Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-20-07 WT Study (April 1, 2007, pages 26-30)(HUMBLY SUBMITTING TO LOVING SHEPHERDS)
Review comments will be in red
WT material from today's WT will be in black
Quotes from other sources will be in quotes boxes
w = Watchtower
g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
Bible translations
www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bibleWT publications
www.reexamine.orgWT child abuse
www.silentlambs.orgBlood issue
www.ajwrb.orgUnited Nations
http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm
HUMBLY SUBMITTING TO LOVING SHEPHERDS
"Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive."-HEBREWS 13:17.
Opening Comments
START OF ARTICLE
Q1, 2) What scriptures show that Jehovah and Jesus are loving Shepherds?
1) Jehovah God and his Son, Jesus Christ, are loving Shepherds. Isaiah prophesied: "Look! The Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself will come even as a strong one, and his arm will be ruling for him.... Like a shepherd he will shepherd his own drove. With his arm he will collect together the lambs; and in his bosom he will carry them. Those giving suck he will conduct with care."-Isaiah 40: 10,11.
OT Example—Isaiah; who is the shepherd, Jah?
Does the WTS have elders looking for sheep or do the sheep have to look for the shepherds?
*** w02 3/1 p. 16 How Precious Is the Truth to You? ***
In Scotland some young lambs were grazing in a pasture when one of them strayed to the side of a hillock and tumbled onto a ledge below. It was uninjured, but it was frightened and unable to climb back. So it started to bleat plaintively. Its mother heard it, and she too began to bleat until the shepherd came and retrieved the young lamb.
Notice the sequence of events. The lamb called for help, the ewe added her voice to its cries, and the alerted shepherd sprang into action to rescue it. If a very young animal and its mother can sense danger and immediately call for help, should we not do the same when we stumble spiritually or face unexpected dangers from Satan’s world?
2) That prophecy of restoration was first fulfilled when a Jewish remnant returned to Judah in 537 B.C.E. (2 Chronicles 36:22, 23) It was again fulfilled when the anointed remnant were delivered from "Babylon the Great" in 1919 by the Greater Cyrus, Jesus Christ. (Revelation 18:2; Isaiah 44:28) He is Jehovah's "arm" for ruling, collecting together the sheep and shepherding them with tender care. Jesus himself stated: "I am the fine shepherd, and I know my sheep and my sheep know me." John 10:14.
537??? Can JWs explain this? What do you recommend for a resource to explain 586 BCE?
In 1919 was the WTS clean spiritually based on their interpretation of the Bible: Birthdays, Christmas, use of cross and pyramidology; prayed for government; could be in military but not shoot.
*** jv chap. 14 p. 200 "They Are No Part of the World" ***
For some 35 years, Pastor Russell thought that the Great Pyramid of Gizeh was God’s stone witness, corroborating Biblical time periods. (Isa. 19:19) (until 1928)
*** w87 6/15 p. 15 par. 3 Testing and Sifting in Modern Times ***
TheWatchTower had encouraged its readers to set aside May 30, 1918, as a day of prayer for victory for the democratic powers, as requested by the U.S. congress and by President Wilson.
Q3) How does Jehovah show loving concern for the way his sheep are treated?
3) The prophecy of Isaiah 40:10,11 emphasizes the tenderness with which Jehovah shepherds his people. (Psalm 23:1-6) During his earthly ministry, Jesus too showed tender concern for his disciples and for people in general. (Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 6: 34) Both Jehovah and Jesusdeplored the ruthlessness of the shepherds, or leaders, of Israel, who shamelessly neglected and exploited their flocks. (Ezekiel 34:2-10; Matthew 23:3, 4, 15) Jehovah promised: "I will save my sheep, and they will no longer become something for plunder; and I will judge between a sheep and a sheep. And I will raise up over them one shepherd, and he must feed them, even my servant David. He himself will feed them, and he himself will become their shepherd." (Ezekiel 34:22, 23) In this time of the end, Jesus Christ, the Greater David, is the "one shepherd" whom Jehovah has appointed over all His servants on earth, both the spirit-anointed Christians and the "other sheep." John 10:16.
