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PURSUE PEACE - A REVIEW OF THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS CONVENTION

 


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 14:27
In January 1736, John Wesley set sail to the Americas. His purpose, as recorded in his diary, was threefold. Firstly, he intended to serve as a pastor to the colonists. Secondly, he wanted to preach to the, yet unreached, Indians. Finally, and interestingly, he wanted to ā€˜save his soulā€™.

Wesley was clearly a sincere, and serious God-fearing man but, at this point in his life, was he truly saved? He recalls another episode in his diary that made him consider his position before a holy God.

On board his ship was a group of Moravian immigrants from Germany. A severe storm developed at sea, and they were in danger of being shipwrecked. Wesley, fearing for his life, noticed that the Moravians were singing and praising God, they were all at peace amidst the tumult.

Wesley recorded the event in his diary saying, ā€œIn the midst of the Psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the main-sail in pieces, covered the ship and poured in between the decks, as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sung on. I asked one of them afterwards; ā€˜Were you not afraid?ā€™ He answered, ā€˜I thank God, no.ā€™ I asked: ā€˜But were not your women and children afraid?ā€™ He replied mildly: ā€˜No, our women and children are not afraid to die.ā€™ā€ The storm was boisterous, but the Moravians kept praising God. Finally, the storm subsidedā€™.[1]

It was this event, amongst other experiences he had with the Moravians, that caused him to question why he didnā€™t have the peace and assurance they clearly had.

Upon returning to England in 1738, Wesley entered a sobering thought into his diary: 'I went to America to convert the Indians, but, oh, who shall convert me? Who, what, is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of unbelief?'[2]

PURSUING PEACE

Over the next few weeks, I will be doing a series of articles reviewing the recently held Jehovahā€™s Witness Convention entitled: ā€˜Pursue Peaceā€™.

In this introductory article, I would like to use John Wesleyā€™s pre- and post-conversion accounts as a basis to unpack what the Jehovahā€™s Witnesses are being taught by their leaders, regarding finding peace.

WESLEY PRE-CONVERSION

What we learn here from John Wesleyā€™s encounter with the Moravians is that it is possible to be sincere, to be zealous, to be religious, and even to be ordained and yet not have peace with God.

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:1-4

Paul here is speaking about his fellow Israelites, but his words are relevant to any who, ignorant of the righteousness of God, seek to establish their own. It appears, by his own admission, this was John Wesley as he set sail for the Americas, and this clearly came to light amidst the storm. Wesley had sincerity and some form of intellectual grasp of God and His Word, but he did not know Him. I can totally relate to this.

When I was with the Jehovahā€™s Witnesses, I knew a lot about God. I knew His name, I knew that the Bible was His Word, I knew that I had to live in such a way as to please Him, but I never knew Him. I often liken my experience to someone who may be massive fan of a well-known celebrity. You can have lots of information about the person, their age, their marital status, how many hit records they have had or how many goals they have scored etc., but if they ever met face to face ā€“ the celebrity would know nothing about their super-fan. Knowledge of someone does not equal relationship.

This was Wesley in his pre-conversion state, and this is every single Jehovahā€™s Witness; and whilst in this position they can can never know peace, nor assurance.

NO GOD, NO PEACE ā€“ KNOW GOD, KNOW PEACE

Upon his return to England, Wesley still without the peace and assurance he sought, became friends with another Moravian named Peter Boehler. It was he who helped both John, and his brother Charles, see their need of trusting Christ fully. Wesley famously recorded in his diary the day when all changed for him.

ā€œOn Wednesday, May 24 in the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, (A Moravian meeting) where one was reading Lutherā€™s preface to the Epistle to Romans. About a quarter to nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and felt an assurance was given me, that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.ā€[3]

PEACE AT LAST

Wesley had finally found the peace and assurance he had long been searching for. He transferred his efforts, his striving, his good works to the Saviour and found that Jesus was all he needed ā€“ hallelujah, what a Saviour!

I remember my first time in church as a Christian. I had never heard of John and Charles Wesley, and certainly never sung one of their hymns, but I was moved to tears as I sung words I thought was describing my own experience:

ā€˜Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and natureā€™s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickā€™ning rayā€”
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach thā€™ eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.[4]

The Wesleyā€™s were now believers, children of God, born-again by the Spirit of God. The peace and assurance that alluded them for so long was now theirs. But what about those who, like the Jehovahā€™s Witnesses, are still trusting in themselves? Can they ever truly know peace?

PEACE IN THE WATCHTOWER

Here is the programme highlights[5] for their recent convention:

Friday Sessions: Learn how love leads to inner peace and peace with others. See why the Bibleā€™s advice for marriage mates, parents, and children can be called ā€œthe road map to family peace.ā€

Saturday Sessions: Is it possible to enjoy peace if you suffer from illness, economic problems, natural disasters, or other difficulties? Watch an uplifting video that shows what people around the world are doing to enjoy peace.

Sunday Sessions: Can we really become Godā€™s friends? Is friendship with God automatic, or is something required of us? Hear the answers to those questions in the Bible-based talk ā€œFriendship With Godā€‹ā€”How Possible?ā€

What is noticeably absent from these headings? Yes, you spotted it ā€“ Jesus. During the storms of life, Jehovahā€™s Witnesses do not find peace in the finished work of Christā€™s death and resurrection, rather they must trust something else. They are to trust the ā€˜Governing Bodyā€™, trust their own works, or trust that they are good enough. No Jehovahā€™s Witnesses can truly know peace and have assurance amid a storm. Instead, an honest Jehovahā€™s Witness would have to say:

I go to the doors to convert the heathen, but, oh, who shall convert me? Who, what, is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of unbelief?

My Jehovahā€™s Witness friends ā€“ stop trusting an organisation for your peace and come to Jesus. Then, and only then, shall you discover the peace you so sorely crave.




[1]
The Journal of John Wesley
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] And Can It Be ā€“ Charles Wesley
[5] https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/conventions/


Comments

Pamela saidā€¦
Thank you for this article. It demonstrates well the difference between 'being religious' and trying to work for salvation and peace and the true peace which comes from having a relationship with Jesus. I wonder how JW's feel when undergoing a difficult time if they could not access their watchtower teachings and elders? We need Jesus!

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