Such a strange reaction

by leaving_quietly 10 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  leaving_quietly

  Our cong. did something that goes against some people's personal feelings on a certain something. I won't reveal what... it doesn't matter. My wife, who was a bit put off by it, commented that "God wants us to do things, as the scripture says, 'not under compulsion, but willingly.'" I agreed, then commented: "Of course, that's not the context of that verse. That verse is about overseers serving, not about our personal feelings on things." Wow, did I get a reaction from that! She angrily said: "That verse can have many applications. Even the Society applies it to other things." I just smiled. I didn't even say the Society was wrong. She was visibly upset about me making that notation. I was genuinely surprised. I said: "Um, well... I didn't mean to cause an argument here... just pointing out the context of the phrase is all." The conversation ended there.

  What I really wanted to say was: "That being the case, I can make that verse mean anything I want. For example: God wants us to eat watermelons with gladness of heart. He want us to eat it, though, 'not under compulsion, but willingly.'" I didn't say that, but I sure wanted to. Look how the Society makes people blind to what the Bible really says!!!!
• 

  rip van winkle

  I agree. I always eat watermelon with gladness of heart.
• 

  DATA-DOG

  !!!!! I am going to tell my wife to render the marriage due willingly, and not under compulsion!!! LOL!! In my experience, a person has to really love truth and knowledge to accept correction. Very few dubs want to KNOW anything, they want to FEEL a certain way. Even the logical thinking ones have a real problem with context. Deciphering " context clues " was basic school reading back in my day.

  I bet it's 5th grade stuff now.
• 

  leaving_quietly

  LOL!

  I bet it's 5th grade stuff now.

  Or worse. Which reminds me... way OT here, but... I was thinking if a new Bible was coming out, would it be the "simplified edition"?
• 

  shadow

  what verse are you talking about? I'm sure there are verses that are not in the context you describe
• 

  leaving_quietly

  1 Peter 5:2: Shepherd the flock of God in YOUR care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly;

  It's the only verse in the NWT with this phrase. For context, I am now in the habit of looking at WHO is being talked to, WHO is talking, and WHAT is being talked about:

  In this case, Peter is talking, "the older men among you" is who is being talked to, and the subject is "shepherd the flock of God in your care".

  1 Pet 5:1-3:

  Therefore, to the older men among YOU I give this exhortation, for I too am an older man with [them] and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, a sharer even of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God in YOUR care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; 3 neither as lording it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock.
• 

  shadow

  1 Cor 9:7 Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
• 

  leaving_quietly

  To be fair, there is another verse that, if my wife had used it, would not have incurred my comment about the context as it would have been pretty close in this case.

  Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Cor 9:7

  EDIT: was typing this as you made your rely, Shadow

  EDIT 2: The point of the my OP here was the strange reaction of pointing out the context of a verse. It was almost in passing. I only stated it after I told her that I agreed with her point of view, and in a very non-chalant way. The angry reaction is what surprised me the most since I didn't point it out in anger... more of a side-note kind of thing.
• 

  DATA-DOG

  @ Shadow,

  According to the NWT there are 3 instances of compulsion.

  1) 1 Peter 5:2 " Shepherd the flock of God in YOUR care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly;.."

  2) Philemon verse 14 " But without your consent I do not want to do anything, so that your good act may be, not as under compulsion, but of your own free will. "

  3) 2 Corinthians 9:7 " Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
• 

  leaving_quietly

  I'd be surprised if anyone ever uses the verse in Philemon... I personally don't remember ever hearing that one at all. And, contextually, it would still have been out of place for our conversation last night. Thank goodness I kept my cool. Not to boast... that's not my intent here, but it just shows how a very small tidbit can set someone off. I'm making a real effort to not get angry or even to make any comments to make her angry. Thus, my surprise.