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What Is Sacred Service ?
Matthew 9:13 |
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Mercy |
Sacrifice |
According to Jehovah's Witnesses, the religion I have been very active in the past 7 years, sacred service to God is only being done by Jehovah's Witnesses. No other so called Christian religion on earth is doing this. Their articles state that only field service (the preaching of the kingdom government from door to door), meeting attendance, one hour a week family study, bible studies with unbaptized persons, the building of kingdom halls,bethel service and other direct assignments given from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society are sacred service. All other types of love shown for God and fulfilling daily family responsibilities reflecting Christ and his love are merely service to God, but not sacred service. That means that going to a hospital to visit the sick, to look after your children or help orphans, to feed the hungry at a soup kitchen are all disqualified for "counting your time" as the Watchtower Society calls it. This drives the witness to refrain from these activies and concentrate on making new converts to the society as the number one goal and sacred service to God.
The Watchtower Oct 1, 1976, written by Raymond Franz, originally had this viewpoint on the definition of sacred service: "Sacred service is not something that occupies only a portion of our lives. It is not limited to just one activity, or a certain number of activities but it takes in every aspect of our daily living . . . . . Mates render sacred service in maintaining the honor of marriage, in their relationships to one another, working to the success to their marriage. A housewife could do her work at home as "unto the lord" and contribute to the esteem of the good news among others by the quality of the home life, by her hospitality, her kindness and her neighborliness.(Titus 2:45, Proverbs 31:10-31, Acts 9:36-41). Men could promote and bring credit to the good news by the way the way they performed their daily work, putting their heart into what they did "as into work done for the Lord and not merely for men" (Col 3:17,23).
Apparently after this article, there were many complaints pouring into Bethel to the Governing Body from the circuit overseers. They complained that this article was undermining their work. Here they were pushing the "works of sacrifice" of field service hours and pioneering and then comes an article showing sacred service to include acts of love and "mercy" on an equal level. However, the article did not make the allowance for the counting of time on a slip of paper at the end of each month for these acts of mercy towards others, as was required for the preaching work.
"In 1980, shortly after Raymond Franz's resignation from the Governing Body, another set of articles appeared in the August 15 issue of the Watchtower designed to return the application of "sacred service" only to such things as field service and meeting attendance. The whole thrust of the 1980 Watchtower material is to place service to God in a separate category of life's activities. It attempts to differentiate between "service" and "sacred service" to God , restricting the latter to acts of a very distinctive, unusual nature. It is true that the particular term under discussion (latreuo) is used in Scripture only with reference to "service to God (or to a god or gods). For pagans, such service involved things done in temples, in special buildings, special rites and special offerings to their gods. For the Jewish people, it was usually applied to acts performed in fulfillment of the Law covenant, including ceremonies, sacrifices. holy festivals, priestly service. All this is evident. The notable thing about Christianity, however, is precisely the fact that service to God is so vastly broader, so all-pervasive, not limited to activities performed in certain buildings or in prescribed forms, affecting only part of one's life.
The writer of the 1980 Watchtower articles is right in saying that "to the Jews, sacred service was always related to worship in obedience to the Law covenant". He is wrong in claiming that this rules out its application to "basic, essential acts of human living." . . . . For sacred service took in all of the duties in life that were performed pleasing to God.
The religious system of the Watchtower's teaching of sacred service, with the counting of time, only being the preaching work to unbaptized individuals and other direct assignments they give to persons, result in a warped view of what sacred service to God really is. For instance, I can personally recall many meetings, at the kingdom hall, where a "pioneer" will immediately seek out an unbaptized person who was attending so they can begin counting their time. As a pioneer they need to fulfill 83 hours per month or 1000 hours per year or be removed as a pioneer, which results in having a special title and privilege in the congregation. Can you imagine Jesus walking with his apostles and asking them how they are doing on their time that month? In other cases some witnesses were unable show mercy to others as in visiting sick ones in the congregation, because they would not be able to count their time. The true meaning of Christianity is turned into a competitive, repetitious, burdensome, heavy yoke of time counting to fulfill a title and vow made to a manmade organization and self appointed slave class.
