Comments You Will Not Hear at the 5-23-04 (week of 5-17 to 5-23-2004) WT Study (4-15-04) Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()
WT quotes
will be in red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources
will be in blueGOD?S PEOPLE MUST LOVE KINDNESS
"What is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God??Micah 6:8
But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what GOD is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously--
take God seriously.?Micah 6:8 (Message Bible)
Opening Comments
This is a busy week of job hunting again and gardening. I have also started getting more involved in SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). Don?t let the name confuse you, they deal with abuse by leaders in all religions. We have added the JW component to the group. We talked to the regional group from about an hour and we found how much we had in common with our experiences. So this week will be abbreviated too. Not that any "new light" is here. After discussing "kindness" this Sunday and next, don?t expect any calls from your friends and family expressing "kindness."
START OF ARTICLE
Paragraphs 1-2
Being made in God?s image, humans have the capacity to reflect godly attributes.There was a time that the WTS used to say "man" was created in God?s image. You?d be surprised how many brothers interpreted this as meaning that women were not made in God?s image but Adam?s and that is why women are subject to men. It took several quotes from the publications to convince one brother he was wrong and a call to Bethel for another.
Insight Book Volume 1 p. 1184 ImageIn Christian instructions concerning feminine head covering, Christian men were told they ought not to wear such a covering, since the man "is God?s image and glory," while the woman is man?s glory.?1Co 11:7.Insight Book Volume 2 p. 304 ManTo enforce his argument he then states: "For a man ought not to have his head covered, as he is God?s image and glory; but the woman is man?s glory." Man was created first and for some time was alone, being in God?s image by himself. The woman was made from the man and was to be subject to the man, a situation unlike that of God, who is subject to no one. Man?s headship, nevertheless, comes under the headship of God and Christ.?1Co 11:3-7.p. 782 RespectA wife is rightly to manifest wholesome fear, or deep respect, for her husband as head of the family. (Eph 5:33) This harmonizes with the preeminence given to man in God?s arrangement. Man, not woman, was created first, and he is "God?s image and glory." (1Co 11:7-9; 1Ti 2:11-13)w60 11/1 p. 651 Marriage in Paradise ***In order to get a wife, it cost Adam one of his ribs. Because this first woman was created from the first man Adam, who was himself created in God?s image, according to God?s likeness, that woman became man?s glory. The inspired apostle Paul places this meaning upon the relationship of the man and the woman, saying: "He is God?s image and glory; but the woman is man?s glory. For man is not out of woman, but woman out of man; and, what is more, man was not created for the sake of the woman, but woman for the sake of the man." (1 Cor. 11:7-9) Because the man was God?s earthly image and likeness, the woman wife had reason to show deep respect to her husband, man.Bethel?s explanation:g80 4/8 p. 5 People?How They BeganIn a particular respect man was in God?s image where woman was not?in headship. (1 Cor. 11:3, 7) Both the man and the woman shared in being in God?s likeness insofar as each one possessed the divine attributes given at the time of their creation.God?s people?we as ChristiansWhat is Kindness?Paragraphs 3-5
Kindness is displayed by taking an active interest in the welfare of others (only JWs). It is shown by helpful acts and considerate words. To be kind means to do good rather than to do anything harmful. A kind person is friendly, gentle, sympathetic, and gracious. He (she) has a generous, considerate attitude toward others. Kindness, then, is part of every true Christian?s (only JWs) figurative attire.Notice the difference in the description of how the ransom is applied to the anointed and the "great crowd."
God ?bathes? or cleanses, anointed Christians in Jesus? blood, apply the merit of Christ?s ransom sacrifice in their behalf. They are also made new through holy spirit, becoming "a new creation" as spirit-begotten sons of God. Moreover, God?s kindness and love extend to "a great crowd," who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."Did you realize that the WTS teaches that the "merit of Christ?s ransom sacrifice" has not been applied to the great crowd yet?
This might sound familiar.
w91 7/15 p. 12 Please Jehovah by Showing KindnessGod cleanses, or ?bathes,? anointed Christians in Jesus? blood, applying the merit of Christ?s ransom sacrifice in their behalf. They are also made new through holy spirit, becoming "a new creation" as spirit-begotten sons of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Of course, God?s kindness and love for man also extend to an international "great crowd," who "have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.Revelation Climax Book chap. 41 p. 300 God?s Day of Judgment?Its Joyful Outcome! But as long as any humans are tainted by inherited sin, Adamic death is still with them. All those resurrected on earth, as well as the great crowd that survives Armageddon, will need to obey what is written in the scrolls until Jesus? ransom merit has been applied in fully removing sickness, old age, and other inherited disabilities. Then Adamic death, along with Hades, is "hurled into the lake of fire." They will be gone forever!w01 3/1 pp. 16-17 Rejoicing for Those Who Walk in the Light Just think! Sin and death, which have weighed on mankind like a suffocating blanket, will be no more. How we long for the day when the benefits of Jesus? ransom sacrifice are fully applied to obedient and faithful humankind!?Revelation 21:3, 4.So, then, should not those led by God?s spirit show kindness to others?True Kindness Is Not WeaknessParagraphs 6-8
It takes real strength to be truly kind and to avoid showing mistaken kindness?it cannot be a weak, compromising attitude toward wrong conduct. Mistaken kindness, on the other hand, is a weakness that cause one to condone wrongdoing.This shows that the WTS? true agenda, not kindness, but shoring up their disfellowshipping doctrine, trying to convince the rank and file that not talking to, not associating with family members is "kindness."
