Shamus, Acts 20:20 will answer your question.
Do you still preach?
by Theocrat 127 Replies latest jw friends
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a friend in need
Theocrat:
It seems that if a person was df'ed against their will, they may hold on to JW views and feel they should preach. After all, they are no longer witnesses but could feel they were not treated fairly. If they had their way they'd still be in, in good standing.
Some find it too difficult to face the elders because of pride. By what I've seen on this site though, it would appear most are happy with their new lot in life. Really, preaching does not have to be forcing your beliefs on someone. Showing scriptural basis for your belief and letting a person decide for themselves is the Christian way.
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larc
Theo, I think I used a bad example regarding cooking and feeding the poor, since the Witnesses do not feed the poor as do other religions. Please excuse me for my error.
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shamus
When Paul talked about the "sacrifice of praise" or "fruit of lips", he noted that as the duty of every follower of Christ.
Huh? What are you talking about here?
I am going to get my bible right now. Unfortunately it's the New World Tralslation....
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shamus
Okay. I just read Acts 20:20. If you put that scripture in context, Paul is speaking to "the older men of the congregation".... sounds like preachers to me. He was not speaking to the whole congregation, ONLY the "older men".
Do you have anything to say?
Sorry about the heckling. I have been guilty of doing the same myself and sometimes still do. I would like to work my way through this and verify that I should not be in fact 'preaching' from 'house to house'.
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dh
i am not christian. i do not preach, nor i do not consider preaching to be a responsibility.
inspired canon of Greek scriptures
i get inspired when i see the wind.
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Theocrat
Acts 20:20 is showing that 1st century Christians went from house to house. But beyond that, they talked to everyone they came in contact with, with the goal of explaining the "good news of the Christ".
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little witch
Theo,
Thank you for being respectful, I appreciate it very much. Ephesians 4 (thanks).
Ultimatly, when I read the gospel of Jesus Christ, what comes through to me in crystal clear clarity is this. God loves me. He loves us all. We are forgiven our sins and are all equal in the eyes of God. I do certainly believe that we all have different gifts. I also believe that gods love through Jesus Christ is never harsh or demanding. He freed us from bondage according to the bible, and freed us all from oppressive laws and rules. That is the message that I get.
If someone cannot rejoice in that message, and find brotherhood in that message, then I don't know what to say to that person. I am thinking of when Jesus said, " I give two commandments, love god, and love your brother". That is enough for me.
Now, how do I activate that message? That is very personal. I choose to identify the gifts that god gave me and use them the best that I know how. I care for the poor, contribute to my community, am active in social causes and politics. I do not "preach" (the original question asked), for I am not good at it, and find that many who feel they should "preach" are empty vessels.
Some people are good at using verbal gifts, and can show genuine concern for others by doing so. I am not one of them. You are not one of them, with all due respect.
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shamus
Honestly here... what are you talking about here Theocrat? You just said that Acts 20:20 proves that all true christians preach 'from house to house', in your own words.
Let me type out this scripture here....
Acts 20:17 However, from Miletushe sent to Ehesus and called for the older men of the congregation.
vs. 20 While I did not hold back from telling you any of the thingsthat were profitable nor from teaching you publicly from house to house.
So Paul is in fact saying that HE did not hold back from preaching from house to house.... not the elders whom he assembled, and certainly not the 'congregation'.
Can you explain this? I am honestly curious... maybe I just don't see this right.
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Theocrat
Shamus,
Paul set the example for others. He told the ENTIRE congregation of Ephesus to "become imitators of me, as I am of Christ."