Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-27-2012 WT Study (MARCH 15, 2012, pages 25-29 )(BEHIND)
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g = Awake
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DO NOT LOOK AT “THE THINGS
BEHIND”
“No man that has put his hand to a plow
and looks at the things behind is well fitted
for the kingdom of God.”—LUKE 9:62.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Why should we “remember
the wife of Lot”?
What three things should we
avoid dwelling on?
How do we keep pace with
Jehovah’s organization?
OPENING COMMENTS
PICTURE #1—some man in the attic reminiscing about his school years?
PICTURE #2—some man seeing himself in his school years
PICTURE #3—some man being counseled by 2 elders---about what, reminiscing about his high school years?
So remembering happy times is a point of counsel by the elders?
START OF ARTICLE
1. What warning did Jesus give, and what question arises?
“REMEMBER the wife of Lot.” (Luke 17:32) That
warning given by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000
years ago is now more important than ever.
But what did Jesus mean by this solemn warning?
His Jewish audience needed no further explanation.
They knew what had happened to Lot’s wife. While
fleeing Sodom with her family, she had disobediently
looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt.
—Read Genesis 19:17, 26.
COMMENTS
So what did the Jews remember, that she was destroyed or that Lot got drunk had sex with his two daughters and managed to father a son on each having sex only once with each of them?
So if looking back to the past is bad, why did the WTS print the Proclaimers book and a year book each year or use experiences of individual jws to illustrate their points?
2. Why may Lot’s wife have looked back, and what did her
disobedient act cost her?
2 But why did Lot’s wife look back? Was she curious
about what was happening? Did she turn back
because of disbelief or lack of faith? Or, rather, was
hers a longing gaze for all the things that she had left
behind in Sodom? (Luke 17:31) Whatever the reason
for her looking back, she paid for her disobedient
act with her life. Just think of it! She died the
same day as those perverted inhabitants of Sodom
and Gomorrah. No wonder Jesus said: “Remember
the wife of Lot”!
COMMENTS
None of those reasons the WTS mentioned are confirmed by the scriptures; a case of mind reading and the thoughts of people behind in the past.
And for this she died forever, no resurrection (of course the WTS has gone back and forth on that doctrine)?
So were the children in Sodom perverted too? They are dead forever too per the WTS.
3. How did Jesus emphasize that we should not look back in
a figurative sense?
3 We too are living at a time when it is vital that
we do not look back in a figurative sense. Jesus
emphasized this point when he answered a man
who had asked if he could return to his family
to say good-bye before becoming a disciple. Jesus
said: “No man that has put his hand to a plow and
looks at the things behind is well fitted for the kingdom
of God.” (Luke 9:62) Was Jesus being harsh
or unreasonable in answering this way? No, for he
knew that the man’s request was merely an excuse
to evade responsibility. Jesus described
such procrastination as looking at “the
things behind.” Does it matter whether
the person plowing looks momentarily
at what is behind or actually puts down
the plow and turns around? Either way
he is distracted from what he should
be doing, and his work may be affected
negatively.
COMMENTS
Yes, the WTS believes and teaches that people who die at Armageddon will not be resurrected, all 7 billion plus non-jw men, women, AND children (perverts too?).
So not looking back, what does the WTS mean, must all jws be full-time pioneers, move to areas that need preachers and teachers of the WTS dogma. Are jws moving to Muslim countries, India, or China where the vast majority have not “heard”?
4. On what must we keep our eyes focused?
4 Rather than turning our attention
to the past, we must keep our eyes focused
on what is yet ahead. Notice how
this is clearly expressed at Proverbs 4:
25: “As for your eyes, straight ahead
they should look, yes, your own beaming
eyes should gaze straight in front of
you.”
COMMENTS
So jws have to forget their past, even their jw past? Does the WTS forget their past or does every publication have their past displayed for admiration?
I’m sure the WTS wants people to forget their assertions about 1914, 1925, 1975 that did not come true.
