Sunday, May 16 If this is how God loved us, then we are also under obligation to love one another. —1 John 4:11. God’s great love for us will move us to love our brothers. (1 John 4:20, 21) We might think that love for our brothers and sisters will come naturally. After all, we worship Jehovah and strive to imitate his fine qualities. We follow the example of Jesus, whose love was so great that he gave his life in our behalf. Yet, we may at times find it difficult to obey the commandment to love one another. Euodia and Syntyche were zealous sisters who had served “side by side” with the apostle Paul. Yet, they had perhaps allowed personal differences to cause a rift between them. In his letter to the congregation where those sisters served, Paul specifically named Euodia and Syntyche and gave them pointed admonition “to be of the same mind.” (Phil. 4:2, 3) Paul felt compelled to instruct the entire congregation: “Keep doing all things free from murmuring and arguments.”—Phil. 2:14. w19.08 9 ¶6-7
What's the general consensus of everyone here as far as understanding "to be of the same mind" —is it: to believe and think the same way about the same thing across the board? My experience while a member in approved standing within the Watchtower organization was that even when someone begins to see a contradiction between the Biblical record and the "same mind" understanding, we are directed to not rush ahead of the faithful and discreet slave (that was the counsel I received), and Jehovah will set any matters straight when it comes to the slave class, so wait on Jehovah. Until then, keep such matters between one's self and Jehovah through prayer and waiting, until I was helped to understand a matter better through a future adjustment by the "faithful and discreet slave." This was for the purpose of demonstrating unity to the outside world, that everywhere you went in the world, Jehovah's Witnesses believed the exact same thing. "Of the same mind." Is this what Paul was speaking about when he used the expression "to be of the same mind"? He spoke about this likewise in his first epistle to the believers at Corinth, right? "We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." —1 Corinthians 1:12-16 Berean Study Bible Whatever was going on between these faithful sisters, it was impacting their spirituality, for certain. I imagine their words and actions were no longer demonstrating the christlike manner all who follow Jesus are commanded to demonstrate to the onlooking, accusing world. Even online boards have Christians arguing with other Christians, striving to win arguments and prove their own rightness before God and onlookers, when it is the mind of Christ that we should be engaging in, according to the apostle Paul. Indeed, I appreciated how the apostle Paul kept it simple: "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power." —1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Berean Study Bible The "demonstration of the Spirit's power" in the apostle Paul's life surely had at its core the tremendous change in Paul's perspective and beliefs as a Jew, and the man had a fear-inspiring reputation throughout the Jewish-Gentile community as a zealous persecutor of any Jews who followed the Christ. Paul became a living demonstration of the Spirit's power in our life, changing us, making us into a new creation, the former man (or woman) passing away with its desires: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." —1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Berean Study Bible The apostle Paul, in his epistle to the believers at Rome, wrote concerning living according to our nature/sinful inclinations: "For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live." (Romans 8:13 New Living Translation) Personally, I'm drawn to Paul's noting not a hint that overcoming our nature and sinful inclinations is something we can do of our own accord. It is only "through the power of the Spirit" that we can put the fallen man to death, and will live as a result. If we continue to put on the "mind of Christ" as the apostle hoped the two faithful sisters would do once again when he composed the epistle, we will see the same "demonstration of the Spirit's power" in changing us from within, at our core, our self. . . and we "will live." Just some random thoughts, FWTW. —Timothy
Like a question of stringency "To be of the same mind".... The same mental outlook or attitude is how I perceive this. Considering that the first century christians did not all study the same passages of commentary every week. I consider that the statement, as it was meant at the time, was refereing more to general mental attitude than specifically to adhere to identical logic paths. If one person stands in front of another person and attempts to hypnotise or mesmerise them, is independent thought necessary to turn and walk away ? Eve did not walk away, and yet we are taught she was too independent minded. It could be likened to musicians playing in the same key. I feel this is a good analogy as musical keys are ecclesiastical. If everyone plays in the same key it doesnt mean everyone is playing the exact same note or melody rather that whatever the differences they are complimentary or harmonious differences. Never in the history of God's people was there ever issued such authority to a man or body of men which negated the possibility of understanding to be derived from a source other than a man's leadership authority. Jesus told Peter that something had been revealed to Peter from outside of Jesus authority. Moses took advice from Jethro on structuring the Exodus and disregarded Joshua's alarm at prophesy occurring outside of a designated group. Paul was counseled on his own arrest and fate, and the older men of Jerusalem were counseled on a coming famine. Hence being told to wait on an authority of men for future reasoning might be fine as advice, as a command it doesnt make sense to me. I read Philipians which is only four chapters and saw this, just prior to Paul's admonition about the two sisters. Philippians 3:18 NWT For there are many—I used to mention them often but now I mention them also with weeping—who are walking as enemies of the torture stake of the Christ. Philippians 3:18 BSB for as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. This maybe a measure of stringency for Paul's concerns with the two sisters as he is mentioning it directly prior.. Paul's mention of those in Phil 3:18 is with a state of 'weeping'. It seems as if what happened with these people may have been unnecessary or preventable, hense Paul crying about it. Seems like Paul is attempting to ensure something similar doesn't happen with the two sisters. Otherwise I think he would have been less sacrosanct. Also he doesn't quite say they 'are enemies' he says 'they walk as enemies', at least in this translation, and that does seem to make sense of his having a weeping sadness, rather than some staunch resolute dismissal of them, of which he is certainly capable. Perhaps he feels they may yet turn back in the course they are walking. The tendancy to seek to dominate others is an animalistic tendancy which can be expressed intellectually. Where we see statements about arguements being things of the flesh because the cleverest sounding reasonings can be driven by animal nature. Then there is what is described as 'the peace which trancends all thought'. Which can only be experienced, guided toward imparted even, though not transmitted with uniformity of study articles and educational aids and such regardless of the level of insightfullness. There can also be a natural ebb and flow to this. There are commands to love specifically with intensity. Intense conversations may turn sour although determinations can be made to right problems that occur and if such problems cannot be avoided in certain instances adjust accordingly. Intensity toward others even in a loving sense is likely to come undone at times, cause pain, hurt feelings. I know I can sometimes be overly tenacious in chasing logic and reasonings when my yeilds are consistantly lower than my losses I will just stop for a period. Apparently I didnt start talking untill i was four years old and some people in my family think even that was to soon. As a 40,000. ft view. The WTBTS is not a person although all the words written within the walls at Bethel appear in the same type settings, the same fonts, similar texts. Over time it takes on the character of an individual voice. In fact 'the voice of god'. I would be concerned that Christ would hold me to account for not taking issue with that voice. Of all the self centered self concerned prayers that i have offered up during my life to a living god. All the selfishness I have offered up to God in prayer and I'm just going to offer pure consiliatory silence and obedience to a composite all knowing idol. Its written that Jesus does away with certan elements with the power of his tongue. When people find inner peace and strength they are less likely to be led astray and love does strengthen people.