Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 04-15-2012 WT Study (COURAGEOUS)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In what ways did Enoch and

Noah display courage?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How were certain women of

ancient times exemplary in

faith and courage?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What examples of youthful

courage impress you?

OPENING COMMENTS

Once again, the WTS finds it hard to show a Christian example of being very courageous.

Enoch

Noah

Moses

Joshua

Rahab

Deborah (who had to “motivate” Barak, give the coward courage)

Jael

David (murderer and adulterer)

Solomon (unrepentant apostate)

Israelite girl

Hezekiah

Obadiah (would the elders in your congregation who don’t have time to talk or visit; risk their lives for you?)

Esther

Jesus

Paul

13 “followers of God”

1 non-worshipper

1 Christian

The NWT says this:

(2 Timothy 3:12) . . .In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.

Yet the WTS makes this qualifying adjustment of what Paul said.

“Not all Christians will experience severe persecution.” (paragraph 20)

*** w10 9/1p. 29***

Many servants of God have suffered terribly for serving him. But is that not what we were told to expect? “All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted,” the Bible says. (2 Timothy 3:12)

*** w04 8/15 p.12par. 3***

Jesus said that his followers would be “objects of hatred by allpeople” on account of his name. (Matthew 10:22) Further, the apostle Paul wrote that all of God’s servants—including each one of us—should expect to be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)

START OF ARTICLE

1, 2. (a) What is sometimes needed to pursue an upright

course in life? (b) What are we going to examine?

COURAGE is the opposite of fear, timidity,

and cowardice. We may think of a courageous

person as one who is strong, valiant,

even bold. At times, however, quiet courage is needed

in order to pursue an upright course in daily life.

COMMENTS

What courage did the organization show when they purchased property in South Lansing, NY, thinking that WW2 would end with a German takeover?

*** w82 8/15 p.13***

Because of the loss of liberties in many lands, and as a precaution for the safety of the Bethel family, a place of refuge had been built in South Lansing, New York. (said by Carey Barber)

Chapter 8

Who Will the Survivors Be?

SURVIVAL of the coming world destruction will not be a matter of chance, as is so often the case in human wars. It will not be determined by where a person lives, nor by his hurrying to some bomb shelter or other refuge at the sound of a warning siren. Survival will depend on God’s mercy along with the choice each one makes before “the great tribulation” begins. How can you make the choice that will put you among those surviving to live on earth in God’s peaceful, paradisaic New Order? - True Peace and Security - How Can You Find It? (1986), page 86

2 Some people of Bible record were fearless under

very trying conditions. Others displayed courage

in circumstances common to Jehovah’s servants

in general. What can we learn from Biblical examples

of courage? How can we be courageous?

COMMENTS

Jehovah’s servants = yet Jesus followers were known as Christians not jws

COURAGEOUS WITNESSES IN

AN UNGODLY WORLD

3. Enoch foretold what for the ungodly?

3 It took courage to be a witness of Jehovah among

wicked ones on earth before the Flood of Noah’s day.

Yet, Enoch, “the seventh one in line from Adam,”

boldly delivered this prophetic message: “Look! Jehovah

came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment

against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning

all their ungodly deeds that they did in an

ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things

that ungodly sinners spoke against him.” (Jude 14,

15) Enoch spoke in the past tense because that

prophecy was sure to be fulfilled. And ungodly humans

did perish in a global deluge!

PICTURE: Enoch preached courageously in an ungodly world

COMMENTS

Remember that God supposedly removed Enoch from the source of his persecution somehow fearful Enoch would not be “very strong.”

*** w041/1 p.29 par.5***

5:24—Inwhat way did God ‘take Enoch’? Enoch was apparently in mortal danger, but God did not allow him to suffer at the hands of his enemies. “Enoch was transferred so as not to see death,” wrote the apostle Paul. (Hebrews 11:5) This does not mean that God took him to heaven, where he kept on living. Jesus was the first one to ascend to heaven. (John 3:13; Hebrews 6:19, 20) Enoch’s being “transferred so as not to see death” may mean that God put him in a prophetic trance and then terminated his life while he was in that state. Under such circumstances, Enoch did not suffer, or “see death,” at the hands of his enemies.

