Comments You Will Not Hear at the 09-23-2012 WT Study (JULY 15, 2012, pages 27-31)(GATHERS FAMILY)
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“ONE JEHOVAH” GATHERS HIS FAMILY
‘I entreat you to observe
the oneness of
the spirit.’—EPH. 4:1, 3.
HOW WOULD YOU
EXPLAIN?
What is the purpose of God’s
administration?
How do we “observe the oneness
of the spirit”?
What will help us to “become
kind to one another”?
OPENING COMMENTS
Are the other sheep part of God’s family? How many jws would say yes and be wrong?
1, 2. What has Jehovah purposed for the earth and for mankind?
FAMILY. What does that word bring to your
mind? Warmth? Happiness? Working together
toward a common goal? A safe haven in
which to grow, learn, and share ideas? Likely it does
if you are part of a caring family. Jehovah himself is
the Originator of the family. (Eph. 3:14, 15) He purposed
that all his creatures in heaven and on earth
enjoy a sense of security, mutual trust, and genuine
unity.
COMMENTS
God’s family per the WTS bible stories:
2 nd oldest son, in charge of human family, lied to humans about God
Other sons left their home and family, not happy with their family, and went to earth, having a new family with human women, bred sons that were bullies and took control of the human family. Bible says 1/3 of all these sons left and were kicked out of home permanently in 1914.
The human family has been battling and killing each other for years, many in the name of God.
And at the various congregations of jws, the elders judge the members in various ways, worthy of material help or not, whether worthy of even small privileges, judged worthy of eternal destruction putting them outside the “family” until they grovel enough and long enough. BTW was David put on restrictions or did he continue to rule as king over Israel and was not restricted as to going to the temple or speaking to other Israelites?
Or the gossips by elders and rank and file……or the brother or sister that have not talked to you for years and refuse to talk about it, and you have no idea what your sin was, and the elders tell you to “wait on Jehovah.”
2 After they sinned, humans were no longer part
of God’s universal family, but Jehovah’s purpose
was not thwarted. He will make sure that the Paradise
earth will be fully inhabited with the offspring
of Adam and Eve. (Gen. 1:28; Isa. 45:18) He has
made every preparation to fulfill this purpose. A
number of these arrangements are brought to our
attention in the Bible book of Ephesians, which has
unity as its theme. Let us consider some verses from
that book and see how we can cooperate with Jehovah’s
purpose to unite his creation.
COMMENTS
How many jws realize that jws and the resurrected to earth will not become “sons of God” until the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ and they pass the final test? Whereas the anointed since 1918 upon death get immortal spirit bodies and go to heaven instantly where they rule as kings and priests over the angels and humans….no 1,000 year wait for them and are judged worthy of immortality without any character improvement.
THE ADMINISTRATION AND ITS WORK
3. What is God’s administration spoken of at Ephesians 1:10,
and when did its first stage of operation begin?
3 Moses told the Israelites: “Jehovah our God is
one Jehovah.” (Deut. 6:4) Jehovah’s actions and purpose
are harmonious. Thus, “at the full limit of the
appointed times,” God put into operation “an administration”—
that is, an arrangement for unifying all his intelligent
creatures. (Read Ephesians 1:8-10.)
This administration will carry out its objective in
two stages. The first stage prepares the congregation
of anointed ones for life in heaven under
Jesus Christ as their spiritual Head. This
stage began at Pentecost 33 C.E. when
Jehovah started to gather those who
would rule with Christ in heaven. (Acts
2:1-4) Since the anointed have been declared
righteous for life on the basis of
Christ’s ransom sacrifice, they readily
acknowledge that they have been adopted
as “God’s children.”—Rom. 3:23, 24;
5:1; 8:15-17.
COMMENTS
Do other bibles use the term “administration” at Ephesians 1:8-10 or in any other part of the bible?
http://www.preceptaustin.org/ephesians_19-10.htm
Notice that the anointed have already been adopted as “God’s children” but not the other sheep. They can only be God’s friend and are not part of God’s family.
