[From ws15/05 p. 24 for July 20-26]
“Become imitators of God, as beloved children.” – Eph. 5:1
A Little Side Trip First
While not strictly on topic, I think it will be beneficial to take a little side trip to continue our topic of last week’s study.
Last week we examined how the eisegetical nature of the Bible study method employed by the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses can lead us to erroneous conclusions regarding the true meaning of faith.
This week’s study opens with one of the most egregious examples of eisegesis one is likely to find in the Bible writings of any major religion—and that’s saying a lot.
“Undoubtedly, we rejoice that God has promised immortality in heaven to faithful anointed ones and everlasting life on earth to Jesus’ loyal ‘other sheep.’” (John 10:16; 17:3; 1 Cor. 15:53) – par. 2
Here are the scriptures cited in the paragraph as proof for that statement:
“And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those too I must bring in, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (Joh 10:16)
“This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (Joh 17:3)
“For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality.” (1Co 15:53)
Using these Scriptures, can you prove that God has promised everlasting life on earth to Jesus’ loyal “other sheep”? Can you even prove who the other sheep are?
We are taught that the other sheep are not adopted children of God, but only friends. Yet the theme text from Ephesians 5:1 says that we are to “imitate God as beloved children.” Where does it say that the other sheep are God’s friends, but not his children?
Here’s how eisegesis works. You start studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses. (This really applies to any form of organized religion, but I’ll illustrate it with the one I know best.) They teach you about the resurrection, the condition of the dead, God’s name, and many other fundamental things. You may disagree depending on your background, but slowly their deft use of the Bible convinces you. You come to know and like your teachers. They are so sincere. At some point, you begin to trust them. At that point, you stop examining skeptically. They no longer have to prove everything. Their conclusions and speculation start sounding like fact.
In my case, the trusted individuals were my parents who in turned learned from good friends who learned from others. Overriding it all was the trusted source of the publications of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society.
Then one day the Governing Body told me about a new form of overlapping generation to explain their version of Mt. 24:34 and I began to doubt. Then a friend asked me to prove 1914 and I found I couldn’t. Then I had to prove that the other sheep must not partake and I found I couldn’t. Then I had to prove that our judicial system is Scriptural and I found I couldn’t. We are told to be “ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of [us] a reason for the hope in [us]”, but over and over I was unable to do so. (1 Peter 3:15)
Eisegesis failed me. But when I started looking at the Bible and letting it just say what it means—exegesis—I suddenly understood what Jesus meant when he said the truth will set us free. (John 8:32)
Sorry. That has taken us way off topic, but it is such an important subject that I felt it deserved to be dealt with on the spot. Now back to the Watchtower article.
How Jesus Reflected God’s Love
Jesus did not start his ministry to find fault, but to enlighten and build up by sharing the wondrous message of the Good News. However, opposers made it necessary for him to point out wrong thinking and sources of spiritual hypocrisy and corruption. This he did to protect the sheep.
We are all sheep, but we are all shepherds too. Sometimes we are in need of help, and other times we have the opportunity to provide comfort and loving care. We wear many hats as we strive to follow in the footsteps of our Master. This week I would like to try a different tack. This week we will take the publishers of this article at their word.
“When Jesus saw people suffering, he was moved to show them love. Thus, he perfectly reflected the love of his Father. After one extensive preaching tour, Jesus and his apostles were about to go to an isolated place to get some rest. Because he felt pity for the crowd awaiting him, however, Jesus took time “to teach them many things.”– par. 4
So if you’re out in the preaching work and there’s a sister who’s living alone, perhaps feeling depressed, isolated, and ignored, you would not want to give in to the self-serving thought that you have to make your time and can’t afford to lose a half-hour or more by dropping in on the sister to encourage and perhaps see if she needs something.
Jesus was never self-serving. This paragraph quotes from Mark 6 which contains the miracle of the bread and fishes. So Jesus didn’t just see to the spiritual needs of the sheep but also their physical needs. He could have thought, “Well, if they are not wise enough to bring their own provisions, that’s on them.” We would always want to imitate his caring and giving nature. How easy is for us to see people who rarely come to the meetings and dismiss them as weak and even bad association for us. We might reason, if they want our help, then they have to come to the meetings and go out in service regularly. Otherwise, they don’t deserve our time.
