Comments You Will Not Hear at the 03-08-09 WT Study (January 15, 2009, pages (3-7)(FOLLOWER)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
Bible translations www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
WT publications www.strictlygenteel.co.uk
WT child abuse www.silentlambs.org
Blood issue www.ajwrb.org
United Nations http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm
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"COME BE MY FOLLOWER"
If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake day after day and follow me. "-LUKE 9:23.
OPENING COMMENTS
Can a person follow Jesus and not be part of the WTS?
Isn't it true that the WTS teaches that everyone outside their organization who say they are Christians are not "true" Christians, only professed Christians?
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*** w07 3/1 p. 7 How to Identify True Worship ***
Only one body of true Christians walks unitedly with God on the road of true worship. Therefore, it does matter which religion you choose.
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*** w04 11/15 p. 22 par. 12 Search for Jehovah, the Examiner of Hearts ***
Although some professed Christians accept the truth of God’s Word, Christendom’s worship itself is not motivated by genuine love for God.
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*** w69 12/1 p. 713 par. 8 Final Woes to Enemies of Peace with God ***
The so-called Christian world, or Christendom, is the most populous religious system on earth today. Roughly, it makes up a third of the world, for the world population today is estimated as being 3,420,000,000, whereas Christendom is made up of 977,383,000 professed Christians. Because Jehovah’s Christian witnesses hold strictly aloof from Christendom, the religious clergy of all denominations have branded them as not
being Christians.
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*** 1,000 Year book chap. 11 pp. 202-203 par. 41 “Here Is the Bridegroom!” ***
Likewise, when the “great tribulation” begins upon Christendom as the most prominent part of the religious harlot, Babylon the Great, their hopes of going to heaven when they die will be greatly shaken and put in doubt. They will discern that they have not been associated with the correct religious organization that makes up the “chaste virgin,” “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” They will not find themselves being “caught up” in their physical bodies into the clouds, in a bodily rapture, “to meet the Lord in the air,” according to the interpretation placed by their religious instructors on 1 Thessalonians 4:17. True, they have been shining as members of this or that religious sect of Christendom, but they were merely nominal or professed Christians and not the real thing.
START OF ARTICLE
Q 1, 2. (a) What kind invitation did Jesus offer? (b) How have you responded to Jesus' invitation?
TOWARD the end of his ministry, Jesus was witnessing in Perea, a region across the Jordan, northeast of Judea. He was approached by a young man who asked what he had to do to inherit everlasting life. Jesus, after ascertaining that the young man was faithfully observing the Mosaic Law, issued an outstanding invitation. He said: "Go, sell what things you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come be my follower." (Mark 10:21) Just think--an invitation to follow Jesus, the only-begotten Son of the Most High God!
Was this young man asking about everlasting life in heaven or on earth?
Was Jesus response about everlasting life in heaven or on earth?
Is this a push from the WTS that jws must sell their belongings and follow the WTS?
2. That young man rejected the invitation, but others accepted it. Earlier, Jesus had said to Philip: "Be my follower." (John 1:43) Philip accepted and later became an apostle. Jesus repeated the invitation to Matthew, and he too accepted it. (Matt. 9:9; 10:2-4) Indeed, Jesus offered the same invitation to all lovers of righteousness when he said: "If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake day after day and follow me continually." (Luke 9:23) Hence, anyone can be Jesus' follower if he really wants to. Do you have that desire? Most of us have already responded positively to Jesus' kind invitation, and in the field ministry, we convey that invitation to others.
The WTS teaches that only jws are "lovers of righteousness."
"Anyone can be Jesus' follower" without being a jw?
Do jws really ask non-jws to become Christians or jws?
Q 3. How can we avoid drifting away from following Jesus?
