Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-04-2012 WT Study (GOD'S WORD)

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  • blondie
    blondie

    Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-04-2012 WT Study (JANUARY 15, 2012, pages 4-8)(GOD’S WORD)

    Review comments will be headed by COMMENTS

    WT material from today's WT will be in black

    w = Watchtower

    g = Awake

    jv = Proclaimers book

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    TRUE CHRISTIANS

    RESPECT GOD’S

    WORD

    “Your word is truth.” —JOHN 17:17.

    OPENING COMMENTS

    START OF ARTICLE

    LOOK FOR THESE POINTS:

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    How did a meeting that was

    held in Jerusalem in 49 C.E.

    contrast with subsequent

    church councils?

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Who were some champions of

    God’s Word who lived during

    the Middle Ages?

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    What method for Bible study

    was used by faithful Christians

    in the late 1800’s, and why

    was it effective?

    1. From personal experience, name one important respect in

    which Jehovah’s Witnesses are different from other religious

    groups .

    THINK about the first time you had a meaningful

    discussion with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

    What do you remember about it? Many

    would reply, ‘I was impressed by the fact that the

    Witness used the Bible to answer all my questions.’

    How delighted we were to discover God’s purpose

    for the earth, what happens when we die, and what

    the future holds for our dead loved ones!

    COMMENTS

    So do jws pull out the bible or a WT publication to answer questions? Do they read the verses from the bible itself or a quote from the publication?

    A CO once told the pioneers to have the publications in hand, not the bible because it would put people off.

    And it is typical that jws are told to zero in on problems in people’s lives, death in the family, illness, financial problems…

    2. What are some of the reasons why you came to appreciate

    the Bible?

    2 As we studied further, however, we realized that

    the Bible does much more than answer our questions

    about life, death, and the future. We came to

    appreciate that the Bible is the most practical book

    in the world. Its counsel is timeless, and those who

    carefully follow it will lead successful and happy

    lives. (Read Psalm 1:1-3.) Genuine Christians have

    always accepted the Bible, “not as the word of men,

    but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God.”

    (1 Thess. 2:13) A brief historical review will highlight

    the contrast between those who truly respect

    God’s Word and those who do not.

    COMMENTS

    Do people study with jws or learn to repeat the words from the paragraph?

    Genuine Christians = only jws, all others are “so-called” or “professed”

    The Bible has good advice about multiple wives. And how to determine a woman’s unfaithfulness by splashing water on her thigh. (What about the man?)

    Numbers 5:27


    NIV: If she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then when she is made to drink the water that brings a curse, it will go into her and cause bitter suffering; her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away, and she will become accursed among her people.


    A THORNY ISSUE IS SETTLED

    3. What issue threatened the unity of the first-century Christian

    congregation, and what was at stake?

    3 During the 13 years that followed the anointing

    of the first uncircumcised Gentile, Cornelius, an issue

    arose that threatened the unity of the Christian

    congregation. Growing numbers of Gentiles were

    embracing the Christian faith . The question was,

    Should the men be circumcised according to the

    Jewish custom before presenting themselves

    for baptism? That was not an easy

    question for a Jew to answer. Jews who

    observed the Law would not even enter

    a Gentile’s home, let alone enjoy warm

    fellowship with one. Jewish Christians

    were already severely persecuted for

    abandoning their former religion. If they

    went so far as to welcome uncircumcised

    Gentiles into their midst, it would

    only widen the rift between practicing

    Jews and the Christians and expose the

    latter to further reproach.—Gal. 2:11-14.

    COMMENTS

    Cornelius and his household were anointed with holy spirit before baptism…why? These men were not circumcised so why the question 14 years later with Paul?

    Why are jws not baptized “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit as Matthew 28:19 says? Why in the name of a spirit-directed organization?

    Why after settling the circumcision question, did Paul have Timothy circumcised by not Titus?

    Did Jesus enter the house of any gentile? Did he have fellowship with any gentiles?

    4. Who were called upon to resolve the issue,

    and in this regard, what questions could have

    arisen in the minds of onlookers?

