Comments You Will Not Hear at the 12-07-08 WT Study (October 15, 2008, pages (3-7)(EXAMINE)Review comments will be in red
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Jehovah’s “Beaming Eyes” Examine All“
[Jehovah’s] beaming eyes examine the sons of men.”—Ps. 11:4
OPENING COMMENTS
Reading this 2 things popped out to me. Why are brackets used in the theme scripture to insert "Jehovah"? And where is Jesus in this examination or inspection? The WTS founds their authority on their doctrine that Jesus returned in 1918 as the "messenger of the covenant" to inspect Christians and found only the Bible Students (that segment later renamed Jehovah's Witnesses by Rutherford). In fact if you check
Rutherford's writings (see above Strictly Genteel), you will find this concept on just about every page.
*** w04 3/1 p. 14 par. 8 ‘The Faithful Slave’ Passes the Test! ***
In 1918, Jesus, “the messenger of the covenant,” had come to Jehovah’s spiritual temple to inspect and cleanse God’s congregation. (Malachi 3:1)
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*** w89 4/1 p. 12 par. 8 Hear What the Spirit Says to the Congregations ***
When Jesus came to inspect professed Christians in 1918, he found anointed Christians on earth trying hard to observe the words of the prophecy. Since the 1870’s they had been warning people of the importance of the year 1914. They had suffered much at the hands of Christendom during the first world war, and in 1918 their work virtually ceased when the leading officials of the Watch Tower Society were imprisoned on false charges. But their experiences at that time match the prophecies in Revelation to a marvelous degree. And their determination to heed Jesus’ words to the seven congregations identified them without a doubt as the only light-bearing Christians in this benighted world. Today, this remnant makes up a John class that lives to see and participate in the fulfillments of many parts of Revelation.
START OF ARTICLE.
Q 1. To what kind of people are we drawn?
How do you feel about people who take a genuine interest in you? They offer an honest opinion when you invite them to do so. When you need help; they provide it generously. When you need counsel, they offer it in love. (Ps. 141:5; Gal. 6:1) Are you not drawn to such people? Well, Jehovah and his Son are just like that. In fact, their interest in you exceeds that of any human, and their motive is entirely unselfish; they want to help you to "get a firm hold on the real life." -1 Tim. 6:19; Rev. 3:19.
What do many jws consider "genuine interest"? If a jw misses a meeting, what do family members hear? "Why isn't he/she here? Tell them we miss them" expecting that jw to "carry" their message of concern, as if the telephone and mail service did not exist. Or the jws that stand around and dissect the "spirituality" of the missing individual under the guise of "helping" them but never calling them or sending a card of
encouragement. It is just their entertainment and way of elevating their own status in the congregation. Their motive is actually entirely SELFISH.
How many of us even as jws had not a moment of concern shown and now that we don't go any more, there is no generosity of feeling shown, rather a shunning as if we were spiritual lepers.
"Jehovah and his Son are just like that" this will be the last time Jesus is included in the act of showing love.
Q 2. To what extent is Jehovah interested in his servants?
2. The psalmist David expressed the depth of Jehovah's interest in us when he said: "[Jehovah's] own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes examine the sons of men." (Ps. 11 :4) Yes, God does not simply look at us; he examines us. David also wrote: "You have examined my heart, you have made inspection by night...You will discover that I have not schemed." (Ps. 17:3) Clearly, David was aware of the depth of Jehovah's interest in him. He knew that he would hurt Jehovah and merit His displeasure if he nurtured sinful thoughts or developed a scheming heart. Is Jehovah as real to you as he was to David?
OT example 1: David
So was David thinking how he would hurt God when he "nurtured sinful thoughts" and action about Bathsheba and then schemed and had her husband killed when it would be obvious to the eyes of MEN that he had sex with Bathsheba and made her pregnant?
How real was God to David if he only tried to hide his actions from humans not from God's eyes?
How real is God to jws who hide their actions only from the elders and other jws?
Jehovah Sees the Heart
Q 3. How does Jehovah demonstrate a balanced attitude toward our imperfections?