4. Despite what circumstances did Noah ‘walk with God’?

4 The Flood occurred in 2370 B.C.E., over 650

years after Enoch’s prophetic ministry. Meanwhile,

Noah was born, raised a family, and with his sons

built the ark. Wicked angels had materialized fleshly

bodies, mated with good-looking women, and fathered the

Nephilim. Moreover, man’s

badness had become abundant, and the

earth was filled with violence. (Gen. 6:

1-5, 9, 11) Despite such conditions,

“Noah walked with the true God” and

witnessed boldly as “a preacher of righteousness.”

(Read 2 Peter 2:4, 5.) We

need similar courage in these last days.

COMMENTS

Remember that the angels wanted to build a tribe, a dynasty and could not in heaven.

Man’s badness—yes, God allowed polygamy for 2400 years (1 st century)….or until 1947 C.E. in the WTS.

*** w95 9/1 p.25***

I married Olabisi Fashugba in February 1941 and knew enough not to take any additional wives. But until 1947 when the missionaries came, polygamy was common in the congregations. Polygamous brothers were told that they had married more than one wife in ignorance. So if they had two or three or four or five wives, they could keep them, but they should not take any more. That was the policy we had.

Also, Noah and his family had a 7 day window where they went into the ark and then 7 days later the rain started….do jws think they will have a similar window?

THEY DISPLAYED FAITH AND COURAGE

5. How did Moses display faith and courage?

5 Moses had exemplary faith and

courage. (Heb. 11:24-27) From 1513-

1473 B.C.E., God used him to lead the

Israelites out of Egypt and direct them

in the wilderness. Moses felt poorly

equipped for this assignment, but he accepted

it. (Ex. 6:12) He and his brother,

Aaron, repeatedly appeared before

tyrannical Pharaoh of Egypt and courageously

announced the Ten Plagues by

which Jehovah disgraced Egyptian gods

and delivered His people. (Ex., chaps. 7-12)

Moses displayed faith and courage

because he had God’s unfailing support,

even as we do.—Deut. 33:27.

COMMENTS

Yet, Moses courage and faith did not allow God to forgive him for losing his temper on only one occasion punishing Moses by not allowing him to go into the Promised Land; yet God forgave David, an adulterer and murderer. But then Moses had not been promised that the Messiah would come through his line. And although “privileged” to receive the Law, God could not “adjust” it as he had in David’s case. So David wasn’t Israel’s leader with “greater accountability”?

*** w09 9/1 p. 19***

Fourth, Moses and Aaron were Israel’s leaders. Those with much responsibility have greater accountability to God.

6. If we are interrogated by secular authorities,

how will we be able to bear witness with courage?

6 We need courage like that of Moses,

for Jesus said: “You will be haled before

governors and kings for my sake, for a

witness to them and the nations. However,

when they deliver you up, do not

become anxious about how or what you

are to speak; for what you are to speak

will be given you in that hour; for the

ones speaking are not just you, but it

is the spirit of your Father that speaks

by you.” (Matt. 10:18-20) If we are interrogated

by secular authorities, Jehovah’s

spirit will enable us to bear witness respectfully

with faith and courage.—Read

Luke 12:11, 12.

COMMENTS

If the elders (or any jws) are “interrogated,” will they keep things confidential? Do they now keep confidentiality even when there is no physical threat”

7. Why was Joshua courageous and successful?

7 Regular study of God’s Law built

up the faith and courage of Moses’ successor,

Joshua. In 1473 B.C.E., Israel

was poised to enter the Promised Land.

“Be courageous and very strong,” God

commanded. By complying with the

Law, Joshua would act wisely and would

be successful. “Do not suffer shock or

be terrified,” he was told, “for Jehovah

your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Josh. 1:7-9) How those words must have

strengthened Joshua! And God certainly

was with him, for the major conquest

of the Promised Land was completed in

only six years—by 1467 B.C.E.

COMMENTS

Do jws regular study the bible or WTS publications? Can jws understand the bible without WTS publications?

