Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 04-22-2012 WT Study (POSITIVE)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

while associating with our

brothers?

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by our zeal in the field

ministry?

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by reporting serious

wrongdoing?

OPENING COMMENTS

Were you ever told by the elders you had a complaining spirit? That the elders are only imperfect men? But then had the elders telling you your sideburns were 1/6” too long, that dark nail polish was not acceptable (although the CO’s wife wore it), etc.

Or did you hear the elders and other jws say that the lack of growth in a congregation, the lack of a loving spirit, was due to some hidden sin by an individual in the congregation as they looked intently at you?

The WTS knows the right words but does not act in harmony with what they say.

*** w02 11/15 p.17 par.13***

Granted, not all complaints are displeasing to God. He did not ignore “the cry of complaint” about Sodom and Gomorrah but destroyed those wicked cities. (Genesis 18:20, 21; 19:24, 25) In Jerusalem, shortly after Pentecost of 33 C.E., “a murmuring arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrew-speaking Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.” Consequently, “the twelve” corrected the situation by appointing “seven certified men” over the “necessary business” of food distribution. (Acts 6:1-6) Present-day elders must not ‘stop up their ears’ to legitimate complaints. (Proverbs 21:13) And rather than criticizing fellow worshipers, the elders ought to be encouraging and upbuilding.—1 Corinthians 8:1.

START OF ARTICLE

1. For what were the congregations in Philippi and Thyatira

commended?

THE first-century Christians in Philippi were

materially poor. However, they were generous

and showed exemplary love for their fellow

believers. (Phil. 1:3-5, 9; 4:15, 16) In closing

his inspired letter to them, the apostle Paul could

therefore write: “The undeserved kindness of the

Lord Jesus Christ be with the spirit you show.”

(Phil. 4:23) Because a similar spirit was shown by

the Christians in Thyatira, the glorified Jesus Christ

told them: “I know your deeds, and your love and

faith and ministry and endurance, and that your

deeds of late are more than those formerly.”—Rev.

2:19.

COMMENTS

My experience was the poorer the jw the more they tended to be the generous ones in the congregation. Years of visiting congregations to give public talks bore that out. In many “materially rich” congregations, no one had signed up or when they saw we were a replacement for their “best” friends (who obviously had not clued them in they weren’t coming) they suddenly disappeared leaving the chairman to “volunteer” and then have his wife be peeved to be put in that position. I always remember the woman who entertained Elijah during a drought and was rewarded. If he gone to these congregations……….

Undeserved kindness or grace?

The WTS even cross references these two words in the New World Translation index in the back.

*** Rbi8 p.1515 Bible Words Indexed***

GRACE. See UNDESERVED KINDNESS.

Yet the WTS says “deserving ones” can be identified = only people who listen to jws and become one.

*** km9/09p.3 par.1***

As ambassadors and envoys substituting for Christ, we today have the cherished privilege of imitating him in our untiring and thorough search for the deserving ones in our territory.—Matt. 10:11; 2 Cor. 5:20.

2. What part do we play in cultivating the spirit that our congregation

displays?

2 Each congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses today

likewise manifests a certain spirit, or dominant

attitude. Some congregations are especially known

for showing a warm, loving spirit. Others are exceptional

in their zealous support of the Kingdom preaching

work and in showing high regard for the

full-time ministry. When we as individuals cultivate

a positive spirit, we contribute to the unity of the

congregation and further its spiritual advancement

in general. (1 Cor. 1:10) On the other hand, a negative

spirit on our part can contribute to spiritual

drowsiness, a lukewarm attitude, and even the toleration

of wrongdoing in the congregation. (1 Cor.

5:1; Rev. 3:15, 16) What is the spirit of your congregation?

How can you personally help to promote a

positive spirit in the congregation?

COMMENTS

How many jws know that until the early 1970’s the WTS carefully did not capitalize “Witnesses” but used “Jehovah’s witnesses” and counseled the flock that it described what they did, witnessed for God not a religious organizational name.

Why jws and not Christians? The WTS once used the phrase “Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses” but then dropped it by 1980…why?

