MKJ
Contributor
But what does that mean, exactly? Does it mean that we do not concern ourselves with the well-being of those not of the Faith? That doesn't seem to be what Christ meant. Does it mean that we do not get involved in government or pay taxes, or that government is evil? That doesn't seem to be what he meant either. As well, the world was clearly made by God, and he said it was good - the Bible does not support dualism. It is also quite clear that God leaves his imprint on each thing that is created. I think that this passage is meant to say that we live in the world, but always with the consideration that God's grace will bring it to it's proper perfection, and that we are to live with that constantly in mind. The seeming imperfections of the world are not to influence us to think that the world is somehow flawed or not of God.
The JWs also have nasty people among them, and even nasty congregations, and they have their controversies and scandals too. I have yet to see a religious organization where that is not the case. Keep in mind that they have a policy of being especially kind and welcoming to potential converts, that is part of their training.
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Pagans, you know, were mostly people without the benifit of a special message from God. Thus, they practiced Natural Religion - that is, what they could understand about God and human nature and the universe, through looking at creation. And much of what they understood was on the right track - after all, God's creation reveals many things about what kind of God he is. It is not suprising that when God choose to give people a special message, that it was compatible with the things he had already revealed in nature.
Greek philosophy is nothing more than the application of reason, which was created by God. The Greeks were good at it, and developed it quite highly, and many educated people in the middle East had a background in this way of thinking - in the language it had developed, and conventions of form. It was natural of them to use that language and conventions to express the new information they recieved through the Christian message. If you study Greek philosophy, you will see there are unique features to Christian philosophy that differentiates it from what the pagan philosophers said, and even solved many of the difficulties those philosophers had. In my experience, people who say that Greek philosophy infected Christianity have never studied Greek philosophy, and don't really know what it is.
Additionally, you will find the theology of the JWs was strongly influenced by the ideas, language and philosophies of the time it was created.
This is something you perhaps should read more on. There is lots of good material available on this question. A pp has already made a recommendation from an Orthodox sourse, but it is perhaps a bit heavy for some - if you have a local Catholic priest you know, he might also be able to recomend something appropriate at a level appropriate for you.
Do your best, and pray, which is all that any of us can do. If we can't walk, God is pleased even with our stumbles, as C.S. Lewis tells us.
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