Dearest Sue... may you have peace!
Dear one, I would like to take this opportunity to ask you a question or two, if I may. Thank you, kindly.
In the world of Jehovah's Witnesses, their is the position that those who do not agree with them are either 'worldly' (never knew our teachings) or 'apostate' (know, but no longer agree with our teachings), yes? And Jehovah's Witnesses do consider themselves attached to the Household of God, spiritual Israel, yes, and thereby actually adherents to the teachings of Christ. Yes?
Okay, then, I would like to take this opportunity to point out to you something that the Christ himself said, if you will permit me. In speaking of those who 'sinned' and after having been 'spoken' to by the congregation, how were such ones to be treated? 'As the world and tax collectors', yes?
May I ask you... WHO of the world... and WHO among the tax collectors... did my Lord EVER condemn? Was it not in fact ISRAEL that he condemned... Jerusalem itself? Did he condemn the Romans? The Greeks? The Orientals? Or was it of God's OWN people of whom it was said, "These people honor me WITH THEIR LIPS... but their HEART... is far removed from me?"
What's my point? I would like to direct you to the words of my Lord at Matthew 5:43-48, and I am going to QUOTE them here for you (because I know that in TRUTH, many Witnesses won't look up a scripture or verse for fear that it actually MIGHT say something different from what they've been 'taught' by the Watchtower...):
"You heard that it was said, 'You must love your
neighbor and hate your enemy.' However... I SAY TO YOU:
CONTINUE TO LOVE YOUR ENEMIES... and to PRAY for those
persecuting you, that you may PROVE yourselves SONS of
your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes HIS
sun rise upon wicked people AND good and makes it rain
upon righteous people AND unrighteous.
"For if you love those LOVING you... WHAT REWARD DO YOU
HAVE? Are not the TAX COLLECTORS doing the same THING?
And if you greet your brothers ONLY, what EXTRAORDINARY
thing are you DOING? Are not also the people of the
nations doing the SAME thing?
"YOU... must accordingly be perfect... as your heavenly
Father is perfect."
Now, what is your 'take' on these words, Sue? Tell me, are you like the "Pharisee"... or the "Tax Collector"? [b]Luke 18:9-14[\b]
Think HARD before you answer.
Now, how can I be of 'encouragement' to you, for truly, I wish you the utmost of peace, and I am...
Your servant and a slave of Christ,
SJ (who is perhaps an 'apostate', NOT from God, for He, the Holy One of Israel, JAH OF ARMIES (Psalm 68:4), IS my Father... but perhaps in the same way from the Watchtower as the Watchtower is from Catholicism, etc...)