What about the scriptural obligation to preach?

by lookingnow22 28 Replies latest jw friends

Gopher

Lookingnow,
Since you asked me about Acts 20:20....
Aaron's reply above covers the alternate rendering, "in private homes" or something similar to that.
Acts 20:20 only shows that the apostle Paul, one given as an evangelizer, had a teaching work that encompassed private homes. You surely know that 1st century Christians did not hold their meetings in halls, but rather mostly in private homes. Nothing in this verse indicates that the rank-and-file Christians were sharing in such teaching in the homes, but that they were LEARNING there.
Hope that clarifies my statement.
Gopher
Farkel

: I've always been taught that each disciple of Christ has a scriptural obligation to preach,
Yes, but unfortunately those who taught you this have offered no proof that is is an "obligation." They merely say it is. I challenge anyone to clearly show through the scriptures that "each disciple of Christ has a scriptural obligation to preach."
Also, if it is an "obligation" and one doesn't do it, then what are the consequences not not doing so? I mean, what do the SCRIPTURES say are the consequences for not performing that "obligation" of preaching?
Thirdly, in line with what AlanF has stated, if there IS an obligation then it is an obligation to preach WHAT? Whatever the Watchtower Corporation says to preach? I think not. What ever the Bible says to preach? OK, what does the Bible tell Christians to preach?
"God's Kingdom?" Define "God's Kingdom." Scripturally! Show us scripturally where "God's Kingdom" is a "Government" with a "Heavenly and and Earthly Organization." Any old scripture will do, just as long as it is crystal clear. Just any old scripture. I don't need dozens of them. Just one.
Do you see that in just one fuzzy statement, about Christians having an "obligation" to preach, the Watchtower Society has given themselves the right to define just about anything they want about that preaching, and at the same time, they've put fear in their members by declaring it to be an obligation with a fearsome "or else" attached for those who won't do it?
Take my questions to a CO, DO, or even a GB member and ask for clear, simple answers. From the Bible. You won't get any. You might get some gibberish, and a lot of stuttering and a lot of "don't question 'Jehovah's Organization(tm)' but you won't get clear, simple answers from the Bible. By the way, Watchtower Printing Corporation Publications(tm) are NOT the Bible. Don't forget that part!
You know why you won't get those kinds of answers? That's because they are NOT IN THE BIBLE. The Bible is full of crap, but most of its crap does not even justify Watchtower Crap(tm)! :)
Farkel
Oldhippie

At Acts 5:42 and 20:20 the NWT renders the Greek phrase as "from house to house". If you have a 'Kingdom Interlinear Translation', compare the rendering of the same Greek phrase at Acts 2:46 as "in private homes". If you have a copy of the large edition NWT look also at the footnote for Acts 20:20. The footnote for Acts 5:42 would seem to give weight to the phrase "from house to house".
One thing is clear, the apostles and early Christians visited people in their private homes. That they engaged in door to door activity as done by JW's today is not clear.
Of the 150 separate incidents of witnessing recorded in the Gospel accounts and Acts only 34 include any reference to house or home. Of these, 21 refer to homes where Jesus or the Apostles lodged or were invited to have a meal, 7 refer to lodging or a place for gathering such as congregations in homes, and 2 relate to Jesus sending healed persons to their homes. The other 4 are texts the Society uses to establish precendent for door to door activity.
Other uses of the Greek phrase are:
Romans 16:5
1 Corinthians 16:19
Colossians 4:15
Philemon vs 2
Farkel

With regards to Acts 20:20, the society finally had to recognize that it applied to the early Christians teaching EACH OTHER in one of their homes, or in an accommodating home. Yet, since then, they still use that verse occassionally to try to convince the troops it is their obligation to bang on doors of total strangers and offer WT literature.
Ray Franz had a well-reasoned discussion of this subject (including the Greek words in question) in his book "In Search of Christian Freedom," but I've loaned it out, so I can't refer to it right now.
I'm sure others here can do so, and enlighten you, though.
Farkel
kes152

