Comments You Will Not Year at the 1-9-05 WT Study (Abbreviated)

by blondie 35 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  blondie

  Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-09-05 WT Study (December 1, 2004)

  Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()

  WT quotes from today?s WT

  will be in red and quotes ""

  Quotes from other sources

  will be in blue

  WALK IN THE WAY OF INTEGRITY

  "As for me, in my integrity I shall walk."?Psalm 26:11?NWT source

  I stay true to myself. Be kind and rescue me.?Psalm 26:11?Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  www.biblegateway.com /cgi-bin/bible

  Opening Comments

  I picked the Contemporary English Version this week because I think it more accurately reflects in today?s English what integrity is all about; not being true to an organization or other people.

  The WTS has chosen to discuss the 26 th Psalm, verse by verse; highlighting David as an example of integrity. Of course, we remember this is the man who committed adultery, had the husband murdered, and later took a census forbidden by God (and David was warned strongly by a human friend) and chose a punishment that led to the death of 70,000 innocent Israelites while he kept living.

  Since WTS claims that its members are Christians, why not pick Jesus or a Christian as an example? Why is it that the WTS is always looking in the OT for examples of how Christians should live their lives?

  START OF ARTICLE

  Paragraphs 1-3

  Satan?raised the universal issue of the rightfulness of God?s sovereignty over all His creatures?he challenged that humans would serve God only as long as doing so was to their advantage.

  Think about that statement?.
  

  If JWs were told that they would not get everlasting life on a paradise earth, do you think they would go to 5 meetings a week and out in the field service?
  

  From 2003 WTs notice these phrases:

  His desire is that you attain to "the real life"?everlasting life on a paradise earth.
  

  The time for the fulfillment of these prophetic words is very near. We can enjoy everlasting life on a paradise earth under wonderful conditions.
  

  By their faithfulness to God, obedient mankind will be granted what our original parents lost?everlasting life in human perfection on a paradise earth.
  

  Above all, they confidently look forward to the blessing of everlasting life in the coming earthly Paradise.
  

  We also have the hope of everlasting life in the peaceful Paradise at hand.

  While God?s sovereignty is not dependent on the integrity of his creatures,

  humans and spirit sons of God can demonstrate where they stand on this issue. How?

  By choosing to follow a course of integrity or not?an individual?s?he or she (very rarely does the WTS make this distinction as to gender in an article; maybe it wastes too much paper and ink)?

  (Please take note of the underlined, italicized phrase above and compare it to a later one in the article)

  [Jehovah] will weigh me in accurate scales?judge me, O Jehovah (Psalm 26:1)

  Who judges us, God or the WTS or the elders?

  ?I Have Walked in My Integrity?

  Psalm 26:1 (CEV)

  Show that I am right, LORD!
  

  I stay true to myself,
  

  and I have trusted you
  

  without doubting.

  Paragraphs 4-7

  Integrity?upright, blameless, righteous, and faultless?moral soundness or completeness of heart devotion to God (not the WTS).
  

  Along with proper action, integrity requires right heart motivation.

  That means all the meeting attendance and hours riding around in cars in field service are worth nothing if the motivation is not right?

  Keeping integrity however does not call for perfection. King David was imperfect and made several serious mistakes during his life. Yet, the Bible speaks of him as a man who walked "with integrity of heart." (1 Kings 9:4)?he willingly acknowledged his errors, accepted reproof, and corrected his ways.

  Claiming to be the anointed of God, are the FDS/WTS claiming that their mistakes in the past are to be overlooked? Superior authorities, transplants, 1914, 1925, 1975, alternative service, etc. Have they ever acknowledged their errors, accepted reproof, and corrected their ways?

  Integrity calls for constantly searching to do God?s will and walking in his way.

  God?s will not the WTS? will; walking in God?s way, not the WTS? way.

  We ?make Jehovah?s heart rejoice? in that he is able to make a reply to the one who is taunting him. (Proverbs 27:11)

  How does that match up with this statement?

  While God?s sovereignty is not dependent on the integrity of his creatures,

  "Refine My Kidneys and My Heart"

  Psalm 26:2 (CEV)

  Test my thoughts and find out
  

  what I am like.

