Are You Imitating Jehovah in Caring for Others? 6-15-07 WT p18-20

by blondie 20 Replies latest watchtower bible

blondie

Sometimes the side articles in the WT are more "interesting" than the study article. Here are some highlights (if you have the scan feel free to add to this)
First question, where is Jesus in this article? Didn't Jesus refer to himself as a shepherd and his followers as dear sheep to him? Is this why jws see themselves as "JEHOVAH'S witnesses" rather than CHRISTIANS. In the NT, Christ's followers are mentioned as being Jesus' witnesses not jws.
Paragraph 1:Jehovah God has a personal concern for his people.
Where's Jesus? Will the public who now have access to this article, realize that jws don't think that non-jws are God's people?
Paragraph 2:Being imperfect, we need to beware of certain pitfalls when we show personal interest in others...Jehovah cares for his people.
Note: "others" only means other jws.
Paragraph 3:OT reference to shepherding leaving Jesus out of the picture (Psalm 23:1-4)
Paragraph 4:Shepherd duties include: 1) protect from predators 2) keep from scattering 3) looks for lost sheep 4) carries weary lambs 5) cares for sick and injured 6) daily waters
The elders then know what they should be doing but are they actually doing it in a practical, humble way?????
"This does not mean that the shepherd controls every movement of the sheep. The sheep are free yet protected."
Is this a warning to jw elders that they are too controlling????????
Paragraph 5: Jehovah cares for his people...1 Peter 1:5, footnote...out of genuine concern, Jehovah is always watching over us, ever ready to extend help whenever we ask for it.
Does God help those who need it but don't ask for it????
However, Jehovah created us as free moral agents, so he does not intervene in all our actions and decisions.
How can we imitate Jehovah in this regard?
Are the elders and parents too CONTROLLING? Looks like some damage control being attempted by the WTS (they should take a lesson from their own "suggestions.")
Imitate God in Caring for Your Children
Paragraph 6:If parents try to control their children's every move, completely ignoring their wishes, it would be like a shepherd trying to control his sheep with leashes...neither does Jehovah shepherd us that way (where's Jesus?)
Can you see the rank and file now with leashes on.............beards, skirt length, music to listen to, movies to watch, education to pursue, who to marry, etc., etc.
Paragraph 7: As a parent...I gave no words of commendation, nor did I have any real communication with them...mutual not one-sided.
This parent said they learned and said, "yes, I agree"or "so do I." But beware those who then say, "but the bible says here" and then prove they don't agree with you.
Paragraph 8: Children who are strongly convinced of the benefits of submissiveness find obedience to be easier.
And are great targets for child abusers and molesters. Did Jonathan always obey his father, King Saul?
In Caring for Jehovah's Flock
Paragraph 9: Jehovah's (where's Jesus) loving concern is reflected in the Christian congregation.
Do the elders in your congregation talk about how hard it is to be an elder, how unthankful the rank and file are, how bad the rank and file are? Do they commend individuals privately and publicly?
1 Peter 5:2,3--not under compulsion (or for public recognition), but willingly (not because you would be removed if there wasn't some semblance of doing so)...love for dishonest gain (no green handshakes), eagerly (with the same approach as they give their sexual due)...neither as lording it over those who are God's inheritance.....
Did you know that in the early congregation, they were all equals, all looked forward to being kings and priests in heaven with Christ...in today's two-tiered society of jws, do the anointed consider themselves superior to the non-anointed? Yes.
Paragraph 10:Who are the spiritually sick and what does it mean to readjust them? Berate them that they have not done enough, attended all the meetings, get a minimum of 10 hours in monthly. Is that what Jesus said would identify his followers. Oh, right, Jesus is not in this article. Get away Jesus!
The elders are responsible for...maintaining order in the congregation.--1 Corinthians 14:33
How many times have the elders used that scripture to support a "rule" about behavior in the congregation that has no other scriptural backing?
Paragraph 11: Lording it over...one step in that direction is an elder's making unnecessary rules.
Can only one elder really make rules for the whole congregation without the elder body's support, directly or indirectly?
How to greet others...white shirts, length of sideburns and hair, tie width, nail polish color, makeup at all, wearing slacks way from the meetings and preaching....what strange rules did your congregation have?
believing that following these rules woud contribute to the peace of the congregation. Though the motives were no doubt good, were those elders imitating Jehovah's care...not that we are masters over your faith (2 Corinthians 1:24)
Jehovah trusts is people (where's Jesus)
But the WTS/FDS/GB does not which is why the elders are really only imitating them in making rules.
Paragraph 12: In addition to refraining from setting rules without a Scriptural basis, caring elders show their genuine concern by not revealing private information.
Not even to wives or other elders in or outside their congregation?!!!!!!!!!
Isn't 1 Corinthians 14:33 a scriptural basis?
Paragraph 13: No division in the body, but that its members should have the same care for one another. (1 Cor 12:12, 24-26)
Leaves no room for favoritism, eh? But are the elders showing the "same care for one another" for each member of the congregation?
Paragraph 14:How may true Christians (only jws) manifest that they are 'anxious over one another'?
Through prayers and by offering practical assistance to needy ones.
Who decides who is needy and gets practical assistance...only long-time jws who are in good standing. Ananias was bad then for helping Saul (Paul) when the Jews were seeking his hide after he converted.
A family in the congregation often invited me over for meals and gatherings."But only if they are marked as "good association." How are the spiritually sick and injured helped then.
Paragraph 15:The apostle Paul warned of a distinct pitfall regarding showing interest in others...certain women who had become "gossipers and meddlers in other people's affairs, talking of things they ought not." (1 Timothy 5:13)
Immoderate interest in others...making judgmental remarks...but then what would jws, both men and women, have to talk about?
Paragraph 16:We do well to remember that Christians may differ in how they arrange their personal affairs, what they choose to eat, and which form of wholesome relaxation they select.
Note that the WTS has already "judged" what is "wholesome relaxation" for "Christians."
Within the parameters indicated by Bible principles, each is free to decide what he will do.
But remember that only the WTS can accurately interpret what those parameters are.
Yes, definitely an article for the new jw-only WT.
Blondie
greendawn