This would not be imitating our Lord.
Paragraph 5 and 6 give an excellent example involving a young brother learning to see life through the eyes of an elderly one. It closes with the thought: “To imitate God’s love, we must put ourselves in our brother’s shoes, so to speak.” Paragraph 7 acknowledges that it is not always easy “to understand the pain that others are experiencing.” It closes by citing 1 Peter 3:8:
“Finally, all of you have unity of mind, fellow feeling, brotherly affection, tender compassion, and humility.”
How often have the brothers and sisters in your hall invited you over to their home? How often have you done the same? We talk about fellowshipping at the meetings, but five or ten minutes before and after a meeting is not what Peter had in mind when he spoke of tender compassion and brother affection. The fact that he added “humility” to the equation speaks volumes about the kind of relationship he was encouraging us to have with our brothers. A humble person is not prone to being judgmental. He does not probe into another’s life with intrusive questions. His speech is never intended to measure the value or worthiness of another. If our questions make someone feel like we are checking up on them, then how can we say we are showing true fellow feeling and genuine humility?
Imitate Jehovah’s Kindness
God’s Son said: “The Most High . . . is kind toward the unthankful and wicked….[Jesus] treated people in a kind manner by anticipating how his words and actions might affect another individual’s feelings.” – par. 8
We hear accounts of possibly well-meaning brothers using pat or facile solutions when trying to help someone they see as weak. They might say, “All you have to do is be more regular at meetings, and get out in the field service every week.” They are not entirely to blame for our publications and the travelling overseers promote the idea of spirituality through routine.
They do not realize that often what they see as a source of encouragement is exactly the opposite. How many Jehovah’s Witnesses are discouraged and depressed because they are failing to meet arbitrary standards? These are not just any standards either. They are led to believe that their everlasting life depends on compliance with these standards. Jesus said, “My yoke is kindly, and my load is light.” (Mt. 11:30) However, what we lay on the brothers is more akin to the yoke of the Pharisees.
“They bind up heavy loads and put them upon the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger. 5 All the works they do they do to be viewed by men;. . .” (Mt 23:4, 5)
The emphasis the JW leadership puts on works that are visible before men is a fulfillment of what Jesus says here in verse 5. Can we find one word of our Lord where he speaks of putting in more hours in the preaching work as a means to gain favor with him? We must remember that Hebrews 10:24 does not say, “let us consider one another and incite by guilt to fine works.”
How else can we imitate the kindness of the Lord who, according to this paragraph, is kind even to the wicked?
Let us say that we know of a sister who was disfellowshipped for fornication. Then we learn that she has married the person she was living with and is returning to the meetings. However, the elders feel that she needs more time to show repentance. They feel that by coming to meetings and enduring the ongoing rebuke of the congregation through shunning, they are demonstrating repentance. (This is akin to the Catholic mentality of penance.) Three months go by. Then six. Finally after a year, she is reinstated. What should we do in the meantime? Should we obey men and do nothing to help this sister, ignoring and totally shunning her? Is that the course of love? Is it the course of obedience? Obedience to men, yes. But are we interested in obeying men, or God? In a circumstance like this, Paul counselled the Corinthian congregation on how to deal with one they had rebuked.
“This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary now, YOU should kindly forgive and comfort [him], that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad.” (2Co 2:6, 7)
This counsel likely came only months after the initial direction to shun the sinner. By withholding love when the evidence is clear that a sinner has left off his sin, we can cause him to be overly sad, and even become swallowed up and lost to us. If we did that, what would the Lord Jesus say to us? “Well done, good and faithful slave, for you obeyed the elders. Too bad for this one that he wasn’t stronger, but that was his problem. You, however, enter into my rest.”
I don’t know about you, but I don’t think so!
Imitate God’s Wisdom
“Our being able to conceive of events that we have not lived through can also help us to imitate Jehovah’s wisdom and foresee the probable results of our actions.” – par. 10
“Never would we make plans or do anything that could endanger our precious relationship with Jehovah! Instead, let us act in harmony with these inspired words: ‘The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.’ – Prov. 22:3” – par. 11
Sound counsel. So, what are the consequences for perpetrating a lie about God or about the teachings of Jesus? Consider these verses:
“But anything defiled and anyone who does what is disgusting and deceitful will in no way enter into it; only those written in the Lamb’s scroll of life will enter.” (Re 21:27)
“Outside are the dogs and those who practice spiritism and those who are sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices lying.’” (Re 22:15)
If we know a teaching is false, then are we not being deceitful if we teach others that it is true? If we know a doctrine is false, then are we not showing that we love and practice the lie if we take our valuable time every week to go from door to door to continue to spread this falsehood?