  Paragraphs 8,9
  

  The NWT uses the terms, kidneys and heart. The WTS loves to discuss these terms. How many old-timers remember when the WTS said this referred to the literal heart not the figurative heart mentioned here?

  w70 10/1 p. 603 Grand Blessings of the "Men of Goodwill" Assemblies ***

  Also focusing attention on the heart was the edifying talk "Serving Jehovah with a Complete Heart." When the Bible refers to the heart, it was explained, the literal heart and not the mind or a figurative heart is meant. So, as the Bible says, the heart, yes, one?s literal heart, can impel and incite. (Ex. 35:21, 26, 29) How vital it is, therefore, that we guard the heart by always filling it with good impressions!

  When David asked Jehovah to examine him,

  Not priests, prophets (or elders).

  How does Jehovah refine what we are on the inside? David sang: "I shall bless Jehovah, who has given me advice. Really, during the nights my kidneys have corrected me." (Psalm 16:7) What does that mean? It means that divine counsel?correcting his innermost thoughts and emotions.

  So it can be with us if we appreciatively reflect on the counsel that we receive through

  God?s Word, his representatives, and his organization (WTS trinity)

  And allow it to settle deep within us. Regularly praying to Jehovah (but not mediated by Jesus)

  True source of counsel (top-down)

  God
  

  Jesus
  

  WTS/FDS/anointed
  

  DOs
  

  COs
  

  Elders
  

  Publishers

  ?Your Loving-Kindness Is in Front of Me?

  Psalm 26:3 (CEV)

  I never forget your kindness,
  

  and I am always faithful
  

  to you.

  Paragraphs 10,11

  Studying God?s Word regularly and meditating?Joseph took flight at the immoral advances?similar advances at our place of work, at school, or elsewhere (KH?pedophiles???).

  What about Joseph?s brother Judah who sought out a temple prostitute?was he censured for this? No, because there was no "law" yet. Yet Joseph is held out as someone who did what was "right" without needing a law to tell him.

  What about when we are tempted by opportunities for material prosperity or prominence and power in the secular world? We have the example of Moses?

  It this a hit at continuing education at the university level, taking on full-time jobs rather than pioneering; what about Prince and George Benson and their prominence in the secular world?

  Strengthen our resolve to remain loyal to Jehovah despite illnesses and misfortunes?Job

  I remember a sister who was hounded by the elders about her meeting attendance not believing she was ill as she claimed. She was constantly told about how others sicker than she was were attending. I wonder how many meetings Job went to?

  "I Have Not Sat With Men of Untruth"

  Psalm 26:4,5 (CEV)

  I don't spend my time
  

  with worthless liars
  

  or go with evil crowds.

  Paragraphs 12,13

  Men of untruth?hide what they are?with the wicked ones I do not sit (NWT)

  David?hated bad associations?television programs, videos, motion pictures, Internet sites, or other means?

  Hide what they are? Some at school or at our place of employment may feign friendship with us for devious purposes. Do we really want to develop close ties with those who do not walk in God?s truth?

  How are JWs expected to "witness" to people at work or school if they think these people are out to hurt them?

  Behind claims of sincerity, apostates may also hide their intent to draw us away from serving Jehovah.

  Not that, but from serving the WTS.
  

  And to scare you away from all association:

  What if there are some in the Christian congregation (buzzword meaning only JWs) who live double lives?

  ?I Will Declare All Your Wonderful Works?

  Psalm 26:6,7

  I wash my hands, LORD,
  

  to show my innocence,
  

  and I worship at your altar,
  

  while gratefully singing
  

  about your wonders.

  Paragraphs 14-16

  David wanted to remain morally clean?

  Did you realize that David had several wives, eight named and several unnamed wives and concubines? Makes you wonder why he had to go after someone else?s wife? If he wanted to have sex with a new woman, just a matter of negotiating it with some single woman?s father.

  What a spiritual protection the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work is? Being busy in it helps us keep our hope for the future bright.

  Based on the service report for 2004, JWs are not keeping their hope bright.

  "I Have Loved the Dwelling of Your House"

  Psalm 26:8 (CEV)

  I love the temple
  

  where you live,
  

  and where
  

  your glory shines.