    4 In 49 C.E., the apostles and older

    men in Jerusalem, themselves circumcised

    Jews, “gathered together to see

    about this affair.” (Acts 15:6) What followed

    was, not a mind-numbing theological

    debate over dry technicalities ,

    but a lively doctrinal discussion. Strong

    opinions were expressed on both sides

    of the issue. Would personal preferences

    or prejudices rule the day ? Would

    the responsible older men postpone the

    decision until the religious climate in Israel

    improved for them? Or would some

    sort of compromise be worked out, with

    advocates on each side modifying their

    position u ntil a consensus of sorts was

    reached? (BLOOD BULGARIA)

    COMMENTS

    How many elders and ex-elders know of the mind-numbing elders meetings and elder schools?

    Or the elder who told the body, “it’s my way or the highway.”

    Read below how the WTS compromised about the blood issue in Bulgaria.

    http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/bulgaria-blood-transfusions.php

    5. In what important ways did the meeting in

    Jerusalem in 49 C.E. differ from church councils

    held in later centuries?

    5 Compromise and lobbying are common

    at church councils today. However,

    at that meeting in Jerusalem, there was

    no compromise; nor did any lobbying

    for votes take place. What is more, a

    unanimous decision was reached. How

    could that be? As strongly as each participant

    felt about his point of view, all

    present respected God’s Word,

    and those

    holy writings held the key to resolving

    the issue.—Read Psalm 119:97-101.

    COMMENTS

    Lobbying in the elders meetings; or the GB in New York.

    A new elder came prepared with scriptures to discuss an issue. He was told to put the bible away, they already knew all that, and the elder’s manual was the basis of what they discussed.

    Unanimous or 2/3 votes on the GB?

    "At a session three weeks later, April 30 [1975], President Knorr surprised us by making a motion that thenceforth all matters be decided by a two-thirds vote of the active membership (which by then numbered seventeen)." Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience (Commentary Press Fourth Edition 2004) p.85.

    http://www.jwfacts.com/pdf/two-third-majority.pdf

    6, 7. How were the Scriptures used to settle

    the circumcision issue?

    6 The passage that helped settle the

    matter was Amos 9:11, 12. As quoted at

    Acts 15:16, 17, it reads: “I shall return

    and rebuild the booth of David that is

    fallen down; and I shall rebuild its ruins

    and erect it again, in order that those who

    remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah,

    together with people of all the nations,

    people who are called by my name ,

    says Jehovah.”

    COMMENTS

    How many jws know that Russell believed that these prophecies would be fulfilled on literal Jews?

    7 ‘But wait,’ someone may object,

    that text does not say that it was unnecessary

    for Gentile believers to be circumcised.

    That is true; however, Jewish

    Christians would have got the point.

    They did not consider circumcised Gentiles

    as ‘people of the nations’ but as

    brothers. (Ex. 12:48, 49) For example, according

    to Bagster’s version of the Septuagint,

    Esther 8:17 reads: “Many of the

    Gentiles were circumcised, and became

    Jews.” Thus, when the Scriptures foretold

    that those remaining of the house of

    Israel (Jews and circumcised Jewish

    proselytes) together with “people of all

    the nations” (uncircumcised Gentiles)

    would become one people for God’s

    name, the message was clear . Circumcision

    was not required of Gentiles who

    wanted to become Christians.

    COMMENTS

    Bagster’s Septuagint

    http://bluehost.levendwater.org/books/BagsterA%20handy%20concordance%20of%20the%20Septuagint/index.htm

    Who is Bagster and why does the WTS choose this source?

    What does the WTS consider “godfearers”?

    So James still regarded uncircumcised Gentile Christians as Godfearers, and the stipulations in Acts 15 were likely not viewed as "recommendations" but more like the bare minimum that Gentiles were expected to observe. (Leiolaia)

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/218273/1/Acts-15-29-Revelation-2-14-20

    8. What role did courage play in the decision

    that was made?

    8 God’s Word and his spirit led those

    sincere Christians to “a unanimous accord.” (2/3 VOTE)

    (Acts 15:25) Even though the decision would

    likely expose Jewish Christians

    to more persecution, faithful ones

    lent their full support to the Bible-based

    decision.—Acts 16:4, 5.

    COMMENTS

    The WTS is setting the foundation for jws to give FULL SUPPORT to the GB so-called bible-based decisions: Sodom and Gomorrah to be resurrected (yes, no, yes, no…; superior authorities, secular governments then God and Jesus then secular governments; organ transplants, yes, no yes.

    Bible-based or manipulated—see at the end of the comments

    A MARKED CONTRAST

    9. What is one important factor that led to the

    defilement of true worship, and what significant

    doctrine came to the fore?