5. We have what reason not to look at the
things behind?
5 We have good reason not to look at
the things behind. What is the reason?
These are “the last days.” (2 Tim. 3:1)
We now face, not just the wiping out
of two wicked cities, but the destruction
of an entire world system of things.
What will help us to avoid anything similar
to what happened to Lot’s wife?
For a start, we need to identify some
of the things behind us that we might
be tempted to look at. (2 Cor. 2:11) Let
us consider, then, what those things are
and determine how we can avoid focusing
on them.
COMMENTS
The destruction of all non-jws = entire world system of things
It will be interesting to see what scriptures the WTS uses and if they are applied correctly.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS
6. Why is our memory not always reliable?
6 One distinct danger is a distorted
view of the good old days. Our memory
is not always reliable. We may unwittingly minimize
the problems we had in the past and at the
same time exaggerate the joys, making it seem that things
were a lot better than they really were.
This distorted recollection can cause us
to long for the good old days. But the Bible
warns us: “Do not say, ‘Why were
the old days better than these days?’ for
it is not wise to ask that.” (Eccl. 7:10,
New English Translation) Why is this type
of thinking so dangerous?
COMMENTS
Distorted view—so do many jws have a distorted memory of 1975 WT assertions?
Does the WTS exaggerate their problems and exaggerate their joys?
Note the WTS quotes from another bible, not the NWT, so why do they counsel jws not to quote from other bibles?
7-9. (a) What happened to the Israelites in
Egypt? (b) The Israelites experienced what reasons
for joy? (c) Over what did the Israelites begin
to grumble and murmur?
7 Consider what happened to the Israelites
in Moses’ day. Although the Israelites
were initially viewed as guests in
the land of Egypt, after Joseph’s time the
Egyptians “set over [the Israelites] chiefs
of forced labor for the purpose of oppressing
them in their burden-bearing.”
(Ex. 1:11) God’s people eventually faced
a type of genocide as Pharaoh attempted
to limit their numbers. (Ex. 1:15, 16,
22) It is little wonder, then, that Jehovah
said to Moses: “Unquestionably I have
seen the affliction of my people who are
in Egypt, and I have heard their outcry
as a result of those who drive them
to work; because I well know the pains
they suffer.”—Ex. 3:7.
COMMENTS
Do jws today see themselves as guests or slaves? The other sheep are told they are secondary, have no salvation except through the anointed jws.
From 1935 to 1938 the “other sheep” jws were not at the “memorial” not even invited. Why?
Many anointed jws felt that the “other sheep” were not jws because Isaiah 43:10-12 is about Israelites and by WTS application spiritual Israelites, only anointed jws.
8 Can you imagine the joy the Israelites
felt as they marched out of the land
of their slavery as free people? In a spectacular
way, they had witnessed Jehovah’s
power when he brought the Ten
Plagues upon haughty Pharaoh and his
people. (Read Exodus 6:1, 6, 7.) In fact,
not only did the Egyptians finally allow
the Israelites to go free but the Egyptians
urged them to go, giving them so
much gold and silver that it could be
said that God’s people “stripped the
Egyptians.” (Ex. 12:33-36) The Israelites
further rejoiced when they saw the destruction
of Pharaoh and his military
forces in the Red Sea. (Ex. 14:30, 31)
How faith-strengthening it should have
been to witness such exciting events!
COMMENTS
Does the WTS apply this to all jws or just anointed jws?
Remember that 3 months later the Israelites were dancing around and worshiping a golden calf.
9 Unbelievably, though, within a
short time of their miraculous deliverance,
these same people began to grumble
and murmur. About what? Food!
They became dissatisfied with what Jehovah
supplied and complained: “How
we remember the fish that we used to
eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers
and the watermelons and the leeks
and the onions and the garlic! But now
our soul is dried away. Our eyes are
on nothing at all except the manna.”
