove" which makes me feel we are on trial. It is not what we say we do, but what we actual do that matters.
Introduction
John 15:1-10 is partially quoted. An ellipsis is put in after "branches" and before "My Father." Let’s see what was unnecessary.
He that remains in union with me, and I in union with him
, this one bears much fruit; because apart from me YOU can do nothing at all . 6 If anyone does not remain in union with me , he is cast out as a branch and is dried up; and men gather those branches up and pitch them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If YOU remain in union with me and my sayings remain in YOU , ask whatever YOU wish and it will take place for YOU.8/15/83 WT
p. 23 United Fruit BearersJust as the anointed "branches" of the "true vine" must remain in union with Christ, the "other sheep" must remain in close union with "the faithful and discreet slave," Christ’s anointed "brothers." Only thus can they hope to ‘inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the founding of the world.’—Matthew 25:31-40.
Yes, only the anointed must remain close to Christ. The rest must remain close to the FDS/WTS.
This week’s article has this disclaimer though:
Although the vine’s branches in the illustration refer to Jesus’ apostles and other Christians who are in line for a place in God’s heavenly Kingdom, the illustration contains truths from which all of Christ’s followers today can benefit.—John 3:16; 10:16.Hence by keeping Christ’s (not the WTS/FDS) commandments (found in the Bible not the WT publications), his followers remain in union with him, and that unity (with Christ not the FDS), in turn, enables them to bear fruit.
Based on your background, what do you think the fruit is that Christians must bear? You might be surprised at what the WTS thinks it is.
ROOM FOR GROWTH It tells us not only that all disciples are required to bear fruit but also that all are capable of doing so, no matter what their circumstances or limitations may be.Translation: There is no excuse for you inactive ones out there. I can’t believe you haven’t spent one hour a month talking about Jehovah. I know you have. You just forgot to turn in your slip. And anyone with special circumstances or limitations, we can find at least 3 witnesses who are regular pioneering with the same limitations or circumstances.
Jesus’ illustration of the vine also shows that within the limits of our circumstances we must make room for growth in our activities as a disciple.Toward the end of the illustration, Jesus urged his followers to bear "much fruit."Translation: If you put in 5 hours, try for 10; if 10, then 15, if 15, then 20, etc.
Rather, we should look for ways (the elders will help you by telling you what you can do, not through their example) to make progress (put in more hours) in bearing fruit. THE FRUITAGE OF CHRISTIAN QUALITIES God’s holy spirit produces love within Christians (but they don’t show it).Jesus repeatedly reminded the apostles of the need to show the quality of love.Christlike love and related qualities are to be manifest among genuine disciples of Christ.Whatever our circumstances, manifesting the fruitage of the spirit is within our reach.Yet the guilt-tripping words
To a fuller extentMore fruit BEARING KINGDOM FRUIT Is there room in our life to be more fruitful, indeed to bear "much fruit," as proclaimers of God’s kingdom?Do you get the feeling that the WTS thinks the publishers are never doing enough?
Now note what fruit is according to the WTS.
Would it be correct to conclude that bearing fruit means making disciples? (Matthew 28:19)Does the fruit that we would bear refer primarily to individuals whom we help to become baptized worshipers of Jehovah? No.
And how do they reason on that?
If that were the case, the situation would be deeply discouraging for all those dear Witnesses who have been faithfully proclaiming the Kingdom message for years in less responsive territories. Why, if the Kingdom fruit that we bear is represented only by new disciples, such hardworking Witnesses would be like the barren branches in Jesus’ illustrations (of course, the branches really only represent the anointed)! Of course, that is not the case.So the message given here is that it is not necessary for JWs to be "effective" in their preaching. That it is not necessary to prepare beforehand by reading the publications to be featured, that it is not the JW’s fault if not one listens because they are still using the same presentation they have for the last 25 years, that it is not their responsibility that no one listens and that they don’t have to make return visits or conduct Bible studies because Jehovah will direct someone else to those sheep.
Notice that not a single scripture was used to support this reasoning.
FRUITFUL BY SPREADING KINGDOM SEED What fruit? Well, after a wheat stalk sprouts and matures, it produces as fruit, not little wheat stalks, but new seed. Likewise, a Christian produces as fruit, not necessarily new disciples, but new Kingdom seed.Therefore, the fruitage in this case is neither new disciples nor fine Christian qualities. Since the seed that is sown is the word of the Kingdom (WTS doctrine), the fruitage must be a manyfold duplication of that seed. The bearing of fruitage in this case refers to making expressions about the Kingdom.No matter what our circumstances may be? (4 th mention of circumstances in the article)But aren’t the little wheat stalks the new disciples? If new wheat stalks aren’t produced, how can there be new seed? Without new disciples, how will more expressions about the Kingdom be made?
