Comments You Will Not Hear at the 07-29-2012 WT Study (MAY 15, 2012, pages 23-27)(GLORY)
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ARE YOU
REFLECTING
THE GLORY OF
JEHOVAH?
“We . . . reflect like
mirrors the glory of
Jehovah.” — 2 COR. 3:18.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Despite our sinful state, how
can we glorify Jehovah?
How do our prayers and our
presence at Christian meetings
help us to reflect God’s glory?
What can help us to keep on
glorifying Jehovah?
OPENING COMMENTS
Why make 2 Corinthians 3:18 a snippet? What about verse 17?
(2 Corinthians3:17,18)17 Now Jehovah is the Spirit; and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, exactly as done by Jehovah [the] Spirit.
The WTS when discussing verse 17, never explains “spirit of Jehovah” or “Jehovah is the Spirit.” How would a jw explain that to a Trinitarian when the WTS teaches that the holy spirit is an impersonal spirit?
Imitate God or Christ? Why Christ and not God?
(1 Corinthians 11:1) 11 Become imitators of me, even as I am of Christ.
Have the mind of God or Christ? No human has come to know the mind of God…
(1 Corinthians 2:16) For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ.
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. Why is it reasonable to expect that we can imitate Jehovah’s
qualities?
IN ONE way or another, all of us resemble our
parents. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear
someone say to a boy, ‘You are just like your father.’
A girl may be told, ‘You remind me of your
mother. ‘And children often imitate what they see in
their parents. But what about us? Can we imitate
our heavenly Father, Jehovah? Although we have
not seen him, we can perceive his precious qualities
by studying his Word, by observing his creation,
and by meditating on the Scriptures and especially
on the words and deeds of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
(John 1:18; Rom. 1:20) It is possible for us to reflect
Jehovah’s glory.
COMMENTS
So are they talking about physical similarities or personality or intelligence? So a boy can’t be like his mother or a girl like her father? Or a boy can’t imitate his mother (Timothy comes to mind)?
The WTS teaches that Jesus is the Eternal Father of humans.
Can jws just study the Bible or do they require the WTS/FDS/GB to explain it to them?
***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.
2 Before Adam and Eve were created, God was
confident that humans would be able to carry out
his will for them, reflect his qualities, and bring him
glory. (Read Genesis 1:26, 27.) In practicing godly
devotion, we should display the qualities of the
One who made us. If we do so, we have the blessed
privilege of reflecting God’s glory regardless of our
culture, our education, or our ethnic background.
Why? Because “God is not partial, but in every nation
the man that fears him and works righteousness
is acceptable to him.”—Acts 10:34, 35.
COMMENTS
But is the WTS/FDS/GB as confident as God in their members?
(see paragraph 4: All too often,
however, what we desire to do is
not what we do.)
Has the WTS also considered non-white members equal?
The secret of the greater intelligence and aptitude of the Caucasian undoubtedly in great measure is to be attributed to the commingling of blood amongst its various branches; and this was evidently forced in large measure by circumstances under divine control. It remains to be proven that the similar commingling of the various tribes of Chinese for several centuries would not equally brighten their intellects; and the same with the peoples of India and Africa ( Zion's Watch Tower , July 15, 1902:216).
http://www.seanet.com/~raines/discrimination.html
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/black-skin.php
3. What feeling can Christians experience as they serve Jehovah?
3 Anointed Christians reflect Jehovah’s glory. The
spirit-begotten apostle Paul therefore wrote: “All of
us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors
the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same
image from glory to glory.” (2 Cor. 3:18) When the
prophet Moses descended from Mount Sinai with
the tablets bearing the Ten Commandments,
his face emitted rays because Jehovah
had spoken with him. (Ex. 34:29, 30)
Though Christians have not had
such an experience and their faces do
not emit rays, they beam with joy as
they tell others about Jehovah, his qualities,
and his wonderful purpose for
mankind. Like burnished metal mirrors
of ancient times, anointed ones and
their earthly companions thus reflect Jehovah’s
glory in their life and ministry.
(2 Cor. 4:1) Are you reflecting Jehovah’s
glory by your godly conduct and
by your activity as a regular Kingdom
proclaimer?
COMMENTS
ANOINTED Christians – no mention by Paul ever about any other kind of Christian (and jws believe that today you must be a jw to be anointed).