3. Sadly, though, some who have shown an interest in Bible truth do not continue. Rather, they slow down and eventually "drift away" from following Jesus. (Heb. 2:1) How can we avoid falling into that trap? It helps if we ask ourselves: 'Why did I choose to follow Jesus in the first place? What does it mean to follow him?' Bearing the answers to those two questions in mind will help us to strengthen our resolve to remain on the fine path we have chosen. It will also help us to encourage others to follow Jesus.
Bible truth or WTS publications?
Drift away from Jesus or the WTS?
Follow Jesus or the WTS?
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*** w96 7/15 p. 15 par. 21 Jehovah’s Family Enjoys Precious Unity ***
Jesus, the Head of the congregation, is fully theocratic and always does his Father’s will. (John 5:30) Let us, therefore, follow our Exemplar by theocratically and unitedly doing Jehovah’s will in full cooperation with His organization
Why Follow Jesus?
Q 4, 5. Why is Jesus qualified to lead?
4. The prophet Jeremiah stated: "1 well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." (Jer. 10:23) History has borne out the truth of Jeremiah's words. It has become increasingly evident that imperfect humans cannot successfully govern themselves. We accepted the invitation to follow Jesus because we learned that he is qualified to be our Leader in a way that no human could ever be. Consider some of Jesus' qualifications.
Does this mean then that perfect humans can successfully govern themselves?
Who is the leader?
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*** w07 4/1 p. 24 par. 14 Loyal to Christ and His Faithful Slave ***
Symbolically, the other sheep today walk behind the anointed slave class and its Governing Body, following their leadership.
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(Hebrews 13:17) Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among YOU . .
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5. First, Jesus was chosen as Messiah the Leader by Jehovah himself. Who knows better than our Creator whom to appoint as a Leader for us? Second, Jesus has qualities that we can admire and imitate. (Read Isaiah 11:2,3.) He is a perfect example. (1 Pet. 2:21) Third, Jesus 'deeply cares about those who follow him, as he showed when he laid down his life for them. (Read John 10:14, 15.) And he shows himself to be a caring shepherd as he guides us to a life that brings happiness now and leads to a glorious eternal future. (John 10:10, 11; Rev. 7:16, 17) For these and other reasons, we made a wise decision when we chose to follow him. What, though, does such a course involve?
In what way do elders imitate this quality:
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(Isaiah 11:3) . . .And he will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. . .
Do elders "deeply care" when months or years go by before checking on missing jws?
CARROT: glorious eternal future.
Q 6. What is involved in following Jesus?
6. Being followers of Christ means more than just calling ourselves Christian. Some two billion people claim to be Christian today, but their actions reveal them to be "workers of lawlessness." (Read Matthew 7: 21-23.) When individuals show an interest in the invitation to follow Jesus, we explain to them that true Christians pattern their entire way of life after his teachings and example--and they do so every day of their lives. To
illustrate what this means, consider some of the things that we know about Jesus.
******Some two billion people claim to be Christian today, but their actions reveal them to be "workers of lawlessness." ---every non-jw "Christian.
The WTS is saying that every non-jw so-called Christian are not "true"Christians.
Imitate Jesus' Example of Wisdom
Q 7, 8. a) What is wisdom, and why did Jesus possess it so abundantly? (b) How did Jesus demonstrate wisdom, and how can we imitate him?
7. Jesus manifested many outstanding qualities, but we will focus on four: his wisdom, his humility, his zeal, and his love. First, consider his wisdom--his ability to put knowledge and understanding to work in a practical way. The apostle Paul wrote: "Carefully concealed in [Jesus] are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge." (Col. 2:3) Where did Jesus get such wisdom? He himself said: "Just as the Father taught me I speak these things." (John 8:28) His wisdom originated with Jehovah, so we are not surprised at the soundness of Jesus' judgment.
Wisdom is only WTS wisdom.
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*** w92 12/1 p. 31 Spiritual Liberation in Colombia ***
They are very grateful for the practical wisdom Jehovah provides through the Bible and his organization.