So ask yourself, do you believe that the teachings of “the overlapping generation”, or Christ’s invisible presence in 1914, or the 1919 appointment of the Governing Body as the faithful slave, or the other sheep as friends—not sons—of God are true? If not, then how can you best imitate God’s wisdom and avoid the consequences of promoting such teachings?
Admittedly, this can be a delicate line to walk for those who continue to associate so as to have the opportunity to help others awaken to the truth. We should not judge anyone, for Jehovah sees the heart.
Avoid Harmful Contemplation
Speaking of Eve, paragraph 12 says:
“Instead of being told what was good and bad, she would decide this for herself.”
Eve did reject God’s rule, wanting to determine for herself what was good or bad. This thinking was independent from God’s and therefore harmful. However, we can go in the opposite direction. We can surrender our free thought to another man or group of men. We can come to depend on men to govern us and determine what is right and wrong for us. This too is thinking which is independent from God. It is just other version of Adam and Eve’s sin. Instead of deciding for ourselves what is good and bad, we leave it to others, thinking that this way we can please God. We begin to trust men and stop examining the Scriptures for ourselves on a daily basis. (Acts 17:11)
The way to please God is to stop thinking independently of him, and start listening and obeying his Son, our Lord, our King, our redeemer. We need to stop trusting in self-proclaimed nobles and the son of earthling man in whom no salvation exists. (Ps 146:3)
Archived Comments
We have moved to the Disqus commenting system. To post a new comment, go to the bottom of this page.
Comment by noblemindedthinker on 2015-07-21 10:56:50
I found this on Wikipedia:
"Guilt trip: A special kind of intimidation tactic. A manipulator suggests to the conscientious victim that he or she does not care enough, is too selfish or has it easy. This usually results in the victim feeling bad, keeping them in a self-doubting, anxious and submissive position."
This is SOP for the Watchtower. "Are you doing enough for the org? Are you doubting our/God's authority? Do you have immoral thoughts? Are you less than pure? Are you loving enough? Are you obeying all of our counsel?"
I've heard many faithful witnesses take note of the judging that seems to go on within the congregation walls. In my opinion this judging mentality is merely an outworking of the "spiritual food" we are given. At times sitting in the Watchtower feels like sitting with your family at dinner and your mother browbeating you in front of everyone about something you did or didn't do well enough. Except these people aren't your family, they will abandon you if you ever question "mother" and then take your family from you too!
With the power dynamic that exists to be leveraged against the R&F, and then to have to sit in these WT studies and hear about how you won't be deserving of God's love if you do A, B, C,...Z, it makes me quite honestly sick to my stomach. There are more loving and wholesome ways to inspire people to follow the Christ. Thanks Meleti for helping us see that.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-07-21 11:47:54
And thanks to you, NoblemindedThinker, because you've just given me an insight into something I've been grappling with for some time. We get all these exhortations to be good and not sin and not do this and not do that, and it's all true, yet something is wrong with it. Now I see why the overemphasis on "Does and Don'ts" is detrimental. I feel a post coming on. :)
Comment by on 2015-07-21 12:00:42
A young brother in his early twenties in my congregation was disfellowshipped last week. I saw him at the very next meeting and then at the Regional Covention the next weekend. I wonder how long the Elders are going to make him wait so they can determine how reeeally repentant he is. I didn't know he had been disfellowshipped because i has missed the meeting when the annoucement was made. I went up to shake his hand and he dropped the bad news on me. I said, "Well, it's still good to see you here." He thanked me. I thought to myself, "He could have just confessed his sin to God, repented of his sin on the basis of the ransom, and stopped whatever he was doing. Sometimes the friends go to the Elders for help and end up being DF'd.
Comment by SinkingPeter on 2015-07-21 15:51:35
Great Article, Meleti. Thank you.