Why the need to use “Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses”? A mystery?

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/8423/1/What-happened-to-Jehovahs-Christian-Witn

Positive = supporting all the WTS doctrine?

Unity = doing everything the WTS says even when they are wrong, did Jesus not tell the Jewish religious leaders that they had made the word of God invalid with their man-made doctrines, did he “wait”?

Toleration of wrongdoing = look up pedophile and the WTS

ENCOURAGE A POSITIVE SPIRIT

3, 4. How can we “laud [Jehovah] in the big

congregation”?

3 The psalmist sang: “I will laud you

[Jehovah] in the big congregation;

among a numerous people I shall praise

you.” (Ps. 35:18) The psalmist did not

hold back from praising Jehovah when

he was with other servants of God.

Weekly congregation meetings, including

the Watchtower Study, present fine

opportunities for us to display a zealous

spirit when we comment and make expressions

of faith. All of us may well ask

ourselves: ‘Am I taking full advantage

of the privilege to participate in meetings?

Do I prepare well for them and

make meaningful comments? As a family

head, do I help my children to prepare

comments in advance and teach

them to answer in their own words?’

COMMENTS

So are jws holding back, not singing enthuisiastically or at all, not commenting or just reading the answer from the paragraph? When was the last time you heard a “meaningful” comment especially since the WT overseer has been instructed not to go beyond the printed material. JW parents have their children read haltingly from the paragraph, using words they don’t have a clue what they mean; or children give one word answers you can hear the parent whisper to them.

How many elders, MS, wives, regular pioneers answer?

4 The psalmist David associated the

steadfastness of our heart with our singing.

“My heart is steadfast, O God,” he

said, “my heart is steadfast. I will sing

and make melody.” (Ps. 57:7) The songs

used at Christian meetings provide us a

fine opportunity to “sing and make melody”

to Jehovah with a steadfast heart.

If we are not familiar with some of the

songs, why not practice singing them

during Family Worship evening? May

we be determined to ‘sing to Jehovah

throughout our life and make melody to

him as long as we are.’—Ps. 104:33.

COMMENTS

The songbook changed twice when I was attending. Each time they became less musical and favorite songs were replaced with impossible to sing songs. The new songbook is even worse and the singing at the KHs is clear evidence. So jws practice singing to CDs, people who no longer have even basic musical training because it is discouraged, how many play a musical instrument. African jws sing well because their community revolves around singing. But not in the US or many other countries.

David had organized musicians and singers, who were paid musicians.

5, 6. How may we be hospitable and generous

to others, and what does doing so engender in

the congregation?

5 Showing hospitality to our brothers

and sisters is another way to engender

a loving spirit in the congregation. In

the final chapter of his letter to the Hebrews,

Paul includes this exhortation:

“Let your brotherly love continue. Do

not forget hospitality.” (Heb. 13:1, 2)

Providing a meal for traveling overseers

and their wives or for full-time servants

in the congregation is an excellent way

to display hospitality. Think also of widows,

single-parent families, or other individuals

who may benefit from occasionally

joining us for a meal or during

our family worship.

COMMENTS

So do jws show hospitality to the depressed, not so rich, not so pretty, lacking social skills, other races, different ages, spiritually weak…or only the rich and influential……….

I remember an elder that used to say to us, “we have to have you over,” and in 8 years we never saw the inside of his house. We would try and set up a time at his convenience and it was either he was all booked up for the next 6 weeks, and could not commit to a time after that, arggh!

6 Paul directed Timothy to admonish

others “to work at good, to be rich in

fine works, to be liberal, ready to share,

safely treasuring up for themselves a

Do you contribute to a positive spirit

by preparing meaningful comments?

fine foundation for the future, in order

that they may get a firm hold on the

real life.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19) Paul was recommending

that his fellow worshippers

cultivate the spirit of generosity. Even

in difficult economic times, we can promote

a generous spirit. A fine way to

do this is to provide transportation in

the field ministry and to and from the

meetings for those needing it. And what

about those who benefit from such acts

of loving-kindness? They would be encouraging

a positive spirit in the congregation

if they showed appreciation,

perhaps by offering what they can to

help defray the increasingly high cost of

fuel. Moreover, would not our arranging

to spend more time with our spiritual

brothers and sisters make them feel

needed and loved? When we abound in

good deeds “toward those related to us

in the faith” and are ready to share our

time and resources with them, we not

only deepen our love for them but also

help to build a warm and positive spirit

in the congregation.—Gal. 6:10.

