It's truly weird the lengths some elders will go to in asking unnecessary and needlessly humiliating questions in judicial committee meetings IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO NOT DO THIS!
Notice this clear, explicit instruction for elders regarding the handling of judicial cases from the "Pay Attention ... to the Flock" book, page 112:
You must ask pertinent, discreet questions to isolate main issues and determine how or why a problem developed .
- Probing questions should not go into needless details, especially in regard to sexual misconduct, unless this is absolutely necessary, such as in determining whether pornei'a had been committed. - (Emphasis added)
- Elders need to treat the accused kindly and respectfully, never harshly. (w89 9/15 p . 19)
I'm certainly not endorsing or even condoning the JW judicial process by quoting this, just pointing out that many times the abuses by the elders are caused by them being disobedient to the direction they are given. Probably they just can't help their sick selves!
You may have noticed that I didn't quote the entire title of the "Flock" book. The full title is actually:
"PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES AND TO ALL THE FLOCK"
To often the elders are busy focusing on "the flock" and ignoring their own issues. They need more paying attention to themselves!!!
This brings to mind a particular scripture, Matthew 7:1-5:
- “Stop judging that YOU may not be judged;
- for with what judgment YOU are judging, YOU will be judged; and with the measure that YOU are measuring out, they will measure out to YOU.
- Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the rafter in your own eye?
- Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to extract the straw from your eye’; when, look! a rafter is in your own eye?
- Hypocrite! First extract the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to extract the straw from your brother’s eye.