"Have I become your enemy?"

(Galatians 4:16) So, then, have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

I fear that is the case with some of you.

When the FDS themselves tell you that they are not inspired and do not have any special knowledge or revelations, do you reject their own words?

[w17.02 p. 26 par. 12] "The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction... Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would produce perfect spiritual food."

[w16.01 p. 23 par. 6] "They do not claim to have special knowledge or revelations."

And they acknowledge that they are not given a better understanding of the Bible.

[w20.01 p. 28 par. 5] "They know that Jehovah does not necessarily give anointed ones more holy spirit than he gives his other servants. They do not feel that they have a deeper understanding of Bible truths than anyone else."

I am not an opponent or rival of the FDS. I see the FDS as Apollos from Alexandria.

(Acts 18:24-28) Now a Jew named A·polʹlos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephʹe·sus; he was an eloquent man who was well-versed in the Scriptures. ²⁵ This man had been instructed in the way of Jehovah, and aglow with the spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, but he was acquainted only with the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and when Pris·cilʹla and Aqʹui·la heard him, they took him into their company and explained the way of God more accurately to him. ²⁷ Further, because he wanted to go across to A·chaʹia, the brothers wrote to the disciples, urging them to receive him kindly. So when he got there, he greatly helped those who through God’s undeserved kindness had become believers; ²⁸ for publicly and with great intensity he thoroughly proved the Jews to be wrong, showing them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Just as Apollos was an eloquent man who was well-versed in the Scriptures, so too are the FDS. They are instructing in the way of Jehovah, and are aglow with the spirit. They are speaking and teaching accurately many things about Jesus and Jehovah. They greatly help those who through God’s undeserved kindness have become believers. Using the Scriptures they publicly and with great intensity thoroughly prove the false doctrines of Christendom to be wrong.

I'm going to put that paragraph here again, to emphasize how i feel about the faithful slave:

Just as Apollos was an eloquent man who was well-versed in the Scriptures, so too are the FDS. They are instructing in the way of Jehovah, and are aglow with the spirit. They are speaking and teaching accurately many things about Jesus and Jehovah. They greatly help those who through God’s undeserved kindness have become believers. Using the Scriptures they publicly and with great intensity thoroughly prove the false doctrines of Christendom to be wrong.

But just as Apollos had a few inaccuracies in his teachings, so too do the FDS, as they themselves tell us. But that does not disqualify them from being the faithful slave. As the 2017 Watchtower quoted above says: "Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would produce perfect spiritual food."

I consider myself to be a 'sincere Christian' who is just trying to share "doctrinal error" that i have discovered, as a 'genuine friend' should.

[w01 6/15 p. 32] Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses are fulfilling their commission “to make disciples of people of all the nations, . . . teaching them to observe all the things [Jesus Christ has] commanded.” In doing so, these sincere Christians do not compromise Bible truths that expose and condemn doctrinal error and unchristian behavior. (Matthew 15:9) Rather than becoming enemies to be rejected, they are manifesting the interest of genuine friends.

My intent is not to somehow discredit the FDS, but to help you gain more accurate scriptural understanding.

(Mark 9:40) For whoever is not against us is for us.

(Luke 9:50) But Jesus said to him: “Do not try to prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Consider the attitude of the Pharisees:

(John 9:34) In answer they said to him: “You were altogether born in sin, and yet are you teaching us?” And they threw him out!

[jy p. 168] "Unable to refute the beggar’s reasoning, the Pharisees revile him."

[w88 6/15 p. 9] "The Pharisees have no answer for such straightforward, clear logic. They cannot face up to the truth, and so they revile the man."

[w65 6/1 p. 323] "So prejudiced were they against Jesus that they would not acknowledge the truth concerning him or what he had done for this blind man. ... There was no doubt about it. ... But truth does not convince those who do not like to hear it. Nor did it in this case, ... The Pharisees could not face up to the truth. They did not want to hear it, so proud and prejudiced were they. ... Above all others, these were the ones that should have been willing to hear the truth. No doubt about it. Those religious leaders did not want to hear the truth. Yet thousands of others heard and accepted it, although these did not include the proud, the prejudiced, or those hungering for power and money. Humble persons, those who loved God, who loved what is right, were the ones that accepted the truth."

Instead of accepting the truth the Pharisees rejected it, because they rejected the messenger.

That Watchtower continues with the following paragraph. Please give it serious consideration!

[w65 6/1 p. 324] "Do you love truth? Would you have listened to the truth about Jesus in his day? Do you say, Yes? Then what about today? Do you want to hear the truth as Jesus preached it? If so, do not let pride or prejudice close your ears to truth. Do as God-fearing persons in the first century did. Analyze what you are told about God and his purposes. Listen to those who want to explain the Bible to you. Compare what you hear with the facts found in your own copy of God’s Word.—Acts 17:11."

I encourage you to be like those in the city of the Samaritan woman.

(John 4:42) and they said to the woman: “We no longer believe just because of what you said; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the savior of the world.”

Don't believe anything because of what i say.

Believe what the Bible says.

your brother
Dave

da.getmyip@gmail.com

Last updated 01-18-2022       (Date created 09-11-2021)