Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-12-11 WT Study (APRIL 15, 2011, pages 13-17)(DECISIONS)
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MAKE DECISIONS
THAT HONOR GOD
“The shrewd one considers his steps.”—PROV. 14:15.
OPENING COMMENTS
*** w95 4/1 p. 18 par. 10***
To incite one another does not mean to control one another. For all his God-given authority, the apostle Paul humbly reminded the Corinthian congregation: ‘We are not the masters over your faith.’ (2 Corinthians 1:24) If like him we humbly realize that it is not our job to determine how much others should do in service to Jehovah, or to regulate their consciences for them in other personal decisions, we will avoid becoming “righteous overmuch,” joyless, rigid, negative, or rule oriented. (Ecclesiastes 7:16) Such qualities do not incite; they oppress.
Can you think of some “rules” or attempts to determine what others do in the WTS?
How does the WTS get around having “rules” in the congregation?
*** w96 9/1 p. 20 par. 3***
Indeed, Christians are obligated to observe all commands in the Bible that are directed to followers of Christ. And there is more. Jehovah’s organization, as well as individual congregations, has to establish necessary rules and procedures in order to preserve good order. (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40)
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. (a) What should be our primary concern in
all the decisions that we make? (b) What questions
will we consider?
WE LIKELY make dozens of them each
day. Many are of little lasting consequence.
Some, though, can have a profound
impact on our lives. What are they? Decisions.
In all the decisions that we make, big
or small, our primary concern is to honor
God.—Read 1 Corinthians 10:31.
COMMENTS
So do jws worry if their decisions please God or the WTS? Why is it so many jws run to the elders or other jws to be told what they should do rather than turning to the Bible or prayer? Is it because their personal decisions are not respected and punishment can follow; do jws really have the power to choose to have a transfusion without WTS repercussions, being labeled as disassociated and having all their jw family and friends shun them?
2 Do you find it easy to make decisions, or
is it a challenge for you to do so? If we
are to progress to Christian maturity, we
must learn to distinguish right from wrong
and then make decisions that reflect our
own convictions, not those of someone else.
(Rom. 12:1, 2; Heb. 5:14) What are some other
compelling reasons why we need to learn
to make good decisions? Why is it sometimes
so difficult to make them? And what
steps can we take to make sure that the
decisions we make honor God?
COMMENTS
It is a challenge if you are trying to figure out what the WTS and its representatives, the elders, think what is the right thing and the WTS speaks out of both sides of their mouth, base their opinions on UNWRITTEN rules, vary from congregation to congregation, are confusing, are “adjusted” or “clarified.”
How many jws know what is right from wrong: oral sex, don’t use stored blood, use products made from stored blood, bestiality or homosexuality basis of jw divorce?
Own convictions? You also hear, “the magazine says” “the paragraph says” at many meetings said to be teaching the bible.
***w98 3/15 p. 19 par. 4 ***
In order to avoid misunderstandings, Jehovah’s Witnesses try to be careful about how they express themselves. Instead of saying, “the Society teaches,” many Witnesses prefer to use such expressions as, “the Bible says” or, “I understand the Bible to teach.” In this way they emphasize the personal decision that each Witness has made in accepting Bible teachings and also avoid giving the false impression that Witnesses are somehow bound to the dictates of some religious sect.
Why Make Decisions at All?
3. What should we not allow to interfere with our
decision-making process?
3 If we are indecisive when Bible standards
are involved, our schoolmates or workmates
may conclude that we are not really convinced
of our beliefs and therefore are easily
influenced. They may lie, cheat, or steal and
then try to persuade us to “follow after the
crowd” by joining them or at least by covering
up for them. (Ex. 23:2) However, a person
who knows how to make decisions that
honor God will not permit fear or a desire for
acceptance to cause him to behave in a way
that conflicts with his Bible-trained conscience.—
Rom. 13:5.