COMMENTS

We had many people over to our house for meals, etc., they were always eager, but never reciprocated.

The elders would always assign single pioneer sisters to pickup up people, sisters who cars were old, who were on a tight budget, rather than the elder himself who lived in a $350,000 home and had 3 brand new vehicles.

At one time I was transporting 4 people, even doubling back because it was too “inconvenient” for the elder’s wives to take separate cars.

Spend more time, people were lucky to even have some jws even say hello or respond to a greeting as they ran to their “special” friends and did not want to waste any precious time with others as they would whisper and gossip telling others to avoid them because they were bad association.

7. How does keeping the personal matters of

others confidential help to preserve a good spirit

in the congregation?

7 Consider yet other factors that

strengthen the bond of love with our

fellow believers: friendship and confidentiality.

(Read Proverbs 18:24.) True

friends keep personal matters confidential.

When our brothers reveal their

innermost thoughts and feelings to us

and are sure that these will not become

public knowledge, the bond of love

that may already exist will grow stronger.

May we promote a loving, familylike

spirit in the congregation by being a

trustworthy friend who can keep things

confidential.—Prov. 20:19.

COMMENTS

Confidentiality…..hahahahahahaha

When I visited people at Bethel, I was told, “there is the telegraph, the telephone, and tell-a-Bethelite” just substitute elder, elder’s wife, anyone with access to confidential info.

Familylike!—dysfunctional perhaps, definitely

I realized not jw could be trusted because in the end, their personal salvation was all that mattered.

BE ZEALOUS IN THE MINISTRY

8. What counsel did the Laodiceans receive,

and why?

8 When addressing the congregation

in Laodicea, Jesus said: “I know your

deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.

I wish you were cold or else hot. So,

because you are lukewarm and neither

hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you

out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15, 16) The

Laodiceans lacked zeal for the Christian

ministry. Such an attitude likely affected

their personal relationships as well.

So Jesus lovingly counseled them: “All

those for whom I have affection I reprove

and discipline. Therefore be zealous

and repent.”—Rev. 3:19.

COMMENTS

So do jws preach as if the lives of the people they call on depends on their being effective? Like they were looking for a loved friend lost under the rubble of a building after an earthquake?

9. How does our attitude toward the field ministry

affect the spirit of the congregation?

9 To promote a healthy, positive spirit

in the congregation, we should give attention

to our zeal for the field service.

The congregation is organized for the

purpose of searching out sheeplike individuals

in the territory and building

them up spiritually. Hence, we need to

share in the disciple-making work with

enthusiasm, as Jesus did. (Matt. 28:19,

20; Luke 4:43) The greater our zeal for

the ministry, the more united we will be

as “God’s fellow workers.” (1 Cor. 3:9)

As we observe others in the field service

defending their faith and expressing appreciation

for spiritual things, we are

moved to love and respect them more.

Also, serving “shoulder to shoulder” in

the ministry produces a united spirit in

the congregation.—Read Zephaniah 3:9.

Picture: Contribute to a positive spirit by becoming

familiar with our songs

COMMENTS

How many make return visits, come back before the people forget they came, or know what they said last and they will say next, remember what publication, how many jws believe that it is not necessary to bring one person in to gain their own everlasting life?

10. What effect does improving the quality of

our field service have on the spirit of others in

the congregation?

10 Our efforts to improve the quality

of our ministry also have a good effect

on others. As we show greater concern

for the people we meet, and as we

endeavor to improve our effectiveness

in reaching the hearts of our listeners,

our enthusiasm for the ministry increases.

(Matt. 9:36, 37) Enthusiasm tends to

rub off on our companions. Jesus sent

his disciples out to preach in twos rather

than individually. (Luke 10:1) This

not only provided encouragement and

training but also heightened their zeal

for the ministry. Do we not appreciate

working with zealous Kingdom publishers?

Their enthusiastic spirit encourages

us and spurs us on in the preaching

work.—Rom. 1:12.

COMMENTS

Greater concern (assuming they had any concern to start with), improve effectiveness (assuming they have been effective to start with), enthusiasm (to get it over with, out the KH door late, 45 minutes, break, then one return visit on someone who is never home at that time—I saw that this Saturday, people leaving to go home at 11:15 a.m.

Preach in twos – but only the same person, not the sister who is a little overweight, the one that is a little too loud, a little too zealous and wants to go out till noon. I can remember group conductors try to mix it up, and by the time the people were going to their cars that had rearranged back to their same old partners.

GUARD AGAINST MURMURING

AND WRONGDOING

11. What kind of spirit did some Israelites in

Moses’ day develop, and what effect did this

have on them?

11 Within just several weeks of their

existence as a new nation, the Israelites

developed a spirit of discontent

and murmuring. This led to rebellion

against Jehovah and his representatives.

(Ex. 16:1, 2) Only a small number of the

Israelites who left Egypt lived to see the

Promised Land. Why, even Moses was

denied entry to that land because of his

reaction to the bad spirit of the congregation

of Israel! (Deut. 32:48-52) What

can we do today to keep from falling

prey to a negative spirit?

COMMENTS

So jws are not discontent as a group: The end has not come soon, the doctrines keep changing and they can’t understand them, every year they have to travel farther to a DC, and the quality of the hotels tend to be fleabags.

So is the WTS saying that only a small number of the 7 millions jws will make it into the new system?

12. How can we guard against developing a

complaining spirit?

12 We must guard against developing

a spirit of murmuring. While cultivating

humility and respect for authority

will help us, we need to be concerned

about those with whom we associate. A

poor choice of entertainment or spending

too much time with workmates or

school associates who have no regard

for righteous principles takes its toll.

We are wise to limit our association

with people who are negative or who

are promoting an independent attitude.

—Prov. 13:20.

COMMENTS

Was Jesus murmuring when he said the religious leaders where children of the devil, were the Christians murmuring when they told Paul that Jewish Christians would not associate with Gentile Christians, and Peter was doing the same?

What about the people at the KH who do not live their lives according to the Bible but according to WTS dogma/doctrine? Is their association good?

13. The corruptive influence of murmuring

can lead to what other spiritually damaging developments

in a congregation?

13 The corruptive influence of murmuring

can lead to other spiritually

damaging developments. For example,

murmuring can disrupt a congregation’s

peace and unity. Moreover, voicing

complaints against fellow believers

may not only cause them pain but may

also deteriorate into the sins of slander

and reviling. (Lev. 19:16; 1 Cor. 5:11)

Some murmurers in the first-century

congregation were “disregarding lordship

and speaking abusively of glorious

ones.” (Jude 8, 16) Such murmuring

against responsible men in the congregation

certainly did not have God’s approval.

COMMENTS

Really! Was Paul disregarding Peter’s lordship, who had spent 3.5 years with Jesus, seen so many things, and Paul had been a persecutor of Christians yet he strongly told Peter (Cephas) he was out of line. Are there “lords” on earth in the WTS, rather does the bible say anyone should be called lord?

(Galatians 2:11-14) . . .However, when Ce′phas came to Antioch, I resisted him face to face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before the arrival of certain men from James, he used to eat with people of the nations; but when they arrived, he went withdrawing and separating himself, in fear of those of the circumcised class. 13 The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Bar′na·bas was led along with them in their pretense. 14 But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said to Ce′phas before them all: “If you, though you are a Jew, live as the nations do, and not as Jews do, how is it that you are compelling people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice?”

14, 15. (a) Allowing wrongdoing to go on unchecked

can have what effect on the entire congregation?

(b)What should we do if we become

aware that someone is involved in a secret sin?

14 What if we become aware that

someone is involved in a secret sin, perhaps

abusing alcohol, viewing pornography,

or living an immoral life? (Eph. 5:

11, 12) Our turning a blind eye to gross

wrongdoing can hinder the free flow of

Jehovah’s holy spirit and threaten the

peace of the entire congregation. (Gal.

5:19-23) Just as the early Christians in

Corinth had to clear out badness, so

today any corrupting influence must

be kept out of the congregation in order

to preserve its healthy, positive spirit.

What can you do to contribute to the

congregation’s peace?

COMMENTS

How would you “become aware” or a secret sin: check their computer, look through their cabinets, check their cupboards and drawers, count their drinks, smell their breath, sit outside their house and see if someone of the opposite sex stays overnight unchaperoned (of course sex does not happen dur the day).

The biggest sin the WTS disregards the pedophile in their organization. They say that if a jw has committed murder or similar serious crime before they were baptized a jw, that the organization will not turn them in (Lev. 5:1).

And if you are a jw wife, and your husband beats you, you contribute to the “peace” by not saying anything, enduring it because you might convert him.

15 As was previously mentioned, it

is important to maintain confidentiality

in certain matters, especially when

others share with us their feelings and

thoughts. How wrong and hurtful it is to

spread confidential information about

someone! Even so, when serious sin

has been committed, those Scripturally

obligated to handle the matter—the elders

in the congregation—should be informed.

(Read Leviticus 5:1.) So if we

know that a brother or a sister has fallen

into such wrongdoing, we should encourage

that one to approach the elders

and seek their help. (Jas. 5:13-15) If he

or she does not do so within a reasonable

period of time, though, we should

report the wrongdoing.

COMMENTS

Jws lead such boring lives, gossip is the only way to enliven things up. And if they don’t have access to the complete facts, they will make things up. As they say, you can’t unring the bell. Even if the facts come forward, many will think, there is no smoke without fire.

I know that elders and ex-elders on here, say I never did it, but all it takes is one chatty cathy elder who tells his wife……

16. How does our reporting serious wrongdoing

help to preserve the spirit of the congregation?

16 The Christian congregation is a

spiritual haven, and we must help to

protect it by reporting serious wrongdoing.

If the elders bring the wrongdoer

to his senses and he repentantly accepts

reproof and correction, he no longer endangers

the spirit of the congregation.

But what if the practicer of gross sin is

unrepentant and does not respond to

the loving counsel of the elders? His expulsion

from the congregation results

in “the destruction,” or removal, of the

corrupting element from among us, and

the spirit of the congregation is preserved.

(Read 1 Corinthians 5:5.) Yes,

preserving the spirit of the congregation

requires that each of us take proper

action, cooperate with the body of elders,

and protect the welfare of fellow

believers.

COMMENTS

The WTS is so concerned about “wrongdoing” that they avoid the lack of right doing, caring, loving, Who gets punished by the BOE for not showing love deliberately.

Jesus did not say that his followers would be known by how they punished wrongdoers. In the nation of Israel, serious crimes were heard publicly in the gate before the people who heard the evidence not in a star chamber procedure.

ENCOURAGE “THE ONENESS OF THE SPIRIT”

17, 18. What will help us to “observe the oneness

of the spirit”?

17 By “devoting themselves to the

teaching of the apostles,” Jesus’ early

followers helped to develop a spirit

of unity within the congregation. (Acts

2:42) They valued the Scriptural counsel

and direction received from the older

men. Because present-day elders cooperate

with the faithful and discreet

slave class, all in the congregation are

encouraged and assisted to remain united.

(1 Cor. 1:10)When we submit to the

Bible-based instruction from Jehovah’s

organization and follow the direction of

the elders, we give proof that we are

“earnestly endeavoring to observe the

oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond

of peace.”—Eph. 4:3.

COMMENTS

One thing to remember, according to the WTS, there are no longer any apostles on the earth, that ended with the death of John. So the teaching of the apostles would only be what was preserved in the bible, the NT. The teachings of the WTS in their publications is not the same thing, it is not the teaching of the apostles.