GIVING OUR BEST FOR GOD’S GLORY Grain sown in a field may vary in production according to circumstances. (5 th mention) Similarly, what we can do in proclaiming the good news may vary according to our circumstances (6 th mention) and Jesus (not the WTS) showed that he recognized this.Some may have more opportunities; others may have better health and more vigor. Thus, what we are able to do may be more or may be less than what others do, but as long as it represents our best (as judged by the elders and other "mature" ones in the congregation), Jehovah (not the elders) are pleased.Recently, at an assembly the guilt-making experience of Laurel Nisbet was used, the sister in the iron lung, as an example of how those with medical problems can still be fruitful.
9/15/01 WT Jehovah’s Blessing Makes Us RichPicture on page 17 In spite of very difficult circumstances, Laurel Nisbet served God zealously 1/22/93 Awake p. 19 Not Even an Iron Lung Could Stop Her Preaching You may ask, ‘What about her baptism?’ Well, there couldn’t be one. Having no ability to breathe on her own, immersion in water was impossible. She was never able to go to a Kingdom Hall. She never attended an assembly. She never saw her daughter get baptized. But she accomplished more in her service to Jehovah than many Christians who are not handicapped.
You see, Laurel was a preacher of the good news. During her 37 year confinement, she was able to help some 17 people come to an accurate knowledge of the Bible. How did she do it? Of course, she could not go from door to door as most Witnesses have the privilege of doing. But she could witness to her many attendants.
The message is, "your situation is not as extreme, you should be at all the meetings, all the assemblies and conventions, and have you helped seventeen people become witnesses."
TO PREACH AND TO TEACH Jesus commanded his followers not only to preach the Kingdom message (but the kingdom is never mentioned in the 4 prepared for you sermons in the KM) but also to help individuals (but how is that possible when few JWs followup on placements or conversations by making return visits).Here is the reason; most JWs have this attitude. Why try when you know your efforts are doomed to unfruitfulness.
Sadly, most Kingdom seed falls on unreceptive soil.Over 5,000 people become genuine disciples of Christ each week of the year!
And how is that accomplished?
Often the personal interest shown by the Witnesses—the watering of the newly sown seed as it were—made the difference.What about the personal interest shown to those who are already Witnesses? Who has been sent a get-well card or been called? Who has been sent a sympathy card or have many attend a visitation of a non-JW relative? Who has had you over for a snack or a meal? Who has invited you out with their family for a recreational event? Who do they hang out with, close friends and family? Have years gone by with barely a "hi, how are you" with many JWs at your hall in spite of your efforts to widen out? Maybe if they could count the time spent with you like those who aren’t baptized yet, they would show more "personal interest."
Examples provided by the WTS:Noticing a woman’s hand was wrapped in bandage, a sister called back 2 days later although the woman had showed no interest. According to the sister this older woman was amazed and started studying the Bible (but there is no mention of her progressing to baptism. I know of a brother who was used on an assembly part to tell of an experience that had already ended with the man no longer studying. The brother was told to leave that part out of the experience.)
One sister reads the birth announcements in the newspaper and then calls on the new parents with the Bible Stories book. One young mother studied and was baptized. (Interestingly, after asking why one elder had no clue that a member of his book study had lost a close family member although it was in the newspaper, his response was that he never read the newspaper! Too bad, he missed out on all these opportunities to place books. See if they can count time, personal interest will be shown.)
ConclusionWe can see that the WTS in interested in time spent in the ministry, not necessarily results. Sowing seed to produce more seed, without producing wheat plants would be a miracle indeed. Based on my observations, only 1 out of 10 new baptisms are those from outside JW families. Baptisms at the assemblies and conventions are young people under 18, with a few, very few exceptions.
Yes, in the developed countries, the number coming in is dropping off. One congregation admitted that only one person had been baptized in the last 10 years that wasn’t a family member. Many JWs are apathetic and lethargic in the ministry, making non-productive return visits rather than going door to door because it is discouraging. The visiting CO of one congregation pointed out that a large number of territories had not been worked and that more attention should be paid to door to door, mentioning that at pioneer school, pioneers are encouraged to spend 50 percent of their time in the door to door ministry. But what do the rank and file see the elders doing? Spending time in door to door? Not likely.
Keep in mind that there is no record in the Bible of how many hours, placements, Bible studies, etc., that the apostles spent in the ministry. What is recorded is how they lived their lives and tried to imitate Christ.