Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-25-2011 WT Study (JULY 15, 2011, pages 28-32 )(ENTER REST)
Review comments will be headed by COMMENTS
WT material from today's WT will be in black
Quotes from other sources will be indented and identified
w = Watchtower
g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
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GOD’S REST
—HAVE YOU ENTERED INTO IT?
“The word of God is alive and exerts power.”—HEB. 4:12.
OPENING COMMENTS
The WTS has had several articles to lead up to this one, laying the foundation so to speak. But how many ideas truly have a scriptural basis, clearly seen as having an application today or is it rather a case of the WESAYSO Corporation saying they speak for God? Note what the WTS has said about Islam. So where are the “supernatural proofs” or “miracles” that the WTS/FDS/GB is from God?
*** w53 11/1 pp. 653-656 Examining Islamic Teachings ***
In examining the Quran, which is about the size of the Christian Greek Scriptures, one is struck with the absence of miracles or proof that Muhammad was indeed a prophet sent of God. When Moses, the first Bible writer and first prophet to be sent to the descendants of Jacob, went to Israel he was well fortified with miracles to prove his divine mission. See Exodus, chapter 4. Likewise, when Christ Jesus came, he performed so many miracles that all those who had not let themselves be blinded with selfishness had to admit that he was sent of God.—John 7:31; 10:37, 38; 14:11.
Muhammad, however, came with no supernatural proofs of his divine commission. Time and again his critics complained of this and repeatedly he told them that his work was not that of producing signs but merely to preach, and that his lack of signs was for the purpose of testing their faith. But what is faith without proof? Anyone could claim to be sent of God. Moses and Christ proved it by the performance of many miracles (so what miracles as the WTS to proof they were sent of God?), but where were Muhammad’s miracles?
I will try to translate some of the words and phrases this time as well as show that using a scripture in the same paragraph as a WTS assertion does not make it scripturally based. As the WTS has pointed out in the past, Satan can use scripture to improperly support his statements.
Were the Jews told to listen to their religious leaders without question or to carefully check God’s Law? Jesus warned them that these leaders had made the word of God invalid because of their human opinions. Paul commended the Bereans for putting the scriptures first as the authority not Paul’s words and John warned Christians. Note that none of them were talking to Gentiles without any knowledge of the Jewish belief system:
(To the Jews still God’s covenant people)(Matthew 1 5:5-9) 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.’”
(To Jews who had God’s law still the written basis of what Jesus preached and Christians)(Acts17:10-11) 10 Immediately by night the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be·roe′a, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni′ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.
(To anointed Christians)(1 John 4:1) Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
START OF ARTICLE
1. What is one way we can enter into God’s rest today,
but why might that be easier said than done?
IN THE preceding article, we saw that we
can enter into God’s rest by obediently
working along with his purposes. That
might be easier said than done. When we
learn that Jehovah disapproves of something
that we enjoy, for example, our initial
reaction might be to rebel. That indicates
that we need to make progress in the realm
of being “ready to obey.” (Jas. 3:17) In this
article, we will review a few areas in which
our willingness to fit in with God’s purpose
—to be obedient from the heart—could be
put to the test.
COMMENTS
By obediently working = obeying a human organization doing works they say are required for salvation, though no works can earn salvation except that from Christ, the ransom
It is very hard to find an explanation of Romans 11:6 in the WT publications:
*** w541/1 p.27***
However, let none think that salvation comes solely by their own efforts, for the basis of it all is Jehovah’s undeserved kindness.—Rom. 11:6
Jehovah disapproves = WTS/FDS/GB disapproves
Rebel = against the WTS/FDS/GB
Ready to obey = the WTS/FDS/GB
Obedient from the heart to = the WTS/FDS/GB
And truly our obedience to obey God will be put to the test when the WTS make God’s word invalid because of their “rules,” discourages jws from “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so” as they “test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God.”
2, 3. What efforts must we continue to make in order
to remain desirable from Jehovah’s standpoint?
2 How well do you do in the matter of accepting
Bible-based counsel? The Scriptures
tell us that it is God’s will to gather to himself
“the desirable things of all the nations.”
(Hag. 2:7) Of course, most of us were far
from desirable when we first learned the
truth. However, love for God and for his
dear Son impelled us to make significant
changes in our attitude and habits so as to
be fully pleasing to God. Finally, after much
prayer and effort on our part, the blessed
day arrived when we were able to present
ourselves for Christian baptism.—Read Colossians
1:9,10.
COMMENTS
Accepting Bible-based counsel = as explained by the WTS in its publications, do not check the scriptures to see that it is so
Not desirable when we first learned “the truth” = doomed to eternal destruction along with our minor children = “the truth” = WT teachings
Our love for God and his dear son = is of no value unless we are part of the human/earthly organization, the WTS
Significant changes in our attitude and habits = learned that we could not go to Christ without going through his self-appointed anointed “brothers” on earth, let alone God. Learned that you can hate your brother and still love God (see later as to disfellowshipping).
Fully pleasing to God = impossible without being found “in good standing” by the WT organization
Baptism – not in the name of God, Christ and the holy spirit but rather in the name of a spirit-directed organization.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/baptism.php
3 The battle against imperfection did not
end with our baptism, however. The fight
continued and will continue as long as we
are imperfect. We are assured, though, that
if we keep up the struggle and are determined
to become ever more desirable in
God’s eyes, Jehovah will bless our efforts.
COMMENTS
Did you ever wonder when who live through Armageddon will be perfect? 5 years, 10 years, 50 years, 1,000 years? Did you know that they teach that the 144,000 become instantly perfect upon resurrection as a spirit to live in heaven? Did you know that Rutherford taught that the “ancient worthies” like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Moses, David, etc., would be resurrected immediately after Armageddon as perfect men to rule as kings in earthly Jerusalem? Why are the anointed instantly made perfect and similar humans on earth could take as long as 1,000 years?
*** w59 4/15 pp.238-239 par.9***
Since then the calling and the testing of the full number of 144,000 faithful associates of the perfect Ruler Jesus Christ has been going on. By now the majority of these have proved their faithfulness to God and his perfect Ruler to the very death and have been perfected in the heavenly kingdom by a resurrection in heavenly glory.
Desirable in God’s eyes = as judged by other jws, elders, COs, DOs; the God-appointed religious leaders did not find him desirable, how so so-called God-appointed religious leaders in the WTS? As they say only God and Jesus can read hearts? Jesus warned the Jews to watch what their religious leaders said that was correct but that the leaders did not do.
*** w08 3/15 p.27 par.8***
Jehovah can read hearts, while we cannot. This in itself is a good reason for us not to be judgmental. We do not know all of another person’s motives. We should try to imitate Jehovah by not fixing our attention on human imperfections, which will eventually disappear.
(Matthew 23:1-3) . . .Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. 3 Therefore all the things they tell YOU, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform.
When Counsel Is Needed
4. In what three ways might we receive Scriptural
counsel?
4 Before we can begin to address our imperfections,
we have to know what they are.
A heart-searching discourse at the Kingdom
Hall or a thought-provoking article in one
of our publications may expose a serious
flaw. On the other hand, if we miss the point
when it is presented in a talk or fail to make
personal application of the written counsel,
Jehovah may use a fellow Christian to draw
our shortcoming to our attention.—Read
Galatians 6:1.
COMMENTS
Address our imperfections…know what they are = don’t worry the elders will pull you into the back room at the KH and let you know.
Did Jesus say the sheep would know his voice from human publications? Is publication reading the answer or bible reading. Did Jesus read from a publication or Isaiah 61?
If we miss the point = so somehow the bible is insufficient
Fellow Christian = an elder, MS, baptized brothers, and women have no authority spiritually over others in the congregation except in their own immediate family
5. Name some undesirable ways in which we might
react when we are given counsel, and explain why
Christian shepherds must persist in their efforts to
help us.
5 It is not easy to accept counsel from an
imperfect human, no matter how tactfully
and lovingly the counsel is presented. Yet,
as Galatians 6:1 points out, Jehovah commands
those with spiritual qualifications to
“try” to adjust us, doing so “in a spirit of
mildness.” If we respond favorably, we will
become even more desirable in God’s sight.
Curiously, when we pray, we freely admit
That we are imperfect. However, when someone
draws a specific failing to our attention,
the tendency is to try to justify ourselves,
minimize the problem, question the motive
of the counselor, or object to the way in
which the counsel was delivered. (2 Ki. 5:11)
And if the counsel touches a particularly
sensitive area—the actions of a family member,
our dress and grooming, our personal
hygiene, or a form of recreation that we enjoy
but that Jehovah hates—we might react
quite negatively, to our own surprise and to
our counselor’s dismay! But after we calm
down, we usually concede that the counsel
was appropriate.
COMMENTS
Is that it is not easy to accept counsel from an imperfect person or that they have their mind made up that you need counsel before hearing the matter?
(Proverbs 18:13) When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears [it], that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation.
Will men in the WTS take counsel from a woman like Abigail who saved her household, or Deborah or led a nation to victory over their enemies and acted as a judge in Israel, or Huldah, the prophet, who was selected to inquire of even though there were other male prophets?
My husband told me of an elder’s meeting where almost all the time was spent on the length of a brother’s side burns (1/8 inch too long) and a sister’s tight clothing, she had gained weight after losing her job and ate to deal with the depression. No one suggested commending the young brother on his meeting attendance all on his own or the sister’s coming despite her pressures. Did you know that the elders will approach a jw husband alone about any complaints about his wife and he has to tell her? Can you imagine Paul approaching stressed Christians dealing with persecution, economy problems, unbelieving mates, and correcting their dress, grooming, hygiene and recreation? And all under the foundation of the elders never talking to you except to correct you or use the process of commending you and then “counseling” you. Commendation immediately followed by “counsel” is hollow and hypocritical.
*** w02 12/15 p.22***
Huldah—An Influential Prophetess
Upon hearing the reading of “the very book of the law” found in the temple, King Josiah ordered Shaphan and four other high-ranking officials to “inquire of Jehovah” about the book. (2 Kings 22:8-20) Where could the delegation find the answer? Jeremiah and possibly Nahum and Zephaniah, all prophets and Bible writers, lived in Judah at the time. The delegation, however, approached Huldah the prophetess.
The book Jerusalem—An Archaeological Biography comments: “The remarkable thing about this episode is that the male-female aspect of the story was completely unremarked. No one considered it the least bit inappropriate that an all-male committee took the Scroll of the Law to a woman to determine its status. When she declared it the word of the Lord, no one questioned her authority to determine the issue. This episode is often overlooked by scholars assessing the role of women in ancient Israel.” Of course, the message received was from Jehovah.
(Matthew 23:23-24) . . .Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumin, but YOU have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness. These things it was binding to do, yet not to disregard the other things. 24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel!
6. How does God’s word reveal the “thoughts and
intentions of the heart”?
6 The caption text for this article reminds
us that the word of God “exerts power.” Yes,
God’s word exerts power to change lives. It
is just as effective in helping us make needed
changes after our baptism as it was prior to
our taking that step. In his letter to the Hebrews,
Paul also writes that the word of God
“pierces even to the dividing of soul and
spirit, and of joints and their marrow, and is
able to discern thoughts and intentions of
the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) In other words, when
we clearly understand God’s purpose for us,
the way we respond to it reveals what we are
deep inside. Is there sometimes a difference
between what we appear to be (the “soul”)
and who we really are (the “spirit”)? (Read
Matthew 23:27, 28.) Consider how you
would react in the following situations.
COMMENTS
The word of God exerts power = but you cannot understand without the WTS/FDS/GB and its publications
If the word of God can discern thoughts and intentions of the heart why do many elders use the publications to underpin their “counsel”? Why does the WTS more often refer us to a publication and not a scripture? How many scriptures are actually read and applied at a meeting? How many jws do the weekly Bible reading or even the day’s text? How many jws know how many books are in the bible, how many in the OT and NT? How many know that Moses wrote the first 5 books? How many jws know what the Greek/Hebrew words are for soul and spirit? Why does the WTS have to instruct the conductors to read certain scriptures, because they weren’t doing it?
Keep Pace With Jehovah’s Organization
7, 8. (a) What might have motivated some Jewish
Christians to cling to certain practices of the Mosaic
Law? (b) How did their efforts square with Jehovah’s
advancing purpose?
7 Many of us can quote Proverbs 4:18
from memory: “The path of the righteous
ones is like the bright light that is getting
lighter and lighter until the day is firmly
established.” That means that our conduct
and our understanding of God’s purposes
will improve over time.
COMMENTS
Keep pace with Jehovah’s organization = or keep pace with God and Jesus?
Proverbs 4:18 is used as a justification for changed doctrine.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/light-gets-brighter.php
- Is Watchtower doctrine getting brighter or changing?
- Watchtower Justification for Error
- What is the intended meaning of Proverbs 4:18?
- Would Jehovah direct a religion to promote falsehood?
One case of how the light changed is the interpretation of who the “superior authorities” of Romans 13 are: until 1929 = secular governments; 1929-1962 = God and Jesus; 1962 to today = secular governments
8 As we discussed in the preceding article,
after Jesus’ death it was difficult for many
Jewish Christians to break free from the Mosaic
Law. (Acts 21:20) Although Paul skillfully
argued that Christians were no longer under
the Law, some rejected his inspired
reasoning. (Col. 2:13-15) Perhaps they felt
that if they continued to observe at least
portions of the Law, they would avoid persecution.
In any case, Paul wrote to the Hebrew
Christians and plainly told them that
they could not enter into God’s rest as long
as they refused to work in harmony with His
unfolding purpose.* (Heb. 4:1, 2, 6; read
Hebrews 4:11.) To gain Jehovah’s approval,
they would have to face the fact that he was
leading his people in a different direction.
*Many leaders among the Jews scrupulously observed
the Mosaic Law, but when the Messiah arrived, they
failed to recognize him. They did not keep up with God’s
advancing purpose.
COMMENTS
While Paul was telling the Hebrews to let go of the Mosaic Law, he was still following it in having Timothy circumcised (although he had been part of clarifying that earlier—see Acts 15) and let the Christians in Jerusalem influence him to participate in a Jewish rite. Was Paul “facing up that they were being led in a different direction”?
(Acts 21:20-24) . . .After hearing this they began to glorify God, and they said to him: “You behold, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews; and they are all zealous for the Law. 21 But they have heard it rumored about you that you have been teaching all the Jews among the nations an apostasy from Moses, telling them neither to circumcise their children nor to walk in the [solemn] customs. 22 What, then, is to be done about it? In any case they are going to hear you have arrived. 23 Therefore do this which we tell you: We have four men with a vow upon themselves. 24 Take these men along and cleanse yourself ceremonially with them and take care of their expenses, that they may have their heads shaved. And so everybody will know that there is nothing to the rumors they were told about you, but that you are walking orderly, you yourself also keeping the Law. . .
While Paul may have had “inspired” reasoning, does the WTS/FDS/GB claim to be inspired or the WTS to be inspired?
9. What attitude should we have when adjustments
are made in our understanding of Scriptural matters?
9 In modern times, there have been refinements
in our understanding of certain
Bible teachings. This should not trouble us;
it should bolster our confidence in the faithful
and discreet slave class. When representative
members of the “slave” discern
that our viewpoint on some point of truth
needs to be clarified or corrected, they do
not hold back from making the adjustment.
The slave class is more interested
in cooperating with God’s unfolding purpose
than in shielding itself from criticism
over an adjusted understanding. How do
you react when an adjustment in our understanding
of the Scriptures is presented?
—Read Luke 5:39.
COMMENTS
Refinements = or adjustments, clarifications = corrected???? Implies it is wrong not lacking light.
Adjustment in our understanding of the scriptures = adjustment in our doctrine
It is not that they were accurate from God but that they were presented first as from God and later they excused themselves as “imperfect.” Does it boost our confidence to be told that it was the “eagerness” of the rank and file that ran ahead that caused the problem when we can find their own words, emphatically saying they are correct.
Was 1925 as the end a refinement or an “indisputable fact” per Rutherford?
See www.jwfacts.com for more information
10, 11. What lessons can be learned from the reaction
of some when new methods of preaching the
good news were introduced?
10 Let us consider another example. In
the late 19th and early 20th centuries, certain
Bible Students who were excellent public
speakers felt that they could best carry
out the commission to preach by delivering
well-prepared talks to appreciative audiences.
They enjoyed public speaking, and
some of them fairly basked in the warm adulation
of their listeners. However, it later
became evident that Jehovah desires his
people to get busy in a variety of forms
of preaching, including the house-to-house
work. Some accomplished public speakers
flatly refused to try anything new. Outwardly,
they appeared to be spiritual men, fully
devoted to the Lord. However, when faced
with clear evidence of God’s purpose regarding
the preaching work, their real thoughts,
intentions, and motives became manifest.
How did Jehovah feel about them? He did
not bless them. They left the organization.
—Matt.10:1-6; Acts 5:42; 20:20.
COMMENTS
So did Russell go from door to door? Certainly he was one of the Bible Students who were excellent public speakers felt that they could best carry out the commission to preach by delivering well-prepared talks to appreciative audiences.”
And later though Rutherford changed the way of “preaching,” he himself did not go door to door.
Try anything new or have Rutherford, a cigar-smoking, drunken adulterer, who lived apart from his wife even when they were both in California, make the changes he himself did not abide by.
What was this “clear evidence”? Why had WTS members not been doing this, because they were only gathering those going to heaven, not a group to live on earth.
They left the WTS organization = but they did not leave God or Christ any more than the Jews leaving the Jewish religious arrangement were leaving God.
11 That is not to say that it was easy for all
who remained loyal to the organization to
preach publicly. Many found the work challenging,
especially at first. But they were
obedient. In time, they overcame their anxiety,
and Jehovah richly blessed them. How
do you react when you are invited to share in
some form of the preaching work that is
presently out of your comfort zone? Are you
willing to try something new?
COMMENTS
Loyal to an organization = only way to be loyal to God is to be part of the WTS
Did Rutherford find the work challenging? Evidently, since he did not do it.
Comfort zone = how many elders did you see do business territory, work in bad neighborhoods, go out in the evening, or Sunday afternoon, etc.
I knew jws that would refuse to conduct a study because it interfered with their recreation.
How about those jws that thought the end was coming in 1975 and sold their homes and did not have children? Was that a good new thing?
"Yes, since the summer of 1973 there have been new peaks in pioneers every month. Now there are 20,394 regular and special pioneers in the United States, an all-time peak. That is 5,190 more than there were in February 1973! A 34-percent increase! Does that not warm our hearts? Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end." Kingdom MinistryMay 1974 p.3 How Are You Using Your Life?
"Today there is a great crowd of people who are confident that a destruction of even greater magnitude is now imminent. The evidence is that Jesus' prophecy will shortly have a major fulfillment, upon this entire system of things. This has been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time." Awake! 1974 Nov 8 p.11
When Someone We Love Leaves Jehovah
12, 13. (a) What is Jehovah’s purpose in having
unrepentant wrongdoers disfellowshipped?
(b) What test do some Christian parents face, and
what makes the test so difficult?
12 No doubt we all agree with the principle
that we must be physically, morally,
and spiritually clean in order to
please God. (Read Titus 2:14.) There
may be occasions, though, when our
loyalty to this aspect of God’s purpose
is sorely tested. Suppose, for example,
that the only son of an exemplary
Christian couple leaves the
truth. Preferring “the temporary enjoyment
of sin” to a personal relationship
with Jehovah and with his
godly parents, the young man is disfellowshipped.—
Heb. 11:25.
COMMENTS
Christian parents = only jws
Christian couple = only jws
Did you know that the WTS considers their members the “only true Christians” and all others outside are merely “so-called” or “professed”?
