when did the org. stop using the word society when referring to the org.?
the word "society" not used any more?
by rekless 10 Replies latest jw friends
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Solace
I didnt know they stopped.
Isnt it called "society" or "organization"?
Im sure they would never call it a church. -
Beck_Melbourne
...around early to mid 90's we were discouraged from referring to the borg as the 'society'...thought this was everywhere!
Someone more enlightened may know specifics.
Beck
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zev
two years ago, the "christian congregation of jehovahs witnesses" was born.
it is the effective, "organization" now.
but to be honest, i never heard anyone say anything but society right up till i left 3 months ago. that word was still a part of a dubs vocabulary, right up till i left.
so if its new, its news to me too.
i kinda like being left out of the dub loop.
must be a blessing from jehover.
-Zev
Learn about the Wtbts and the U.N.
** http://www.geocities.com/plowbitch69 ** -
Solace
Its ironic they use the word "Christian" since they believe that Christ is Michael and give no praise whatsoever to Jesus Christ.
Oh well, Who knows...... -
Justin
I'm surprised anyone recalls "the society" being used even recently. It seems to be that they had phased it out by the time I left 20 years ago. The reasoning behind this was apparently that "the Society" as a legal corporation could not correspond to the Christian congregation in the Bible, so they started putting more emphasis on the Governing Body. But perhaps this was one if their changes where a certain usage or practice is simply stopped without their commenting on it, and now it's finally official that they don't want to be called "the Society."
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LB
They used society a lot here in Oregon but I've been gone a couple of years now.
I doubt they'll use Borg or Collective anytime soon.
Never Squat With Yer Spurs On -
dungbeetle
The Word 'Society' was used frequently in the liteerature up untill at least Jan 2001. The word was used mainly, by the organization, in their letters and The Kingdom Ministry.
I'll check the KM's for the US over the wekend (if nobody else does first) and we have letters hanging on the bulletin board at the KH; I will check those Sunday (again, if nobody else does first).
I didn't listen to the whole thing, but I didn't hear 'Society' at all during the parts of the Elder's School I DID listen to. 'Governing Body', 'Branch Office', and 'Congregation' is what I heard the most.
From the platform, I'm hearing 'faithful and discreet slave' so much I keep silently threatening to bring handcuffs and chains to the meeting someday!!!
things that make you go hmmmmmmm...
Good thread...
In 1975 a crack team of publishers was sentenced to death by a judicial commiteee. They promptly escaped from the cult and now live life on the run. If you have a problem ... and if you can find them ... maybe you can contact the A--postate Team"
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JT
I think it is the March 15, 1998 WT
it discusses during the wt lessson why NOT TO USE THE PHRASE
THE SOCIETY SAYS:
instead jw were told to say
THE BIBLE SAYS OR MY UNDERSTANDING IS ...CK THE 3-15-98 OUT
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dungbeetle
BWAHAHAHAHA...
<Dangers of Following Men
A "sect" has been defined as "a group adhering to a distinctive doctrine or to a leader." Similarly, those belonging to a "cult" have "great devotion to a person, idea, or thing." Actually, the members of any religious group who strongly adhere to human leaders and their ideas are in danger of becoming slaves of men. A strong leader-oriented relationship can lead to an unhealthy emotional and spiritual dependency. The danger may be compounded when a person is reared in a sectarian atmosphere from childhood.
Those who have such concerns about a religion need reliable information. Some may have been told that the Witnesses belong to a religious organization that enslaves its members, exercises authoritarian control over them, unduly restricts their freedom, and throws them out of step with society as a whole.
Jehovah's Witnesses know that these concerns are unwarranted. Therefore, they invite you to check for yourself. After careful consideration, draw your own conclusions. Are the Witnesses servants of God, as they claim, or actually slaves of men? What is the source of their strength? The two articles on pages 12-23 will provide satisfying answers to such questions.
8 Unlike natural Israel of old, to this day the Israel of God has strictly obeyed the requirements of its dedication. This should not be surprising because its members freely chose to obey. Whereas members of natural Israel became dedicated by reason of birth, members of the Israel of God became such by choice. The Christian arrangement thus stood in contrast with the Jewish Law covenant, which imposed dedication upon individuals without allowing them the freedom of choice.
12 In full recognition of this requirement, Jehovah's Witnesses advocate the dedicating of oneself to God, but they never coerce anyone into making such a dedication, not even their own children. In contrast with many churches, the Witnesses do not baptize their offspring as infants, as if it were possible to force them into dedication without the benefit of personal choice. The Scriptural pattern to follow is the one followed by the young man Timothy. As an adult, he was told by the apostle Paul: "Continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe, knowing from what persons you learned them and that from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through the faith in connection with Christ Jesus."-2 Timothy 3:14, 15.
13 It is noteworthy that Timothy knew the holy writings because he had been taught them from infancy. He had been persuaded-not forced-to believe Christian teachings by his mother and grandmother. (2 Timothy 1:5) As a result, Timothy saw the wisdom of becoming a follower of Christ and thus made the personal choice of Christian dedication. In modern times, tens of thousands of young men and women whose parents are Jehovah's Witnesses have followed this example. (Psalm 110:3)
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES believe that their religion will last forever. They therefore anticipate serving God "with spirit and truth" for all eternity. (John 4:23, 24) As free moral agents, these Christians have made an unreserved dedication to Jehovah God and are determined to live up to it. To that end, they rely on God's Word and on his holy spirit. As they wholeheartedly pursue their course of Christian dedication in God-given freedom, the Witnesses show due respect for the role of governmental "superior authorities" and make proper use of legal means and provisions. (Romans 13:1; James 1:25) For instance, the Witnesses use the Watch Tower Society as a legal instrument-one of many in various lands-to enable them to accomplish their work of helping fellow humans, especially in spiritual ways. But the Witnesses are dedicated to God, not to any legal agency, and their dedication to Jehovah will last forever.
2 As servants dedicated to God, Jehovah's Witnesses are obligated to follow Jesus' instructions to "make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them." (Matthew 28:19, 20)
3 Someone may argue that the way the Witnesses speak about the Watch Tower Society-or more often just "the Society"-indicates that they view it as more than a legal instrument. Do they not consider it to be the final authority on matters of worship? The book Jehovah's Witnesses-Proclaimers of God's Kingdom clarifies this point by explaining: "When The Watchtower [June 1, 1938] referred to 'The Society,' this meant, not a mere legal instrumentality, but the body of anointed Christians that had formed that legal entity and used it." The expression therefore stood for "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 24:45) It is in this sense that the Witnesses generally used the term "the Society." Of course, the legal corporation and "the faithful and discreet slave" are not interchangeable terms. Directors of the Watch Tower Society are elected, whereas Witnesses who make up 'the faithful slave' are anointed by Jehovah's holy spirit.
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. Of course, suggestions as regards terminology should never become a subject of controversy. After all, terminology is of importance only to the extent that it prevents misunderstandings. Christian balance is required. The Bible admonishes us "not to fight about words." (2 Timothy 2:14, 15) The Scriptures also state this principle: "Unless you through the tongue utter speech easily understood, how will it be known what is being spoken?"-1 Corinthians 14:9
5 "All things are lawful; but not all things are advantageous," noted the apostle Paul. He added: "All things are lawful; but not all things build up." (1 Corinthians 10:23) Paul obviously did not mean that it is lawful to do things that God's Word expressly condemns. Compared to the some 600 laws given to ancient Israel, there are comparatively few explicit commands regulating Christian life. Hence, many matters are left to individual conscience. A person who has made a dedication to Jehovah enjoys the freedom that results from guidance by God's spirit. Having made the truth his own, a Christian follows his Bible-trained conscience and relies on God's direction by holy spirit. This helps the dedicated Christian to determine what will "build up" and be "advantageous" for himself and others. He realizes that the decisions he makes will affect his personal relationship with God, to whom he is dedicated.
The value of such an arrangement still exists. Presently, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is composed of ten anointed Christians, all with decades of Christian experience behind them. They offer spiritual direction to Jehovah's Witnesses, as did the first-century governing body. (Acts 16:4) Like the early Christians, the Witnesses gladly look to the mature brothers of the Governing Body for Bible-based direction and guidance in matters of worship. Though members of the Governing Body are slaves of Jehovah and of Christ, as are their fellow Christians, the Bible instructs us: "Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will render an account; that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you."-Hebrews 13:17.
12 Does the position of oversight that the Scriptures assign the Governing Body mean that each of Jehovah's Witnesses must render to it an account of his works? Not according to Paul's words to Christians in Rome: "Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God . . . Each of us will render an account for himself to God."-Romans 14:10-12.
18 Besides being students, Jehovah's Witnesses are soldiers of Jesus Christ, instructed to "fight the fine fight of the faith." (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3) Naturally, persistent conduct unbecoming a Christian soldier may incur divine disapproval. As an individual endowed with freedom of choice, a Christian soldier can decide as he wishes, but he must bear the consequences of his decision. Paul reasons: "No man serving as a soldier involves himself in the commercial businesses of life, in order that he may gain the approval of the one who enrolled him as a soldier. Moreover, if anyone contends even in the games, he is not crowned unless he has contended according to the rules." (2 Timothy 2:4, 5) Mature Christians, including those of the Governing Body, remain wholly at the disposal of their Leader, Jesus Christ, keeping "the rules" so that they can win the prize of life everlasting.-John 17:3; Revelation 2:10.
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In 1975 a crack team of publishers was sentenced to death by a judicial commiteee. They promptly escaped from the cult and now live life on the run. If you have a problem ... and if you can find them ... maybe you can contact the A--postate Team"