"So the king said to me: “Why do you look so gloomy when you are not sick? This can be nothing but gloominess of heart.” At this I became very frightened." (Nehemiah 2:2 NWT)
Today’s JW message is not to be afraid to preach publicly about the truth. The examples used are from the Old Testament where Nehemiah was asked by King Artaxerxes when serving him his cup of wine why he looked gloomy.
Nehemiah explained, after praying, that his city, Jerusalem, its walls had been broken down and its gates set on fire. He asked for permission to go and fix them etc. and the king obliged. (Nehemiah 1:1-4; 2:1-8 NWT)
The other example the Organization uses is Jonah who was asked to go and curse Nineveh and how he ran away as he didn’t want to do it. However, he finally did after being punished by God, and saved Nineveh as they repented. (Jonah 1:1-3; 3:5-10 NWT)
The publications preach the importance of praying for help before answering, like Nehemiah did, and from Jonah that no matter our fears, God will help us to serve Him.
What I find remarkable about this is that the best example JW could have used was Jesus Himself and His Apostles. Of course, by not using Jesus as an example, the Apostles are also left out.
One might ask oneself why it is that the organization goes so often to the times of Israel for its examples when better and more relevant examples are to be found in the Christian Scriptures in Jesus and the Apostles? Should they not be trying to help Christians to focus on our Lord?
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Comment by Beroeans Creed on 2020-11-05 18:59:02
Welcome to the forum Aletheia!
Excellent observations as well.
The answer to the first part about the organization always going to the Hebrew Scriptures instead of focusing on the Christ and the apostles example is their way of Subliminally deflecting The friends Minds away from the true head of the congregation as much as possible as they have successfully supplanted Jesus with the FDS/GB.
The Patriarchal, Judges, Kings and prophet arrangement aligns easier with this agenda and the authoritarian positions they have created in the minds of the average JW. The bottom line, By paying to much attention to the Gospel accounts and the first century congregation
supplies to much evidence to those who actually study what the Bible actually states and they soon realize the “round hole, square peg” problem with what they are being taught.
Comment by Zacheus on 2020-11-05 20:41:26
In my earliest days at the wtstudy I thought it was sheer timidness that people would just quote"the party line". I would put in my own life experiences relevant in answering.
Later the wt was done and people were asked to do this but later still much later, I noticed those answering went back to just the quoted text.
As for being publicly corrected..How rude.This is an org in panic corralling the mob back into org think.
I noticed too that there were elders who thought they were stand-up comedians and they were not. So people would not answer for fear of being ridiculed.
In doing the mike I noticed that some of the beautiful people had more colours underlining their wt mags than enough! but they never answered!
I have had sisters say to me since we miss you and your answers were always so good.
Hmm as Americans will say.. "Do the maths" or Go figure.
Re the use of the bible by the wt. When the jw quote a scripture read the ones either side of it orbetter the whole chapter to get the authors intent.
Hugs!
Comment by Psalmbee on 2020-11-05 23:46:04
For those that don't know, Nehemiah became frightened by what the King asked
him because in those days it was very common for a king to have someone beheaded just for looking gloomy in his presence. "Despondency" is not a quality the King tolerated.
As one commenter below labeled some as "the average JW", I would challenge to say there are no average JW's, but to be fair I understand your choice of words.
May I add that the GB the JW's symbolic king (and that's with a lower case k ) are seeing a lot of gloomy faces and they seem to be getting a little upset even to the point of getting the guillotine sharpened.
The King had this power over Nehemiah that would make him tremble when he could not show the King a happy face and in same like manner this type of power is held over the "average JW" by the GB.
Psalmbee
Comment by Deano on 2020-11-06 12:22:35
I would add to this a simple story. Whenever chairing the Sunday meeting, after the speaker had finished and I introduce the second part of the meeting, I would say " We now move into the 2nd part of our meeting, a study of the bible, with the aid of the WT.
I always had a few elders approach afterwards and say, no its the WT study, not a bible study. I was never sure if they were joking, but I think we know the answer to that.
The average JW, I really dont think has any idea of what some of the bible says, yes it takes time and effort to study it, some people I know are not scholars or very good at studying, but maybe if some took the time to open their hearts to what is said, then maybe you can actually get closer to Jehovah.