COMMENTS
Bible standards = as interpreted or “explained” by the WTS
Schoolmates or workmates may concluded that we are not really convinced—probably because these jws aren’t
Or non-jws may see that jws lie, cheat or steal and persuade them to follow…
Desire of acceptance – accepted by other jws motivates, not pleasing God
4. Why might others want to make decisions
for us?
4 Not all who want to make decisions for
us mean us harm. Well-intentioned friends
might insist that we follow their advice. If we
are living away from home, our relatives
likely still have deep concern for our well being
and may feel compelled to continue to
involve themselves in important decisions
we face. For instance, consider the matter of
medical treatment. The Bible clearly condemns
the misuse of blood. (Acts 15:28, 29)
Other matters that have to do with health
care, though, are not clear-cut and require
that each of us make a personal decision as
to what treatment we will accept or reject.*
Our loved ones may have strong opinions
on these issues. However, when deciding
about those matters, each dedicated, baptized
Christian needs to carry “his own load”
of responsibility. (Gal. 6:4, 5) Our primary
concern is to maintain a good conscience
before God, not men.—1 Tim. 1:5.
*For a discussion of this subject, see the insert “How
Do I View Blood Fractions and Medical Procedures Involving
My Own Blood?” published in Our Kingdom
Ministry of November 2006, pages 3-6.
COMMENTS
How many jws know that deciding to use hemoglobin-based products (conscience matter now per WTS) is choosing to use human or animal blood that has not been poured out but processed into a product used to transfuse humans?
Well-intentioned JW friends and family?
5. How can we avoid suffering shipwreck of our
faith?
5 Indecision can place us in grave danger.
The disciple James wrote that an indecisive
Person is “unsteady in all his ways.” (Jas.1:8)
Like a man in a rudderless boat on a stormy
sea, he will be tossed about by shifting human
opinion. How easy it would be for such
a person to suffer shipwreck of his faith and
then blame others for his sad situation!
(1 Tim. 1:19) How can we avoid that outcome?
We must become “stabilized in the
faith.” (Read Colossians 2:6, 7.) To achieve
stability, we need to learn to make decisions
that reflect our faith in God’s inspired Word.
(2 Tim. 3:14-17) What, though, may hinder
our ability to make good decisions?
COMMENTS
The WTS uses snippets of scriptures and makes strange applications.
Shifting human opinion = WTS flipflop doctrines
So is the bible enough to make decisions per the WTS?
Why Decisions Can Be Difficult to Make
6. How might fear affect us?
6 Fear may paralyze us—fear of making the
wrong decision, fear of failure, or fear of appearing
foolish to others. Those concerns
are understandable. Nobody wants to make
a poor decision, one that causes trouble and
possibly shame. Even so, love of God and his
Word can help us shrink our fears. In what
ways? Love of God will motivate us always to
consult his Word and Bible-based publications
before we make important decisions.
We will thus minimize the number of mistakes
we make. Why? Because the Bible can
“give to the inexperienced ones shrewdness,
to a young man knowledge and thinking
ability.”—Prov. 1:4.
COMMENTS
Fear of making the wrong decision per the elders and/or WTS and end up df’d? or marked poor association?
Shamed by God or the WTS?
And here we have it “his Word AND Bible-based publications.” What Bible-based publications did Moses, Jesus, Paul use?
7. King David’s example can teach us what?
7 Will we always make the right decision?
No. All of us make mistakes. (Rom. 3:23)
King David, for example, was a wise and
faithful man. Yet, he at times made poor decisions
that caused suffering to himself and
others. (2 Sam. 12:9-12) Nevertheless, David
did not let his mistakes undermine his ability
to make decisions that had God’s favor.
(1 Ki. 15:4, 5) We can be decisive despite past
mistakes if, like David, we remember that
Jehovah will overlook our errors and forgive
our sins. He will continue to support
those who love and obey him.—Ps. 51:1-4,
7-10.
