Comments You Will Not Hear at the 11-07-10 WT Study (SEPTEMBER 15, 2010, pages 12-16)(UNITY)
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U NITY I DENTIFIES
T RUE W ORSHIP
“In unity I shall set them, like a flock in the pen.” —MIC. 2:12.
OPENING COMMENTS
How has the WTS addressed unity as opposed to uniformity in the past?
Notice how the WTS walks down both sides.
***g03 5/8 p. 27 Does Christian Unity RequireUniformity? *** Clearly, no one should be condemned for making a conscientious decision that does not conflict with Bible principles. (James 4:12)
On the other hand, loyal Christians would not insist on their personal rights to the detriment of the consciences of others or at the expense of congregation unity.
-------Think about
No beards on men
No white shirts on speakers at DCs
No double pierced earlobes
No ear piercing at all for men
Can you think of some?
START OF ARTICLE
1. How does creation provide evidence of God’s
wisdom?
A PSALMIST exclaimed: “How many your
works are, O Jehovah! All of them in
wisdom you have made. The earth is full of
your productions.” (Ps. 104:24) God’s wisdom
is evident in the interdependence of
the millions of varieties of plants, insects,
animals, and bacteria in earth’s amazingly
complex web of life. Also, in your body,
thousands of different mechanisms, from
large organs to tiny molecular machines in
your cells, all work together to make you a
whole and healthy person.
COMMENTS
Where is Jesus is this account of creation…”let us make man in our image”?
Is reading the WTS publications the equivalent of a 4 year college degree?
2. As depicted on page 13, why must the unity
among Christians have seemed miraculous?
2 Jehovah created mankind to be interdependent.
The human race exhibits a wide variety of looks,
personalities, and skills. Additionally, he endowed
the first humans with godly qualities that would enable
them to cooperate with each other and
to depend on each other. (Gen. 1:27; 2:18)
Nevertheless, the world of mankind in general
is now alienated from God and has never,
as a whole, been able to act in unity.
(1 John 5:19) Therefore, considering that
The first-century Christian congregation was
composed of people as diverse as Ephesian
slaves, prominent Greek women, educated
Jewish men, and former idol worshippers,
their unity must have seemed miraculous.
—Acts 13:1; 17:4; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Tim. 6:1.
COMMENTS
Does the GB think they are interdependent with the rank and file?
World of mankind = all non-jws = alienated from God
Does the WTS work in unity?
Can you think of the times that elders either were passive aggressive or confrontational with Cos and/or Dos?
Or elder bodies that had a 20 year feud going?
3. How does the Bible describe the unity of Christians,
and what will we consider in this study?
3 True worship enables people to cooper-
ate as harmoniously as the members of our
own body. ( Read 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13. )
Some aspects we will examine in this article
are: How does true worship unite people?
Why is Jehovah the only one who can unify
millions of people from all nations? What
obstacles to unity does Jehovah help us to
surmount? And as respects unity, how does
true Christianity differ from Christendom?
COMMENTS
True worship = only jws
What was the cooperation of elders on the body—fights?
Unity = uniformity in the WTS
True Christianity = only jws
Christendom = all non-jws who claim to be Christian
Could the “unity” of the WTS merely be brainwashing or groupthink?
How Does True Worship Unite People?
4. How does true worship unite people?
4 People who practice true worship recognize
that because Jehovah created all things,
he is the rightful Sovereign of the universe.
(Rev. 4:11) So although genuine Christians
live in many societies and under different
circumstances, they all obey the same laws
of God and live by the same Bible principles.
All true worshippers properly address
Jehovah as “Father.” (Isa. 64:8; Matt. 6:9)
Thus, they are all spiritual brothers and can
enjoy the beautiful unity described by the
psalmist: “Look! How good and how pleasant
it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”—
Ps.133:1.
COMMENTS
Genuine Christians – only jws
All true worshippers – only jws
Spiritual brothers—actually on the anointed are Christ’s brothers
Yes, I remember how the WTS would say there was such love at the conventions as I watched hordes push through the doors at 8 a.m. even injuring an older sister, to get to the prime seats, or the ones leaving at night who would give the parking attendants the finger as they proudly displayed their badges on their chest. Or in the days of food arrangements, the brothers “in charge” would send lackeys to get their food so they did not have to stand in line.
Only the anointed are Christ’s brothers, having been adopted as such; the other sheep will not be adopted until the end of the 1,000 year reign, and God is referred to as their grandfather and Jesus their father.
