*** lv chap. 9 pp. 97-109 "Flee From Fornication" ***
"Deaden, therefore, your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."-COLOSSIANS 3:5.
Q1, 2. How did Balaam scheme to cause harm to Jehovah's people?THE fisherman goes down to his favorite spot. He has a particular kind of fish in mind. He selects a lure and casts his line into the water. Moments later, the line goes taut, the rod bends, and he reels in his catch. Smiling, he knows he has chosen the right lure.
"Smiling, he knows he has chosen the right lure."- I wonder if the leaders of the WTS are doing the same with this religion or are they truly ignorant of their errors?
2 In the year 1473 B.C.E., a man named Balaam gave much thought to a lure. His intended prey, though, were God's people, who were camped on the Plains of Moab, at the border of the Promised Land. Balaam professed to be a prophet of Jehovah, but he was really just a greedy man hired to curse Israel. However, through Jehovah's intervention, Balaam was only able to bless Israel. Set on earning his reward, Balaam reasoned that perhaps he could induce God to curse his own people, if only they could be tempted to commit gross sin. With that goal in mind, Balaam cast the lure-the seductive young women of Moab.-Numbers 22:1-7; 31:15, 16; Revelation 2:14.
Q3. To what extent did Balaam's scheme succeed?3 Did this strategy work? To an extent, yes. Tens of thousands of Israelite men took the lure by having "immoral relations with the daughters of Moab." They even began to worship Moabite gods, including the disgusting Baal of Peor, a god of fertility, or sex. As a result, 24,000 Israelites perished right at the border of the Promised Land. What a monumental tragedy that was!-Numbers 25:1-9.
Was the idolatry of the "...worship Moabite gods..." as erroneous as the worship of the WTS by its members today?
Q4. Why did thousands of Israelites fall prey to immorality?4 What paved the way for this calamity? Many of the people had developed a wicked heart by drawing away from Jehovah, the very God who had delivered them from Egypt, fed them in the wilderness, and led them safely to the land of promise. (Hebrews 3:12) Reflecting on the matter, the apostle Paul wrote: "Neither let us practice fornication, as some of them committed fornication, only to fall, twenty-three thousand of them in one day."-1 Corinthians 10:8.
"...developed a wicked heart by drawing away from Jehovah" is the equivalent of wanting nothing to do with the WTS
Q5, 6. Why is the account about Israel's sin on the Plains of Moab valuable to us today?5 The account in Numbers has many important lessons for God's people today, who stand at the threshold of a far greater promised land. (1 Corinthians 10:11) For example, the world's obsession with sex reflects that of the ancient Moabites but on a larger scale. Moreover, each year thousands of Christians fall prey to immorality-the same basic lure that caught the Israelites. (2 Corinthians 2:11) And in imitation of Zimri, who boldly paraded a Midianite woman right into the Israelite camp to his own tent, some who associate with God's people today have become a corrupting influence within the Christian congregation.-Numbers 25:6, 14; Jude 4.
[Footnote]
The figure given in Numbers evidently included "the head ones of the people" executed by the judges, which may have amounted to 1,000 men, and those executed directly by Jehovah.-Numbers 25:4, 5.
"...stand at the threshold of a far greater promised land" - One has to wonder how they have any special insight as the words soon, near, last days, the final part of the days, on the brink have been used repeatedly for the last 130 years
"...each year thousands of Christians fall prey to immorality" - how many are disfellowshipped despite being repentant?
"...some who associate with God's people today have become a corrupting influence within the Christian congregation" - How? Any why no elaboration? Are they saying these are leading witnesses into apostasy?
6 Do you see yourself on the modern-day Plains of Moab? Can you see your prize-the long-awaited new world-on the horizon? If so, then do everything in your power to remain in God's love by heeding the command: "Flee from fornication."-1 Corinthians 6:18.
"...the long-awaited new world" and their 130 history of false prophecy http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php
"...everything in your power to remain in God's love..." means keeping up with the WTS program of 2 meetings a week, family and personal study, field service, preparation for meetings etc
WHAT IS FORNICATION?
Q7, 8. What is "fornication," and how do those who practice it reap what they sow?7 As used in the Bible, "fornication" (Greek, por·nei′a) applies to illicit sexual relations outside of Scriptural marriage. It includes adultery, prostitution, and sex relations between unmarried individuals, as well as oral and anal sex and the sexual manipulation of the genitals of an individual to whom one is not married. It also includes such acts between individuals of the same sex as well as bestiality.
[Footnote]
For a discussion of the meaning of uncleanness and loose conduct, see "Questions From Readers" in The Watchtower of July 15, 2006, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
"As used in the Bible, "fornication" (Greek, por·nei′a) applies to..." where is the proof - is it in the footnoted reference?
