About Brandon Harper Expertise I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was baptized for 21 years. I was a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness both paternally and maternally and am qualified to answer many questions regarding doctrine, doctrinal changes, historical basis for various doctrines, as well as offer rebuttal responses from the perspective of a former Jehovah's Witness. I can also answer questions from the perspective of an ardent Jehovah's Witness.
Experience I am 33 years old, became a publisher and gave my first public talk at age 4, was baptized at age 12, became an inactive publisher at age 32, and disassociated myself at age 33. My father has served as a congregation servant/elder continuously from the age of 17 on. Of my 9 uncles, 6 are elders. Of my 9 aunts, four are regular pioneers. My father is the presiding overseer of a congregation. When I began seriously investigating this religion I had to prepare for conversations with a very large extended family steeped in the history and doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have thoroughly studied many Watchtower Society publications that most Jehovah's Witnesses have never even read, if they have heard of them at all, seeking the origins of various doctrinal points. I knew I would need to have this knowledge to discuss the issues in detail with my family when I decided to disassociate myself.
Education/Credentials I read every Watchtower and Awake! magazine from at least age 8 through age 32. According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society I have the equivalent of several four-year degrees (Reference available on request). I would hope that education would qualify me as an expert.
Question From your perspective as someone who spent many years studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, what do you feel the will of God is? (scriptural backup please)
Answer Carrie,
Repentance from what we come to perceive as "dead works" or "works of the flesh" would be required. God "does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
Is this desire part of God's will? Will this desire be realized? I do not believe it is anyone's job to codify what God's will is. I do not believe God's will is stagnant, the final objective is constant but the will seems to me to be the mechanism through which the objective is achieved. It adjusts to circumstances.
There is a need to individually "go on perceiving what the will of God is," which indicates to me that God's will is not a list of things to memorize or a list of obligations to fulfill. (Ephesians 5:15-20) This gives the impression that God's will is something that would require ongoing attention just in order to perceive it. Codified rules do not require this kind of attention.
With whatever God's will is at any given time, perceiving it would be an exercise in taking the loving course. (1 Corinthian 12:27-13:13)
Perceiving that course requires practice, conscious effort, and application of our individual power of reason (gr: logikos, i.e. logic). (Hebrews 5:11-14; Romans 12:1-2)
One thing the Bible clearly states as an acceptable form of worship is found at James 1:26-27.
Aside from this, there are not rules and regulations laid down anywhere in Scripture as to what constitutes the will of God.
I hope this has answered you to your satisfaction. If not, please feel free to follow up with more questions.