***w06 2/15 p. 25 par. 16 During the Thousand Year Reign of Christ and his associate king-priests, the great crowd will be joined by untold numbers of resurrected ones. (Revelation 20:12, 13) These will have the opportunity to become permanent earthly subjects of the Messianic King, Christ Jesus. At the end of the Millennial Reign, all these “things on the earth” will be subjected to a final test. Those proving faithful will be adopted as earthly “children of God.”—Ephesians 1:10; Romans 8:21; Revelation 20:7, 8.
*** w95 8/1 p. 13 par. 19 Even though the other sheep are not directly included among the “sons” spoken of at Isaiah 54:13, they are blessed with being taught by Jehovah. Therefore, they properly address God as “Father” because he will, in effect, be their Grandfather through the “Eternal Father,” Jesus Christ.—Matthew 6:9; Isaiah 9:6.
5. What quality contributes to the unity of true
worshippers?
5 Though true Christians are imperfect,
They worship together in unity because they
have learned to love one another. Jehovah
teaches them to love as no one else can.
( Read 1 John 4:7, 8. ) His Word says: “Clothe
yourselves with the tender affections of
compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind,
mildness, and long-suffering. Continue putting
up with one another and forgiving one
another freely if anyone has a cause for complaint
against another. Even as Jehovah freely
forgave you, so do you also. But, besides
all these things, clothe yourselves with love,
for it is a perfect bond of union.” (Col. 3:12-
14) This perfect bond of union—love—is the
quality that principally identifies true Christians.
From personal experience, have you
not seen that this unity is a distinguishing
feature of true worship?—John 13:35.
COMMENTS
True worshippers = only jws
True Christians = only jws = imperfect (general escape clause)
Think of the gossiping and back stabbing
“cause for complaint”
Who forgives per the bible, elders or God? Note the steps that have to be taken and only through the elders to get God’s forgiveness.
*** w08 11/15 p. 15 par. 13 If the person acknowledges that he has sinned against God, has ceased to engage in wrongdoing, and is truly repentant, the elders will help him, and he can receive Jehovah’s forgiveness.
*** w0611/15 p.30 par. 21Although he has prayed and believes that God has forgiven him, he should seek the help of an elder so that such a sin does not become habitual
6. How does the Kingdom hope help us to enjoy
unity?
6 True worshippers are also united because
they look to God’s Kingdom as the
only hope for mankind. They know that
God’s Kingdom will shortly replace human
governments and bless obedient mankind
with genuine, lasting peace. (Isa. 11:4-9;
Dan. 2:44) Thus, Christians heed what Jesus
said about his followers: “They are no part
of the world, just as I am no part of the
world.” (John 17:16) True Christians remain
neutral in conflicts of the world; hence,
they are able to enjoy unity even when
those around them are at war.
COMMENTS
True worshippers = only jws
What would rank and file say is God’s Kingdom? The WTS?
Does the WTS remain neutral—OSCE, UN, council meetings re building projects
I can remember congregations that shared a KH that would not talk to each other, refusing to exchange public talk speakers.
Not just replace human governments but all 7 billion non-jws, men, women, children eternally.
The One Source of Spiritual Instruction
7, 8. In what way does Biblical instruction contribute
to our unity?
7 First-century Christians enjoyed unity
because they all received encouragement
from the same source. They recognized that
Jesus was teaching and directing the congregation
through a governing body, composed
of the apostles and older men in Jerusalem.
These devoted men based their
decisions on God’s Word and had traveling
overseers communicate their instructions
to the congregations in many lands. Concerning
some such overseers, the Bible says:
“As they traveled on through the cities they
would deliver to those there for observance
the decrees that had been decided upon by
the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem.”—
Acts 15:6,19-22; 16:4.
COMMENTS
No phrase “governing body” in the bible…was Paul directed by the GB or was he an independent guy? Except for the Acts 15 account, is there any record of Paul consulting a GB?
First-century Christians came
from many backgrounds
8 Similarly today, a Governing Body composed
of spirit-anointed Christians contributes
to the unity of the worldwide congregation.
The Governing Body publishes
spiritually encouraging literature in many
languages. This spiritual food is based on
God’s Word. Thus, what is taught is not
From men but from Jehovah.—Isa. 54:13.
COMMENTS
Why is today’s WTS GB capitalized? Why doesn’t the WTS capitalize the phrase when referring to the first century? Notice that the mention of the GB increased dramatically in 1971 in WT publications at which time it was capitalized. (1970-5 in WT; 1971-129 in WT)
*** w07 4/1 p. 23 par. 10 The decisions of this first-century governing body were transmitted to the congregations by means of letters and traveling representatives.
Spirit-anointed Christians—only jws—only men—what about the FDS?
