Comments You Will Not Hear at the 12-24-06 WT Study (November 15, 2006 issue, pages 21-25)(KEEP IN GOD’S LOVE)
Review comments will be in red
WT material from today's WT will be in black
Quotes from other sources will be in quotes boxes
w = Watchtower
g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible (various Bible translations online)
www.reexamine.org (WT publications online)
www.silentlambs.org (child abuse)
www.ajwrb.org (blood issue)
http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm (United Nations issue)
KEEP YOURSELF IN GOD'S LOVE!
"Beloved ones, ... keep yourselves in God's love, ...with everlasting life in view. "-JUDE 20, 21.
Opening Comments
The WTS uses many techniques to edit a scripture to the meaning they want. First, they string snippets of scriptures together giving the impression that it is one scripture. Second, they pepper a paragraph with so many cited (not quoted) scriptures that it would take a month of Sundays to look them up and read them. Third, is the one above using ellipses (…) to deliberately take away the context of the scripture.
(Jude 20-21) 20
But YOU , beloved ones , by building up yourselves on YOUR most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love , while YOU are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view.
Left out words are in
blue .What the rank and file don’t realize is that the ones Jude was writing to were anointed, called to be kings and priests in heaven with Christ, not "living forever on a paradise earth." That was what their faith was built on and that was what they were waiting for.
Also notice how "works" figure in this based on the headings.
DEMONSTRATE your love for God
SHOW love for God’s Son
DISPLAY true love for others
MAINTAIN a clean conscience
Other ways to avoid wrong CONDUCT
As you read ask yourself, "what active part as a person does Jesus play in this article; is he more than a tool that God uses to give JWs everlasting life?" "How many OT examples are used to show supposed Christians how to stay in God’s love?"
START OF ARTICLE
Q1, 2) How can you remain in God's love?
1) JEHOVAH loves the world of mankind so much that he gave his only-begotten Son in order that those exercising faith in him might have everlasting life. (John 3:16) How grand it is to experience such love! If you are a servant of Jehovah, you surely want to enjoy that love forever.
CARROT:
That those exercising faith in him might have everlasting life.If you are a servant of Jehovah
— not a Christian, not a witness of Jesus?In the first century, were Jesus’ followers know as "Jehovah’s witnesses"?
What does the Bible say as to what they came to be called by "divine providence"?
(Acts 11:26) . . .and it was first in Antioch that
the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.
Did Agrippa say that Paul was going to persuade him to become a JW?
(Acts 26:28) 28 But A·grip´pa said to Paul: "In a short time you would persuade me to become a
Christian ."
Does Jesus say that his followers would be witnesses of God or Jesus?
(Acts 1:8) 8 but YOU will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon YOU, and YOU will be
witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Ju·de´a and Sa·mar´i·a and to the most distant part of the earth."
(Revelation 1:9) . . .I John, YOUR brother and a sharer with YOU in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in company with Jesus, came to be in the isle that is called Pat´mos for speaking about God and
bearing witness to Jesus .
(Revelation 12:17) And the dragon grew wrathful at the woman, and went off to wage war with the remaining ones of her seed, who observe the commandments of God and have the work of
bearing witness to Jesus .
(Revelation 17:6) And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the holy ones and with the blood of the
witnesses of Jesus .. . .
(Is there a scripture in the NT that calls Christians "Jehovah’s Witnesses"?)
2) The disciple Jude disclosed how you can remain in God's love. "By building up yourselves on your most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit," wrote Jude, "keep yourselves in God's love, while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view." (Jude 20, 21) Studying God's Word and preaching the good news help to build you up on the "most holy faith"-Christian teachings. To remain in God's love, you must pray "with holy spirit," or under its influence. In order to be blessed with everlasting life, you must also exercise faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. -1 John 4:10.
Finally, the rest of the theme scripture.
"Most holy faith"—Christian teachings
Actually only what is taught by the WTS/FDS/GB.