*** w94 10/1 p.8***

Even as Bible prophecy pointed forward to the Messiah, it also directs us to the close-knit body of anointed Christian Witnesses that now serve as the faithful and discreet slave. It helps us to understand the Word of God. All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the “greatly diversified wisdom of God” can become known only through Jehovah’s channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave.—John 6:68.

How many jws realize that Joshua led an army that killed not only soldiers, but women, children, babies, even in the womb?

(Joshua 10:28) . . .And Joshua captured Mak·ke′dah on that day and went striking it with the edge of the sword. As for its king, he devoted him and every soul that was in it to destruction. He let no survivor remain. . . .

(Joshua 11:10-14) . . .More than that, Joshua turned about at that time and captured Ha′zor; and its king he struck down with the sword, because Ha′zor was before that the head of all these kingdoms. 11 And they went striking every soul that was in it with the edge of the sword, devoting [them] to destruction. No breathing thing at all was left over, and he burned Ha′zor in the fire. 12 And all the cities of these kings and all their kings Joshua captured and went striking them with the edge of the sword. He devoted them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded. 13 It was only all the cities standing on their own mounds that Israel did not burn, except that Joshua did burn Ha′zor by itself. 14 And all the spoil of these cities and the domestic animals the sons of Israel plundered for themselves. It was only all humankind that they struck with the edge of the sword until they had annihilated them. They did not let anyone that breathed remain.

How many jws realize that not all the Canaanites were removed, that is killed?

VALIANT WOMEN WHO

TOOK THEIR STAND

8. What example of faith and courage do we

have in Rahab?

8 Through the centuries, many courageous

women have taken their stand as

valiant worshippers of Jehovah. For instance,

the prostitute Rahab of Jericho

exercised faith in God, courageously

concealing two spies sent out by Joshua,

and then misdirecting the henchmen of

that city’s king. She and her household

were preserved when the Israelites took

Jericho . Rahab abandoned her sinful

profession, worshipped Jehovah faithfully,

and became an ancestress of the

Messiah. (Josh. 2:1-6; 6:22, 23; Matt. 1:

1, 5) How she was blessed for her faith

and courage!

COMMENTS

“prostitute” Rahab? Why not “adulterer” David?

Misdirecting = WTS considers this proof that lying is acceptable

Rahab saved lives and became an ancestress of the Messiah, David had Uriah’s life taken and still was rewarded by being an ancestor of the Messiah, but a baby died, David’s wives were raped, and 70,000 people died because of David’s disobedience. David’s fear of being found out as an adulterer and being put to death rightly under the Law, led to his having Uriah put to death…is that courage?

9. How did Deborah, Barak, and Jael show

courage?

9 After Joshua’s death about

1450 B.C.E., judges administered justice

in Israel. Canaanite King Jabin had oppressed

the Israelites for 20 years when

God had the prophetess Deborah motivate

Judge Barak to take action. Barak

assembled 10,000 men on Mount Tabor

and was ready to engage in battle with

Jabin’s military chief Sisera, who en-

tered the torrent valley of Kishon with

his army and its 900 war chariots. When

the Israelites marched into the valley

plain, God caused a flash flood that

turned the battlefield into a quagmire

and immobilized the Canaanite chariots.

Barak’s men prevailed, and “all the

camp of Sisera fell by the edge of the

sword.” Sisera himself sought refuge in

the tent of Jael, but she killed him while

he slept. In line with Deborah’s prophetic

words to Barak, “the beautifying

thing” of this victory went to the woman

Jael. Because Deborah, Barak, and Jael

acted courageously, Israel “had no further

disturbance for forty years.” (Judg.

4:1-9, 14-22; 5:20, 21, 31) Many godly

men and women have displayed similar

faith and courage.

COMMENTS

How many jws realize that Deborah was a judge (and married but her husband was not selected as a judge)? How many realize that Barak lacked the courage to go and fight unless Deborah came with him? Where was his faith that God was with him?

(Judges 4:4,5) . . .Now Deb′o·rah, a prophetess, the wife of Lap′pi·doth, was judging Israel at that particular time. 5 And she was dwelling under Deb′o·rah’s palm tree between Ra′mah and Beth′el in the mountainous region of E′phra·im; and the sons of Israel would go up to her for judgment.