COMMENTS
So David made a MISTAKE by having sex with another man’s wife (when he already had several wives) and when his sin would be found out because of that woman’s pregnancy, arranged for the woman’s husband to be killed?
He was able to make more decisions because he was not put to death, which was the requirement under the Law for adulterers and murderers, no leeway for “repentance.” David did not confess but rather Nathan confronted him with his sins.
Later David had a census made although God said not to, and how was “David” punished, he was allowed to chose his punishment which led to 70,000 innocent people dying (innocent in that they did not choose to have a census done).
8. What do we learn from the apostle Paul’s comments
about marriage?
8 We can lessen the anxiety we feel about
making decisions. How? By realizing that
sometimes there are several correct paths to
choose from. Consider the way the apostle
Paul reasoned on the subject of marriage.
Under inspiration he wrote: “If anyone
thinks he is behaving improperly toward his
virginity, if that is past the bloom of youth,
and this is the way it should take place, let
him do what he wants; he does not sin. Let
them marry. But if anyone stands settled in
his heart, having no necessity, but has authority
over his own will and has made this
decision in his own heart, to keep his own
virginity, he will do well.” (1 Cor. 7:36-38)
Paul recommended singleness as the best
course, but it was not the only right option.
COMMENTS
Several correct paths? All WTS approved of course.
Marriage or singleness…but Paul made it clear that choosing singleness was better.
Rutherford discourage marriage and children before Armaggedon
Salvation (Rutherford)
Seeing that the divine mandate was given only to righteous men or those counted righteous by
325
the Lord, and that the great multitude who survive the battle of Armageddon will be the only ones of the human race to abide on the earth, and that those of the great multitude will be counted righteous by the Lord by reason of their faith and obedience, is it not reasonable and Scriptural to conclude that the members of the great multitude will carry out the divine mandate according to the will of Jehovah God under the immediate command and direction of Christ? The question then arises, Since the Lord is now gathering his "other sheep", who will form the great multitude, should those begin now to marry and bring forth children in fulfillment of the divine mandate? No, is the answer; which the Scriptures fully support. The sons of Noah and their wives had no children during the flood. There is no evidence that any children were taken into the ark. Only eight persons came forth from the ark, and that is conclusive proof that no children were born to Noah's sons either before the flood or during the flood. (Genesis 7:13; 8:16) In the prophetic picture it is shown that no children were born to Noah's sons and their wives until after the flood, and the first one mentioned was born two years after the flood. (Genesis 11:10)
http://www.strictlygenteel.co.uk/salvation/salvation7.html
And the WTS spent most of the early 1950’s changing that:
*** w51 3/1 p. 159***
But we do unequivocally maintain that the purpose of marriage before God is the production of children, and hence if any married couples want children now, before Armageddon, that is perfectly proper and no one should criticize them for so doing, thereby meddling in their business. Neither should any be criticized for not having children, nor should we meddle in as to their reason why not. Private marital affairs are not the business of outsiders. Children are not to be viewed as a hindrance to serving God and hence to be unwanted.
*** w53 4/1 p. 223***
Whether married couples in the truth want to have children or not is for them to decide, not us. Each couple must consider its own circumstances and its own purposes in view, and decide the matter and adopt a course and then take the responsibility before God for such course and its consequences. But we do unequivocally maintain that the purpose of marriage before God is the production of children, and hence if any married couples want children now, before Armageddon, that is perfectly proper and no one should criticize them for so doing, thereby meddling in their business. Neither should any be criticized for not having children, nor should we meddle in as to their reason why not. Private marital affairs are not the business of outsiders.”
9. Should we be concerned about how others view
our decisions? Explain.
9 Should we be concerned with how others
view the decisions that we make? To
some degree. Note what Paul said on the
matter of eating foods that might seem to
have been sacrificed to idols. He acknowledged
that a decision may not in itself be
wrong, yet it could cause harm to someone
with a weak conscience. What was Paul’s resolve?
“If food makes my brother stumble,”
he wrote, “I will never again eat flesh at all,
that I may not make my brother stumble.”
