The second study article and the ensuing reading article contain many interesting points. I thought of sharing some of them with you.
The second article entitled “Share In The Joy Of Giving” carries with it many positive admonitions, but mostly centered around the spiritual side of giving where the main thrust is on disciple making.
While it is true that disciple making is God’s will but we must remember that it is God’s paramount will that we ourselves become true disciples to Jesus Christ. Becoming disciples to an organization, to a religion, to a man or a group of persons and then engage in adding more persons to such discipleship is not what God or Jesus intended.
On page 17, par 16 there it says;
Remember, too, that the disciple making work is a group effort. No one individual makes a disciple, any more than one drop of rain nourishes a plant. True, one witness may locate an interested person and conduct a Bible study. But once that new one comes to the Kingdom Hall, the whole congregation helps him or her to recognize the truth. The warmth of the brotherhood shows the influence of God’s spirit…
I fail to see how this correlates to Philip’s experience in making a disciple of the Ethiopian eunuch. What about the many experiences of Paul making disciples without resorting to group support from any congregation, since non existed. Furthermore, it is true that a drop of rain does not make things grow, but Paul said that it is God himself that does that, and not an individual or a group of individuals in a any congregation, no matter what apparent warmth they may display.
Then par 17 has this to say:
Of course, besides sharing in the important disciple-making work, we as Christians also share in the joy of giving in other ways. We can set aside funds to contribute to the support of pure worship and to help those in need...Bold is mine.
In a six pages article under the heading of "Share In The Joy of Giving" the WTS could not afford more than four words in support of this essential part of Christian giving.
The next article entitled ‘Do Not Let Doubts Destroy Your Faith” has a running theme of an analogy comparing physical feeding to a spiritual one.
Under the subtitle “Doubt – Is It Always Bad?” has many wonderful advice:
"Religious exhortations to the effect that you should just believe and should doubt nothing are dangerous and deceptive.”
“A loving Christian is certainly ready to believe those who proved trustworthy in the past."
“Sometimes a person’s past record gives legitimate reason for doubt.”
“Although the [deceptive talker] makes his voice gracious, the Bible warns, “do not believe in him.” Proverbs 26:24,25.
“An ‘expression’ a teaching or opinion, might appear to emanate from God. But did it really come from him?”
“Exercising some doubt, or suspending belief, can be a real protection because, as the apostle John says, ‘many deceivers have gone forth into the world.” – 2 John 7.”
Countless times, I remember employing those very same admonitions to newly interested ones. It just never dawned on me to use them on my own set of beliefs first.
Then under the subheading “Unfounded Doubts” the article makes an assertion that to have doubts in order to establish the truth is not the same as having doubts afterwards. No, that kind of doubt can wreck the firmly established beliefs and relationships. It quotes James admonition in ‘keep on asking in faith , not doubting at all’ to make the point.
It is clearly evident that James was talking about an entirely different matter. On one hand, the WTS wants potential converts to raise certain amount of doubts in their own entrenched set of beliefs just so they can instill in them another set of beliefs. Thereafter, they must not entertain any doubt in those new beliefs. Whereas, James was talking about praying to God and have faith that he does listen and answer the prayers of the faithful.
Under the subheading “Maintaining Good Spiritual Health” the article has this to say,
“Think about that. How did we build a strong faith in the first place? “Faith follows the thing heard,” writes the apostle Paul. He means that we initially built our faith and confidence in Jehovah, his promises and his organization by feeding on God’s Word.”bold is mine
Just where does Paul talk about Jehovah’s organization? Instead, Paul talks about Jesus, his promises and the hope of everlasting life in the heavens. Things that the majority of JWs do not acknowledge, have faith in nor hope for.
To top things, the article highlights a new weapon from Satan. On page 21 it says:
“Satan engages in what might be called spiritual bacteriological warfare.”
I wonder what this sneaky devil will think of next.