But remember, not all the counsel and direction was according to the Bible, which is why Paul could correct Peter (Cephas) and in front of the congregation. So as Paul, jws should only follow the direction of the elders when it is in line with the scriptures.

18 By all means, then, let us work to

preserve a healthy, positive spirit in the

congregation. If we do so, we are assured

that ‘the undeserved kindness of

the Lord Jesus Christ will be with the

spirit we show.’—Phil. 4:23.

COMMENTS

The biggest problems I have seem with the “peace” of a congregation are within BOEs and between BOEs. Next are elders’ wives who rule through their husbands.

If jw congregations concentrated more on the words of Jesus and less on the words of a man-made organization, they might do better.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

HAPPINESS IS POSSIBLE IN A DIVIDED HOUSEHOLD, next week. How many of us grew up in a family where one parent was not a jw, especially the father (still the head per the WTS)? I resented the term “divided” because it assumed that jw families were not divided. Also, children of such “divided” families were seen as having spiritual “leprosy”

Love, Blondie

heathen

I think there should have been a gag alert somewhere in there. All they are doing is putting blame on the R&F . I challenge any of these self proclaimed arrogant holier than thou type elders to wash my feet when I come to the hall . Now that was showing humility and realizing you have to lead by example not by illustrations alone. I've seen elders get away with all sorts of insane things inclucing adultry and remarrage to the adultress and nothing being done . I've heard them make personal attacks from the podium and never apollogize . Being an elder means never having to say I'm sorry apparently ... excuse me as I up chuck my lunch ....

yesidid

Thanks Blondie.

As has been said many times before: "I dunno how you do it".

ziddina

Yay!

Thanks, Blondie!!

flowers

TOTH

Thanks Blondie! I enjoy these a great deal!

Bucholz

Thanks Blondie. I read your comments on the WT study whenever I can. Keep up the good work.

JW GoneBad

The article is entitled: “Preserve The Positive Spirit Of The Congregation.” The photographer forgot to have his subjects in the picture on page 18 smile for the camera in order to reflect that ‘Positive Spirit.’ By the looks on them faces I’d sure hate to be a member of that congregation.

Something else that occurred to me…. I don’t see any brothers in the photo. I count 8 maybe 9 sisters at the Watchtower study. There has been talk lately that the Society is in brothers. But this is ridiculous! There appears to be a real need in this congregation for brothers! For all I know its' probably a sister passing around the mic too (LOL).

Retrovirus

Paragraph 7 : "True friends keep personal matters confidential"

Paragraph 16: "If he or she does not do so within a reasonable perion of time, though, we should report the wrongdoing"

Confidentiality? Well, when it suits us. . .

DesirousOfChange

Thanks, Blondie!

This jumped out at me in Par 14:

14 What if we become aware that

someone is involved in a secret sin, perhaps

abusing alcohol, viewing pornography,

or living an immoral life? (Eph. 5:

11, 12) Our turning a blind eye to gross

wrongdoing can hinder the free flow of

Jehovah’s holy spirit and threaten the

peace of the entire congregation. (Gal.

5:19-23) Just as the early Christians in

Corinth had to clear out badness, so

today any corrupting influence must

be kept out of the congregation in order

to preserve its healthy, positive spirit.

What can you do to contribute to the

congregation’s peace?

The scripture cited in Galations 5 says nothing to support that statement. How/Why would ONE member's sin, or another member's decision to "turn a blind eye" to it, result in depriving the ENTIRE CONGO of Jehovah's Holy Spirit??

Could not the action referred to here as "turning a blind eye" actually be a display of being non-judgemental? Or, realizing that all are imperfect and fall short of God's Glory?

Pretty disloyal/unfair/unjust for Jehovah to remove his "free flow of Holy Spirit" from EVERYONE because there is ONE secret sinner in a Congo!

Doc

blondie

There is no evidence that holy spirit was removed during David's tenure as an adulterer and murderer. I was re-reading the Achan story where he stole some goodies from the Canaanites and hid it and 36 other soldiers died because of it and Israel did not win the battle against AI. So it seems that God is fickle.

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 04-22-2012 WT Study (POSITIVE)

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