“I tell everyone there among you not to think more of himself than it is necessary to think, but to think so as to have a sound mind.” – Romans 12:3
[Study 27 from ws 07/20 p.2 August 31 – September 6, 2020]
This is yet another article that attempts to deal with too many areas under one theme and thereby does none of them any justice. In fact, because the advice is so broad brush and generalized, those brothers and sisters who hang on to every word from the Governing Body could make serious mistakes in their decisions in life based on this article.
This Watchtower Study article covers three, yes, three, disparate areas to apply this scripture too.
They are (1) our marriage, (2) our privileges of service (within the Organization), and (3) our use of social media!
Show Humility in Your Marriage (par. 3-6)
The subject of humility in marriage is covered in four short paragraphs. Yet marriage is a big subject with many variables to take into account, yet apparently none of these are looked at or even hinted at.
The Organization’s law is laid down in paragraph 4 where it says “We must avoid becoming dissatisfied with our marriage. We realize that the only Scriptural grounds for divorce is sexual immorality. (Matthew 5:32)”. Notice the commanding tone. Would it not be better to say, “As we all desire to make Jehovah happy we should endeavor to avoid becoming dissatisfied with our marriage”.
Also, when we read the cited scripture in context, we see that Jesus was not laying down the law as the Organization seem to be doing. He was not trying to replace the Mosaic Law with even stricter restrictions on ending a marriage. Rather, Jesus was trying to get people to take marriage seriously instead of divorcing for frivolous reasons. In Malachi 2:14-15, some 400 years earlier, the prophet Malachi had already identified the problem. He counseled “you people must guard yourselves respecting your spirit [your thoughts and inner feelings], and with the wife of your youth may no one deal treacherously. For he [Jehovah God] has hated a divorcing”.
Was Jesus (and Jehovah by the Mosaic Law) saying that a physically or mentally abused spouse could not divorce their spouse? Were they saying that a spouse that abused children could not be divorced? Or that a spouse that was a drunkard and drank all the family's means of financial support, or a drug addict that refused to get help, or a spouse that continually gambled away their family's income could not be divorced? What about an unrepentant murderer? It would be unreasonable to say that was the case as it would be unjust and Jehovah is a God of justice. Furthermore for a brother or sister reading the Watchtower article and because of the statement in paragraph 4 highlighted above, not separating from or divorcing their spouse, could put their own life in danger, and that of any children of the marriage.
Rather Jehovah and Jesus are against the selfish prideful attitude many had to marriage in Malachi’s time when Jesus was on earth and today.
Paragraph 4 rightly says “we would not want to let pride cause us to begin wondering: ‘Is this marriage fulfilling my needs? Am I getting the love I deserve? Would I find greater happiness with another person?’ Notice the focus on self in those questions. The wisdom of the world would tell you to follow your heart and do what makes you happy, even if that means ending your marriage. Godly wisdom says you should “look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4) Jehovah wants you to preserve your marriage, not to end it. (Matthew 19:6) He wants you to think of him first, not yourself.”
Paragraphs 5 & 6 correctly suggest “Husbands and wives who are humble will seek, not their own advantage, but “that of the other person.”—1 Cor. 10:24.
6 Humility has helped many Christian couples find greater happiness in their marriage. For example, a husband named Steven says: “If you are a team, you will work together, especially when there are problems. Instead of thinking ‘what is best for me?’ you will think ‘what is best for us?’”.
However, that is the only helpful advice in the Watchtower article on how humility can help in marriage. There are so many scenarios that could have been discussed as to how showing humility will help a marriage. Such as not insisting that you are right (even if you are!). If there is a limited budget to spend, will you allow your spouse to purchase something they really need, or will you spend the money on a luxury for yourself, etc, etc.
Serve Jehovah with “All Humility” (paragraphs 7-11)
“The Bible contains warning examples of people who thought too much of themselves. Diotrephes immodestly sought to have “the first place” in the congregation. (3 John 9) Uzziah proudly tried to perform a task that Jehovah had not assigned him to do. (2 Chronicles 26:16-21) Absalom slyly tried to win the support of the public because he wanted to be king. (2 Samuel 15:2-6) As those Bible accounts clearly show, Jehovah is not pleased with people who seek their own glory. (Proverbs 25:27) In time, pride and ambition lead only to disaster.—Proverbs 16:18.”
So, brothers and sisters, who have “the first place” in the worldwide congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses today?
Is it not the Governing Body? In recent years they have accentuated this position, especially since the July 2013 Watchtower. Is it not so that they have become like “Diotrephes immodestly sought to have “the first place” in the congregation”?
What happens if you question anything the Governing Body teaches, however illogical, like the "overlapping generation"?