Jesus plays a secondary shepherd in the WTS
His servants—ONLY JWS; do JWs call themselves Christians or JWs in their publications?
(Matthew 15:6-11) . . .And
so YOU have made the word of God invalid because of YOUR tradition. 7 YOU hypocrites , Isaiah aptly prophesied about YOU, when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines .’" 10 With that he called the crowd near and said to them: "Listen and get the sense of it: 11 Not what enters into [his] mouth defiles a man; but it is what proceeds out of [his] mouth that defiles a man."
How have the "loving shepherds" in the WTS made God’s word invalid, teach commands of men as doctrines…where in the Bible does it say that beards are unchristian?
*** w
75 8/15 pp. 500-501 par. 9 Do Not Let Yourself Be Ensnared by Fads and Entertainment ***Extreme hair styles can easily lead one into a trap of the Devil also, and cause others to stumble. For example, a young man in the United States was making fine progress in his study of the Bible, and he was moved to share with an experienced Witness in preaching to others about the good things he was learning from the Bible.
From early youth he had let his beard grow, and since some in the business community wore beards, he felt that his wearing one in preaching to others would be acceptable generally. But in speaking to a lady he was unable to do more than introduce himself, when she said: "I’m sorry, young man, I do not want to become involved in student revolt."
In 2007 do people think of beards as a student revolt?
Heavenly Gifts to the Congregation
Q4, 5) (a) What precious gift has Jehovah given to his people on earth? (b) What gift has Jesus given to his congregation?
4) By raising up over His servants on earth "one shepherd"-Jesus Christ-Jehovah gave a precious gift to the Christian congregation. This gift of a heavenly Leader was prophesied at Isaiah 55:4: "Look! As a witness to the national groups I have given him, as a leader and commander to the national groups." Both anointed Christians and members of the "great crowd" are gathered from among all national groups, tribes, peoples, and tongues. (Revelation 5:9, 10; 7:9) They make up an international congregation, "one flock," under the leadership of "one shepherd," Christ Jesus.
According to the WTS only the anointed are the Christian congregation.
*** dx86-06 Anointed Christians ***
ANOINTED CHRISTIANS
(See also Christian Congregation ; Faithful and Discreet Slave ; Little Flock; New Covenant; 144,000; Remnant; Spiritual Israel)
5) Jesus, in turn, has given a precious gift to his congregation on earth. He has provided faithful undershepherds who, in imitation of Jehovah and Jesus, shepherd the flock with tender care. The apostle Paul spoke of this loving gift in his letter to Christians in Ephesus. He wrote: "`When he ascended on high he carried away captives; he gave gifts in men.'... He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ."-Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12.
Are non-anointed JWs the body of Christ?
Were Philip’s daughters prophets?
His congregation
— ONLY JWSQ6) How were anointed overseers who served on bodies of elders depicted at Revelation 1:16, 20, and what can be said of appointed elders who are of the other sheep?
6) These "gifts in men" are overseers, or elders, appointed by Jehovah and his Son, through holy spirit, to shepherd the sheep with tenderness. (Acts 20:28, 29) To begin with, these overseers were all anointed Christian men. At Revelation 1:16, 20, those who served on bodies of elders within the anointed congregation were symbolized by "stars" or "angels" in Christ's right hand, that is, under his control. In this time of the end, however, with the number of anointed overseers still on earth ever dwindling, the vast majority of Christian elders in the congregations are of the other sheep. Since these are appointed by representatives of the Governing Body under the leadings of the holy spirit, they too can be said to be under the right hand (or, under the direction) of the Fine Shepherd, Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 61:5, 6) Since the elders in our congregations submit to Christ, the Head of the congregation
, they deserve our full cooperation .-Colossians 1:18.Did Jesus fully cooperate with the religious leaders or was the Bible of first importance?