WT study conductors who think they are the main attraction and it revolves around them, don't seem to read their own guidelines, you should conduct the study, not play every instrument, draw out the thoughts of the congregation, let them express themselves, some do and some just read whats set out in the paragraphs, but for a while , I now find that they have started to make the answer to the questions in BOLD type? Are we really bible students, sometimes I feel we are not.Reply by rusticshore on 2020-11-07 05:37:24
The term "bible students" is a psychological ploy. It is a form of "gaslighting." Are we not teachers of the word of God, especially after spent numerous years studying the bible? Yes. We are entrusted by God, not as students, but as "teachers," "evangelizers," etc.
The Governing Body wants EVERYONE (including elders) to believe that they are "students," hence, a term they employ often to apply to everyone outside the scope of the headquarter leadership. So, why do they insist on making everyone believing they are "students?" That is the gaslighting part. A student, by nature, does NOT question the teacher (i.e. the Gov Body). This is universally known and accepted. So the ploy is . . ."as a student, do not trust yourself with God's inspired Word. TRUST US!"Reply by Psalmbee on 2020-11-07 06:36:50
Rusticshore wrote,
"So, why do they insist on making everyone believing they are “students?” That is the gaslighting part. A student, by nature, does NOT question the teacher (i.e. the Gov Body). This is universally known and accepted."
Here's something to think about:
"When the student is ready the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready... the teacher will disappear." (LT)
And this:
"The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life." (C)
Psalmbee
Reply by Amitafal on 2020-11-08 03:46:42
I recall one of our elders during the Sunday WT discussion actually pointing out “that the answer was near the end of the paragraph and in bold! In fact if you didn’t have time to read the whole WT and look up scriptures then all you had to do is read the question and scan through the paragraph to see the answer” (often in bold lettering). I even tried this one week. Of course that type of preparation if you can call it that, just leads to a load of sheep that just follow blindly whatever they are told! And for those of you that are familiar with farming and sheep, a farmer will tell you that sheep are the most stupid of the animals.! They literally don’t think, they get caught up in hedges, or go into a dip or a stream that they cannot get out of and if not found, they would die. No wonder Jesus used sheep in his illustrations as they really did need guidance in everything! The same with making every thing digital for the mid week meetings. You could just click on the scripture or reference and read the answer, no ‘digging’ required. I hated this new format in 2016, making it known to some in the cong. Needless to say they labelled me as bad association/ apostate. Again, thank you, it helped me realise that they were not my friends, and I soon left the Org.
Comment by Amitafal on 2020-11-08 03:34:35
Elpida, I know oh too well of public correction from the platform and at Field service groups. I recall an elder telling me that I needed to read scriptures better. I was so nervous answering up and even more so at reading a scripture as I was not raised in the ‘Truth’ and didn’t have the years of practice as those who had been. That comment lead to me losing more confidence and not reading ANY scriptures at the meetings or on the ministry. This elder was always making hurtful comments and upsetting sisters. Thanks to him and several other nasty elders in our cong, I finally realised that this Org could not be called the ‘Truth’ by their behaviour or their teachings. It helped me realise I had to get out as they were part of Rev 18:4,5. I left 4 years ago and am so glad I have.
Reply by Elpida on 2020-11-08 06:45:15
Thank you Amitafa for your comments as it makes me feel less alone knowing others have experienced this. No doubt, your comments will help others too. Like you, I also stopped commenting and lost confidence. It felt like scolding to me and could have been handled better. If I had been taken aside and explained why it was important to reply with the exact wording of the Watchtower article, I think my reaction would be different.
Comment by truthrooster on 2020-11-10 07:25:57
Well written, Elpida. I think is is a great idea to have this short form article to look at the WT daily scriptures as a launch point for discussions. And as for your experience with having your viewpoint stifled publicly, I think we can all relate. I find it strange now that I thought that level of control was normal. The first thing I noticed in the Beroean study group is how well a study or meeting can function when you let the Spirit lead the group. The result isn’t chaos. It’s unpredictable, but ALWAYS a positive and memorable experience. The result is not looking at the clock anymore, counting down the minutes and enduring. It’s now staying online as long as I can so I don’t miss a new viewpoint. I look forward to more of these articles, Elpida.
Comment by ShemaIsrael5 on 2020-11-10 08:08:46
While I agree that the words of יהוה God and Yeshua/Jesus are not to be altered, I also know from a Biblical linguistic standpoint that a translation is an interpretation. However, if someone then reinterprets the translation, they are actually getting further from the original Word of God. Also, while I agree that Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong for practices in their memorials, I also know that the context of the last meal was Passover. Thus, he included it in his Passover. The Moedim of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Shavuot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, were all observed by Yeshua the Messiah. Thus, we should observe what Yeshua observed, not because we are saved by obedience, but because we are saved by grace.