"The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint from our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world" (James 1:27)
I know that most witnesses out in field service think little of looking after orphans and widows in the congregation because they can not count their time. And if an orphan or widow is not a witness and is not interested in having a "study" and attending the meetings, then they are dropped.
"For in loving kindness I have taken delight, and not in sacrifice: and in the knowledge of God rather than in whole burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6)
Notice that loving kindness is more important than sacrifice, which certainly shows that love of neighbor and family, whether baptized or unbaptized, is much more important then the sacrifice of field service and meeting attendance and is considered by God to be sacred service. According to this scripture, it is not the sacrifice of pioneering and bethel service that God takes delight in, rather it is the showing of kind loving acts to others.
"As for your father, did he not eat and drink and execute justice and righteousness ? In that case it went well with him. He pleaded the legal claim of the afflicted one and the poor one. In that case it went well. "Was that not a case of knowing me" is the utterance of Jehovah? (Jeremiah 22:15,16)
Notice, that helping an afflicted one is the same as knowing Jehovah. So helping a person, whether he or she is a baptized person in the congregation or an unbaptized stranger from any religion, it is considered knowing Jehovah and sacred service. According to the Watchtower, performing sacred service is only by helping a person through a bible discussion. This is not what Jeremiah had done above, rather it was pleading the legal claim of an afflicted and poor one. And in the case of Jesus, his illustration of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37 had nothing to do with the sacrifice of a bible discussion, study or door to door activity, rather it was an act of love and mercy, the very type of love that would be the identifying mark of Jesus true deciples. (John 13:34,35)
"Through him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of our lips which make public declaration to his name. Moreover, do not forget the doing of good, and the sharing of things with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Heb 13:15,16)
Yes, using our lips to tell others of Christ and his ransom sacrifice, allowing mankind to have a personal relationship with God is sacred service, yet notice that the doing of good and the sharing of things with others is of EQUAL importance and is sacred service to God, even though the society does not allow you to count this type of time on a slip of paper, which has a direct affect of how others in the congregation look at you and judge you, especially if a position of oversight is considered.
"Go, then, and learn what this means, 'I want mercy, and not sacrifice'. For I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners." (Matthew 9:13)
This really sums it up. The sacrifice of High field service hours and meeting attendance, consecutive weekends spend in kingdom hall projects, vacations spent in bethel service are completely worthless if love and mercy to friends and strangers is not shown. Because showing love and mercy of neighbor is more important than all of the above being of much higher value and is truly sacred service to God. (1 Cor 13:1-3)
Some portions of this information have been taken out of the book entitled "In Search of Christian Freedom" - Some of Pages 656-665
About the door to door preaching work that I have been doing the past 7 years, 4 of them as a pioneer (90 hours per month), I think can be pretty much summed up perfectly by Raymond Franz:
"According to God's Son we serve as a light for people by our deeds, deeds that induce praise of our Father. Those deeds must be not the product of external pressures or the result of programming, but deeds that are the product of our own minds and hearts and that show that we have been enlightened by the good news, that if fills our lives, gives evidence of having changed our lives. Mere talking during certain periods in a programmed "preaching work", using prescribed subjects and expressions set out for us in religious publications, cannot begin to fulfill this commission. As Jesus' deciple John expressed it, "love must not be a matter of words or talk: it must be genuine, and show itself in action" (NIV Version) "Little children, let us love neither in word nor with the tongue, but in deeds and truth" (NWT Version) (1 John 3:18). Only through reflecting the enlightening effect of the good news by what we are and do throughout our lives, every day and all day long, can we be as a light to the world."
Really, what good is it to God, if persons preach all day long "in word and with the tongue" because of instructions from a religious organization and yet are not genuine in showing kind loving deeds? The real point of Christianity is lost and the evidence is showing that a religious organization is removing persons from having a true intimate relationship with God and Christ.