(1 Cor. 8:4-13)We too need to consider how
our decisions will affect the consciences of
others. Of course, our main concern is the
effect that our choices will have on our
friendship with Jehovah. (Read Romans 14:
1-4.) What Bible principles will help us to
make decisions that honor God?
COMMENTS
Concerned with how others view our decisions = look up “stumbling” in the WTS publications…If there is even ONE person that MIGHT be stumbled, you should not do it.
Elders would come to me and tell me that some unnamed person in the congregation was being stumbled by what I was doing, but would not tell me who so I could apply Matthew 18 and talk to them directly. If I continued, the elder would threaten me with being marked or considered “bad” association, that I would not others like me because of my decision.
But in the end I would ask the elder if Paul should have allowed Peter to continue to shun the Gentile Christians in Galatians?
What experiences did you have?
Six Steps to Making Good Decisions
10, 11. (a) How can we avoid being presumptuous
within the family? (b) What should elders keep in
mind when making decisions that affect the congregation?
10 Avoid being presumptuous. Before
choosing a course of action, we need
to ask ourselves, ‘Is this my decision to
make?’ King Solomon wrote: “Has presumptuousness
come? Then dishonor will come; but wisdom
is with the modest ones.”—Prov. 11:2.
COMMENTS
If our decisions are our personal responsibility and we are have to answer to God, how are they presumptuous?
Paragraph 4:
However, when deciding about those matters, each dedicated, baptized
Christian needs to carry “his own load” of responsibility.
11 Parents may grant their children the opportunity
to make some decisions, but children
should not just assume such authority.
(Col. 3:20) Wives and mothers have a measure
of authority within the family but do
well to recognize the headship of their husbands.
(Prov. 1:8; 31:10-18; Eph. 5:23) Likewise,
husbands need to recognize that their
authority is limited and that they are subject
to Christ. (1 Cor. 11:3) Elders make decisions
that affect the congregation. However,
they make sure that they “do not go beyond
the things that are written” in God’s
Word. (1 Cor. 4:6) They also follow closely
the direction they receive from the faithful
slave. (Matt. 24:45-47) We can save ourselves
and others much anxiety and grief if we
modestly make decisions only when we
have been granted the authority to do so.
COMMENTS
When do parents not have authority: pedophiles, child beaters, using children to steal….?
Does a woman have to obey husband when asked to break God’s or Caesar’s laws?
What are “the things written”? Is the scripture properly applied per WTS standards?
Pharisees, follow what they do?
What decisions are they alluding to?
An indecisive person is like a man
in a rudderless boat on a stormy sea
12. (a) Why should we do research? (b) Explain
how a person could do such research.
12 Do research. “The plans of the diligent
one surely make for advantage,” wrote Solomon,
“but everyone that is hasty surely
heads for want.” (Prov. 21:5) For example,
are you considering a business proposal? Do
not let emotion rule. Gather all the relevant
facts, seek the counsel of those familiar
with such things, and determine what Bible
principles have a bearing on the matter.
(Prov. 20:18) To organize your research, prepare
two lists—one detailing the benefits,
the other the liabilities. Before you make
a decision, “calculate the expense.” (Luke 14:28)
Consider the potential impact that your
decision will have not only on your financial
health but also on your spiritual well-being.
It takes time and effort to do research. But by
doing so, you may avoid making hasty decisions
that lead to unnecessary anxiety.
COMMENTS
Research outside WTS publications? Advice from non-jws?
Business proposal—not with a jw because there is no ability to sue per the WTS.
So what does the WTS mean—no working on meeting nights…brothers who have…?
Hasty decisions—baptisms at 6 years old?
13. (a) What assurance is found at James 1:5?
(b) How can praying for wisdom help us?
