Comments You Will Not Hear at the 10-07-2012 WT Study (AUGUST 15, 2012, pages 11-15)(KINGDOM CITIZENS)(sorry this is late have been doctoring)
Review comments will be headed by COMMENTS
WT material from today's WT will be before COMMENTS
Quotes from other sources will headed by QUOTES or WT-CD format
w = Watchtower
g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
Bible translations www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
WT publications www.strictlygenteel.co.uk
WT child abuse www.silentlambs.org
Blood issue www.ajwrb.org
United Nations http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm
Also posted on
http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com
http://www.jwsupportforum.com/index.php
http://www.jehovahswitnessrecovery.com/
Research: excellent website www.jwfacts.com
CARRY ON AS KINGDOM CITIZENS!
“Carry on as citizens.”
—PHIL. 1:27, ftn.
OPENING COMMENTS
Footnote???? Will the WTS discuss why they could not put it in the main scripture?
Internet
Family Worship
Why capitalized?
Who are the rulers per the WTS?
Can the non-anointed be sons of God, when?
Can the anointed be sons of God, when?
START OF ARTICLE
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
Who can be Kingdom citizens?
What do we need to do regarding
the Kingdom’s language,
history, and laws?
How do Kingdom citizens show
that they love God’s standards?
1, 2. Why did Paul’s counsel to the congregation in Philippi
have special significance?
THE apostle Paul encouraged the congregation
in Philippi to “behave in a manner worthy of
the good news.” (Read Philippians 1:27.) The
Greek expression that Paul used for the word “behave”
may also be rendered “carry on as citizens.”
That phrase had special significance for the congregation
in Philippi. Why? Because it seems that Philippi
was one of a select group of cities where the
inhabitants had been granted a form of Roman citizenship.
Roman citizens in Philippi and throughout
the Roman Empire were proud of their status
and enjoyed special protection under Roman law.
COMMENTS
What is the Greek expression?
“it seems” where is the proof:
2 Members of the congregation in Philippi had
greater reason for being proud. Paul reminded them
that as anointed Christians their citizenship existed
“in the heavens.” (Phil. 3:20) They were citizens, not
of a mere human empire, but of God’s Kingdom. As
such, they enjoyed unparalleled protection and benefits.—
Eph. 2:19-22.
COMMENTS
Anointed Christians, their citizenship in the heavens (why only a snippet of Phil. 3:20?)
All Christians anointed in the first century…all citizens…is that true in the jw organization/congregations today?
3. (a) Who have the opportunity to be Kingdom citizens?
(b) What will we consider in this article?
3 Paul’s admonition to “carry on as citizens” applies
principally to those who will rule with Christ
in heaven. (Phil. 3:20) But by extension, it can be applied
to those who will be the earthly subjects of
God’s Kingdom. Why? Because all dedicated Christians
serve the same King, Jehovah, and must live
up to the same standards. (Eph. 4:4-6) Today, people
work hard to qualify to become citizens of a prosperous
country. How much more should we value
the opportunity to be Kingdom citizens! To deepen
our appreciation for that privilege, let us consider
some similarities between the requirements
for becoming a citizen of a human
government and a citizen of God’s
Kingdom. We will then examine three
things we must do if we are to retain the
honor of being Kingdom citizens.
COMMENTS
Applies PRINCIPALLY to those who rule in heaven with Jesus
BY EXTENSION…where does this extension originate in the bible?
All dedicated Christians = only jws
Same King, Jehovah, isn’t Jesus the king of the kingdom?
What a slam that people today only want to be a citizen for material reasons!
Retain = who decides that someone is “no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses” that is a kingdom citizen…God…Jesus…or 3 human males chosen by other imperfect humans males.
REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENSHIP
4. What is the pure language, and how do we
“speak” it?
4 Learn the language. Some human
governments require that those applying
for citizenship speak the dominant
language of the country. Even after being
granted citizenship, people may
strive for years to master the new language.
