[W21/03 p. 2]
Reports are coming in that fewer and fewer young men are reaching out for “privileges” in the congregation. I believe that in great part this is due to the fact that young people are active on the internet and so are aware of the gross hypocrisy of the organization and want to part of it; but due to the threat of being shunned and cut off from family and friends, they continue to associate while avoiding reaching out for anything beyond the bare minimum.
In paragraph 2, we learn that the examples we will learn from are all from the Israelite times. This is part of the organization’s strategy of focusing attention on the times of the law instead of the times of Christ. Focusing on Christ will raise many questions that are best not faced by those wishing to exercise rules and laws.
Paragraph 3 speaks of non-spiritual ways in which young people can help out in the congregation. Paragraph 4 holds the promise of a more spiritual view by speaking of caring for the flock, but when it comes to any practical application, it fails by applying what it says to “diligently fulfilling any assignment they are given.” Yes, it is good to care for the flock but that means obeying the elders, not actually caring for the flock. How rare it is these days to hear of elders leaving the 99 behind to care for that one lost sheep.
Paragraph 5 provides us with a head scratching moment when it speaks of David cultivating a friendship with God, calling him David’s “close friend”, citing Psalm 25:14 which says nothing about God being David’s friend. What it does say is that God makes a covenant with those who are known to him. Since there is no covenant made with the other sheep “friends of God” based on JW theology, this text has no application whatsoever. If JWs were taught that all Christians are children of God in a covenant relationship with their heavenly Father, then Psalm 25:14 would be most relevant. However, instead they speak of David as God’s friend while at the same time calling Jehovah our heavenly father. Why not speak of being sons not friends?
Paragraph 6 states, “And by relying on his Friend, Jehovah, for strength, David struck down Goliath.” Again they beat the drum of “friendship with Jehovah”. This is an intentional effort to distract Christians from their true calling as children of God. There is nothing in the account that mentions Jehovah as David’s friend. I have many friends, but I have only one father. They refer to Jehovah as the father of all Jehovah’s witnesses, but they never refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as his children. What a strange family they have created where there is one father over all Jehovah’s Witnesses, yet all 8 million of them are not his children.
Paragraph 11 speaks of the elders as ‘gifts’ which Jehovah gives the congregation. They cite Ephesians 4:8 which is badly translated in the NWT as “gifts in men”. A proper translation should be “gifts to men” which means that all the members of the congregation receive various gifts from God to be used for the benefit of all.
Paragraphs 12 and 13 make an excellent point. When Asa relied on Jehovah, all went well. When he relied on men, things went badly. Sadly, few Witnesses will see the parallel. They will rely on the men of the Governing Body for guidance even when their direction conflicts with that of the Bible. Witnesses will obey the Governing Body before they obey Jehovah God.
Paragraph 16 tells young ones to listen to the counsel of elders. But is It not the elders that frequently give the unscriptural advice to avoid higher learning, and who will punish a brother or sister for going to university to better themselves?
The final sentence states: “And above all, in everything you do, make your heavenly Father proud of you.—Read Proverbs 27:11.”
I find it amazing how Witnesses will read this and completely miss the irony. Proverbs 27:11 reads: “Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.” According to JW theology, it should read, “Be wise, my friend, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.”
Only the anointed are called God’s sons.
New here, love Eric and the rest of the honest thinkers! Five years ago I was at a C/A in a Kingdom Hall Four-Plex when The CO asked “How many of you brothers want to reach out and be used as elders”? Only two raised their hands out of one thousand witnesses! The two that raised had been removed as elders unofficially for sexually abusing a four and eight year old child. One of the elders whispered in my ear “Nobody on the BOE wants this position anymore because the Watchtower shifted all the liabilities to us while taking our… Read more »
Hello all. This is one of the 3 yearly Wt.’s that bring to the fore the call to arms for the young men to serve Jehovah or GB/Organization. Very few, what I would deem normal young men, those who have jobs, love their family and friends, don’t spend every waking moment trying to pretend to pioneer, or judge other brothers, they play football, sports, have a good healthy routine, are not overweight, have a good education, are able to talk to other people regardless whether they are a JW or not, you know…normal folks. Are not interested in reaching out… Read more »
I’m so glad I’m a Sister and don’t have to deal with as much peer pressure as the Brothers do.