So what literature did early Christians publish? Wasn’t the bible sufficient?
From Jehovah = does that mean it is inspired?
9. How does our God-given work help us to be
united?
9 Christian overseers also promote unity
by taking the lead in preaching. The spirit of
companionship that unites those who work
together in God’s service is far stronger
than the spirit that unites others in the
world who merely socialize together. The
Christian congregation was founded, not to
function as a social club, but to honor Jehovah
and to get a job done—the work of
preaching the good news, making disciples,
and building up the congregation. (Rom. 1:
11, 12; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24, 25) Thus,
the apostle Paul could say of Christians:
“You are standing firm in one spirit, with
one soul striving side by side for the faith of
the good news.”—Phil.1:27.
COMMENTS
So how often did the elder “leading” your group work with you from door to door?
How many times did he go with the group at all but take off to do special “duties” such as picking up his dry cleaning and doing drivebys to catch “weak” jws in wrongdoing?
Socialize together – but not a social club – so how much is too much?
10. What are some ways in which we are united as
God’s people?
10 Accordingly, as Jehovah’s people, we
are united because we accept Jehovah’s sovereignty,
love our brothers, hope in God’s
Kingdom, and respect the ones God uses to
take the lead among us. Jehovah helps us to
overcome certain attitudes that because of
our imperfection could otherwise threaten
our unity.—Rom.12:2.
COMMENTS
God’s people = only jws
Jehovah’s people = only jws
Jehovah’s sovereignty = WTS sovereignty
Respect ones God uses = elders, Cos, Dos, GB
Attitudes---a well-used term by the WTS
Overcoming Pride and Jealousy
11. Why is pride divisive, and how does Jehovah
help us overcome it?
11 Pride separates people. A proud person
likes to consider himself superior and usually
gets selfish pleasure from boasting. But
this often stands in the way of unity; those
who hear the boasting may become jealous.
The disciple James tells us frankly: “All such
taking of pride is wicked.” (Jas. 4:16) It is unloving
to treat others as inferior. Remarkably,
Jehovah is an example of humility in
that he deals with imperfect people like us.
David wrote: “It is your [God’s] humility
that makes me great.” (2 Sam. 22:36) God’s
Word helps us to conquer pride by teaching
us to reason properly. Paul was inspired to
ask: “Who makes you to differ from another?
Indeed, what do you have that you did
not receive? If, now, you did indeed receive
it, why do you boast as though you did not
receive it?”—1 Cor. 4:7.
COMMENTS
Doesn’t the bible say that elders should consider others superior to themselves, yet the WTS also says they are due DOUBLE honor…as if the rank and file are not working hard for others?
So are the elders like Jehovah—humbling themselves to deal with imperfect people?
12, 13. (a) Why is it easy to become jealous?
(b) What results from adopting Jehovah’s view of
others?
12 Jealousy is another common obstacle
to unity. Because of inherited imperfection,
we all have “a tendency to envy,” and even
longtime Christians may occasionally feel
jealous of the circumstances, possessions,
privileges, or abilities of others. (Jas. 4:5) For
example, a brother with a family might feel
jealous of the privileges that a full-time
minister enjoys, without realizing that the
full-time minister may feel a bit jealous of
the family man who has children. How can
we prevent such jealousy from disrupting
our unity?
COMMENTS
Jealousy—ever had someone envy you
Per the WTS is envy the same as jealousy?
13 To help us avoid jealousy, recall that the
Bible compares anointed members of the
Christian congregation to parts of the human
body. ( Read 1 Corinthians 12:14-18. )
Although your eye, for example, may be
more prominent than your heart, are not
both valuable to you? Similarly, Jehovah
values all members of the congregation
even though some for a time may be more
prominent than others. So let us adopt Jehovah’s
view of our brothers. Rather than being
jealous of others, we can show concern
and personal interest in them. By doing so,
we contribute to the difference between
true Christians and those in the churches of
Christendom.
COMMENTS
Does that mean that there are some assholes in the congregation that are valued as much as an eye or a foot?
Did anyone show personal interest in you?
True Christians = only jws
Only those in Christendom are jealous?
Christendom—Marked by Division
14, 15. How did apostate Christianity become disunited?
14 The unity of true Christians stands in
contrast to the strife that exists among the
churches of Christendom. By the fourth
century, apostate Christianity was so widespread
that a pagan emperor of Rome took
control of it, contributing to the development
of Christendom. Then, in successive
schisms, many kingdoms split from Rome
and formed their own State churches.
COMMENTS
True Christians = only jws
Strife in churches a contrast? I can remember elder meetings that consisted of screaming for 2 hours; or the COBOE that told the body that it was his way or the highway.