They may quickly learn the rules
of grammar but may take some time to
learn to pronounce the words correctly.
Similarly, God’s Kingdom requires that
its citizens learn what the Bible calls
the “pure language.” (Read Zephaniah
3:9.) What is that language? It is the
truth about God and about his purposes
as found in the Bible. We “speak”
the pure language when our conduct is
in accord with God’s laws and principles.
Citizens of God’s Kingdom may
learn basic Bible teachings quickly and
get baptized. Even after their baptism,
however, they must strive to “speak”
the pure language better and better. In
what way? Each of us needs to close the
gap between what we know about Bible
principles and what we practice.
COMMENTS
How many people born in a country speak the language correctly?
Who decides whether a male individual can have a beard or not? God? Or the elders?
Who decides whether a female individual must wear a skirt/dress at the KH?
How many laws did Jesus say God’s people had? TWO.
Servant or overseer
Servant or elder
Pilgrim or circuit servant…overseer
Congregation book study or congregation bible study
Rendezvouz---anyone remember that term?
Return visit – back call
Colporteur – pioneer
Approved associate – unbaptized publisher
Congregation servant – Presiding Overseer – COBOE
Add yours here
5. Why should we learn all we can about the
history of Jehovah’s organization?
5 Study history. A person desiring to
become a citizen of a human government
might have to learn something
about that government’s history. Likewise,
those desiring to be Kingdom citizens
do well to learn all they can about
God’s Kingdom. Consider the example
set by the sons of Korah, who served
in ancient Israel. They took great delight
in Jerusalem and its place of worship
and in recounting the city’s history.
It was not the stones and mortar that
impressed them most but what the city
and that place of worship represented.
Jerusalem was “the town of the grand
King,” Jehovah, for it was the center of
pure worship. It was there that Jehovah’s
Law was taught. It was to the people
ruled by the King of Jerusalem that
Jehovah expressed his loving-kindness.
(Read Psalm 48:1, 2, 9, 12, 13.) Like
them, do you have a desire to study and
recount the history of the earthly part of
Jehovah’s organization? The more you
learn about God’s organization and how
Jehovah supports his people, the more
real God’s Kingdom will be to you. Your
desire to preach the good news of the
Kingdom will naturally intensify.—Jer. 9:
24; Luke 4:43.
COMMENTS
How many citizens born in their country know their own history? I just saw a man who did not know when or where the Civil War was….4 generations in this country.
How many jws know the true history of the WTS? How many know where to find the history of the WTS? If the WTS had not assigned material from the Proclaimers book for the #1 talk in the school, how many then would have even read part of it?
1874 or 1914 the year of Christ’s presence?
See www.jwfacts.com
PICTURE: Like the sons of Korah, do you find delight
in pure worship and its history?
Were women or men allowed in this part of the temple? But boys were? Do you see a parallel in the congregation?
6. Why is it reasonable that Jehovah requires
us to learn and obey Kingdom laws and principles?
6 Know the laws. Human governments
require that their subjects learn
and obey the laws of the land. It seems
only reasonable, then, that Jehovah
should expect us to learn and obey
the laws and principles that govern all
Kingdom citizens. (Isa. 2:3; John 15:
10; 1 John 5:3) Human laws are often
flawed and may be unfair. In contrast,
“the law of Jehovah is perfect.” (Ps. 19:7)
Do we delight in God’s law and read
his Word each day? (Ps. 1:1, 2) The only
way we can learn God’s law is to study
it for ourselves. Nobody else can do this
for us.
COMMENTS
Obey the laws of the land…….transplant or not (before 1967 and 1980 and after)
Superior authorities
S&G resurrected
Cry out when raped or not
Human laws are often flawed?!!!!! In the WTS too because humans are making the laws not God.
Yes, study the bible but without the WTS publications.
