Comments You Will Not Hear at the10-26-08 WT Study (August 15, 2008, pages 17-21 (ELDERLY)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
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JEHOVAH TENDERLY CARES FOR HIS ELDERLY SERVANTS
"God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name "-HEB. 6:10.
OPENING COMMENTS
I was one of those sisters "assigned" to help older jws. I gave rides on a regular basis, sometimes driving 5 miles one way in the wrong direction. They were pretty good about offering gas money. I would keep it and take us all out to eat every 2 months or so. I cleaned house, decluttered, cooked, shopped, did laundry, did handywoman jobs, visited and talked. Never once did I see a man come and help except one that had been consistently passed over for brother "privileges", to do handyman projects. Even when the older person was a man, the women were the ones that helped even when the brother needed personal care. I will concede that some congregations (few) do well in this area, but I found that the more money the older jw had to leave, the more attention they got from the elders.
Also, how many different euphemisms can you find for "jws"?
START OF ARTICLE
Q 1, 2. (a) Seeing a white-haired person might remind you of what? (h) How does Jehovah view older Christians?
WHEN you see elderly ones in the congregation who have white hair, are you reminded of an account in the Bible book of Daniel? In a vision that He gave to Daniel, Jehovah God portrayed himself as having white hair. Daniel wrote: "I kept on beholding until there were thrones placed and the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothing was white just like snow, and the hair of his head was like clean wool." -Dan. 7:9.
Why does the WTS use such stilted language, elderly "ones," young "ones," older "ones", what is with this "ones"?
White hair....if I didn't dye my hair it would be white, do I qualify as "elderly" or am I hiding my nature? Does the WTS encourage it?
Quote
Yet, to keep dyeing one's hair takes time and effort, and for some it may cause skin problems or allergic reactions. Even if you decide to dye your graying hair, there may come a time when you will want to stop, and then you will no doubt have to deal with the growing-out stage. On the positive side, gray hair can look elegant and give you a dignity that you never had before. The Bible comments: "Gray-headedness is a crown of
beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness."—Proverbs 16:31.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020808a/article_01.htm
OT--Daniel
2. In its natural state, wool often has a warm white color. Thus, white hair and the title "Ancient of Days" call attention to God's great age and wisdom, both of which merit our deepest respect. How, then, does the Ancient of Days, Jehovah, view faithful older men and women? God's Word says that "gray-headedness is a crown of beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness." (Prov. 16:31) Yes, if a faithful Christian has come to have gray or white hair, such a mature appearance is beautiful in God's sight. Do you share Jehovah's view of your older brothers and sisters?
Is wool white in its natural state?
faithful older...faithful Christians...older brothers and sisters: only jws
Why So Precious?
Q 3. Why are older fellow believers so precious to us?
3. Among such beloved older servants of God are members of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, current and former traveling overseers, zealous pioneers, and mature Kingdom publishers-brothers and sisters who serve faithfully in our congregations. You may know some who have zealously preached the good news for decades and whose good examples have helped to motivate younger ones and mold
their lives. Some older fellow believers have carried heavy loads of responsibility and have endured persecution for the sake of the good news. Jehovah and "the faithful and discreet slave" deeply appreciate all their past and present contributions to the Kingdom work. -Matt. 24:45.
servants of God...fellow believers--only jws
Phrase "governing body" is not in the bible.
"zealously" preached...good examples--who judges the "spirituality" of these ones as "worthy"?
Some...carried heavy loads = only male jws with privileges, raising children is not a heavy load for women, right? What about the others, only some?
Where is Jesus in this deep appreciation?
Q 4. Why should we respect elderly Christians and pray for them?
4. Such faithful seniors merit the gratitude and respect of other servants of Jehovah God. In fact, God's Law given through Moses links consideration and respect for the elderly with the fear of Jehovah. (Lev. 19:32) We should regularly pray for these faithful ones and thank God for their labors of love. The apostle Paul prayed for his dear coworkers, young and old.-Read 1Thessalonians 1:2, 3.
servants of God...faithful seniors--only jws
faithful "ones"--who determines the faithfulness of these older jws? Did Paul judge who were faithful and only pray for them?
Does the WTS have to order Christians to pray for one another--SHOULD (wouldn't a little association and practical help with cleaning, cooking, shopping mean more?)
OT--Moses
Q 5. How can we benefit from associating with older worshippers of Jehovah?
