“Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth … Seek meekness”​— Zephaniah 2:3

 [From ws 02/19 p.8 Study Article 7: April 15 -21]

Have you been enthralled watching a beautiful TV program perhaps about some wildlife and as the story comes to a climax then the program is interrupted by a grating jingle as the backing for an advert? What if that were the case and it proceeded to announce, “this program is proudly sponsored by Conartistes & Liars Inc. the only travel agent self-appointed to guide you round such Wildlife refuges. Unless you accept us as guides, you will not be able to see such sights”. No doubt, you would be unhappy at the very least.

Why this little story? The reason is that this week’s Watchtower study article is very much like that. There are 23 paragraphs this week and there is little to quibble about, with much good and beneficial material. All except for paragraph 18.

In paragraph 18 the upbuilding and beneficial counsel is interrupted by a grating jingle. Namely, “Jehovah provides that guidance in the Bible and in publications and through programs produced by “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45-47) We must do our part by humbly acknowledging that we need help, by studying the material Jehovah supplies, and by submissively applying what we learn”.

The benefits of the whole article are tainted by this blatant self-aggrandisement by the self-appointed faithful and discreet slave. It also comes with the strong suggestion that whoever does not accept both them and the literature they supply is neither meek nor humble. In making this suggestion, they both judge others’ heart motivations and actions without knowing them. More of a problem is that they put themselves in the position of Jesus who is the only one with a right to judge heart motivations. (John 5:22) Worse still, in taking this position of judgement, they effectively encourage those that do listen to them, to go and judge others in the same manner.

In addition, as is becoming the norm in recent years, this paragraph totally ignores the head of the Christian Congregation, Jesus Christ, who according to Scripture has been granted all authority. Instead they claim the material has come from Jehovah and been produced by them, thereby effectively bypassing Jesus (Ephesians 5:23, Matthew 28:18).

In conclusion, provided you ignore or avoid reading paragraph 18 and the attitudes contained therein, you will find this article is worth reading.

Tadua

Articles by Tadua.
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