Watchtower Study For May 26 Through June 1, 2008

[Administration]

Study article for the week of May 26 Through June 1, 2008

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[Berean]

Fix&#39;d paragraph 17:

Another example of valueless words is found among the religious leaders of the Society. These claim to speak in God&#39;s name, but most of their utterances are not based on the Scriptures, and what they say is basically worthless. Elders too speak valueless words, claiming to have greater wisdom than the appointed king, Jesus Christ. However, elders speak their own wisdom, and their words are valueless, a stumbling block to any who might listen. How can we avoid being misled by them?

Also, compare:

"...do not presume to offer counsel solely from their own personal store of knowledge ... And by extension, they do not go beyond the Bible-based counsel written in the publications..." (paragraph 19)

with:

"...we know that when human teachings contradict what God has revealed, it is always the human teachings that are wrong" (paragraph 16)

So, they&#39;re contradicting themselves. No need to to base counsel on the Bible, as long as you don&#39;t base it solely on your own opinion - be sure to sprinkle in some quotes from the publications as well.

And then there&#39;s the usual blah blah about higher education. Of course, many people with a higher education do believe in God, and many many people without a higher education don&#39;t believe in God. Is education really the problem? I think they are actually afraid that people with a higher education would lose their faith in the organization, not in God. I think they might be right.

[Reader]

Ooooh yeah,

Para 17 got me bothered also.

Not to mention 18.

How about the valueless words that promote Jehovah&#39;s purpose? Like a CLEAN PEOPLE? Like NO PEDOPHILES in the ORGANIZATION? Like UNDERSTANDING JEHOVAH&#39;S MESSAGE to his people?

I do not claim to have more wisdom than the self-titled FDS. Yet they paint all those that disagree with one brush.

One day......one day.

Regards

Reader

[Candace]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztQBKmIFqcc

[TheCook]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztQBKmIFqcc[/b]

That was a pretty funny video I thought, with some truths to it albeit presented somewhat negatively. I laughed at the part where they cited WT 8/1 1958, where the WT talked about how Irish people are mind controlled by the Catholic church. Now they are using that same method to control what JW&#39;s talk about (and think, to some degree), that was pretty on the spot I thought.

Thanks!

[Candace]

<div class='quotemain'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztQBKmIFqcc[/b]

That was a pretty funny video I thought, with some truths to it albeit presented somewhat negatively. I laughed at the part where they cited WT 8/1 1958, where the WT talked about how Irish people are mind controlled by the Catholic church. Now they are using that same method to control what JW&#39;s talk about (and think, to some degree), that was pretty on the spot I thought.

Thanks!
[/b][/quote]

From now on I&#39;ll hear that little ding and see the R (I guess that stands for registered trademark) every time someone mentions "the truth."

I particularly enjoyed how V used previous WT articles to make his point. I wonder if anyone is going to use some of these references in their comments at the WT study.

[TheCook]

From now on I&#39;ll hear that little ding and see the R (I guess that stands for registered trademark) every time someone mentions "the truth."

I particularly enjoyed how V used previous WT articles to make his point. I wonder if anyone is going to use some of these references in their comments at the WT study.[/b]

LOL yeah that was clever with the trademark. I would love to get some of the brothers&#39; responses on the 1958 WT article about the dangers of Catholic clergy rule and the parallells to today&#39;s organizational rule. I mean to say I would to love for some other response than silence and/or reprimand...

[Deborah]

Wow! That was so great. I too loved how their own words expose their own hypocracy.
Does anybody know whos in control of the corporate aspect? I believe its separate from the governing body, isn&#39;t it? Or is the governing body the corporate body? I don&#39;t think so. I met someone who knew a Bethal attorney. Does the WTBTS hire attorneys that are NOT part of Bethel or the governing body?

It looks like Jehovah is hurrying them up, now. Making it more obvious so maybe more will start to wake up. Yeah!!!

Thank, Candace!

With Love to you, Deborah

[Molly]

Candace-

I would like to thank you for your post and video. This is just too, too much!!! Once you see the problem, it just colors the whole vista.

I do think that the WTS will give themselves enough rope to hang themselves (as the saying goes). Note that they encourage one to question the objections of the as per 1 john 4:1, but say to do it of those critical of the truth. Lets go back to the video. What category do those who criticizes the truth fall into? It&#39;s a slam, dunk!,WTS wins scenerio. We wouldn&#39;t want to tear down the congregation now, would we? We have to find a way to get the message across to these kindly, but misled servants of Jehovah.

