Treasures from Gods Word – Blessings that restored Israel would enjoy
[Count: Jehovah - 5]
Ezekiel 47:13,14
The reference given is for the same Watchtower paragraph as last week and includes Ezekiel 45:16 which was discussed in our CLAM review for last week.
Yearbook
[Count: Jehovah - 2]
Part of the experience related includes the following:
‘He went on to say that the morning he met this brother, he had prayed, “If the religion of my youth is correct, please show me a sign today.” He felt that his prayer had been answered.’
That was what the person who is now a brother felt, but feelings are quite different to facts. Interpreting a chance meeting as the answer to a non-specific sign is a leap of faith. I guess we will never know how many prayed the same way and did not meet a brother and did not become witnesses. Even if the organization had such information it's very unlikely it would ever be published.
Organizational Accomplishments – Video - Remote Volunteers being used by Jehovah
[Count: Jehovah - 8, Governing Body - 1]
This video is a recruiting tool to encourage the volunteering at one’s own expense of jobs and assignments previously done within Bethel. Sadly, Jesus as head of the Christian Congregation, doesn’t even get one single mention. However, of course there is the obligatory mention of the Governing body and numerous citations of the headquarters.
Congregation Book Study (kr chap. 17 para 19-2020)
[Count: Jehovah - 11, Jesus - 3, Organization - 3, Governing Body - 4]
The soundbites here are good to the ears “The Bible-based courses encourage the brothers to maintain their own spirituality and to apply Scriptural principles in their dealings with the precious sheep that Jehovah has entrusted to their care.” The only problem is that there is no proof that Jehovah has entrusted the sheep to their care and more often than not they learn to apply organizational rules rather than scriptural principles on these ‘Bible-based courses’.
The real issue with the training provided is found in the final sentence of paragraph 20 where it says: “And let us remember that the main purpose of all this training is to help us keep spiritually strong so that we may fully accomplish our ministry.” [bold ours].
Therefore, as is plainly stated, the main purpose is not to develop the Christian qualities that are needed to deal with and assist others, and which would then serve as a witness to others, but to push the agenda of door-to-door preaching (which is the main interpretation of ‘ministry’ when used by the organization.)
A review of the purpose of each of the schools mentioned in the box “Schools that train Kingdom Ministers” confirms this conclusion as even indicated in the heading itself.
- CLAM – Training for preachering (note: not Christian qualities)
- Elders School – Training for organizational responsibilities.
- Pioneer School – Training for preachers.
- Bethel School – Training to serve organizational needs in Bethel.
- Kingdom Evangelisers School – Training for preaching and for organizational responsibilities.
- Gilead – Training for preaching and for organizational responsibilities (travelling overseers, Bethelites).
- Kingdom Ministry School – Training for organization responsibilities.
Not one of these schools focuses on cultivating Christian qualities. The result is that the attendees are trained in preaching and organizational requirements, but not how to live in peace and harmony with fellow attendees and their brothers. This can lead to problems in fulfilling the roles for which they have been trained.
Archived Comments
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Comment by Warp Speed on 2017-09-11 17:15:53
Cultivating Christian qualities is a must for a true follower of Christ. Unfortunately, this is not a sentiment shared by the Org. For example, when considering a man to serve in an appointed position, the qualities referred to at 1 Tim. 3 are only secondary to field service time. As long as you are preaching, you have 90% of your qualifications covered. This cycle is perpetuated to the point that many appointed men are governed by a "numbers" mentality instead of showing true Christian compassion
Reply by wild olive on 2017-09-13 00:49:54
Hi WS
Yes by going infield service a JW has practically ticked every box in Christian living, I personally always enjoyed the door to door work and since I haven't done that now for more than 4yrs Ime missing it.
Now looking back in hindsight,the negative of the door to door was that I was going there with a preconceived idea that the householder was wrong and needed what I had,I see now how truly self righteous this is ,and all those different schools mentioned in the post all add to that self righteous mind set, even among JWs themselves ,some one whose gone to one of those schools is viewed differently to the average publisher who hasn't, almost as if they have a superior "spirituality".
To my mind the only real purpose of them is to indoctrinate policy and procedure ,the people I know who have been to them seem as if they are on auto pilot with all they do and don't seem to have any spare time for anything else than "kingdom interests " . I can't even get one to come fishing or 4x driving with me no matter how often I ask.Reply by Dajo on 2017-09-13 16:35:04
Yes, what you say is spot on, WO. I've been inactive now, around 11 mths. I don't miss this meeting anymore.
However the book "Jesus, the Way the Truth and the Life" will start to be "studied" starting November.
Wild Olive, I have PM you over at dtt.Reply by Warp Speed on 2017-09-13 19:58:01
Hi DJ,
Some of these mid-week meetings are very difficult to get through. I still go to some just so I don't make too many waves with extended family. It will interesting to see how the Jesus book study goes....Reply by Dajo on 2017-09-14 12:41:22
Hello Warping one,
I started my "drift away" around 18 months ago and did it gradually also due to family etc. I haven't been to a mid week meeting for around 4 mths now though accompany my wife to the WT about once every 6 weeks.
I'm also in the land of Vegemite...Seq.Reply by Warp Speed on 2017-09-14 17:40:01
Hey DJ,
Our paths sound very familiar. What a mind-blower to contemplate all the years we allowed ourselves to be indoctrinated. Not all that long ago I was a poster child for WT. I am glad though that there are others like us who still have a deep love for God and Christ. Always enjoy your comments.