Many of the Watchtower articles emphasize the importance of showing love of neighbor and mercy to others, but this is voided and undermined under a system of "works of sacrifice" based on the counting of time spent preaching to others on a slip of paper at the end of each month, along with the titles of "auxiliary pioneer" and "pioneer" that are no where found in the teachings of Christ. (Matthew 9:13)
Some portions taken from In Search of Christian Freedom - Some of Page 640
Works of "Mercy" Vs Works of "Sacrifice"
Works of Sacrifice
Apostle Paul states in Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Here Apostle Paul tells us that we are declared righteous by faith only, for although the righteous Torah or law with the "old covenant" taught this teaching as well, it also consisted of "decrees", "works of sacrifices" and "curses" that were to be "blotted out" in the future by the messiah, the Christ. These "works of sacrifice", with their commandments and regulations were a "curse", not the law or Torah itself. The further perverting of the law with legalism and oral traditions of both the Pharisees and the newly converted Christians, were making "the word of God invalid", causing Apostle Paul to repeatedly emphasize that it is only with "faith" that one can find Christ, not by legalism or works of sacrifice. Obedience to rules, regulations and church or slave class interpretations were not to be the "saving" factor. Only our faith in Christ is required. This is the context of Paul's statements in his letters to the Romans, Ephesians and Galatians.
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Have You Not Read "I Want Mercy And Not Sacrifice"
- Math 9:13
Works of Mercy
However, Apostle James states in chapter two, that "By works a man is justified and not by faith only" and "faith without works is dead." Here, there were those who saw others without adequate food and clothing and simply said, "Go your way and be warm and well fed" but did not perform works of mercy, by feeding and clothing them. These acts of mercy , not sacrifices, would be the determining factor of our faith and judgment by God, as "judgment will be without mercy toward one who does not show mercy; but mercy exalts triumphantly (wins) over judgment." This is precisely why Jesus quoted Hosea to the Pharisees saying, "I want mercy and not sacrifice." It is only by our works of mercy, compassion, empathy and consideration (not sacrifices) of others that are required with our faith. This is the context of Apostle James words. (James 2:13, 14, 26; Galatians 2:15,16; Matthew 9:13; Hosea 6:6)
What is the difference between works of sacrifice and works of mercy and love ? Works of sacrifice or legalism are the following of interpretations, rules and regulations of men that are not specifically stated or "go beyond the things written" in the bible. They also include the observance of the various "sacrifices", offerings and days and seasons pronounced in the "old covenant" with Moses. The Pharisees took this much further with oral traditions and legalism, making "the word of God invalid." Today, they can include church rituals, specific meeting attendance requirements, the counting of time spent preaching, "pioneering", restrictions on holiday observances and the enforcement of men's interpretation of scripture to be accepted from church leaders, slave classes or governing bodies. (Matt 15)
But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
Mat 12:7On the other hand, works of love are just that, kind loving acts of helping others. The illustration that Jesus gave of the good Samaritan showed he was the true neighbor, as he showed mercy to the injured man. And this required no sacrifice of preaching, rule following, or organizational requirements of any kind, rather just a loving act of kindness, imitating God and Christ. Works of sacrifices, such as preaching, should only come after faith and works of love and should be motivated from the heart, not due to any external pressure from any religious organization or supposed "slave class." (Rom 10:10; 1 Cor 4:3; Luke 10:29-37)
Many Christian denominations preach "love your neighbor", yet they are convinced that this is limited to helping primarily those in their faith. Apostle Paul speaks otherwise saying, "Let us work good towards all, especially towards those in the faith." "Working good towards all is certainly not limited to a preaching work, but is as the good Samaritan performed, an act of loving kindness. When Jesus asked "Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?" Then a certain man answered Jesus saying "The one that acted mercifully toward him, (the Samaritan). Jesus then said to him, Go your way and be doing the same yourself."
