Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-20-10 WT Study (APRIL 15, 2010, pages 20-24)(WORTHLESS THINGS)
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TURN YOUR EYES AWAY FROM WORTHLESS THINGS!
“Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless; preserve me alive in your own way.” — Ps. 119:37.
OPENING COMMENTS
I was told by an elder in my old congregation that they are losing many ministerial servants and elders to pornography. He had to travel to another congregation to fill in until some sent by Bethel could get there. Is it because they are just getting a “glimpse” or a “glance” when it pops out at them unexpectedly? I have had a computer for some time and have not had porn jump out at me because I accessed an article on history for a paper or was attacked by an unknown email I was stupid enough to open. I would be more concerned about the virus that would wreak havoc than some “glimpse” of some flesh.
START OF ARTICLE
1. How important is the gift of sight?
1 HOW precious our sight is! By means of it, we can instantly grasp our surroundings — in depth and in color. Our sight enables us to see beloved friends or unwelcome dangers. Through it, we perceive beauty, appreciate the wonders of creation, and receive evidence of God’s existence and glory. (Ps. 8:3, 4; 19:1, 2; 104:24; Rom. 1:20) And as a highly important channel of communication to the mind, sight plays a major role in our acquiring knowledge of Jehovah and building faith in him. — Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:2, 3.
COMMENTS
I have actually faced blindness (it proved temporary) and deafness. In my case, I decided I would rather be deaf than blind. I’m glad so far I have not needed to choose. But I don’t think that blind people are not able to take in knowledge so that sight plays such a so-called major role. I learned when took ASL training that hearing also has a major role in taking in knowledge.
Unwelcome dangers—I never wanted WELCOME dangers in my life. Would that be bungee jumping etal?
No taking in knowledge of Jesus Christ? (John 17:3)
This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.
No building faith in Christ? (John 3:36)
He that exercises faith in the Son has everlasting life; he that disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
2. Why should we be concerned about what we see, and what can we learn from the psalmist’s earnest request?
2 What we look at, however, can also be to our detriment. The link between our sight and our mind is so strong that what we see with our eyes can initiate or intensify ambitions and desires in our heart. And because we live in a depraved and self-gratifying world ruled by Satan the Devil, we are bombarded with images and propaganda that can easily lead us astray — even if we would give them only a quick glance. (1 John 5:19) It is no wonder, then, that the psalmist implored God: “Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless; preserve me alive in your own way.” — Ps. 119:37.
COMMENTS
So are we to understand that all non-jws are depraved and self-gratifying?
If Satan rules this world and is the “god of this world,” does that mean that all non-jws worship Satan directly and indirectly? 2 Cor. 4:4
***w90 12/1 p. 6 Which God Should You Worship? *** Satan has enormous influence. The apostle John said that “the whole world” is lying in his power, and Paul called him “the god of this system of things.” (1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4) Hence, worship of any god apart from Jehovah is really worship of Satan.
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And in honor the world cup:
***w74 3/1 pp. 145-146 par. 10 “Become Imitators of God” ***Yes, worshipful adoration , whether it be of an idol-god of wood and stone or of an entertainment or sports idol, actually goes to “the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil, and his demons! (2 Cor. 4:4)
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Does this also mean that all jws only watch WT DVDs, publications, MP3’s, tapes, etc.?
What is this “quick glance” thing? Actually, it is a way jw men get out of being caught watching pornography (he was only looking for the sports scores and it popped up). What was Darryl watching in the first place that “pornography is in my direct line of sight, so I am forced to see it”? Below is also a direct quote from the Young People Ask book, the chapter on masturbation, page 209.
*** g83 4/22 p. 27 What’s the Harm in Pornography? ***Breaking the Habit
“Many times pornography is in my direct line of sight, so I am forced to see it at first glance; but I don’t have to look a second time,” observed Darryl.
According to the WTS it is not even safe to view your bank statement. In all my years online, I have only had porn pop up when I misspelled a website name, missed putting in an “s”.