So is the “enjoyment of sin” the only reason a jw might leave? Could they no longer support the lies they see in the WTS organization? Where is the personal relationship with Christ?
Do you realize that if this young man had had an organ transplant between 1967 and 1979, he could have been df’d? But if he had had one prior to 1967 and from 1980 on, nothing would have happened.
13 The parents are devastated! On
the subject of disfellowshipping,
they know, of course, that the Bible
says “to quit mixing in company with anyone
called a brother that is a fornicator or a
greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a
drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating
with such a man.” (1 Cor. 5:11,13) They also
realize that the word “anyone” in this verse
includes family members not living under
their roof. But they love their son so much!
Strong emotions might cause them to reason:
‘How can we help our boy return to Jehovah
if we severely limit our association
with him? Would we not accomplish more
by maintaining regular contact with him?’*
*See “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love,” pages 207-209.
COMMENTS
Did you wonder why this issue of df’ing only came up once in the NT and there were a lot of details left out? For example, there is no mention of a 3 or more judicial committee; there is no mention that others could not be present for the proceeding; there is no mention of a minimum time of one year or restrictions that could be put on the one coming back; if his stepmother was legally and scripturally free to remarry, there was no problem since it was not incest per the Christian doctrine. The account shows that all this happened over a few months. The elders did not determine his repentance, Paul had to tell him that he was (and how was that possible if he was not a regular attendee of that congregation but a traveling overseer).
They also realize….from the WTS rules not from the bible.
They probably know that several elders have contact with their grown children not living at home under the “necessary family business” clause.
14, 15. What is the real decision that parents of disfellowshipped
children must make?
14 Our hearts go out to those parents. After
all, their son had a choice, and he chose to
pursue his unchristian lifestyle rather than
to continue to enjoy close association with
his parents and other fellow believers. The
parents, on the other hand, had no say in
the matter. No wonder they feel helpless!
COMMENTS
His unchristian lifestyle = his unWTS lifestyle = very vague; what if he had said he could not publicly support the WTS views based on his study of the bible? Better to demonize any df’d jw as a drug pusher, sexually profligate, thief, etc.
Fellow believers = only jws
His parents had no say = so they couldn’t give testimony or be present?
Did you know that the “elders” in current Bible Student groups gather information but then present it to the congregation of baptized members who listen to the proceedings and later vote as to their status? Some do it by a show of hands and others doing it more privately in writing.
When did the current Star Chamber procedures come into being?
15 But what will those dear parents do?
Will they obey Jehovah’s clear direction? Or
will they rationalize that they can have regular
association with their disfellowshipped
son and call it “necessary family business”?
In making their decision, they must not fail
to consider how Jehovah feels about what
they are doing. His purpose is to keep the organization
clean and, if possible, to incite
wrongdoers to come to their senses. How
can Christian parents support that purpose?
COMMENTS
“dear” parents = please don’t make me barf. I know of elders that check out the homes of parents with df’d children to catch them there. It doesn’t matter than they are dropping off their grandchildren or helping an older parent get to the doctor.
The atmosphere of the congregations I attended was great fear of what other jws might find out, but they did not care what God saw. Others used this person’s df’d status to bring to bear the full dislike/hate they had for them before all this, due to their jealousy but not for God.
If the WTS is concerned about keeping the congregation clean perhaps they should be more vigilant in keeping pedophiles out and supporting the victims.
16, 17. What can we learn by meditating on Aaron’s
example?
16 Moses’ brother, Aaron, faced a difficult
situation with regard to two of his sons.
Think of how he must have felt when his
sons Nadab and Abihu offered illegitimate
fire to Jehovah and He struck them dead. Of
course, that ended any association those
men could have had with their parents. But
there is more. Jehovah instructed Aaron and
his faithful sons: “Do not let your heads go
ungroomed, and you must not tear your
garments [in mourning], that you may not
die and that [Jehovah] may not become indignant
against all the assembly.” (Lev. 10:1-6)
The message is clear. Our love for
Jehovah must be stronger than our love for
unfaithful family members.