(Num. 11:5, 6) Yes, their viewpoint had
become distorted—so much so that they
even wanted to return to the land of
their slavery! (Num. 14:2-4) The Israelites
looked at the things behind and lost
Jehovah’s favor.—Num. 11:10.
COMMENTS
So what came first, the calf or the food grumbles?
So jws today have progressed as far as food goes at the assemblies and conventions. They bring their own, to their own taste. I doubt few jws are looking back to hoagies and hot chicken sandwiches.
10. The Israelites’ example provides what lesson
for us?
10 What is the lesson for us today?
When faced with difficulties and problems,
let us not fixate on what may appear
to have been positive things in the
past—perhaps even before we came to a
knowledge of the truth. Although it is
not wrong to meditate on the lessons we
have learned from past experiences or
to savor cherished memories, we need
to maintain a balanced, realistic view
of the past. Otherwise, we could accentuate
our dissatisfaction with our present
circumstances and be tempted to
return to our former way of life.—Read
2 Peter 2:20-22.
COMMENTS
But what if the difficulties and problems come from the WTS, not non-jws?
So is everything in the past bad and everything now good?
Are people returning to their past or leaving the current cruelties at the KH?
PAST SACRIFICES
11. How do some view sacrifices they made in
the past?
11 Sad to say, some look back on sacrifices
they made in the past and view
them as missed opportunities. Perhaps
you had opportunities for higher education,
for prominence, or for financial
security, but you decided not to pursue
them. Many of our brothers and sisters
have left behind lucrative positions
in the fields of business, entertainment,
education, or sports. Now time has
passed, and the end has not yet arrived.
Do you fantasize about what could have
happened had you not made those sacrifices?
CURRENTS
But were these opportunities missed by personal choice or pressure to conform or not have God’s approval, where people were just like the men pleasers of Paul’s day?
136 years since 1876 when Russell said that the end would come in 1914, jws are still waiting, since 1914, 1920, 1925, 1975, and the passing of the 1914 generation possible in 1984 (70 years generation) and 1994 (80 years generation).
12. How did Paul feel about the things he had
left behind?
12 The apostle Paul gave up much to
become a follower of Christ. (Phil. 3:4-6)
How did he feel about the things he had
left behind? He tells us: “What things
were gains to me, these I have considered
loss on account of the Christ.” And
why? He continues: “I do indeed also
consider all things to be loss on account
of the excelling value of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord. On account of
him I have taken the loss of all things
and I consider them as a lot of refuse,
that I may gain Christ.”* (Phil. 3:7, 8)
Just as a person who throws away garbage,
or trash, does not later bemoan
his loss, Paul did not regret any of the
secular opportunities that he had left
behind. He no longer felt that they were
worthwhile.
COMMENTS
So did everyone forgo marriage and children, travel all over, etc.?
But then Paul had the financial support of the congregations, are we to expect that?
One Bible scholar—who? And why did the WTS not tell us? Theological Dictionary of the New Testament—Gerhard Kittel
How many jws are living that kind of life?
*The original-language word here translated “refuse”
also meant what “is thrown to the dogs,”
“dung,” “excrement.” One Bible scholar says that
Paul’s use of this word denotes a “resolute turning
aside from something worthless and abhorrent with
which one will have nothing more to do.”
13, 14. How can we follow the example set by
Paul?
13 What will help us if we find ourselves
starting to speculate about so-called
missed opportunities? Follow the
example set by Paul. How? Consider the
value of what you have now. You have
gained a treasured relationship with Jehovah
and have established a faithful
record with him. (Heb. 6:10) What
material advantages can the world
offer that would come anywhere near
the spiritual blessings that we now enjoy
and will enjoy in the future?—Read
Mark 10:28-30.
COMMENTS
So-called missed opportunities—what about the jws that do get an advanced education, travel extensively for recreation, own more than one house, several vehicles are used to give talks at assemblies and conventions, appointed elders, held up as examples?
