Tying Your Shoes With Modesty and Soundness of Mind

by Franklin Massey 39 Replies latest jw friends

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  Franklin Massey

  The lack of intellectually stimulating material within the JW religion right now is astounding. There is clearly a lack of spiritually dense material and a surplus of ridiculous, childish babble. The regular "food" that JWs are being fed is illustratively equivalent to pureed baby food.

  I have it narrowed down to two possible conclusions. One, the Society thinks JWs are idiots. Two, a large enough portion of JWs are currently acting like idiots to the point that their collective behavior merits constant reminders to be nice to each other and not to do bad things.

  It really feels like kindergarten. Play nice with each other. Don't touch your privates. That's dirty and we don't like dirty things. Don't touch other people's privates. Beware of strangers. Stay within the lines. Good kids get treats. Bad kids get discipline. Go sit in the corner.
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  St George of England

  It's because the WTS is Spiritually Bankrupt.

  George
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  MrFreeze

  Its because the rules and limitations are so stupid that they have to be reminded constantly. Normal minded people dont think the way the WT does.
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  rocketman

  Good summary. As far as playing nice goes, I was often astonished at how often jws were exhorted to 'play nice'. One would think that people exposed to constant Bible "education" would get it through their thick skulls to treat others more kindly. The amount of ill-treatment of jws toward one another was disturbing.
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  Confession

  From the WTS' perspective it just doesn't pay to go deeper. The deeper they go, the more there is to potentially use against them. They have painted themselves into a corner philosophically and doctrinally. If they don't keep it simple, they risk screwing the pooch as they've done so beautifully throughout their past.

  From the perspective of the flock, it can be hard to realize the kindergarten nature of the "spiritual food" they receive. They are mostly very busy with their lives, busy trying to keep up with service, meetings, personal & family study. And to the degree that they cut themselves off from "the world" as the WTS guilts them into, separating themselves from the forbidden "critical thinking," to that degree it's probably difficult to see how simplistic, inch-deep and condescending the organization's teachings are.
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  stuckinamovement

  Yes Brother Massey, "Soundness of mind" is important in all areas of our dress and grooming.

  "I desire all to adorn themselves with modesty and soundness of mind" not only applies to our dear sisters and their choice of jewelry and hair styles, but by extension to brothers and the way they tie their shoes. It has been noted that some of our brothers have followed the world's faddish manner of double tying their shoe laces thus drawing undue attention to their feet. This might seem like a small matter, but as faithful servants, we want to always keep in mind the words of Jesus, ' He who is faithful in least will also be faithful in much". Rather than relying on the world's faddish styles to keep our feet protected, we should always keep our feet shod with the good news.
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  designs

  The Bright Kids all graduated on to something else....
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  BizzyBee

  LOL at stuckinamovement! You nailed it!
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  DesirousOfChange

  The greatest response (growth) is in undeveloped, uneducated third-world cultures. No need to be too spiritually or intellectually deep. They wouldn't understand it. I offer you the new brochure as evidence. Two editions: Dumb and Dumber. When you look at the full complete edition it is hard to imagine that there is a more simplified one. This has to be for people that cannot read.
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  Lore

  Here is every subject ever discussed in a simple easy to browse list:

  How to be nice to each other In the Family

  How to be nice to each other In the Congregation

  How to be nice to each other In School or the Workplace

  How to be nice to each other In Your Recreation

  How to not fornicate In the Family

  How to not fornicate In the Congregation

  How to not fornicate In School or the Workplace

  How to not fornicate In Your Recreation

  How to preach all the time In the Family

  How to preach all the time In the Congregation

  How to preach all the time In School or the Workplace

  How to preach all the time In your Recreation

  How to not listen to apostates In the Family

  How to not listen to apostates In the Congregation

  How to not listen to apostates In School or the Workplace

  How to not listen to apostates In your Recreation

  Aside from item 1 on the "How to not fornicate" list, these same topics are all discussed pretty much weekly and almost exclusively. Every other topic discussed is just a subsection of the above.