(Matthew 15:1-11)
15 Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying: 2 "Why is it your disciples overstep the tradition of the men of former times? For example, they do not wash their hands when about to eat a meal." 3 In reply he said to them: "Why is it YOU also overstep the commandment of God because of YOUR tradition? 4 For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Let him that reviles father or mother end up in death.’ 5 But YOU say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother: "Whatever I have by which you might get benefit from me is a gift dedicated to God," 6 he must not honor his father at all.’ And so YOU have made the word of God invalid because of YOUR tradition. 7 YOU hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about YOU, when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’" 10 With that he called the crowd near and said to them: "Listen and get the sense of it: 11 Not what enters into [his] mouth defiles a man; but it is what proceeds out of [his] mouth that defiles a man."What did Jesus say to the religious leaders? Can you imagine saying the same to elders that disregard the Bible?
(
Matthew 23:1-36) 23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: 2 "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. 3 Therefore all the things they tell YOU, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform . 4 They bind up heavy loads and put them upon the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger . 5 All the works they do they do to be viewed by men; for they broaden the [scripture-containing] cases that they wear as safeguards, and enlarge the fringes [of their garments]. 6 They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues, 7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men ( elder or princes or gifts in men or overseer ). 8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher (but the WTS says only men can teach; specifically elders ), whereas all YOU are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ ( take the lead ). 11 But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself ( what elders have humbled themselves…instead JWs must submit and obey the elders )will be exalted. 13 "Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for YOU yourselves do not go in, neither do YOU permit those on their way in to go in. 14 —— 15 "Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one YOU make him a subject for Ge·hen´na twice as much so as yourselves. 16 "Woe to YOU, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is under obligation.’ 17 Fools and blind ones! Which, in fact, is greater, the gold or the temple that has sanctified the gold? 18 Also, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is under obligation.’ 19 Blind ones! Which, in fact, is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he that swears by the altar is swearing by it and by all the things on it; 21 and he that swears by the temple is swearing by it and by him that is inhabiting it; 22 and he that swears by heaven is swearing by the throne of God and by him that is sitting on it. 23 "Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumin, but YOU have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness. These things it was binding to do, yet not to disregard the other things. 24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel! 25 "Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of plunder and immoderateness. 26 Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside of it also may become clean. 27 "Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men’s bones and of every sort of uncleanness. 28 In that way YOU also, outwardly indeed, appear righteous to men, but inside YOU are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 "Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU build the graves of the prophets and decorate the memorial tombs of the righteous ones, 30 and YOU say, ‘If we were in the days of our forefathers, we would not be sharers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Therefore YOU are bearing witness against yourselves that YOU are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Well, then, fill up the measure of YOUR forefathers. 33 "Serpents, offspring of vipers, how are YOU to flee from the judgment of Ge·hen´na? 34 For this reason, here I am sending forth to YOU prophets and wise men and public instructors. Some of them YOU will kill and impale, and some of them YOU will scourge in YOUR synagogues and persecute from city to city; 35 that there may come upon YOU all the righteous blood spilled on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zech·a·ri´ah son of Bar·a·chi´ah, whom YOU murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly I say to YOU, All these things will come upon this generation.Elders are called "princes" "chieftains" and "OVERseers" not "servants" up until the early 1970’s. Humble??? Can you imagine the elders washing your feet or even the feet of other elders?
254 more anointed in 2007
….dwindling?Does the GB make the appointments?
*** w01 1/15 p. 15 par. 16 Overseers and Ministerial Servants Theocratically Appointed ***
Vocabulary ListToday, therefore, the Governing Body appoints qualified brothers at the branches to represent it in making appointments of elders and ministerial servants
Obey (obedient)
Submission (submit)
Accept leadership
Willing cooperate ; full cooperation (cooperate, cooperation)
Uncooperative spirit
Full support (support)
[Picture on page 27] Christian elders submit to Christ's leadership
Notice the PC mix of the elder body; black, Asian, older white man, younger white man; notice the elder’s guidebooks and the Bibles. Elders rarely use the Bible because the guidebook and the BOE letters are more important including any notes from the CO. I heard of new elders who researched the Bible and were ridiculed by the older elders for using the Bible.
Obedience and Submission
Q7) What counsel did the apostle Paul give with regard to our attitude toward Christian overseers?
7) Our heavenly Shepherds, Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, expect us to be obedient and submissive to the undershepherds whom they have placed in positions of responsibility within the congregation. (1 Peter 5:5) Under inspiration, the apostle Paul wrote: "Remember those who are taking the lead among you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out imitate their faith. Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will render an account; that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you."-Hebrews 13: 7,17.