Paragraph 13: No division in the body, but that its members should have the same care for one another. (1 Cor 12:12, 24-26)
They don't seem to realise that there are two bodies in the dub organisation the anointed and the non anointed. They should clarify which one they specifically mean and why did they break the rule that there is only one Lord and one baptism and one church (body) and one destination?
Bonnie_Clyde

I saw no loving interest in caring for others in our congregation. My parents were pillars in the congregation, but as they moved into old age and mother developed Alzheimers and my father became her 24-hour caregiver, there was almost no interest in her welfare or my father's for that matter.
During those yearsI remember a comment from one of the pioneers at a WT study that one evidence that we were the true religion was that we took care of our elderly. Yet she and the other pioneers, and elders, made almost no effort to visit them or comfort them. Not until my mother's death. Then we were flooded with condolences and stories about how much they were appreciated in the congregation. This is the main thing that led into my fade.
Same thing happened when my father became an invalid.
slmdf
Blondie -
Having been an elder just over 1 year ago, I can tell you exactly how the Dubs will take this article. All the stuff about "you can't control every movement" is a release for the elders not to have to pay attention to the "weak" or "needy" who are "always asking for something". Guarantee it. The elders in my old KH were really only interested in helping the real "strong" people in the congregation. Here's a story:
Right before I got disfellowshipped, a sweet sister called me to talk. She lives with her sister and their mom, who is declining rapidly from Alzheimers. They are very poor and all of them suffer from depression. (Of course they do!) Well, the girls both work opposite shifts so one of them is always there for their mom. So, their work choices are somewhat limited and they don't have any "trade" to capitalize on. So, they were having a real hard go of it one month and, for the first time in their lives, approached the PO to find out if they might be able to get some help to pay their $500 rent that month. After that, they felt they would be back on their feet. (Reason why is one of them had surgery the prior month and couldn't work... so it's not like this would continue to happen.) Do you know what that elder told her? He said the congregation does not offer support like that, except to pioneers, and it was improper for her to even ask. And he sent her away. (Oh, by the way, most everyone in his family, including him are pioneers in the congregation.)
Can you believe that? What the F**K kind of "loving care and concern" is that???????? She called me and I ripped him to shreds and told her that "the congregation is a family" and if your family isn't willing to help you, maybe you should find a new family. Oh MY... it was my first "apostate-like" statement to someone... wow!!! ha ha
Anyway... my point is that all that article is about is basically to brainwash the following thoughts:
1. Elders are like Jehovah and they care deeply for everyone
2. Elders don't control every aspect of you life... so, if you have a problem that they don't want to deal with, or you take up too much of their time will your issues, it will fall into the catergory of, "we don't want to control every aspect of your life" and this gives them a "holy out" of the situation
3. For the R&F, don't expect the Elders to be there for you all the time.
This article actually pissed me off. Why? Cause I see right through the BS and the true way it will be used with the R&F. Makes me so mad. Most Elders don't care - they just want a powerful job that DOES control others' lives.
Just my 2 cents.
Quandry