The fact that this Samaritan did not have accurate knowledge, being from the Samaritans, a false religious sect split off of Judaism, and yet it was only this man that proved to be the righteous person and true neighbor, shows that accurate knowledge was not the issue here, nor a requirement to do God's will, but "loving one's neighbor" with acts of kindness and mercy were the only determining factor. It was not required for this person to be from the so called true religious organization, but rather it clearly shows that any person on earth that is loving their fellow man is the true neighbor and is doing God's will. It is not limited to those in the same religious denomination or faith but rather acts of mercy "toward all" persons, regardless of their cultural, sexual, political, and religious views will determine each individual's outcome. Love is the spiritual view, the "pure language", "the perfect bond of union", and those who live it both "know God" and are "born from God", "For everyone that loves is born from God and knows God." (1 John 4:7-8)
So when a religious group uses the bible to label all those that are not part of their group as lacking "accurate knowledge" and are therefore "worldly", "workers of lawlessness", members of "Babylon the Great" and the "unclean thing", they are NOT showing love of neighbor. Can you imagine if the good Samaritan only preached doctrinal knowledge, but did not act merciful towards the Jew, both physically and materially? He did not preach, have a bible study or label this Jew as a false follower, but performed an act of loving kindness. Preaching God's word is certainly showing love to others, but is simply "sacrifice" and not a requirement for salvation and doing so alone is not being a "doer of the word." Acting mercifully, loving and kind towards all, far out weighs a mere academic study of scripture" and is the only true requirement and obligation of man. Through Christ let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of lips which make a public declaration to his name. Moreover, do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." These "acts of mercy", sacrifices of human kindness and forgiveness are precisely what the Roman army officer Cornelius performed, bringing him favor with God and Christ, despite being a Pagan. (Hebrews 13:15-16; Galatians 6:10; Luke 10:36-37; Matthew 7:21-23; Rev 17:1-2; 18:4-10; Romans 10:2; James 1:20; Acts 10:1-2)
"Perhaps in our day, Jesus might have framed the story of the Good Samaritan, as the parable of the good homosexual New Ager. There are people in our world, like homosexual individuals or those who embrace New Age theology, who may well be more compassionate than the majority of people found in a Christian church on any given Sunday. Some homosexuals, for instance, give all they have to help friends who are dying of AIDS. It would be hard to find many evangelicals who match their compassion! ....... we must recognize some Pagans will surpass our good deeds ..................... people who we despise for their so called lack of rightness can actually be more righteous than us." - Extreme Righteousness , page 56 - Tom Hovestol (Italics added) What is God's will for mankind? "It is that all men be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" What is that "knowledge of truth?" That "there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all men", a man also being a part of God who both taught and demonstrated how persons should treat their fellow man. This knowledge is not any elaborate detailed scriptural information, but simply the love of God's free gift, Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is "the way, the life and the 'truth." Certainly, as noted above, persons having this "knowledge of the truth" are not those who simply confess their sins and put faith in the Christ, or those who follow all the rules and and laws, for this is inferior to the "doing of good and sharing of things with others", forgiving others and "acting mercifully", emotionally, physically and materially to all others, regardless of their religious following. (1 Timothy 2:3-5; John 14:6; Heb 13:15-16)
While Jehovah's Witnesses will put emphasis on intellectualism, "taking in knowledge" and "sacrifice" for salvation, many churches, but not all, will put emphasis on simply verbal affirmations of "having faith" or "believing" in Christ. Both of these roads of thinking overlook the very core of Christ's teachings, love and mercy, for it is acts of mercy to others that determines the true meaning and following of the Christ. For a Christian's worship is narrow, without the freedom to put selfishness and greed above kindness to others, for we must "exert ourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow gate." This is not through a rigid belief system and restrictive way containing vigorous "sacrifices." Nor is it simply "having faith" or "believing" in Christ without showing impartial loving acts of kindness to others. Rather, salvation is obtained through impartial vigorous love, showing acts of kindness, both to those in the faith and outside of the faith, with no particular limitations or rules, outside of love, defining what is exercising faith in Christ and what is not exercising faith in Christ. It is as the good Samaritan performed in Jesus' illustration, an act of loving kindness. Anyone can say they "have faith" and "believe" in Christ, but unless they "love their neighbor as themselves" they do not truly have faith, knowledge or believe in Christ and make the "word of God invalid", being hearers only and not doers of the word by showing mercy. (John 17:3; Galatians 3:8; 5:14; 6:10; Luke 13:24; Matt 22:37-39; James 1:20; Matt 15:6-9)