5. Furthermore, all in the congregation can benefit from associating with older Christians. Through study, observation, and experience, faithful older worshippers of Jehovah have accumulated priceless knowledge. They have learned to exercise patience and show empathy, and passing on what they have learned to the next generation brings them great joy and satisfaction. (I's. 71 :18) Younger ones, be wise and draw on this source of knowledge as you would draw up water from a deep well.-Prov. 20:5.
older Christians...worshippers of Jehovah--only jws
priceless knowledge--WT doctrines
How many associated with older jws at the meeting or at home? About as much as they did with younger jws? Or were they viewed as eccentric?
Q 6. How can you show older ones that you truly value them?
6. Do you let older ones know that you cherish them as Jehovah cherishes them? One way you can do so is by telling them how much you love them for their faithfulness and how you value their opinions. Moreover, by acting on what you learn from them, you demonstrate that your respect for them is sincere. Many elderly Christians can recall the wise advice they received from faithful older ones and how acting on it has benefitted them throughout their lives.'
Where is Jesus, doesn't he cherish his followers?
Why do Christians have to be told to tell others that they are loved? When was the last a jw other than family said that to you when you were still in? Do jws value the opinions of older jws, even the anointed, or are they viewed as odd? Does the GB even want the input of older anointed jws?
Christians--only jws
* See the article "Elderly Ones-A Blessing to the Young," in the June 1, 2007, issue of The Watchtower.
Show Tender Regard in Practical Ways
Q 7. To whom does Jehovah give the primary responsibility to care for older ones?
7. God gives the families of older ones the primary responsibility to provide for them. (Read 1 Timothy 5:4, 8.) Jehovah is pleased when families fulfill their obligation toward elderly relatives and thus show that they care about older ones as he himself does. God supports these families and blesses them for their efforts and for all their sacrifices.'
So are non-jw families viewed as having the prime responsibility? I can remember one jw who only got help from the congregation to get to the meetings but everything else they expected her non-jw family to handle. It was almost a year before the elders checked into it and found that she was struggling to do it herself.
Q 8. Why should congregations show their concern for aging Christians?
8. Similarly, Jehovah is pleased when local congregations assist faithful older ones who are in need but have no believing or willing family members to care for them. (1 Tim. 5:3, 5, 9, 10) Congregations thereby show that they have 'fellow feeling, brotherly affection, and tender compassion' for the elderly. (1 Pet. 3:
So if older jws are not "faithful" (whatever that means) then no one helps them. Do the elders actual do anything practical except show a jw how to fill out welfare paperwork?
What about the WT advice that the congregation take care of the family of those in the missionary and "traveling" work so they can stay in their
assignments?.
Quote
(Matthew 5:43-48) 43 “YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU; 45 that YOU may prove yourselves sons of YOUR Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. 46 For if YOU love those loving YOU, what reward do YOU have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if YOU greet YOUR brothers only, what extraordinary thing are YOU doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? 48 YOU must accordingly be perfect, as YOUR heavenly Father is perfect.
* See pages 3·10 of the February 8, 1994, issue of Awake!
Q 9. What burdens can advanced age impose on a person?
9. What burdens do older ones bear? Many tire easily. They may feel that doing even basic things-going to the doctor, doing paperwork, cleaning the house, preparing food-is beyond their capacity. Since appetite and thirst often diminish with age, they may think that they do not need to eat or drink as much as they really should. It can be similar with spiritual nourishment. Aging eyes and ears may make reading and listening to spiritual programs difficult, and just getting ready to go to Christian meetings may be exhausting. What, then, can others do for such older ones?
So how many elders do you think took them to the doctor (take off from work during the day, are you kidding!), cleaning the house, preparing food? They would just delegate to more lowly jws
How You Can Help
Q 10. What can elders do to make sure that older ones receive practical help?
10 In many congregations, the elderly are being cared for in an exemplary manner. Loving brothers and sisters help them with shopping, cooking, and cleaning. They help the elderly to study, to get ready for meetings, and to remain regular in the ministry. Younger Witnesses accompany them and provide transportation. If older ones are unable to leave home, they are tied in to meetings by telephone or recordings are made for them. Whenever possible, elders make sure that practical arrangements are implemented in order to meet the needs of older ones in the congregation. *
many but not all congregations
Do loving "brothers" help with shopping, cooking, and cleaning...........how many do it in their own home? Who helps them get ready for the meetings, brothers who don't even help get their own children ready? Yes elders "make sure....implemented" but do not get their hands dirty...they have more important work to do.
