WT Study for the Week of September 16 to 22, 2002
STIRRED BY "THE MAGNIFICENT THINGS OF GOD"Acts 2:11
Snippets of scriptures abound in this weeks lesson starting with the theme scripture. It is interesting what the WTS thinks are "the magnificent things of God." Acts chapter 2 records the events concerning the founding of the Christian congregation, the giving of holy spirit to those gathered with the outward sign of speaking in tongues. Peter talked about Jesus being murdered and resurrected, appearing thereafter to his disciples, ascending to heaven.
Then the disciples receive "the free gift of the holy spirit" (does that mean the great crowd dont receive holy spirit? Asking elders this question will get a wide range of answers)
How then does the WTS twist, I mean use, this occasion to beat us over the head, I mean encourage us? "How can this account help us to evaluate our own (with help from the elders and many others in the congregation) service to Jehovah?"
MOVED TO ACTION!
(and the beating starts already)"The disciples. . . lost no time in sharing the good news of salvation with others."
Joel 1:1; 2:28,29,31; Acts 2:17,18,20
"your sons and daughters will certainly prophesy"
The WTS has on many occasions referred to the GB/Anointed/FDS as prophets. But on this occasion they try to put in a little damage control. "Does this mean that God was going to raise up a whole generation of prophets, both male and female, in the manner of David, Joel and Deborah and use them to foretell future events? No. . . would prophesy in the sense that they would be impelled by Jehovahs spirit to declare the magnificent things that Jehovah and done and will still do. So they would serve as spokesman for the Most High." Hmmmmmm, so when they said they were prophets they werent really prophets.
Acts 2:41 says about 3,000 souls were added. The WTS uses this scripture to prove that the early Christians kept records. Well, they obviously werent as anal-retentive as the WTS who would have recorded 3,024 souls. The early Christians on most occasions only recorded the number of men baptized. If the WTS did that, their statistics would plummet. Did you know that attendants count everyone now even little babies and people sleeping? If sleeping babies can be counted as intelligent enough to understand the public talk, why cant they get baptized?
Buzzword alert. "No doubt this increase was, at least in part, due to their zealous efforts." Another bashing to do more.
THE WORD OF GOD EXERTS POWER
"those who are desirous of becoming servants of God. . . need to study Gods Word carefully." (In the first place, no one at the WTS encourages Bible study, it is book study and magazine study, perhaps brochure study, but not BIBLE study. And it has to be carefully because of all that confusing apostate stuff on the net.)
(And what are the magnificent things of God?) "They also come to appreciate Gods purpose to have "a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous." (Again this is only another way to show that JWs are motivated by their own desire for everlasting life, not the vindication of Gods sovereignty.)
"Precious truths" is one phrase that makes my stomach turn. (Precious to whom and whose truths?)
For those of you who wonder about the millions that attend the Memorial, the WTS puts this spin on it, "millions are not yet actively serving Jehovah (arent these mostly inactive, DAd, and DFd ones). . . these interested ones (interested or blackmailed) will soon be moved to reach out for the privilege (I hate this word, excuse me while I vomit. . . thanks for waiting, I feel better now) of being publishers of the good news (once again most of these ones are already baptized but missing in action according to the WTS).
"The knowledge that Gods servants acquire from their book. . .oops, Bible study is not superficial (it is nonexistent).
Now for those who read the threads on JWD about Camille, the "worldly" caregiver of sister Martha Alzheimer, please re-read. I am sick enough as it is. I have these few comments. Where was sister Marthas family? Where were the elders who would be weekly visiting her and could have had another sister assist her in the study or take it over? This is one of the worst experiences I have read in a WTS publication. Dont miss the point about sister Martha giving Camille the proper clothes to wear to the meetings. I bet you didnt know that Jesus said his disciples would be known by the clothing they wore.
STIRRED TO REFLECT JEHOVAHS STANDARDS
"There are more than six million Witnesses of Jehovah. . . appreciate they are privileged (another word I hate) to bear Jehovahs name (and privileged to besmirch God by allowing child molesters safe haven). . . applying his standards (WTS rules) in every aspect of their lives (except as child molesters)." (And what is paramount?) Gods standards (the elder bodys standards) in dress and grooming (yes, the most important way we tell out the magnificent things of God is through our dress and grooming. . . watch those thongs and bra straps sisters).
The WTS warns "not to be sloppy, untidy, or unkempt" and provides the experience of witnesses in a South American country who walk for miles to the convention and fall into the river and snag garments on a bush. Then they repair their clothing before attending the convention. What gives here? Are you telling me these people only own one set of clothing and it is their meeting clothes? Gimme a break. Why not wear their one set of casual clothes and carry the good ones? So watch those broken zippers, snags and dirt at the conventions.
They also warn "should not be showing, bizarre, provocative, revealing or faddish." "It is not simply a matter of dressing appropriate when attending congregation meetings. . . we are Christians and ministers 24 hours a day. . . we will never feel obligated to hold back from witnessing informally because of embarrassment over our appearance (yes, that is why I hold back from witnessing informally, because of how I am dressed. It cant be because I am afraid to invite anyone to come to the KH and expose themselves and their children to concealed child molesters; or that too many are backstabbing liars.)
DO NOT BE LOVING THE WORLDYes, "peer pressure" must not be allowed to dictate our dress, unless it is the COs, DOs, elders, elderettes doing the dictating. Remember when the business world was held up as a model? "Even the dress code of business and professional people does not provide a reliable standard of what is appropriate for Christians." Of course, Jesus is our standard and he had long hair, a beard, and wore a dress. . . er, a robe as well as sandals. If Jesus came to the KH today, he would be viewed with suspicion and no elder body would be asking him to give the public talk.
Questions to ask yourself per the WTS: "Why does this style appeal to me? Is it identified with some well-known entertainersomeone I admire (Jlo perhaps?) Has it been adopted by members of a street gang or a group that promotes an independent, rebellious spirit (we know that you can tell an apostate by their dress)? (Dont you wonder how 200 men locked up at Bethel who put together the WT study articles know what a street gang wears?). . .If it is a dress or a skirt, what about the length (below the knee unwritten WTS rule)?. . . tight-fitting, provocative or sloppy (the WTS will soon be issuing Islamic style womans clothing at cost to all sisters who want to stay in good standing, unless you are young and have good bbs)."
"Family heads (and if they dont the elders, their wives, the COs, DOs, and the regular pioneers will tell you) . . . to offer firm, loving counsel."
"Our dress and grooming and reflect either well or badly on our heavenly Father." (allowing child molesters to remain in the congregation doesnt reflect badly? Any child molesters lurking out there, be sure not to let your dress and grooming fall below the standards or its out the door for you.)
"How privileged (thank God its almost the end) we are to have learned the truth. . .we do not fear death (because millions now living will never die). . . Jehovah has been gracious in revealing all these things to us (only through the GB/FDS though)."
PICTURES TODAY
Page 18
A Hispanic mother with a frown on her face and a bun views her excited teenage daughter with a miniskirt. Obviously, this young sister has not been paying attention at the family study. That skirt must be all of 10 inches long, would hardly cover her thong. Mom points out a sacklike top as an alternative.
The young sister should look at page 17 where the sisters have skirts below or well below the knee. No cleavage to be seen and no stiltlike high heels.
For once the picture of a gathering on page 17 has sisters in slacks. Unfortunately, I dont see any chaperones at the gathering. What is the WTS thinking?!
(Edited by Blondie--sorry for the stuttering, I didn't realized I had pasted this twice. I am sicker than I thought)
Edited by - Blondie on 22 September 2002 16:6:46