***g 12/07 p. 12 How Can I Avoid Pornography? *** WHEN your parents were your age, people who wanted to view pornography had to look for it. Today, it seems that pornography looks for you. Like Robert, quoted above, you may find that your eyes fall upon a schoolmate’s porn. Or, like Annette, you could inadvertently see it online. Says one 19-year-old girl, “Sometimes I’m browsing or shopping on the Internet or even just checking bank statements online when wham—pornography pops up!”
“I was doing research on the Internet for a school report when suddenly I came across a pornographic Web site.”—Annette.
How Our Eyes Can Mislead Us
3-5. What Bible accounts illustrate the danger of allowing our eyes to seduce us?
3 Consider what happened to the first woman, Eve. Satan suggested that her eyes were “bound to be opened” if she would eat the fruit from “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.” Eve must have been intrigued by the thought of having her eyes “opened.” Her interest in eating the forbidden fruit was further heightened when she “saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something to be longed for to the eyes, yes, the tree was desirable to look upon.” Looking at the tree with longing led Eve to disobey God’s command. Her husband, Adam, also disobeyed, with disastrous consequences to all humankind. — Gen. 2:17; 3:2-6; Rom. 5:12; Jas. 1:14, 15.
COMMENTS
“must have been” = reading Eve’s mind?
I always wondered why Eve was already over by the tree before ever talking to Satan, actually talking to a talking snake, and she a perfect woman didn’t wonder why a snake was talking.
Had Adam not sinned could he have had perfect children with Eve though she would eventually die???? Wasn’t Jesus perfect per the WTS although the product of a perfect father and an imperfect mother? If Adam and sinned and not Eve, could she have had perfect children with Adam per the WTS?
***w67 5/15 p. 319 Questions From Readers *** In Jesus’ own case it appears that Jehovah used one of the ova in the womb of the virgin, but imperfect, woman Mary. (Rom. 3:23) Had he not done so, Jesus, from a physical standpoint, would not have been a real descendant of Abraham and King David, as had been foretold. (Gen. 22:18; Isa. 11:1, 2; Luke 3:23-38) Thus we believe that Jesus looked like a Jew, that he had human characteristics that were observable in his mother.
The question may now arise, Would not Jesus have inherited some imperfection from Mary? No, the Bible plainly shows that Jesus was born perfect. (1 Pet. 2:22; John 8:46) In this way he was the equivalent of perfect Adam and could serve as the ransom to take away sins. (Heb. 7:26; 9:26; Rom. 5:18) We should keep in mind that we are not dealing just with genetic laws of dominant and recessive characteristics. No, perfection and imperfection are also involved. We have no experience with the results of uniting perfection with imperfection. Scientists cannot measure human perfection or imperfection resulting from sin. Nor can they predict the powerful effect a perfect male sperm would have on an imperfect ovum. But it is evident from what occurred in Jesus’ case that the perfect male part of the reproduction dominated the imperfection inherent in Mary. Jesus’ perfect Father transferred the perfect life of his Son to the womb of Mary and the result was a wholly perfect offspring, Jesus.—Gal. 4:4.
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The WTS teaches that the life-force comes only from men through the sperm.
***w56 9/1 p. 532 par. 21 The Divine Origin of Marriage *** She could produce the eggs that would provide the bodies of his children, but only he as the head of the married couple could pass on the life sperm that would start life in her eggs. He was the first to have human life and his wife received her life by being made from his rib, and it was proper that he continue to be the transmitter of life to his children. The man had his function, the woman had her function, subordinate to him and dependent upon him.
4 In the days of Noah, some angels were also influenced by what they saw. Referring to them, Genesis 6:2 relates: “The sons of the true God began to notice the daughters of men, that they were good-looking; and they went taking wives for themselves, namely, all whom they chose.” Lustfully looking upon the daughters of men aroused in the rebellious angels an unnatural desire for sexual relations with humans, and those angels fathered violent offspring. Man’s badness at that time resulted in the destruction of all mankind, with the exception of Noah and his family. — Gen. 6:4-7, 11, 12.