I really enjoyed your intro section. The doctrines and interpretations become sacred cows. Any discussion I try to have with family has to be founded on these incorrect ideas as fact, even if the family member hasn't really done the research or just relies on the very weak reasoning on the scriptures. Any discussion that would rest upon the possibility of these doctrines being other than what the WT says, just can't happen. It feels like that was why most spiritual discussions were empty or just routine role-playing. Actual sharpening of truth just doesn't happen. Rather, "truth" just gets protected. But only folly needs protecting.
It does start out at the very beginning in the study as faith in men. A few of the easy things line up scripturally, and then many people start to ease up on skepticism and their "testing" of inspired sayings becomes all but a rubber stamp.
Comment by on 2015-07-21 16:54:24
You noted, "The way to please God is to stop thinking independently of him, and start listening and obeying his Son, our Lord, our King, our redeemer. We need to stop trusting in self-proclaimed nobles and the son of earthling man in whom no salvation exists."
Yet, WT seems to teach, "thinking independently of WT" = "thinking independently of God".
Come to mention of it, isn't it more like they teach, "WT = God" - never mind the 'thinking' part?
True, they'd never come right out and say such a thing literally, but when someone commands absolute obedience, inflicts punishment for wrongdoing and can (in a spiritual sense, anyway) impose a "death penalty", either they are an absolute dictator, or they are God.
It does seem that in every way that matters, WT has made itself God, and it demands the loyalty, obedience, sacrifice and worship owing to a God.
Is this the God you want to worship, or that other one that a very thick book talks a lot about?
Comment by Skye on 2015-07-21 17:15:45
We know then that shunning is unscriptural; it is spiritual, psychological and emotional abuse. It can lead to mental illness and even suicide and therefore very dangerous to individuals. Therefore a Christian would not be involved by shunning brothers and sisters whether at the Kingdom Hall or anywhere else. It must be very encouraging for df brothers and sisters who you make a point of speaking to when they come into your Kingdom Hall.
Comment by Wild Olive on 2015-07-21 19:48:00
Another fine article
And yes the "dos and donts" of watchtower indoctrination, all it does is put a person on a merry go round of sin-guilt-repent -sin -guilt-repent that never ends.I just read this morning the insight book under the heading of ransom,two lines of type at the very end of the section actually refer to how the ransom applies to the other sheep,there is no entry for reconciliation in the insight book,this alone speaks volumes on what the real intention of our leaders is,they don't want you reconciled and at peace with Jehovah, they want you guilted and therefore easier to manipulate and accept anything but real reconciliation.Reply by Skye on 2015-07-22 02:26:02
One is our leader, Jesus Christ.
Reply by Wild Olive on 2015-07-22 05:16:09
Yes pardon my lack of definition,by leaders I mean the usurpers of the GB not Jesus the real leader
Reply by on 2015-07-22 04:03:31
I was feeling particularly discouraged a few weeks ago, and a 'well meaning' member of the congregation tried to comfort me by saying that I needed to keep regular at meetings and field service to prove to Jehovah that I love Him and am worthy of being saved, and that I should take comfort in the fact that "if" I get through, I won't remember anything that's making me sad now because Jehovah will delete my memory.
Did I feel encouraged? :(
It's the strangest form of subtle mental abuse.
What makes it even weirder is that people actually believe it's up building!
Comment by Katrina on 2015-07-21 20:34:14
Another fine article thank you. I find so much of what the WT prints to be hypocritical, here we have the do's and don'ts for the r/f and yet the GB don't adhere to it themselves, with their latest video's shows some of the deceptive speech of ones like Lett for example on the donations.
It seems to me that they can do and say what they want, change their history, misquote others, and they continue to do it, shouldn't they be DF.
