COMMENTS YOU WON’T HEAR AT THE 5-25-03 WT STUDY
April 15, 2003 page 12
WT quotes are in
red or quotes ""
Reviewer comments are in black or parentheses
YOUTHS WHO MAKE JEHOVAH’S HEART REJOICE
Proverbs 27:11
Proverbs 27 (CEV)
11 My child, show good sense!
Then I will be happy
and able to answer anyone
who criticizes me.
These study articles were prepared especially for youths among Jehovah’s Witnesses. Therefore we encourage young ones to study this material carefully and to comment freely when it is considered at the congregation Watchtower study.
Shouldn’t young people have been doing this already? Why do they need to be encouraged to do so? I wonder how many WT conductors will prime the pump and prepare some pre-selected "youths" to answer?
The WT starts out with an illustration of how when a person shops they look carefully at the initially outwardly appealing item to make sure it is made out of quality material and manufactured skillfully. Then it compares this to what the "world" offers.
For instance, your schoolmates may go to exciting parties, take drugs, drink, date casually, and engage in premarital sex?
Or they "may" not do any of these things. The majority of teenagers don’t participate in these things. All these things are also presented to adults as choices. Left out are the evils of wanting to go to college, or get a full-time job, or volunteering to help others, participating in group sports, working on the school newspaper, etc.
PROTECTION FROM "THE WICKED ONE"
Yes, "young ones" you are Satan’s special target.
Consider the horrific calamities that Satan brought upon Job and his family.
Not the least was the death of all his children, the loss of all his property, the disdain of all his so-called "friends." All this allowed by God. I was wondering when I read this if a parent stood by and let their child be molested, they would be considered the lowest form of life on earth. Yet, God stood by and let Satan kill all of Job’s children, protecting only Job and his wife from death.
Yes, everything bad is caused by Satan.
It was likely Satan who motivated Herod—all in an effort to destroy the child who would one day become God’s promised Messiah.
"Likely"
means the Bible doesn’t say, but the WTS is rewriting the scriptures.And the end is near because
"Satan has been cast out of heaven down to earth…knowing he has a short period of time."
Notice that there is no scriptural proof given to support this statement, a key part of the 1914 prophecy.
What a difference between the god of this system of things and the God you are privileged to worship! While Satan seeks to devour, Jehovah "does not desire any to be destroyed."
Yet, the average JW will have to finally admit that only baptized Jehovah’s Witnesses will survive the final destruction, the great tribulation; with only 6 million JWs and 6 billion people, the level of the nearing destruction will be great and will they have a fair chance to hear the message, taking just India and China as examples?
And here the WTS puts in the real focus, not the universal sovereignty of God but:
His desire is that you attain to "the real life" everlasting life on a paradise earth.
"MAKE MY HEART REJOICE"
He (Satan) asserts that any who serve God do so not out of love, but for selfish reasons.
So what does the WTS hold out, everlasting life on a paradise earth in almost every study article. Sounds like a selfish reason to me.
Now the article finally brings out the universal sovereignty angle:
"The Universal Sovereign is calling upon you to share in addressing the greatest issue of all time."
Yes, being loyal to God is the real issue but since the WTS sees itself as the only true spokesperson for God on earth, young people must be loyal to the WTS.
JEHOVAH CARES FOR YOU
(But not the elders)Jehovah…cares about you as an individual.
If you were or are a young person going to the KH, who paid individual attention to you in the congregation? Did the elders greet you on a regular basis? Did they know your name or if you made a comment were they stumbling around trying to remember it? Did they make arrangements to spend time training you in the ministry, did they invite you to their homes, did they praise the young ones from the platform, were they there when you or your family needed help?
Again what motivates?
He can now become your Rewarder.
Yes, not love but the "reward" should motivate us.
RICH BLESSINGS NOW
Yes, by "conforming to Bible principles" young ones are protected from the pains of having a "love of money."
Some young men and women are heavily in debt simply because they must have the latest brand-name clothes and cutting-edge technological gadgets. Being saddled with long-term, high-interest payments for things you cannot really afford is a painful form of slavery!
Wow, yes with such debt they cannot hope to go to Bethel or regular pioneer or have something to donate to the WTS.
Notice how the WTS manipulates in regard to sexual immorality.
First,
The greatest consequence of all would be a damaged relationship with Jehovah.But,
It is comforting to know that when a person repents, stops doing wrong, and confesses his sins, Jehovah "will forgive in a large way."But you cannot get God’s forgiveness without confessing to the elders, having them determine if you are really repentant, and getting their "spiritual help."
SERVING "THE HAPPY GOD"Fifteen-year-old Lina lists the benefits she gets in serving God. Note which one is missing.
I can hold my head high.I have a healthy body because of abstaining from smoking and drugs.I have valuable guidance given me through the congregation…combat Satan’s awful pressure.My face has a happy glow because of the upbuilding association made available at the Kingdom Hall.Best of all, I (can make Jehovah’s heart glad by upholding his sovereignty?) I have unbeatable prospect of eternal life on earth.Yes, once again everlasting life on a paradise earth is the issue not God’s sovereignty.
ConclusionI’m sure there is little new in this article that hasn’t been propounded from the platform before. The fact that this and the next article are directed to teenagers shows that the WTS knows they are losing the battle. If this is their ammunition, they can be prepared to see more leave. The hypocrisy of the adults including parents is stronger than any words in this article. Actions speak louder than words.
Picture page 15First shot shows a young sister being asked to a party by a non-JW. Note the couple in the background.
Second shot shows all 4 at a party, the first young man is shown smoking, the young sister is drinking beer, and the other couple are talking. Amazingly the 3 non-JWs all have the same clothes on and the same hairdos. The young sister is shown in a more trendy braided do and she has a clingier top. Did she go home and change or did she come prepared to make a transformation?
Picture page 163 young brothers and 4 young sisters in a living room setting with snacks on the coffee table. The guys are all in informal clothing (no jeans though) and the sisters are in skirts?!
Blondie