8. For example, Jesus used good judgment in choosing his life course. He decided to keep his life simple, focusing on just one thing: the doing of God's will. He wisely devoted his time and energy to furthering Kingdom interests. We follow Jesus' example by striving to keep a 'simple eye' and thus avoid weighing ourselves down with unnecessary things that consume our energy and attention. (Matt. 6:22) Many Christians have taken steps to simplify their lifestyle so that they can devote more time to the ministry. Some have been able to enter the pioneer service. If you are one of those, that is most commendable. "Seeking first the kingdom" brings great happiness and satisfaction.-Matt. 6:33.
The WTS will point out that Jesus did not choose higher education of his time, but ignores the examples of Moses and Daniel.
What are unnecessary things?
Simple eye--simplify their lifestyle---pioneer service...most commendable
Be Humble Like Jesus
Q 9,10 how did jesus demonstrate his humility?
9. The second aspect of Jesus' personality that we will consider is his humility. When imperfect humans are given authority, they often develop an inflated sense of their own importance. How different it was with Jesus! Despite his key position in the outworking of Jehovah's purpose, Jesus was free of even the slightest hint of haughtiness. And we are encouraged to imitate him in that. The apostle Paul wrote: "Keep this mental
attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave's form and came to be in the likeness of men." (Phil. 2:5-7) What did that involve?
How many elders, COs, DOs, Bethelites, anointed have you known that when given authority developed an inflated sense of their importance?
How did they demonstrate that?
I can remember in one congregation that when a GB member visited that a dinner was given and it was only the elders and their wives that were considered worthy of attending.
10 Jesus enjoyed the glorious privilege of dwelling in his Father's heavenly presence, but he willingly "emptied himself." His life was transferred to the womb of a Jewish virgin there to develop for nine months until he was born as a helpless infant in the household of a lowly carpenter. In Joseph's house, Jesus gradually grew to be a toddler, a little boy, and then a teenager. He was sinless. Yet, throughout his youth he remained subject to parents who were imperfect sinners. (Luke 2: 51, 52) What extraordinary humility!
Q 11. In what ways can we imitate Jesus' humility?
11. We imitate Jesus' humility when we willingly accept assignments that might seem lowly. As an example, consider the assignment to preach the good news. Such work may appear lowly, especially when people respond with apathy, ridicule, or hostility. However, by persisting in the preaching work, we help others to respond to Jesus' invitation to follow him. Thus we help to save lives. (Read 2 Timothy 4: 1-5.) Another
example is the maintenance of our Kingdom Hall. That can involve such things as emptying trash cans, mopping floors, and cleaning washrooms--all humble tasks! Still, we recognize that maintaining our Kingdom Hall--the center of pure worship in the locality--is part of our sacred service. By willingly completing tasks that seem lowly, we show humility and thus follow in the footsteps of Christ.
So the preaching is compared to emptying trash cans, mopping floors, and cleaning washrooms?
So does the WTS consider cleaning washrooms "sacred service"? But not keeping your home clean?
Like Jesus, Be Zealous
Q 12, 13. a) How did Jesus demonstrate zeal, and what motivated him? b) What will motivate us to be zealous in the ministry?
12. Consider Jesus' zeal in the ministry. Jesus did many things when he was on earth. In his early life, he likely worked with his adoptive father, Joseph, as a carpenter. During his ministry, Jesus performed miracles, including healing the sick and raising the dead. But his main work was that of preaching the good news and teaching those who had listening ears. (Matt. 4:23) As his followers, we have the same work to do. How can we follow his example? For one thing, we can cultivate motives like those of Jesus.
likely--adding to the Bible
What is the motive---everlasting life on a Paradise earth
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*** w88 1/1 pp. 28-29 par. 14 Keep On Preaching the Kingdom ***
So it is with the watchman class today, the remnant of anointed followers of Jesus Christ. All of these, together with more than three million of their companions who have the hope of surviving the end of this system of things and receiving everlasting life on earth, must never slack off from preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom and warning of the coming execution of his judgment. In this way they avoid bloodguilt.