*** w96 1/15 p. 12 par. 10 Mankind Needs the Knowledge of God ***
The knowledge of God is sound, stable, life-giving. It promotes spiritual health. Paul urged Timothy: "Keep holding thepatternofhealthfulwords that you heard from me with the faith and love that are in connection with Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13) A language has a pattern of words. Similarly, the "pure language" of Scriptural truth has "the pattern of healthful words," based mainly on the Bible’s theme of the vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty by means of the Kingdom. (Zephaniah 3:9) We need to keep this pattern of healthful words in mind and heart.
If we are to avoid figurative heart trouble and remain spiritually healthy, we must apply the Bible in life and put to full use the spiritual provisions God is making through "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45-47; Titus 2:2) Let us always remember that for good spiritual health, we need the knowledge of God.
You must pray "with holy spirit"
Only found in the WTS/FDS/GB organization
***
w624/1p.215OurActivationbyJehovah’sSpirit***More than that, for one to receive holy spirit he must also be in touch with God’s channel of communication.
Just as in the days of Jesus and the apostles receiving of holy spirit was dependent upon contact with God’s channel of communication, his earthly representatives, so also today. The facts show that that channel is found with the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses.— Acts 19:1-7.Q3) Why are some no longer Jehovah's Witnesses?
3 Some who once had faith have not remained in God's love. Because they have chosen to pursue a sinful course, they are no longer Jehovah's Witnesses. How can you avoid such an experience? Meditating on the following points may help you to refrain from sin and to keep yourself in God's love.
Why are some no longer Jehovah’s Witnesses—
see, being a JW is more important than being a Christian.So the new terminology raises it head in a study article. Just to be clear, according to WT publications, inactive JWs are still JWs. The WTS is talking about JWs that have been disfellowshipped or disassociated themselves.
Because they have chosen to pursue a sinful course, they are no longer Jehovah’s Witnesses (
which is more important than being a Christian ).Now it could be argued that not attending the meetings and turning in a time slip could be a "sinful course," but then how many meetings can you miss before you are "sinful" and how many time slips can you fail to turn in before you are "sinful"?
*** w86 4/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***
Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible,
including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses .
One thing that seems to have changed since this following was published, is that JWs who privately believe something different can be disfellowshipped even if they do not share the ideas with anyone else.
*** w86 4/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***
Following such Scriptural patterns, if a Christian (who claims belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus) unrepentantly promotes false teachings, it may be necessary for him to be expelled from the congregation. (See Titus 3:10, 11.) Of course, if a person just has doubts or is uninformed on a point, qualified ministers will lovingly assist him.
Demonstrate Your Love for God
Q4) How important is obedience to God?
4) Show your love for God by obeying him. (Matthew 22:37) "This is what the love of God means," wrote the apostle John, "that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3) A pattern of obedience to God can strengthen you to resist temptation and can make you joyful. The psalmist said: "Happy is the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked ones, ... but his delight is in the law of Jehovah."-Psalm 1: 1, 2.
His commandments
— not the commandments of men, the WTS/FDS/GBPattern of obedience to God
— which is not the same as obeying humans, the WTS/FDS/GB***
w048/1p.11JehovahRevealsHisGlorytoHumbleOnes***Similarly,
we will be blessed if we recognize and obey the prophet greater than Moses, Jesus, as well as " the faithful and discreet slave" appointed by him .—Matthew 24:45, 46; Acts 3:22.Q5) Love for Jehovah will move you to act in what way?
5) Your love for Jehovah will move you to avoid committing a serious sin that would bring reproach upon his name. "Give me neither poverty nor riches," prayed Agur. "Let me devour the food prescribed for me, that I may not become satisfied and I actually deny you and say: 'Who is Jehovah?' and that I may not come to poverty and I actually steal and assail the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:1, 8, 9) Be determined not to `assail the name of God' by bringing reproach upon him. Instead, always strive to do upright things that bring him glory. -Psalm 86:12.