(Judges 4:8) . . .At this Ba′rak said to her: “If you will go with me, I also shall certainly go; but if you will not go with me, I shall not go.”

OUR WORDS CAN INSPIRE COURAGE

10. Why can it be said that our words can inspire

courage?

10 What we say can inspire courage

in fellow worshippers of Jehovah. In

the 11th century B.C.E., King David told

his son Solomon: “Be courageous and

strong and act. Do not be afraid nor be

terrified, for Jehovah God, my God, is

with you. He will not desert you or leave

you until all the work of the service of

Jehovah’s house is finished.” (1 Chron.

28:20) Solomon acted courageously and

built the splendid temple of Jehovah in

Jerusalem .

COMMENTS

I wonder what Solomon knew about his older full brother who died; how he was the result of adultery and that his father had his mother’s first husband killed? How God did not desert David despite his being an adulterer and a murderer?

Maybe Solomon realized that he could marry non-Jewish women and worship their gods and not be punished under the Law because he too would be an ancestor of the Messiah. That he could die an unrepentant apostate and still be resurrected per the WTS.

PICTURE: Jael was courageous and strong

11. What effect did the courageous words of an

Israelite girl have on one man’s life?

11 In the tenth century B.C.E., the

courageous words of an Israelite girl

proved to be a blessing for a leper. She

had been captured by a marauding band

and became a servant of the leprous Syrian

army chief Naaman. Having learned

about miracles that Jehovah performed

Jael was courageous and strong

through Elisha, she told Naaman’s wife

that if her husband would go to Israel,

God’s prophet would cure him. Naaman

did go to Israel, was miraculously

healed, and became a worshipper of

Jehovah. (2 Ki. 5:1-3, 10-17) If you are a

young person who loves God as that girl

did, he can give you courage to witness

to teachers, fellow students, and others.

COMMENTS

No-name Jewish girl = like no-name wife of Noah and no-name wives of his sons.

Did Naaman totally become a worshipper of Israel’s God?

(2 Kings 5:16-18) . . .. 17 Finally Na′a·man said: “If not, please, let there be given to your servant some ground, the load of a pair of mules; because your servant will no more render up a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other gods but to Jehovah. 18 In this thing may Jehovah forgive your servant: When my lord comes into the house of Rim′mon to bow down there, and he is supporting himself upon my hand, and I have to bow down at the house of Rim′mon, when I bow down at the house of Rim′mon may Jehovah, please, forgive your servant in this respect.”

So if your non-jw grandma needed you to take her to mass every Sunday, could you?

12. How did the words of King Hezekiah affect

his subjects?

12 Well-chosen words in times of peril

can inspire courage. When the Assyrians

marched against Jerusalem in

the eighth century B.C.E., King Hezekiah

told his subjects: “Be courageous and

strong. Do not be afraid nor be terrified

because of the king of Assyria and

on account of all the crowd that is with

him; for with us there are more than

there are with him. With him there is an

arm of flesh, but with us there is Jehovah

our God to help us and to fight our

battles.” How was that expression received?

Why, “the people began to brace

themselves upon the words of Hezekiah”!

(2 Chron. 32:7, 8) Similar words

may bolster our own courage and that

of other Christians when we are being

hounded by persecutors.

COMMENTS

Other Christians = only jws; how many jws believe they are the only ones “persecuted” for the right reasons?

www.forum18.org

King Hezekiah had not had a male heir when he became critically ill and he asked God to extend his life…turned out to be 15 years. And who was that son, Manasseh; wasn’t he the king that tossed his own children into the fire? What a blessing that was, and he was an ancestor of the Messiah as well.

13. What example of courage do we have in

King Ahab’s steward Obadiah?

13 Sometimes courage is shown by

what we do not say. In the tenth century

B.C.E., King Ahab’s steward Obadiah

courageously hid a hundred prophets

of Jehovah “by fifties in a cave” so

that they would not be killed at the order

of wicked Queen Jezebel. (1 Ki. 18:4)

Like God-fearing Obadiah, many of Jehovah’s

loyal present-day servants have

courageously protected fellow believers

by not giving persecutors information

about them.