Love to you all :Love:

Molly

[Candace]

Deb and Molly,

There are 10 WatchtowerComments videos altogether, have you watched the others? I&#39;m so tempted to transcribe them so I have all the logical arguments in printed format.

I came across this today while doing research:

*** w79 7/1 pp. 25-26 How Jehovah Guides His People ***

How Jehovah Guides His People

“For this God is our God to time indefinite, even forever. He himself will guide us until we die.”—Ps. 48:14.

THROUGHOUT the centuries, Jehovah has guided those who love him and who want to serve him. The psalmist was one of these, for he asked of God: “Send out your light and your truth. May these themselves lead me.” (Ps. 43:3) The prophet Daniel knew that “there exists a God in the heavens who is a Revealer of secrets,” and foretold that in our time, this “time of the end,” “the true knowledge will become abundant.” (Dan. 2:28; 12:4) Isaiah also prophesied that in this “final part of the days” true worship would “become firmly established” and that Jehovah would guide his people: “He will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” Thus, the invitation that is extended to people today is: “Come and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.”—Isa. 2:2-5.

2 Just how does Jehovah guide his people in his truths? For one thing, he takes into account that he created humans with a free will. Thus, the apostle Paul took note of Philemon’s “free will.” (Philem. 14) Since God created this free will, he does not counteract it by forcing persons to believe his truths or to act in a certain way, like robots. (emphasis added) So, during this Christian era, he lovingly appeals to righteous-hearted persons to come and associate with his approved organization, and then guides them gently by means of holy spirit, his inspired Word and his truth-dispensing organization on earth.

3 Another consideration relative to God’s guidance of his people is that God gives the understanding of his truths in his own time, and in his own way. (Dan. 12:9) Too, Jehovah leads his people progressively in the truth. Having created the human mind, Jehovah knows that too little spiritual “food” will not sustain it properly, but too much at one time may be more than humans can absorb. At John 16:12 Jesus said to his faithful apostles: “I have many things yet to say to you, but you are not able to bear them at present.” To illustrate: When a person emerges from a long period of confinement in a dark room, it is best if he is exposed to light gradually. Too much light too soon can be shocking, perhaps even damaging. Similar is the need for progressive enlightenment with God’s truths. It corresponds with what the wise man says: “The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.”—Prov. 4:18, Today’s English Version.

4 Jesus well knew that it was Jehovah’s way to make plain his truths progressively. He told his apostles that later God’s holy spirit would guide them into all the truth. (John 16:12, 13) And because previously established truths would be clarified step by step, there would be the corresponding need for God’s servants to correct and adjust their viewpoint on various Scriptural matters as time went on.

I find the Society&#39;s methods to be more reactionary than anything else. It seems to me that new light is produced in response to critics or time proving them wrong. That&#39;s not a clarification of previously established truth!

*** w79 7/1 pp. 28-30 How Jehovah Guides His People ***

GUIDANCE IN OUR DAY

14 When we look at what has been published by Jehovah’s organization through the pages of The Watchtower and other publications for the past century, we find wholesome spiritual food in abundance. Early in this period, basic Bible truths were made clear, and they remain clear until this day. Our viewpoint on hell, Trinity, purgatory, the soul, where the dead are, the ransom, the resurrection, earth’s destiny, the Kingdom and other key doctrines has undergone very little change during 100 years. (emphasis added) The truth has always been truth, though, at times, our understanding of it has required adjustment.—Compare John 16:13.

I don&#39;t argue with the basics. They&#39;ve done a pretty good job in that regard.

15 Jehovah has continued to guide his people step by step to a fuller appreciation of his truths, and this in his own time and in his own way. Because of this, Jehovah’s Witnesses from earliest times in the past century have understood that they must be willing to modify and correct their views of doctrine, practice and organizational procedure when it became apparent that Jehovah’s spirit was directing them toward such adjustments. As acknowledged by Bryan Wilson in the magazine New Society, Jehovah’s Witnesses have “always maintained that continued study of the Bible might lead to fuller knowledge, and on previous occasions errors in prophetic interpretation have been admitted.”

