2009 Special Talk Outline

OnlyTruth

IS THERE A TRUE RELIGION FROM GOD’S STANDPOINT?

Note to the speaker:

Indicate just how deeply people’s attitudes are influenced by their religious beliefs. While speaking with respect

for people who adhere to different religious beliefs, contrast attitudes that displease God with attitudes

that Jehovah favors

THE REASON WHY NOT ALL RELIGION IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD

Most people are born into their religion and accept it as they accept their nationality; some equate religion with

nationality

Others choose their form of worship based on personal opinion

Recent survey found that 86 percent of the world’s population profess some form of religious affiliation

(

w08

6/1 9)

Believers belong to 19 major religions

Professed Christians are spread among 37,000 denominations

But can all conflicting beliefs be true?

Rather than teaching that all religion is acceptable to God, the Bible clearly speaks of worship that is not approved

by him (Jg 10:6, 7; Mr 7:6, 7; 1Co 10:20;

rs

322-323)

The Scriptures show that some worship is futile but that there is a form of worship that God approves [Read

James 1:26, 27]

God places great importance on how people treat one another

What we believe has a large impact on how we act

THE PURPOSE OF TRUE RELIGION

(4 min.)

Main objective of true religion is to honor, praise, and obey God (Ec 12:13; Re 4:11)
Jehovah God deserves our praise and honor; creation and the Holy Scriptures reveal God’s wonderful qualities
(Joh 3:16; Ro 1:20)
Secondary objective of true religion is to guide man to the best way of living (Isa 48:17, 18) [Read Micah 6:8]
Some hold that all religions promote essentially the same objectives, namely to believe in God and to do good
Yet, what a religion produces in its adherents can serve as a basis for judging whether it is true from God’s
standpoint
INSPECTING THE FRUITAGE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

(11 min.)

There is a direct connection between what we believe and what we become or practice [Read Matthew 7:16-20]

(

g95
7/8 26-27)
For example, hatred, drunkenness, sexual depravity, and other vile traits were notable among the gods of

ancient Greece and Rome (

it

-1 978-979)

History shows that many worshippers of such gods found pleasure in immoral revelries and in observing

men and beasts fight to the death in the arena (

w02 6/15 28; w81 11/1 4-5; g97

11/8 27)

Those who believe in racial superiority have perpetrated horrendous forms of human oppression (

g98

3/8 24;

g93

8/22 6-8)
People’s view of death has a profound effect on their life
Many who have no hope in the resurrection focus attention on getting as much as possible out of life now
(1Co 15:32)
Thinking that the timing of all affairs is predetermined, believers in fate assume little responsibility for their

actions (

w96
9/1 6)
Belief that spirits of dead humans affect the living leads people to perform superstitious acts that result in

hardships and displease God (

w05 1/1 29-30; w98
7/15 21)
Many believe that God’s Kingdom will come through human rule
Such thinking ignores the fact that remaining without spot from this world is a key element of “the form of
worship that is clean and undefiled” (Jas 1:27)
Additionally, varying political viewpoints result in divisions and foster hatred
People fail to appreciate that God’s Kingdom is a real heavenly government that will rule over all the earth
(Da 2:44; Mt 6:10)
We must examine religion by its fruitage; if a religion allows or promotes practices that the Bible condemns, is
it measuring up to God’s standards?
It is vital that we answer that question, not from our standpoint, but from God’s
PRACTICE RELIGION THAT IS TRUE FROM GOD’S STANDPOINT

(11 min.)

Leading a godly life is linked to having an accurate knowledge of God (Tit 1:1) [Read Colossians 3:10]
Hence, true religion from God’s standpoint must be based on the truth as found in the Holy Scriptures
(Joh 8:32; 17:17)
True religion will produce people who do God’s will and reflect the wisdom from above [Read James 3:17, 18]
It must guide people in the way of love (Joh 13:34, 35; 1Jo 3:10)
People who practice religion that is true from God’s standpoint exalt God’s name and preach about his Kingdom
(Ps 83:18; Mt 24:14)
They are readily identifiable by their works of faith
True religion encourages everyone to examine the Scriptures and prove to themselves the perfect will of God
(Ro 12:2)
This can be done by learning what the Bible teaches (Joh 17:3)
Allow the Bible’s teachings to produce good fruitage in you (1Th 2:13)
Examine the evidence for yourself, and practice “the form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint
of our God and Father”
(Not all cited texts need to be read)

No. 173-E—page 2 TO BE COVERED IN 30 MINUTES

?

2008 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania All Rights Reserved

OnTheWayOut

Couldn't people just read that Kingdom News Flyer they were offering with the picture of a priest on it, indicating that some religions tolerate pedophiles in their midst? I mean, that flyer seemed to do a better job than this talk. It sounds so legalistic. I suppose they expect the speaker to stray from it a bit and blast Christendom, but not officially from WTS.

This outline could be easily used to get people from every entering the WTS. If members were ready for it, it could help them to get out.

Notice:

if a religion allows or promotes practices that the Bible condemns, is it measuring up to God’s standards?

Too bad they won't really catch that WTS allows known pedophiles to remain in their midst and work in field service with their children and ring bells of unsuspecting neighbors who might let them into their home full of children. Too bad.

Ultimate Reality

Welcome OnlyTruth. Thank you for this "inside" information.

Cadellin

Howdy there, OnlyTruth! From one newborn Newbie to another!

OnlyTruth

Hello Everyone!!

Sorry the format sucks I been trying to play with it, but to no avail.

LockedChaos

Thanks OT

PanzerZauberei

I would like to comment on the closing 11 minutes of the talk to see if the Watchtower fits their description of true religion.

Here it is with my comments in RED:

Leading a godly life is linked to having an accurate knowledge of God (Tit 1:1) [Read Colossians 3:10]
Hence, true religion from God’s standpoint must be based on the truth as found in the Holy Scriptures (Joh 8:32; 17:17)

(If this is so, shouldn't God be the judge of what is true and not the Watchtower?)
True religion will produce people who do God’s will and reflect the wisdom from above [Read James 3:17, 18]

(Most any religion does this.)
It must guide people in the way of love (Joh 13:34, 35; 1Jo 3:10)

(Most churches do this better than the Watchtower does.)
People who practice religion that is true from God’s standpoint exalt God’s name and preach about his Kingdom (Ps 83:18; Mt 24:14)

(All Christians do this by calling on the name of Jesus and sharing the Gospel.)
They are readily identifiable by their works of faith

(Any church has works of faith that identify them. Jehovah's witnesses have one work. Preaching. Other Churches do much more as far as works of faith go.)
True religion encourages everyone to examine the Scriptures and prove to themselves the perfect will of God (Ro 12:2)
This can be done by learning what the Bible teaches (Joh 17:3)

(Any Christian or Jewish Congregation does this.)

Allow the Bible’s teachings to produce good fruitage in you (1Th 2:13)

(As evidenced by what I have seen in different forums, the jw's miss this mark by miles and miles.)
Examine the evidence for yourself, and practice “the form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father”

(Again, any Christian, Jewish or Muslim group will encourage this.)
It is evident to me that there is nothing Special about this upcoming talk.

Thanks for posting this. I am going to go talk to my wife's uncle about it. Then when the talk is given he will be mad because I knew before the elders did! LOL