COMMENTS

Have jws “courageously protected” fellow jws by not giving other jws information that are not entitled to; even embellishing the info and telling others not to associate with them?

ESTHER—A COURAGEOUS QUEEN

14, 15. How did Queen Esther display faith

and courage, and with what result?

14 Queen Esther displayed great faith

and courage when a genocide plot

hatched by wicked Haman imperiled

the Jews throughout the Persian Empire

in the fifth century B.C.E. No wonder

they mourned and fasted and undoubtedly

prayed with all their heart! (Esther

4:1-3) Queen Esther was greatly distressed.

Her cousin Mordecai sent her a

copy of the law authorizing the massacre

and commanded her to appear before

the king to implore favor for her

fellow Jews. But anyone going in to the

king when not summoned was put to

death.—Esther 4:4-11.

COMMENTS

So how was it that Esther married, even was encouraged to marry, a non-worshipper of God?

Does the WTS want jw fathers in some cultures to marry off their daughters (for a bride price) to a non-jw?

*** w98 9/15 p.25***

In the name of custom, some family heads allow unbelieving relatives to extort a high bride-price. This has sometimes led to the marriage of a Christian girl to an unbeliever. That is contrary to the admonition that Christians should marry “only in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:39)

15 Yet, Mordecai told Esther: ‘If you

are silent, deliverance will come from

another place. But who knows whether

it is for a time like this that you attained

royal dignity?’ Esther urged Mordecai

to gather the Jews in Shushan and

fast in her behalf. “I shall fast likewise,”

she said, “and upon that I shall come in

to the king, which is not according to the

law; and in case I must perish, I must

perish.” (Esther 4:12-17) Esther acted

courageously, and the book bearing her

name shows that God delivered his people.

In our day, anointed Christians and

their dedicated associates display similar

courage under trial—and the “Hearer

of prayer” is always on their side.—Read

Psalm 65:2; 18:6.

COMMENTS

So Mordecai was “courageous” and had Esther put her life on the line?

“anointed Christians” but only “dedicated associates” for the non-anointed and evidently not Christians?

“TAKE COURAGE”

16. What example do our youngsters have in

Jesus?

16 On one occasion in the first century

C.E., 12-year-old Jesus was found

at the temple, “sitting in the midst

of the teachers and listening to them

and questioning them.” Moreover, “all

those listening to him were in constant

amazement at his understanding and

his answers.” (Luke 2:41-50) Although

he was young, Jesus had the faith and

courage needed to question older teachers

at the temple. Bearing in mind Jesus’

example will help youngsters in the

Christian congregation to take full advantage

of opportunities to ‘make a defense

before everyone demanding a reason

for their hope.’—1 Pet. 3:15.

COMMENTS

Finally we leave the OT examples….Jesus courageous, but then remember his mother and father would have told him of his specialness, that he was the Messiah. That his mother had been a virgin mother and that an angel, Gabriel, had talked to her and the angels had sung at his birth.

Jesus questioned the elders, can the rank and file do the same?

How many young jws tell others at school they are jws; how many adult jws tell co-workers? Not many in my experience.

17. Why did Jesus urge his disciples to “take

courage,” and why do we need to act courageously?

17 Jesus urged others to “take courage.”

(Matt. 9:2, 22) He told his disciples:

“Look! The hour is coming, indeed,

it has come, when you will be scattered

each one to his own house and you will

leave me alone; and yet I am not alone,

because the Father is with me. I have

said these things to you that by means

of me you may have peace. In the world

you are having tribulation, but take

courage! I have conquered the world.”

(John 16:32, 33) Like Jesus’ early followers,

we face the world’s hatred, but let

us not become like the world. Reflecting

on the courageous course of God’s

Son can give us courage to remain undefiled

by this world. He triumphed over

the world, and so can we.—John 17:16;

Jas. 1:27.

COMMENTS

World’s (all non-jws) hatred; and if they are not hating an individual jw, he/she is not doing something right.