* In some lands, this may include helping older ones to avail themselves of government assistance. See the article "God Cares for the Elderly," in the June 1, 2006, issue of The Watchtower.
Q 11. Relate how one family helped an older brother.
11. Individual Christians too can extend hospitality and display generosity. After the wife of one older brother died, he could no longer afford to pay the rent without her pension. He and his wife had studied the Bible with a family-father, mother, and two teenage daughters-who had a large house. They gave him two rooms to live in. For 15 years, they shared meals, laughter, and brotherly affection. The younger ones gained much from his faith and wealth of experience, and he benefited from joyful association. This elderly brother lived with them until he died at age 89. The family still thank God for the many blessings they received through their association with him. They have not 'lost their reward' for having helped a fellow disciple of Jesus Christ.--Matt.10:42.
Christians...fellow disciple of Jesus Christ--only jws
Who do you think did the real, practical work? mother and two teenage daughters
Q 12. What can you do to show your tender regard for brothers and sisters of advanced age?
12. You may not be in a position to assist an elderly brother or sister in the way this family did, but you may be able to help older ones to get to meetings and out in the field ministry. You can also invite them to your home and include them when you go on outings. You ·can visit them, especially when they are sick or confined. Moreover, you can and should always treat them as mature adults. As long as they are mentally able,
older Christians should be included in all decision-making that affects them. Even those who have lost much of their mental ability can sense
whether their dignity is being respected.
may not be in a position........how many jws do you could and would put up Jesus in their house but have no room for an old jw?
how many people in your congregation invited older jws to their home, visited them on a regular basis....no time to put on your slip for that?
older Christians--only jws
Jehovah Will Not Forget Your Work
Q 13. Why is showing consideration for the feelings of elderly Christians important?
13 Showing consideration for the feelings of older ones is essential. It is not unusual for the elderly to be deeply grieved by their inability to accomplish all that they were able to when they were younger and healthier. For instance, a sister who served Jehovah actively for some 50 years and who had been a regular pioneer developed a debilitating illness and could attend meetings only with great difficulty. When she
compared her former ministry with her present limitations, she began to cry. Lowering her head, she said through her tears, "I'm not doing anything anymore."
Does the WTS show consideration for any jw when they give extreme examples of jws doing the impossible to "serve God"? What does the DO MORE theme at every meeting do to even the able-bodied jw?
Quote
*** w07 1/15 p. 19 Remaining Steadfast When a Child Rebels ***
However, if you yourself are to remain steadfast in serving Jehovah and are to avoid becoming a victim of Satan, you must do more.
Quote
*** km 2/07 pp. 3-4 par. 5 Declare Abroad the Excellencies of Jehovah ***You can be sure that making an effort to do more in Jehovah’s service will bring joy and Jehovah’s blessing
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*** km 8/07 p. 4 par. 3 A Worthy Goal for the New Service Year ***
Usually, the more you do something, the easier and more enjoyable it becomes
* See the article "Jehovah Always Cares for Us," in the September 1, 2003, issue of 'The Watchtower
Q 14. What encouragement can older servants of Jehovah draw from the psalms?
14. If you are an older person, have you had such painful feelings? Or are there times when you feel that Jehovah may have abandoned you? The psalmist may have had similar feelings in his later years, for he petitioned Jehovah: "Do not throw me away in the time of old age; just when my power is failing, do not leave me .... Even until old age and gray-headedness, 0 God, do not leave me." (Ps. 71 :9, 18) Of course, Jehovah was not about to abandon the composer of that psalm, and He will not abandon you. In another psalm, David expressed his confidence in God's support. (Read Psalm 68:19.) Rest assured that if you are a faithful elderly Christian, Jehovah is with you and will continue to sustain you day by day.
Where is Jesus is this "abandonment"? Why are jws not forging a close relationship with Christ as Christians do?
faithful elderly Christian--only jws
Q 15. What can help older ones to maintain a positive outlook?