You will be labeled a “mentally diseased” apostate and disfellowshipped, thrown out of the congregation. (See 15 July 2011 Watchtower p16 para 2)
What did Diotrephes do? Exactly the same.
3 John 10 says that he spread “malicious talk about” about others. “Not being content with this, he refuses to welcome the brothers with respect; and those who want to welcome them, he tries to hinder and to throw out of the congregation.”
What evidence is there that Jesus chose the Governing Body as his faithful slave in 1919?
None. They have proudly self-appointed themselves.
What did Uzziah do?
“Uzziah proudly tried to perform a task that Jehovah had not assigned him to do. (2 Chronicles 26:16-21)”.
The Governing Body also were like Absalom as they slyly won the support of the Witnesses for increasing their authority, by articles in the Watchtower teaching that the Governing Body’s teachings should not be questioned, even if it seems strange.
Yes, the Governing Body should heed their own counsel, “As those Bible accounts clearly show, Jehovah is not pleased with people who seek their own glory. (Proverbs 25:27) In time, pride and ambition lead only to disaster.—Proverbs 16:18.”
Paragraph 10 appears to be designed to perpetuate the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak of no evil” mentality so prevalent among the brothers and sisters. “Leave it to Jehovah to sort out” is the message when you see “that there are problems in the congregation and you feel that they are not being dealt with properly” or at all, which is often the case. The suggestion is to “ask yourself: ‘Are the problems that I see really so serious that they need to be corrected? Is this the right time to correct them? Is it my place to correct them? In all honesty, am I really trying to promote unity, or am I trying to promote myself?” Yes, the Watchtower Study article writer tries to get you to doubt the prodding of your conscience, with the inference that the Organization has everything under control. Like the growing scandal about child abuse. Oh yes, the police may not have been informed as legally they should have, but do not rock the boat, it is not your responsibility to get involved, the elders and the Organization know better they are suggesting.
NO, THEY DO NOT. To protect yourself and others, especially other children, examine your conscience. To paraphrase Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees, To him, that calls for the tax, render tax, and to the authorities that demand reporting of a crime, whether there are two witnesses or not, report the crime (Matthew 22:21). We must all remember that molesting a child is a crime, just as shoplifting or mugging someone or burglarizing a house is a crime. If you should report the shoplifting, or mugging or burglary, you should also report the allegation of child abuse. If you fail to do so, rather than not bringing reproach on Jehovah’s name, you will bring more, as that which is hidden always comes to light sooner or later, with worse consequences.
Show Humility when using social media (paragraphs 12-15)
Paragraph 13 tells us that “Studies have found that people who spend a lot of time scrolling through social media postings might actually end up feeling lonely and depressed. Why? One possible reason is that people often post on social media photos that depict the highlights of their lives, showing selected images of themselves, their friends, and the exciting places they have been. A person who views those images might conclude that, by comparison, his or her own life is ordinary—even dull. “I started feeling discontent when I saw others having all this fun on the weekends and I was at home bored,” admits a 19-year-old Christian sister”.
It would be nice to know what studies found this, and to what degree. As usual, there is no reference. However, it is likely true for the reason given. One could argue that the 19-year-old sister mentioned should not become envious. But, likewise, those Witnesses posting such photos are not bearing in mind the principle of not making a showy display of one's means of life. This principle is highlighted in paragraph 15 when it quotes 1 John 2:16. This section at least is sound counsel.
Think so as to have a sound mind (paragraphs 16-17)
The Governing Body like “proud people are contentious and egotistical. Their thinking and actions often cause them to hurt themselves and others. Unless they change their way of thinking, their minds will be blinded and corrupted by Satan.”.
Let us be humble people rather than proud but let us not confuse humbleness with blind unquestioning obedience. God created each one of us with a conscience, he expects us to use it in accord with his word, and not to let other humans tell us how to exercise it.
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Comment by Jack on 2020-08-30 11:49:49
(Matthew 19:1-12) . . .When Jesus had finished speaking these things, he departed from Galʹi·lee and came to the borders of Ju·deʹa across the Jordan. 2 Also, large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.
3 And Pharisees came to him intent on testing him, and they asked: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on every sort of grounds?” 4 In reply he said: “Have you not read that the one who created them from the beginning made them male and female 5 and said: ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? 6 So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together, let no man put apart.” 7 They said to him: “Why, then, did Moses direct giving a certificate of dismissal and divorcing her?” 8 He said to them: “Out of regard for your hard-heartedness, Moses made the concession to you of divorcing your wives, but that has not been the case from the beginning. 9 I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on the grounds of sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”
10 The disciples said to him: “If that is the situation of a man with his wife, it is not advisable to marry.” 11 He said to them: “Not all men make room for the saying, but only those who have the gift. 12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs on account of the Kingdom of the heavens. Let the one who can make room for it make room for it.”
