Title Edited thanks to minimus (it's the drugs folks)
COMMENTS YOU WONT HEAR AT THE 12-15-02 WT STUDY
NOVEMBER 1, 2002 WATCHTOWER ISSUE
"MAINTAIN YOUR CONDUCT FINE AMONG THE NATIONS"
1 PETER 2:17 "HONOR MEN OF ALL SORTS, HAVE LOVE FOR THE WHOLE ASSOCIATION OF BROTHERS."
INTRODUCTION
The first paragraph uses quotes a newspaper reporter that visited different churches in his area. What was outstanding about JWs in his opinion as he visited a convention? Was it Christlike love?
"Never once did I see anyone light a cigarette, open a can of beer, or use profanity. There were the cleanest, most well behaved, modestly dressed, good-natured crowd of people I have ever met."
The closest adjective to the identifying mark of Christlike love is "good natured." Does that sound like the self sacrificing love Jesus talked about?
"Usually, Gods people are praised because of their good conduct."
"Good conduct recommends the truth that they preach."
But like the Pharisees ritually washed their hands, there is more to good conduct than outsiders are allowed to observe about JWs. With the child abuse issue, the WTS has become like the cup that is clean outside on the outside but dirty inside.
THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY
Photo page 9
Family study. Asian family, Mother, father, teenage son, 4 year old daughter, all in oxford shirts, females in chino skirts and men in chino slacks all with WTs in hand and only with material in magazine being highlighted. (I never understand why the guys dont have to wear ties but the gals have to wear skirts)
The New Inquisitors: Freedom of Religion and Religious Envy by Gerhard Besier and Erwin K Scheuch states: "For [Jehovahs Witnesses] the family is something to be protected." That statement is true.
I wonder where the WTS protecting child abusers within the congregation figures into protecting the family?
THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD
Pictures on page 10
Upper left hand
, congregation meeting, shows older ones and children but few intact family groups that is odd. These pictures are carefully staged. It shows a young boy and a young girl with their hands up.Inset picture
, shows Asian brother shaking hands with white brotherLower right hand
, young Hispanic sister outside Kingdom Hall with high metal fence around it but windows.Lower right hand inset
, young black girl putting a dollar in the contribution box.Our relationship with the congregation is vital for our spiritual health. When we associate with fellow Christians, we enjoy their strengthening fellowship as well as nourishing spiritual food from "the faithful and discreet slave."
If you are currently attending a KH, how many people talk to you before and after? Do they talk to you beyond the cursory hi and goodbye? What do they talk about? Other peoples problems, what they just bought that week, their aches and pains, etc.?
As to the "nourishing spiritual food," did Brother Never Prepares wing it again tonight? Did Brother Never Sticks to the Material go overtime again? Did Brother Never Rehearses have lackluster demonstrations? What high points do you remember: you are not attending enough meetings, you are not going out in field service enough, you are not commenting enough at meetings, you are not preparing for the meetings, you dont pray enough.
If we have problems, we can go to the brothers for sound advice based on Scriptural principles.What you really hear is, "the slave," "the society," "the brothers," say we must do it. When you ask for a scripture they will use Matthew 24:45-47 and say if the slave says it, it is as if Jesus said it. "Everything from the platform is Jehovahs thinking."
When we are in need, our brothers do not desert us. What a blessing it is to be part of Gods organization.But they desert us. They wait for someone else to reach out. They find excuses like they are weak, not good association, etc.
However, we are not in the congregation merely to receive; we are also there to give.How?
Hebrews 10:23-25 (yes we give to people by being at the KH)How?
When we offer comments during the meetings or share in other ways in the program We also encourage them by our conversation before and after the meeting. That is a time when we can strengthen the weak, console the depressed, and comfort sick.Do you see anything wrong with this statement?
Yes the only time and place that people can be conversed with or encouraged is in that brief time before and after the meeting. Many come just on time and leave right after, and the elders are the worst. They spend most of their time in administrative duties; they never have time to talk to the sheep. They even schedule shepherding visits at the KH rather than making an appointment and visiting them in their homes.
Sincere Christians are generous with that kind of giving, which is why so many who attend our meetings for the first time are impressed by the love they sense among us.Yes, new ones are bombed with love, but as soon as they are baptized, it ends.
"Our love is not limited to our own congregation. It embraces the whole association of our brothers worldwide." "When we contribute to the Kingdom Hall Fund, we show our love for such individuals even though we may not know them personally." "Why do Jehovahs Witnesses love one another?"Because Jesus commanded them to. But how is that shown?
"As Jehovahs Witnesses study the Bible, attend Christian meetings and pray constantly to God, love becomes natural to them." DEALING WITH THE SECULAR WORLD "Such preaching is a further act of giving." "Do we have other responsibilities toward those who are not fellow believers? Definitely." "We have obligations in the secular world." "Live in the world, earn a living in it, and receives services from it."But the "real focus of their lives is the hope of everlasting life."
MAINTAIN FINE CONDUCT"In a divided household, the believing husband or wife makes a special effort to follow Christian principles," even if he beats his wife or molests the children.
The manager of a facility in Zimbabwe said, "I see some Witnesses picking up paper and cleaning toilets" "Your teenagers are principled. I wish the whole world was full of Jehovahs Witnesses."
Yes, some people at the hall are good at picking up paper and cleaning toilets, but dont have a moment to share with a "weak" one in the congregation.
CHRISTIAN SUBJECTIONYes, now the JWs say the secular governments are the "superior authorities" in Romans 13, but Rutherford said Jehovah and Jesus were. I think he was angry with the government for passing the Prohibition law and felt it was unchristian to obey it. 1879 to 1929, superior authorities, secular governments. 1929 to 1962, Jehovah and Jesus are superior authorities. 1962 to 2002, secular governments are again superior authorities. (50 years, 33 years, 40 years, might be time for another change?)
"Unfortunately, some "unreasonable men" in authority persecute us or oppose us in other ways, such as by promoting smear campaigns against us."Is it a "smear campaign" if you are telling the truth no matter how unflattering?
SLAVES OF GOD"Moreover, we have free will and we can make choices. Still we do not abuse our freedom. When making choices about associations, clothing, grooming, entertainment, even food and drink, we remember that true Christians are slaves of God, not pleasing themselves." That means not pleasing other humans as well, including the elders.
Concluding CommentsYes, we see donate money to JWs you dont know half way across the world, but not a dime for anyone in your congregation. The money goes through the WTS so we have no idea how much if any gets to the people in need. Yes, true giving is preaching but ignoring the material needs of the people we talk to.
James 2
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Yes, have fine conduct on the outside, but hide the filth that is inside. With the unfolding of the child abuse issue, people inside the WTS and outside are finding out that the WTS conduct is not so clean. In my opinion, even worse than those who molest are those who hide the deeds of the molester and punish the one molested. The WTS can talk and talk about the fine deeds but in the end it is what some actually DOES that matters.
Edited by - Blondie on 15 December 2002 8:57:6