Obey God and Jesus or human men?
Did Paul let Peter err in avoiding associating with Gentile Christians? Were the Christians then correct in following the example of even an apostle or "walking straight according to the truth of the good news"?
(Galatians 2:11-14)
11 However, when Ce´phas came to Antioch, I resisted him face to face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before the arrival of certain men from James, he used to eat with people of the nations; but when they arrived, he went withdrawing and separating himself, in fear of those of the circumcised class. 13 The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Bar´na·bas was led along with them in their pretense. 14 But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said to Ce´phas before them all: "If you, though you are a Jew, live as the nations do, and not as Jews do, how is it that you are compelling people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice?"8). What does Paul invite us to "contemplate," and
how should we "be obedient"?
8) Notice that Paul invites us to "contemplate," or carefully observe, the outcome of the faithful conduct of the elders and to follow such examples of faith. Furthermore,
he counsels us to be obedient and to submit to the direction of these appointed men. Bible scholar R. T. France explains that in the original Greek, the word here translated "be obedient " is not "the normal term for obedience, but literally `be persuaded,' implying a willing acceptance of their leadership." We obey the elders not only because we are directed to do so in God's Word but also because we are persuaded that they have Kingdom interests and our best interests at heart. We will certainly be happy if we willingly accept their leadership.
What if not faithful as Peter was not? What if you had been in a congregation where a GB member disregarded the Bible? Should you go along with it "waiting for God" to fix it?
What if we aren’t persuaded "because we are persuaded that they have Kingdom interests and our best interests at heart"?
9). Why is it necessary for us to
"be submissive " in addition to being obedient?9) What, though, if we are not convinced that in a certain case the elders' direction is the best way of doing things? That is where submission comes into play. It is easy to obey when everything is clear and we agree, but we will show that we are truly s ubmissive if we yield even when we do not personally understand the direction provided. Peter, who later became an apostle, showed this kind of submission .-Luke 5:4, 5.
Did Jesus follow the religious leaders or the Bible? Would we have followed Peter and not associated with the Gentile Christians?
What, though, if we are not convinced that in a certain case the elders' direction is the best way of doing things
It is easy to
obey when everything is clear and we agree, but we will show that we are truly submissive if we yield even when we do not personally understand the direction provided.Four Reasons for
Willing CooperationQ10, 11) In what way have overseers "spoken the word of God" to their fellow Christians in the first century and today?
10) At Hebrews 13:7, 17, quoted above, the apostle Paul gives four reasons why we should be
obedient and submissive to Christian overseers (or servants?). The first is that they "have spoken the word of God" to us. Recall that the "gifts in men" that Jesus gives to the congregation are for "the readjustment of the holy ones." (Ephesians 4:11, 12) He readjusted the thinking and conduct of firstcentury Christians by means of faithful undershepherds, some of whom were inspired to write letters to the congregations. He used such spirit-appointed overseers to guide and build up the early Christians.-1 Corinthians 16:15-18; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5.Holy ones are only anointed, 144,000, FDS. What about the 6.5 million non holy ones?
OBEDIENT AND SUBMISSIVE
What if what the WTS representatives have not "spoken the word of God to us"?
Superior authorities until 1929 secular authorities; from1929 to 1962 God and Jesus; 1962 to 2007 secular authorities
http://www.jwfacts.com/index_files/superior.htmSodom and Gomorrah resurrected?
http://www.cftf.com/comments/blinking.html
Woman required to scream when raped?
http://www.freeminds.org/psych/rape.htm
Do any today write inspired letters to the congregations per the WTS, no.
11) Today, Jesus directs us by means of "the faithful and discreet slave," represented by its Governing Body and the appointed elders. (Matthew 24:45) Out of respect for "the chief shepherd," Jesus Christ, we heed Paul's counsel: "Have regard for those who are working hard among you and presiding over you in the Lord and admonishing you."-1 Peter 5:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17.
Out of respect for
"the chief shepherd," Jesus Christ, we heed Paul's counsel: "Have regard for those who are working hard among you and presiding over you in the LordJesus = FDS = Governing Body
Q12) How are overseers "keeping watch over [our] souls"?
