As we look at the world today with all it’s religions that claim to use the Bible as their guide, what do we find? Do they all agree on scripture or is there many differing view points? Does it matter if all Christian’s agree on a particular subject or not? It has been said that the Bible is a instrument that you can play any tune on. Is that true?

Being raised a Jehovah’s Witness’s myself and going from door to door for years discussing the Bible with many. I have found that most so called Christian religions have some scriptural backing to what they claim is true. For instance some believe this earth will be destroyed or wear out and some, like the JW’s believe it will remain forever. Isaiah 51:6 tells us, “…and like a garment the earth itself will wear out” and Ecclesiastes 1:4, “A generation is going, and a generation is coming; but the earth is standing even to time indefinite.” Because of seemingly contradicting scriptures like this many do not believe the Bible. I am not a Bible scholar nor do I know Hebrew or Greek but one thing I try to practice when reading the Bible is common sense. If it contradicts another scripture there must be a reason. Maybe one is symbolic or poetic and the other is literal. Maybe it was taken out of context and I need to review it more. We know for a fact we cannot take the entire Bible literal. When it comes to the earth, because of the wide differing statements found in the Bible, I honestly don’t know if this earth is going to last forever or wear out. As a JW I of course believed it would last forever. Now I no longer am dogmatic about my stand on subjects like this. I personally believe common sense tells me that eventually this sun will die and this planet with it. However I realize I could be wrong. Jehovah can sustain the sun and any star he chooses to. But will he? The Bible says Heaven and Earth will pass away but Gods word remains forever.

If we spoke Hebrew or Greek and lived in the days of the writing of these scriptures we might have a chance to understand them without any doubts but we do not. Bible scholars who claim to understand these languages disagree among themselves so how can a person like myself know for sure? I don’t think it is possible. So does it really matter if the earth will remain forever or not? Does it really matter if Jesus died on a stake or cross? Does it really matter if Jesus is God or not? Now I know that last one, Jesus being God or not is a big one. However think about it, All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given him. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe Jesus is Jehovah Gods son however, are all the people who believe Christ is God so far off? Most of them are very good honest hearted people. I have met many myself at the door. I have often pondered this and honestly I do not know. What I do know is I am not the one appointed to judge these people. Many Bibles if not most support the trinity. The NWT is an exception. We are told to Judge nothing here at 1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” The way I take this is our heart and motives are what really is in question to Jesus and his father. Not our proper understanding of a particular subject. If we were required to understand everything and agree on every thing wouldn’t Jesus have spelled every detail out for us? Jesus main lessons for us was all about love. Not what was going to happen to the earth. Not a list of rights and wrongs. This is one thing that bothered me as a JW. The Watchtower constantly went way beyond the things written listing what was right and what was wrong. What to disfellowship for and what can be forgiven. What was ok in the marriage bed and what was not. What I can watch on TV and what I can’t. This list can go on and on.

These things simply are not written in Gods word. To enforce them you would need more than scripture. However think about this in a new light, 2 timothy 3:16,17,”All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” What does it mean to be fully equipped? If you are fully equipped do you need anything else? Why do we need the Watchtower if we are fully equipped with the scriptures? The Watchtower explains it this way, “But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his “faithful and discreet slave,” made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. 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.” ( WT 1981 12/1 p. 27 par. 4) Say WHAT? When I read that the first time I was still a practicing JW. I found it very hard to swallow but I did like a good JW. That was so off base and out of line with scripture it is a wonder that many didn’t leave. A true christian knows that Jesus is the head of the congregation and Holy Spirit is our helper. Not some self appointed group of men.

The Scriptures are clear, 1 Corinthians 4:6, “Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.” (Like the GB over the other anointed christians?)

Many religions including JW’s teach that this life is the only chance we will have at gaining eternal life. Common sense tells me that a father, especially one who teaches us to forgive not 7 times but 77 (meaning no limit to our forgiveness) would himself practice such forgiveness.

Corinthians 15:22 tells us, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” I like to believe that the word ALL here means ALL. ALL men including Adam and those who died in the flood will have another chance without Satan’s tricks. It is not as if Jehovah doesn’t have enough time or space/planets to give his children made in his image more chances to learn from their mistakes.

1 John 2:2 says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” The WHOLE WORLD. That sounds like everybody to me. I believe our heavenly father has sent us the Bible for a particular purpose. Not to spell out every detail of right and wrong but to reveal what true love is. He loved the world so much he gave his only begotten Son. It has been written and translated in such a way that it is true, one can almost play any tune on it. We can send people to hell or heaven. What tune are you playing with your Bible. Are you judgmental or forgiving? Jehovah is reading our heart’s and listening to our tune.

Personally I believe it is wrong to judge our brothers (1 Corinthians 4:5) as many religions do including JW’s. I don’t believe all Christians need to agree on every point in the Bible. I do believe that the tune you are playing with your Bible is the tune you will be judged by. Matthew 7:1, ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” There are many other scriptures that are in the Bible having to do with Judging. There are those who Judged in the time of the Jews. Then Jesus said not to Judge or you will be Judged. That sounds simple to me.