Avoid committing a serious sin that would bring reproach upon his name
OT example
—Agur (leaves Christ out of the picture)What is a serious sin per the WTS? Something to be disfellowshipped for? What are those sins? (not to be considered a complete listing)
absolute endangerment of mate’s spirituality: w88 11/1 22-3
apostasy: w89 10/1 19; w86 3/15 15; w86 4/1 30-1; w86 10/15 31
bestiality: it-1 292
blood transfusion: jv 183-4
dishonest practices: w86 11/15 14
drunkenness: it-1 656
employment involving gambling: w95 5/15 23
extortion: w89 1/15 22; it-1 789
extreme physical abuse of family members: g01 11/8 12; fy 150; w88 11/1 22
fits of anger: g01 11/8 12; g97 6/8 20; fy 150; g93 2/8 14
fornication: it-1 863
fraud: om 142-3
gluttony: w04 11/1 30-1
greed in relation to bride-price: w98 9/15 25
lying: g00 2/8 21
persistent gambling: w89 7/15 30
polygamy: jv 176
promoting sects: it-2 886
reviling: w96 7/15 17-18; it-1 991; it-2 802
sexual abuse of children: g93 10/8 10
slander: w89 10/15 14; om 142-3
subversive activity: w95 10/1 31
use of tobacco: w95 5/15 23
whether violation of secular law is: w86 10/1 31
willful nonsupport of family: w88 11/1 22
abandoning wife and eloping with another woman: w79 11/15 31-2; w76 728
employment violating Christian principles: km 9/76 6
following mourning customs that involve false worship: w85 4/15 25
homosexuality: w83 6/1 24-6
incestuous marriage: w78 3/15 26
parents condoning immorality: w56 566
planned adultery to break Scriptural marriage ties: w83 3/15 29
refusal to cease fellowship with disfellowshipped: w81 9/15 25-6
What reproach has the WTS brought on Christ and God?
[Picture on page 21] Jude shows us how to keep ourselves in God's love
Q6) What could happen if you were to go headlong into sin?
6) Pray regularly to your loving heavenly Father for help to resist temptation to engage in sin. (Matthew 6:13; Romans 12:12) Keep following God's counsel so that your prayers are not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7) If you were to go headlong into sin, the consequences could be tragic, for Jehovah figuratively blocks the approach of rebellious ones as with a cloud mass so that their prayers may not pass through to him. (Lamentations 3:42-44) So display a humble spirit, and pray that you may do nothing that would deprive you of approach to God in prayer.-2 Corinthians 13:7.
God’s counsel or the WTS/FDS/GB?
What sin are they discussing
—rebellious ones— apostasy?Humble spirit
— Does the WTS have the authority prevent us from being able to approach God in prayer or to say that God does not hear our prayers?Show Love for God's Son
Q7, 8. How can heeding Jesus' counsel help one to reject a sinful course?
7) Display love for Jesus Christ by obeying his commandments, for this will help you to reject a sinful course. "If you observe my commandments," said Jesus, "you will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love." (John 15:10) How can the application of Jesus' words assist you in remaining in God's love?
Did Jesus observe the commandments of his Father or the commandments of the religious leaders of his day? When these leaders made rules that were not supported by the scriptures what did Jesus say?
(Matthew 15:1-9) 15 Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying: 2 "Why is it your disciples overstep the tradition of the men of former times? For example, they do not wash their hands when about to eat a meal." 3 In reply he said to them: "Why is it YOU also overstep the commandment of God because of YOUR tradition? 4 For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Let him that reviles father or mother end up in death.’ 5 But YOU say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother: "Whatever I have by which you might get benefit from me is a gift dedicated to God," 6 he must not honor his father at all.’ And so YOU have made the word of God invalid because of YOUR tradition. 7 YOU hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about YOU, when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’"
What traditions does the WTS have? Requiring members to turn in monthly time slips; not allowing men to have beards and be given responsibilities in the congregation, are just two of many.
8) Paying attention to Jesus' words can help you to maintain moral integrity. God's Law to Israel stated: "You must not commit adultery." (Exodus 20:14) But Jesus revealed a principle behind that command by saying: "Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:27, 28) The apostle Peter said that some in the first-century congregation had "eyes full of adultery" and `enticed unsteady souls.' (2 Peter 2:14) Unlike them, however, you can avoid sexual sins if you love and obey God and Christ and are determined to preserve your relationship with them.
Maintain moral integrity
…adulteryKeeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart
Is this a reference to the pornography plague in the congregations of JWs; pornography that is so easily accessible on the internet.
Can JWs be disfellowshipped for viewing pornography? Can JWs be disfellowshipped for having phone sex as they are masturbating?