3. Jehovah's primary interest is in the inner person-who we really are at heart. (Ps. 19: 14; 26:2) Lovingly, he does not dwell on minor failings. For example, when Sarah, the wife of Abraham, spoke less than truthfully to a materialized angel, the angel evidently saw that she was afraid and embarrassed, so he simply gave her a mild reproof. (Gen. 18:12-15) When the patriarch Job declared "his own soul righteous rather than God," Jehovah did not withhold a blessing from him, aware that Job had suffered intensely at Satan's hand. (Job 32:2; 42:12) Likewise, Jehovah did not take offense at the frank words of the widow of Zarephath to the prophet Elijah. God understood that she was grief-stricken at the loss of her only child. -1 Ki.17:8-24.
If God's interest is in the inner person, why does the WTS say that God will soon destroy eternally all 6.5 million plus non-jws, including children. Does God need some outward label and ceremony (baptism as a jw) to determine what people are really at heart?
If God does not dwell on "minor" failings, why are the elders so concerned about men wearing beards, hair too long, skirts too short, driving a materialistic car? Can you think of some "minor" things that the elders pursued rather than showing love?
OT 2--Sarah
Spoke less than truthfully--how does her "lie" compare to the lies that the WTS and its representatives have told?
OT 3--Job
Have jws had "privileges" withheld from them for not spending 10 hours placing WT publications? Do the elders consider their suffering "at Satan's hand"?
OT 4--widow of Zarephath
Q 4, 5. How did Jehovah show graciousness in the way he dealt with Abimelech?
4. Because Jehovah examines the heart, he has shown consideration even toward unbelievers. Consider his dealings with Abimelech, king of the Philistine city of Gerar. Abimelech, not realizing that Abraham and Sarah were married, took Sarah to become his own wife. However, before Abimelech could go any further, Jehovah said to him in a dream: "1 too have known that in the honesty of your heart you have done this, and I was also holding you back from sinning against me. That is why I did not allow you to touch her. But now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will make supplication for you. So keep living."-Gen. 20:1-7.
OT 5--Abimelech
So why should God be harsh to Abimelech--he had been lied to by God's so-called representative, Abraham? Rather than trust in God's ability to protect him, Abraham lied.
And why shouldn't God show love to unbelievers? Did Jesus just die for the Jews?
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(Matthew 5:44-45) 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.
5. To be sure, Jehovah could have dealt harshly with Abimelech, a worshipper of false deities. But God saw that the man acted honestly on this occasion. Graciously acknowledging this, Jehovah told the king how to gain forgiveness and "keep living." Is that not the kind of God that you want to worship?
Q 6. In what ways did Jesus imitate his Father?
6 Jesus perfectly imitated his Father, focusing on the good in his disciples and readily forgiving their errors. (Mark 10:35-45; 14:66- 72; Luke 22:31, 32; John 15:15) Jesus' attitude harmonized with his words found at John 3:17: "God sent forth his Son into the world, not for him to judge the world, but for the world to be saved through him." Yes, the love that Jehovah and Jesus have for us is deep and constant. It is seen in their desire that we gain life. (Job 14:15) Such love explains why Jehovah examines us, how he views us, and how he acts on what he sees. -Read 1 John 4:8, 19.
In every congregation there jws who lied and gossiped, the elders and their wives, and the rank and file followed their example. If Jesus was not sent into the world to judge it, where do jws get the idea they have the authority to judge fellow jws and nonbelievers?
The love in the WTS is shallow and intermittent, tied to personal gain.
Examined Through the Eyes of Love
Q 7. With what motive does Jehovah examine us?
7. How wrong it is, then, to think of Jehovah as a celestial policeman who peers down from above in order to catch us in the act of sinning! Satan is the one with a cynical, accusing eye. (Rev. 12:10) He even attributes bad motives where there are none! (Job 1:9- 11; 2:4, 5) Concerning God, the psalmist wrote: “lf errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand?" (Ps. 130:3) The implied answer is, No one! (Eccl. 7:20)
Rather, Jehovah watches us with the merciful, kind eyes of a caring parent who wants to protect his beloved children from harm. He often alerts us to our imperfections and weaknesses so that we can avoid harming ourselves.-Ps.103:10-14; Matt. 26:41.
But are not the WTS representatives trying to catch the rank and file in the act of sinning even to the point of watching jws at home from outside in their cars, checking their dvds, cds, books at home when "visiting" to encourage?
Have you or did you have the elders or other jws attribute bad motives to you? Notice that the WTS does not say not to attribute bad motives but to be careful. So if you are careful, you can attribute bad motives.
How though does the WTS invite judging others motives?