    9 The apostle Paul foretold that after

    the death of the apostles, the Christian

    faith would be contaminated by false

    teachings. (Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7.)

    Among those who would not put up

    with “the healthful teaching” were some

    in responsible positions. (2 Tim. 4:3)

    Paul warned elders in his day: “From

    among you yourselves men will rise and

    speak twisted things to draw away the

    disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:

    30) The New Encyclopædia Britannica describes

    one major factor that led to twisted

    reasoning: “Christians who had some

    training in Greek philosophy began to

    feel the need to express their faith in

    its terms, both for their own intellectual

    satisfaction and in order to convert educated

    pagans.” An important doctrine

    that was given a pagan twist had to do

    with the identity of Jesus Christ. The Bible

    calls him the Son of God; the lovers

    of Greek philosophy insisted that he is

    God.

    COMMENTS

    Was it AFTER or had the contamination already started per the WTS? Already at work when Paul was alive but John died long after Paul.

    “some in responsible positions” does this mean that elders today are proving to be a thorn in the WTS side?

    Greek philosophy = higher education

    10. How could the issue of Christ’s identity

    have been settled?

    10 The question was debated at a number

    of church councils. The issue could

    have been settled quite easily had the

    delegates given appropriate weight to

    the Scriptures , but most did not. In fact,

    the majority had made up their minds

    even before they arrived at the councils,

    and they left more deeply entrenched

    than ever in their positions. The canons

    and declarations that resulted from

    these meetings hardly even referred to

    the Scriptures.

    COMMENTS

    So has it been your experience that the WTS always has a scripture to base its doctrine on? This is considered grounds for df’ing in the elders manual yet no scripture is cited, not a one. Somehow staying overnight unchaperoned equals sex took place; during the day sex did not take place.

    - stayed all night in the same house with a person of the opposite sex (or in the same house with a known homosexual) under improper circumstances

    I wonder how many jws can name one scripture without checking a WT publication when asked why they believe.

    *** w98 3/15 p. 19 ***

    In order to avoid misunderstandings, Jehovah’s Witnesses try to be careful about how they express themselves. Instead of saying, “the Society teaches” many Witnesses prefer to use such expressions as, “the Bible says” or, “I understand the Bible to teach.”

    11. What weight was given to the authority of

    the so-called Church Fathers, and why so?

    11 Why were the Scriptures not more

    thoroughly considered? Scholar Charles

    Freeman answers that those who believed

    that Jesus is God “found it difficult

    to refute the many sayings of Jesus

    that suggested he was subordinate to

    God the Father.” As a result, church tradition

    and opinions of later authorities

    were substituted for the Gospels. To this

    day, many of the clergy elevate the uninspired

    sayings of so-called Church Fathers

    to a plane higher than the Word of

    God! If you have ever discussed the Trinity

    doctrine with a seminarian, you have

    likely noticed that.

    COMMENTS

    Who is Charles Freeman? Do his other beliefs agree with the WTS?

    12. What negative influence was exercised by

    the emperor?

    12 A notable feature of the debates at

    those councils was the interference of

    the Roman emperors. In this regard, Professor

    Richard E. Rubenstein wrote respecting

    the Council of Nicaea: “Constantine

    had favored and enriched [the

    bishops] beyond their wildest dreams . In

    less than a year, the new emperor had

    returned or rebuilt virtually all their

    churches, given them back the jobs and

    honors taken from them . . . He had

    accorded Christian clergymen privileges

    formerly granted to pagan priests .” As

    a result, “Constantine was in a position

    strongly to influence—perhaps even to

    dictate—the course of events at Nicaea.”

    Charles Freeman confirmed: “The precedent

    had now been set that the emperor

    might intervene not only to strengthen

    the Church but to influence doctrine.”

    Read James 4:4.

    COMMENTS

    Can individual jws disagree with the WTS when they see that beliefs are not scripturally based?

    13. What factors, do you think, influenced

    church leaders of later centuries to ignore the

    Bible’s plain teachings?

    13 While church dignitaries found it

    difficult to determine the exact identity

    of Jesus Christ, many of the common

    people had no such problem . Since they

    were not interested in lining their purses

    with the emperor’s gold or in furthering

    their careers in the church hierarchy,

    they were able to view matters more objectively,

    in the light of the Scriptures.