Notice how the WTS lumps in pornography with premarital sex and homosexuality, disfellowshipping sins.
*** w02 2/1 p. 6 Cleanliness—What Does It Really Mean? ***
Lovers of God know that prostitution, homosexuality, premarital sex, and pornography are violations of Jehovah’s standard of moral cleanness.
Let Jehovah's Spirit Lead You
Q9. As regards the holy spirit, what can happen if one were to persist in sin?
9) Pray for God's holy spirit, and allow it to lead you. (Luke 11:13; Galatians 5:19-25) If you were to persist in sin, God might withdraw his spirit from you. After David sinned in connection with Bath-sheba, he begged God: "Do not throw me away from before your face; and your holy spirit O do not take away from me." (Psalm 51:11) Because of being an unrepentant sinner, King Saul did lose God's spirit. Saul sinned by offering up a burnt sacrifice and by sparing the flock, the herd, and the king of the Amalekites. Jehovah thereafter withdrew his holy spirit from Saul.-1 Samuel 13:1-14; 15:1-35; 16:14-23.
OT example—David—Saul
What are some NT examples?
Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, Demas?
If there are some, why use OT examples?
Does the holy spirit lead you, per the WTS, if you are not a JW? Does God hear the prayers of non-JWs?
Q10) Why should you reject the very thought of practicing sin?
10) Reject the very thought of practicing sin. "If we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth," wrote the apostle Paul, "there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left." (Hebrews 10:26-31) How tragic it would be if you were to carry sin to that point!
Is the practice of sin the "unforgivable sin" which is what the WTS says Hebrews 10:26-31 is talking about?
What sins are unforgivable, per the WTS?
Display True Love for Others
Q11, 12) In what ways will love and respect deter one from engaging in sexual misconduct?
11) Love for fellow humans will deter you from engaging in sexual misconduct. (Matthew 22:39) Such love will impel you to safeguard your heart so that it does not entice you to steal the affections of another person's marriage mate. Doing so could lead to the sin of adultery. (Proverbs 4:23; Jeremiah 4:14; 17:9, 10) Be like upright Job, who did not allow himself to be attentive to any woman other than his wife. Job 31:1.
Sexual misconduct
Did you know that the WTS has a delineated rule book that puts this conduct into different categories, touch a woman’s clothed woman’s breast, touching it only once, etc.?
12) Respect for the sanctity of marriage can help you to avoid serious sin. God purposed that honorable marriage and sexual relations should be the means of propagating life. (Genesis 1:26-28) Remember that the sex organs have to do with life, which is sacred. Fornicators and adulterers disobey God, degrade the sexual act, lack respect for the sanctity of marriage, and sin against their own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18) But love of God and neighbor coupled with godly obedience will keep a person from engaging in conduct that could result in his being disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation.
Sexual relations for having children = life = sacred.
Thus if married JWs don’t have children are they sinning against God’s purpose for sex?
Does the OT view fornicators and adulterers in the same light? Were fornicators put to death or only adulterers? What was that; because it was a crime of property not a moral crime.
Adulterers
(Deuteronomy 22:22) 22 "In case a man is found lying down with a woman owned by an owner,
both of them must then die together , the man lying down with the woman and the woman. So you must clear away what is bad out of Israel.Fornicators
(Deuteronomy 22:28-29) 28 "In case a man finds a girl, a virgin who has not been engaged, and he actually seizes her and lies down with her, and they have been found out, 29
the man who lay down with her must also give the girl’s father fifty silver shekels, and she will become his wife due to the fact that he humiliated her. He will not be allowed to divorce her all his days .Q13) An immoral person "destroys valuable things" in what way?
13) We need to suppress sinful thoughts so that we do not cause our loved ones pain. "He that is having companionship with prostitutes destroys valuable things," says Proverbs 29:3. An unrepentant adulterer destroys his relationship with God and ruins family bonds. His wife has grounds for divorce. (Matthew 19:9) Whether the husband or the wife is the wrongdoer, a marital breakup can cause the innocent mate, the children, and others great pain. Do you not agree that knowing the destructiveness of immoral conduct should move us to resist the temptation to engage in it?