13 Pray for wisdom. Our decisions will honor
God only if we invite him to help us in
making them. The disciple James wrote: “If
any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him
keep on asking God, for he gives generously
to all and without reproaching; and it will be
given him.” (Jas. 1:5) There is no shame in
admitting that we need God’s wisdom to
help us make decisions. (Prov. 3:5, 6) After
all, relying purely on our own understanding
can easily misguide us. When we pray for
wisdom and search out the principles in
God’s Word, we allow holy spirit to help us
discern our real motives for wanting to take
a certain course of action.—Heb. 4:12; read
James 1:22-25.
COMMENTS
How does God give jws wisdom; is reading the Bible enough along with holy spirit or does the WTS have to provide the “food”? Is the Bible insufficient?
No shame in admitting we need WTS wisdom—why is it that blood must be poured out in the Bible but the WTS says that it can be stored and when expired be used to make hemoglobin-based products?
Search only in God’s word…help us discern our real motives or wait for the elders to tell us what we think and feel and should think and feel?
14. Why should we avoid procrastination?
14 Make the decision. Do not rush straight
to this step before doing research and praying
for wisdom. A wise person takes time to
‘consider his steps.’ (Prov. 14:15) On the other
hand, do not procrastinate. A procrastinator
may come up with outlandish excuses
for not taking action. (Prov. 22:13) But he
still makes a decision—he decides, in effect,
to let others control his life.
COMMENTS
Why waste your time doing research when you can go to an elder and have him tell you want to think, feel and do?
What would be an outlandish excuse? Examples, please.
To let others control his lives—like the WTS?
15, 16. What is involved in implementing a decision?
15 Implement the decision. The effort we
expend to make a good decision can be wasted
if we do not follow through and vigorously
implement it. “All that your hand finds to
do, do with your very power,” wrote Solomon.
(Eccl. 9:10) To succeed, we must
be willing to allocate the resources needed
to implement our decisions. For example,
a congregation publisher might decide to
pioneer. Will he succeed? He likely will if he
does not allow excessive secular work and
recreation to sap his strength and rob him of
the time he needs to take care of his ministry.
COMMENTS
VIGOROUSLY implement it….what does that mean?
Allocate the resources…what is EXCESSIVE secular work or recreation?
When I went to the conventions, I usually stayed in the same hotel as the elders and their families. In all my experience with non-jws I had never seen the excessive drinking that I saw in their rooms, the booze bottles in the trash….after which they had to get up and go to the convention, give a talk, have a demo, or supervise a department. I wonder what the maids would say?
16 The best decisions are seldom the easiest
to implement. Why? Because “the whole
world is lying in the power of the wicked
one.” (1 John 5:19) We must wrestle against
“the world rulers of this darkness, against
the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly
places.” (Eph. 6:12) Both the apostle Paul
and the disciple Jude indicated that those
who decide to honor God will have a fight
on their hands.—1 Tim. 6:12; Jude 3.
COMMENTS
The non-jws have no interest in leading us down the path. They are not interested in making us trip. Does the WTS say you should think, the devil made me do it?
*** w9312/1p.27***
However, as Brother Barber indicated, in spite of our imperfection, “it is quite possible to be wholly devoted to God.” He added: “No one can really say: ‘The Devil made me do it.’”
*** w952/1pp.28-29?***
“It is God’s will.” “Blame it on the Devil.” Probably the ultimate excuse is to blame either God or the Devil for our own failures. It is true that God or Satan may influence some events in our lives. However, some believe that practically everything, good or bad, in their life is the result of intervention by God or by Satan. It is as if nothing that happened to them was a consequence of their own actions. “If God wants me to have that new car, he will see to it that I get it.” Such ones often live their lives recklessly, making financial and other decisions on the assumption that God will save them. If their imprudent actions result in some disaster, economic or otherwise, they blame the Devil. To do something rash without first ‘counting the cost’ and then to blame Satan for the failure, or worse yet, to expect Jehovah to intervene, would be not only presumptuous but also contrary to Scripture.—Luke 14:28, 29.