COMMENTS
Spirit creatures do not have human bodies, flesh bodies per the WTS. Was the issue sexual lust, or lust for power, being able to have descendants, sons, maybe daughters to have their own kingdom on earth. Did they father daughters or only sons, why?
So were babies killed then too, yes, and with no hope of future life. I had one jw suggest that God had allowed all the people to grow to adulthood and there were no babies (Hezekiah 13:2?)
Were the angels having sex with humans like humans having sex with animals…bestiality? If so, how does that harmonize with the rest of the bible saying that humans were part of the larger family of God, siblings not pets? Why didn’t Satan have sex with Eve then?
***w03 12/15 p. 16 par. 10 Our Watchfulness Takes On Greater Urgency *** In Noah’s day, disobedient angels contaminated humanity with unnatural sex. They came down to earth, materialized bodies, and cohabited with beautiful women, producing offspring that were half human, half demon—the Nephilim. (Genesis 6:2, 4) The sin of these lustful angels is likened to the perversions of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Jude 6, 7)
5 Centuries later, the Israelite Achan’s eyes seduced him into stealing some items from the captured city of Jericho. God had commanded that all things in that city should be destroyed except for certain things that were to be given to the treasury of Jehovah. The Israelites were warned: “Keep away from the thing devoted to destruction, for fear you may get a desire” and take some items from the city. When Achan disobeyed, the people of Israel suffered defeat at the city of Ai, and a number of them died. Achan did not admit to his theft until he was exposed. “When I got to see” the items, Achan said, “then I wanted them, and I took them.” The desire of his eyes led to his destruction, along with “everything that was his.” (Josh. 6:18, 19; 7:1-26) Achan desired in his heart what was forbidden to him.
COMMENTS
Why did 36 innocent people die during the defeat at Ai because of Achan’s sin…why didn’t Ai die immediately like Ananias and Sapphira?
(Joshua7:4-5) . . .So about three thousand men of the people went up there, but they took to flight before the men of A′i. 5 And the men of A′i got to strike down about thirty-six men of them, . . .
What is the WTS explanation why the whole household of Achan died, including babies? The WTS makes application and says that family members can be df’d as well for knowing a family member sinned. Does that mean the WTS will df babies?
The Need for Self-Discipline
6, 7. Which of the “designs” of Satan is often used to ensnare us, and how do commercial advertisers make use of it?
6 Mankind today is tempted in a way that is similar to what was used in the case of Eve, the disobedient angels, and Achan. Of all the “designs” used by Satan to mislead mankind, the appeal to “the desire of the eyes” is most powerful. (2 Cor. 2:11; 1 John 2:16) Modern commercial advertisers well know the age-old power of eye appeal. “Sight is the most seductive sense of all,” states a leading European marketing expert. “It often overrules the other senses, and has the power to persuade us against all logic.”
COMMENTS
So what does the WTS define as “the desire of the eyes”? A new house, car, clothes, nice vacation, good food….?
Who is this “leading European marketing expert”? Why hide who he is?
http://www.martinlindstrom.com/index.php/cmsid__about
Brand sense: how to build powerful brands through touch, taste, smell, sight ... By Martin Lindström p. 18
7 No wonder advertisers bombard us with images that are cleverly designed to make the greatest visual impact and stimulate desire for their goods or services! A researcher in the United States who studied how advertising influences individuals stated that it is “designed not just to convey cognitive information, but more importantly, to produce particular emotive and effectual responses.” Provocative sexual imagery is one form that is often used. “Sex sells” is a well-known adage. How important it is, then, that we control what we look at and what we allow to enter into our mind and heart!
COMMENTS
Who is the unnamed researcher? Why are he or she unnamed, the source of the material and date?
? Advertising's Impact on Morality in Society: Influencing Habits ...by A Gustafson - 2001
http://www.andygustafson.net/net/index.htm ??
