Comments You Will Not Hear at the 6-15-03 WT Study

by blondie 17 Replies latest watchtower bible

blondie

COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE 6-15-03 WT STUDY
May 1, 2003 page 14
All WT quotes will appear in red
Review comments in black or parentheses
5 Scripture quotes
14 Scripture snippets
50 Scripture citations (to be discussed in 60 minutes)
WHERE CAN TRUE COMFORT BE FOUND?
2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (a snippet quote, words in red)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation , that we may be able to comfort those in any sort of tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are being comforted by God.
(Here the WTS is teaching the average JW to read the Bible ignoring the context)
Introduction
The WTS lists things people need comfort for:
Crippling illness
Earthquakes
Storms
Famine
War
Injustice
Where can it (comfort) be found?
Not in the world. Notice how the WTS puts down and diminishes the efforts of others outside their organization.
Some individuals and organizations endeavor to provide comfort. Kind words are appreciated. Physical relief efforts help to meet short-term needs. But only Jehovah, the true God, can undo all the damage and provide the sort of help…so…will never occur again.
1/15/87 WT p 4
The humanitarian work of Albert Schweitzer and "Mother" Teresa, for example, are well known internationally and both of them have won the Nobel peace prize.

On the other hand, one must ask: Has the social gospel really achieved its aim? Has it made real Christians of those who have benefited from the charitable works? Has it given the people true faith and hope? Even more importantly, we must ask: Is this what Jesus had in mind when he commissioned his followers to ‘preach the gospel in all the world’?—Matthew 24:14, King James Version.
That sets the priority for modern-day disciples of Jesus Christ. They, too, must put preaching the Kingdom good news as their primary objective, over and above performing humanitarian works. That is what missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses endeavor to do.

Yes, because these individuals and organizations cannot provide permanent relief, their efforts are a waste of time. The WTS spends it time and money on the only "real" answer, preaching. It reminds me of this scripture:
James 2:15,16 (NWT)
15If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, 16 yet a certain one of YOU says to them: "Go in peace, keep warm and well fed," but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it?
Another point to remember as you read this material, is how to view this question:
How does Jehovah comfort us?
Can you find this comfort reading the Bible on your own?
12/1/81 WT p.27
Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his "faithful and discreet slave," made up of spirit-anointed ones ... Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life (in other words we will die), no matter how much Bible reading we do.

GETTING AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMS
Jehovah did more than express sorrow.
He sent his only-begotten Son as a ransom to provide deliverance.
So God did not just mouth platitudes; he actually did something, he gave his best for us. Shouldn’t his people do more than say a few words, "stay warm and well fed" but give their best to help others?
Through Jesus Christ, Jehovah demonstrated that his purpose includes healing people of "every sort of infirmity," even resurrecting the dead. When will all of this take place?
Without developing any proof except to cite (not quote) 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and Matthew 24:3-14, the WTS says:
Jesus’ description matches the time we are living in.
COMFORT TO A PEOPLE IN DISTRESS
This next section mentions how God used the "prophets" twice. Are they making a subtle connection between these prophets and the WTS/FDS?
Jehovah caused his prophets to use vivid contrasts between him as the true and living God and idols.
Jehovah moved his prophet to use illustrations and descriptions of His works.
Now the WTS explains how God tells his people when this comfort will come.
On occasion, Jehovah gave comfort by specifying a time, near or distant.
In the days of King Jehoshaphat, Jehovah told them that He would intervene in their behalf "tomorrow." (only a snippet)
2 Chronicles
14 Now as for Ja·ha·zi´el the son of Zech·a·ri´ah the son of Be·nai´ah the son of Je·i´el the son of Mat·ta·ni´ah the Levite of the sons of A´saph, the spirit of Jehovah came to be upon him in the middle of the congregation. 15 Consequently he said: "Pay attention, all Judah and YOU inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Je·hosh´a·phat! Here is what Jehovah has said to YOU, ‘Do not YOU be afraid or be terrified because of this large crowd; for the battle is not YOURS, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. There they are coming up by the pass of Ziz; and YOU will be certain to find them at the end of the torrent valley in front of the wilderness of Je·ru´el

