A new video on JW org TV titled Do Not Hold a Grudge is presented by GB's oldest member Gerrit Losch.
This is just another representation of the standard of talks prepared and given by the highest level of authority and position within the JW Organization. They desperately need help, not even their complete rebranding can save them from themselves.
Some of this GB member's gems about holding a grudge include -
- What can lead to a grudge? Not receiving certain privileges that one had counted on, seemingly or actually having been reproved unjustly or too severly, criticism and specially repeated criticism.
As mentioned numerous times on this forum, if you've been unjustly hurt, you are being told that you have to deal with it, it is your attitude that needs changing.
- Bible stories show that holding a grudge can lead to murder or wanting to murder. He mentions numerous examples from the Bible
This is a pretty extreme consequence of holding a grudge and rarely applies.
- If you can stop holding a grudge talk to the person who has upset you or talk to a trusted friend. Don't talk to anyone else as it can cause divisions within the congregation or the family.
Does this mean you can talk to the Elder/s that unjustly treated you? They will only tell you to suck it up and be more humble, nothing is solved in doing this and can actually make things worse.
- applying the so called 'silent treatment', it's a definite obstacle to communication and sometimes the victim uses this as some kind of punishment but it doesn't always mean that and the Watchtower 2006 Sept 15 pg 23 paragraph 16 explains this.
He's not wrong with these comments, it's clear that the organization sees shunning as a form of punishment.
- if someone accidentally stabs you with a literal sword it still hurts, "therefore, dispense with talking intense, intense expressions really cause offence, this really makes sense, doesn't it?"
The audience laughs at this due to all the rhyming - intense, offence, sense.
"Intense talk is like a storm, gentle talk, like a gentle breeze. Intense talk is like a rock concert, gentle talk, like pleasant music. Intense talk is like an avalanche or a blizzard, gentle talk is like beautiful, quiet snowfall. Intense talk is like pouring a bucket of water on a newly planted flower, gentle talk is like gentle rain so lets all be gentle men and gentle women"
Losch doesn't even attempt to explain what intense talk is. The dictionary defines 'intense' as
"having or showing strong feelings or opinions; extremely earnest or serious."
In itself, there is nothing wrong with intense talk, there are times when it is the most effective way to express something that is important. But even the examples that he gives are just nonsense and don't make any sense in trying to explain why intense talk is not appropriate
- "blurting leads to hurting"
More rhyming, such wonderful gems.
- "switch on the mind before you start operating the mouth"
It might of helped if Losch applied this in preparation of his talk.
"Here's a scary quote from the Insight Book 'an individual is condemned by God if he bears a grudge for real or fancied wrongs done to himself or someone else' It's that serious, it means to be grieving the holy spirit"
It's scary indeed to think that a person can be unjustly disciplined or dealt with by the Elders when there is very little in place to rectify matters appropriately and then told that they are now condemned by God.
- "resist the urge to be sarcastic and keep your volume down but as the watchtower said 'even whispered words can be argumentative if they are irritating or demeaning"
I don't think he has listened to any of Rutherford's thundering speeches.
- "don't let grudge pull you into a sludge...grudge..is like rust that slowly corrodes the body of a car, the car outside may appear beautiful, but under the paint there is a problem"
Seriously, a grudge will pull you into a sludge, the rhyming is very, very bad and even worse, he wouldn't do it if he didn't think that it was wonderful.
The analogy doesn't make sense. I understand that a grudge could be likened to rust that slowly corodes but why is he likening it to the body of a car that looks beautiful on the outside? What is the car supposed to represent?
- "love keeps out resentment and grudge, as a good roof, keeps out rain and love never fails"
Losch stuffed up with this comment, he was relying too much on his notes and would have meant that love was like a good roof keeping out rain.