Is the WTS suggesting not watching TV, movies, etc., at all?
8. How is the need to guard our eyes emphasized in the Bible?
8 True Christians are not immune to the desire of the eyes and of the flesh. Therefore, God’s Word encourages us to exercise self-discipline in connection with what we look at and long for. (1 Cor. 9:25, 27; read 1 John 2:15-17.) The upright man Job was one who recognized the strong link between seeing and desiring. He stated: “A covenant I have concluded with my eyes. So how could I show myself attentive to a virgin?” (Job 31:1) Not only did Job refuse to touch a woman in an immoral way but he would not even allow his mind to entertain such a thought. Jesus emphasized that the mind must be kept clean of immoral thoughts when he said: “Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” — Matt. 5:28.
COMMENTS
True Christians = only jws
Self-discipline or will the elders and other jws “help” you choose?
OT = Job
Why could Job not look at a virgin with desire? Men of his time could have more than one wife; it would only be a sin if he looked at someone else’s wife with desire. Would it have been immoral to have sex with an unmarried woman? Didn’t Judah have sex with an unmarried woman and look what the WTS says about him. Jesus said “adultery” indicating that it was a sin to have a passion for a MARRIED woman.
***w73 6/15 p. 384 Questions From Readers *** As far as Judah was concerned, he thought he was having relations with a prostitute. In this he was not acting right, for it was God’s original purpose for a man to have relations with his wife and not for the earth to be filled with prostitutes. Still, Judah did not sin in the sense of transgressing a specific command of God’s law, for the Mosaic law was not given until much later.—Gen. 2:24; compare Leviticus 19:29.
Worthless Things to Avoid
9. (a) Why must we be particularly wary when using the Internet? (b) What can result from even a brief view of pornography?
9 In today’s world, it has become increasingly common to ‘keep on looking’ at pornography, particularly on the Internet. We do not have to look for such sites — they look for us! In what way? An ad with an enticing picture may suddenly appear on one’s computer screen. Or an innocuous-looking e-mail, once opened, may explode into a pornographic picture designed in such a way as to make exiting from it difficult. Even if a person gets only a glimpse before deleting it, the image has already made an impression on his mind. Just a brief brush with pornography can have sad consequences. It can leave an individual with a guilty conscience and a struggle to erase immoral scenes from his mind. Worse yet, someone who deliberately “keeps on looking” needs to have his illicit desires deadened. — Read Ephesians 5:3, 4, 12; Col. 3:5, 6.
COMMENTS
Is the WTS suggesting that it wasn’t until the internet was developed that people did not look at pornography and not as much???
So jws have no control over their fingers and eyes? How stupid can you be to open up an e-mail that you don’t know who sent it? I have never had anything “explode” unless someone on my computer (or I) had gone looking for it. What about all the caution about filters….are jws that stupid not to protect themselves and their children like non-jw parents do?
“glance” “glimpse”….how many more children are subject to exposure to pedophiles? How do they erase that from their mind.
10. Why are children especially vulnerable to pornography, and what may result from their viewing it?
10 Children can be drawn into pornography by their natural curiosity. If that happens, it may have lasting effects on their view of sexuality. These effects, notes a report, may range from a distorted sense of sexual norms to “difficulty maintaining a healthy, loving relationship; an unrealistic view of women; and potentially, pornography addiction, which can interfere with school work, friendships and family relationships.” Even more devastating can be the effects later in a marriage relationship.
COMMENTS
Whose report, when, where?
Monique Polak, the author of the MacLean’s article said, "These effects can include everything from a skewed sense of sexual norms to difficulty maintaining a healthy, loving relationship; an unrealistic view of women; and potentially, pornography addiction, which can interfere with school work, friendships and family relationships."
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09081405.html
http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=Monique+Po
-------------Don Olson (older man)
What worthless things must Christians avoid viewing?