16 Perhaps the area in which it truly requires willingness to readjust is the field of Bible prophecy. Most prophecies are given only in general outline. Therefore, faith is required to await the outworking of the details. (Heb. 11:1) An example of this has to do with the Bible’s prophecies showing that this present wicked system under Satan will be destroyed and replaced by “new heavens and a new earth.” (2 Pet. 3:13) However, enough aspects of the overall “sign” of the impending end are given in the Bible to mark clearly the present time as the “last days,” “the time of the end.” (2 Tim. 3:1; Dan. 12:4) This has incited God’s servants to intensify the work of fulfilling Jesus’ words: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) They have had success in doing this and in surviving as an organization, also in prospering spiritually despite enormous persecution, likewise in putting on and displaying the new personality in this degraded world. All of this is testimony to the fact that Jehovah has indeed backed them up.—Isa. 54:17.

17 However, during these “last days,” have erroneous views about this system’s end or telos (Greek) been held in advance by some of Jehovah’s servants? Yes, they have. Some of these views involve the length of time it would take for the end to come. Out of zeal and enthusiasm for the vindication of Jehovah’s name, Word and purposes, and the desire for the new system, some of his servants have at times been premature in their expectations. This is similar to the view that the disciples had as to the imminence of God’s kingdom in their day. (Acts 1:6) But because expectations have at times been premature and so have not been fulfilled, does this mean that God has somehow changed his purpose? Not at all. “My own counsel will stand, and everything that is my delight I shall do,” says Jehovah. (Isa. 46:10) Hence, Jehovah’s purposes, and time, for establishing a righteous new order are firmly fixed.

Is it asking too much for them to admit that the Governing Body is responsible for these erroneous views?

18 This certainly impresses on us our need to weigh carefully all Scriptural factors, not emphasizing some to the point of overshadowing others. As Jesus himself stated so plainly: “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows.” (Matt. 24:36) Always there is the need to pay strict attention to the apostle Paul’s counsel: “Do not go beyond the things that are written.”—1 Cor. 4:6.

19 Although many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have had to adjust their views in this matter, can we deny that we are in the “time of the end”? Surely the evidence of the impending end of this system grows daily, as we see the deepening breakdown of institutions such as marriage, family, government and worldly religion, as well as increasing crime and violence, and growing disrespect for God.—2 Tim. 3:1-5.

As V brought out in his videos, when new light is published 7 million JW&#39;s have to instantaneously adjust their views. We certainly do need to weigh carefully anything we are being taught concerning the scriptures.

20 While an undetermined length of time yet remains of these “last days,” one thing is certain. Those who continue to walk in Jehovah’s advancing light, and are willing to be readjusted, will be part of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd” who “come out of the great tribulation” into God’s righteous new order. “The Lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will shepherd them [the great crowd], and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.”—2 Pet. 3:14, 15; Rev. 7:9-17.

21 Thus, those who look to Jehovah for guidance can look forward confidently to the establishing of a new system in which “the righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” There, “the wicked one will be no more.” But in his place, the meek and teachable will “find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”—Ps. 37:10, 11, 29.

22 So, as has been the case for the past 100 years with the modern organization of Jehovah’s people, we today are confident it will also be during the remainder of these last days that, “God is our God to time indefinite, even forever. He himself will guide us until we die.” (Ps. 48:14) And then, in his new order, we can with equal confidence look forward to Jehovah’s continued guidance of his servants throughout eternity, without their having to die at all, because “he that does the will of God remains forever.”—1 John 2:17.

At the time this article was printed the Society was still recovering from the 1975 debacle. Twenty years later there was another major change in prophetic understanding in regard to the "this generation" of 1914 teaching. Recently we&#39;ve come to learn that calling and choosing of anointed did not come to an end in 1935. Why? Because holy spirit was increasing the GB&#39;s understanding, or did passage of time force the change? In any event, I trust that Jehovah will pour out his spirit when the time is right.

(John 16:13) . . .However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming.

[SlaveForJah]

Thank you all who have contributed to this thread. As I read the article, I thought it was overall a nice effort...until I got to paragraph 16.

I, like The Cook, believe that there is still some good coming from the Watchtower. It&#39;s the premature self-appointment by the Governing Body and its appointees to a "position" and "title" that, in all likelihood, is neither a position nor a title that I find so unnerving.

Just to echo Candace&#39;s thoughts, I feel that this organization in itself is not a bad thing, and actually rather adept at teaching the milk of the word to any who will listen on a grand scale that no doubt brings praise and joy to Jehovah&#39;s heart. The dilemma arises when they attempt to place themselves as masters over the faith of individuals.