So how many splits have there been in the WTS?
1909
1918
1925
1980’s
http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/en/Jehovah's_Witnesses_splinter_groups/1#First_splits
15 Many of those kingdoms warred
against one another for centuries. During
the 17th and 18th centuries, people in Britain,
France, and the United States promoted
devotion to their State, so that nationalism,
in effect, became like a religion. During the
19th and 20th centuries, nationalism began
to dominate the thinking of most of mankind.
Eventually, Christendom’s churches
splintered into numerous sects, most of
which tolerate nationalism. Churchgoers
have even gone to war against fellow believers
of another nation. Today, Christendom
is divided by both sectarian beliefs and nationalism.
COMMENTS
Nationalism—UN
So what “sects” don’t support nationalism?
16. What sort of issues divide those in Christendom?
16 In the 20th century, some of Christendom’s
hundreds of sects initiated the ecumenical
movement in a push for unity.
But after many decades of effort, few
churches have amalgamated into one, and
churchgoers are still divided on such questions
as evolution, abortion, homosexuality,
and the ordination of women. In some
parts of Christendom, church leaders try
to bring people from different sects together
by downplaying previously divisive
doctrines. However, downplaying doctrines
leaves people with a shallow faith and certainly
does not unite the divided house of
Christendom.
COMMENTS
These groups tried to accommodate all beliefs; the WTS has the concept it is their way or the highway. If that had been the case in the first century, Christian Gentiles would all be circumcised.
Rising Above Nationalism
17. How was true worship foretold
to unite people “in the final part of the days”?
17 Although mankind is now more horribly
divided than ever, unity continues to
distinguish true worshippers. God’s prophet
Micah foretold: “In unity I shall set them,
like a flock in the pen.” (Mic. 2:12) Micah
foretold the elevation of true worship above
all other forms of worship, whether of false
gods or of the State as a god. He wrote: “It
must occur in the final part of the days that
the mountain of the house of Jehovah will
become firmly established above the top of
the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted
up above the hills; and to it peoples must
stream. For all the peoples, for their part,
will walk each one in the name of its god;
but we, for our part, shall walk in the name
of Jehovah our God.”—Mic. 4:1, 5.
COMMENTS
If though you had been a jw before 1995 and believed that the 1914 generation was not scriptural, you would have been disfellowshipped. So is it unity to the truth of the bible, or the truth of the WTS?
How does your helping
on Kingdom Hall projects
contribute to unity?
18. True worship has helped us to make what
changes?
18 Micah also described how true worship
would unite former enemies. “[People
from] many nations will certainly go and say:
‘Come, you people, and let us go up to the
mountain of Jehovah and to the house of the
God of Jacob; and he will instruct us about
his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’ . . .
And they will have to beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into pruning
shears. They will not lift up sword, nation
against nation, neither will they learn war
anymore.” (Mic. 4:2, 3) Those leaving the
worship of man-made gods or of nations to
embrace the worship of Jehovah enjoy global
unity. God instructs them in the ways of love.
COMMENTS
OT—Micah
Do jws worship the GB? Does the GB put itself in Jesus’ place?
Do the Quakers lift up sword against sword against Quakers in other countries; do the Amish?
19. The unifying of millions of people in true worship
is clear evidence of what?
19 The global unity of true Christians today
is unique and is clear evidence that Jehovah
continues to guide his people by
means of his spirit. Individuals from all nations
are being united on a scale never before
seen in human history. This is in remarkable
fulfillment of what is implied by
Revelation 7:9, 14, and it indicates that
God’s angels will soon release the “winds”
that will destroy the present wicked system
of things. ( Read Revelation 7:1-4, 9,10,14. ) Is
it not a privilege to be united in the worldwide
brotherhood? How can each of us contribute
to that unity? This will be considered
in the next article.
COMMENTS
While the WTS says their uniformity proves God is guiding them; the blinking light of WTS “truth” proves that God is not leading them.
Flipflops
1879-1929 Superior authorities, secular governments
1929-1962 Superior authorities, God and Jesus
1962-2010 Superior authorities, secular governments
How Would You Answer?
· How does true worship unite
· people?
· How can we prevent jealousy from
· spoiling our unity?
· Why does nationalism not divide
· true worshippers?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Sorry, for the gap of comments; I have a big test tomorrow that should get my situation on the healing track.
Next week, Christian Unity Glorifies God.
Love, Blondie
'Downplaying doctrines'? Are they frigging serious? The WTS are masters at either downplaying their own embarassing doctrines, or just pretending they never really happened. Examples? Here's a few of the more memorable ones: