“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.
Paragraph 2 “However, we have a powerful incentive to develop this quality. Jehovah promises that “the meek will possess the earth.” (Ps. 37:11)” Paragraph 22 “Soon, Jehovah will remove all wicked people from the earth, and only the meek will remain. Then the earth will truly be peaceful. (Ps. 37:10, 11)” It is a strange curiosity when you ask members of the organization who is being spoken of in Psalm 37 and Matthew 5:5 as those who will posses/inherit the land/earth in my experience most will say “that’s my promise and hope” (i.e. great crowd, other sheep) But like so many… Read more »
The Governing Body considers all Christians who don’t follow it part of apostate Christianity. Why? Because the GB claims those folks teach and follow incorrect Bible beliefs. Isn’t the Governing Body judging itself apostate by that standard? It admits it has interpreted scripture incorrectly many, many times. And that it might be doing so right now. And that it could also do so in the future. The reason it uses to excuse its inaccurate interpretations has always been, we are imperfect. But what kind of cop-out is that? Everyone is imperfect. So why even bring that up and apply that… Read more »
Tadua Great review, brief precise & to the point I loved your take on paragraph 18. Jerome paragraph 7- 8 not bad at all you got me thinking, on the grounds of being disfellowshipped in the elder’s book under Apostasy WT 4/1/1986 P 30-31 Questions from Readers Why have Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowshipped (excommunicated) for apostasy some who still profess belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ? Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do such beliefs include? That… Read more »
I was very annoyed that, as is always the case when humility or meekness is discussed, everyone is in danger of losing the quality of meekness except for the governing body. Paragraph 8 reasons: “WHEN IS IT A CHALLENGE TO BE MEEK? When given authority: It can be a challenge for those who have authority to remain meek, especially when someone they oversee treats them disrespectfully or questions their judgment. Has that ever happened to you? What if a family member acted that way? How would you respond? Consider how Moses dealt with that situation. Jehovah appointed Moses as leader… Read more »
Good points. All of these comments are great actually, it’s hard to choose which to respond to. “Jehovah appointed Moses as leader of Israel and allowed him to record the laws that governed that nation. There was no doubt that Jehovah was backing Moses.” Since the GB is unabashedly comparing themselves to Meek Moses in the article you shared, Jerome, I’ll make this comment: What gave Moses the right to direct anyone? What gave him the right to make any sort of claim that God was using him and speaking through him to the nation? Was it not overwhelming miraculous… Read more »
Thank you Tadua. The only problem is that as soon as I see meekness or humility being discussed, I am already waiting for something on the lines of paragraph 18, thereby encouraging submission to the GB and their authority as the main way that we can be meek or humble. The challenge is then finding such submission in the article.
No much about Jesus again, although the previous article contained nothing.
Rant over.
Love to all here, especially Eric.