When Christ was put to death he asked his father not to hold this sin against them for they do not know what they are doing. Does any man on this planet know what he is doing? I don’t think so. So… many do not agree on Bible subjects. How do we view them? What is worse, putting the son of God to death or having the wrong viewpoint on a subject? Sure Jesus will say, “I never knew you” to some. I believe they were the judgmental ones, the ones that went WAY beyond the things written. Those are the ones that will depart from him and not enter into heaven. They will nash their teeth. I also believe they will remain on earth (not taken to heaven with the true followers of Christ) and when they come around and stop nashing their teeth they can get to know the real Jesus. The forgiving, loving, non judgmental JESUS. So let us practice not going beyond the things written and stick to the Holy Scriptures that God has fully equipped us with.

With Christian love,
Your brother,
Greybeard

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11 Comments on Going Beyond the Things Written

  1. andrew says:

    I agree greybeard that doctrinal knowledge is not near as important as love, mercy and faith. After all wrong or incomplete doctrine will easily be corrected by Jesus when he comes. While a lack of love is much harder to correct.

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    • Difficult Places Common to Scripture says:

      I agree Andrew.

      In the parable of the sheep and the goats Jesus did not ask them about their doctrine only their love for others expressed in their acts of kindness toward even strangers.

      Having said that, though, it is obvious from the whole of what Jesus taught that he considered himself subject to his Father and that God’s Kingdom would come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that a time of trouble will precede such. But even so if a man should have all perfect knowledge and not have love what good would it do him?

      Most Christian leaders try to play “little fathers” and in doing so they inadvertently keep their members little children. The Watchtower does this as well, of course. It is only by forcing ourselves to keep Jesus ONLY as our Leader and Teacher that we can possibly avoid this trap. What did JESUS say? What would JESUS do? Should be questions fully in mind when anyone attempts to help his brothers. If the Watchtower leadership had done so consistently the Witness religion would today truly be a spiritual garden. But sadly, I know of no Christian religion that does so.

      For every word Jesus said learned men have written thousands upon thousands more to explain what THEY thought it meant. Yet, Jesus moved not so much the deeply learned men but the sincere and humble who were content to hear him alone and go their way in peace with God and men.

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      • Dennis says:

        “Most Christian leaders try to play “little fathers” and in doing so they inadvertently keep their members little children.”

        So, so right!

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      • greybeard says:

        Brings to mind this scripture:

        Matthew 23:10

        New International Version (©1984)
        Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.

        English Standard Version (©2001)
        Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

        New American Standard Bible (©1995)
        “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

        King James Bible
        Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ.

        Bible in Basic English
        And you may not be named guides: because one is your Guide, even Christ.

        Young’s Literal Translation
        nor may ye be called directors, for one is your director — the Christ.

        Greybeard Basic Translation
        Nor be called Governing Body, for one is your governor, the Christ

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  2. greybeard says:

    Well put Andrew,
    Thank you!

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  3. lurk says:

    Thanks Greybeard,
    You have articulated things that it was always on my mind.
    Now I spoke to some JW about God giving everyone the chance to make up their mistakes in the 1000 years. Which I feel it the loving thing to do.
    But of course this puts other doctrines into question, like why the need to preach or the urgency of it.
    How about Ezek. where they talk about the earth being fill in blood.
    One JW say what happened in Haiti is nothing, wait till Jah’s day.

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  4. greybeard says:

    Thank you Lurk,

    The JW’s/GB-org has said that it is possible that those who died with Kora could be resurrected. I say if that is possible (Jesus said all things are possible with God) then those who died in the flood and at armageddon can have a second chance. Maybe there will be a lot of blood, more than likely, but does that mean Jehovah has cast those children off forever? I personally don’t think so. We wont know until it happens.

    Your brother,
    Greybeard

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  5. Dennis says:

    Very good article G.B. Well said on all counts.

    Your Brother,

    D

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  6. JJ says:

    Thanks for the metaphor about “what tune you play on your Bible” Greybeard- I love that expression and idea!

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  7. greybeard says:

    Thanks JJ,

    I’m learning from you bro 😉

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  8. serein says:

    its not wether ur a jw catholic what ever else in all tyhe diff christian groups around the world i dont even think being a christian either will matter cos there will be people out there who are nothing and are realy good kind honest people with a good heart,when armagedon comes all will know and then get a chance to live start again in a world of peace but i still beleive that there will be some that wont live and wont get a chance becouse of there heart condition i dont mean cos they dont beleive in god i mean cos of there selfishness there bad hearts that jesus can see into,hel know who they are.i dont think itl be people who did a sin i dont think that i think itl be people who dont have compasion who arnt humble who dont have that kind spark, there is people like that,its not for me to judge althoe i do find myself looking at some people and just think harsh things and it makes me sad cos of there ways, i hope all do get another chance and live be happy for evermore,i think think right now that cos i see so much evil in this world i find it hard to beleive that they could get anotherchance in a peacfull world makes me think that it wont be peasfull as theyl still be in it,makes me think that theyl be in it for the wrong reasons just cos they wana live and not cos they love god and want to love the earth to.

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