*************
KINGDOM CITIZENS LOVE GOD’S STANDARDS
7. Kingdom citizens live by what higher standard?
7 To remain Kingdom citizens, we
need not only to know God’s standards
but also to love them. Many citizens
of human governments say that they
agree with the laws and standards of the
country in which they live. However,
when they find a requirement to be inconvenient
and feel that nobody is looking,
they break the law. Often, these
people are “men pleasers.” (Col. 3:22)
Kingdom citizens live by a higher standard.
We gladly obey God’s laws, even
when no other human is looking. Why?
Because we love the Lawmaker.—Isa. 33:
22; read Luke 10:27.
COMMENTS
Love the standards, not God?
Inconvenient laws…what WTS laws did you or do you know jws find “inconvenient”?
Do jws obey the WTS laws (or what they say are God’s laws) when no human is looking?
JEHOVAH HAS LEFT THE LAND AND HE IS NOT SEEING
8, 9. How can you know whether you truly
love God’s laws?
8 How can you know whether you
truly love God’s laws? Examine the way
you react when you receive counsel
about what you feel is a personal preference—
for example, on the matter of
dress and grooming. Before becoming
a Kingdom citizen, you may have preferred
to dress sloppily or provocatively.
As your love for God grew, you
learned to dress in a way that honors
him. (1 Tim. 2:9, 10; 1 Pet. 3:3, 4) You
may feel that you now dress modestly.
But what if an elder was to tell you
that your preference in attire is causing
serious offense to a number of publishers
in the congregation? How would
you respond? Would you become defensive,
resentful, or stubborn? A foundation
law of God’s Kingdom is that all
citizens imitate Christ. (1 Pet. 2:21) Regarding
Jesus’ example, the apostle Paul
wrote: “Let each of us please his neighbor
in what is good for his upbuilding.
For even the Christ did not please
himself.” (Rom. 15:2, 3) For the sake
of peace in the congregation, a mature
Christian is willing to yield without resentment
to the consciences of others.
—Rom. 14:19-21.
COMMENTS
So who gives that counsel, the elder who does not follow it himself; or counsels you with only one persons input, assuming you are guilty without talking to you?
Causing serious offense to whom? Matthew 18???????????? Could he have the wrong person? I was accused of a wrong and was not allowed to explain that I was not even in the country at the time for the person to have see me doing it.
For the sake of peace the WTS thinks you should be wronged.
9 Consider two more topics of vital
concern: our attitude toward sex and
our view of marriage. Those who are not
yet citizens of God’s Kingdom may condone
homosexuality, consider pornography
to be harmless fun, and think that
adultery and divorce are purely personal
matters. Kingdom citizens have abandoned
such shortsighted, self-centered
attitudes. Although many Christians
formerly had an immoral lifestyle, they
now view sex and marriage as gifts from
God. They treasure Jehovah’s high standards
and wholeheartedly agree that
those who continue to engage in sexual
misconduct are not worthy of being
Kingdom citizens. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) However,
they also recognize that the heart
is treacherous. (Jer. 17:9) So they appreciate
receiving specific warnings that
help them to maintain high moral standards.
COMMENTS
No homosexuality, pornography, but what does the WTS advise women whose husbands beat them? What is their view of marriage?
How many jws know that in the WTS past women/men could not divorce spouses that had same sex sexual partners or committed bestiality?
*** w72 1/1 31-2 Questions from Readers ***
Do homosexual acts on the part of a married person constitute a Scriptural ground for divorce, freeing the innocent mate to remarry?
While both homosexuality and bestiality are disgusting perversions, in the case of neither one is the marriage tie broken. It is broken only by acts that make an individual one flesh with a person of the opposite sex other than his or her legal marriage mate.
12/15/72 WT QFR this was reversed
KINGDOM CITIZENS APPRECIATE WARNINGS
10, 11. What timely warnings does God’s
Kingdom issue, and how do you feel about such
warnings?
10 Human governments may provide
health alerts regarding foods and medicines.
Obviously, not all foods and medicines
are bad. But if a specific product
poses a threat, the government may
issue balanced warnings to protect its
citizens. If the government did not do
so, it would be guilty of negligence.
