In this video we’ll be considering a paragraph that’s taken from this book The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life. This is the 1968 version and I just like you to consider this and see if this sounds like the organization that you are a part of today. And even then there were some questions as to how we would stick to the understanding that this has. Listen to this. This is The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life. I don’t think this is on the Watchtower CD or online but here’s what it says page 13 paragraph 5.
We need to examine not only what we personally believe but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. It should be the sincere desire of every one of us to learn what God’s will is for us, and then to do it.
Now that’s what it says. But is this really what you believe? I do. I believe that if we have the truth, that should stand on its own merits. Well I want to share a text with you. Acts chapter 17 verse 11. it says “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Now what were they examining? Were they examining the Watchtower? Were they examining what a group of men were teaching or were they examining what God’s Word said? They were examining the scriptures. It says so.
With that in mind I want to take you to a Watchtower article. This is from the April 15 2007 Watchtower and the actual Watchtower article is entitled Follow Paul’s steps to Berea. There’s a subheading The good news reaches Berea on page 14. Listen carefully to what this says. It says Paul began his preaching in Berea in the city synagogue. How was he received? The inspired account reports that the Jews there were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so. Being noble minded, they did not stubbornly cling to their traditions all day. They were hearing something new. They were not suspicious or ill-tempered. Instead of rejecting Paul’s message, they were attentive, giving it a fair hearing and doing so free of partiality. I want to stop there for a moment. Is that what Jehovah Witnesses do when somebody hits them with something that’s new? Or if they show them something from the scriptures? Do they accept what the Bible says or do they go back to the Watchtower to see “Well, am I believing the right thing? Is this what I’m supposed to believe?”
Let’s continue. How could those Jews recognize the ring of truth and Paul’s teaching? They tested what they heard by using the most trustworthy touchstone. They carefully and diligently searched the Scriptures. Now this is very interesting to me. They carefully searched. Again, not the Watchtower but the Scriptures. Of course the Watchtower didn’t exist then. In an earlier video I did entitled JW.org and Catholic similarities, I mentioned this particular quote from the Watchtower. Take a look. So unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life no matter how much Bible reading we do.
The point is: Why study the Bible? If I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, why not just cut out the middleman? Why am I wasting my time reading this really thick book? What do I need to study this for when it’s all laid out for me in the Watchtower? I don’t need to study the Bible. Yet they tell me to do Bible reading. The problem is if I come across something that doesn’t agree with the Watchtower, if I study to make sure these things are so, why study to make sure they’re so if I can’t question the things that I’ve been learning? That’s what happens. You have to accept what the organization is telling you. You have to accept what they’re teaching. There are no asking. You can ask the question but once you are a baptized Witness, once you are in the organization, you have to be careful with how you ask those questions. You have to be very careful.
And the other thing that mentions in this Watchtower article, there was no one-time casual look at these things. It says the Bereans applied themselves to diligent on-going study. If only that were the case. If only we could do that as Jehovah’s Witnesses. You see, we’re allowed to read the Bible but once you see what the Bible says, then you have to go back to the organization for its interpretation because no matter how much Bible reading you do according to the Watchtower, there is no way that you can come to a knowledge of truth. That’s really sad. It’s sad that God has put a book out there that all of the people through all of the ages can’t understand until the faithful slave was there the last hundred years to interpret it for them. All of those poor lost souls. Just think about that. I just wanted to give you some food for thought. I have a lot more to say on this topic. I may cover some more on this a little later on but keep studying friends, keep proving what you believe from the Bible. Don’t take it from men. Don’t take it from an organization.
Keep this in mind too that the Catholic Church actually took the Bible from the masses for many years because only they were the rule of authority, they were the only ones that was qualified to have it and to teach it and to tell you what it means. And keep in mind too and what the video that I did about JW.org and Catholic similarities. I pointed out that the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Watchtower organization said that the Bible does not belong to people; it has to be belong to an organization. This is completely Catholic. There are so many similarities I’ll be covering more in later videos. I really appreciate you watching keep studying friends may Jehovah bless you in your studies.