4, 5. What is the administration’s second stage
of operation?
4 The second stage prepares those
who will dwell in Paradise on earth under
Christ’s Messianic Kingdom. The
“great crowd” make up the initial part
of this group. (Rev. 7:9, 13-17; 21:1-5)
During the Thousand Year Reign, they
will be joined by billions of resurrected
ones. (Rev. 20:12, 13) Imagine how the
resurrection will further demonstrate
our unity! At the end of the thousand
years, the “things on the earth” will be
subjected to a final test. Those proving
faithful will be adopted as earthly “children
of God.”—Rom. 8:21; Rev. 20:7, 8.
COMMENTS
Once again it takes 1,000 years for all non-anointed humans to qualify to be part of God’s family. Not so for the anointed…instantly upon resurrection, they become perfect worthy of immortality.
Abraham and other “ancient worthies” were deemed perfect upon resurrection on earth.
w 1/15/25 p.23
In what does the better resurrection of these faithful ones {ancient worthies} consist? Their awakening is to a better condition; and their resurrection brings them to a point where, the Scriptures show, they will be changed from human to spirit beings at the end of the Millenium. That will be a better resurrection, emphatically. Otherwise, how would they have a better resurrection than other men made perfect?
5 Both stages of God’s administration
are developing today—heavenly and
earthly. But as individuals, how do we
cooperate now with God’s administration?
COMMENTS
Who are God’s administration on earth per the WTS? How do individuals cooperate with it?
“OBSERVE THE ONENESS OF THE SPIRIT”
6. How do the Scriptures indicate that Christians
are to associate with one another?
6 The Scriptures indicate that Christians
must literally gather themselves
together. (1 Cor. 14:23; Heb. 10:24, 25)
That involves far more than just spending
some time together in the same
space, as is done by people who go to
a market or to a sports arena. Genuine
unity goes beyond that. We attain such
unity when we apply Jehovah’s instruction
and allow ourselves to be molded
by God’s holy spirit.
COMMENTS
Christians = today only jws are true Christians, the rest are professed or so-called.
Does this mean no more conventions at sports arenas?
Did Jesus emphasize unity or love was more important?
How many jws go to meetings and talk to the same people over and over?
7. What does it mean to “observe the oneness
of the spirit”?
7 Although Jehovah has declared his
anointed ones righteous as sons and the
other sheep righteous as friends on the
basis of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, personal
differences will arise as long as
any of us are alive on earth in this system
of things. (Rom. 5:9; Jas. 2:23) Otherwise
there would have been no need
for the inspired advice for us to continue
“putting up with one another.” How
is unity with fellow believers achieved?
We need to develop “complete lowliness
of mind and mildness.” Moreover,
Paul urges that we earnestly endeavor
“to observe the oneness of the spirit in
the uniting bond of peace.” (Read Ephesians
4:1-3.) Applying this counsel involves
yielding to the influence of God’s
spirit and allowing it to produce its
fruitage in us. That fruitage mends rifts
between individuals, in contrast with
the works of the flesh, which are always
divisive.
COMMENTS
While anointed righteous as sons…………!!!
!!!!other sheep righteous as friends!!!!
So jws aren’t to strive to get along with non-jw family, neighbors, workmates?
Hard to do when they can’t get along with FELLOW BELIEVERS
How often and to what degree can jws not get along and come under the IMPERFECTION umbrella?
8. In what sense do the works of the flesh
breed disunity?
8 Note how “the works of the flesh”
breed disunity. (Read Galatians 5:19-
21.) Fornication separates the one practicing
it from Jehovah and the congregation,
and adultery can cruelly separate
children from parents and innocent
partners from marriage mates. Uncleanness
affects a person’s unity with God
and with those who love him. One who
has attempted to glue two things together
knows that both surfaces must
be clean before a proper bond can be
forged. Engaging in brazen conduct
demonstrates total disregard for God’s righteous
laws. Each of the other works of
the flesh separates people from one another
and from God. Such conduct is
completely out of harmony with the personality
of Jehovah.
