Good job again Blondie and commenters on covering a truly TERRIBLE "lesson" !
It starts off bad from the first paragraph:
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.
Uh yeah, do you like invisible friends that give imaginary help? Jehovah and his Son (no name given here) are not "people". You can't have a conversation with them. No human, not even the GB, can speak to them and get straight answers. So don't expect Hojovah to visit you in the hospital or help with your bills or replace a flat time. So, they're going to be as helpful and loving... as Santa.
"Their motive is entirely unselfish...?" Right. Just turn this issue of the Botchtower to P. 27 and consider the subheading "Jehovah Desire Our Best". Why his "almighty Hojovah" so loving, rich, powerful, and demanding of our time, money, and energy, but only promises help someday... very soon now? It's all rubbish, I tell you.
Para.3:
Lovingly, he does not dwell on minor failings.
Of course he doesn't. That's what he's got elders for... to dwell on minor failings.
They speak out of both sides of their mouth with two very different subheadings. Firstly, "Examined Through the Eyes of Love" shows a supposedly loving, sweety-sweet God. Later the subheading, "There Is No Secret Sin", where God is ready to slice-and-dice people for fairly minor infractions.
Para. 6: If Hojovah is "our loving Teacher and Father," why the hell can't he explain the meaning of "this generation"?
Para. 10 & 11: Very speculative reasoning here. No explanation of how a sacrifice can be based on "a lack of faith". Who would he be trying to impress? No explanation of why Abel was a professional herder of sheep when Jehovah and informed that man would be cultivators of the ground. Did Abel disobediently eat sheep? No reference to drinking milk or weaving cloth. In the Genesis account, it looks rather straightforward that Hojovah provoked Cain to kill Abel. If there is a lesson to be learned, it is this: You are better off to not sacrifice and stay away than to try to merit God's approval. Abel was not protected by Hojovah, and Cain was rejected by Hojovah. Wow, what a great father, eh?
Para. 13: I felt bad for Achan. Even if you don't need it yourself, who eagerly destroys otherwise valuable property. Like Jehovah needed that stuff? And when you read the context of the account, Joshua looks like a freaking cry-baby when some Israelites are killed. In case you hadn't noticed, you have been mercilessly slaughtering people just because they aren't Hebrews.
In the account of Ananias and Sapphira, it highlighted the failed communist utopia that was the early Christian congregation following Pentecost. Everyone with property was pressured to give it all up to the apostles... or die. How much did the couple keep? Half of the money would have been too obvious. No, they probably only keep enough for a nice dinner at Steak & Shake, then gave everything they had left... so Peter used his super-powers to drop them dead. So, now we know why the Holy Spirit doesn't work miracles anymore... Christians would use them to kill each other.
With the picture on page 5, they pose the question, "What lesson do we learn from the example of Ananias?" A couple things come to mind. First, God is ready, willing, and able to kill Christians for any infraction. Second, if you lie, cheat, or steal and don't miraculously die from it... well, it must be okay with Jehovah.
Oh, and good job last week, Mary ! Sorry I didn't throw in a comment, you nailed them very well without any help from me !
B the X