Similarly, God’s Kingdom issues timely
warnings about specific moral and
spiritual dangers. For instance, the Internet
has become a useful way to provide
communication, education, and entertainment.
God’s organization makes
use of the Internet and accomplishes
much good with it. However, many sites
on the Internet are morally and spiritually
dangerous. Web sites that promote
pornography pose an obvious threat to
the spiritual health of Kingdom citizens.
For decades, the faithful slave class has
warned us about such sites. How grateful
we are for these spiritual health
alerts!
COMMENTS
BALANCED = what is unbalanced?
SPECIFIC moral dangers = see about divorce based on homosexuality/bestiality above
**What sexual behaviors are forbidden to jws married to each other? Has the WTS been consistent? If not, does that mean God was not consistent?
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/quotes/oral-anal-sex.php
Internet = why is this capitalized?
PORNOGRAPHY IS STILL A PROBLEM IN THE WTS DESPITE WARNINGS ONCE OR MORE TIMES EACH YEAR. WHY, BECAUSE THOSE JWS BELIEVE GOD IS NOT SEEING.
11 In recent years, another type of site
has become very popular—one that can
be useful if used with great caution. But
these sites, known as social networking
Web sites, also have the potential
for being destructive. They can expose a
person to bad associations. (1 Cor. 15:
33) Little wonder, then, that God’s organization
has issued balanced warnings
about the use of such sites. Have you
read all the recent material published
by the faithful slave about the use of
social networking sites? How unwise it
would be to use such sites without reading
that material!* It would be like taking
a powerful medicine without reading
the warning label on the bottle.
*For example, see Awake! July 2011, pages 24-27;
August 2011, pages 10-13; and February 2012, pages
3-9.
COMMENTS
What about jw websites? Does the WTS track them down and force them to take them down?
Have you searched on Facebook and found jws in your area?
How many people read the label?
12. Why is it foolish to ignore warnings?
12 Those who ignore warnings issued
by the faithful slave inevitably cause
harm to themselves and to their loved
ones. Some have become addicted to
viewing pornography or have committed
immorality and then deluded themselves
into thinking that Jehovah cannot
see what they are doing. How foolish
to believe that we can hide our conduct
from Jehovah! (Prov. 15:3; read Hebrews
4:13.) God wants to help such ones and
prompts his earthly representatives to
try to assist them. (Gal. 6:1) However,
just as human governments can revoke
the citizenship of a person who commits
certain acts, Jehovah will revoke the
citizenship of those who unrepentantly
break his standards.* (1 Cor. 5:11-13)
Nevertheless, he is merciful. Those who
repent and change their course of conduct
can regain a good standing with Jehovah
and remain as Kingdom citizens.
(2 Cor. 2:5-8) What an honor we have to
serve such a loving King!
*See The Watchtower of March 15, 2012, pages
30-31.
COMMENTS
Do the warnings come from God?
Faithful slave = God?
Rather, hide our conduct from the elders and WTS reps
What does a person have to do to have their citizenship revoked in the US?
http://www.newcitizen.us/losing.html
Lose citizenship in WTS = disfellowshipping, decided by the elders, reps of the WTS
PICTURE: Do you heed Bible-based warnings
about the Internet?
KINGDOM CITIZENS VALUE EDUCATION
13. How do Kingdom citizens show that they
value education?
13 Many human governments work
hard to educate their citizens. They organize
schools that promote literacy and
teach practical work skills. Kingdom citizens
appreciate these secular schools
and diligently learn to read, write, and
support themselves financially. They
value even more highly the education
they receive as citizens of God’s Kingdom.
Through the Christian congregation,
Jehovah promotes literacy. Parents
are encouraged to read to their young
children. Each month, the faithful slave
publishes a number of pages of Bible based
material in The Watchtower and
Awake! If you read a couple of pages
each day of the month, you will be keeping
up with this vital channel of Kingdom
education.
COMMENTS
Education is only to learn to read, write, and do math?