COMMENTS
So in the congregation(s) you attended was it fornication, uncleanness that caused problems? Or was it jealousy, gossip, yelling, fraud, stealing, lying, etc.?
So what is BRAZEN CONDUCT per this paragraph….could any jw name a specific sin…beyond adultery, fornication, uncleanness?
19 sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/198085/1/BOE-LTR-PDF-Brazen-Conduct
Shepherd the Flock (Elder’s Manual)
page 60
9. Brazen conduct, loose conduct: (Gal. 5:19)
The Greek word translated "brazen conduct," or
"loose conduct," is a·sel'gei·a. Strong's Greek Dictionary
uses very forceful terms to define it: "licentiousness;
filth[iness], lasciviousness, wantonness." The
New Thayer's Greek English Lexicon adds to the list
"unbridled lust, ... outrageousness, shamelessness,
insolence." Another lexicon defines a·sel'gei·a as conduct
that "violates all bounds of what is socially acceptable."
Rather than relating to bad conduct of a
somewhat petty or minor nature, "brazen conduct"
describes acts that reflect an attitude that betrays disrespect,
disregard, or even contempt for divine standards,
laws, and authority. Therefore, two elements
are involved in brazen conduct: (1) The conduct itself
is a serious violation ofJehovah's laws, and (2) the attitude
of the wrongdoer toward God's laws is disrespectful,
insolent.-w06 7/15 p. 30; w83 3/15 p. 31;
w73 pp. 574-576.
10. Though this is not an exhaustive list, brazen
conduct may be involved in the following if the
wrongdoer has an insolent, contemptuous attitude
made evident by a practice of these things:
• Willful, continued, unnecessary association
with disfellowshipped nonrelatives despite
repeated counsel.-Matt. 18:17b; 1 Cor. 5:11, 13; 2 John 10, 11; w81 9/15 pp. 25-26.
• Child sexual abuse: This would include fondling
of breasts, an explicitly immoral proposal,
showing pornography to a child, voyeurism, indecent
exposure, and so forth.
• Continuing to date or pursue a romantic
relationship with a person though not legally
or Scripturally free to marry, despite repeated
counsel and generally after a warning
talk to the congregation.-Gal. 5:19; 2 Thess. 3:6,
14, 15.
11. Evidence (testified to by at least two witnesses)
that the accused stayed all night in the
same house with a person of the opposite sex
(or in the same house with a known homosexual)
under improper circumstances.- If questions
are raised regarding Scriptural freedom to remarry,
see 12:12.
• Elders should use good judgment in assessing
the situation before forming a judicial
committee. Were the two persons alone together
all night? Is there evidence of a romantic
relationship? Are there understandable reasons,
such as an unexpected emergency, that caused
the situation?
• If there are no extenuating circumstances, a judicial
committee would be formed on the basis
of strong circumstantial evidence of por·neí'a.
• Depending upon the attitude of the accused,
there might even be evidence of brazen conduct.
Consider other examples:
• A married brother spends an inordinate amount
of time with his female secretary after work
hours but insists there is no romantic interest.
His concerned wife informs the elders, who give
him strong counsel. Later, when he claims to
be leaving overnight for a "business trip," his
Page 62
suspicious wife and a relative follow him to the
secretary' s home. They observe the secretary invite
him inside at 10 p.m. and continue watching
all night until he leaves the home at 7 a.m.
When the elders speak to him, he admits that
he spent the night alone with his secretary, but
he denies that he committed adultery. In such a
case, the elders have a basis to take judicial action
because there is strong circumstantial evidence
of por·neía and there may be elements
of brazen conduct. The innocent mate's conscience
may allow her to choose to divorce him
and remarry; the elders would not take action
against her for making this decision.
page 64
Other examples cited:
An entrenched practice of viewing, perhaps
for years, abhorrent forms of pornography
that is sexually degrading. Such pornography
may include sadistic torture, bondage,
gang rape, the brutalizing of women, or child
pornography. Brazen conduct would be involved
if the offender was promoting such material,
such as by inviting others to view it, thus
giving evidence of a brazen attitude.-w06 7/15
p.31.