11. Give an example to illustrate the danger of looking at pornography.
11 “Of all the addictions that I had before I became a Witness, pornography was by far the most difficult to break,” wrote a Christian brother. “I still see these images at the oddest times — triggered by a random smell, some music, something I see, or even a stray thought. It is a daily and constant battle.” As a child, another brother had looked at his worldly father’s pornographic magazines when his parents were not at home. He wrote: “What a horrible effect those pictures had on my young mind! Even now, 25 years later, some of those images are still burned into my brain. No matter how hard I fight, they are still there. This makes me feel guilty, even though I don’t dwell on them.” How wise it is to avoid having such burdensome feelings by not looking at worthless things! How can a person accomplish that? He needs to strive to bring “every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ.” — 2 Cor. 10:5.
COMMENTS
Christian brother = only a jw
Became a Witness = did not say became a Christian
“worldly father” = non-jw
Sounds like pornography is mostly a male problem per the WTS.
I wonder how these guys would feel like I do 50 years later with images of my father molesting me.
So when will these images go away per the WTS…how many years into the new system, 10, 20, 30, 500 years?
Why is every thought made captive to Jesus and not God?
12, 13. What worthless things must Christians avoid viewing, and why?
12 Another “good-for-nothing,” or worthless, thing to avoid is entertainment that promotes materialism or the occult or that features violence, bloodshed, and death. (Read Psalm 101:3.) Christian parents have the responsibility before Jehovah to be selective about what they allow to be viewed in their home. Of course, no true Christian would deliberately involve himself in spiritism. Still, parents need to be aware of films, TV series, video games, and even comics and children’s books that highlight uncanny practices. — Prov. 22:5.
COMMENTS
What is entertainment that promotes materialism? Why such a general statement leaving to others in the congregation to interpret for others in the congregation?
Christian parents = only jws
No responsibility before Jesus
True Christian = only jws
So does that mean jws should not go to Disneyland or DisneyWorld with its Cinderella castle, Haunted House, Snow White, Little Mermaid, Lion King, the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Beauty and the Beast….I know many jws that would still see the movies, go to the parks, including elders.
13 Whether we are young or old, our eyes should find no pleasure in video games that feature violence and depict killing with gory realism. (Read Psalm 11:5.) We must refuse to focus our mind on any activity that Jehovah condemns. Remember, Satan is targeting our thoughts. (2 Cor. 11:3) Even spending too much time viewing entertainment that may be considered acceptable can encroach on family worship, daily Bible reading, and our preparation for meetings. — Phil. 1:9, 10.
COMMENTS
So if video games with violence is bad, what about the coming destruction/killing of over 6 billion non-jws including babies, to be dead forever, no resurrection. Jws look with happiness to this, seeing them as deserving and as the last barrier between them and their own everlasting life.
Follow Jesus’ Example
14, 15. What was noteworthy about Satan’s third temptation of Christ, and how was Jesus able to withstand it?
14 Regrettably, we cannot avoid seeing some worthless things in this wicked world. Even Jesus had such things thrust upon him. In Satan’s third attempt to draw Jesus away from doing God’s will, “the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” (Matt. 4:8) Why did Satan do so? No doubt, he wanted to exploit the powerful influence of the eye. Having a look at the splendor of all the world’s kingdoms might induce Jesus to give in to a desire for worldly prominence. How did Jesus react?
COMMENTS
Yes, some jws can’t avoid seeing their non-jw relatives, children, and df’d spouses.
Are they saying that Jesus with all his angel protection, was forced by Satan to look at violence and pornography?
No doubt – evidently the WTS/FDS/GB can read Satan’s mind
Worldly prominence—probably why that politician in Philadelphia stepped down…what about the Williams’s sisters and Prince…are they avoiding worldly prominence?
15 Jesus did not focus on this tempting offer. He did not let his heart entertain wrong desires. And he did not have to contemplate the Devil’s offer in order to reject it. Jesus reacted immediately. “Go away, Satan!” he commanded. (Matt. 4:10) Jesus kept his focus on his relationship with Jehovah and replied in harmony with his purpose in life — that of doing God’s will. (Heb. 10:7) As a result, Jesus successfully thwarted Satan’s cunning scheme.