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*** w07 11/1 p. 14 Highlights From the Books of Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah ***
Deliberately scheduling other activities in order to avoid having a full share in the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work is an indication of a wrong motive. Someone who does so runs away from a God-given assignment, so to speak.
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*** w06 7/15 p. 30 Questions From Readers ***
Elders should carefully and prayerfully weigh each situation and find out what occurred and how often, the nature and extent of the misconduct, and the intent and motive of the wrongdoer.
Or even here the WTS adds to the Bible and attributes bad motives to Uzzah:
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*** w05 2/1 p. 27 par. 21 Jehovah Always Does What Is Right ***
As mentioned earlier, Jehovah can read hearts. Since his Word calls Uzzah’s deed an “irreverent act,” Jehovah may have seen some selfish motive that is not expressly revealed in the account. Was Uzzah perhaps a presumptuous man, prone to overstep due bounds? (Proverbs 11:2) Did leading in public the Ark that his family had guarded in private give him an inflated sense of self-importance? (Proverbs 8:13) Was Uzzah so faithless as to think that Jehovah’s hand was too short to steady the sacred chest that symbolized His presence?
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*** w05 2/1 pp. 28-29 Is the Truth Bearing Fruit in Those You Teach? ***
Jesus, of course, was able to read hearts unerringly. (Matthew 12:25) None of us can do that. Yet, he showed us that we too can discern a person’s desires, motives, and priorities.
Q 8. How does Jehovah instruct and discipline his servants?
8. God's love is expressed through the instruction and discipline provided both in the Scriptures and in the spiritual food dispensed by “the faithful and discreet slave." (Matt. 24:45; Heb. 12:5, 6) Jehovah also extends help by way of the Christian congregation and its “gifts in men." (Eph. 4:
So does God's love have to come through the WTS/FDS/GB?
Christian congregation--really only the anointed
Remember when elders were called congregation "servants"? That was changed to "overseers" which is a definite shift from being lower than the sheep as servants to being over the sheep as overseers.
It isn't enough that the WTS labels the anointed as kings, but the elders as "princes," "sheiks," basically rulers.
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(Galatians 3:26-28) 26 YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one [person] in union with Christ Jesus.
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*** w07 12/15 p. 24 par. 12 No Weapon Formed Against You Will Succeed ***
Read Zechariah 12:5, 6. “The sheiks of Judah” refer to those having oversight among God’s people.
Humble before God or WTS or is it the same thing?
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*** w58 5/15 p. 308 par. 14 Does Superstition or Knowledge Govern You? ***
Jehovah has provided his Word, his spirit and his organization. We must take in knowledge with the proper attitude, as “babes,” in humble recognition of Jehovah and his organization, which he uses today to dispense spiritual food. We should have an attitude of gratitude for all the provisions made through the organization of the anointed witnesses of Jehovah, the “faithful and discreet slave” mentioned by Jesus at Matthew 24:45.
Q 9. What traits should we avoid and why?
9. Conversely, may we never become hardened by pride, by a lack of faith, or by “the deceptive power of sin." (Heb. 3:13; Jas. 4:6) Often, these traits begin when a person nurtures unwholesome thoughts or desires. He may even reach the point of rejecting appropriate Scriptural counsel. Worse still, he may become so set in his bad attitude or ways that he makes himself an enemy of God--a truly fearful situation! (Prov. 1:22-31)
Consider the example of Cain, the firstborn of Adam and Eve.
OT 6--Cain
Is it prideful not to blindly follow the WTS organization?
Faith in the WTS organization or God?
Deceptive power of sin, doubting the FDS but pedophiles get a free pass.
So who judges what is appropriate Scriptural counsel? So if two people of the opposite sex stay overnight together the WTS says they can be df'd, based on what scripture?
bad attitude--not accepting everything the WTS teaches
enemy of God = enemy of WTS
Jehovah Sees All and Acts Accordingly
Q 10. Why did Jehovah disapprove of Cain's offering, and how did Cain respond?
10. When Cain and Abel each brought an offering to Jehovah, He was interested not only in their gift but also in their motive. As a result, God expressed his approval of Abel's offering, rendered in faith, but his disapproval of Cain's, which in some way reflected a lack of faith. (Gen. 4:4, 5; Heb. 11:4) Rather than learn from the event and change his attitude, Cain became consumed with anger toward his brother.-Gen. 4:6.
OT 7--Abel
"in some way" reflected a lack of faith--so where is that in the bible? The WTS is adding again to the bible.