    And by all accounts, they did. A theologian

    of the period, Gregory of Nyssa,

    made this derisive comment regarding

    the common people: “Clothes

    dealers, money changers, and grocers

    are all theologians. If you inquire about

    the value of your money, some philosopher

    explains wherein the Son differs

    from the Father. If you ask the price of

    bread, your answer is the Father is greater

    than the Son . If you should want to

    know whether the bath is ready, you get

    the pronouncement that the Son was

    created out of nothing.” Yes, unlike the

    members of the hierarchy, many of the

    common people were supporting their

    conclusions by using God’s Word . Gregory

    and his associates would have done

    well to listen to them!

    COMMENTS

    Hasn’t the WTS found it difficult to determine if the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will be resurrected; who the “superior authorities” are; whether jws can have an organ transplant or not…..

    So Cos and DOs are not guilty of the “green handshake” which elders use to buy influence to further their career?

    http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/scandals/165825/1/Did-you-ever-get-a-green-handshake

    “WHEAT” AND “WEEDS” GROW TOGETHER

    14. Why can we conclude that from the first

    century onward, there must always have been

    some genuine anointed Christians on earth?

    14 In a parable, Jesus indicated that

    from the first century onward, there

    would always be some genuine anointed

    Christians on the earth. He compared

    them to “wheat” growing among

    “weeds.” (Matt. 13:30) Of course, we

    cannot say for certain which individuals

    or groups belonged to the anointed

    wheat class, but we can confirm that

    there have always been some who have

    courageously defended God’s Word

    and exposed the church’s unscriptural

    teachings. Let us consider a few examples.

    COMMENTS

    So who were the anointed between 100 and 1879? Notice how the WTS talks out of both sides of their mouth…can’t say for sure who individuals or groups are but there were individuals or groups, totally unrecognizable though.

    15, 16. Name some who showed respect for

    God’s Word.

    15 Archbishop Agobard of Lyons,

    France (779-840 C.E.), spoke out against

    image worship, churches dedicated to

    saints, and the church’s unscriptural liturgies

    and practices. One of his contemporaries,

    Bishop Claudius, also rejected

    church tradition and objected to prayers

    to saints and the veneration of relics. In

    the 11th century, Archdeacon Berengarius

    of Tours, France, was excommunicated

    for rejecting the Catholic teaching

    of transubstantiation. Moreover, he held

    that the Bible is superior to church tradition.

    COMMENTS

    So are they saying these men were anointed? Maybe, maybe not…….

    Waldo Wycliffe Tyndale Grew Storrs

    16 The 12th century saw the arrival of

    two lovers of Bible truth, Peter of Bruys

    and Henry of Lausanne . Peter resigned

    from the priesthood because he could

    not reconcile with the Scriptures the

    Catholic teachings of infant baptism,

    transubstantiation, prayers for the dead,

    and worship of the cross. In 1140, Peter

    paid for his beliefs with his life. Henry,

    a monk, spoke out against corrupt practices

    in the church as well as the unscriptural

    aspects of church liturgy . He

    was arrested in 1148 and spent the rest

    of his life in prison.

    COMMENTS

    So these men also maybe were, maybe not anointed………

    Children as young as 5 have been baptized as jws….but somehow not considered “infants”

    17. What important steps were taken byword

    and his followers?

    17 About the time that Peter of Bruys

    was burned alive for daring to criticize

    the church, a person was born who

    would later have a powerful influence on

    the spread of Bible truth. His last name

    was Valdes, or Waldo.* Unlike Peter of

    Bruys and Henry of Lausanne, he was

    a layman, but he valued God’s Word so

    much that he divested himself of his material

    goods and arranged for portions of

    the Bible to be translated into a language

    commonly spoken in southeastern

    France . Some were so thrilled to hear

    the Bible’s message in their own tongue

    that they too gave up their belongings

    and devoted their lives to sharing Bible

    truth with others . The church found this

    deeply disturbing. In 1184 these zealous

    men and women, later called the Waldenses,

    were excommunicated by the

    pope and banished from their homes by

    the bishop. This action actually served

    to spread the Bible’s message to other

    areas. Eventually, the followers of Waldo,

    Peter of Bruys, and Henry of Lausanne

    as well as other dissenters could

    be found in many parts of Europe. Other

    champions of Bible truth rose up in

    the centuries that followed: John Wycliffe

    (c. 1330-1384), William Tyndale

    (c. 1494-1536), Henry Grew (1781-1862),

    and George Storrs (1796-1879).