Disfellowshipping, for example. Although it is a scriptural arrangement, I see nowhere in scripture that is was designed to be administered by a legal corporation, at its sole discretion (or indiscretion) and to be universally accepted under pain of disfellowshipping for non-acceptance. What I do see in scripture is the admonition to avoid bad associations. This admonition was addressed to the members of the congregation, NOT to the Presiding Overseer or the Congregation Servant or the local Body of elders. This was advice that was to be taken on a personal level. And only on an individual level can such an arrangement have its truest spiritual connotation. Although the Watchtower says that shunning amounts to love, that is not the scriptural definition of love, nor is it the way that Christ or Jehovah demonstrate their love.

It is things such as this arrangement that detract from the good and heartfelt sacrifices that the brothers and sisters make, whether in the field ministry, opening one&#39;s home to those less fortunate, the caring for widows and orphans, or acting as a Good Samaritan to our neighbor. Millions of our brothers and sisters are trying their best to serve the God they learned about due, in part, to the teaching program of Jehovah&#39;s Witnesses. Jehovah sees this and no doubt accepts this worship favorably. The problem that the Governing Body presents is the portrayal of "good standing" in the congregation and thus to a body of men as the be-all and end-all. Baptism is not the end of our Christian walk, but rather a necessary beginning. No matter how accurate the teaching program from Brooklyn, a legal body is unequipped to create men of God. That&#39;s the job of the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

"16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." - 2Timothy 3:16, 17


"12 "I have many things yet to say to YOU, but YOU are not able to bear them at present. 13However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming." - John 16:12, 13<span style="color:#000000">

To what purpose?

<span style="color:#0000ff">
"</span>13 until we all attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ;" - Ephesians 4:13


So, if the tool of the Watchtower is one of benefit, use it. But do not allow yourself to be sold again into a yoke of slavery, but rather use our freedom to further Jehovah&#39;s name to the nations.


Agape

SlaveForJah</span>

[Deborah]

Very inspirational!

Thank you Candace and SlaveForJah, Deborah

[Jualsy]

Ooooh yeah,

Para 17 got me bothered also.

Not to mention 18.

How about the valueless words that promote Jehovah&#39;s purpose? Like a CLEAN PEOPLE? Like NO PEDOPHILES in the ORGANIZATION? Like UNDERSTANDING JEHOVAH&#39;S MESSAGE to his people?

I do not claim to have more wisdom than the self-titled FDS. Yet they paint all those that disagree with one brush.

One day......one day.

Regards

Reader[/b]

Even if the whole society was made up of Angels, we would be able to judge and condemn....look what happened in the time before the Flood....angels defect....so what chance is there of all imperfect humans staying on a straight course?
I have allowed certain things to stumble me in the past......but now I realise that I am not in the Truth (and that&#39;s what it is!) for my brothers and sisters, nor for the organisation itself....I am in this for Jehovah, to show a little appreciation for the sacrifice he made for ME.
Don&#39;t expect or seek perfection.........they don&#39;t ACCEPT paedophilia....the fact that it has existed, and probably still does, is all part of imperfection and demonic activity in the congregations. The standards are high, and I don&#39;t know how any other religion is still in existence, making so little sense of what is going on today.

[Jualsy]

Study article for the week of May 26 Through June 1, 2008

Is there any way this can be printed off weekly?? I haven&#39;t got the magazine.

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[/b][/quote]

[Candace]

JT, thanks for sharing your thought-provoking questions, your astute comments, and the article from 1952, which was very enjoyable. In fact, this is the best discussion of a WT study article I&#39;ve participated in, in a long time.

[TheCook]

... Disfellowshipping, for example. Although it is a scriptural arrangement, I see nowhere in scripture that is was designed to be administered by a legal corporation, at its sole discretion (or indiscretion) and to be universally accepted under pain of disfellowshipping for non-acceptance. What I do see in scripture is the admonition to avoid bad associations. This admonition was addressed to the members of the congregation, NOT to the Presiding Overseer or the Congregation Servant or the local Body of elders. This was advice that was to be taken on a personal level. And only on an individual level can such an arrangement have its truest spiritual connotation. Although the Watchtower says that shunning amounts to love, that is not the scriptural definition of love, nor is it the way that Christ or Jehovah demonstrate their love. ...

Agape

SlaveForJah[/b]

I have wondered lately how they got away with it? How did they manage to establish the current disfellowshipping arrangement without people questioning the scriptural basis for their implementation? Granted, I haven&#39;t personally thought that much of it before lately, but now that I really look at it, the way they handle it is totally unscriptural to me.