Q 11. How did Cain manifest a treacherous heart, and what is the lesson for us?
11. Jehovah observed this dangerous development and considerately spoke to Cain, pointing out that if he did good, he would have cause for exaltation. Sadly, Cain ignored his Creator's counsel and murdered his brother. Cain's bad heart was further reflected in the insolent manner in which he replied to God's question: "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain retorted: "I do not know. Am I my brother's guardian?" (Gen. 4: 7 -9) How treacherous the heart can be-even to the point of disregarding the direct counsel of God! (Jer. 17:9) Let us therefore learn from such accounts and be quick to reject wrong thoughts and desires. (Read James 1: 14,15.) If we receive Scriptural counsel, may we appreciate it and view it as an evidence of Jehovah's love.
How did God speak to Cain directly since he was imperfect? Was this counsel directly from God? And if the counsel is not scriptural can the rank and file ignore it. Where is Christ's love?
Cain murderer - David murderer
There Is No Secret Sin
Q 12. How does Jehovah respond to wrongdoing?
12. Some may feel that if no one sees them do wrong, they will get away with it. (Ps. 19: 12) In a sense, there is no such thing as a secret sin. “All things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting." (Heb. 4:13) Jehovah is a Judge who examines our deepest motives, and he responds to wrongdoing in a way that reflects perfect justice. He is " a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and
abundant in loving-kindness and truth." Yet, to the unrepentant, he will "by no means. .. give exemption from punishment" when individuals "practice sin willfully" or manifest a devious, scheming attitude. (Ex. 34:6, 7; Heb. 10:26) This fact was reflected in Jehovah's dealings with Achan and with Ananias and Sapphira.
NT 1--Ananias and Sapphira
OT 8--Achan
No one sees they do wrong--how many jws turn in fake time, say they had a family bible study, said they called a weak jw and left a message but they failed to return the call only to find out there was no answering machine.
What does it mean to "practice" sin? Did you know that is why some elders ask for the sexual details of sinning female jws, to determine if it was a practice?
So why is this the only case of a "miraculous" revealing of wrongdoing?
Q 13. How did wrong thinking evidently contribute to Achan's bad conduct?
13. In direct violation of God's command, Achan took spoil from the city of Jericho and hid it in his tent, likely with the complicity of his family. When his sin was exposed, Achah showed that he realized the seriousness of what he had done, for he said: "I have sinned against Jehovah." (Josh. 7:20) Like Cain, Achan had developed a bad heart. In Achan's case, greed was a major factor, and it contributed to his becoming deceitful. Since the spoil from Jericho belonged to Jehovah, Achan in effect stole from God, and this cost him and his family dearly.-Josh. 7:25.
What is an indirection violation of God's command? Is the punishment any different. It reminds me of when some elders told me that homosexuality was a worse sin than adultery because homosexuality was abnormal, that it was a "gross" sin. Does that mean that adultery and fornication is normal as long as it is between people of the opposite sex?
According to the WTS, Achan and his family will be resurrected but not Ananias and Sapphira. Why?
Why did Achan's family all die? Did that include the babies (who could hardly have been ignorant of what he had done?)?
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*** it-1 p. 41 Achan ***
Execution quickly followed. Achan, his family (who could hardly have been ignorant of what he had done)
Q 14, 15. Why did Ananias and Sapphira merit God's disapproval. and what is the lesson for us?
14. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, were members of the early Christian congregation in Jerusalem. ' Following Pentecost of 33 C.E.. a common fund was set up to care for the physical needs of the new believers from distant lands who still remained in Jerusalem. The fund was maintained by voluntary contributions. Ananias sold a field and donated part of the money to the fund. However, with his wife's full knowledge, he pretended that he had donated the entire proceeds. No doubt, this couple wanted to gain special honor within the congregation. But their act was deceitful. In a miraculous way, Jehovah revealed the fraud to the apostle Peter, who confronted Ananias with his error. At that, Ananias fell down and expired. Shortly thereafter, Sapphira also died.-Acts 5:1-11.
15. Arianias and Sapphira did not fall prey to a momentary weakness. They schemed and lied in an attempt to deceive the apostles. Worse still, they 'played false to the holy spirit and to God.' Jehovah's response demonstrates in no uncertain terms that he is prepared to protect the congregation from hypocrites. Truly, "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God"!-Heb. 10:31
So are we to conclude that this was the only case of fraud in the early Christian congregation? If not, why no account of God smiting them dead?