    *Valdes has sometimes been called Pierre Valdes

    or Peter Waldo, but his first name cannot be confirmed.

    COMMENTS

    And these were not identified either as anointed…

    George Storrs was a mentor and friend of Charles Taze Russell, yet Storrs never became a Bible Student. Russell conducted his funeral. Could Storrs be considered anointed if he never joined with Russell?

    *** w00 10/15 pp.29-30***

    George Storrs likewise did not have a correct understanding of some important points. He was able to see falsehoods promoted by the clergy, but sometimes he went to the opposite extreme. For example, apparently overreacting to the orthodox clergy’s view of Satan, Storrs rejected the idea of the Devil as an actual person. He rejected the Trinity; yet, he was uncertain until shortly before his death as to whether the holy spirit was a person. While George Storrs expected that Christ’s return would originally be invisible, he thought that eventually there would be a visible appearing. Nonetheless, it seems that both men were honesthearted and sincere, and they came far closer to the truth than most.

    “THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT BOUND”

    18. Explain the method of Bible study used by

    sincere Bible students in the 19th century and

    why it was effective.

    18 Try as they might, enemies of Bible

    truth have been unable to prevent its

    spread. “The word of God is not bound,”

    says 2 Timothy 2:9. In 1870 a group of

    sincere Bible students began searching

    for the truth. Their method of study?

    Someone would raise a question. They

    would discuss it. They would look up

    all related scriptures on the point, and

    then, when they were satisfied with

    the harmony of these texts, they would

    finally state their conclusion and make

    a record of it. Does it not reassure you

    to know that like the apostles and older

    men of the first century, those faithful

    men, our “spiritual ancestors” of the late

    1800’s, were determined to align their

    beliefs solidly with God’s Word?

    COMMENTS

    So why is the conclusion presented already formed to jws today in the WT publications? Do jws look up all the related scriptures or just one or two at the most?

    19. What is the year text for 2012, and why is it

    appropriate?

    19 The Bible is still the foundation for

    our beliefs. With that in mind, the Governing

    Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has

    chosen as our year text for 2012 the confident

    statement of Jesus: “Your word

    is truth.” (John 17:17) Since everyone

    who desires to gain God’s approval must

    walk in the truth, may all of us continually

    strive to be guided by God’s Word.

    COMMENTS

    Listen at the next meeting, how many jws use a scripture to support their statements? How many reach for a WT publication or the Bible?

    *** w9410/1 p.8***

    All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the “greatly diversified wisdom of God” can become known only through Jehovah’s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave.—John 6:68.

    CONCLUDING COMMENTS

    Next week, LEARN WATCHFULNESS FROM JESUS’ APOSTLES.

    Remember the WTS says while they have missed the point many times, at least they were on the watch……………

    Watchtower Style Reasoning

    The Watchtower Society uses an eisegesis approach to arrive at doctrine; that is, it creates a doctrine and then manipulates scriptures to support it. This requires resorting to rhetorical fallacy to convince people what they are saying is true.

    A classic example of this is in a 1989 article explaining why Jesus is not mediator for all mankind. Following are some quotes;

    "Is Jesus the Mediator only for spirit-anointed Christians or for all mankind, since 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 speaks of him as the "mediator" who "gave himself a corresponding ransom for all"?

    The Bible contains both basic teachings and deep truths, which are solid food for study. ...

    To grasp what Paul is saying, we must first appreciate that the Bible sets out two destinies for faithful humans: (1) perfect life on a restored earthly paradise and (2) life in heaven for Christ's "little flock," numbering 144,000.

    ... The Greek word me.si'tes ...

    Clearly, then, the new covenant is not a loose arrangement open to all mankind. It is a carefully arranged legal provision involving God and anointed Christians.

    This should help us to understand 1 Timothy 2:5, 6. Here the reference to "mediator" was made after the five other occurrences of the word in letters written earlier. Hence, Timothy would have understood Jesus' mediatorship to be His legal role connected with the new covenant. ...

    Consequently, 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 is not using "mediator" in the broad sense common in many languages. It is not saying that Jesus is a mediator between God and all mankind. ... The apostle John referred to these at 1 John 2:2. But he indicated that others too will receive the benefit of Christ's sacrifice: "He is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world's."