Notice how the WTS avoids discussing what caused Moses’ face to glow and them substitutes their own ideas…were Christians ever said to be witnesses of Jehovah or only witnesses of Jesus, even by Jesus himself at Acts 1:8)
“earthly companions” the WTS teaches that the non-anointed only have status through the anointed.
And where in the bible does it say Christians had to be “regular” and that meant filling out a time slip each month and to be labeled “irregular” if the miss one month and “inactive” if they miss 6 consecutive months?
WE DESIRE TO REFLECT
JEHOVAH’S GLORY
4, 5. (a) Like Paul, what struggle do we have?
(b) How has sin affected us?
4 As Jehovah’s servants, we certainly
want to honor and glorify our Creator
in everything we do. All too often,
however, what we desire to do is
not what we do. Paul had to contend
with that problem personally.
(Read Romans 7:21-25.) Explaining why we have
such a struggle, Paul wrote: “All have
sinned and fall short of the glory of
God.” (Rom. 3:23) Yes, through inheritance
from sinful Adam, mankind became
subject to the harsh mastery of
‘King Sin.’—Rom. 5:12; 6:12.
COMMENTS
Jehovah’s servants = not Christians?
Now the WTS will tell the rank and file how and where they have failed.
All fall short = but in the case of elders (including the GB) they are not held responsible, the use the imperfection clause.
5 What is sin? It is anything contrary
to Jehovah’s personality, ways, standards,
and will. Sin mars a person’s relationship
with God. Sin causes us to
miss the mark, even as an archer can
shoot an arrow but miss his target.
We can sin intentionally or by mistake.
(Num. 15:27-31) Sin is deeply ingrained
in humans and creates a barrier
between them and their Creator. (Ps.
51:5; Isa. 59:2; Col. 1:21) Thus, mankind
in general is completely out of harmony
with Jehovah and misses the priceless
opportunity to reflect God’s glory. Unquestionably,
sin is the worst disability
afflicting humankind.
COMMENTS
But with the WTS flip-flopping on moral issues such as organ transplants, yelling if being raped, whether bestiality or homosexuality being grounds for a scriptural marriage, can we depend on them to define what sin is?
“mankind in general” is completely out of harmony with God? If all humans are sinners, why doesn’t that include jws? Don’t all humans need the ransom sacrifice to have any relationship with God?
6. Despite our sinful state, how can we glorify
God?
6 Despite our sinful condition, Jehovah
has proved to be “the God who
gives hope.” (Rom. 15:13) He has provided
the means for abolishing sin—the
ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. By exercising
faith in that sacrifice, we are no
longer “slaves to sin,” but we are in a position
to reflect Jehovah’s glory. (Rom. 5:
19; 6:6; John 3:16) Maintaining this approved
relationship with God guarantees
us Jehovah’s blessing now as well
as the future benefits of perfection and
everlasting life. Although we are still
sinful humans, what a blessing it is to be
viewed by God as individuals who can
reflect his glory!
COMMENTS
Thus the WTS must feel only jws are exercising faith in the ransom…and only they will receive everlasting life. And only jws reflect God’s glory, and only some of them by other jws’ judgment.
REFLECTING GOD’S GLORY
7. What must we acknowledge about ourselves
in order to reflect God’s glory?
7 To be in the proper position to reflect
God’s glory, we must honestly recognize
our sinful nature. (2 Chron. 6:36)
We need to acknowledge our sinful inclinations
and work to control them so
that we can progress to the point of truly
glorifying God. For example, if we have
fallen into the dishonoring sin of viewing
pornography, we must face the fact
that we need spiritual help—and take action
to get it. (Jas. 5:14, 15) This would
be the first step to take in working toward
a life that fully honors God. As
worshippers of Jehovah, we must continually
make a self-examination to determine
whether we are measuring up
to his righteous standards. (Prov. 28:
18; 1 Cor. 10:12) Whatever the nature
of our sinful tendencies, we must keep
on curbing them so that we can reflect
God’s glory.
COMMENTS
And if we don’t recognize our sins, the elders and other “spiritual” jws will let us know what our sins are.
And out of all the sins that can be laid at the door of jws, pornography is the worst one; not child molestation, not wife abuse, not financial fraud, not adultery?