Consider, for example, Israel?s high priest Eli. He was lax in disciplining his sons.Eli?s sons also had immoral intercourse with women serving at the entrance of the tabernacle. However, instead of ousting Hophni and Phinehas from office, Eli merely rebuked them mildly.Doesn?t it strike as strange that the punishment should have been removal from religious office, not total banishment from the nation of Israel?
Christian elders must be careful not to succumb to showing mistaken kindness to wrongdoers who could imperil a congregation?s spirituality. True kindness is not blind to evil words and deeds that violate God?s (WTS) standards.I know of 4 elders in 4 separate congregations that regularly talk with DF?d children whose BOEs know they do this and have told the rank and file who inform the BOEs of this that it is none of their business. But if the rank and file were to do the same thing?..? I know of a pedophile that was reinstated in 8 months because several elders were deeply entrenched in his business.
Our Exemplar, Jesus Christ, was never guilty of displaying mistaken kindness.Yet, when touched by the woman with the flow of blood, he did not turn her in for breaking the law, he healed her physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When Peter denied he 3 times, he did not have him separated from the other apostles and removed from his position. When it was the Sabbath, he was not afraid to heal people on it. Jesus healed the daughter of a Syrian woman although he had been sent to the Jews.
Jesus never condoned evil; he had the God-given strength to denounce the hypocritical religious leaders.Are JWs allowed to denounce the hypocritical religious leaders in the WTS?
Kindness and Other Godly QualitiesParagraphs 9-11
Long-suffering and goodness
He (God) is patient even with the unkind?.helpful deeds.Link between kindness and love?acts of deliveranceDeeds, acts, active, do. How many JWs actually "do" anything? Example: It is announced at the KH that sister/brother so-and-so is in the hospital or at home after an illness. How many go back and get the address to call or send a card? Only a few, and in my experience, never a brother (his wife does it). Now this is not to diminish some who read here who have done this, but it is few. I helped a non-JW relative open over 200 cards from friends, relatives, neighbors when they were deathly ill. I was helping an older sister with her mail after her operation, a sister with 60 years as a JW, a popular, active woman. Ten cards, ten cards! No phone calls except from a brother wanting her time. I felt so badly I wanted to raise my hand at the next meeting and fit this point in. I did, but nothing changed.
Why is the World So Cruel?Paragraphs 12-15
Why is the congregation so cruel? Why do people get left out of the cliques because they are not "spiritual" enough, or pretty enough, or wealthy enough? Why do family members of DF?d people get treated like they are DF?d? Why is the money at the KH reserved for the WTS and building projects but not for a family down on it?s luck financially? Why is it when a brother or sister is facing death, only sisters have the time to sit with them? Why is it when some elder?s wife or elder decide to trash someone?s reputation, that the BOE does not make them try to repair the damage? Why do JWs pray for the quick death of over 6 billion people because paradise is not coming soon enough for them?
Are they responsible for their cruelties or is it as the WTS say?
Adam and Eve actually came under the selfish and proud influence of the Devil, becoming subjects of his rule.No longer "easy access to healthful vegetation and fruit," increasing the pain of pregnancy for women.
Like its ruler, the world today manifests evil traits that include selfishness and pride. No wonder it is full of harshness and cruelty!Who is "the world"? Everyone not a JW? Are the vast majority of people today full of harshness and cruelty, or is a minority?
Under God?s Kingdom Kindness Will PrevailParagraphs 16-20
Jesus Christ gave us a glimpse of how the administration entrusted to him by his Father would be marked by kindness. This can be noted in Jesus? words that exposed the false religious leaders, who burdened the people with heavy loads. (Matthew 11:28-30)All too many earthly rules, religious or otherwise, exhaust the people with wearisome burdens of endless rules and thankless tasks.WOW, DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
They are describing themselves.
How long your hair can be, whether you can color it or not (male), how long your sideburns can be, how long your mustache, can you wear a beard, can you shave your head, no symbols shaved into your hair?.
Rules, the WTS invented rules.
Human rulers seek to establish their greatness by ?lording it over? the people and by seeking great titles?Jesus said that true greatness comes from ministering to others?diligently and persistently reaching out to serve.Titles, such as governing body member, anointed, remnant, Bethel elder, circuit overseer, district overseer, zone overseer, presiding overseer, secretary, service overseer, congregation book study overseer, theocratic ministry school overseer, Watchtower study overseer, elder, ministerial servant, elder?s wife (haha), city overseer, convention overseer, Gilead graduate.
About 1972, congregation servants stopped "serving" and became "overseers." Hmmm?
Not only do we refrain from harming the unthankful but also we do good to them even to those who acted as our enemies.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Why Show Kindness?Paragraphs 21,22
For a genuine Christian, displaying kindness is especially important. It is evidence that God?s spirit is at work in us.I would say them that the WTS gives ample evidence that God?s spirit is not at work in them as an organization.
Concluding CommentsNext week?s pictures are very interesting, showing events that I have never seen happen in over 40 years as a JW.
Kindness Within the Family
Kindness in the Workplace
Kindness at School
Kindness to Neighbors
Kindness in Our Ministry
Kindness at Congregation Meetings (not what you think)
Have a good weekend; perhaps you will be joining me in planting a garden.
Blondie