We need to suppress sinful thoughts
Thought police on patrol
Would a unmarried Israelite who had sex with an unmarried prostitute be committing a sin under the Law?
Would a married Israelite who had sex with an unmarried woman be committing a sin in a culture that allowed men to have mutliple wives?
Q14) What lesson regarding wrongdoing can be learned from Proverbs 6:30-35?
14) The fact that there is no way to compensate for adultery should impel one to avoid this grossly selfish act. Proverbs 6:3035 shows that whereas people may sympathize with a thief who steals because he is hungry, they despise an adulterer because he has a bad motive. He is "bringing his own soul [or, life] to ruin." Under the Mosaic Law, he would have been put to death. (Leviticus 20:10) A person who commits adultery causes others pain just to satisfy his lust, and an unrepentant adulterer does not remain in God's love but is expelled from the clean Christian congregation.
No way to compensate for adultery
Yet I know of several JW men who committed adultery, were reproved, and in just one year were once again "handling microphones." The ex-wife was viewed as a pest as she told the elders that her ex-husband was not paying child support. Hmmm.
The only way an adulterer would be put to death is if he had sex with another man’s wife or fiancee.
Unrepentant adulterer
Who determines if they are repentant? The elders whom the WTS admits are imperfect and cannot read hearts?
[Picture on page 23] A marital breakup can cause the innocent mate and children great pain
Maintain a Clean Conscience
Q15) What is the condition of a conscience marked "as with a branding iron"?
15) To remain in God's love, we cannot allow our conscience to become insensitive to sin. Obviously, we must not accept the world's low moral standards, and we need to exercise care in such matters as our choice of associates, reading material, and entertainment. Paul warned: "In later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons, by the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, marked in their conscience as with a branding iron." (1 Timothy 4:1, 2) A conscience marked "as with a branding iron" is like seared flesh covered with scar tissue and devoid of feeling. Such a conscience would no longer warn us to stay away from apostates and from situations that could cause us to fall away from the faith.
The world’s low moral standards
The WTS says that the world is peopled with adulterers, fornicators, pedophiles, that everyone outside the JW congregation are morally bankrupt.
Exercise care in…choice of associates, reading material, and entertainment.
Then must all JWs associates be only JWs, the only thing they read be the bible and WT publications, and that they only games, music, videos be WT ones?
Stay away from apostates and from situations that could cause us to fall away from the faith.
APOSTATES, APOSTATES, THE SKY IS FALLING, APOSTATES
THE APOSTATES ARE EVERYWHERE BUT ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERNET
The WTS will sink itself with its own words and activities without any help from so-called apostates.
Q16. Why is it so important to have a clean conscience?
16) Our salvation depends on our having a clean conscience. (1 Peter 3:21) Through our faith in Jesus' shed blood, our conscience has been cleansed from dead works, "that we may render sacred service to the living God." (Hebrews 9:13, 14) If we were to sin willfully, our conscience would become defiled and we would no longer be clean people fit for God's service. (Titus 1:15) But with Jehovah's help, we can have a clean conscience.
Our salvation depends on our having a clean conscience.
But in the WTS world who determines what decisions you make with your "conscience." How you view it, how God views it, how Jesus views it, or how some other JW views it?
*** w04 9/1 pp. 12-13 pars. 17-18 Glorify God "With One Mouth" ***
Is it reasonable to expect those "who are strong" to make such adjustments? Well, think of this illustration: While driving on a highway, we see ahead of us some children walking dangerously close to the road. Do we continue driving at the maximum speed allowed just because we have the legal right to do so? No, we slow down to avoid possible danger to the children. At times, a similar willingness to slow down, or yield, is called for in our relationship with our fellow believers or others
. We may be doing something that we have a perfect right to do. No Bible principles are being violated. Nevertheless, if we could offend others or harm those with a weaker conscience, Christian love will move us to act with caution. (Romans 14:13, 15) Maintaining unity and promoting Kingdom interests are more important than exercising our personal rights.When we act in this way, we follow the very finest example. Paul says: "Even the Christ did not please himself; but just as it is written: ‘The reproaches of those who were reproaching you have fallen upon me.’" Jesus was willing to sacrifice his life for us.
