On 3/6/22, I received an email in response to a person who was a recipient of the worldwide letter sent to JW’s (See 9/8/2021 blog post). For some context, the email to me is referencing the penultimate paragraph in the 9/2021 letter as follows:
“Jesus’ load is light and his life-giving waters are free - all who desire may join this remnant in worshiping in “Spirit and truth,” with no money donations asked for or accepted, and no membership with a physical religious idol organization required for salvation (Hos.10:13; Isa.1:16; Zech.1:3; John 4:23,24; 14:6; 3:16; Matt.11:28-30; 1 John 5:3; John 4:14; Isa.55:1; Rev.21:6; Acts 26:18; John 1:5; 2 Cor.4:3).”
3/6/22 email to me:
Email subject titled: Effortless religion.
“Can I join your religion? No effort or money required. Straight to heaven- just believe (or say you do) Sounds like my thing. I've worked hard enough in my life- 40 years as a nurse- and certainly behaved myself as an upstanding person. So I figure an easy religion is what I need. Can I sign up?” - Y.
My response:
Thank you for reaching out in email. First, I can imagine how hard you have worked as a nurse. I recognize that is not an easy job, and respect the stamina you maintained for 40 years as a nurse, especially considering the recent pandemic and stressful working conditions you have been under over the past several years. You also mention that you have “behaved…as an upstanding person,” and on those merits, “figure an easy religion” is what you “need.” You asked two questions, “Can I join your religion?” And “Can I sign up?” Essentially, you would like an “easy,” and according to your email subject line, “effortless religion.”
I can understand how you might feel, that you’ve “worked hard enough” in your life. In addition to being a nurse, much effort is added in serving Watchtower…donating money to financially support the living expenses and the compound of the top leaders, monies they also use to acquire property holdings around the world. Not to mention the effort expended to remain in “good standing” as a JW, attending religious meetings twice a week, participating in meetings, engaging in “field service.” Plus, keeping a record of your “time” spent in “service,” and then reporting that time to the WT organization…”Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey…?” (Rom.6:16).
Is there a “religion” Jesus wants you to serve? A religion he has chosen among all the organized religions in existence?
The religion of the Jewish system of things that Jesus, as a Jew was born into, revolved around the temple, and the ceremonial observances and way of life that included certain dietary restrictions (Lev.7:23-25; 17:12; Num.28; Num.29:39; 1 Chron.29:1-9,16; Heb.9:1,10). Imagine living then and hearing that this entire form of worship, carried out by generations, was to change, a tradition of worship that would no longer be required. But this is exactly what would occur. Notice what Jesus said when speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well.
“7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4).
Jesus became the mediator of a new covenant, sacrificing himself, and thus by his life sacrifice, “he took away the sins of many” (Matt.20:28; Heb.9:14,15,23,28). The first covenant and its entire religious tradition of worship - one of a physical nature - was made obsolete to now worship in spirit and truth (Heb.9:1,9,10,11-14; John 4:24). Did Jesus command his followers to create with human hands another physical religious form of worship? No! (Rom.3:20-27; Acts 7:48; 17:24). If we are commanded to worship in “spirit and truth,” we are to have faith in Jesus’ words and commands - he is the truth, he is the way, he is the life - and everything he speaks comes from the Father (John 14:1,6; 12:49,50; 7:16). “Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26). Do you see from scripture that believing in Jesus one “never dies”? Jesus is the “living bread,” he is truth and his teachings when consumed sustain a person’s life eternally (John 14:6; 6:51). “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).
The message contained in the content of my letter you received was not directing you to a replacement physical religion. I have nothing for you to sign up and join. What I can offer is Jesus’ truthful words that can deepen your personal relationship with God and Jesus, but you must read the scriptures for they are Jesus’ words (John 1:1,14; Heb.1:2; Luke 8:10). Sharing Jesus’ truths is part of the spiritual priesthood duties, a spiritual priesthood comprised of both male and female and who are “living stones” of the spiritual temple, Jesus’ congregation, in which he is head, and in which God dwells (John 15:4-6; 1 Pet.2:4-6; 1 Cor.3:9,16,17; 6:19; 12:17; Eph.2:19-22; Gal.3:26-28; Col.1:18). The spiritual priesthood carry out daily sacrifice duties, no longer physical sacrifices, but rather through Jesus, the spiritual priesthood shares Jesus’ truthful words with others…an offering of daily sacrifices of the lips (Heb.13:15,16; Psalm 119:108; 49:14). We do not serve God in the manner in which we choose, but humbly accept the form of worship Jesus said his Father was looking for (John 4:23,24: 2 Cor.6:16). Jesus offers life, salvation, and it is a gift of God, so then put faith in Jesus, he did not ask you to serve human leaders or an idol religious organization claiming to represent Him (Jer.17:5; Psalm 146:3; John 3:16,18; 2 Cor.5:7; Eph.2:7-9; John 14:1,7; 1 Cor.10:14; 1 John 5:21; 2 Cor.6:16).
Do you think putting faith in Jesus is effortless or easy? Jesus did not say it would be easy, but perseverance and effort is needed to have patient endurance, maintain faith, doing good to others amidst scoffers and ridiculers, and being shunned by your friends and family for sharing the weightlessness of putting faith in Jesus (Luke 21:19; Rom.1:16,17,21-25; Mat.11:28-30; 1 John 5:3; 2 Pet.3:3; Jude 1:17,18). This is to be expected as Jesus said, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt.10:22; Luke 21:17).
Please, my friend, let me know if you have any further questions.
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