WALKING IN THE PATH OF INCREASING LIGHT - WT STUDY

by Mary 135 Replies latest jw friends

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  blindersoff

  Terry,

  I thought this disgusting WT quote might be of interest.

  w98

  8/15 p. 17 Strengthening Our Confidence in God’s Righteousness ***

  Feelings

  of Having Suffered Needlessly

  6

  In the past, some Witnesses have suffered for refusing to share in an activity that their conscience now might permit. For example, this might have been their choice years ago as to certain types of civilian service. A brother might now feel that he could conscientiously perform such without overstepping his Christian neutrality regarding the present system of things.

  7

  Was it unrighteous on Jehovah’s part to allow him to suffer for rejecting what he now might do without consequences? Most who have had that experience would not think so. Rather, they rejoice that they had the opportunity of demonstrating publicly and clearly that they were determined to be firm on the issue of universal sovereignty. (Compare Job 27:5.) What reason could anyone have to regret having followed his conscience in taking a firm stand for Jehovah? By loyally upholding Christian principles as they understood them or by responding to the proddings of conscience, they proved worthy of Jehovah’s friendship.
• 

  cyber-sista

  7
  Was it unrighteous on Jehovah’s part to allow him to suffer for rejecting what he now might do without consequences? Most who have had that experience would not think so. Rather, they rejoice that they had the opportunity of demonstrating publicly and clearly that they were determined to be firm on the issue of universal sovereignty.

  
  

  
  
  As if a great god of the universe would require or need us puny humans to suffer needlessly in honor of his greatness. I hate these kind of WT statements with the answered question statements.
  

  
  
  Whatever it is if the policy changes I can here some of the JWs now "The faithful slave is soooooooooooooo loving......the brothers are sooooooooo loving they are now allowing us to speak to those Dfd ones at the meeting to encourage them to come back into the fold, but of course their should be no socializing with them afterwards, especially in the parking lot after the meetings, as others (the weaker ones among us and those in the community too) could take note of this and perhaps be stumbled. Likewise, we would not want to make the wrong impression to the one who is being disciplined by our socializing with them in this manner could make light of the fact that they have indeed committed a sin worthy of Jehovah's disfavor. So, while encouraging those to once again walk with us in the light by reaching our hand out to these ones at the meetings we must remember that these ones are still living in the darkness on the outside...blah blah blah blah blah...
  

  
  
  cybs
• 

  Rabbit

  "...Having the right attitude is the key. Refusing to accept a refinement is to be left behind as the organization moves ahead. If I find myself in a situation where changes seem hard to accept, I reflect on Peter's words to Jesus: 'Lord whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.' Then I ask myself, "where shall I go away to---out there into the darkness of the world?' This helps me hold firmly to God's organization."

  Yep, JW's are being set up -- again !

  Since my cup of JW is less than half full...I'm not optimistic there will be any good changes. Although blood & shunning are my biggies I'd like to see gone, I can't see that happening.

  1. If they 'allowed blood' now...the corporation could lose big money. Lives lost are far cheaper.

  2. If they 'quit' shunning...they would have a huge backlash of hurt feelings. People would see clearly the manipulation they were under. They would remember all the pain & suicides and family break-ups over the years -- and ask WTF ?

  Perhaps the New Light ™ will be something along the lines of historical BS that JW's will just accept...

  1. Armygattlinggun DID come in 1975 after all. Invisibly.

  2. The Pairofdice Did come and JW's are living in it. Invisibly. It seems their was never gonna be a physical pairofdice --- only a spiritual one.

  So, it's a little different than we told you. God didn't think y'all could handle this spiritual food a hundred years ago. It's cool now, right ? --WTS

  Right ? Who's your Mama ?

  Rabbit
• 

  sass_my_frass

  I like atypical's take; countering common apostate assertions that the flip-flops over the years have really been quite trivial haven't they now folks, ha ha we used to allow smoking and now we don't, aren't we BLESSED? Those apostates make such a big deal about it, but really it's just proof that Jehovah is looking after us and educating us in small ways.

  If there is something big about to change, I'm with I think Sir82 in that it will be something lame and dull to do with who is now qualified to be in the Governing Body. Blood, and disfellowshipping; that's about the only way they're different from any other church; they can't lose those.

  Gotta get me one of those articles, just for amusement factor.

  "Where else can I go?" Oh it's so controlling I could scream. I can hear three family members saying it right now.
• 

  Ozner

  If this is the way to inform us about "new light is coming soon", they made the new light in a very early stage.

  This article was a part of the assembley in 2005. If this is the way of introducing new light, then the new light is not very fast!

  At the assembley the speaker listed and presented all the new light in the history of the WTS. He presented many new light items in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002. Very strange, because many of the new light was "between the lines" of the watchtower articles.