World = all non-jw’s

“BE OF GOOD COURAGE!”

18, 19. The apostle Paul gave what evidence of

faith and courage?

18 The apostle Paul endured many

tests. On one occasion, Jews in Jerusalem

would have torn him to pieces had

Roman soldiers not rescued him. During

the night, “the Lord stood by him

and said: ‘Be of good courage! For as you

have been giving a thorough witness on

the things about me in Jerusalem, so you

must also bear witness in Rome.’ ” (Acts

23:11) Paul did just that.

COMMENTS

So in this whole article, the WTS could only come up with 2 NT examples, Jesus and Paul.

If the world hated Paul, how was it that worldly Roman soldiers rescued him?

19 Paul fearlessly rebuked the “superfine

apostles,” who sought to corrupt

the congregation in Corinth. (2 Cor.

11:5; 12:11) Unlike them, he could point

to proof of his apostleship—to imprisonment,

beatings, perilous journeys, other

dangers, hunger, thirst, and sleepless

nights, as well as deep concern for

fellow believers. (Read 2 Corinthians

11:23-28.) What a record of faith and

courage—all of it proof of God-given

strength!

COMMENTS

So who were the “superfine apostles”? Were they like the “false brothers” he mentioned elsewhere?

So persecution was proof of apostleship?

Do jws realize that the WTS teaches there are no apostles today in the organization, not even on the GB?

20,21. (a) Give an example showing that we

must keep on mustering up courage. (b) Under

what circumstances may we need to display

courage, and of what can we be certain?

20 Not all Christians will experience

severe persecution. Yet, all need to muster

up boldness in order to meet the

challenges of life. To illustrate: A young

person in Brazil belonged to a gang. After

studying the Bible, he saw the need

to make changes, but usually anyone

leaving the gang was killed. He prayed,

and he used scriptures to show the leader why he

could not stay in the gang. The

young man was released without reprisals

and became a Kingdom publisher.

COMMENTS

Christians = only jws

Do you see anywhere in this scripture that Paul said that he was not talking about severe persecution?

(2 Timothy 3:12) . . .In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.

*** w10 9/1 p.29***

Many servants of God have suffered terribly for serving him. But is that not what we were told to expect? “All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted,” the Bible says. (2 Timothy 3:12)

21 Courage is required to preach the

good news. Christian youths need this

quality if they are to maintain integrity

at school. It may take courage to request

time off from secular work in order to

attend all sessions of a convention. The

list could go on and on. Regardless of

the challenges we face, however, Jehovah

will hear our ‘prayers of faith.’ (Jas.

5:15) And surely he can give us his holy

spirit so that we can “be courageous and

very strong”!

COMMENTS

If jws truly believe their message is life-saving…how can they not speak?

But if they only see it as a means to their own salvation, and one that need not be productive, producing converts, how hard will they try?

Why does the WTS have to “remind” jws to ask off from work to attend the yearly district convention?

But then do the GB and others at Bethel have to worry about their employer giving them time off?

CONCLUDING COMMENTS

Next Sunday, PRESERVE THE POSITIVE SPIRIT OF THE CONGREGATION (of course assuming it is positive already).

Does the WTS view it as unity or uniformity in practice?

Love, Blondie

Billy the Ex-Bethelite

Thanks Blondie!

It's really no wonder that Jehovah didn't have any pre-flood worshippers. Although both Cain and Abel sacrificed to Jehovah, he evidently hated Cain because he was a farmer, and loved Abel who shepherded sheep during a vegetarian era. Perhaps Jehovah would favor the career of cat-herder today, but would look unfavorably on janitors? Anyway, Jehovah fueled the flames of jealousy by showing favoritism to Abel for some unclear reason. Then Jehovah wasn't able to rescue Abel from the hand of Cain. He 'warned' Cain, but didn't warn Abel of the impending danger. He let the murder happen, and then put laws in place to protect the life of the murderer Cain. Nice.