Once again the reference is to a Levite giving the prophecy under the spirit of God telling when God will act. Another reference to the WTS/FDS functioning as a prophet?
Their deliverance from Babylon, on the other hand, was recorded by Isaiah, nearly 200 years in advance, and further details were provided through Jeremiah almost a hundred years before the deliverance occurred.
So what was the good of that? No one understood it until it was almost upon them.
When the time for deliverance drew near!
Yes, the WTS teaches the prophecy cannot be understood until it has been fulfilled.
3/15/00 WT p 13
Just as the apostles understood many prophecies concerning the Messiah only after Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christians today understand Bible prophecy in its finest detail only after it has been fulfilled. Revelation is a prophetic book, so we should expect to understand it most clearly as the events it describes unfold. For example, C. T. Russell could not have correctly understood the meaning of the symbolic scarlet-colored wild beast mentioned at Revelation 17:9-11, since the organizations that the beast represents, namely, the League of Nations and the United Nations, did not even exist until after his death.

So why does the WTS keep trying to interpret and coming up with debacles, like 1874 but 1914, 1925 then 1975, then 1984, then 1994.
http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com/
The WTS now uses the example of Simeon, the man who was told he would see the Messiah before he died.
He did not understand how it would all work out , and he personally did not live to see the foretold salvation become a reality (so that means he did not be one of the "anointed" to reign with Christ in heaven), but he rejoiced.
Do you get the underlying message the WTS is giving to its members? Don’t worry if what we tell you isn’t clear and it doesn’t work out. Don’t worry if we promised that "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" and you are getting older and death is near. Yes, you have seen the kingdom established with Christ ruling now in the heavens. What more do you want?
COMFORT PROVIDED BY CHRIST
Actually, it should read "Comfort Not Provided By Christ."
As Jesus Christ carried out his earthly ministry, he did not always provide the help that people thought they needed.
Since the JW chain of command is Jehovah, Jesus, FDS, rank and file, the WTS is saying that the FDS does "not always provide the help that people" think they need.
The people wanted to make Jesus king …it was not yet the time for him to assume kingship.
But who wanted to make Jesus king before his time in this time period?
9/15/22 WT p 278
No one can properly understand the work of God at this present time who does not realize that since 1874, the time of the Lord’s return in power, there has been a complete change in God’s operations.

Notice that even after 1914 in 1922 the WTS was still making Jesus king before his time (according to current WTS chronology). This misconception of Jesus taking power in 1874 was not "corrected" until 1943, 29 years after 1914.
8/15/74 WT No Spiritual "Energy Crisis" for Discreet Ones
In 1943 the Watch Tower Society’s book "The Truth Shall Make You Free" did away with the nonexistent extra 100 years in the period of the Judges and placed the end of 6,000 years of man’s existence in the 1970’s. It also fixed the beginning of Christ’s presence, not in 1874, but in 1914 C.E.