12) A second reason for c
ooperatingwith Christian overseers is that "they are keeping watch over [our] souls." If they detect anything in our attitude or behavior that might endanger our spirituality, they are quick to give us needed counsel with a view to our readjustment. (Galatians 6:1) The Greek word translated "keeping watch" literally means "abstaining from sleep." According to one Bible scholar, it "implies the unflagging vigilance of the shepherd." In addition to their maintaining spiritual vigilance, elders may even lose sleep out of concern for our spiritual well-being. Should we not willingly cooperate with such loving undershepherds, who do their best to imitate the tender care given by Jesus Christ, "the great shepherd of the sheep"?-Hebrews 13:20.
Cooperating with Christian overseers
Willingly cooperate with such…undershepherds
Bible scholar??
Do you know this source?.
The WTS/FDS/GB is very concerned about the "attitudes" of the rank and file.
[Picture on page 29] There are many ways to demonstrate our submission to Jehovah's appointed shepherds (
notice the WT conductor is vacuuming the KH…the manly assignment…most JW men never vacuum at home though. Many JWs don’t even join the school or cancel without notice…having been the wife of a school overseer.Q13) To whom and in what ways are the overseers and all Christians accountable?
13) A third reason for our
willingly cooperating with the overseers is that they keep watch over us "as those who will render an account." Overseers remember that they are undershepherds, serving under the heavenly Shepherds, Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. (Ezekiel 34:22-24) Jehovah is the Owner of the sheep, whom "he purchased with the blood of his own Son," and He holds the appointed overseers accountable for the way they treat His flock, which should be "with tenderness." (Acts 20:28, 29) Hence, all of us are answerable to Jehovah for the way we respond to his direction. (Romans 14:10-12) Our obedience to the appointed elders also gives evidence of our submission to Christ , the Head of the congregation.-Colossians 2:19.
Willingly cooperating with overseers
Our obedience to the appointed elders gives evidence of our submission to Christ
{God} is the Owner of the sheep;
does Jesus own the sheep ?
(John 10:2-3)
2 But he that enters through the door is shepherd of the sheep. 3 The doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. . .Our obedience
to the appointed elders also gives evidence of our submission to Christ , the Head of the congregation.-Colossians 2:19.Obey elders = obeying Christ = not obeying elders is disobeying Jesus. Did Jesus disobey God when he disobeyed the religious leaders of his day?
Q14) What could lead to Christian overseers' serving "with sighing," and with what results?
14) Paul gave a fourth reason why we should humbly submit toChristian overseers . He wrote: "That they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you." (Hebrews 13:17) With their weighty responsibilities of teaching, shepherding, taking the lead in the preaching work, raising their families, and handling problems in the congregation, Christian elders carry a heavy load. (2 Corinthians 11:28, 29) If we fail to cooperate with them , we only add to their load. This would result in their "sighing." Our showing an uncooperative spirit is displeasing to Jehovah and could prove to be damaging to us. Instead, when we show proper respect andcooperation , the elders can carry out their duties with joy, and this contributes to unity and joyful participation in the Kingdom-preaching work.-Romans 15:5, 6.
Humbly submit to Christian (JW) overseers
Fail to cooperate with them
Showing an uncooperative spirit is displeasing to (God)
Proper respect and cooperation
Did Jesus show "proper respect and cooperation" to the Pharisees when he called them hypocrites and blind guides?
Demonstrating Our Submission
Q15) How can we demonstrate our
obedience and submission ?15) There are many practical ways in which we can
cooperate with appointed overseers. With a view to adapting to new circumstances in the territory, have the elders arranged to hold meetings for field service on days and at times that require changes in our routine? Let us put forth an effort to s upport the new arrangements. We may receive unexpected blessings. Is the service overseer visiting our Congregation Book Study? Let us have as full a share as possible in the preaching work that week. Have we received an assignment in the Theocratic Ministry School? We should make it a point to be present and to carry out our assignment. Has the Congregation Book Study overseer announced that it is our group's turn to clean the Kingdom Hall? Let us give him full support , within the limits of our health and strength. In these and many other ways , we demonstrate our submission to the men whom Jehovah and his Son have appointed to care for the flock.Cooperate with appointed overseers
Support the new arrangements
Let us have a full share as possible
Give him full support
Demonstrate our submission to the men
(evidently the rank and file are not a) going in the ministry at the assigned time but at a time convenient to them b) not giving their talks c) not cleaning the KH; very basic things…shows a "bad attitude."