13. Above all, love for God motivated Jesus to preach and to teach. But Jesus also loved the truths he taught. To him, those truths were priceless treasures, and he was eager to share them with others. We as teachers, or 'public instructors,' feel the same way. Just think of some of the precious truths we have learned from God's Word! We know of the issue of universal sovereignty and how it will be settled. We well understand what the Scriptures teach about the condition of the dead and the blessings to come in God's new world. Whether we learned such truths in recent times or long ago, they never fade in value. Old or new, such truths are, indeed, priceless treasures. (Read Matthew 13:52.) By preaching with heartfelt enthusiasm, we convey to others our love for what Jehovah has taught us.
Does love of God or self then motivate jws?
But did Jesus preach WTS truths? Truths never fade?
Flipflops
Superior authorities: secular authorities--God and Jesus--now secular authorities again
Resurrection of those killed at Sodom and Gomorrah
http://www.jwfacts.com/index_files/resurrection.htm
Q 14. How can we imitate Jesus’ manner of teaching?
14. Notice, too, how Jesus taught. He constantly directed his hearers to the Scriptures. He frequently introduced an important point by saying: "It is written." (Matt. 4:4; 21:13) In his recorded words, he quoted directly from or referred indirectly to over half of the books of the Hebrew Scriptures. Like Jesus, we rely heavily on the Bible in our ministry and endeavor to feature the Scriptures whenever possible. In that way, we help righthearted ones to see for themselves that we are teaching God's thoughts, not our own. How it delights us when someone agrees to read from the Bible and to discuss the value and meaning of God's Word! And when such ones accept the invitation to follow Jesus, our joy is boundless.
Directed to WTS publicatons
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*** km 1/98 p. 2 Service Meetings for January ***
an effective presentation: (1) Give a friendly greeting, (2) comment on or raise a question about a subject of current interest, (3) refer to an appropriate Scripture text, and (4) direct interest to the publication being offered.
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*** km 2/93 p. 4 par. 3 “Teaching . . . the Things I Have Commanded You” ***
Your initial discussion may produce only limited interest. Depending on the circumstances, a tract, a brochure, or the magazines may be left with the householder. You may be able to use one of these to start a home Bible study. If the householder shows further interest in the message, he may be directed to another appropriate publication on a later visit.
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*** km 9/90 pp. 3-4 par. 5 Be Alert to Start Bible Studies ***
While engaging in the house-to-house work, we may try to start a Bible study on the initial call. How can this be done? Some publishers have had success in doing this when the householder is asking questions that can be answered directly from a publication.
Following Jesus Means Loving Others
Q 15. What was an outstanding quality of Jesus, and how can reflecting on it affect us?
15. The al aspect of Jesus' personality that we will discuss is most heartwarming--his love for fellow humans. The apostle Paul wrote: "The love the Christ has compels us." (2 Cor. 5:1-1) When we reflect on the love that Jesus has for mankind in general and for us as individuals, our hearts are touched and we feel compelled to follow his example.
AGAPE--how many jws get out of showing individual love to fellow jws even by defining it as a cold, principled love. Or saying that Jesus loved some more than others, i.e., John. But forget the next WT quote.
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*** w93 10/15 p. 13 par. 4 Finding the Key to Brotherly Affection ***
But Jesus had a special affection for John, which John repeatedly mentions. (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2)
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*** w88 10/1 p. 11 par. 6 Appreciation for Our Brothers ***
On the pretext that the Scriptures allow for our having warmer feelings for some brothers than for others, are we inclined to rationalize our feelings? (John 19:26; 20:2) Do we think we can express a cold, reasoned “love” to some because we have to, while we reserve warm brotherly affection for those to whom we are attracted?