[Jesus] emphasized the relevance of that message (the good news of the kingdom) to people’s everyday problems.
Jesus taught them principles of living that could help them to deal constructively with existing problems.
The WTS has some principles to live by:
Stay with your abusive mate for "God hates a divorcing."
Don’t go the worldly counselors/psychiatrists because they will turn you away from God.
If you are depressed, all you need to do is go to the meetings and out in field service more.
If you are critically ill, you can still auxiliary pioneer this month, see this sister’s experience in the Awake.
If you suffer economic loss, we will show you how to qualify for welfare.
Can you think of some?
This segment closes with the "carrot" that brings most people into the WTS:
The prospect of eternal life
THE HOLY SPIRIT AS COMFORTER
"The helper, the holy spirit…will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you. (John 14:16,17,26)"
Can you see where the WTS might be taking this scripture?
More than simply bringing words back to their minds, the holy spirit taught the disciples (not just the apostles) and guided them to a fuller understanding of God’s purpose.
Moved by the holy spirit, John, Peter, James, Jude and Paul wrote explanations of further developments in God’s purpose….valuable assurance of divine direction .
Are they saying that this applies today? Is the holy spirit guiding just the WTS/FDS "to a fuller understanding of God’s purpose or should this include all the "disciples"? Weren’t those "explanations" called the Christian Greek Scriptures? Are the WTS publications to be equated with scripture?
The fruitage of that spirit in the lives of individuals was also an important factor in identifying those who truly were Jesus’ disciples.
Where is the love? How do JWs show love? That’s right, by going in the field ministry and faithfully turning in a time slip every month so they can be counted among God’s true people.
HELP WHEN UNDER EXTREME PRESSUE
All who are devoted to Jehovah and who are loyal to him experience persecution of some sort.
So if you don’t feel persecuted, you must not be loyal to God?
God saw that Jesus received the support he needed.
That’s right, he sent angels to Jesus. Wouldn’t you like an angel to appear to you to support you?
Next week the article focuses on how YOU share in giving such comfort.
Such comments as:
We also show love to those outside the congregation, even to those who may not have given evidence of any love for us in the past.
Blondie
rocketman

Nice work again Blondie.
The WTS's show of humanitarian works is virtually non-existent, minus some disaster-relief efforts which may be commendable (and about which they are only too happy to toot their own horn). But the fact is, their overall criticism of attempts at social gospel is easy for them to make, considering that they make little effort to provide relief.
To be honest, they should admit that going door-door is actually much, much easier than actually doing something for people. Which is easier, dressing up, knocking on a few doors, then going to a coffee shop, then driving around for a while making return visits, or working in a soup kitchen, or collecting clothes for the poor, or caring for a sick person?
I think they take the easy way out. Sure, preaching is fine, but their hand is short when it really comes to helping people, even their own relatives sometimes. You quoted James 2:15, 16, and they fall far short of fulfilling that scripture, while at the same time bragging about their fulfilling Matthew 24:14.
Gadget

Do you get the underlying message the WTS is giving to its members? Don’t worry if what we tell you isn’t clear and it doesn’t work out. Don’t worry if we promised that "Millions Now Living Will Never Die" and you are getting older and death is near. Yes, you have seen the kingdom established with Christ ruling now in the heavens. What more do you want?

Sound like the wtr is on the run, especially with the comment in par7 about Simeon living all his life in imenent expectation nut dying before it came.
Par15: Pressure may also be experienced by a mature christian who helps one fellow believer after another to deal with difficult situations. In such cases, the one who gives encouragement may also be in need of receiving it.
Is this an open admission of all the wrong doing that elders ect do and get away with?
Gopher

This article is a great example of an article with doublespeak and hidden meanings, through which the average JW reader must navigate in order to try to get at what the meaning is.
The article seems to be saying "accept our comfort, even if you're not very comfortable with the comfort that we provide". "You may not understand the comfort, but for goodness sakes appreciate it because it's the only comfort you'll ever get."
And your expounding on the point about old man Simeon was excellent! My grandmothers and parents have all spent 50 years of their adult life believing and preaching that "God's New World is just around the corner". They have been duped, subjected to a spiritual "house of mirrors" by the Watchtower Society and its pseudo-Biblical interpretations. In a house of mirrors, things aren't as they seem, and it's difficult to navigate your way through. A house of mirrors is meant to deceive and entertain.
The Society's house of mirrors is deceitful but not very entertaining. Their "approaching end" is a mirage. Sad.
Maverick

System hung-up on me, had to hit it again to clear it. See post below. Thanks, Maverick
Maverick

Thank you Blondie, Gopher has it dead on, more misdirection from J-dud Central. They warm you up with talk of comfort then justify and qualify just what counts as 'true comfort'! They take credit for things that are done in spite of them, as in disaster relief. I live in Florida and after Hurricane Andrew the friends did everything. The Society had to slow them down and take over the program. Left to their own the friends would have done MORE! We had a special Friday night meeting at the Plant City Assembly Hall to outline what would and would not be done down in South Florida. Otherwise, there would have been NO field service, and low meeting attendance that coming week because everyone wanted to go and help.
As to comfort, the FDS also pass off on to God any pain NOW being felt as 'Wait on Jehovah'! Who get 'credit' for the pain you now feel and the lack of relief...God! Cowards! What an evil, self-serving bunch of fakes! Maverick
Wolfgirl

James 2:15,16 (NWT)
15 If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, 16 yet a certain one of YOU says to them: "Go in peace, keep warm and well fed," but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it?