15. All that you aging Witnesses of Jehovah have done and are now doing for God's glory is never far from his mind. "God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name," says the Bible. (Heb. 6: 10) Therefore, resist adopting a negative viewpoint, wrongly thinking that because of advanced age, you are no longer useful to Jehovah. Endeavor to replace depressing, pessimistic thoughts with
positive ones. Rejoice over your blessings and your hope for the future! We have "a future and a hope" -the best possible-and these are guaranteed by our Creator. (Jer. 29:11, 12; Acts 17:31; 1 Tim. 6:19) Reflect on your hope, work to stay young in heart and mind, and never underestimate the value of your presence in the congregation!'
Witnesses of Jehovah--did you know that until about 1971, the accepted way to write this was "Jehovah's witnesses" with a lower case "w"?
negative viewpoint...wrongly thinking...depressing...pessimistic--putting all the responsibility on the individual jw for these "bad" feelings with the
WTS not taking responsibility for the weekly "admonition" to all jws to DO MORE and giving examples of jws who are.
Carrot--future hope, life forever on a paradise earth, even survival through Armageddon, never having to die.....
Q 16. Why did one older brother think that he should stop serving as an elder, but what did the body of elders encourage him?
16 Consider Johan, who at 80 years of age cares full-time for his faithful, now invalid, wife, Sannie.# Sisters take turns staying with Sannie so that Johan can go to meetings and in the ministry. Recently, however, Johan felt that he was near the breaking point emotionally and began thinking that he should no longer serve as a congregation elder. "What's the point of my being an elder?" he asked as tears welled up in his eyes. "I no longer perform any useful function in the congregation." His fellow elders assured him that his experience and judgment were invaluable. They urged him to continue serving as an elder, even if his participation was limited. Greatly encouraged, Johan continues to serve as an elder, to the blessing of the congregation.
# Names have been changed.
(Why weren't the names changed in paragraph 1)
Why are also sisters given this chore? If it had been an older brother, would a brother have stayed with him....not in my experience?
What duties did this older elder have or was he just a figurehead?
Jehovah Really Cares
Q 17. What assurances does the Bible give elderly Christians?
17 The Scriptures make it clear that older ones can continue to prosper spiritually despite the problems accompanying old age. The psalmist declared: "Those who are planted in the house of Jehovah ... will still keep on thriving during gray-headedness, fat and fresh they will continue to be." (Ps. 92:13, 14) The apostle Paul, who may have been dealing with a physical affliction, 'did not give up, even if the man he was on the
outside was wasting away.'-Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.
" See the article "The Splendor of Gray-Headedness" in The Watchtower of March I5, 1993.
"older ones"--only jws
And who will give the practical help they need? Elders?
Q 18. Why do older fellow believers and their caregivers need the help of others?
18 Many modern-day examples prove that older ones can "keep on thriving." But the challenges of illness and old age can be daunting, even for those who have caring and committed family members to help them. Caregivers too may become worn-out. The congregation has the privilege and responsibility to put their love into action in behalf of older ones and those who care for them. (Gal. 6:10) Such help shows that we are not, in effect, telling such ones to go and "keep warm and well fed" without assisting them in practical ways.-Jas. 2:15-17.
fellow believers--only jws
If non-jw family are the caregivers, will the congregation help them? Not in my experience.
Q 19. Why can faithful elderly Christians view the future with confidence?
19. Advancing age may change a Christian's activities somewhat, but time does not diminish Jehovah's love for his loyal older servants. On the contrary, all of these faithful Christians are precious in his eyes, and he will never leave them. (Isa. 37:28; Isa. 46:4) Jehovah will sustain and guide them throughout old age. Ps 48:14.
Christian..."loyal" older servants...faithful Christians--only jws
Won't Jesus sustain them...................?
How Would You Answer?
·Why do you consider faithful elderly Christians to be precious?
·How can we show tender regard for aging fellow worshippers?
·What can help older servants of Jehovah to have a positive outlook?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
As I mentioned before, I had a long career of helping older jws get to the meetings, helped them at home with cleaning, cooking, laundry, shopping, taking them out to eat, to movies, sprucing up their wardrobe, acting as a go between with their non-jw family, planting flowers and a garden, arranging for a kind jw to fix up the house and car. The elders were happy to have me do it since their wives (homebodies) were
complaining about being "stuck" with it. After all, I was a single woman and had no responsibilities except doing my own cooking, cleaning, shopping, getting my car fixed, working to support myself, besides getting 100 hours a month in preaching/teaching.
I have no doubt that even today there are a few on the edge jws that actually do the practical things to help older people in the congregation. Do you think they sit down to judge whether these people are worthy, faithful?
Love, Blondie