COMMENTS
Jesus had already had a prominent position in heaven and God’s only-begotten son…what could Satan offer him.
16. What lessons can we learn from Jesus’ example of resisting Satan’s temptations?
16 We can learn much from Jesus’ example. First, no one is immune to Satan’s tactics. (Matt. 24:24) Second, what we focus our eyes on can reinforce the desires of our heart, for good or for bad. Third, Satan will exploit “the desire of the eyes” as much as he can in his attempt to lead us astray. (1 Pet. 5:8) And fourth, we too can oppose Satan, especially if we act without delay. — Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 2:21.
COMMENTS
Is the WTS suggesting Jesus gave Satan’s tactic any consideration?
I’m surprised that the WTS is not suggesting burkas for the sisters to help the brothers’ eyes.
Keep Your Eye “Simple”
17. Why is it unwise to wait until something worthless confronts us before we decide what to do?
17 Our dedication to Jehovah includes a solemn promise to turn away from what is worthless. In vowing to do God’s will, we join the psalmist in stating: “From every bad path I have restrained my feet, for the purpose that I may keep your word.” (Ps. 119:101) It is unwise to wait until something worthless confronts us before we decide what we will do. Matters that the Scriptures condemn have been made clear to us. We are not ignorant of Satan’s schemes. When was Jesus tempted to change stones into loaves of bread? After he had fasted for 40 days and nights and “felt hungry.” (Matt. 4:1-4) Satan is able to perceive when we are weak and more likely to succumb to temptation. Thus, now is the time to give careful consideration to these matters. Do not put it off! If we keep our dedication vow to Jehovah in mind day by day, we will be firmly determined to turn away from what is worthless. — Prov. 1:5; 19:20.
COMMENTS
Notice they say “what” not “who” is worthless…some THING worthless, not some ONE
What are the matters that are worthless that have been made clear?
Yes, remember Satan is always watching jws, he can see everything they do; but do jws act in a way that shows they believe God sees everything they do?
18, 19. (a) Contrast a “simple” eye with one that is “wicked.” (b) Why is it important to keep on considering what is valuable, and what advice does Philippians 4:8 give in this regard?
18 Each day, we face a wide array of eye-appealing distractions, and their number keeps increasing. We can appreciate all the more, then, Jesus’ admonition to keep our eye “simple.” (Matt. 6:22, 23) A “simple” eye is totally focused on one purpose — that of doing God’s will. By contrast, a “wicked” eye is crafty, covetous, and drawn to things that are worthless.
COMMENTS
What does the WTS mean by “simple.” Poor, just scraping by, used clothing, used cars, renting not buying homes, never eating out….
19 Remember, our eyes feed our mind and our mind feeds our heart. How important it is, therefore, that we keep on considering what is valuable. (Read Philippians 4:8.) Indeed, may we continue to echo the prayer of the psalmist: “Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless.” Then, as we strive to act in harmony with that prayer, we can be confident that Jehovah will “preserve [us] alive in [his] own way.” — Ps. 119:37; Heb. 10:36.
COMMENTS
So do you think jws are going to toss all that Disney stuff?
What Should We Remember About . . .
• the connection between our eyes, mind, and heart?
• the dangers of watching pornography?
• the importance of keeping our eye “simple”?
CLOSING COMMENTS
I wonder if any jws in the Orlando area went to the new Harry Potter park at Universal? We have a couple of strip clubs in our area. The elders always said it was best that an elder call on that business….right! Who would be less likely to be turned on by the women’s outfits, men or women. Was that following today’s counsel for men?
Next week, Are You Fully Following the Christ? Is that Jesus or is it the secondary seed the body of Christ as the WTS defines it? Can anyone on earth have access to Jesus without going through the anointed jws, particularly the governing body of jws?
Love Blondie