Worshippers of Jehovah = not Christians?
Make a SELF-examination!
8. Although we are not perfect, what should
we do?
8 Jesus was the only human who ever
lived and died without failing to please
God and reflect His glory. Although we
are not perfect as Jesus was, we can
and should strive to follow his example.
(1 Pet. 2:21) Jehovah weighs the effort
we put forth along with the progress we
make, and he blesses our earnest endeavor
to bring him glory.
COMMENTS
Not as perfect as Jesus was! No one is even close……….
Weighs the efforts or progress = works, is there anything a Christian can DO?
9. What role does the Bible play in the lives of
Christians who desire to measure up to God’s
requirements?
9 Jehovah’s written Word can illuminate
for us the pathway to improvement.
In-depth study of the Scriptures
and meditative Bible reading are essential.
(Ps. 1:1-3) Reading the Scriptures
daily will help us to make improvement.
(Read James 1:22-25.) Bible knowledge
is the basis for our faith and is the
means of fortifying our determination
to avoid grave sin and to please Jehovah.
—Ps. 119:11, 47, 48.
COMMENTS
Do jws do the weekly Bible reading? How many? Does the brother who handles that part on the ministry school read it himself or does he wing it?
After 40 years of reading the bible how many jws can name all 66 books of the bible or the names of the 12 apostles; is that because he depend on the few snippets of scriptures and an occasional quote to deceive themselves in thinking they read the bible?
So how many jws can give the bible basis for their beliefs without running to the reasoning book or an elder?
Is it the Bible says or the Society says? What did jws say in your congregation? Why have to tell a “few” jws to be careful?
*** 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.”
Or like the WT Study conductor who held up the WT and asked “what do we base our beliefs on”?
10. How can prayer help us to serve Jehovah
more fully?
10 To reflect God’s glory, we also need
to “persevere in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12)
We can and should pray that Jehovah
help us to serve him in an acceptable
way. To that end, we can properly ask
him for holy spirit, for more faith, for
strength to resist temptation, and for
ability to ‘handle the word of the truth
aright.’ (2 Tim. 2:15; Matt. 6:13; Luke 11:
13; 17:5) As a child depends on his father,
so we need to depend on our heavenly
Father, Jehovah. If we ask him to
help us serve him more fully, we can
have confidence that he will do so. May
we never feel that we are a bother to
him! Instead, in prayer let us praise him,
thank him, seek his direction especially
when under trial, and ask that he help
us to serve him in ways that glorify his
holy name.—Ps. 86:12; Jas. 1:5-7.
COMMENTS
I wonder why no time slips required for prayer?
Will God hear the prayers of non-jws? Or sinning jws, oh that’s right we are all sinners, no perfect people yet.
Though you may know that many in the congregation feel you are a bother.
Seek his direction = seeking the WTS direction
11. How do congregation meetings help us to
reflect God’s glory?
11 God has entrusted the care of his
precious sheep to “the faithful and discreet
slave.” (Matt. 24:45-47; Ps. 100:3)
The slave class is very interested in how
fellow believers are reflecting Jehovah’s
glory. Our appearance as Christian ministers
is adjusted at our meetings, even
as we might have a tailor alter our clothing
so that we look better. (Heb. 10:24,
25) Let us therefore be on time, for if
we customarily arrive late, we lose out
on at least some of the spiritual ‘tailoring’
needed to improve our appearance
as Jehovah’s servants.
COMMENTS
No proof and one scripture is not enough.
Our appearance is adjusted…is it the same in all congregations: only black shoes, no thin ties, no beards, hair length, double pierced ears, nail polish, open toe shoes, etc.
SPIRITUAL TAILORING???!!!
LET US IMITATE GOD
12. How can we imitate God?
12 If we are to reflect Jehovah’s glory,
we must “become imitators of God.”
(Eph. 5:1) One way to imitate Jehovah is
to adopt his viewpoint regarding matters.
Striving to live in any other way
is dishonoring to him and damaging to
us. Since the world that surrounds us is
under the influence of the wicked one,
Satan the Devil, we must work hard to
have a hatred for what Jehovah hates
and a deep love for what he loves. (Ps.
97:10; 1 John 5:19) We need heartfelt
conviction that the only proper way to
serve God is by doing all things for his
glory.—Read 1 Corinthians 10:31.