The parents are devastated!
COMMENTS
1) Aaron's sons were not teenagers; priests began serving at the age of 30. They were men that were married and had children themselves. How can they be compared to teenagers; more fittingly to the elders, supposedly the ones "taking the lead" in religious activities.
2) The WTS explains that they were drunk while performing their priestly duties....how many drunk/alcoholic elders did you know that were df'd or rather it was covered up by the elders? (I can name 25 offhand; many not dealt with until this area started printing the names of those convicted of DWI/DUI. One elder had been convicted 10 times and the whole congregation knew it. I can remember bringing some people to the meetings who asked me if it was permissible to drink alcohol before a religious meeting...and said they knew at least 2 that were currently looped at the meeting...they would know being recovering alcoholics themselves.
*** w04 5/15 p. 22 Highlights From the Book of Leviticus ***
10:1, 2—What may have been involved in the sin of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu? Soon after Nadab and Abihu took liberties in performing their priestly duties, Jehovah forbade priests to use wine or intoxicating liquor while serving at the tabernacle. (Leviticus 10:9) This suggests that Aaron’s two sons may have been under the influence of alcohol on the occasion here under consideration. However, the actual reason for their death was their offering “illegitimate fire, which [Jehovah] had not prescribed for them.”
17 Today, Jehovah does not immediately
execute those who violate his laws. He lovingly
gives them an opportunity to repent
from their unrighteous works. How would
Jehovah feel, though, if the parents of an
unrepentant wrongdoer kept putting Him
to the test by having unnecessary association
with their disfellowshipped son or
daughter?
COMMENTS
How comforting that God does not execute them! Is that how God deals with Christians per the Bible? The last account for Ananias and Sapphira and Peter who had the gifts of the holy spirit (which the WTS said ended with the death of the last Christian who received it from an apostle) so that no jw, spirit-anointed or not, has that power today.
So what is unnecessary association? The WTS purposely leaves it open-ended to any interpretation. The biggest offenders of the “necessary family business” are the elders themselves. I wonder how generous they are in applying it to the rank and file?
18, 19. What blessings can come to family members
who work along with Jehovah’s instructions regarding
disfellowshipped ones?
18 Many who were once disfellowshipped
now freely admit that the firm stand taken
by their friends and family members helped
them come to their senses. In recommending
the reinstatement of one young woman,
the elders wrote that she had cleaned up her
life “partly because of her fleshly brother’s
respect for the disfellowshipping arrangement.”
She said that “his faithful adherence
to Scriptural guidelines helped her to want
to return.”
COMMENTS
The firm stand helped = basically emotional blackmail
How many df’d jws have long left the behaviors that got them kicked out but have not returned? Or unbaptized children of jws who grew up going to the KH who have 3 illegitimate children, are living with a boyfriend, smoke, and use drugs who are treated well by their jw family because of this legal technicality.
In this area to be reinstated you could not talk to an elder. You had to write a request to be considered for reinstatement, put it in a sealed envelope, and put it in the contribution box (that would be a surprise for the MS doing accounts). Then the elders on your JC would decide if it was time. Unofficially you could not submit a letter until 6 months had passed and you had attended all the meetings. I saw a pedophile brother reinstated in 8 months because he was deeply involved financially with 3 elders and the business was tanking (he had taken his wife hostage and held a gun to her head). Then a sister that committed adultery was punished for 8 years because she had the gall to refuse her jw husband’s forgiveness and marry a younger man…too much of a scandal.
I used to comfort myself that they would receive their mercy from God in the same way they gave it.
19 What conclusion should we draw? That
we need to fight against the tendency of our
imperfect hearts to rebel against Scriptural
counsel. We must be absolutely convinced
that God’s way of dealing with our problems
is always best.
COMMENTS
Imperfect hearts = so if humans can’t read hearts and all humans are imperfect…………….
Rebel against scriptural counsel = WTS doctrine trumps any scripture...Matthew 24:45-47 is the all purpose scripture for any topic and time.
Absolutely convinced = that the WTS way is God’s way even if there is no scripture…even though they are imperfect, not infallible or inspired.
“The Word of God Is Alive”
20. In what two ways can Hebrews 4:12 be applied?
(See footnote.)
20 When Paul wrote that “the word of God
is alive,” he was not referring specifically to
God’s written Word, the Bible.* The context
shows that he was referring to God’s word of
promise. Paul’s point was that God does not
make a promise and then forget about it. Jehovah
established this through the prophet
Isaiah: “My word . . . will not return to me
without results, but it will . . . have certain
success in that for which I have sent it.” (Isa.
55:11) Thus, there is no need for us to become
impatient when things do not move
ahead as quickly as we might wish. Jehovah
‘keeps working’ with a view to bringing his
purpose to a successful conclusion.—John
5:17.
*Today, God speaks to us through his written Word,
which has power to affect our lives. Thus, by extension,
Paul’s words recorded at Hebrews 4:12 can properly be
applied to the Bible.
COMMENTS
So now God’s word is more than what is written in the bible?
God’s word of promise = as explained by the WTS of course
Is this new light? I wonder how many jws understand this? I don’t but I did look and see if the WTS has said this before.
*** uw (United Worship book—1983) chap. 3p. 21 par.3***
“The word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword . . . and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) “The word of God” is his word of promise, recorded in the Bible.
21. How can Hebrews 4:12 be an encouragement to
faithful older members of the “great crowd”?
21 Faithful older members of the “great
crowd” have served Jehovah for decades.
(Rev. 7:9) Many never expected to grow old
in this system of things. Still, they have not
given in to discouragement. (Ps. 92:14) They
realize that God’s word of promise is not a
dead issue—it is alive, and Jehovah is working
toward its fulfillment. Since God’s purpose
is dear to his heart, we bring joy to him
when we keep it uppermost in our minds.
During this seventh day, Jehovah has been
resting, secure in the knowledge that his
purpose will be fulfilled and that, as a
group, his people will support it. What
about you? Have you personally entered
into God’s rest?
COMMENTS
How many older jws missed that phrase “as a group” seeing that there was no guarantee that any individual jw would survive?
Anointed jws supposedly know they have to die to go to heaven. They supposedly want to shed their earthly lives. How can they imagine what older jws with the “earthly hope” feel about dying and not seeing the end. I even know that Knorr wished he could hold off his earthly death to see the end from his view on earth not heaven.
Remember that the WTS presents God’s agenda to vindicate his sovereignty. Puny human lives are only a comma in God’s promise, only “as a group” do they matter.
Do Not Miss the Purpose
? What is needed in order for us to
enter into God’s rest today?
? What connection is there between
God’s purpose and our willingness
to accept Scriptural counsel?
? In what areas might obedience to
Scriptural direction become difficult,
but why is it essential that we obey?
? In what two ways can Hebrews 4:12
be applied?
CLOSING COMMENTS
Thus, there is no need for us to become
impatient when things do not move
ahead as quickly as we might wish.
2 jws died recently in this area, both in their late 80’s; both had believed that they would live through Armageddon without dying. Both had been waiting over 60 years. Both had lived through 1975, the first change of the 1914 generation teaching in 1995, and been confused through the last 2 changes. I wonder how many from that generation and dying and thinking they had been tricked?
It has been 132 years since Russell brought forth his ideas that the end of wickedness on earth and their being taken to heaven to rule would be in 1914. It has been 86 years since Rutherford taught that the end would come in 1925. It has been 36 years since the end in 1975 proved to be false. How long did you wait; how long have your family and friends been waiting. The early Christians waited 37 years from 33 to 70 A.D.
*** w08 1/15 p.25 par.4***
They can draw close to Jehovah, and as a group, they have the wonderful prospect of surviving Armageddon.
NEXT WEEK, THEY WAITED FOR THE MESSIAH. I get the clue “waited.” Note the WTS quotes from a non-NWT Bible for the theme scripture, The Emphatic Diaglott and later from the Revised Standard Version.
Love, Blondie