Comments You Will Not Hear at the 5-4-03 WT Study

by blondie 12 Replies latest watchtower bible

blondie

COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE MAY 4, 2003 WT STUDY
March 15, 2003 Watchtower
WTS quotes will be in

red
Reviewer comments will be in black or parentheses

THE EARLY CHRISTIANS AND THE MOSAIC LAW
Galatians 3:24 (The WTS only uses a snippet here but the whole verse reads)
Galatians 3 (Amplified Bible)

24 So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith.
Jehovah gave the Israelites a code of laws…if they obeyed his voice…would enjoy happy, satisfying lives.
The WTS also has unofficial laws and directives. The WTS’ voice must be obeyed or they will make sure the rank and file will not enjoy happy lives. Can you think of some of those? No beards, skirts of a certain length, attending all 5 meetings, turning in field service slips….

Furthermore, they were not to mix with or take wives from among the Gentiles who had not submitted to the Law. (Deuteronomy 7:3,4)
But the WTS leaves out verse 1 where it is clear that this is talking about Canaanite tribes, not all Gentiles.
7
"When Jehovah your God at last brings you into the land to which you are going so as to take possession of it, he must also clear away populous nations from before you, the
Hit´tites and the Gir´ga·shites and the Am´or·ites and the Ca´naan·ites and the Per´iz·zites and the Hi´vites and the Jeb´u·sites, seven nations more populous and mighty than you are.
So Deuteronomy is only referring to Canaanite women. That explains why at Deuteronomy 21:10-13 it says that Israelite men could marry Gentile women:
10
"In case you go out to the battle against your enemies and Jehovah your God has given them into your hand and you have carried them away captive; 11 and you have seen among the captives a woman beautiful in form , and you have got attached to her and taken her for your wife , 12 you must then bring her into the midst of your house. She must now shave her head and attend to her nails, 13 and remove the mantle of her captivity from off her and dwell in your house and weep for her father and her mother a whole lunar month; and after that you should have relations with her, and you must take possession of her as your bride, and she must become your wife .
So with a little verse twisting, the WTS makes it seem like that Israelites could not marry all Gentiles under the Law. Actually, only the Canaanite tribes were mentioned.

Once the Christian congregation was formed, therefore, the "tutor"—the Law’’ served no further purpose…But some Jewish Christians were slow to grasp this vital truth…Others, though, adjusted their thinking (note that this phrase or equivalent is a buzzword for the reader to be wary of)…they set a fine example for us today.

EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
When Peter had a vision inviting him to eat animals unclean under the law, he was shocked.

Instead of rigidly clinging to the Law, Peter adjusted his view.
Peter was led to Cornelius, an uncircumcised Gentile. Peter may have "adjusted his view" but the holy spirit had to come down on this uncircumcised Gentile before Peter would accept that Cornelius was acceptable to God. (Sidepoint: Note that baptism was not a requirement to receive holy spirit.)

What enabled Peter to conclude that the Gentiles who had not submitted to the Mosaic Law could not become followers of Jesus Christ. Spiritual discernment.
How spiritually discerning would you have to be to see the holy spirit descend on a person and this one start exhibiting the gifts of the holy spirit? It didn’t take a biblical giant to "discern" God’s hand in the matter!
The WTS again says:

If you had lived back then, would you have been as willing as Peter to adjust your viewpoint?
But did Peter’s viewpoint stay adjusted? At Galatians 2: 11-14 it says:
11
However, when Ce´phas came to Antioch, I resisted him face to face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before the arrival of certain men from James, he used to eat with people of the nations; but when they arrived, he went withdrawing and separating himself, in fear of those of the circumcised class. 13 The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Bar´na·bas was led along with them in their pretense. 14 But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said to Ce´phas before them all: "If you, though you are a Jew, live as the nations do, and not as Jews do, how is it that you are compelling people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice?"
SOME KEPT FOLLOWING THE "TUTOR"
The issue of circumcision being required for the Gentiles was again discussed in 49 CE. But notice how the WTS uses the phrase "Christian governing body" with some scriptures following as if this phrase occurs anywhere in the Bible.
AN HONEST DIFFERENCE OF OPINION—THEN, UNITY!
All eyes were now on the governing body (again nothing scriptural about this phrase).
These faithful men were determined to follow the Scriptures and the leadings of God’s holy spirit.
What are the leadings of God’s holy spirit. Were these men inspired to have special understanding? The only scriptures they had were the Hebrew Scriptures. The only real evidence of the holy spirit was when Peter met with Cornelius and his family and outward evidence of the holy spirit was seen.
How does the WTS describe it:
*** w00 4/1 p. 10 How Does God’s Spirit Operate Today? ***
The modern-day organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses has remained sensitive to the leadings of God’s holy spirit for well over a century now. As Jehovah’s spirit progressively enlightens their spiritual vision, the Witnesses willingly make the needed adjustments to conform to updated understanding.—Proverbs 4:18.
Those Christians who submitted to clear theocratic direction were blessed with a solid, scriptural answer.
WHAT ABOUT JEWISH CHRISTIANS
Some Jewish Christians who were "zealous for the Law" continued circumcising their children and observing certain features of the Law.
There is no evidence that this matter was clarified at a meeting of the governing body.
Why not? Wasn’t it already decided?
Guidance came, not in the form of a letter from the governing body, but in additional inspired letters written by the apostles.
But then why was the meeting with the "governing body" necessary in the first instance? Why were the words of Paul not valid then?
SLOW TO GRASP THE POINT
Jewish Christians failed to get the point…lacked spiritual discernment…irregular in attendance at Christian meetings.
Then the WTS says:
These men wanted to be viewed as respectable, as members of a mainstream religion…make almost any compromise in order to blend in.
Hasn’t the WTS made such a compromise in Bulgaria:
http://www.ajwrb.org/basics/abandon.shtml
II. Concerning the position of Jehovah's Witnesses on blood, the petitioner undertakes to draft a statement which will become part of the bylaws of Jehovah's Witnesses of Bulgaria, in view of their registration, stipulating that:
2.1. - les patients Témoins de Jéhovah recourent systématiquement aux soins médicaux pour eux-mêmes et leurs enfants ; il appartient à chacun d'entre eux d'utiliser son libre arbitre, sans aucun contrôle et sanction de la part de la requérante ;
2.1 - Jehovah's Witness patients resort to the use of the medical system for themselves and their children; each member having the right to make use of this [medical system] freely at their own discretion,
without any controls or sanctions on the part of the petitioner; (EMPHASIS OURS)
2.2. - s'agissant du respect de la législation sanitaire bulgare, l'association chrétienne les Témoins de Jéhovah de Bulgarie s'engage à respecter son application, y compris :
2.2 - acting according to the Bulgarian health legislation, the Christian Association of Jehovah's Witnesses in Bulgaria undertakes to respect the application of said legislation, which comprises:
2.2.1. - en ne fournissant pas de déclaration préalable de refus de transfusion de sang aux personnes mineures;
2.2.1 - to not furnish an advance medical directive refusing blood transfusions to minor persons; [
this means that baptized and unbaptized minors will be prohibited from carrying a no-blood card ]
2.2.2. - en ce qui concerne les personnes majeures, en observant les dispositions de ladite législation et en reconnaissant à chaque individu la liberté de choix.
2.2.2 - concerning persons who have achieved the age of majority, in observing the dispositions of said legislation recognizes that each individual retains the freedom of choice.
APPLYING THE LESSON TODAY
If I had lived at that time, how would I have responded as God’s will was progressively revealed (buzz phrase; see Proverbs 4:18)?
Would I have rigidly held to traditional views? Or would I have been patient until the proper understanding became clear? And when it did, would I have wholeheartedly supported it?
Is the WTS chastising it some of its members for criticizing it regarding recent changes regarding the 1914 generation, the change in the blood doctrine regarding what is a fraction and can they be taken, the change in the alternative service doctrine? Or is it preparing the rank and file for even more drastic "adjustments" such as dropping 1914 chronology altogether?
How do I respond to clarifications in the Bible understanding when they are presented today? (followed by the ominous Matthew 24:45, faithful and discreet slave scripture).
When Scriptural direction is provided (can you name the scriptures used for changing the alternative service doctrine? No peeking), do I try to apply it, observing not only the letter of the law but the spirit of it?
Do I patiently wait on Jehovah when answers to lingering questions seem slow in coming?
When Jehovah provides direction by means of his Word, his spirit, and his earthly organization (a WTS trinity), let us listen carefully.
And what if the direction from the earthly organization does not agree with his word or his spirit? Should we put imperfect human men on the same plane as God’s word and his spirit?
Concluding Comments
It is apparent to me from this article that there is unrest in the ranks. People are not automatically following in lockstep behind the elders, COs and DOs. Perhaps these men themselves are not quickly following the directives of the WTS. Blind obedience is slipping away.
Do not give over your responsibility to make sure of the more important things to anyone.
Pistoff

wow, good review blondie.
I thought this one is another in a series of puke inducing propaganda pieces; I will post more later.
good to see your review!!!!!!!!!!
Gopher

So obedience to the governing body and this WT organization once again is equated to obedience to Jehovah himself.
They try to draw parallels to the early Christian organization, and in doing so set themselves up as the only and ultimate authority to their ardent followers.
Did the early Christians have a huge pedophile problem dogging them? Did the early Christians keep announcing wrong dates for Christ's return? Did the early Christians keep making 180-degree flip-flops in their interpretations of certain scriptural principles (like the scream / don't scream flip-flops regarding rape, or the they will be/won't be resurrected flip-flops concerning ancient Sodom and Gomorrah, among so many others)? Did God use the early Christians to teach inaccuracies which were later corrected by "new light" or brought about by external pressure from apostates or governments?
The WT Society cannot even come close to calling itself "a pillar of truth". It has been a patchwork of guesses and man's wishful thinking, rather than a steady increase of light -- with all of it being truthful.
So once again they assert their authority when really they have none.
proplog2

Did the early Christians have a huge pedophile problem dogging them?

Unfortunately Christians are only human. Some dissenters would have you believe that JW's have a unique problem. The early Christians had problems too.
Consider this:
2 Peter 2:2 Furthermore, many will follow their acts of loose conduct, and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively.
Although JW's overuse excommunication as a remedy they at least carry on that practice while most Christian religions are cesspools of fornication.
1 Cor. 5
Actually fornication is reported among YOU, and such fornication as is not even among the nations, that a wife a certain [man] has of [his] father. 2 And are YOU puffed up, and did YOU not rather mourn, in order that the man that committed this deed should be taken away from YOUR midst? 3 I for one, although absent in body but present in spirit, have certainly judged already, as if I were present, the man who has worked in such a way as this, 4 that in the name of our Lord Jesus, when YOU are gathered together, also my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 YOU hand such a man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
6
YOUR [cause for] boasting is not fine. Do YOU not know that a little leaven ferments the whole lump? 7 Clear away the old leaven, that YOU may be a new lump, according as YOU are free from ferment. For, indeed, Christ our passover has been sacrificed.
Did the early Christians keep announcing wrong dates for Christ's return?

1John 2:18 Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as YOU have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.

Revelation 22:20 "He that bears witness of these things says, ‘Yes; I am coming quickly.’"
Did the early Christians keep making 180-degree flip-flops in their interpretations of certain scriptural principles
The history of Christianity shows it is a work in progress. That's why there were special councils to settle the issues.
blondie

Pistoff, I’ll hold you to this.
I will post more later.
Yes, Gopher,
WT organization once again is equated to obedience to Jehovah himself.
The only authority that any follower of Christ needs is that of the Bible. Jesus did not ever indicate that the Jews needed the Pharisees in order to understand the Law. The Pharisees clouded the clear points of the Law by adding their own incomplete and contradictory explanations. The only authority the WTS has is when the Bible clearly backs them up and it is up to each individual to take the responsibility to see that in their Bible. Just like the Pharisees the WTS has made the word of God invalid.
Proplog2
,
I assume most of your comments are to Gopher, so I will let him answer for himself.
But I will mention that the WTS has said many times that the early Christians were closest to the true principles of Christ and that within 100 years the downslide into the predicted apostasy was well-established. The WTS views themselves as an improvement over that apostasy starting around 1879 and that they were designated the only true religion in 1919 by God. It is now 84 years later, and the WTS should be outstandingly more clean spiritually than it was in 1919. Yet, we see in just one area, child abuse, the WTS is little better than the Catholic Church, supposedly the spearhead of Babylon the Great, empire of false religion.
Blondie
jgnat

Nice to see you again, Blondie. I hope you and Irreverent are doing better. I took some liberties with paragraphs 15 and 16:
If it can be clearly shown that the WTS has strayed from the Truth, such as hiding the pedophile problem, how is it that some JW’s fail to get the point? It may have to do with the nature of the relationship they have with WT organization itself.
They may be afraid to be cut off from family and friends.
They have invested so much time and energy in to this way of life, they do not have the heart to admit they might have been wrong.
They have chosen the easier path of external laws and controls (how to dress, shave, work, marry) than building a conscience on their own.
Still another reason why certain JW’s are eager to remain tight with the WTS is that they are more concerned about their respectable position in the society than in doing what they know is right.
It is easier for someone lacking spirituality to accept the WT guidelines than to embrace the deeper tenets of Christianity, which are centred on love, kindness, and communion with our fellow man regardless of race, nationality, gender, creed or religion. Such acts are not measured by men but God alone. (Galatians 5:22-24, 1Peter 4:8, James 2:15,16)
Maverick

They may be losing a little credibility with the RF. Or it may be that because they have so many new ones coming in to replace the smart ones that left they have to reaffirm their Divine Right of power. There may be a way to gage how insecure the GB feel. If they harp on their Divine Rights a lot and often maybe this is a sign they are not getting the worship they feel they deserve. Maverick
Maverick

Sorry, must of hit the submit post key twice, I hate when that happens! Maverick
blondie

Thanks for expanding on those points, jgnat.
certain JW’s are eager to remain tight with the WTS is that they are more concerned about their respectable position in the society than in doing what they know is right.
The Pharisees certainly wanted to remain tight with the Romans and keep their place, enough to move them to kill Jesus even though they had no reason to doubt he was the Messiah.
Maverick,
If they harp on their Divine Rights a lot and often maybe this is a sign they are not getting the worship they feel they deserve.
The GB gauges this on how quickly and thoroughly the elder bodies respond to the CO/DO directives. Without the elders to enforce the GB requirements, the R&F would not step in line.
I suspect the elders are not being obedient enough.
Blondie
Pistoff

This is a stunning piece of work, this WT study; almost everything it says is wrong in some way.
Let's start with the beginning: The extolling of the virtues of the Law. Yes, Romans 7:12 says that it was holy and righteous and good. The problem is, elsewhere it is referred to as the enmity, the handwritten document written against us, and was nailed to the stake by Jesus' death. The law was not able to produce in it's adherents the approach to God that they needed and he wanted; it was concerned with the external manifestations of conduct more than the heart. It also betrayed prejudices against women.
WHY would the WT not talk about the fact that the Law just got in the way by the time of Jesus, and that it was used by the Pharisees to lord it over the people? Hmmmm......because they have a reason for us to think it was good, but only outdated......kind of like their theology that needs "adjusting" every so often. It is not BAD, they assert, just that it needed to be clarified. Thus, the law being replaced is like them updating and making the light brighter.
Then, it says this:
"However, even the most conscientious Jews could not observe God's Law perfectly. Was Jehovah expecting too much of them? No."
How is it possible that the law is impossibe to observe, and yet Jehovah was not expecting too much of them???
WHAT? The Pharisees were able to observe all the parts of the law, even giving the tenth of spices; they loved all it's little nooks and crannies, yet they were corrupt inside. GRRRRRRRRR.....double speak at it's best.
Then is launched a long discussion of the apostles, the older men in Jerusalem (constantly called the Governing Body, hmm JUST LIKE OUR GB TODAY!!!!).
Seldom has an article so misrepresented what went on in the early congregation.
Paul and Peter took turns being intimidated by the Jewish Christians; (last week we were told that Peter was not really rash or impetuous, or Jesus would not have chosen him. Duh. He was rash and impetuous, Jesus chose him anyway and gave us all hope.)
Now, this week we are told that Paul was entirely correct in going to the temple (for a religious ceremony) with four who had taken a vow, that he was not wrong to do this, that he was just being respectful. The problem is, when you read the source at Acts 21:15-26, you can see that the older men correctly note that Paul was teaching that circumcision and following the law are NOT necessary; they though call it APOSTASY and Paul does not disagree (out of fear of the great mass of jewish believers; the older men and the jewish converts had heard all about what Paul was teaching.). He agrees with them when they say that he must do this (go to the temple with the four, AND pay the expenses) in order for the people to understand that he does NOT teach the law is unnecessary. But Paul has taught that observance of the law *is* unnecessary. Paul clearly does this to save himself; it is a political move, through and through. Why not just call it that? It is recorded history.
But no. Instead, we are told it is OK.
Paul and Peter clearly sent mixed messages here; they were afraid and did what they could to stay alive. It is easy to see why the Law died hard, when the apostles themselves sent mixed messages about it's continued use in the congregation. The apostles were only men, after all, and they were obviously affected by fear.
Why insist on ignoring the reality here, hmmm?
Because to do so would reveal that the older men in Jerusalem were not seeing the reality of things either. If, in Acts 21 they were still not free of the influence of Jewish religion, then most certainly in Acts 15 they weren't either. And that would mean admitting that the prohibition against blood, was, not a continuation of the Noachian covenant, but a concession to Jewish Christians that was in the same league as not eating food sacrificed to idols.
Amazing, huh?
But then the payoff: are we today able to be patient, to accept "clarification", "direction", "patiently waiting on Jehovah when answers to lingering questions seem slow in coming?" Wow, they can't even admit that answers to such things as the king of the north ARE slow in coming; they just "seem" to be slow in coming.
Is it any wonder so many witnesses are nuts, when the WT keeps denying reality at every turn?
Even the wife shook her head at this mess of an article.
Anyone who reads that account in Acts about Paul going to the temple just has to wonder at the WT's explanation of it.
IF they are thinking, that is.

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 5-4-03 WT Study

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