I have a hard time picturing the elders, discussing whether or not to disfellowship someone whose only "sin" is to talk about what the Society has done wrong. He is clearly not "a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner" (1 Corinthians 5:11), but still they will put him through at least a year of not talking to, or even be greeted by, the congregation as well as sometimes parts of his family.

How come not one of them stand up and say "HEY! This is wrong! We can&#39;t keep treating people this way! It&#39;s not loving and it&#39;s not scriptural!" I guess I sort of know the answer...

[Candace]

<div class='quotemain'>... Disfellowshipping, for example. Although it is a scriptural arrangement, I see nowhere in scripture that is was designed to be administered by a legal corporation, at its sole discretion (or indiscretion) and to be universally accepted under pain of disfellowshipping for non-acceptance. What I do see in scripture is the admonition to avoid bad associations. This admonition was addressed to the members of the congregation, NOT to the Presiding Overseer or the Congregation Servant or the local Body of elders. This was advice that was to be taken on a personal level. And only on an individual level can such an arrangement have its truest spiritual connotation. Although the Watchtower says that shunning amounts to love, that is not the scriptural definition of love, nor is it the way that Christ or Jehovah demonstrate their love. ...

Agape

SlaveForJah[/b]

I have wondered lately how they got away with it? How did they manage to establish the current disfellowshipping arrangement without people questioning the scriptural basis for their implementation? Granted, I haven&#39;t personally thought that much of it before lately, but now that I really look at it, the way they handle it is totally unscriptural to me.

I have a hard time picturing the elders, discussing whether or not to disfellowship someone whose only "sin" is to talk about what the Society has done wrong. He is clearly not "a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner" (1 Corinthians 5:11), but still they will put him through at least a year of not talking to, or even be greeted by, the congregation as well as sometimes parts of his family.

How come not one of them stand up and say "HEY! This is wrong! We can&#39;t keep treating people this way! It&#39;s not loving and it&#39;s not scriptural!" I guess I sort of know the answer...
[/b][/quote]

Fear is a great motivator.

I felt my life and my children&#39;s lives were at stake. That&#39;s what prompted me to put 100% trust in the WTS. I was taught that my life depended on trusting the "faithful slave," never doubting, never questioning.

At last year&#39;s district convention the audience was told on Day 1, during the last talk, that they should trust the FDS because Jehovah and Jesus trust the FDS. That was a very strategically placed talk. It was the last thing the brothers and sisters heard on the first day, and set the tone for the rest of the convention. As the brother giving the talk worked the audience up into an enthusiastic round of clapping for the FDS, I sat there stunned, in disbelief of what I was hearing. I looked around me and saw hundreds of brothers and sisters enthusiastically applauding the brother&#39;s words.

[billy]

<div class='quotemain'>... Disfellowshipping, for example. Although it is a scriptural arrangement, I see nowhere in scripture that is was designed to be administered by a legal corporation, at its sole discretion (or indiscretion) and to be universally accepted under pain of disfellowshipping for non-acceptance. What I do see in scripture is the admonition to avoid bad associations. This admonition was addressed to the members of the congregation, NOT to the Presiding Overseer or the Congregation Servant or the local Body of elders. This was advice that was to be taken on a personal level. And only on an individual level can such an arrangement have its truest spiritual connotation. Although the Watchtower says that shunning amounts to love, that is not the scriptural definition of love, nor is it the way that Christ or Jehovah demonstrate their love. ...

Agape

SlaveForJah[/b]

I have wondered lately how they got away with it? How did they manage to establish the current disfellowshipping arrangement without people questioning the scriptural basis for their implementation? Granted, I haven&#39;t personally thought that much of it before lately, but now that I really look at it, the way they handle it is totally unscriptural to me.

I have a hard time picturing the elders, discussing whether or not to disfellowship someone whose only "sin" is to talk about what the Society has done wrong. He is clearly not "a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner" (1 Corinthians 5:11), but still they will put him through at least a year of not talking to, or even be greeted by, the congregation as well as sometimes parts of his family.

How come not one of them stand up and say "HEY! This is wrong! We can&#39;t keep treating people this way! It&#39;s not loving and it&#39;s not scriptural!" I guess I sort of know the answer...
[/b][/quote]


I would have sooooo much respect for a brother or sister who do exactly that - it would take alot of courage and love for truth and justice and what is right (which is called righteousness)