Steps to Making Good Decisions
1 Avoid Being Presumptuous
2 Do Research
3 Pray for Wisdom
4 Make the Decision
5 Implement the Decision
6 Review and Adjust
17. When it comes to the decisions that we make,
what does Jehovah expect of us?
17 Review the decision and make adjustments
if needed. Not all decisions work out
exactly as planned. “Time and unforeseen
occurrence” befall us all. (Eccl. 9:11) Even so,
Jehovah expects us to persevere with some
decisions though we may encounter trials. A
person’s decision to dedicate his life to Jehovah
or to make a marriage vow is not negotiable.
God expects us to live up to such
decisions. (Read Psalm 15:1, 2, 4.) Most decisions,
though, are less weighty. A wise person
will from time to time review the decisions
he has made. He will not let pride or
stubbornness prevent him from adjusting or
even reversing a decision. (Prov. 16:18) His
prime concern is to make sure that his life
course continues to honor God.
COMMENTS
How does a decision not work out as planned? Examples!
The WTS teaches not dedication/baptism is not optional but marriage is. Did the WTS live up to their dates of 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994? Or were they just reviewing their “decisions” and “adjusting”?
Train Others to Make Decisions That Honor God
18. How can parents train their children to make
good decisions?
18 Parents can do much to help their children
learn how to make decisions that
honor God. A fine example is one of the
best teachers. (Luke 6:40) When appropriate,
parents can explain to their children
which steps they themselves took to make a
certain decision. They may also want to allow
their children to make some decisions
for themselves and then commend them
when the decision works out well. What,
though, if a child makes a poor decision?
A parent’s first inclination may be to shield
the child from the consequences, but doing
so may not always be in the child’s best interests.
For example, the parent may allow
the child to obtain a driver’s license. Suppose
the child were to break a traffic law and
receive a fine. The parent could pay the
fine. However, if the child is required to
work to pay off the fine, he is more likely
to learn to be responsible for his actions.
—Rom. 13:4.
COMMENTS
“fine example the best teacher”—and what do the little ones of jws see? My mother the holy jw would scream and yell obscenities at my father and then wonder why he did not want to come to the KH to be with all the other hypocritical jws.
So what decisions can children be allowed to make, examples! When they get baptized?
Shield child from consequences….do they see their parents present one face at the KH and another at home, “shielding”?
So life is a story about driving…what traffic law, DUI? How does the child work if they have to go to school and all the meetings and “field service” and avoid EXCESSIVE work and recreation?
19. What should we teach our Bible students, and
how can we do so?
19 Jesus told his followers to teach others.
(Matt. 28:20) One of the most important lessons
we can teach Bible students is how to
make good decisions. To do so effectively, we
must resist the urge to tell them how to act. It
is much better for us to teach them to reason
on Bible principles so that they can decide
for themselves how to act. After all, “each of
us will render an account for himself to
God.” (Rom. 14:12) All of us, therefore, have
compelling reason for making decisions that
honor God.
COMMENTS
“OUR” Bible students….teach them to reach the answer out of the paragraph like people do at the KH.
Reason = teach them to run to you or the elders to learn how they should think
How Would You Answer?
Why do we need to learn how to
make decisions?
How might fear affect us, and how
can we overcome our fears?
What six steps can we take to make
sure that our decisions honor God
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Next week, “THE FRUITAGE OF THE SPIRIT” GLORIFIES GOD.”
Love, Blondie
No one who goes to the KH is allowed to "distinguish right from wrong" and then "make decisions that reflect [their] own convictions". Virtually everything---from brothers wearing a beard to celebrating a birthday to refusing a life-saving blood transfusion is determined not from any individual 'Christian maturity', but from the Boardroom of the a group of senile old men who change doctrine more often than a politician changes a mistress. At the height of the 'Big Apostacy' in the early 1980s, there was left no doubt in a Dub's mind that they cannot make decisions based on their own conviction, especially when it came to doctrinal matters:
