One thing that I have ALWAYS noticed even when I was a JW is that the JW org has LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make NO difference. When you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law. Am i missing something here!?!? Then we read articles like this from the latest Watchtower:
3 The Pharisees’ rules and traditions made the application of the Law burdensome for the common people.
The Mosaic Law furnished the overall structure for Israel’s worship of Jehovah. However, minute details were not provided. For instance, the Law forbade work on the Sabbath, but it did not explicitly define what constituted work and what did not. (Ex. 20:10) The Pharisees sought to fill in such supposed gaps by means of their laws, definitions, and traditions. While Jesus ignored the arbitrary rules of the Pharisees, he did observe the Mosaic Law. (Matt. 5:17, 18; 23:23) He saw beyond the letter of the Law. Jesus discerned the spirit behind the Law and the need for mercy and compassion. He was reasonable, even when his followers failed him. For example, although he urged three of his apostles to stay awake and keep on the watch on the night of his arrest, they fell asleep repeatedly. Nevertheless, he sympathetically remarked: “The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.”—Mark 14:34-42.
Questions for meditation: Do I seek to lay down arbitrary, inflexible rules or to turn my personal opinions into law? Am I reasonable in what I expect of others?
Reflect on the contrast between Jesus’ teaching and that of the Pharisees. Do you see ways in which you could improve? If so, why not resolve to do so?
Errrr yeah... ok... I decided this wasnt reflective enough, so i decided to change it to a more modern day interpretation. See what you think!
3 The governing body’s rules and traditions make the application of the Jesus’ Laws burdensome for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Law of Christianity furnished the overall structure for all worship of Jehovah. However, minute details were not provided. The governing body seek to fill in such supposed gaps by means of their laws, definitions, and traditions. While Jesus ignores the arbitrary rules of the governing body, he does observe the Law of Christianity. (Matt. 22:36-40) He saw beyond the letter of the Law. Jesus discerned the spirit behind the Law and the need for mercy and compassion. He was reasonable, even when his followers failed him. For example, although he urged three of his apostles to stay awake and keep on the watch on the night of his arrest, they fell asleep repeatedly. Nevertheless, he sympathetically remarked: “The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.”—Mark 14:34-42.
Questions for meditation: Does the governing body seek to lay down arbitrary, inflexible rules or to turn their personal opinions into law? Are they reasonable in what they expect of others?
Reflect on the contrast between Jesus’ teaching and that of the governing body. Do you see ways in which they could improve? If so, why do they not resolve to do so?