COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE 1-19-03 WT STUDY
DECEMBER 1, 2002 WT PAGE 18
PERSONAL STUDY THAT EQUIPS US AS TEACHERS
1 TIMOTHY 4:15,16
1 Timothy 4 (Amplified Bible)
15 Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.
16 Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Introduction
Many people today stop studying the day they graduate from school whether it be high school or college. Why is that? Many times it depends on their reasons for studying, their parents make them do it and they are no longer under parental authority. People study to get employment and once finding employment only study to advance in their field. Can you think of any educational endeavor you have pursued just for enjoyment? These are usually called "hobbies." Do you know people who wish they could be paid to pursue their hobby?
Well, JWs are following the trend of many non-JWs. Bible study is not enjoyable to them; it is something they "should" do. The goals set before JWs is to be able to be a better teacher of the publications. That real joy is to be found in studying the Bible directly, explains the joyless, read-from-the-paragraphs answers of most JWs at their meetings. Lack of time is another issue as well. With 4 magazines, 1 Kingdom Ministry, 30 daily texts, the weekly Bible reading, and the rest of the Theocratic School weekly assignments, JWs have no time for random, personal exploration of the Bible. Few use dictionaries or even the Insight books, checking cross references, reading in context, etc.
The WTS likes to give the appearance of encouraging Bible study. But what is actually encouraged is the study of WTS publications.
After a hard days work and big evening meal, would you feel like studying, especially if you are reclining in your favorite easy chair in front of the TV.
Obviously, this is focusing on the men in the congregation. Yes, we must encourage them to reach out and they must not be ignorant of the WTS rules and directives.
Picture
shows a younger black man sitting in the easy chair in front of the TV with his children playing on the floor in front of him (I wondered why isnt he paying attention to his children)Next picture
shows him studying. Yes, Mom, is stuck watching the kids so he is uninterrupted. I wonder if he returns the favor.*** w88 3/1 24 Responsible Childbearing in This Time of the End ***
6 All Christian husbands, whether they have congregational responsibilities or not, should also consider the effect that taking care of young children could have on their wifes spirituality. If a wife is not spiritually strong, how will a baby, or a number of babies, affect her personal study and opportunities to share in the preaching work? 7 Do husbands always realize that taking care of a baby or a young child often prevents their wives from getting full benefit from the Congregation Book Study, Kingdom Hall meetings, circuit assemblies, and district conventions? Such a situation can last for months, and even years, when baby follows baby. It is in the nature of things that the load, in this respect, falls mainly on the mother, rather than on the father. It has sometimes been observed that whereas some Christian men progress spiritually, even to the point of being assigned privileges in the congregation, their wives become spiritually weak. Why? Often it is because their young children prevent the wives from concentrating at meetings, doing deep Bible study, or sharing in a large measure in the witnessing work. Can fatherhood be called responsible if it permits such situations to develop? So the trite suggestions come out, get up early in the morning or use a midday break. Dont sit in the most comfortable chair or sofa (yet the WTS has shown people reading the Bible in bed twice last year).Is the WTS kidding itself that the problem is that people are studying in the wrong place? The problem is they arent studying at all.PERSONAL STUDY THAT EQUIPS US TO ANSWER Personal study is satisfying when we use various Bible aids in order to dig deeper into a subject, especially when we do so to answer someones sincere question. I wonder what an insincere question is and who determines that?First publication to use: What Does God Require of Us? It is a very simple but precise publication based entirely on the Bible. It helps its readers to appreciate quickly what Gods requirements are for true worship Yes here we see the dumbing down both for the JW and the people they talk to; simple but precise, appreciate quickly. The Cliff Notes for the Bible!Second publication to use: WT Library on CD-ROMNext they will show how to "expand our understanding and be able to answer in more detail." Does that mean they wont be reading the answer from the paragraph?WHO IS GOD? Lesson 2 of the Require brochure answers the vital question, Who is God? Yes, simply and quickly (see above).What are the 2 most important points, God is not a Trinity and Gods name is Jehovah or Yahweh (yes, the WTS admits this is valid). These are 2 negative points.The third publication is the brochure: The Divine Name that Will Endure Forever. His true name opens the way to understanding what his purposes are and who he is. This has to be more than the name itself and its meaning. I know the name of the president of the US but I certainly dont know what his purposes are or who he is without listening or reading what he has said or done. The Bible is the key to knowing God.WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? In just six paragraphs, it (Require brochure) gives a very brief outline of Jesus, his origin, and his purpose in coming to the earth. The 4 th publicationThe Greatest Man Who Ever LivedThe 5 th publicationInsight Volume 2 (Jesus Christ)The 6 th publicationShould You Believe in the Trinity? Check the honesty of the quotes/references in this brochure at this site: http://www.freeminds.org/doctrine/rbt_ref.htm But what about those who have been associated with the Christian congregation for many years? Do they still need to pay attention? WHY "PAY CONSTANT ATTENTION"? Some who have been members of the congregation for many years may fall into the habit of just relying on the Bible knowledge they acquired in their first few years as Jehovahs Witnesses. I dont know how that is possible with all the publications hammered into them at 5 meetings a week and 3 assemblies a year.So wake up you older "ones" out there; dont think you can rest on your laurels. That complete equipment from God must, therefore, include up-to-date knowledge of Gods Word. Well, with the increasing new light, and flip-flop of doctrines, the average JW could miss 2 meetings and might have missed the change in the donation arrangement and the end of the 1914 generation (I dont think some get that to this day). This points to the importance of keeping up with our understanding of the truth as revealed by Jehovah through his Word and through the faithful and discreet slave class. Regular personal study of the Bible and Bible publications is vital. Have you ever wondered how Jehovah reveals this to the FDS? Who is the FDS? All the anointed alive at any one time on the earth? Does that include the sisters? Any anointed in any congregation or just the ones on the GB? Does he reveal it to individuals as they sleep or study? Does he reveal it as they meet as a group? Does that mean we cant understand without the FDS? Why do we need the Bible and the holy spirit? Why doesnt the FDS just keep the Bibles and we just read what they put in the publications? Why should we pray for holy spirit if we can only understand it through the FDS?Heres the WTS real point in all of this. The COs obviously are reporting that the answers at the WT study are less than stellar. Have I studied sufficiently to give "well-thought answers during the meeting? Do I open the Bible (3rd reference in this WT to opening your Bible at the meeting) and read the scriptures that are cited but not quoted." WT conductors are very lax in this and give the excuse of not enough time. Obviously, there is enough time to read the WT paragraphs but not the Bible!And now the WTS segways into "pornography on the Internet" leading Christians to poison their weakened defenses and it has led to loss of privileges in the congregation. Yes, privileges are the ultimate goal of any JW.Neglect study of the Bible = viewing pornography on the Internet Is your sword trusty, or is it rusty? The WTS should never try to be clever. Do I have a hard time recalling Bible texts? Yes, because the focus is on the publications not the Bible. People can quote better from the publications. BlondiePS Does anyone have a good Bible study source that does not rely on any religious groups doctrinal viewpoint? I have the concordances and lexicons and commentaries online. What I need is an outline of where to start and what to use as a background guide.