ARE YOU CHRISTLIKE OR  'THORNY' IN DISPOSITION?
(From Micah 7:4 and Isaiah 32:13 NEB).

Very few men have taught their families and the general public the Holy Scriptures correctly before the "good news" of The Christ came to a finish. (Rev 10:7). As an alternative "careless daughters" of JW congregations throughout the world were given exalted positions from which to teach the "lying signs and  portents" of their apostate men;  creating men and women with the unapproachable dispositions of "thorns  and  briars" like themselves.  (Isaiah 32:9  13.  2 Thess 2:9).  How many of these congregations can really claim to have shown Christian love, especially to the last of those gathered by the "good news"?  What was witnessed were men teaching aspects of the "good news" of The Christ by rote, appearing learned and feeling superior. And because they do not know how to show true Christian love, many sects select and repeat particular scriptures, attaching to them ideals that could not possibly come to fruition. Many are schooled in much the same way as those in other branches of learning, such as sociology, philosophy, psychiatry, psychology, etc, but having no knowledge of Christian love. How can they possibly claim to be Christians?  Let me explain the basic requirements that one may learn how to show Christian love:

The apostle Paul indicated that he understood love only partially, when he wrote: "At present I know partially, but then I shall know accurately even as I am accurately known." (1 Cor 13:12).  In his words Paul gave a clue as to what is required to be able to show Christian love. Paul was shown true Christian love by The Christ. And as Paul's nature was "accurately known" by The Christ, he first began to show love to Paul by temporarily blinding him!  This  act of love removed from Paul the lack of faith that had led him to persecute Christ's followers. (Acts 26:12-18). Later, and while feeding him with spiritual understandings, the Lord Jesus allowed Paul to suffer various trials. True Christians accepted the extensive sufferings of Paul as evidence of his apostleship, and so accepted in his writings Spirit disciplines addressed to them. They did not withdraw from him with such excuses as: 'If Paul is a Christian anointed with Holy Spirit as he claims, why does he suffer such adversity?  Is he not protected by God?'

Such faithlessness has been demonstrated among "thorns and briars" claiming to be Christians today. Here are some of the undesirable characteristics of their 'thorny' dispositions that make them unapproachable and their company undesirable:

They like to lord it over others, believing that only they have spiritual understanding and the answers to life's problems. (1 Peter 5:2,3). They go about hating and betraying, neglecting "sheep"-like ones that do not agree with all they say and do. (Matt 24:10-12 NEB.  Jude V.12). They make wrong use of the Holy Scriptures to appear righteous and to be glorified by men, and that they may continue their 'thorny' activities among gullible ones.  (Matt 6:1-4.  1 Tim 6:20,21). They do not know the love of God or how it should be reflected in them. Although they often speak about love, they do not have this important aspect of the Kingdom of God in them; namely, love by means of Holy Spirit. They may memorize much of the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, but in refusing to carry out the Will of God they are not sent Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 13:1-3).  Instead, they apostatize, paying lip service to God that they might receive glory from others, and teaching others to do the same.  (Isaiah 29:13,14 NEB).

9/12/92.
 

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