When I was still active I felt incredible pressure to attend meetings and put in field service hours. It made me very uncomfortable to the point of anxiety/depression. It was as if a weight was lifted once I left, and the anxiety/depression was cut 90%. The problem I faced next was how would I teach the Truth? The corporate bean counting seemed odd to me. After all, Jehovah knows our works, so why does it matter who else knows? This never sat well with me, especially the way I was encouraged to game the system by adding 15 minutes of field service time for each reference I made about the Bible informally. It seems so mechanical, and wrong... almost like the spirit of Satan when he tricked David to perform a census.
Something else to consider is the question of who Jesus was referring to in his parables (wheat, virgins, talents...)? Was he only referring to the anointed? Are the "other sheep" under the same orders? There seems to be contradictions, with one scripture saying we're saved by faith, and another saying by works. IMHO it seems the anointed are supposed to gather more disciples, while the non-anointed are saved by their faith. Am I wrong, and if so... please show me with sound scriptural evidence and not personal, WT inculcated conjecture.
Thanks for anyone who contributes.
Galatians 5:19-26 "19 Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, 20 idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. 22 On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the stake the flesh together with its passions and desires. 25 If we are living by spirit, let us also go on walking orderly by spirit. 26 Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another."
By this undeserved kindness you have been
saved through
faith, and this is not of your own doing; rather, it is God’s gift.
But he said to the woman: “Your
faith has
saved you; go in peace.”
On hearing this, Jesus answered him: “Have no fear, only have
faith, and she will be
saved.”
On the contrary, we have
faith that we are
saved through the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus in the same way that they are.”
For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and
exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be
saved.
Of what benefit is it, my brothers,
if someone says he has faith but he does not have works? That
faith cannot
save him, can it?
*This scripture seems to indicate we also need works, which conflicts with the other scriptures which do not say we need works. Hence my request for Robert to clear up this question. Is my salvation based on my field service hours or my faith... how many Jehovah's Witnesses I bring in or how many people I teach the Truth to? I certainly don't sit on my couch and not tell people about the Kingdom... so am I doing enough? My conscience is clear, and I have no worries that I'm not doing enough, but when I was attending meetings I felt overwhelming anxiety and depression because I never felt good enough. Also, was Jesus telling his parables to the anointed and the other sheep, or just the anointed?
recognize that a man is
declared righteous, not by works of law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ. So we have put our
faith in Christ Jesus, so that we may be declared righteous by
faith in Christ and not by works of law, for no one will be declared righteous by works of law.
So those who adhere to
faith are being blessed together with Abraham, who had
faith.
I really like this passage at
James 2:18-26 "Nevertheless, someone will say: “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder. 20 But do you care to know, O empty man, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father declared righteous by works after he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that his faith was active along with his works and his faith was perfected by his works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled that says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called Jehovah’s friend. 24 You see that a man is to be declared righteous by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same manner, was not Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous by works after she received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? 26 Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
IMHO, "works" is essentially how we live our lives. If we live by spirit and faith, and not the flesh... these are our works, and our living example leads others to the Truth. Abraham's "works" was his absolute faith in Jehovah... Rahab's "works" was when she sided with the Israelites and Jehovah. Unfortunately this topic gets used by self-righteous individuals (not anyone here) to exalt themselves by insinuating their works are better than others because of their volume of field service... or what not.