9. How can we examine ourselves as to whether
we are “earnestly endeavoring to observe the
oneness of the spirit”?
9 Thus, each of us needs to ask himself:
‘Just how earnest am I in trying “to
observe the oneness of the spirit in the
uniting bond of peace”? How do I respond when
problems arise? Do I air my grievances
before a wide audience, hoping
to get support from several friends?
Do I expect the elders to intervene in my
behalf rather than my making real efforts
to restore a peaceful relationship?
Do I avoid others so as not to remind
them of whatever it is they have against
me, perhaps making sure there is sufficient
distance between us?’ Would
such actions show that we are acting
in harmony with Jehovah’s purpose to
gather all things together again in the
Christ?
COMMENTS
Do jws ask themselves or do they judge others in the congregation? Do the elders look in the mirror or do they determine who is worthy of special privileges in their meetings.
HOW DO I RESPOND WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE?
Happy because you caused them?
Do you run to the elder(s) that will support your position not matter what (married to their child, given them money, given them a talk at the convention…)
Do you tell all your friends your version before the facts are revealed?
Do I expect the elders to intervene, yes, yes, yes, especially if the elder is my husband or my best friend, or my father, or my son.
Are they individuals and families that have not talked to each other for years, not sat on the same side of the KH, gone to a book study at the same place, or in the same car group?
I know that all of us can think of one or more of situations.
10, 11. (a) How important is it to be at peace
with our brothers? (b)What actions will engender
peace and spiritual prosperity?
10 Jesus said: “If, then, you are bringing
your gift to the altar and you there
remember that your brother has something
against you, leave your gift there
in front of the altar, and go away; first
make your peace with your brother, and
then, when you have come back, offer
up your gift. Be about settling matters
quickly.” (Matt. 5:23-25) James wrote
that “the fruit of righteousness has its
seed sown under peaceful conditions
for those who are making peace.” (Jas. 3:
17, 18) Thus, we cannot maintain righteous
conduct in the absence of peace.
COMMENTS
Yes, they leave their gift and they GO AWAY, change to another book study, congregation, circuit. Quickly….just like God…let years go by, hundreds of years, thousands of years.
Yes, if jws don’t live what they preach, what they preach becomes hypocritical.
11 To illustrate, it is estimated that in
some war-ravaged countries, 35 percent
more land could be cultivated if the inhabitants
did not have to worry about
the presence of land mines. When a
mine is detonated, fields are abandoned
by farmers, villages are robbed of their
livelihood, and cities are deprived of
their food. In a similar way, our growth
in spiritual matters is hindered if we
have personal traits that could disrupt
peace with our brothers. But by being
quick to forgive and by working for the
well-being of others, we engender conditions
that result in true prosperity.
COMMENTS
So what land mines are found at jw congregations? Mistakes you made or people think you made 20 years ago will be repeated to every new person who comes. The pedophile brother whose proclivity has been concealed in 15 congregations. The brother who has defrauded his employees and the old jws he “invested” money for. The jealous sister/brother who has planting mines for years. The elder who yells at those needing adjustment in the back room. The elder who hits on all the good-looking sisters.
Quick to forgive: I remember the brother who secretly spit on the brother he hated for years as he lay in his coffin.
Picture:
Leaving his gift at the altar, he goes to make peace with his brother
12. How can elders help us to be united?
12 Furthermore, “gifts in men” can be
a real force for unity. They have been
given to help us to “attain to the oneness
in the faith.” (Eph. 4:8, 13)When elders
work along with us in sacred service
and offer perceptive observations based
on God’s Word, they assist us to make
progress in putting on the new personality.
(Eph. 4:22-24) Do you see in their
counsel Jehovah’s efforts to prepare you
for life in the new world under the rule
of his Son? Elders, do you try to readjust
others with that objective in view?—Gal.
