Just noticed Blondie's thread on the same article http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/83130/1.ashx.
While COs everywhere have lamented the poor study habits of JWs and dutifully report the dismal state of the "Bible Students" to their Faithful and Discreet Overlords, the ruling class - i.e. the Governing Body, who have begun ruling as kings already - that ruling class claps with glee. No longer required to make sense, no longer fettered by needing even a loose connection to scriptural truths, these men have apostasized from God's Word and encourage others to follow:
The Watchtower, December 1, Walk in the Way of Integrity
Page 14, Paragraph 9 states that Psalm 16:7 means "that divine counsel reached the deepest parts of David's being and settled there, correcting his innermost thoughts and emotions." I agree with that statement. That is what it means. However, the expanded application goes on to make an unscriptural claim that no one can support using the Bible alone. The paragraph continues, "So it can be with us if we appreciatively reflect on the counsel that we receive through God's Word, his representatives, and his organization and allow it to settle deep within us. Regularly praying to Jehovah to refine us in this way will help us to walk in integrity."
No scripture is provided to establish that Jehovah uses any of these three sources of counsel. Now, I can quickly show anyone Hebrews 4:11-13 and demonstrate the power God's Word has in correcting thoughts and emotions. I can readily show anyone Galatians 6:1 and prove that anyone that is qualified by God can use Jehovah's Word and holy spirit to counsel anyone. I can't find any reference in scripture to any organization ever being used by Jehovah to correct anyone. Ever.
Page 15 and 16, Paragraph 13 asks, "Do we really want to develop close ties with those who do not walk in God's truth?" Well, I sure don't! Anyone would assume that the source of such a question is - beyond any doubt - walking in God's truth. The paragraph goes on to say, "Behind claims of sincerity, apostates may also hide their intent to draw us away from serving Jehovah." There you have it, folks. Anyone labeled "apostate" must have been trying to do just that. There's surely no need to verify the claim of an organization that is responsible for providing counsel, especially since that organization is - beyond any doubt - walking in God's truth.
Page 16, Paragraph 16 contains the last unscrupulous "gem of wisdom" I will discuss, "And what a spiritual protection the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work is! (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) Being busy in it helps us keep our hope for the future bright, our faith in God's promises strong, and our love for Jehovah and fellow humans alive."
This monstrous lie doesn't include any substantiation for the claim that the preaching and disciple-making work would serve as a protection. It includes two over-used scriptures to reinforce the thought that it is a worthwhile thing to litter the world with pamphlets the "integrity-keeping" witness didn't even read, or at least failed to understand. Next, three separate things are promised as a result of "being busy in it" that are not mentioned anywhere in the Bible as results of preaching and teaching. The Bible specifically says that by means of holy spirit each will result from prayerfully digging in God's Word.
James directly contradicts their stated viewpoint by clearly showing that faith doesn't come from works, but the other way around. No one can increase faith by works, that is never a result of works.
The rest of the article includes loosely defined warnings against the potential perils posed by perverse people perusing pornography and many other classes of "bad association." There was one general impression that has caught my eye before. In an organization marked by "love among yourselves," isn't it convenient that there are so many classifications for "bad association" that every person in the congregation may be freely shunned by any individual on the basis of at least one.
Respectfully,
OldSoul