I have a copy of the Berean Bible Teachers Manual, with the King James Bible, dated 1921. It gives, ‘Verse-by-verse comments on the entire Bible, condensed from The WatchTower, from Studies in the Scriptures, etc.’
It goes on to explain:
‘These brief comments by C J Woodworth are claimed to faithfully represent the fuller presentations of the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures.’
The ‘etc.’ above includes comments from, ‘The Hell Pamphlet, Tabernacle Shadows, and the Spiritism Pamphlet, Zion’s Watch Tower, September 1879, a 1907 newspaper report of a sermon by Charles Russell, a 1905 Theology Quarterly, and discourses on the Chart of the Ages.’
It is incredibly well organised, its reference system clear. You may go from a Bible reference, as you would in any concordance, to a brief comment taken from one of the above publications, and if you have those publications, you may be sent to the right pages to read the context. Set alongside a set of Studies in the Scriptures, I imagine any Jehovah’s Witness of the day feeling pretty well equipped for ministry.
I say ‘of the day’ because, when I compare the output of literature of groups from the 19th and into the 20th century, it seems impressively substantial compared with that of our own day.
Think of the Mormon Journal of Discourses. It is a 26 volume collection of ‘public sermons, discourses, lectures, etc. delivered by the Presidency, the Twelve and others in this city (Salt Lake City),’ and was, in its day, warmly endorsed by church leadership. It was sold by Deseret Books as, ‘the written record of remarkable teachings from the LDS pulpit. To the clear and vigorous exposition of Latter-day saint doctrine is added the unmistakable authority of divine inspiration.’
I have reflected on my own experience of Mormonism from the early 1970’s into 1986, the time I left. The ‘house magazine’ of the church, the Ensign, had just been launched. It was ambitious, aiming at being a regular, faith-building organ of education for serious saints. As a young Latter-day Saint I felt as if a feast of meat was being put before me.
Towards its demise in 2020, the Ensign had become a pale reflection of what was being put out less than 40 years ago. Not so much meat as oatmeal. Its replacement, the Liahona, seems to be no better, more a lifestyle than a faith-building organ of depth and breadth. Mormon apologetics today comes from amateur Mormon apologists who, of course, ‘don’t speak officially for the church.’ They never do, but who does today on serious theological issues?
From the condescending tone of Watch Tower leaders on JW.ORG, to the soporific sermons of Mormon leaders twice a year at their conferences, it seems as if these groups have run out of steam. I wrote a piece for the website not so long ago explaining how ‘The Mormon God Doesn’t Thunder Any More.’ Looking at the Berean Bible Teachers Manual and the publications it references, this seems true of more than Mormons.
In thinking about witnessing to people in these groups, it seems to me there couldn’t be a better time to engage them in serious conversation – provided, of course, we have something of substance to share ourselves. As the world, the cults, and tragically so much of the church is dumbing down in a race to the bottom, it is well to remember Paul’s counsel to the saints in Corinth:
‘Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.’ 1 Corinthians 14:20
What a picture we have to present to those for whom we work and pray. What a rich table of gospel provision we can offer those malnourished folk who may, even now, be looking for somewhere better to nourish their souls.
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