"Practice Mercy-How?"

This is post is long overdue, however, I am glad to have been travelling to other churches and visiting the brethren. I met a couple who had just recently found Christ having come out of the Watchtower. Our God is awesome!

The Watchtower Study "PRACTICE MERCY–HOW?" introduces the Good Samaritan parable spoken by Jesus and denies its message quickly.

Paragraph 1 While speaking with Jesus, a man versed in the Law asked him: "Who really is my neighbor?" In reply, Jesus related the following parable: "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who both stripped him and inflicted blows, and went off, leaving him half-dead. Now, by coincidence, a certain priest was going down over that road, but, when he saw him, he went by on the opposite side. Likewise, a Levite also, when he got down to the place and saw him, went by on the opposite side. But a certain Samaritan traveling the road came upon him and, at seeing him, he was moved with pity. So he approached him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine upon them. Then he mounted him upon his own beast and brought him toan inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, `Take care of him, and whatever you spend besides this, I will repay you when I come back here."' Next, Jesus asked his listener: "Who of these three seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?" The man answered: "The one that acted mercifully toward him."-Luke 10:25, 29-37a.

Paragraph 2 How vividly the Samaritan's treatment of the injured man illustrates what true mercy is! Moved by a feeling of pity, or compassion, the Samaritan acted in a way that brought relief to the victim. Moreover, the man in need was a stranger to the Samaritan. Mercy is not hindered by national, religious, or cultural barriers. After giving the illustration about the neighborly Samaritan, Jesus advised his listener: "Go your way and be doing the same yourself." (Luke 10:37b) We can take that admonition to heart and strive to be merciful to others. But how? In what ways can we practice mercy in our everyday life?

Paragraph 3 "As long as we have time favorable for it," said the apostle Paul, "let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith." (Galatians 6:10) Let us, then, first consider how we can abound in deeds of mercy toward those related to us in the faith.

The next dozen paragraphs deal with how to be merciful towards other Jehovah's Witnesses. They can do so by "preparing a meal for a sick person, assisting an elderly one with chores, providing transportation to Christian meetings when necessary, and not being close-fisted toward deserving ones are among the deeds of mercy" they "should abound in."

However you may view these, at least these are practical ways of helping, but what can be done toward OTHERS outside their organization?

Paragraph 16 As Christians, we do not hesitate to provide whatever help we can to victims of "unforeseen occurrence" or to those in dire situations. (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Of course, circumstances would dictate what we can do and how much. (Proverbs 3:27) When providing material help to others, we want to be careful that a deed that seems good does not promote laziness. (Proverbs 20:1, 4; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) Hence, a true act of mercy is a response that combines tender feelings of compassion or sympathy with sound reasoning.

Paragraph 17 The finest way to show mercy to those outside the Christian congregation is to share Bible truth with them. Why? Because the majority of mankind today are groping about in spiritual darkness. Having no way to deal with problems that confront them nor any real hope for the future, most people are "skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36) The message of God's Word can be `a lamp to their foot,' helping them to deal with life's problems. It can also be `a light to their roadway' in that the Bible foretells God's purpose for the future, giving them a basis for having a bright hope. (Psalm 119:105) What a privilege it is to carry the wonderful message of truth to those who are in dire need of it! In view of the nearness of the impending "great tribulation," now is the time to have a zealous share in the Kingdom preaching and disciple-making work. (Matthew 24:3-8, 21, 22, 36-41; 28:19, 20) No other act of mercy is as important.

Two paragraphs are devoted to showing mercy toward OTHERS. Why then even mention the Good Samaritan parable and miss the point? Both Jews and Samaritans despised and regarded each other as apostates. They had their own holy sites and line of priests.

2 Kings chapter 27 provides a lot of insight.

2 King 27:27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: "Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires." 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the LORD.

29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. 30 The men from Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men from Cuthah made Nergal, and the men from Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 They worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.

The enmity was evident when the Lord was accused not only of having a demon.

John 8:48 The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"

Here was the Lord interacting with one of these hated ones.

John 4:9 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.)

The Watchtower should listen to the words that Jesus said.

Matthew 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?