Comment by billy on 2015-07-21 22:07:02
"How often have the brothers and sisters in your hall invited you over to their home? How often have you done the same? We talk about fellowshipping at the meetings, but five or ten minutes before and after a meeting is not what Peter had in mind when he spoke of tender compassion and brother affection. The fact that he added “humility” to the equation speaks volumes about the kind of relationship he was encouraging us to have with our brothers. A humble person is not prone to being judgmental. He does not probe into another’s life with intrusive questions. His speech is never intended to measure the value or worthiness of another. If our questions make someone feel like we are checking up on them, then how can we say we are showing true fellow feeling and genuine humility?"
i have made the same comments over the years on different forums - its very reassuring to see others make the same observations - it absolutely amazes me how the b&s can ignore the sufferings - some people have sacrificed everything in their lives to be a jW - their family, wealth, jobs and they get very little support or encouragement from the congregation and organization - unbelievable and un christian - if thats what the 'Kingdom" is going to be like - i dont want to be there!Reply by Skye on 2015-07-22 02:55:49
To know what the Kingdom is going to be like, a good place to start is the book of Isaiah.
Isa 9:2-7; Isa 11:1-9; Isa 13:6-13; Isa 19:19-25; Isa 25:1-9; Isa 35:1-10; Isa 51:1-8; Isa 60:1-6, 18-22; Isa 65:11-25.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-07-22 07:01:25
Thank you for compiling this list, Skye. It is worth a lot of further study.
Comment by Claudelle on 2015-07-21 23:31:21
On the topic of friendship with God.....I was studying with an elder and his wife, when the issue of friendship with God came up. I said......." Christ sorted that out for us didn't he? He gave us a model prayer which distinctly asks us to address God as our Father, not as..." dear God my friend in the heavens"
This man and his wife are nice people and I think they are honest, but it did rattle them a little to have such a simple point brought home.
Thank you Meleti for this article and everyone's interesting comments
Comment by Claudelle on 2015-07-21 23:40:10
There is a site about Religious Trauma. It focuses on high control and guilt inducing type of sects or religions. It is well worth reading for, although it is not anti religion, it is anti abuse of religion. It's a well thought out site based upon psychology and other respected methods of helping those who feel completely at a loss due to the damage of "exalted men, priests, ministers................"
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-07-22 06:41:47
Hi Claudelle,
Interesting question you posed to that Elder and his wife. It shows how little most Witnesses really think about their faith. The site you mention sounds intriguing. Could you post the link?
MeletiReply by Claudelle on 2015-07-22 15:30:15
Yes Meleti, it was a simple observation to show him regarding Christ's clear example of correct approach in prayer. It was not one that had come to the elders mind and I understand how this can happen. The fact remains though, that this is directly from Christ......it's an example of how to address our Father. No one could DARE to refute this small but powerful point....surely
Here it is. Not a bad site at all. Not full of hate or angst. I find it's better to have a balanced view and stay away from the "hate all JW" type sites as this can be counter productive.
http://www.babcp.com/Review/RTS-Trauma-from-Leaving-Religion.aspxReply by on 2015-07-22 21:07:05
John 12:49-50:
I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak. Also, I know that his commandment means everlasting life. Therefore the things I speak, just as the Father has told me them, so I speak them.
Matthew 6:9:
YOU must pray, then, this way: Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.
WT 2/15/2014 p. 21:
"Jehovah can be our best Friend."
Acts 5:29:
We must obey God as ruler rather than men.
WT:
You must obey men rather than God.
---
Can this be said any more plainly?
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-07-23 13:29:33
That site about leaving a controlling or cult-like religion is worth a read. Thanks, Claudelle.
Comment by agapeheartvisions on 2015-07-22 10:36:52
I remember at one of the last meetings I attended where an elder made a disturbing statement. He played it off like he was joking, "So you see friends, you don't have to worry about anything...the elders and the governing body will do your thinking for you, all you've got to do is listen and obey." My husband and I looked at each other and it was like a moment of clarity just hit the both of us like a bolt out of the blue.
LaRhonda T.
Comment by Claudelle on 2015-07-22 15:35:52
agapeheartvisions
How revealing! I wonder what this guy is really feeling about "JWdom" He made a wonderful Freudian slip there. It couldn't have come out of his mouth had it not been considered in some small way by him.... I'll bet some in the hall had a few private thoughts that day.
Comment by Lydia on 2015-08-09 10:55:56
Will you be continuing with the weekly WT commentary? I noticed that there wasn't one this week, unless I was looking in the wrong place!
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2015-08-09 20:16:52
I will. Just a lot going on with the new site preparation.
Reply by Lydia on 2015-08-10 16:04:05
Great many thanks. I find it really helpful and encouraging. I know you've been really busy with the new site. It's all looking really good.