  Paragraphs 17,18
  

  Meeting attendance is down?reports from my area confirm it. Many times less than ½ of the publishers are attending. Conventions are being moved and consolidated.

  Do we love assembling at places where we learn about Jehovah? Every Kingdom Hall with its regular program of spiritual instruction serves as the center of true worship in the community (translation: all others are centers of false worship). In addition, we have our annual conventions, circuit assemblies, and special assembly days.

  Jehovah?s reminders (WTS dogma) are discussed at such meetings.

  If we learn to "love them exceedingly," we will be EAGER to attend meetings and we will be ATTENTIVE while there. (CAPS mine)

  How REFRESHING it is to be with fellow believers (only JWs) who are interested in our personal welfare (so they have something new to gossip about) and who help us stay on the integrity-keeping course! (by avoiding use because we are bad association)

  ?Do Not Take Away My Life?

  Psalm 26:9,10 (CEV)

  Don't sweep me away,
  

  as you do sinners.
  

  Don't punish me with death
  

  as you do those people
  

  who are brutal
  

  or full of meanness
  

  or who bribe others.

  Paragraphs 19-21

  Loose conduct or bribery?world today is inundated with a flood of immoral practices.
  

  Enslaved to pornography..which often leads to immoral conduct?dating is a custom?teenagers pressured into thinking that they must date?too young to marry.

  Then why are they old enough to get baptized?

  Adults are by no means immune to bad influences. Dishonest business practices and a tendency to make self-serving decisions?

  What is a "self-serving decision"? Is this an ambiguous term that allows the elders to beat the flock?

  ?O Redeem Me and Show Me Favor"

  Psalm 26:11,12 (CEV)

  I stay true to myself.
  

  Be kind and rescue me.
  

  Now I stand on solid ground!
  

  And when your people meet,
  

  I will praise you, LORD.

  Paragraphs 22-24

  Despite our sinful state, Jehovah will help us if we are determined to talk in the way of integrity (as defined by the WTS not the Bible).
  

  May our manner of living, show that we respect and appreciate the sovereignty of God (of the WTS) in every facet of our life.

  Concluding Comments

  Walk in the Way of Integrity the WTS
  

  Avoid Bad Association All Association
  

  NEXT WEEK:
  

  MAINTAIN A BALANCED VIEW OF THE USE OF ALCOHOL
  

  Are too many elders showing up at the meetings with alcohol on their breath?
  

  Love Blondie
• 

  ezekiel3

  Enslaved to pornography..which often leads to immoral conduct?dating is a custom?teenagers pressured into thinking that they must date?too young to marry.

  Then why are they old enough to get baptized?

  Exactly. An extended quote of paragraph 20 is:

  Youths especially are susceptible to such influences. In some lands, dating is a custom, and teenagers are pressured into thinking that they must date. Many youths become romantically involved, even though they are too young to marry. To satisfy the sexual desires that are building up inside them, they soon become involved in immoral conduct to the point of committing fornication.

  So what is the difference between a lifelong commitment to a person (60 years max?) and a eternal commitment to GOD?? Which is more serious? If youth are especially susceptable to such influences how can you be sure a teenager's dedication/baptism is sincere?

  Of course if JW growth in Western Europe and USA (the major JW memberships) are 80-90% JW youth, that changes things, doesn't it?

  *** g90 4/8 p. 15 Am I Ready to Get Baptized? ***

  ?Am

  I Old Enough??

  As teenagers get older, they often feel that they have a right to enjoy certain privileges and responsibilities. They are quick to insist on driving the family car, to plead for permission to have after-school jobs, to want their own spending money. But when it comes to baptism, many youths excuse themselves as being too young or not ready for that responsibility. A youth named Andre observes: "A lot of youths wait until they are 17 or 18 to get baptized, which is a little old." Why? "Because long before that they?re old enough to make other decisions for themselves." ...