6:1.
COMMENTS
CAN BE but most often are not because they are battling with each other for position.
Oneness in the faith???? As 2 elders call New York to get a ruling on whether sisters can have one or 2 pierced earrings in each ear and the winning elder acts like it was the winning touchdown.
So did the elders ever go with you d2d? Or did they say they had to work with their family on a Saturday morning and you saw them at the dry cleaners, the bank, and having coffee at 10:30?
“do you see in their counsel” words from God or only the publications, or “the Society says” or “the circuit overseer says”? How many had elders toss a photocopied article down on the table and say you should read it and your problem would go away? Do you see that it depends on what elder you ask, what congregation you go to, determines the counsel? Or whether it is a friend/family member as to what the counsel is?
So if the “new world” is going to be run by the elder bodies of today, will there be peace? NO!
“BECOME KIND TO ONE ANOTHER”
13. What would be the result if we did not
heed the counsel found at Ephesians 4:25-32?
13 Ephesians 4:25-29 identifies conduct
that we should specifically avoid.
This includes speaking falsehood, being
wrathful or lazy, and uttering rotten
speech rather than sayings that are good
and upbuilding. If a person were to fail
to heed this counsel, he would grieve
God’s spirit, for holy spirit is a force that
promotes unity. (Eph. 4:30) Application
of what Paul wrote next is also essential
for peace and unity: “Let all malicious
bitterness and anger and wrath and
screaming and abusive speech be taken
away from you along with all badness.
But become kind to one another, tenderly
compassionate, freely forgiving one
another just as God also by Christ freely
forgave you.”—Eph. 4:31, 32.
COMMENTS
Is it falsehood if you think the person is not entitled to the truth? = WTS definition of lying
Rotten speech = the elders whose mouths spewed words I never heard at work.
Wrathful = elders or other brothers who verbally abuse their wives and children
Lazy = brothers who fill an imaginary position while their wives raise their children
Jws who feel they have the authority to determine if people can be forgiven by God and Christ.
14. (a) What is suggested by the words “become
kind”? (b) What will help us to be kind?
14 The words “become kind” suggest
that at least to a certain degree, we may
not have been kind and that we may
need to improve. How appropriate that
we train ourselves to consider the feelings
of others ahead of our own! (Phil.
2:4) Perhaps something we are thinking
of saying would evoke a laugh or would
make us appear intelligent, but would
it be kind? Giving thought to this matter
in advance will help us to “become
kind.”
COMMENTS
So are somehow some jws 95% kind and others 45%?
Feeling of others ahead of your own = more than the gifts in men or the princess?
So what would make a person look intelligent—would God be fooled?
LEARNING LOVE AND
RESPECT IN THE FAMILY
15. To what facet of Christ’s dealings with the
congregation was Paul alluding at Ephesians
5:28?
15 The Bible compares Christ’s relationship
with the congregation to that
of a husband with his wife. This should
at once impress on us the direction a
husband should give and the love
and care he needs to exercise—as well
as the subjection the wife should manifest—
within the marital union. (Eph. 5:
22-33) When Paul wrote: “In this way
husbands ought to be loving their wives
as their own bodies,” about which “way”
was he speaking? (Eph. 5:28) His preceding
words drew attention to the way
in which “Christ also loved the congregation
and delivered up himself for it,
. . . cleansing it with the bath of water
by means of the word.” Indeed, to work
in harmony with Jehovah’s purpose for
gathering all things together again in
the Christ, a husband must be alert to
feed his family spiritually.
COMMENTS
So what did you see re brothers and their wives? Did they show kindness or were they told to view them as the “weak” one? Do husbands teach their children, do their children seen their actions and learn how to be Christlike, what does their father say to their mother in their hearing; how many abusive husbands are their at the KH?
16. What results when parents fulfill their
Scriptural responsibilities in the home?
16 Parents do well to remember that
they are carrying out an assignment
from Jehovah. Sadly, in the world today,
many have “no natural affection.”
