COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE 3-9-03 WT STUDY
FEBRUARY 1, 2003 EDITION PAGE 8
"REMAIN IN MY WORD"
John 8:31 NWT "If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples."
John 8 (MSG)
If the Son Sets You Free
31 Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.
© 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
John 8 (NIV)
The Children of Abraham
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible SocietyAll rights reserved worldwide
John 8 (NLT)
Jesus and Abraham
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.
Introduction
Note to readers: WTS quotes will be in red or in parentheses. All else are comments by this writer or quotes from other identified sources.
Based on quotes from other Bible translations, what really is Jesus’ word? "Living out what I tell you" or "my teaching" or "keep obeying my teachings" are other expressions. All show action, continued action, more than just reading or hearing Jesus’ words from the Bible. Nowhere does Jesus say that we need anything other than the holy spirit to be able to do this, no human intermediary.
In this week’s article, the WTS seems to encourage Bible study but what is implied is Bible study only under the direction of "God’s spirit-directed organization." Substitute "WTS publications" everywhere a mention of God’s word occurs. It should be enlightening.
Watchtower 1967 October 1 p.587 Finding Freedom with Jehovah's Visible Organization
Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely
they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind.START OF ARTICLE
Jesus left behind
"specific requirements for discipleship."Take in knowledge
, love one another, bear fruit."They had accepted his word (as explained in the WTS publications), but now they needed to continue in it."
Yes, Jesus wanted his disciples to "Continue following" him (not the WTS)(John 21:19)
The hidden message here is that it appears many are not enduring in following the WTS. Many are missing meetings (20%) and 25% becoming irregular (missing one month out of 6 in reporting time) or inactive (missing 6 consecutive months in reporting time). Placements and donations are dropping dramatically.
The WTS will show that this is happening because these lack appreciation and are too preoccupied with material things through a discussion of the various types of soil the seed of the kingdom fell on.
"Those disciples, remained in the word of God (as explained in the WTS publications), because the word of God (as explained in the WTS publications) remained in them. They had heartfelt appreciation for it. Likewise today, in order to ‘endure to the end,’ (the WTS promised reward to the faithful not the vindication of God’s sovereignty), we need to make sure that the word of God (as explained in the WTS publications) remains in us."
"HEARING THE WORD"
"Those having ‘a fine and good heart’ go beyond ‘hearing the word.’ They ‘retain it and bear fruit with endurance."
"Those with a fine heart (as judged by the WTS) understand (through the WTS), appreciate (believe only what the WTS teaches), and absorb the word of God (as explained in the WTS publications).
"A deep, heartfelt appreciation for God’s Word (as explained in the WTS publications) is thus essential."
"How, though, can we develop such heartfelt appreciation for God’s Word?"
Through one of the WTS trinities, Bible study, attending all five meetings, a full share as possible in the field ministry is the WTS way to show appreciation.
HEART CONDITION AND MEANINGFUL (BUZZWORD) REFLECTION
Yes, it is a new activity, meditation. Yes, thinking about what you read. What a concept! Most people just read the answer from the paragraph, even saying "the paragraph says" to preface their answer. Regurgitation is the rule rather than deep thinking at the KH meetings. Pay attention to the quality of the answers at your meetings. Do the elders and "mature ones" answer on a regular basis? Do they make application to themselves or the congregation of the material being discussed?
"We need to meditate appreciatively and prayerfully on God’s Word and his activity (as explained in the WTS publications). "
"When reading the Bible or Bible-based publications (or? shouldn’t that be and; should you ever read the publications without your Bible close at hand to check the scriptures?), we should not act as if we are hurried tourists who rush from one scenic spot to the next."
Isn’t that what happens when you have 5 weekly meetings to study for and travel to (15 hours a week), 3 hours a week in the ministry 1 hour a week family study, 40 hours a week to work, 20 hours to prepare for and travel to work, care for your home and family. What time do people have to "linger" over their Bible study?
"ALONGSIDE THE ROAD"—BEING PREOCCUPED (Translation: materialistic)
"Those who allow the comings and goings of the world to impose undue (as defined by the WTS) demands on their time and energy may find that they are too preoccupied to develop any heartfelt appreciation for the word of God (as explained by the WTS publications)"
"The key is not to become too preoccuped with the mundane (earthly) things of life."
Luke 12 (NLT)
Story of the Rich Fool
13 Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me."
14 Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" 15 Then he said, "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own."
"UPON THE ROCK-MASS"—BEING FEARFUL
"The real reason some become fearful and fall away is that the rocklike condition of their heart prevents them from meditating deeply enough on positive and spiritual things. Consequently, the appreciation they develop for Jehovah and his Word (as explained in the WTS publications) is too superficial and too feeble to withstand opposition (the better Bible-trained apostates)."
"Rocklike obstacles, such as deep-seated bitterness (over the hiding of child abuse in the organization, the flip-flops in doctrine, the change in the blood policy with blood fractions being allowed, etc.), underlying self-interest (not giving all to the WTS in time and money) or similar hard but hidden feelings (would be DF’d if revealed).
"AMONG THE THORNS"—BEING DIVIDED
"’These are the ones that have heard, but, by being carried away by anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, they are completely choked and bring nothing to perfection." (Luke 8:14)
"Some individuals try to take in the word of God (as explained in the WTS publications) and the "pleasures of this life" at the same time."
"This prevents them from giving sufficient time (as judged by the WTS) to prayerful and meaningful reflection on God’s word (as explained in the WTS publications."
"Gradually, their spiritual interests are overshadowed by nonspiritual pursuits."
"By giving spiritual matters precedence over material considerations, we avoid being choked by the pains and pleasures of this world."
"If we simplify our life as much as possible"
CONCLUSION
In an earlier review, I mentioned that the theme at the new circuit assembly program is materialism. The push is on to "simplify" one’s life and regular pioneer. This was quoted.
Watchtower 2/1/87 p. 15 Doing Our Utmost to Declare the Good News
A FEW years ago, many of us thought that only those with special circumstances could pioneer," wrote a pioneer, or full-time minister, in Japan. "It seems we were wrong. We are learning that only those with special circumstances cannot pioneer." Going to college is once again discouraged. Previous articles were misunderstood and the idea of being "balanced" is being abused or used to avoid scriptural responsibilities. The CO practically sneered the word "balanced" saying it was being used to say "take it easy."So also is the push to remain in the word of the WTS as the WTS tries to explain the Bible to us. What words of Jesus will you remain in? Do you know what it means to have love for your fellow humans? Whatever you see JWs doing, do the opposite.Matthew 5 (MSG)46 If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. 47 If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
Blondie