    Those of 'the whole world' are all who will gain eternal life in a restored earthly paradise. Millions of such approved servants of God now have that earthly hope...." Watchtower 1989 Aug 15 pp.30-31

    The article starts saying this is solid food, indicating that if you don't agree with or understand the conclusion you are spiritually immature. It then shows that in order to understand the role of the Mediator another Watchtower doctrine must be believed. However no Scripture is given to back up the doctrine that humans will be resurrected onto earth, as there is no Scripture that makes such a statement. In fact, when Revelation 7 and 19 discusses the Great Crowd it places them in heaven "before" the throne. (See Paradise Earth and Great Crowd ) The doctrine of the Mediator is built upon this shaky foundation.

    There follows lengthy inclusion of Greek definitions. This seems to be a diversionary attempt to give an air of authority to the article, as the discussion has no bearing on the existence of a secondary class or answering the original question.

    The article next attempts to add weight by inclusion of a commonly used Watchtower word - "clearly". This term is constantly used in Watchtower articles to reinforce a questionable point. The writer also claims to be privy to what "Timothy would have understood".

    Not content with limiting the mediatorship to only 144,000 people, the article goes on to add that the propitiatory sacrifice, which the Bible says is for the "whole world's" sins, only applies to those that gain life in the earthly paradise. Since the Watchtower teaches billions will die at Armageddon without any hope of a resurrection, it is excluding all worldly people alive from the value of the sacrifice as well.

    http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/mediator.php

    No scripture states that either the Great Crowd or Other Sheep are on earth. Christians understand the Great Crowd have a heavenly hope, as did Pastor Russell, and even Rutherford for many years.

    http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/great-crowd-other-sheep.php

  • PaintedToeNail
    PaintedToeNail

    Blondie, Interesting as usual. Regarding paragraph 18, does it state in any early record from the time, that the 'sincere bible students' were only men? The ending of paragraph 18 seems to indicate men only, but I thought women were early bible students too. Were they to be seen and not heard?

  • BluesBrother
    BluesBrother

    Para 17 calls George Storrs a "Champion of Bible truth" , a tad strong, I thought for one who was not a part of their movement. I looked up some info, but Blondie has shown that the WTS themselves contradicted this in the Wt *** w00 10/15 pp.29-30***.. It said he :

    "rejected the idea of the Devil as an actual person. He rejected the Trinity; yet, he was uncertain until shortly before his death as to whether the holy spirit was a person. While George Storrs expected that Christ’s return would originally be invisible, he thought that eventually there would be a visible appearing. "

    Can you be a champion of the relatively true ? Despite his association with Russell he disagreed with him. Can I disagree with the "FDS" today and still be considered a sincere truth seeker?

    Supposing I were one of the anointed "brothers of Christ", If I examined all the scriptures as described in para 18, and concluded differently to them, would I be tolerated in the congregation? Hardly!

  • A Stone Crying Out
    A Stone Crying Out

    “WHEAT” AND “WEEDS” GROW TOGETHER

    14 In a parable, Jesus indicated that

    from the first century onward, there

    would always be some genuine anointed

    Christians on the earth. He compared

    them to “wheat” growing among

    “weeds.” (Matt. 13:30) Of course, we

    cannot say for certain which individuals

    or groups belonged to the anointed

    wheat class, but we can confirm that

    there have always been some who have

    courageously defended God’s Word

    and exposed the church’s unscriptural

    teachings. Let us consider a few examples.

    ***BibleCitations***

    36 Then after dismissing the crowds he went into the house. And his disciples came to him and said: “Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field.” 37 In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; 38 the field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, 39 and the enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. 40 Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. 41 The Son of man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing lawlessness,

    What are the other sheep represented by in Jesus' illustration?
  • blondie
    blondie

    Painted, the WTS likes to leave women out of the picture. Except for Maria Russell, are many mentioned in WTS history. I didn't know a bout Rutherford's wife until the Proclaimers book. At least the bible NT mentions Priscilla, Lydia, Mary 1, Mary 2, Elizabeth, Timothy's mother and grandmother, Philip's 4 prophetess daughters, ...

