Discussion with my wife concerning what I perceive as a hypocrisy that I see amongst elders (and ministerial servants) who happened to serve in the military long enough to draw a pension check. All this in a former life (read before coming in to the truth) of course. I think if said elder were to discourage a young one from seeking military service, or worse participate in the disfellowshipping of such a person if he or she choose to serve, smacks of total hypocrisy. Unless, of course, that elder gives up his military pension checks and let Jehovah provide for his needs.
My wife vehemetely disagrees and cannot see the logic in this. Putting up straw man arguments like and older one who had a baby out of wedlock discouraging younger ones from engaging in premarital sex. "Such a hypocrite unless that person gives up his baby," she reasons. Another one involved a witness doctor who was giving blood transfusions before he learn da TROOF. "Should he stop being a doctor?" she reasons. Or the schoolteacher who is now retired but was celebrating the holidays at the school BEFORE she learned da TROOF. "Should SHE give up the pension?" she reasons.
My point is that the elder would not discourage becoming a school teacher or a doctor or even continuing in that trade but that same elder would discourage active duty military service to the point of disfellowshipping. But I don't know, maybe I missed something. I just think that is very hypocritical not too much unlike the hypocrisy I encountered amongst the IFBs whose pastor condemned working on Sundays but would eat out or buy groceries on Sunday (someone had to work to serve them).