WT counsel that benefits... more July 15th goodies

by undercover 6 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  undercover

  In the article, Will You Follow Jehovha's Loving Guidance?

  you'll find the following quotes in paragraphs 4,5

  In truth, the pressure to "follow after the crowd" can affect us at almost any time. It may arise suddenly, and it can be very difficult to resist. Think, for example of the peer pressure that Joshua and Caleb once faced. They were part of a group of 12 men who went into the Promised Land to spy it out. Upon their return, ten of those men gave a very negative and discouraging report. They even claimed that some of the land's inhabitants were giants descended from the Nephilim, the offspring of rebel angels and women. Now, that claim was absurd. Those wicked hybrids had been wiped out in the Deluge many centuries earlier, leaving not a single descendant behind. But even in the most baseless ideas can exert power over those weak in faith. The negative reports from those ten spies quickly spread fear and panic among the people. Before long, most were sure that it would be a mistake to enter the Promised Land as Jehovah had directed. In that volatile situation, what did Joshua and Caleb do?

  They did not go following after the crowd. Although the crowd hated to hear it, those two men told the truth and stuck to it - even when threatened with death by stoning!

  I felt like it needed editing a bit:

  The pressure to 'follow the crowd' can affect us anywhere. It may affect us over time and be very difficult to resist. Think, for example of a group of men supposedly chosen to lead their followers to a Promised Land. These men give a negative and discouraging report about anyone outside their group. They even claim to be God's direct channel to those that they presume to lead. Now that claim is absurd, but even in the most baseless ideas can exert power over those weak in critical thinking. But there are those who did not go following after the crowd and accept everything said to them by these men. Those that did not go following had researched the real truth and had come to know what was fact and what was not. Althought the crowd hated to hear it, these people told the truth and stuck to it - even in the face of being disfellowshipped.
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  sinis

  They even claimed that some of the land's inhabitants were giants descended from the Nephilim, the offspring of rebel angels and women. Now, that claim was absurd. Those wicked hybrids had been wiped out in the Deluge many centuries earlier, leaving not a single descendant behind.

  That is an interesting blurb... why the need to insert that? Have they been getting heat on the flood issues as of late?
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  sd-7

  I was thinking something quite similar when I read that part. Just about all the great men in the Bible stood up to 'the crowd' or even to people who were supposed to be 'God's anointed' or those who sat 'in the seat of Moses'. Yet somehow, their examples are always twisted into the image of uniformity and loyal obedience, rather than taking a stand in a situation where they're relatively alone. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

  But then, the Bible is clay to be molded as the Society sees fit in its articles. So...there you have it. Geez, this issue has really lit a spark, hasn't it?

  --sd-7
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  sd-7

  Also, maybe all the Nephilim were killed in the Flood. But the Bible record DOES show that there were 9-foot-tall giants who had more fingers and toes and had a spear like the beam of loom workers or something. So there WERE giants there, according to Bible record. Really, the bottom line of it was that Joshua and Caleb had faith, not in the nation of Israel as "God's organization of the time", nor in Moses as God's "channel", but in God as the one who would have their backs. But that, my friends, is apostate reasoning....

  --sd-7
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  poopsiecakes

  LOL...evidently the WT doesn't really believe the flood actually happened either.
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  kurtbethel

  Going along with the crowd is not always a good idea, and is often a very bad idea. If they really believe that, why is there such conformity in the kingdom hall?
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  therevealer

  bravo to Undercover - I was thinking how even more of the articles could be changed like that. It is great for them to insist on the r & f following lock step like hitlers followers without further proof than "we told you we were who you must follow" equating themselves with god.