  Similarly, thousands of Christian youths today?including some preteen-agers?have proved themselves responsible enough to make a dedication to serve God. Granted, some teenagers lack seriousness and are too irresponsible and emotionally immature to make as far-reaching a decision as baptism. (Proverbs 22:15) But is this really true in your case? (Your parents will undoubtedly have much to say in this regard.) God hardly expects a teenager to have the maturity of a 40-year-old. He well knows that you are subject to "the desires incidental to youth." (2 Timothy 2:22) But if you are old enough to be reasonably serious and responsible, then you are most likely old enough to consider making a dedication. However, there are other questions you should ask yourself.

  (Those questions are answered under the subheadings: ?Have I Taken in Sufficient Knowledge?? and "Doers of the Word". Basically, if you can produce you can get baptized.)
• 

  willyloman

  My God, Blondie, are they having ANOTHER watchtower study again this week?

  Seriously, I used to love that Walking in Integrity song from the 26th Psalm:

  "I do not sit, with wicked men of lies; I hate the company of those who truth despise...."

  It was only in the past year or two that I realized this song was an indictment of the organization. Real integrity requires leaving the WTS, whose hands are indeed "filled with bribes and strife."
• 

  heathen

  I love the way you caught them in the universal sovereignty snare again . I guess since you are not of the anointed the sovereignty issue isn't an issue? I remember they used to like to use that alot with, the stand you make will prove the devil a liar kinda stuff . I also notice they like to use men as being the perpetrator for immorallity . What's up with that ? I mean didn't the girl in Davids sin also tempt him by bathing in front of his home ? I guess her punishment was the death of their son . Don't remember the story that well .

  I can't stand the way they use the old if you're old enough to drive a car or work a job you are old enough to be a ministerial servant crap . The old guilt trip hard at work again . Why can't they just leave the kids alone and let them be kids ?

  Then there's the part of them wanting to be viewed as the temple of jerusalem . Excuse me but didn't jesus say my, body is my temple . I did read in revelation 21:22 the other day that the temple of new jerusalem is actually jehovah and jesus christ .
• 

  jgnat

  In this world, nearly everything is transitory. Wealth can be gained and lost. Friends can betray. Even our health cannot be counted on. By example, my dad taught me that integrity is something worth clinging to. If I have integrity, I am valued as a peer and friend. Since my behaviour is utterly under my control, and integrity is highly valued everywhere, it is something that can be kept through the worst disaster or loss.

  As something of value, however, integrity is hard-earned. Stick to my word. Follow through on my commitments. Tell the truth. Consider others above myself. Do the right thing even if it costs. To me, this is integrity. To maintain my integrity, I must follow through on my commitments even if it costs me a great deal personally. It can all be lost by a single error in judgement.

  By comparison, how is integrity described by these Watchtower writers? Not unexpectedly, Witnesses who follow closely all of the FDS?s instruction are deemed to have integrity, even if they are not able to maintain those instructions perfectly. It is assumed that anybody of the ?world? does NOT have integrity. Not surprisingly, Witness behaviour appears hypocritical to their exhasperate ?wordly? co-workers, as they exercise their Bible-trained conscience to chose which regular social event they will abstain from with that week.

  For example, in this WT article Joseph is counted a man of integrity because he fled. I maintain he showed integrity because he considered the needs of others above his own. He did the right thing, regardless of the personal cost. This is what he said:

  Genesis 39:8 (NIV) But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

  I maintain that the JW reputation for integrity will not be improved by following the guidelines in this article. Witnesses would do better to stop demonizing the "world" and start treating all people as "brothers".
• 

  hamsterbait

  Joseph did not flee because he did not want to commit adultery.

  As with Judah, the law had not condemned it yet.

  However, the Egyptians and the Jews had very clearly defined property laws. Potiphars wife was property. As Joseph said: "Everything [Potiphar] OWNS he has entrusted to my care." Theft in many cases could entail the death sentence. Joseph was frightened that if he got found out he would be for the chop. Potiphar knew his wife well enough to know she probably 'did' the household staff occasionally; I bet she had complained on other occasions. That's why Joseph was only thrown in jail.

  Seen in this light Joseph's integrity is no more noble than the contemporary dub who only does what the WTS says is right because he is afraid of being found out or shunned.