COMMENTS
But if we can’t have the mind of God, imitating Christ would be best, at least we was a human with the same physical limitations.
Adopt his viewpoint = rather the WTS viewpoint of the moment
All non-jws are under the control of Satan then? Not jws…
13. Why must we hate sin, and what will this
move us to do?
13 Jehovah hates sin, and so should
we. Indeed, we ought to move as far
away from wrongdoing as possible and
not see how close we can get to it without
being overcome by sin. For instance,
we need to guard against succumbing
to apostasy, a sin that would make us
unfit to glorify God. (Deut. 13:6-9) Let
us therefore have nothing to do with
apostates or anyone who claims to be
a brother but who is dishonoring God.
This should be the case even if he is a
family member. (1 Cor. 5:11) We are not
benefited by trying to refute the arguments
of apostates or those who are critical
of Jehovah’s organization. In fact,
it is spiritually dangerous and improper
to peruse their information, whether
it appears in written form or it is found
on the Internet.—Read Isaiah 5:20; Matthew
7:6.
COMMENTS
Notice it doesn’t say God hates SINNERS. But the WTS gets around that by using this scripture.
(Psalm 139:21,22)21 Do I not hate those who are intensely hating you, O Jehovah, And do I not feel a loathing for those revolting against you? 22 With a complete hatred I do hate them. They have become to me real enemies.
*** w93 10/1 p.19 par.15***
(Psalm 139:21, 22) It was because they intensely hated Jehovah that David looked on them with abhorrence. Apostates are included among those who show their hatred of Jehovah by revolting against him. Apostasy is, in reality, a rebellion against Jehovah. Some apostates profess to know and serve God, but they reject teachings or requirements set out in his Word. Others claim to believe the Bible, but they reject Jehovah’s organization and actively try to hinder its work. When they deliberately choose such badness after knowing what is right, when the bad becomes so ingrained that it is an inseparable part of their makeup, then a Christian must hate (in the Biblical sense of the word) those who have inseparably attached themselves to the badness. True Christians share Jehovah’s feelings toward such apostates; they are not curious about apostate ideas. On the contrary, they “feel a loathing” toward those who have made themselves God’s enemies, but they leave it to Jehovah to execute vengeance.—Job 13:16; Romans 12:19; 2 John 9, 10.
14. When working to reflect God’s glory, what
quality should stand out in us, and why?
14 Displaying love is an outstanding
way for us to imitate our heavenly Father.
Yes, like him we should be loving.
(1 John 4:16-19) In fact, the love we
have among ourselves identifies us as
disciples of Jesus and servants of Jehovah.
(John 13:34, 35) Although our inherent
sinful state may sometimes get
in the way, we must push it aside and
prove to be loving at all times. Cultivating
love and other godly qualities will
prevent us from doing unkind and sinful
things.—2 Pet. 1:5-7.
COMMENTS
DISPLAYING love is what is necessary not words without meaning as in James 2:15.
I remember jws that would place magazines with adultsas children stood there in rags, unnaturally thin.
I remember a brother that Jesus loved John more than the others, so he could love others at the KH less.
*** w88 10/1 p.11 par.6***
On the pretext that the Scriptures allow for our having warmer feelings for some brothers than for others, are we inclined to rationalize our feelings? (John 19:26; 20:2) Do we think we can express a cold, reasoned “love” to some because we have to, while we reserve warm brotherly affection for those to whom we are attracted? If so, we have missed the point of Peter’s exhortation.
15. How does love affect our relationship with
others?
15 Love makes us want to do good
things for other people. (Rom. 13:8-10)
For example, love for our spouse will
keep the marriage bed free of defilement.
Love for the elders, coupled with
respect for their work, will help us to
be obedient and submissive to their
direction. Children who love their parents
obey and honor them and do not
speak negatively about them. If we love
our fellow humans, we will not view
them as inferior or speak to them disrespectfully.
(Jas. 3:9) And elders who
love God’s sheep will treat them with
tenderness.—Acts 20:28, 29.
COMMENTS
Do or did you get the feeling that the people at the KH wanted to do good for others and felt they were a hindrance, responsible for their own problems?
What examples do elders set in the WTS, are they less likely to have marriage problems?