I have no idea why I never thought of that scripture regarding charitable organisations. The WTS always says that because the benefits of such organisations is temporary, they focus on the preaching work. To me, that's in direct contradiction with that scripture. They are saying that someday, everyone will be warm and well fed, but they're not doing anything about it.
How hypocritical.
There were certain charities that I gave to each year regardless of what the WT said. Mine were always environmental ones, as that's dear to my heart.
I'm just in shock that I never thought of this before. Thank you, blondie, for opening my eyes once again.
blondie

Hi Rocketman,
But the fact is, their overall criticism of attempts at social gospel is easy for them to make, considering that they make little effort to provide relief.

Yes, but it doesn’t stop the WTS from accepting relief from the government and humanitarian organizations, illustrated by the WTS membership as an NGO in the UN and how the WTS encourages its members to take advantage of government handouts, though these are only of "temporary" benefit. Someone in Texas told me that the WTS was "encouraging" JWs who received government help to rebuild their homes during the floods to sign it over to the WTS.
And as to Matthew 24:14 versus James 2:15,16; the WTS tells JWs that their eternal life is dependent on doing the former not the latter.
Gadget ,
Sound like the wtr is on the run, especially with the comment in par7 about Simeon living all his life in imenent expectation nut dying before it came.

Yes, Gadget, long-time JWs in their 70’s and 80’s and wondering what happened to seeing Paradise in their lifetime. I am in the third generation of a 4 th generation JW family. The 1 st generation has passed on and the 2 nd generation is getting nervous. Every time I see them they tell me that the end is close, but why? Because they are getting older and death is very real. They are seeing many friends and relatives their age or younger die. Yes, many now living will never die.
Pressure may also be experienced by a mature christian who helps one fellow believer after another to deal with difficult situations. In such cases, the one who gives encouragement may also be in need of receiving it.
This is WTS doublespeak for don’t bother the elders with your problems, you’re bringing them down.
Gopher ,
My grandmothers and parents have all spent 50 years of their adult life believing and preaching that "God's New World is just around the corner".

Yes, that’s true of my family. One close relative just told me that I will die unless I go to the meetings. I asked to see what scripture said that to which they responded that is what the "slave" says. I asked to see where in the publications does it say that. Silence. So I left. The older JWs in my family are reaching the desperate stage. They never imagined that they would be lying in bed breathing their last in this system. But the end is near.
Maverick ,
We had a special Friday night meeting at the Plant City Assembly Hall to online what would and would not be done down in South Florida. Otherwise there would have been NO field service that coming week because everyone wanted to go and help.

Yes, I heard about this from friends in Florida. That is because field service is not rewarding, but it is rewarding to help people hands on and see and receive their appreciation. I would rather build a house than talk about building a house.
Blondie
rocketman

Maverick, thank you for pointing out what happened in regard to the devestation of Hurricane Andrew. The picture I always had was one of the WTS providing relief and doing so quickly. But from what you are saying, they held up relief efforts to some degree because they were worried about field service and meeting attendance (duh, I should have known!).
rocketman

Blondie, what you mentioned about the scriptures in Matthew and James is very true. They indeed hang everything on Matthew 24:14 and virtually nothing on James 2:15,16.
Also, when using James 1:27, they usually put the focus on the latter part of the verse "keep oneself without spot from the world" and downplay the part that says "to look after widows and orphans in their tribulation". In fact, James calls this a "form of worship" so it's part of our worship - helping others less fortunate than ourselves. And yet, most jws don't think of it that way, because they are taught that "worship" involves meetings and field service only, for the most part.

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 6-15-03 WT Study

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