Do you know what that elder told her? He said the congregation does not offer support like that, except to pioneers, and it was improper for her to even ask. And he sent her away. (Oh, by the way, most everyone in his family, including him are pioneers in the congregation.)
Yes, the support they offer is in the scriptures. Go home, keep warm and be well-fed, but they do not give them the means to do this.
So, really, they turn their backs on their brothers.
This makes me very sad. And of course, the rank and file would never know this happened to these people.
icyestrm

Love is conditioned with what that person wants back. Thats what I noticed.
Elsewhere

Do you know what that elder told her? He said the congregation does not offer support like that, except to pioneers, and it was improper for her to even ask. And he sent her away.
I can confirm this in another congregation. As a Ministerial Servant I sat in on a meeting that basically went the same way... only the elders were kind enough to tell the woman that she should seek help from "caesar" (local government assistance and charities).
blondie

This article definitely points up that there are big problems in LaLaLand. Great insights in here to how the rank and file and the elders will react.
Blondie

jgnat

I just finished studying the article. Overall, I am shocked that the best example given of Christian care is to invite a baptised seventeen-year-old out to dinner. Yet his entire family can starve, as long as they manage to keep this one convert. The rest of the world might as well be buzzard meat, no?

There's a lot of talk about freedom and control, finding the balance. Kind of hard for an organization that specializes in control. Blondie nails it, the elders are merely imitating their true leaders. Here's a comparison of bible verses and the Watchtower twist. Are they even close?

Bible

Society

Jhn 10:11 KJV I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

"The sheep are free but protected….it would be like a shepherd trying to control his sheep with leashes…"

– a complete departure from the scriptures, a Witnessism. The scriptures talk of a complete sacrifice on Jesus’ part. He gave first, making it easier for us to give to Him. He leads. It's not a matter of the sheep scattering at will within their bonds, with the Shepherd only intervening when the sheep asks for it.

Jhn 10:3-4 ESV To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Ever ready to extend help whenever we ask for it.

– what about unasked help? Was Jesus passive or proactive? The shepherd leads, does he not?

Mat 4:24 ESV So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Also, Matthew 25:34-36

Care for the spiritually sick and readjust them so that their lives reflect righteous standards.

– when did Jesus restrict himself, first of all, to the brotherhood, and second, to spiritual healing?

Other thoughts:

...imitate

Jehovah...(p18 pp 5) - a long-standing peeve of mine. In my Christian walk, I invited Jesus in to my heart, to advise and guide me. There's no imitation of God's intent, there's a partnership of sorts. I'm not looking at an idealized model outside of myself, I'm living it within.

...use expressions that show empathy (p 9 pp1) - Why not have empathy instead? Then the expressions follow naturally. But we can't have that, can we? The child might actually help their parents 'adjust their thinking'.

...good communication, which is usually mutual, not one-sided (p19 pp 1). - Why not always mutual, not one-sided?

In additon to refraining from setting rules without Scriptural basis, caring elders show their genuine concern by not revealing private information (p 20 pp 2). - besides the shocking revelation that elders do overtep their bounds, note the excessive use of adjectives. Does this mean there are uncaring elders, and those who are not genuine?

..wholesome relaxation. Within the paramaters indicated by Bible Watchtower principles... (p 20 pp 6) Well, after all that we're back to leashes. Why the adjective, wholesome relaxation? What is unwholesome relaxation? Is a wholesome Witntess allowed to go for a neck massage? Who decides? The elderettes who are roundly blamed in the preceding paragraph?

emptywords

I saw no loving interest in caring for others in our congregation. My parents were pillars in the congregation, but as they moved into old age and mother developed Alzheimers and my father became her 24-hour caregiver, there was almost no interest in her welfare or my father's for that matter.
During those yearsI remember a comment from one of the pioneers at a WT study that one evidence that we were the true religion was that we took care of our elderly. Yet she and the other pioneers, and elders, made almost no effort to visit them or comfort them. Not until my mother's death. Then we were flooded with condolences and stories about how much they were appreciated in the congregation. This is the main thing that led into my fade.
Same thing happened when my father became an invalid.
Totaly agree...they take care of older ones at bethel, but not outside, everything in the org is class or like a caste, and once no longer active within that class you mean nothing.
We have sister that is a nurse and goes to bethel to treat the elderly and ones that are of the anointed, but ouside of this it is different.

Are You Imitating Jehovah in Caring for Others? 6-15-07 WT p18-20

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