Surely we are willing to sacrifice some of our rights if that will enable "those not strong" to glorify God in unity with us . Truly, displaying an accommodating and generous disposition toward Christians having a weaker conscience—or voluntarily restricting our choices and not insisting upon our rights—demonstrates "the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had."—Romans 15:1-5.Who decides a person is no longer clean and fit for God’s service? God or the elders?
Other Ways to Avoid Wrong Conduct
Q17. Of what benefit is it to `follow Jehovah fully'?
17) 'Follow Jehovah fully,' as did Caleb of ancient Israel. (Deuteronomy 1:34-36) Do what God requires of you, and never consider partaking of "the table of demons." (1 Corinthians 10:21) Reject apostasy. Partake appreciatively of the spiritual food available only at Jehovah's table, and you will not be misled by false teachers or wicked spirit forces. (Ephesians 6:12; Jude 3, 4) Focus on spiritual things, such as Bible study, meeting attendance, and the field ministry. You are sure to be happy if you follow Jehovah fully and have plenty to do in the Lord's work.-1 Corinthians 15:58.
OT example—Caleb
Reject apostasy. Partake appreciately of the spiritual food available only at Jehovah’s talbe…not be mislead by false teachers or wicked spirit forces.
TRANSLATION: Quit reading anti-WTS material on the internet. Quit going to their DBs.
Bible study, meeting attendance, and the field ministry
WTS TRINITY: notice there is nothing about helping fellow Christians materially or emotionally.
Follow Jehovah fully—
Where’s Jesus?Plenty to do in the Lord’s work
By keeping busy in the WTS trinity above, you will never have time to notice that what the bible says and what the WTS is not the same. Ignorance is bliss.
18. How will fear of Jehovah affect your conduct?
18) Be determined to "render God sacred service with godly fear and awe." (Hebrews 12:28)
Reverential fear of Jehovah will motivate you to reject any wayward course. It will help you to conduct yourself in harmony with Peter's counsel to fellow anointed ones: "If you are calling upon the Father who judges impartially according to each one's work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your alien residence."-1 Peter 1:17.
Render to God or to the WTS? Reverential fear of God or the WTS? A wayward course away from the WTS or God?
Alien residence
—the anointed knew that their lives on earth were temporary, alien residents, since they were going to heaven; what alien residency would those are not anointed have per the WTS?Q19) Why should you constantly put into practice the things you are learning from God's Word?
19) Constantly put into practice what you are learning from God's Word. This will help you to avoid serious sin because you will prove to be among "those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong." (Hebrews 5: 14) Instead of being careless in speech and conduct, be vigilant so that you walk as a wise person, "buying out the opportune time" in these wicked days. "Go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is," and keep on doing it.-Ephesians 5:15-17; 2 Peter 3:17.
Learning from God’s Word or from the WTS?
*** w81 2/15 p. 19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***
We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the "faithful and discreet slave" organization.
What does the WTS mean by careless in speech and conduct?
Buying out time to do (trinity) bible study, attend WTS meetings, preach the WTS doctrines
[Picture on page 24] Like Caleb, are you determined to 'follow Jehovah fully'?
Q20) Why should we avoid covetousness?
20) Allow no place for covetousness-greedy desire for what belongs to others. One of the Ten Commandments says: "You must not desire ["covet," New International Version] your fellowman's house. You must not desire your fellowman's wife, nor his slave man nor his slave girl nor his bull nor his ass nor anything that belongs to your fellowman." (Exodus 20:17) This law protected a person's house, wife, servants, animals, and so forth. But most important is Jesus' statement that covetousness defiles a man.-Mark 7:20-23.
Greedy desire
What are serious sins (disfellowshipping) that the WTS puts under the category of "greed"?
Gambling, gluttony, idolatry, exorbitant bride-price, fraud, business dishonesty,
Notice that a wife and servants are considered property which explains why an adulterer was being put to death for a property crime and not a moral crime?
Q21, 22) What preventive measures might a Christian take in order to avoid sinning?
21) Take preventive measures so that desire does not lead to sin. The disciple James wrote: "Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death." (James 1:14, 15) For example, if a person has had a drinking problem in the past, he may decide not to have alcoholic beverages on hand in his home. To avoid temptation involving a member of the opposite sex, a Christian may need to change his work location or his place of employment.-Proverbs 6:23-28.
Preventive measures…drinking problem…not to have alcoholic beverages on hand in his home
.That sounds reasonable but this sounds pretty extreme.
To avoid temptation involving a member of the opposite sex, a Christian may need to change his work location or his place of employment
Yes, those immoral women outside the WTS organization have only one thought, to get a JW man into their bed. I wonder if he will have to find a job where no women are employed?
22) Do not take even the first step toward sin. Flirtation and the entertaining of immoral ideas can result in fornication or adultery. Telling small lies could embolden a person to tell big ones and might lead to the sinful practice of lying. Little thefts could dull an individual's conscience to the point that he begins to steal on a larger scale. Even a slight toleration of apostate thinking might start one down the road to full-fledged apostasy.-Proverbs 11:9; Revelation 21:8.
Flirtation and the entertaining of immoral ideas
My experience was that it was married JW men that flirted the most; not the single men. Not entertaining immoral ideas: does that mean no movies, no tv shows, no books, no music, etc., that mentions this?
Even a slight toleration of apostate thinking might start one down the road to full-fledged apostasy
*** w96 2/1 p. 24 Trust in Jehovah and His Word ***
It is of interest that many who have become victims of apostasy got started in the wrong direction by first complaining about how they felt they were being treated in Jehovah’s organization. (Jude 16) Finding fault with beliefs came later.
Do you think Jesus had something to say about how God’s organization then treated him? Was Jesus an apostate?
What is apostate thinking?
What is full-fledged apostasy?
Not agreeing with everything the WTS says and does even when it is not bible-based?
What if You Have Sinned?
Q23, 24) What comfort can be drawn from 2 Chronicles 6:29, 30 and Proverbs 28:13?
23) All humans are imperfect. (Ecclesiastes 7: 20) But if you have sinned seriously, you can draw comfort from King Solomon's prayer at the inauguration of Jehovah's temple. Solomon prayed to God: "Whatever prayer, whatever request for favor there may occur on the part of any man or of all your people Israel, because they know each one his own plague and his own pain; when he actually spreads out his palms toward this house, then may you yourself hear from the heavens, the place of your dwelling, and you must forgive and give to each one according to all his ways, because you know his heart (for you yourself alone well know the heart of the sons of mankind)."-2 Chronicles 6:29, 30.
All humans are imperfect
But some are less imperfect than others, such as the elders.
OT example—Solomon
Who died an apostate; will he be resurrected? Does that mean apostates today will be resurrected?
*** w05 7/15 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***
What happened to Solomon when he died? The Bible answers: "The days that Solomon had reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel were forty years. Then Solomon lay down with his forefathers, and was buried in the City of David his father." (1 Kings 11:42, 43)
Hence, it seems reasonable to conclude that Solomon is in Sheol, or Hades, from which he will be resurrected.24) Yes, God knows the heart and is forgiving. Proverbs 28:13 says: "He that is covering over his transgressions will not succeed, but he that is confessing and leaving them will be shown mercy." By repentantly confessing and leaving sin, a person can receive God's mercy. Yet, if you are at a low ebb spiritually, what else can help you to remain in God's love?
God knows the heart
— not the eldersRepentantly confessing
— to God not the elders —a person can receive God’s mercy[Picture on page 25] Pray regularly for help to resist temptation
How Would You Answer?
- How can we keep ourselves in God's love?
- How does love for God and Christ help us to reject a sinful course?
- Why does real love for others deter us from engaging in sexual misconduct?
- What are some ways to avoid wrong
Concluding Comments
Who decides whether God loves us? Do we need a group of self-appointed men to tell us what God thinks?
Remain in God’s love = Remain in the WTS
Per the WTS, those outside the WTS organization are outside God’s love, he does not give them his spirit or listen to their prayers. Whether they realize it or not, the WTS says they are following Satan, directly or indirectly.
Hope everyone is having a good time over the next 2 weeks. Finding new friends, getting reacquainted with old ones.
Love, Blondie