I have noticed and a few I know have commented that the age of elders and MS are becoming younger and younger, most born in with no practical experiences in life only fed on WT and the rules of the GB and Bethel lawyers. I think covid has woken many up as they are on the net more due to more internet, and witnessing by email and phone. Everything revolves around the organization and GB. For years JW have been dumbed down the food is immature because its not focused on Christ, how anyone can mature when its all the… Read more »
This is the kind of Watchtower article I’ve become allergic to! I’m sorry if I say this but I hate it. When I was young, I used to give my all to preaching, I served in many services (sound system, territories, etc.). I was proud but in fact I was listening to elders but not Jehovah. I was afraid to receive the disapproval of the elders on what I did, on what I said. Paragraph 5 is a strangeness for me, because the organization hammers “Friend” twice in the sentence and applies the Psalms in a wrong way. Paragraph 6… Read more »
I am certain that justice will be done: things will be set straight. Remember how the apostle Paul was zealous, but misguided? He was taken out of that position, and given a key role in the sharing of the good news! It’s a bit long, maybe, to explain here at this point, why it is that I have become convinced that there are actually 2 times of judgement. The first one is now (1 Pe 4:17), but a second one is to follow. In this first one, the wicked will be removed and true Christians will be selected to assist… Read more »
I have a question according to the mid week book study that we had. It’s in paragraph 15 where it reads: What we can learn from the prophecy. We can have the utmost confidence in the King, Jesus Christ. Why? Because unlike worldly rulers who may be elected by humans or may usurp ruling authority, Jesus was chosen by Jehovah and “given . . . a kingdom” to which he has the legal right. (Dan. 7:13, 14) Surely the King whom Jehovah himself has appointed deserves our confidence! Question is, was Jesus enthronement in heaven a result of having this… Read more »
The answer to your question is in the book of Hebrews. In fact, I suggest you should read Hebrews with this very question in mind, because it is the central theme of this letter from Paul: Jesus’ is the designated king in the line of David and the Messaiah, that the Law and the Prophets pointed to. In particular, I’m thinking of Hebrews, starting with at 5:4-10 (all taken from the NWT): “A man does not take this honor of his own accord, but he receives it only when he is called by God, just as Aaron was. [5] So,… Read more »
Good morning Meleti & brothers & sisters, I like the way you analyse the points from the WT, and you made me think on the examples that they gave young ones to follow. Asa, died unfaithful, according to insight book. Jehoshaphat, insight book says : Upon returning to Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat was censured for unwisely allying himself with wicked Ahab, the visionary Jehu saying to him: “Is it to the wicked that help is to be given, and is it for those hating Jehovah that you should have love? And for this there is indignation against you from the person of… Read more »
I like to classify the society as a Judo-Christian religion as they rely heavily on the Old Testament to justify all the rules they have in place, literally hundreds if not thousands of laws have been laid down through the pages of the WT. Young men in the society are never asked to fulfill the obligation to look after orphans and widows but only to slave the organization. How many congregations do you know of that have a mowing and garden roster to look after the needs of the older ones? No you must help build wealth for the organization… Read more »
This anointing thing kinda disturbs me a little. I had a definite spiritual experience back in 1996 that only left me ( due to my JW upbringing ) to interpret it as having been anointed. The problem with that is I thought Jehovah was making a big mistake because I had never even been as much as a pioneer. Let alone a CO or missionary . It was years later during my awakening , that I realized that I had simply been adopted as a son. This was especially important at that time as I was convinced that due to… Read more »
If I may, could you please clarify what are the “Watchtower teachings” you are referring to here?