How many jws read the WTS publications? Who comments/ed in your congregation? Were they reading from the paragraph? How many jws can honestly say they have read the whole bible?
People seeking citizenship in the US or other countries have to know about the history…how many jws could tell you who Fred Franz or Nathan Knorr were?
Notice the WTS advises reading their material not the bible. Jws can’t understand the bible without the WTS/FDS/GB.
***w94 10/1 p.8***
CHANNEL TO UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE
JESUS assured us that after his death and resurrection, he would raise up a “faithful and discreet slave” that would serve as his channel of communication. (Matthew 24:45-47) The apostle Paul identified this channel to the Ephesian Christians when he wrote that “there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose that he formed in connection with the Christ, Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:10, 11) It was the congregation of anointed Christians, born at Pentecost 33 C.E., that was entrusted with the “things revealed.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) As a group, anointed Christians serve as the faithful and discreet slave. (Luke 12:42-44) Their appointed assignment from God is to provide spiritual understanding of the “things revealed.”
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.
14. (a) What training do we receive? (b) What
suggestions for Family Worship evening have
you enjoyed applying?
14 Each week, Kingdom citizens receive
training at their congregation
meetings. For example, the Theocratic
Ministry School has for over six decades
helped students to be effective teachers
of God’s Word. Are you enrolled in this
school? In recent years the faithful slave
has particularly promoted the weekly
Family Worship evening. This arrangement
strengthens the family unit. Have
you been able to apply the suggestions
published in our literature?*
*See The Watchtower, August 15, 2011, pages 6-7
and Our Kingdom Ministry, January 2011, pages 3-6.
COMMENTS
Jws hate doing talks; many avoid even being in the school and often cancel at the last minute. Many elders wives aren’t in the school.
With a script handed to the jw acting as the householder, is the student really learning to be an EFFECTIVE TEACHER or a parrot?
Family Worship = new term for the family study = fathers and some mothers rarely meet once a week. And now that bible study slips aren’t required, how do the elders know who is having this “privilege”?
15. What is one of the greatest privileges that
we have?
15 Citizens of human governments
will publicly rally support for a political
party, even going from door to door to
do so. On a much larger scale, Kingdom
citizens vigorously support God’s Kingdom both
on the street and from door to
door. In fact, as mentioned in the preceding
study article, The Watchtower,
which announces Jehovah’s Kingdom, is
now the most widely distributed journal
on earth! One of the greatest privileges
we have is that of telling others about
God’s Kingdom. Are you zealously engaging
in the preaching work?—Matt. 28:
19, 20.
COMMENTS
I can tell you that not one jw has called on us door to door, but in today’s political climate we have had 15 different individuals in the last year. Do jws think that their own lives and the lives of the people they talk to are at risk? If so, where is the zeal!
MOST WIDELY DISTRIBUTED: left in doors, Laundromats, hospital tables, etc. So how many doors, Laundromats or hospitals have become jws? You have to talk to people and when they are home, not weekdays or Saturday mornings when people are rarely home.
16. How can you prove that you are a good citizen
of God’s Kingdom?
16 Soon God’s Kingdom will be the
only government ruling the earth. It will
oversee all aspects of daily life, not only
spiritual but also civil. Will you be a good
citizen of God’s Kingdom at that time?
Now is the time to prove that you will be.
In all the decisions you make each day,
do all things for Jehovah’s glory and thus
prove that you are carrying on as a good
citizen of God’s Kingdom.—1 Cor. 10:31.
COMMENTS
SOON = 1879 to 2012 = 133 years and the end is not yet. 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, (1984), (1994) all years many jws were told the end was very, very near, on the threshold, fast-approaching.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/failed-1914-predictions.php
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/1800s.php
GOOD CITIZEN = only baptized jws in “good standing”
http://jwfacts.com/watchtower/salvation-only-for-jehovahs-witnesses.php
All others will be executed and will die eternally, no hope for a resurrection.
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Next week, BEWARE OF THE DEVIL’S SNARES. Can you think of the 5 without looking?
Love, Blondie