Q16) If an elder does not do things as directed, why would this not justify rebellion on our part?
16) At times, an elder may not do things as directed by the faithful slave class and its Governing Body. If he continues acting this way, he will have to render an account to Jehovah, "the shepherd and overseer of [our] souls." (1 Peter 2:25) But any failure or mistakes on the part of certain elders would not justify an insubordinate attitude on our part . Jehovah does not bless disobedience and rebellion.-Numbers 12:1, 2, 9-11.
BAD BAD BAD ELDERS, DISAGREEING WITH THE GB/FDS. Are they being removed?
This must be bad if the WTS is publicizing this in a WT article.
Jehovah Blesses
Willing Cooperation17) What should be our attitude toward our overseers?
17)
Jehovah God knows that the men he has appointed as overseers are imperfect. Yet, he is using them, and by means of his spirit, he shepherds his people on earth. It is true of the elders-and of us all-that "the power beyond what is normal [is] God's and not that out of ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:7) We should therefore thank Jehovah for what he is accomplishing by means of our faithful overseers, and we should show them willing cooperation .Willing cooperation
Should show them willing cooperation
The WTS plays the "imperfect" clause.
*** w00 6/15 p. 16 par. 16 Honor the Ones Given Authority Over You ***
Congregation elders are appointed by holy spirit, yet they are still imperfect and make mistakes
*** w00 7/1 p. 20 Good Examples—Are You Benefiting From Them? ***
In spite of their imperfections, however, elders can still, like Timothy, "become [examples] to the faithful ones in speaking, in conduct, in love, in faith, in chasteness." (
*** w99 6/1 p. 15 par. 4 Appreciating the "Gifts in Men" ***
Of course, elders do not want to misuse their authority, but they know that it is all too easy as imperfect humans to do so.
*** w98 6/1 p. 17 par. 10 "Put Up a Hard Fight for the Faith"! ***
It is all too easy to find fault with the appointed elders, for they are imperfect, as all of us are imperfect.
*** w98 8/15 pp. 12-13 par. 13 Jehovah Should Be Our Confidence ***
Accordingly, while elders today are imperfect, we still ought to recognize them as "[appointed by] the holy spirit
*** w94 8/15 p. 29 Maintaining Harmony Between Elders and Ministerial Servants ***
True, the elders are imperfect men, and it might be easy to find fault with them.
18).
By submitting to our overseers , what, in fact, are we doing?18) Overseers do their best to live up to Jehovah's description of shepherds appointed over his flock in the last days, as found at Jeremiah 3:15: "I will give you shepherds in agreement with my heart, and they will certainly feed you with knowledge and insight." Surely the elders in our midst are doing a fine job of teaching and
protecting Jehovah's sheep . May we continue to show our appreciation for their hard work through our willing cooperation , our obedience , and our submission. In so doing, we will demonstrate our appreciation for our heavenly Shepherds, Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.Submitting to our overseers
Willing cooperation
Obedience
Submission
Demonstrate our appreciation
By Way of Review
• How have Jehovah and Jesus Christ proved themselves to be loving Shepherds?
• In addition to obedience, why is s
ubmissio n needed?• In what practical ways can we demonstrate our
submission ?Concluding Comments
Well, there seems to be elders who may not do things as directed by the faithful slave class and its Governing Body (paragraph 16). I wonder that they are doing and if the GB is eliminating them?
Any failure or mistakes on the part of certain elders would not justify an insubordinate attitude on your part (paragraph 16)
Is there an internal revolt at Bethel?
I’m still struggling but see the doctor today. I think it is a case of too many doctors as Irreverent roared yesterday.
I think of all of you with medical challenges and difficulties with family.
Love, Blondie