I can remember jws that rarely said hi to but a few at the KH, for 10 to 15 years, not knowing where they lived, where they worked, the names of the children.
Q 16, 17. In what ways did Jesus show his love for others?
16 How did Jesus show love for others? His willingness to surrender his soul in mankind's behalf was the ultimate expression of his love. (John 15:13) However, during his ministry, Jesus also showed love in other ways. For instance, he had fellow feeling tor those who were suffering. When he saw Mary and those with her weeping over the death of Lazarus, he was greatly touched by their sorrow. Although he was about to resurrect Lazarus, Jesus was so moved that he "gave way to tears."--John 11:32-35.
jws may say that they are willing to "die" for other jws but at the same time are not willing to "live" for them having spent the last 5 years avoiding talking to them or are unwilling to give their time, money, or material things to help them.
17. Early in Jesus' ministry, a leper approachedJesus and said: "Ifyou just want to, you can make me clean." How did Jesus respond? The record says: "He was moved with pity." He then did something extra ordinary. "He stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him: 'I want to. Be made clean.' And immediately the leprosy vanished from him, and he became clean." Under the Mosaic Law, lepers were unclean, and Jesus could certainly have healed the man without physical contact. Yet, as Jesus healed the leper, he allowed him to feel the touch of another human, perhaps for the first time in years. What a tender act of compassion!--Mark 1:40-42.
How many jws would touch someone with HIV or AIDS? What is the policy of the WTS on that? It won't take long for the identify of AIDS sufferers to spread...now if they were a pedophile, it would be different.
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*** g94 3/22 p. 14 Helping Those With AIDS ***
Because of the life-threatening nature of AIDS, it is wise to keep in mind some reasonable precautions when welcoming an AIDS sufferer into our personal association or that of the Christian congregation. First, while no general announcement is to be made, we may want to inform one of the elders in the congregation of the situation so that he would be prepared to give a kind and appropriate response to any who may inquire about the matter.
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*** g94 11/8 p. 30 From Our Readers ***
AIDS Victims I read your article “Helping Those With AIDS.” (March 22, 1994) I am HIV positive and found the article very hard to swallow. My family cried because of the hurt and the feelings of rejection.
B. J., United States
Our hearts certainly go out to all such afflicted ones in our midst. Our article endeavored to balance their needs with the concerns of the majority. Since God’s Law to Israel took strong measures to protect the health of the nation as a whole, we felt it appropriate to recommend reasonable health precautions. (Compare Leviticus 13:21, 33.) We acknowledged that “one need not be unduly fearful of being around people with AIDS.” Even so, many continue to be fearful in spite of the assurances of doctors. We therefore encouraged AIDS sufferers to respect the feelings of others who might be uncomfortable with displays of physical affection. What noninfected ones choose to do in this regard is their personal decision. In any event, all Christians should have a heartfelt desire to show kindness and compassion to sufferers.—ED.
Q 18. How can we demonstrate ‘fellow feeling’?
18. As followers of Christ, we are called on to demonstrate our love by showing "fellow feeling." (1 Pet. 3:
So is the WTS saying that most jws are never ill or depressed? One elder said that bowl of antidepressents should be put in the foyer because so many were depressed, himself included.
Q 19. In what ways are we affected by the example of Jesus?
19. What a thrilling field of study we find in the words and deeds of Jesus Christ! The more we learn about him, the more we want to be like him--and the more we want to help others to do the same. By all means, then, let us find delight in following the Messianic King--now and forever!
So how much did you really learn about Jesus?
Can You Explain?
How can we show wisdom, as Jesus did?
In what ways can we demonstrate humility?
How can we cultivate zeal for the ministry?
In what ways can we imitate Jesus in showing love for others?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Another boring article really designed to get jws to follow the organization. I wonder too how effective it would be to tell non-jws that they are one of 2 billion false Christians?
Next week, Find Joy in the Disciple-Making Work.
Love, Blondie
...OUTLAW