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JW Convention 2022 – Pursue Peace – Friday Session 1

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The text given for the convention is the latter part of Psalm 29 verse 11, which reads in the New World Translation as:

‘Jehovah will bless His people with peace.’

Because Jehovah’s Witnesses erroneously, but deliberately, translate the tetragram YHWH (LORD in most Bibles) as Jehovah, every verse that has that name appears to speak directly to them.

So, in setting the stage for those virtually attending this convention, the verse clearly says to them that Jehovah will bless His people with peace. Who are His people? Of course, they believe it is them - Jehovah’s Witnesses.

To reinforce the opening thought that Jehovah has a people, a musical presentation was shown with Witnesses from around the world singing in their own language. The message is loud and clear. Jehovah has a people, and they are happy, united, and blessed.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are back out in force with their carts, and I recently spoke to an elderly couple of witnesses about the Lord Jesus and the way of salvation. The man responded by telling me that if he were to ask a question to fifty different Christians, he would expect to receive numerous different answers. I agreed with him. He then said if I asked a question to fifty Jehovah’s Witnesses, I should expect to receive the same answer. I again agreed with him. He then proceeded to make, what he thought was a significant point. He claimed that unity was evidence of truth. How might you have answered his assertion?

I told him that I have a friend who is a police officer. He once told me that if all the witnesses to a crime gave exactly the same answer, he would be highly suspicious. Rather than believing he was being told the truth, he would know that something was seriously wrong. You see uniformity is not proof of truth.

After the ‘look how united we are’ music video, Governing Body member Stephen Lett began the first talk, which was to lay a foundation for all that is to follow.

Jehovah is the God of Peace

Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well-spoken-of, whatever things are virtuous, and whatever things are praiseworthy, continue considering these things. The things that you learned as well as accepted and heard and saw in connection with me, practice these, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:6-9 NWT

May the God who gives peace be with all of you. Amen.

Romans 15:33 NWT

After quoting these verses Lett asked a couple of questions: ‘What kind of peace does Jehovah give?’ ‘What does it mean that this peace of God surpasses all understanding?’

Here is his answer: ‘It is so amazing and so wonderful that we limited human beings cannot understand it. It defies logic from a human standpoint.’

What a great answer. I wholeheartedly agree, but I have a question for him. Would you, Stephen Lett, allow me to give the same answer about the Trinity? I think I know what he would say.

PEACE

All religions tell stories of answered prayer and Jehovah’s Witnesses are no different. Lett tells the story of a young girl who lost her mother to cancer. Devastated she asked Jehovah for peace, and she received it. He followed this with another question: ‘What is the key ingredient to us receiving this miraculous peace of God?’ His answer: Having a close friendship with Jehovah.

Again, because of the use of, and emphasis upon, the name Jehovah, this speaks directly to his hearers. Peace only comes from having a close friendship with Jehovah and how is friendship with Jehovah achieved?

We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval."[1]

Since Jehovah God and Jesus Christ completely trust the faithful and discreet slave, should we not do the same?"[2]

You cannot have a friendship with Jehovah and disagree with his mouthpiece.

Apostle Paul

Using the example of the great apostle Paul, Lett rightly says that peace has nothing to do with our circumstances. He says that Paul knew peace despite his circumstances, because he had a close personal relationship with Jehovah. Really? He goes on to mention how Paul and Silas sang hymns to Jehovah, despite their circumstances, whilst in the Philippian jail (Acts 16). Really?

Paul could not have sung to Jehovah. There is no way that he and Silas would have recognised that name (though the NWT adds it to the text to appear that he did). Paul says nothing of Jehovah but declares that Jesus is the giver of peace and to him should hymns and spiritual songs be directed.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:15-16

After this Lett addressed the question: To whom does Jehovah give peace? His answer: ‘Jehovah gives peace to those who draw close to him and want to follow his guidance.’

Here we go. It was only a matter of time before we heard him say that Jehovah has done his part, now you must do yours. Do you want peace? Then you must… live a clean life meeting Jehovah’s righteous standard and be pure according to Jehovah’s moral standard. We must ‘work hard’ and play our part.

Lett mentions that ‘holy spirit’ will be our helper, but ‘it’ is to help, not to do the work for you. It really vexes me when I hear people say ‘holy spirit’ rather than the Holy Spirit. They seek to make Him a thing rather than a person, and it’s not just Jehovah’s Witnesses that do this, it has also become a popular practice in charismatic circles.

What a shame that Jehovah’s Witnesses have no idea that the Holy Spirit is not just an invisible force, but rather a person, a true helper.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 

 John 14:25-27

Arrggghhh!!

This was my response as Stephen Lett ended his talk by pulling Jeremiah 29:11 completely out of its context and applying it to his hearers. By the way arrggghhh!!! is also my response when I hear Christians do the same thing.

‘For I well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ declares Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’ 

Jeremiah 29:11 NWT

In typical Watchtower style, verses are prized from any context to support the overall message they wish to convey. Of course there are some verses Stephen Lett would never use when seeking to address the question: How does a person find peace with God? Well, here is how the Apostle Paul would answer that question:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

 Romans 5:1-2

Peace with God comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[1] Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.24

[2] Watchtower 2009 Feb 15 p.27

 


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