MrGordon, you haven't addressed the issue that I raised. You have a God that you refer to as Jehovah, and you have a god that you refer to as THE Archangel. You revere and honour both even if in a "graduated arrangement". My point was that revering and honouring more than one god (and/or God) is by definition polytheism. It appears that this is an embarrassing point as you are skirting round it.
Whereu, above all Jehovah is worthy of our honour.
I'm not questioning or disputing this as I already know that what Jehovah's Witnesses do is regarded by them as honouring him. I do not agree that everything that they do is in fact honouring him; quite the reverse in fact.
(Philippians 2:9-11) For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend—of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground— and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
This verse is an interesting challenge for some. Does it imply that Jesus should also be worshiped? I don't think "bending" the knee could imply anything else in this context.
Here is a question for you. What is it about genuine Christianity that would make unacceptable to the majority?
I obviously haven't a clue because I don't know what the majority think. I also don't think it's a case "one answer fits all" as I've heard a diverse set of opinions on the question. So, I'll give you my opinion of what I think genuine Christianity is about.
It is encapsulated in this scripture.
Matthew 22:36-40 New International Version (NIV) 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a]38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The pointers from these verses are:
The first and greatest commandment is to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." and the second is like it ("Love your neighbor as yourself."). This implies that the two have equal weight and are like each other. How can this be? An explanation is that you cannot love God without loving your neighbour.
For me loving your neighbour entails being concerned about your neighbours' welfare irrespective of what they themselves believe or what organisations they belong to.
To me genuine Christians show love mainly through actions - although telling neighbours about your faith is important it is only secondary to showing love through action.
To me telling people about the love of God is about sharing God's love and excludes insisting on any form of exclusive doctrine (such as having to be a Jehovah's Witness to receive salvation - this action is assuming the role of God).
To me genuine Christians obviously act through love of God and neighbour and not through either fear and/or the need to gain favour with God.