Reply by wild olive on 2017-09-15 06:34:05
Hi Dajo
Having trouble getting a login on dtt
I think my other half has put some kind of a block on it as she is still very "in" and believes she's keeping away the apostates god bless her.
Reply by Warp Speed on 2017-09-13 19:50:42
Hi WO,
You are correct in saying that the main purpose of these "schools" is to hammer WT policy. To be fair, I have attended some sessions over the years that had at least a little bit of decent Biblical content. For the most part they were indeed organizational propaganda.
If I lived in Australia, I would go fishing or 4-wheeling with you in a heartbeat.
Comment by vinman on 2017-09-11 23:30:41
Thanks for the article. I can't stop saying this.That once you wake up, you can see that you were in a coma. How could we not see the elevation of the gb and organization? How could we not see that Jesus is just a tool that they use and then throw him in the box? The scripture from 2Cor.4:4:"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." I once applied this scripture in a very general way to Christendom. But I was very conscious of the fact that I had to do it in a very general indirect way. However the Watchtower Society is the very fulfillment of this scripture. The Witnesses are so blinded that they cannot see the glory of Christ Jesus. And all of us know that when we look back we thought very little of Jesus. But if you were like me perhaps you had a great affection for Jesus. After all you can't help but love him dearly and look up to him when you read the Gospels. However I remember beginning to develop some worshipful feelings towards Christ. I felt guilty and so I quickly had to get my mind off Jesus and focus on Jehovah as expressed in the Old Testament. The blindness that overtakes the witnesses is so dark that "natural light" cannot penetrate through. Meaning we can't simply explain these things to a witness. It takes a miracle. What I mean is it takes a person wanting to find truth and then only by God can he escape that darkness and come to appreciate Christ Jesus for who he is. Again, I cannot believe how this scripture is so true with Jehovah's Witnesses. In fact I really can't think of another group or religion within the Christian faith, that despises Jesus. Thanks again for these eye opening articles.
Reply by Tadua on 2017-09-12 09:10:41
Vinman
The points you make ring so many bells with me too. I can remember being so proud of being able to show people in the the ministry the 'Greatest Man' book to counter their claim that we didn't believe in Jesus. Now I understand what they meant. In my own mind he has always been 2nd in the universe in importance by a long way, the Gb and the org were only aids to understand the 'truth'. Now the agenda is to put 'a disgusting thing standing in a place where it ought not.' A self proclaimed body of men elevating themselves above Jesus the son of God claiming if we are not loyal to them and their organisation we cannot get everlasting life, when it is a free gift given by our king Jesus to all those who love him and demonstrate that by our faith and Christian actions and way of life. Even their videos about Jesus don't focus on him but their own agenda. I used to wonder What is wrong with a drama or video solely showing Jesus life, teachings and miracles. Now I realise it was because they didn't want us to see through their veil with which they have covered up bible truth with.
Reply by eve04 on 2017-09-13 12:21:52
Beautifully expressed. Absolutely mind boggling!
Reply by Phelps on 2017-09-15 13:45:57
Que hermoso! ?
Comment by Lone Survivor on 2017-09-12 08:48:40
Great comments thanks for the encouragement
Comment by Jerome on 2017-09-14 16:28:12
I found it revealing that the young man in the yearbook experience was found and helped, by a charity organization. Why was he not found by Jehovah's Witnesses? Because they do not offer charity.
Reply by Warp Speed on 2017-09-14 17:31:53
Hi Jerome,
Another case of sad but true....
Comment by Phelps on 2017-09-15 13:42:05
can a brother remind me of the watchman who says that our life depends on listening to the faithful and discreet slave? I have a brother who is "preaching" me and I did not remember the magazine ?. ..Thank you
Reply by Dajo on 2017-09-16 19:35:53
This is from the February 2017 simplified Study WT page 28 par 19
So when we follow the direction of the Governing Body, we follow our Leader, Jesus. Soon, he will lead us to everlasting life
And the non- simplified....
Therefore, he has supplied the faithful slave today with the same assistance. As anointed Christians, the members of that slave “keep following the Lamb no matter where he goes.” (Rev. 14:4) As we follow their direction, therefore, we follow our Leader, Jesus.
I don't think it is the one you want, but if I come across it I'll let you know.Reply by Phelps on 2017-09-16 19:42:03
Gracias hermano
Reply by Dajo on 2017-09-16 20:01:21
And this
Jehovah also uses Jesus to convey His voice to us. He appointed Jesus to lead the congregation by means of “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45) We need to take this guidance and direction seriously because our everlasting life depends on our doing so.
Wt August 15 2014
Whoops! I think thats the simplified version of Tadua's
Reply by Tadua on 2017-09-16 19:48:19
W14 8/15 p23 end of para 2
Reply by Dajo on 2017-09-19 15:52:36
OR THIS! 2013 NOV 15 WT end of article.
At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not....
Comment by mailman on 2017-09-19 12:25:32
Thanks Meleti and the brothers for all you comments. Based on my personal observation, the WT is very good in using the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to:
1) motivate the brothers to actively preach (e.g. let Jesus serve as our perfect model in showing zeal)
2) equate him to the term "ransom". Eventually, I realized this one is subtly degrading the status of our Master. Our Lord is certainly more than any ransom.
3) show to the JW community He is leading the congregation and the Governing Body. But it doesn't stop there. There's an agenda and that is for JWs to obey the GB since the latter are being lead by Jesus.
4) to elevate the status of the 144K since the latter will be future kings with Christ.
5) to give special status to the anointed since they are brothers of Jesus.