You've lost sight of the real purpose of this Gospel age; viz., to "preach this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness to all nations," and to aid in the calling and preparing of a "little flock" to constitute (with the Lord) that Millennial Kingdom which shall then bless all the families of the earth. (Matt. 24:14; Acts 15:14-17)
You are almost acrobatic when it comes to dodging direct questions…..I asked you what “the good news of the kingdom” is…..this response is a another deflection, showing that you also have no idea what the good news (gospel) is, with scriptural backing….in any clear statement.
The “little flock” are already chosen, with very few on earth now as we approach “the end” that Jesus spoke about. (Matt 24:14) It seems that those “missing in action” concerning the assignment given by Jesus before his departure, has fallen on deaf ears. Jesus said he would be “with” his disciples in this work that has a global scope…
”this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Who are out there obeying Jesus command in Matt 28:19-20?
Jesus said
“I will be with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things”….Who then is Jesus backing? Who are out seeking the “lost sheep” in all practical ways, as Jesus commanded his disciples to do? Do you see anyone else?
As the devil organized his system so that not many are actually at home during the day (out either earning a living or maintaining a lifestyle) we adapted to take the word to where people are…..hence you will see us in street witnessing hoping to help interested ones to come to an accurate knowledge of the truth. The internet is another adaptation. In a world where trust is disappearing along with love of neighbor, we understand that many are not confident to open their doors to strangers anymore, but we still keep trying and people are still streaming into our ranks, disgusted and disappointed with the failures of their own churches to support them, especially spiritually.
When Jesus’ original disciples were arrested and forbidden to speak about Jesus, they did not shrink back in fear of their opposers….
”So they went out from before the Sanʹhe·drin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name. 42 And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.” (Acts 5:41-42)
What did Paul say about this assignment?
”slaving for the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials that befell me by the plots of the Jews, 20 while I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house. 21 But I thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20: 19-21)
It is not a work that humans can accomplish on their own, without the backing that Jesus promised…..Christendom does not preach “the good news of the kingdom” because they have no real idea of what it is. Even those who claim to be “born again” have no knowledge of it, and cannot explain it in simple terms because it’s beautiful simplicity has been lost in the muddle of conflicting doctrines and the notion that all must go to heaven. That was never God’s purpose.
And your point is? You publish very little these days, a few tracts and brochures. Everything is on tablets, which can be altered at the whim without anyone noticing. You just hand out a calling card advertising JW.ORG
My point is that true servants of Jehovah, who are genuine disciples of Jesus Christ, are not an obscure group that no one has ever heard of…..they are out there, visible, different, and completely separated from the disunited rabble that Christendom has proven to be for centuries.
According to Daniel, they were to become a visible force in “the time of the end” and they would be distinguishable by their conduct and beliefs, in contrast to Christendom….this is the time for the separating of the “sheep from the goats”.
“Abundant knowledge“ was to become available at this time (Daniel 12:4; 9-10) and would be dispensed by one group who would be like the first Christians were to the Jews…..a distinct group with beliefs unlike the religion that Judaism had become over the centuries alienated from the true God by the adoption of man-made traditions and practices that God rejected. (Matt 24:45; Matt 15:7-9) There is just one “faithful and discreet slave” appointed by Jesus to “feed” his entire household of fellow slaves.
Join us or die" that's not Good News, although it's better than the alternative that Christendom offers of burning forever in hellfire.
“Join us or die?“…that Is a ridiculous statement, given the fact that Jesus himself proclaimed that only those who accepted the truth could be saved. Who is it that goes into “the lake of fire” ? (Gehenna…is not a literal place but symbolic of eternal death) According to Jesus, it is those who reject him as “the son of God” and who teach things he never taught as though they were indisputable truth. They never were, but who does their homework to “make sure of the more important things”?
Phil 1:9-10…
”And this is what I continue praying, that your love may abound still more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; 10 that you may make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not stumbling others up to the day of Christ”.
Progressive understanding was always how God revealed his truth...from Genesis to Revelation. God’s servants are given what they need to know, when they need to know it….
Who is doing the stumbling? Who has been stumbling mankind regarding worship, all over the world since creation? The devil is an expert at perverting the truth and making lies seem like gospel truth. How confident are we that the great deceiver hasn’t stumbled us without us even being aware of it?
According to Jesus, we will be the last to know. (Matt 7:21-23)
I've heard of the Pope too, but that doesn't mean I want to follow the Catholic Church and they've been at it for nearly 2,000 years.
Who has heard of your group? Without a contrast who could make a comparison?
The first Christians were a stark contrast to the practicers of Judaism, and the “sheep” will be a stark contrast to the “goats”, as the “wheat” are a stark contrast to the “weeds”.
It’s not the similarity that will identify the true disciples of Christ, or how much they agree on their few foundational doctrines, producing a very non-cohesive global organization who all claim to be Christians, but who cannot agree on much else. (1 Cor 1:10) But it is in their dissimilarity to the majority, and the fact that they are out there doing what Christ commanded, known, visibly different, and hated and persecuted for it, just like the first Christians were, mainly by those who claim to worship the same God. (John 15:18-21) Shouts of heresy echo down through time, but who were the real heretics? Wasn't it the ones pointing the fingers and punishing those who dared to question clearly unbiblical doctrines?
History repeats….but who notices?