Christ plainly taught there was only one acceptable reason for divorce, immorality on the part of a spouse. His disciples understood the gravity of what he was saying thus their reply.Reply by Jack on 2020-08-30 17:06:44
Christ taught a number of difficult things.
Love your enemies.
Turn the other cheek.
Leave all things and follow him.
If they persecuted him they will persecute his disciples.
Expect to lose family with a new family in return.
Enduring to the end even to death and torture.
Drinking his cup, carrying our cross.
This we do because he loves us. In the end that love makes all things difficult feel relatively easy. Because like a moth to a flame we are drawn to Christ.
Reply by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-08-31 07:04:04
When Jesus said "Whoever divorces his wife, except on the grounds of sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery", was he not just stating such a one is breaking one of the ten commandments, which are above Moses law. But even then , Jesus showed that adultery was a valid reason for divorce. The Bible may not go into detail on the gambler, the wilful non provider, the child abuser, the wife beater, yet it is noteworthy that current Jewish law permits a divorce on the grounds of adultery, cruelty, or unreasonable behaviour, inter alia.
Was Jesus being rigid on only the grounds for divorce ? Or was he stating the obvious ?
.Reply by Chet on 2020-08-31 14:47:19
I replied before noting you last comment. Indeed, I believe that Jesus was stating the obvious. Just because a divorce is sanctioned by law does not mean that a God can’t see the motivations behind it. Getting divorced so you can marry someone else is adultery, regardless of the legal sanction of the action. I’m certain that is what Jesus what alluding to.
Reply by Chet on 2020-08-31 14:44:13
As a person that has been through the process of a “scriptural divorce” I would like to weigh in.
Specifically, Jesus said that one whom divorces without grounds of fornication, and then marries another, has committed adultery. The adultery is in the remarriage without grounds of fornication. But life is not always so tidy and to provide a confession of fornication when marital troubles become serious. The current laws regarding marriage are not the Bible’s laws, they are manmade.
If you are married to someone, and they assume a debt without your foreknowledge or consent, in many places, you are still liable for that debt. This is known and used like a weapon, in many divorces. Credit card debt can mount rapidly with little to show for it. Cash advances can be used, literally, to fund a divorce action and then the other mate ends up on the hook for these costs. These are real things that happen to real people.
Many JWs are blithely unaware of these things. Many do not realize that, in at least much of the US, there are no grounds necessary in order to be granted a divorce. You can’t really fight a divorce; all you can do is dispute the property division and/or child custody arrangements. In my own experiences and in those of others I have known, it is obvious that many elders are not aware of these facts and will expect that a mate will fight legally to preserve their marriage. In many places, this does not exist and would only serve to line the pockets of the attorneys involved.
40 - 50 years ago, there probably was some realistic expectation that people seeking a divorce would act honorably, but this is certainly not the case in our day. False accusations are common and, unfortunately, elders have been known to take the side of the accuser without even hearing the other spouse’s side of the story. A Witness man of my acquaintance went through such a thing and ended up committing suicide. The truth of that situation may never be known, at this point.
In no way do I advocate divorce for frivolous reasons, but the Watchtower advice in this matter is unrealistic. A person needs to protect their personal interests and, sadly, marriages break up often in our day. I could picture some poor, hapless JW allowing themselves to be ruined by such unrealistic advice, all the while thinking that they are a shining example of Christian behavior.
Comment by Jack on 2020-08-30 19:05:15
Let's take this to its logical conclusion.
Does God exist alone in heaven?
If not, is it logical to assume that He gave his spirit sons the same ability to think for themselves as He gave to his human children?
If so, then it is also logical that not a few spirit sons would take advantage of their freedom to go their own way.Reply by Jack on 2020-08-30 20:45:49
(Let's see if I can break the string of negatives I've received.) ;)
I appreciate this site, truly.Reply by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-08-31 06:49:13
Cannot see why you were getting negative comments. All your points were quite reasonable. Obviously the someone who takes offence, cannot explain why.
Comment by Zacheus on 2020-08-30 20:13:36
Instead of thinking ‘what is best for me? good grief. Only jw's would think like this. They have in my experience and for much of what is on the web this way of categorizing everything. Talk to elders and the r&f and you get this impression theyare ticking off boxes as you do so.
Comment by Chet on 2020-08-30 23:29:22
Even when I was an active and zealous Witness, I would sometimes look at the title of articles and question whether the Organization was capable of any new or unique articles. As far as I can tell, they use the same shopworn articles, over and over again, changing details to suit their immediate needs, but basically just rehashing the same old thing, over and over again.