14 Paul next mentions something that
will help us to continue to go on faithfully.
He says that he was “forgetting the
things behind and stretching forward
to the things ahead.” (Phil. 3:13) Notice
that Paul highlights two steps, both necessary.
First, we have to forget the things
we left behind, not wasting precious energy
and time being overly concerned
about them. Second, like a runner at the
finish line, we need to stretch forward,
keeping focused on what lies ahead.
COMMENTS
Was Paul saying to forget everything that had happened? Paul never recreated and associated and ate with friends?
15. What benefit do we gain when we meditate
on the examples of faithful servants of God?
15 When we meditate on the examples
of faithful servants of God—whether
past or present—we can gain additional
motivation to keep moving forward
rather than looking at the things
behind. For example, if Abraham and
Sarah had kept remembering Ur, “they
would have had opportunity to return.”
(Heb. 11:13-15) But they did not return
there. Moses originally left behind far
more in Egypt than any other individual
Israelite later did. Yet, there is no
record of his longing for those things.
Instead, the Bible account tells us
that “he esteemed the reproach of the
Christ as riches greater than the treasures
of Egypt; for he looked intently toward
the payment of the reward.”—Heb.
11:26.
COMMENTS
So Abraham, Sarah, Moses had not expectation of a reward for doing the right things?
PAST NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES
16. How may we be affected by past experiences?
16 Not all past experiences, though,
may appear positive. Perhaps we are
overwhelmed by thoughts of past sins
or mistakes that we made. (Ps. 51:3)We
might still feel the sting of strong counsel
that we received. (Heb. 12:11) Injustices—
real or perhaps perceived—may
dominate our thinking. (Ps. 55:2) What
can we do to make sure that we do not
allow such experiences to make us focus
on the things behind? Consider
three examples.
COMMENTS
Overwhelmed by PAST sins….just imitate the WTS and rewrite the past.
Injustices…perceived—I saw the elders try and convince a sister that the cruelties had never happened and then when overwhelming evidence was presented, told her she was the problem. I wonder how many elders would feel the same way if their child had been sodomized?
17. (a) Why did Paul describe himself as “a
man less than the least of all holy ones”?
(b) What helped Paul not to be overwhelmed
by negative thoughts?
17 Past mistakes. The apostle Paul described
himself as “a man less than the
least of all holy ones.” (Eph. 3:8) Why
did he feel that way? “Because I persecuted
the congregation of God,” he
says. (1 Cor. 15:9) Can you imagine how
Paul must have felt when he met up
with some whom he had formerly persecuted?
However, rather than allowing
these negative thoughts to overwhelm
him, Paul focused on the undeserved
kindness that had been shown to him.
(1 Tim. 1:12-16) The resulting gratitude
that he felt spurred him on in his ministry.
His former sinful conduct was included
in the things that Paul was determined
to forget. If we too focus on the
mercy Jehovah has shown us, we will
avoid having our strength sapped by undue
anxiety over past events that we
cannot change. We can use our strength
for the work at hand.
COMMENTS
So how many jws persecuted people except other jws they were supposed to “love”?
Did Paul believe that undeserved kindness came through an human organization?
(Romans 5:17) For if by the trespass of the one [man] death ruled as king through that one, much more will those who receive the abundance of the undeserved kindness and of the free gift of righteousness rule as kings in life through the one [person], Jesus Christ.
So Paul did not believe in God’s forgiveness? Did he feel he could earn it by his ministry?
So is it God’s forgiveness missing at KHs or the forgiveness of fellow jws? How are they treated who erred according the WTS defined “bible” principles treated even after being reinstated? They are marked as dangerous spiritually still, not treated like the prodigal son who was immediately hugged and loved and celebrated with a party. How many jws even 20 years later are treated as having committed their sins that day. I remember a brother who committed adultery and although his wife forgave him and he had been reinstated for 20 years had advanced to being an elder; jws would not let it go, jws who had not been around then and had not friends or relatives involved in the original sin.