The case of Enoch is certainly a puzzle. Is it supposed to be somehow reassuring that rather than rescuing Enoch from danger, Jehovah murdered Enoch before anyone else could? I suppose that if a government would turn on JWs today they would rejoice in divine deliverance if Jehovah "put to sleep" all the JWs before the government could torture and kill them. Pass around the divine Kool-Aid!

As far as Stone Age gods go, Jehovah certainly didn't have his act together.

Let's not forget the nameless Israelite girl that bravely told Naaman's nameless wife that Naaman could get healed by Elisha. After Elisha healed the pagan, Naaman offered anything in payment. Elisha refused any payment. For this reason, Elisha deserves the...

DUMBASS OF THE MILLENIUM AWARD!

You would have thought he would have had the presence of mind to request the release of Israelite captives... including the return of the courageous Israelite girl... but NO! Instead of being returned to Israel and becoming an ancestress of Jesus, she remained a slave in Syria. So, who wants to be a courageous worshipper of Jehovah? No thanks. Jehovah is so completely self-absorbed that you would be much better to find another God.

TOTH

Thanks Blondie!

bobld

Thanks Blondie!

Chemical Emotions

Loooooove it.

Thanks, blondie.

heathen

It just looks to me they toned it all down a bunch whenever they became NGO , so they started going along to get along . At first they were very abrasive to other cults with their loud speakers blasting at their churches . Today they are persecuted in some countries and not others as much . So far here in the US they aren't having their building burned or their members beaten as they have been in other places . In Russia they were exiled to siberia .

insearchoftruth

Thanks again Blondie, amazing what a group can teach from the Bible when they are so expert at selective scripture use!

WTWizard

Now, about courage. Which takes more courage, to blindly put your faith in the Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger, or to question it? I feel it often takes more courage to question things when they don't look right, and even more to leave the organization when it turns out faulty.

Another thing it takes great courage to do is to question whether the LIE-ble itself is even worth the paper it's printed on. It is much easier to just assume everything in it is true, and to accept that you need to obey it as is to avoid hell, than it is to question the whole thing. And to take the step of pursuing a religion that is closer to the actual truth, even if it means worshiping the Devil, even if it supposedly means hellfire, takes more courage than most people will ever muster. If anyone wants to take the "Be courageous" part, I suggest doing some actual research on Bible-bashing sites. Look up "Joy of Satan" in your search engine and read several sites. Look up "Evil Bible", and do the same thing. That takes real courage. It takes even more courage to ditch faulty beliefs when you read sites like these, and take up a whole new paradigm.

The ultimate of courage I can think of is one that no Christian (except one that is close to becoming apostate) would even recognize--Satan. Yup, Satan. He had the courage to open his big mouth in that Jehovah was trying to withhold wisdom to the human race (why, to enslave them). Satan risked everything to stand up for freedom back then, and he has taken more than his share of abuse and slander for it (including slander that blames Satan for trying to enslave us). Trying to uphold genuine righteousness, even when the Almighty Lowlife Scumbag himself is the one that is corrupt, is the epitome of courageousness. And I will never believe the lie that Satan is a coward--it is blatantly obvious that he is anything but.

Which is more than can be said about Jehovah.

BluesBrother

It appears that they want to keep up the rhetoric and "war footing" , just like a government that wishes to keep its subjects in line . Fear is a big factor - create it and you have united support..

NB

Par. 6] "If we are interrogated by secular authorities......" How many dubs are hauled in by the law because of their faith? Only if you live in Central South Asia (the names I cannot spell but all end in ...istan!) or Russia maybe. The vast majority go unmolested and even protected by anti discrimination laws.

Par 17] "We face the world's hatred" .. Do they ? indifference more like...But it keeps them on their toes.

therevealer

21 Courage is required to preach the
good news. Christian youths need this
quality if they are to maintain integrity
at school. It may take courage to request
time off from secular work in order to
attend all sessions of a convention. The
list could go on and on. Regardless of
the challenges we face, however, Jehovah
will hear our ‘prayers of faith.' (Jas.
5:15) And surely he can give us his holy
spirit so that we can "be courageous and
very strong"!

Of course none of these apply to me, the writer of this dribble, so how would I really know.

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 04-15-2012 WT Study (COURAGEOUS)

Share this