While I am not about to promote divorce, I will point out that the stakes are exceptionally high in our day. A deceitful spouse can destroy your life and your finances. I have known JW men who were the victims of JW women in good standing that stole them blind, before filing for divorce and pleading with the elders to help them.
One man I knew was an elder himself when he was unexpectedly served divorce papers. As he assessed the situation, he found that his Witness wife had clandestinely transferred their retirement funds into other accounts, solely in her name, then broke up their home in a bitter battle over every dime. The poor man was reduced to poverty and, being in his mid fifties at the time, was unable to rebuild his finances in the working years he had left.
My point is that blithely ignoring the consequences of marital problems could prove to be the undoing of a person. It would be wonderful if we could count on our marriage partners to act in an upright manner, but in this treacherous time, hanging onto a deteriorating marriage until the grounds of fornication were fulfilled could be disastrous. I was personally in such a situation myself, long ago, and was threatened with disfellowshipping if I separated from my wife without grounds of fornication. I outmaneuvered the elders and was able to escape their clutches, but the emotional cost was devastating. BTW, less than six months after my divorce, she confessed to fornication. This is just one more example of the Watchtower giving out unrealistic advice that ignores the reality of the world in which we live.
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Serve Jehovah With “All Humility”
One more shopworn subject, which they pull out of their hats with amazing regularity is the idea of not seeking personal prominence. They slap a fresh coat of paint on it for this article, but it’s the same old song and dance they’ve used to disparage anyone that didn’t toe the line. Have you ever noticed that anyone who left the Organization in their early history was always described as seeking personal prominence?
Claiming that someone is not adequately humble is a psychological sucker punch. Everyone has moments of self doubt and playing the “humility card” is a sure fire way to gain a psychological advantage over someone that is undergoing a moment of self-examination. Everyone is too proud at one time or another, but that is far from saying that everyone is dominated by prideful behavior. People are more complex that such a one dimensional assessment. I may be proud of my abilities in some areas, but acutely aware of my limitations, overall. I would venture to say that most mature people would fit that same description.
In the context of the Organization, such counsel is, at best, inconsistent. Of all the various forms of pride I’ve seen in my life, few even come close to the examples I have seen among persons seeking, or having, appointed positions in JW congregations.
I recall one fellow that would run around “counseling” people for all sorts of imagined offenses, and always start by reading scriptures which he felt reinforced his power as being an appointed servant. I was in my teens when this was happening and would literally play dumb, acting as if I didn’t understand what he was getting at, so I could amuse myself as he explained that the princes in Isaiah 32:1 were the elders and ministerial servants. I outwardly appeared gape mouthed and uncomprehending, while inside, I was laughing at his pomposity and obvious cluelessness. It was only a year or so after this that he was disfellowshipped and completely discredited, leaving “the Truth” about as flamboyantly as one could imagine.
That’s far from the only example I can think of where a Witness male allowed position, or even the prospect of a position, to turn them into an insufferable egotist that felt justified in doing anything they pleased, because they were certain that they were appointed by Holy Spirit. Frankly, an organization which claims that internal appointments are the work of Holy Spirit strikes me as an organization that takes itself too seriously.
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Show Humility When Using Social Media
While I can sympathize with the feelings of the 19 year old mentioned in the article, I don’t think that it’s necessary to take the advice given. Yes, vacation photos show highlights from life. So if I go to Yosemite I shouldn’t show people pictures of the natural beauty I saw there because they might feel jealous or left out? Sorry Watchtower, but I don’t see it that way. When I was 19, I was poor; very poor. My chances of visiting anywhere interesting were, zero. But time moved forward and opportunities finally came my way. I had to work for them, but by the time I was 29, I was able to do some interesting things, although I still had to work hard to accomplish this. But that’s just life.
My first car wasn’t as nice as my parent’s cars were. I wanted to own a home but didn’t get to do so until I was in my thirties. It was years later before I had any savings to speak of and the list goes on. That’s just part of life. A person that has been earning an income for one year is naturally not going to have the same results as someone farther along in life.
If that person chooses to spend their time in the “full time ministry” as defined by Jehovah’s Witnesses, their opportunities for income will be even less. That is a choice and, like all choices, comes with built-in costs. I floundered in my career until a very kind and wise man, ironically a Circuit Overseer, explained that providing for myself and paying my debts was a primary obligation. From that day on, the dream of pioneering was placed behind me and I chose to work as hard as I could. In retrospect, it was one of the best decisions of my life.
I will concede that people can be insensitive when talking about vacations, etc. There are always people out there that are struggling to make ends meet and I can understand that to someone having trouble with everyday expenses, talk of exotic vacations might seem a bit hard to take, but does that mean that everyone should keep their experiences to themselves? I would venture that is a bit of an overreaction, and may even leave the less prosperous feeling excluded.