Agonus,
Jesus is the way to Jehovah! Your appeal was noticiable for it's lack of reference to Jehovah. for me Jesus was a real person with real instructions to follow in accord with his father's will.
It is tempting for some to try and make it a choice between Jesus and Jehovah but it isn't! Jehovah sent us Jesus his son to reconcile us to himself to to replace himself.
Jesus himself was the faithful witness to his father so in being a Jehovah's witness I am only following the pattern set by Jesus himself.
Revelation 1:5
... and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,.
Revelation 1:6
6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father
While heavenly reward is something certain people desire, I myself do not seek it. I read the Bible and the annointed remnant is a strong biblical theme which I'm quite satisfied that our understanding is correct on.
For heaven to be the only reward for mankind as a doctrine would make large parts of the bible ridiculus even Jesus's own words. "the meek will inherit the earth" "your will done on earth as it is in heaven"
You obviously are very commited to your form of belief but for me even by using any bible translation, Jehovah's witnesses teachings from God's word are the most consistent.
You are completely ignoring how structured the Early Christians themselves were. Distributing written publications ( some inspired, some not) to all congregations so they all believed in unity. Setting up elders, Overseers, making decisions for the whole. Those decisions being held as final. You falsely imply the wrongdoing is simply being organised with shepherds when the bible clearly shows this is what we are supposed to be like.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:14
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
Most of Pauls letters reflect the practicality of keeping the congregations unified he didn't say "worship Jesus and your okay" but gave full explicit intructions on all parts of daily life as Christians, specifically the organisation of the congregations for our protection knowing we would need this as a defence against what was to come.
I see around me fulfillment of what the Bible predicts that the love of the greater has cooled off, division... having no natural agreement.
I sometimes think I must be reading a different Bible when I see how hardworking and seriously the Apostles took setting up the congregations and preaching work, shepherding the Flock, rebuking, encouraging, caring.