"God's Kingdom?" Define "God's Kingdom." Scripturally! Show us scripturally where "God's Kingdom" is a "Government" with a "Heavenly and and Earthly Organization." Any old scripture will do, just as long as it is crystal clear. Just any old scripture. I don't need dozens of them. Just one.
Farkel, this post is NOT necessarily directed to you. It is for anyone who MIGHT want an answer.
A "kingdom" is "a realm or domain in which a king holds jurisdiction."
The kingdom of the heavens is spoken of God, our Father, and his Christ as king.
"The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ and he will reign forever and ever."
Revelation 11:15
The Lord spoke of the 'domain' of which he held saying,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
Matthew 28:18
The kingdom of God is the entire "realm or domain" of heaven and earth in which both God and Christ reign forever.
Because they have this authority over "heaven and earth" the Father is able to cause "the former heaven and earth" to flee and bring in the "new heavens and a new earth."
Revelation 20:11
Revelation 21:1
The result of the "jurisdiction" of the Father and the Son is spoken of saying:
"But there are a new heavens and a new earth we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell."
"The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy with holy spirit.
2 Peter 3:13
Romans 14:17
The Lord said:
"Just as the Father sent me forth, I also am sending you forth."
John 20:21
He spoke these words to those who 'belonged' to him and were later 'anointed' with the promised holy spirit. Through that spirit they can forgive the sins of others, and retain the sins of others. Just like our Lord, they too were 'sent' into the world that the world may be saved through them. They were to speak about the "life" and the means to get it by believing in our Lord. Once they believed in him, they too were granted holy spirit and belonged to him.
The Lord's 'message' when he was on earth was "Repent, you people, BECAUSE the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near." He shared the kingdom of God with anyone through the "gifts of the holy spirit" that he recieved from his Father.
Such 'gifts' he gave also to his disciples so that they too can "bring the kingdom of God" to others.
Luke 10:9
Once you understand that the "kingdom of God" is so much more, with the free gift of holy spirit you can drink of NOW, it is loving to share that kingdom with others.
Peace,
Aaron
JT

Alan
i have to agree, if a person accepts the bible point to preach the issue indeed becoms ONE OF WHAT TO PREACH - while it may speak of the kingdom, which is fine- almost any honest jw who has been on this site has to at least admit alot of what JW preach from house to house is not biblical after 3 weeks
what was preached today maynot be preached the next day
take alternative service- a bible student has a son who is 18 and goes before the army board he is asked will he accept an alternative job- he says no and shows the members all the scriptural reasons from the wt publications as to why he can't
so off the send him to prison for 4 yrs
well in 3 days his mom gets the lastest wt on lord have mercY IT has changed and her son can take the job at the hospital
but it's too late for her son- so now we have a woman who is studying , her son who is studing all of a sudden realize that God can change his mind at a moments notice
can you just imagine who that home bible study is going to go this week at this womans house
smile
so preaching is fine , but if what you preach ain't worth the breath you use to speak it out of your mouth then what is the value
james
Jang

Looking, there is no command that we are to do formal preaching like the JW's state.
The greatest witness is how we live our lives. What we do says a lot more than anything we say.
If you think more about the life of Jesus, isn't that how he preached more than not?
JanG
ozziepost

G'day all,
The trouble with looking at the board late in the day, is that you go to the end of the queue!!!
lookingnow: G'day to you. The gang have said it all! However one comment I wish to repeat. It was made by gopher:
However, consider that there are non-JW Christian evangelical groups that have grown from a small beginning to EVEN LARGER numbers than JW's did by the end of the 20th century. How did they increase their numbers? How did they witness? Not door to door, but more by personal contact, word of mouth, and conduct (as did the first Century Christians).

I don't believe that this increase is ever acknowledged by the WTS. To what could they attribute it? If these days since 1914 are really the "last days" as taught by the WTS, how could these 'other' Christian groups expand so much, and without the formal door-to-door proselytising in the manner of JWs? Remember that Jesus promised his disciples: "I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things" (Matthew 28:20) Do the WTS accuse the other groups of being the 'weeds', whereas JWs are the 'wheat' ?
Cheers,
Ozzie
Freedom is not having to wear a tie.
lookingnow22

Gopher or Ozzie :
Could either of you please give me a couple examples of other evangelical groups with similar or greater growth numbers?
Thanks,
Looking
JT

the mormons
have exp explosive growth

What about the scriptural obligation to preach?

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