Sure. But I might be opening up Pandora’s LOL. All the years that I have been a witness which was approximately 40, I was taught that it is not right for an anointed person to talk about his hope. The Watchtower has written that genuine anointed Christians do not do so . To do otherwise, especially if it is done often is to not show a spirit of humility and a drawing attention to one’s self. Added to that, you never read or listen to in the Watchtower or on the platforms about the details of such experiences. We actually… Read more »
Added to that, you never read or listen to in the Watchtower or on the platforms about the details of such experiences ….This is not permitted today. Makes you wonder why. I can just imagine what stories would be shared if all the 10000 Plus anointed ones that are reporting every year where to gather in one area and share their experiences. What you say above about Watchtower is true. This is why I asked how it could be that you understood the meaning of your experience. Especially since you were a witness for approximately 40 years. Maybe I misunderstood.… Read more »
“What you say above about Watchtower is true. This is why I asked how it could be that you understood the meaning of your experience. Especially since you were a witness for approximately 40 years. Maybe I misunderstood.” Because I had no point of reference. The teaching was and still is that,in our modern times, Jehovah and his Son do not cause anyone to have supernatural experiences. Those were limited to only the 1st century christians. So,in accepting this teaching, I could only interpret what I had experienced, as an anointing in the strict sense of Watchtower teachings Today… Read more »
Watchtower teachings is all I knew. You’re speaking to a former witness, so I am well aware of their teachings. Referring to your assumption that “a mistake” was made by Christ and The Father, as if there was a mix up in the spiritual mail, because you were not a pioneer, missionary or CO. Those titles are smoke and mirrors from a corporate business machine, which rewards and feeds the parasites at the top. They receive their reward in full. They gain the whole world but lose their life. Think about these things: The events surrounding Christs’ birth. A star… Read more »
All the awkwardness about the heavenly hope bothers me too. The earthly hope is constantly talked about. Is the heavenly hope something to be ashamed of? How would the other sheep feel if their earthly hope was doubted and they were told not to talk about it? The hypocrisy is astounding.
I had never thought of this before. Thanks for bringing it up. There is one God, one Lord, one hope. Not to hopes, one hope. A word search on the word hope in the Christian Scriptures indicates that it was very much a topic of discussion both inside and outside of the congregation, both within the family and in the preaching. So, since we are told to make a defence of the hope we have should anyone ask it, who would be happy if we were to refrain from doing so out of a misguided understanding that to do so… Read more »
Shortly after baptism, folks were captivated by my former occult and spiritistic practices. So much so that I was asked to relate the details of such experiences at 2 circuit assemblies and at the Divine Name District assembly held in Montreal in 1971. Many became fascinated by what I had said and would seek me out to know more. However, after my experience of 1996 which made me aware that I had been adopted as one of God’s sons, I experienced the complete opposite. One elder , I was told was “livid” that I actually partook of the emblems at… Read more »
Our experiences and our hope. The experience of the call is powerful and leaves no doubt it came from an outside source. Like Moses, I wish all received it. You could say that every christian shares a hope of life everlasting. But not every christian receives the call. The form that that lasting life takes is not the same for all. It is an invitation to an office of service which must be reached out for in endurance and faith, along with much difficulties. That service in the administration to come includes duties. Duties which non-called ones take upon themselves.… Read more »
Have you experienced the spirit of adoption ?
From reading some of your statements, I suspect that you have.
Just curious, that’s all.
I experienced the invitation, yes. Around 1985-ish. Didn’t understand that it meant something more than the experience itself until something roughly more than a year, less than a year and a half ago. Such a power can never be forgotten. There is no room for second guessing. The Father knew in advance how much reading of the scriptures I would do in my life. And led me to those articles which my spirit recognizes as genuine. In my current state my health is precarious, among other things. I only mention it because staring death in the face 24/7, even though… Read more »
http://pearl-whoareanointed.blogspot.com/
My first wife pushed me brieflyto reach out. Hell! I suffered depression all of my life and I was working hard at a manual job with early starts. There is no way I would have /could have given any more of myself in that circumstance and having read the horror stories of the CARC and others my mental health would have collapsed completely.