I know of at least one elder who didn't agree with it at all. He does lots of internet research. I suspect he still will do it.
So how did the folks in YOUR congregation react to this week's KM?
by Dead Man Joaquin 25 Replies latest watchtower scandals
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flipper
Welcome Homebound, Electric Jello, and Dead Man Joaquin, you are among friends who will support your efforts at leaving the cult, if you have not as of yet. Peace to you and welcome! Mr. & Mrs. Flipper
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Old Goat
Plainly, the prohibition on private study is unscriptural and elitist. Does the Governing Body or its minions seriously think that private, unmonitored Bible study will lack the influence of holy spirit? The real issue seems to be problem avoidance. Individual and private group study always raises questions. Not everyone will reach a sound conclusion. Among Witnesses, many will not because The Watchtower has raised a mind-enslaved progeny. Where are the elders who can, as did Paul, prove logically what the truth about the Christ is?
Problem-avoidance is no reason to discourage what the Bible encourages. A. T. Robertson, commenting on Acts 17:11 says: "Paul expounded the Scriptures daily ... but the Beroeans, instead of resenting his new interpretation, examined (anakrio means to sift up and down, make careful and exact research as in legal processes as in Acts 4:29; 12:1`9, etc.) the Scriptures for themselves. ... The Beroeans were eagerly interested in the new message of Paul and Silas but they wanted to see it for themselves. What a noble attitude. Paul’s preaching made Bible students of them. The duty of private interpretation is thus made plain."
M. R. Vincent makes the point that scripture study should be thorough. Commenting on anakrio, he wrote: "Originally implying a thorough examination ... from top to bottom." (Comment found in Word Studies, at Luke 23:14) Most Witnesses have never examined anything from top to bottom. The Watchtower’s elite discourages it because they do not wish to deal with the problems that arise when people unused to hard and effective study wade into it. The have no trained elder body fit to answer the many questions that arise. Consequently, many of the questions arrive by post at the Watchtower offices. Then much time is spent answering the questions. Of course, if the Governing body had ever seriously trained the world wide elder body, almost none of them would make it that far. But then, other problems would arise. After all, who wants to deal with a trained elder body that might ask questions of its own?
The real issue is this: Will you let your responsibility slip into the hands of others, simply because they claim it as their own? Christians are responsible for their beliefs. Individual Christians are responsible for confirming the message about the Christ in all its details.
Those who produced this question box wish to usurp that responsibility. That is a sin.
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Alligator Wisdom
Old Goat,
Excellent post. Very insightful. Thanks!
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother NOT Exerting Vigorously)
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MissingLink
I'm looking for this banned information on the internet. I don't mean other wacko religious guys trying to start their own cults.
Anyone know who exactly they're referring to in the article?
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oompa
The Beroeans were eagerly interested in the new message of Paul and Silas but they wanted to see it for themselves.
Sharp JW's will let you know the Beroean argument does not count as far as the QB. Why? Because they were Bible sudies, not witnesses! Evidently once you know "the Truth" there is really no need to question anything.
not so while learning...oompa