    Many have suggested that the other sheep mentioned were the Gentile Christians. First century Christians had no concept that Jesus had an earthly destiny for his followers, he told them they would all rule with him in heaven. For years the WTS taught that they were a secondary heavenly group until the numbers of anointed WTS grew to 90,000. Then a change had to be made in WTS doctrine as the 144,000 would soon be breached.

  • AnnOMaly
    AnnOMaly

    I said this on another thread:

    After making a big deal of how unscriptural the Trinity was, why did they then use a bunch of Trinitarians as examples of 'courageously defending God's Word and exposing the church's unscriptural teachings'???

    Why did they cite Peter of Bruys as a 'lover of Bible truth' when he supposedly only accepted the Gospels as authoritative, downgraded the rest of the NT as the mere word of men and rejected the OT??? (Source: newadvent.org - I know, I know, but still ...)

  • stillstuckcruz
    stillstuckcruz

    I didn't like this article at all, though I find myself saying that with all of them now. lol. Particularly with regards to whom the anointed were before Russell. Obviously they haven't a clue(mainly because there were none), but they seem to assume that ANYONE who did not accept everything the churches of the time were doing MUST have been of the "anointed".

    It is interesting to note that they describe those supposed "anointed ones" as ones who " courageously defended God’s Word and exposed the church’s unscriptural teachings."

    ---->For any witness today to use the Bible to prove any WT doctrine wrong is NEVER viewed as "courageous", but a product of pride, disloyalty, and Satanic thinking. The only way that any JW can be considered "courageous" is for them to continue to follow the GB and do whatever they are told. Only then are they looked upon as having "stood up for Bible Truth". Wierd twist on things....

    *** w11 9/15 p. 31 Can You Be Like Phinehas When You Face Challenges? ***
    By acting with courage and decisiveness when situations in the congregation require such, elders become examples of faith and loyalty. Of course, other Christians also need to act courageously, reporting serious wrongdoing that they may become aware of.

    ------>Great commentary as always Blondie! Good start to my day. This is my "daily text 2012". lol

  • tornapart
    tornapart

    Excellent as always Blondie! You give me more food for thought than any WT study I've ever been to!

    What I would like to know is where the WTs idea of the Great Crowd/Other Sheep came from? I know that during Russells time they believed that there were two classes going to heaven, then out of no where it seemed that a 'Jonadab' class was going to live on earth and they eventually became known as the Great Crowd of Other Sheep. How did this happen? Do you know where this idea started and why?

  • insearchoftruth
    insearchoftruth
    How did this happen? Do you know where this idea started and why?
    I am pretty sure that this is discussed in the 'grand climax' book.
  • WTWizard
    WTWizard

    Here is another article that is pure rubbish. First, what about the Washtowel insisting that everyone must abide by their doctrines above the Bible. You find a doctrine you can prove wrong using their own Bible, you are still required to abide by and teach the bad doctrine until the Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger itself fixes it (or makes a bigger mess, in which case you have to abide by and teach the even worse doctrine).

    Also, what if you realize that the Bible itself is rubbish? Not too difficult--all you need is a Bible and common sense. Did Saul deserve to be set up to fail? Remember, Samuel was not returning until 5 minutes after Saul offered the sacrifice--and if Saul waited too long, the country would have been vanquished and Jehovah would have blamed Saul. And, what about Jonah being dragged on a missionary assignment he did not want? What gave Jehovah the right to do that rubbish? What if someone dragged you out of some civilized country into the likes of Nigeria, making sure Nigeria is where you ended up, against your better judgment? Even if your mission was "successful", you would get the hardship and Jehovah would get the benefits. Then Jehovah wanted you to just shut up and accept the hardships. To boot, ultimately the mission failed. What in hell gave that Almighty Lowlife Scumbag the right to force anyone to go on a mission like that? That is right in the Bible--the whole book of Jonah details that mission.

    And, the Bible is out of date. It is full of stock examples of where Jehovah's blessings work when you read them in the Bible but not when you need them yourself. Bless one person (or fake-bless one person), write it down with great fanfare, and then refer people to that stock example in lieu of giving them personal fulfillment. This is supposed to prove Jehovah is loving? All this does is proves that Jehovah intends to keep me away from Tarshish the opposite sex so he can force me to go to Ninevah Nigeria, and do a mission (and shut me up when I am not fulfilled). Of course, the mission will do no better than Jonah's, and Jehovah will have extorted a moon-high opportunity cost out of me for a neutrino-sized benefit for himself. The Bible builds faith?

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