(2 Tim. 3:1, 3) Countless fathers shirk
their responsibilities—to the dismay and
detriment of their children. But Paul
counseled Christian fathers: “Do not
be irritating your children, but go on
bringing them up in the discipline and
mental-regulating of Jehovah.” (Eph.
6:4) Where but in the family do children
form their first impressions of love
and authority? Parents who have taught
those lessons successfully have worked
in harmony with Jehovah’s administration.
By making our homes havens of
love where we put away all anger and
wrath and abusive speech, we are teaching
our children vital lessons about how
to show love and how to respect authority.
This will prepare them for life in
God’s new world.
COMMENTS
How many jws shirk their responsibilities…including helping raise young children, changing diapers, struggling to keep young children quiet at the meetings?
Is spanking a way to help children form first impressions of love and authority? So how many jws are spanked by the elders? Will there be spanking in the “new world”?
Do the parents respect authority at the KH or what do children hear about the failings of people at the KH?
17. What is needed in order for us to resist the
Devil?
17 We need to realize that the Devil,
the one who first disrupted universal
peace, will strongly oppose our efforts
to do God’s will. No doubt Satan’s
purposes are served as the divorce rate
soars, marriage is dispensed with in favor
of living together, and marriages between
homosexuals are tolerated. We
do not pattern our behavior or attitudes
after trends observed in modern society.
Christ is our model. (Eph. 4:17-21)
Thus, we are admonished to “put on the
complete suit of armor from God” to resist
the Devil and his demons successfully.—
Read Ephesians 6:10-13.
COMMENTS
Would you set a ravenous dog in a room with your child? But didn’t God?
The divorce rate is soaring in WT congregations….having the bible is no guarantee.
Christ is our model? So what children did he spank?
“GO ON WALKING IN LOVE”
18. What is the key to our Christian unity?
18 The real key to our Christian unity
is love. With hearts full of love for
our “one Lord,” for our “one God,” and
for one another, we are determined “to
observe the oneness of the spirit in the
uniting bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:3-6) Jesus
prayed about such love: “I make request,
not concerning these only, but
also concerning those putting faith in
me through their word; in order that
they may all be one, just as you, Father,
are in union with me and I am in union
with you, that they also may be in union
with us . . . And I have made your name
known to them and will make it known,
in order that the love with which you
loved me may be in them and I in union
with them.”—John 17:20, 21, 26.
COMMENTS
Love is the key but you have to use it? You have to put it in the lock, turn it, and open the door with the handle.
Ask yourself, if you imitate the WTS, will you be in union with God and Jesus? Or do you first determine what the WTS teaches and is it in union with God and Jesus?
19. What are you determined to do?
19 If we are experiencing inner conflict
on account of our imperfection, may
love move us to pray as did the psalmist:
“Unify my heart to fear your name.”
(Ps. 86:11) Let us be determined to resist
the Devil’s efforts to distance us
from our loving Father and those he approves.
Work diligently to “become imitators
of God, as beloved children, and
go on walking in love”—in the family, in
our ministry, and in the congregation.
—Eph. 5:1, 2.
COMMENTS
Are we experiencing feeling unworthy because we always hear at the KH that we don’t measure up? Does the WTS make the fence too high, a fence they don’t even use as a guide?
Those he approves = only jws
Remember that the other sheep can only be God’s friends, that it will take 1,000 years to measure up.
Picture:
Parents, teach your children to show respect (by showing respect to the “lowly” women, and children, and men with no status in the congregation)
CLOSING COMMENTS
Summer has ended. Why does the WTS use David as the model for jws to follow; why not John the Baptist, Priscilla, Timothy, Phoebe? None of them committed adultery and had a man murdered to cover up that sin.
Next week, I AM WITH YOU. Who is with us? What does Daniel 12:4 had to do with it? What scripture is being quoted? Is Jesus with us? Where is Jesus in the WTS agenda?
Matthew 28:20 New International Version (NIV)
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Love, Blondie