Climbing mount impossible.

by sleepy 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  sleepy

  That’s what witnesses have to do every day.
  why?

  First they are told they are imperfect , that they can never fight the desires of the flesh.
  Then they are told that they must follow the example of Jesus who is perfect.
  So they are “encouraged to engage in the ministry work attend all meetings do bible study amongst other tasks.
  If they fail to do so the magazines and talks make clear they are spiritually weak. So they must try harder .
  To progress you must do more on the ministry go to more meetings and do more study.
  Yet at what point does imperfection kick in and rule out doing more of these things.
  If you fail to go on the ministry on a Saturday morning even though you are not in work are you spiritually weak or imperfect?
  As a witness you never can know.
  You are helped to asses your own abilities with the help of the magazines and talks. These will never say if you miss a meeting or don’t study don't worry your are imperfect but will highlight spiritual weakness and encourage you to do more.
  But what is imperfection. If it is imperfection that stopped you going on the ministry then you are not spiritually week ad able to do more just imperfect and there is nothing you could do about it. But you are always told you can do more so you always have a mountain to climb.
  A witness can never decide he is doing all he can because the magazines and talks will always tell him to do more.

  Witnesses are left with an impossible task.
• 

  Frenchy

  You're right, sleepy. And what's worse, those who quietly slip away are approached and told that all they have to do is attend a few meetings and everything will be fine. Of course once they're at the meetings they are told they must do more.
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  Nathan Natas

  Absolutely correct; it's called a "double bind" situation - damned if you don't and damned if you do.

  I like your subject line. Are you familiar with the book, "Mount Analogue" by Daumal?
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  AMNESIAN

  sleepy:
  

  A witness can never decide he is doing all he can because the magazines and talks will always tell him to do more.

  Put this particular way, this is quite the insightful observation.

  On the one hand we were regularly told that Jehovah is pleased with whatever each of us conscientiously decided he could give. Good so far as it goes. But there was never a mag article or talk that commended you for your faithfulness to your decision without urging further effort. We were not left to make that personal determination. That's where the literature and the rest of the "counsel" stepped in to "encourage" you to do more than whatever you had already conscientiously determined you could do. The message was always to do more than you could ---or wanted to--- do. God loves a cheerful giver, indeed.

  -AMNESIAN
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  ISP

  I agree sleepy! I recall the service overseer saying that we shouldn't be surprised if only half of JWs got through Armaggeddon! We all had to be zealous!

  ISP