  I wait and wonder.
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  greendawn

  Be careful if you don't accept the WTS's false prophecies and ever changing truth you will be thrown out, and that means a death sentence will be passed on you by the JC, to be carried out soon at armageddon!!!
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  jgnat

  Come to think of it, I've heard the "new light" talk a few times myself. I thought it was the "Accept our Hypocricy and Stop Writing Bethel" talk.
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  Mary

  maybe the new enlightenment will have something to do with moving up the 1914 date of jesus' enthronement to something like 1935, then they can reinstate the generation view.

  Now that's something that I can see happening! After all, if it happened "invisibly", then no proof is required. Plus, it would get them off the hook for the time being and buy them some much needed time. Looking at it from their point of view, it would also help solve some other doctrinal problems, like how could they have been "chosen" to be the F&DS in 1919 when they were still celebrating Christmas, used the Cross and a host of other "pagan" things? If the date were moved to 1935, they could say that by that time, they had gotten rid of all the "pagan" trappings", and Jehovah "chose" them and basically "sealed" them all at the same time. Plus, it would, as you say, allow them to re-introduce the "generation" issue. While 1935 + 70 years has obviously passed, 1935 + 80 years = 2015. A mere 9 years from now. Far enough away to keep a low-keyed fear in the faithful, but close enough so that they can't make any long term goals other than to pioneer.

  Shootist said: I My guess is they are going to tighten down and police heavier as regards to the internet, using the R/F to tattle on one another using ploys like loyalty to Jehovah and his organization. Taking more control over the personal lives of witnesses and really coming down hard on secular education such as college, as well as the viewing of educational channels on T.V..

  They've already done all that. Dubs are constantly being warned of the dangers of the internet, R&F are already well trained to tattle on one another and were told a few months ago in the WT study how evil higher education is.

  They may also make some announcement that due to a decrease in new converts with no increases in many countries that the preaching work is over in certain areas and that the publishers are to draw in close and witness only to friends and family they feel may be deserving.

  No chance at all of this happening. Without having to go out in "official" service Saturday mornings, Dubs would very soon get used to that freedom and would simply stop preaching altogether.
• 

  sir82

  One thing I'm pretty confident of...

  If there is some change coming, and it will affect JW actions, it sure as @#$% won't be to make anyone's life easier.

  Think about the direction the Society has gone in the past 5 years. College is evil, shun your D-F'ed relatives, materialism is evil, your all a bunch of porn-watching slackers, quit going to nightclubs, your clothing is atrocious, etc. etc.

  So, while I would certainly welcome reforms along the lines of "blood as a conscience matter", "making it easier for a DF-ed person to return", "no more field service in certain areas", etc., it almost certianly ain't gonna happen. I expect the screws to turn a bit more tightly, if anything.
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  garybuss

  Watchtower January 15, 2006, "Oppose Satan, and He will Flee!" pg 29, paragraphs 13, 14
  Do Not Be Overreached by the Devil
  13. When Paul urged Christians in Corinth to be forgiving, he wrote: "Anything you kindly forgive anyone, I do too. In fact, as for me, whatever I have kindly forgiven, if I have kindly forgiven anything, it has been for your sakes in Christ's sight; that we may not be overreached by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs." (2 Corinthians 2:10, 11) The Devil can overreach us in various ways, but why did Paul make the statement just quoted?
  14. Paul had reproved the Corinthians because they allowed an immoral man to remain in the congregation. This must have delighted Satan, for reproach fell upon the congregation for tolerating "such fornication as is not even among the nations." Eventually, the wrongdoer was disfellowshipped. (I Corinthians 5:1-5, 11-13) The man later repented. If the Corinthians refused to forgive and reinstate that man, the Devil would overreach them in another way. How so? They would be harsh and merciless, like Satan himself. If the repentant man became "swallowed up by his being overly sad" and gave up entirely, especially would the elders bear some responsibility for this before the merciful God, Jehovah. (2 Corinthians 2:7; James 2:13; 3:1) Of course, no true Christian would want to imitate Satan by being cruel, harsh, and merciless.

  
  
  **********************
  
  Mary, what do you think about this excerpt from the January 15 Watchtower?
  
  The article is talking about elders who refuse to reinstate repentant disfellowshipped group members. The Watchtower is calling the elders harsh and merciless. Is it possible this might be an area the Society wants to see reform? Or is this just more paper filler on the road to corporate prosperity?
  Maybe the Society will just start issuing tickets for sins, like a speeding ticket, with fines and punishments pre-printed so the elders can't hold down publisher numbers on purpose like they are doing now.
  Sex sin = loss of toilet cleaning privilege for 1 week.
  Murder = loss of microphone pole privilege for 1/2 a meeting.
  
  Is this the start of the new softer Jehovah's Witness book club?