18. (a) What may happen if we look back negatively
at counsel that we received? (b) How can
we heed Solomon’s words on accepting counsel?
18 Painful counsel. What if we are
tempted to look back resentfully at
some counsel that we received? This
can be not only painful but also debilitating—
causing us to “give out.” (Heb.
12:5) Whether we “belittle” the counsel
because we reject it or we “give out”
because we accept it and then give up,
the result is the same—we do not truly
allow the counsel to benefit and refine
us. How much better to heed Solomon’s
words: “Take hold on discipline;
do not let go. Safeguard it, for it itself
is your life.” (Prov. 4:13) Like a driver
who obeys road signs, let us accept
the counsel, apply it, and move forward.
—Prov. 4:26, 27; read Hebrews 12:12, 13.
COMMENTS
Was the counsel deserved, proven, given lovingly or cruelly, lied about, gossiped about? Did Jesus accept the counsel from the Jews that he was “a son of fornication”?
What happens if the counsel comes from one that does not follow their own words?
When wrong are jw counselors encouraged to seek out that one and apologize?
19. How can we imitate the faith of Habakkuk
and Jeremiah?
19 Injustices—real or perceived. We
may at times feel like the prophet Habakkuk,
who cried out to Jehovah for
justice, not understanding why Jehovah
had allowed certain unfair things
to happen. (Hab. 1:2, 3) How important
it is for us to imitate the faith of that
prophet, who said: “Yet, as for me, I will
exult in Jehovah himself; I will be joyful
in the God of my salvation.” (Hab. 3:
18) Like Jeremiah of old, if we keep “a
waiting attitude” with full faith in Jehovah,
the God of justice, we can be confident
that all things will be rectified at
the right time.—Lam. 3:19-24.
COMMENTS
Waiting attitude = all things will be rectified at the right time
Thus are parents not to report jw pedophiles to the legal authorities because it is not the right time and will bring a bad name on the WTS and God?
How did Jesus respond to the still-endorsed-by-God religious leaders of his time. Did he apologize to them over their unjust words?
*** w02 11/1 pp. 6-7 Apologizing—A Key to Making Peace***
When an Apology Is Inappropriate
Although expressions of regret and sorrow have a soothing effect and contribute to peace, a wise person avoids using such expressions when it is not appropriate to do so . Suppose, for example, that the issue involves integrity to God. When Jesus Christ was on earth, “he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake.” (Philippians 2:8) He did not, however, apologize for his beliefs in order to alleviate his suffering. And Jesus did not offer an apology when the high priest demanded: “By the living God I put you under oath to tell us whether you are the Christ the Son of God!” Instead of sheepishly apologizing, Jesus courageously replied: “You yourself said it. Yet I say to you men, From henceforth you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:63, 64) The thought of keeping peace with the high priest at the cost of his integrity to his Father, Jehovah God, never occurred to Jesus.
20. How can we prove that we “remember the
wife of Lot”?
20 We live in exciting times. Wonderful
events are happening now and more
lie just ahead. May each one of us keep
pace with Jehovah’s organization. Let us
heed the Scriptural counsel to look forward
and not to look at the things behind.
We will thereby prove that we do
“remember the wife of Lot”!
COMMENTS
Just ahead = just ahead since 1876 with 1914, 1920, 1925, 1975, 1984 (70 year generation plus 1914), 1994 (80 year generation plus 1914) and finally VERY SOON NOW since the WTS has flubbed so many dates.
Organization = a word that does not occur in the bible
Jehovah’s organization = where is Jesus in the picture?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
This has been a terrible, abusive article. I feel so sorry for jws that sat through this. They suffer from the DO MORE philosophy of the WTS.
Next week, THE SON IS WILLING TO REVEAL THE FATHER. Will Jesus be more real to jws after next week or just an impersonal tool of God?
Love, Blondie