  That's my take on it.
• 

  jgnat

  Excellent observations on the morals of the time, hamsterbait. By his own words, however, he was most concerned about offending his employer and his God, not about being caught. At least Joseph figured out for himself what was sinful or not. I swear, JW's don't think. "UURK! On the Immorality list! Runrunrunrunrun."
• 

  Klaus Vollmer

  hello Blondie,

  your comments I never miss, just not always having the time and the motivation to write too a comment.

  But it is given and mustbe said that the Brooklyn Eagles do have a commentary to each and every occasion. And you can hit them by their own utterances:

  " That means all the meeting attendance and hours riding around in cars in field service are worth nothing if the motivation is not right?"

  I recognize the motivation of most of the brethren is given by the facts that they want to have an image, the honor and some privleges among the congregation.

  They dont care about the real problems and dont want to be disturbed in their doings. WTS does know this but they are in a scissor: the more they pressure the elders, the les they do.

  And they have no others to serve and no stones to speak.

  Its the desire for comfort and independece what makes them keep distance to the brothers. They invite only those they like, not those who deserve it. They talk about love but reject it and elders often practice experiences from Dr. Goebbels who explained that you only need throwing some dirt to somebody, a little always will be left on him.

  So treat their interests and hold donw those whom they dont want to be in better positions.

  I think the fish starts stinking on the head. File and ranks have seldom any idea what goes on, they are the sacrifice ot what is happening.

  And Internet and porn seems to be the greates traps for the elders. internet because of apostates with the leading apostates in Crookly and of cause sex sex sex, that they even unse the CO to wash the brains of the servants.

  nobody sees when I drink, but everybody sees when I am drunken.

  Waht a pity for them that internet makes public how they dare to fake the congregations - eg by their UN and ngo policy.

  Woe to the ivory towers and woe to those who dwell there in high positions. They are captives of their own desires of double strategies.

  What a great disappointment for all those who followed their councils and who now recognize that Ruthis racket and snare is still alive

  Wash my fur but dont make me wet said the bear and lost it to the trapper
• 

  Klaus Vollmer

  hello Blondie,

  your comments I never miss, just not always having the time and the motivation to write too a comment.

  But it is given and mustbe said that the Brooklyn Eagles do have a commentary to each and every occasion. And you can hit them by their own utterances:

  " That means all the meeting attendance and hours riding around in cars in field service are worth nothing if the motivation is not right?"

  I recognize the motivation of most of the brethren is given by the facts that they want to have an image, the honor and some privleges among the congregation.

  They dont care about the real problems and dont want to be disturbed in their doings. WTS does know this but they are in a scissor: the more they pressure the elders, the les they do.

  And they have no others to serve and no stones to speak.

  Its the desire for comfort and independece what makes them keep distance to the brothers. They invite only those they like, not those who deserve it. They talk about love but reject it and elders often practice experiences from Dr. Goebbels who explained that you only need throwing some dirt to somebody, a little always will be left on him.

  So treat their interests and hold donw those whom they dont want to be in better positions.

  I think the fish starts stinking on the head. File and ranks have seldom any idea what goes on, they are the sacrifice ot what is happening.

  And Internet and porn seems to be the greates traps for the elders. internet because of apostates with the leading apostates in Crookly and of cause sex sex sex, that they even unse the CO to wash the brains of the servants.

  nobody sees when I drink, but everybody sees when I am drunken.

  Waht a pity for them that internet makes public how they dare to fake the congregations - eg by their UN and ngo policy.

  Woe to the ivory towers and woe to those who dwell there in high positions. They are captives of their own desires of double strategies.

  What a great disappointment for all those who followed their councils and who now recognize that Ruthis racket and snare is still alive

  Wash my fur but dont make me wet said the bear and lost it to the trapper
• 

  BluesBrother

  A discussion of the beautiful Psalm 26 is done from time to time by the WTS . It carries a lot of scope for "Upbuilding counsel"

  Most of the article is pretty bland, Of course they manage to cleverley blur the issue of integrity to God with blind obedience to the WTS.

  The only bit that caught my eye was par 13

  Behind claims of sincerity,apostates may also hide their intent to draw us away from serving Jehovah

  Of course! That is why they call us apostates. I and all the rest of us are absolutely sincere. I would love to see all of them, especially the young ones come to their senses and walk away from the hall, leaving the trustees to pay the mortgage on it..