What is the work of elders, paperwork rather than practical help?
In an organization that allows parents to physically disciple small children, what kind of loving treatment can the rank and file expect as adults?
Did the elders speak respectfully to the rank and file; what about behind their back amongst other elders and in God’s hearing?
16. How will displaying love help us in our
ministry?
16 The quality of love should also
stand out in our ministry. Because of
our profound love for Jehovah, we will
not allow ourselves to be swayed by the
apathy or negative response of some
householders. Instead, we will keep
on preaching the good news. Love will
move us to prepare well and to endeavor
to be effective in the ministry. If we truly
love God and our neighbor, we will not
view the Kingdom-preaching work as a
chore or a duty. Instead, we will consider
it a great privilege and will carry it
out joyfully.—Matt. 10:7.
COMMENTS
Do jws see non-jws as people God loves or will soon destroy?
Do “householders” respond apathetically because jws put little effort into how they prepare their “spiritual food”?
How much time to jws eagerly spend on recreation compared to preaching, say tv viewing? How much effort do the put in coming back and continuing their conversations with a view of converting someone, saving their life, which tv viewing will never do?
KEEP ON GLORIFYING JEHOVAH
17. Why do we benefit from acknowledging
that we fall short of God’s glory?
17 The world in general is not conscious
of the seriousness of sin, but we
are. This makes us aware of the need
to fight against our sinful inclinations.
Acknowledging our sinful nature allows
us to train our conscience so that it will
move us to act properly when an urge
to sin begins to develop in our mind
and heart. (Rom. 7:22, 23) True, we may
be weak, but God can strengthen us to
do what is right in any situation.—2 Cor.
12:10.
COMMENTS
So no one, not even those the WTS calls so-called Christians are not conscious of the seriousness of sin?
(Luke 18:9-14) . . .But he spoke this illustration also to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who considered the rest as nothing: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.12 I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector standing at a distance was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward, but kept beating his breast, saying, ‘O God, be gracious to me a sinner.’14 I tell YOU, This man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man; because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted.”
18, 19. (a) What enables us to succeed in our
fight against wicked spirit forces? (b) What
should be our resolve?
18 If we are to glorify Jehovah, we
must also fight against wicked spirit
forces. Our God-given spiritual armor
enables us to do this successfully. (Eph.
6:11-13) Satan ceaselessly tries to rob
Jehovah of the glory that He alone
deserves. The Devil also continues to
make every effort to destroy our relationship
with Jehovah. But what a blow
it is to Satan when we and millions of
other imperfect men, women, and children
maintain integrity and glorify God!
Therefore, let us continue to laud Jehovah,
like the heavenly creatures who exclaim:
“You are worthy, Jehovah, even
our God, to receive the glory and the
honor and the power, because you created
all things, and because of your will
they existed and were created.”—Rev.
4:11.
COMMENTS
The WTS teaches that the devil targets jws especially. Thus many jws develop the “devil is after me” syndrome.
Not buying things at a garage sale (varies from individual jw to jw)
Millionns = only jws, the remainder of the 7 billion men, women, and children will be executed to never live again.
19 May it be our determination to
keep on glorifying Jehovah, come what
may. He surely rejoices that so many
loyal individuals are doing their very
best to imitate him and reflect his glory.
(Prov. 27:11) May our sentiments be like
those of David, who sang: “I laud you,
O Jehovah my God, with all my heart,
and I will glorify your name to time indefinite.”
(Ps. 86:12) How we long for
the day when we will reflect the glory
of Jehovah perfectly and can praise
him forever! This will be obedient mankind’s
joyful experience. Are you reflecting
the glory of Jehovah God now,
with the prospect of doing so throughout
all eternity?
COMMENTS
So many people = only jws
So David is the best example they can come up with, an adulterer, murderer, and caused the death of 70,000 innocent people?
PICTURE: Are you reflecting Jehovah’s glory
in these ways? (Notice nothing shows only a child but not helping anyone be warm and well fed)
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Glorify God = Glorify the WTS/FDS/GB
Next week, JEHOVAH IS A REVEALER OF SECRETS, but has he truly been revealing it to the WTS? What does their track record show? 1874, 1878, 1881, 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1935, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994?
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php
http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQCsVrGZNT
Love, Blondie