8 The Scriptures are very clear: Those who practice fornication cannot remain in the Christian congregation and will not receive everlasting life. (1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 22:15) What is more, even now they bring much harm to themselves in the form of a loss of trust and self-respect, marital discord, a guilty conscience, unwanted pregnancies, disease, and even death. (Galatians 6:7, 8) Why start down a path that is littered with so much misery? Sadly, many do not think that far ahead when they take the first wrong step-which quite often involves pornography.
Those who practice fornication = so why are so many disfellowshipped when its clear they are not repeat offenders
"...the first wrong step-which quite often involves pornography." Is this another unqualified statement or do they have data to back this up?
PORNOGRAPHY-A FIRST STEP
Q9. Is pornography harmless, as some claim? Explain.9 In many lands, pornography is featured on newsstands, in music, and on television, and it virtually saturates the Internet. Is it harmless, as some claim? Absolutely not! Those who view pornography may become habitual masturbators and nurture "disgraceful sexual appetites," which may result in an addiction to sex, perverted desires, serious marital disharmony, and even divorce. (Romans 1:24-27; Ephesians 4:19) A researcher likens sex addiction to cancer. "It keeps growing and spreading," he says. "It rarely ever reverses itself, and it is also very difficult to treat and heal."
[Footnote]
Masturbation is discussed in the Appendix, pages 218-19.
[Footnote]
"Pornography," as used here, refers to the depiction in pictures, in writing, or by voice of erotic material that is intended to cause sexual excitement. Pornography may range from a picture of a person in an erotic pose to depictions of sexual acts of the most sordid kind between two or more individuals.
"A researcher likens sex addiction to cancer..." Which researcher and where - how are we sure the WTS has not quoted him out of context?
Q10. In what ways can we apply the principle found at James 1:14, 15? (See also the box on page 101.)10 Consider the words recorded at James 1:14, 15, which reads: "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." So if a bad desire enters your mind, take immediate action to get rid of it! For example, if you inadvertently see erotic images, quickly look away, or turn off the computer, or change the TV channel. Do whatever is necessary to avoid succumbing to immoral desire before it races out of control and overcomes you!-Matthew 5:29, 30.
[Box on page 101]
FINDING THE STRENGTH TO BE MORALLY CLEAN
"While in my teens, I became trapped in a cycle of viewing pornography and masturbating," says a young man. "My peers at school considered such conduct a normal part of adolescence. But it damaged my conscience, and I was drawn into a life of immorality. I eventually realized that I was just a slave to my desires. However, I was able to overcome my unclean habits with help from Jehovah and the congregation. Now I am careful about whom I associate with, since I know that others can have a big influence on me. I have found that regular prayer and personal Bible study are essential to keep me from falling back into bad habits. Instead of being a slave to fleshly desires, I now have the privilege of serving as a regular pioneer."
So association with the spiritual elite in the congregation and keeping up with the WTS treadmill of worship is being encouraged here together with the "privilege of serving as a regular pioneer"?
Q11. When fighting wrong desires, how can we demonstrate our trust in Jehovah?11 For good reason, the One who knows us better than we know ourselves exhorts: "Deaden, therefore, your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5) True, doing so may be a challenge. But remember, we have a loving and patient heavenly Father to call upon. (Psalm 68:19) So turn quickly to him when wrong thoughts enter your mind. Pray for "power beyond what is normal," and force your mind to focus on other matters.-2 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 9:27; see the box "How Can I Break a Bad Habit?" on page 104.
"...heavenly Father" used here but the WTS has repeatedly stated in print that the great crowd are friends of God not sons
[Box/Picture on page 104]
HOW CAN I BREAK A BAD HABIT?
Principle: "O you lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad."-Psalm 97:10.
Some questions to ask yourself
? Am I avoiding situations that might stimulate wrong desires?-Matthew 5:27, 28.
? Do I meditate on the consequences of acting on wrong desires?-Proverbs 22:3.
? What type of decisive action am I willing to take to overcome my bad habit?-Matthew 5:29, 30.
? Am I prepared to talk to a parent or a spiritually mature friend about my problem?-Proverbs 1:8, 9; Galatians 6:1, 2.
? How can I demonstrate that I rely on Jehovah's strength and wisdom to gain the victory?-Proverbs 3:5, 6; James 1:5.
Q12. What is our "heart," and why must we safeguard it?12 The wise man Solomon wrote: "More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Our "heart" is our inner self, what we really are as a person in God's eyes. Moreover, it is God's estimation of our "heart"-not what we may appear to be in the eyes of others-that determines whether we receive everlasting life or not. It is that simple. It is also that serious. So that he would not look indecently at a woman, faithful Job made a covenant, or formal agreement, with his eyes. (Job 31:1) What a fine example for us! Showing the same mind, a psalmist prayed: "Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless."-Psalm 119:37.
"Our "heart" is our inner self, what we really are as a person in God's eyes." The Watchtower's Incredible Ignorance About the Human Body http://corior.blogspot.com/2006/02/watchtowers-incredible-ignorance-about.html