What about frauds today among jws, is their sin considered the unforgivable sin and they are df'd without reinstatement privileges?
So wasn't Peter guilty of something that was more than a momentary weakness when he shunned the Gentile Christians for some period of time until Paul corrected him publicly? Wasn't that playing false to the holy spirit that had "revealed" to Peter and the other Jewish Christians that the Gentiles were accepted by God as full members of the Christian congregation and that they did not need to get circumcised?
Wasn't then Peter a hypocrite?
Maintain Integrity at All Times
Q 16. (a) How is Satan trying to corrupt God's people? (b) What methods does the Devil employ to corrupt people in your area?
16. Satan is doing all he can to corrupt us and make us lose Jehovah's approval. (Rev. 12: 12, 17) The Devil's evil intentions are clearly reflected in the world, which is obsessed with immoral sex and violence. Pornography can now be easily accessed through computers or other electronic devices. May we never succumb to Satan's attacks. Rather, may our sentiments be like those of the psalmist David, who wrote “I will act with discretion in a faultless way. I shall walk about in the integrity of my heart inside my house.”---Ps. 101:2.
God's people = only jws
Wouldn't the true attacks that would discourage people be the lack of love in jw congregations?
World = all non-jws
Aren't jws obsessed with violence, hoping for the eternal destruction of all non-jws soon, including babies and children?
Q 17. (a) Why does Jehovah eventually bring hidden sins into the open? (b) What should be our determination?
17. Today, Jehovah does not miraculously reveal gross sin and deceitful conduct as he sometimes did in the past. Still, he sees all and in his own time and way brings hidden things into the open. Paul said: "The sins of some men are publicly manifest, leading directly to judgment, but as for other men their sins also become manifest later." (1 Tim. 5:24) Jehovah's primary motive in bringing bad deeds into the light is love. He loves
the congregation and wants to protect its purity. Moreover, he shows mercy to ,. those who were overtaken by sin but who are now truly repentant. (Prov. 28:13) So let us strive to maintain a complete heart toward God and reject all corrupting influences.
But doesn't the WTS teach that the holy spirit reveals sin in the congregation? How? Isn't that a miracle.
Doesn't God make sin manifest through those who have sin it going to the appropriate secular authorities and reporting it?
How do imperfect men, elders, who cannot read hearts (or minds) determine who is truly repentant?
Maintain a Complete Heart
Q 18. How did King David want his son to feel toward God?
18. To his son Solomon, King David said: "Know the God of your father and serve him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul; for all hearts Jehovah is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts he is discerning.1I (1 Chron. 28:9) David wanted his son to do more than merely believe in God. He wanted Solomon to appreciate the depth of Jehovah's interest in His servants. Do you appreciate Jehovah in that way?
Do jws by their actions even show that they "merely believe in God"?
OT 9 - Solomon
Where is Jesus in this paragraph............that's right when you are constantly in the OT, talking about David and Solomon, neither one a very good example, Jesus could not be in the picture.
Q 19, 20. According to Psalm 19:7-11, what helped David to draw close to God, and how can we imitate David?
19. Jehovah knows that rightly inclined people will be drawn to him and that knowledge of his beautiful qualities will warm their heart. Hence, Jehovah wants us to get to know him and to become acquainted with his wonderful personality. How do we do so? By studying his Word and by experiencing his blessing in our lives.---Prov. 10:22; John 14:9.
20. Do you read God's Word daily in an appreciative, prayerful frame of mind? Do you see the value of living by Bible principles? (Read Psalm 19:7-11.) If so, your faith in Jehovah and your love for him will continue to grow. And he, in turn, will draw ever closer to you, walking hand in hand with you, as it were. (Isa. 42:6; Jas. 4:
rightly inclined people--only jws
When are jws encouraged to get to know Jesus and love him?
Where is the Bible principle forbidding men in the congregation to have beards........or rather to be penalized if they do?
How Would You Answer?
Why does Jehovah examine us?
What caused certain individuals to become enemies of God?
How can we show that Jehovah is real to us?
How can we maintain a complete heart toward God?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
There is no focus in this article. How can the average jw believe that God cares about them if they receive very little real and practical support from the so-called spiritually mature members in the congregation?
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(1 John 4:20) 20 If anyone makes the statement: “I love God,” and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot be loving God, whom he has not seen.
Love, Blondie