*** yb74 pp. 174-175 Part 2—Germany ***
DIVISIONS ADD TO THE HARDSHIP
Cut off from the brothers outside, those in the camps felt a great craving for spiritual food. New arrivals were questioned by the brothers to find out what had been published in The Watchtower. Sometimes the information was accurately conveyed, and sometimes it was not. There were also brothers who tried to use the Bible to set the date when they would be delivered, and, although the arguments were weak, some hopefully grasped at these “straws.”
During this time a brother who had an exceptional memory was put in Buchenwald. At first his ability to recall and to share with others the things he had learned was a source of encouragement to the brothers. But in time he became an idol, “the wonder of Buchenwald,” and his statements, even his personal opinion, were viewed as final. From December of 1937 until 1940 he delivered a talk every evening, about a thousand in all, and many of these were taken down in shorthand so that they could be mimeographed. Though there were many older brothers in the camp who were capable of giving discourses, this brother was the only one who did so. Any who were not in full agreement with him were referred to as “enemies of the Kingdom” and “Achan’s family,” to be avoided by the “faithful ones.” Almost four hundred brothers more or less willingly went along with this arrangement.
Those thus labeled “enemies” were also brothers who had been willing to risk their lives to promote Kingdom interests to the best of their abilities. They, too, had been put into the camp because of determination to prove their integrity, even to death. Some of them were not fully applying Bible principles, it is true. Yet when they sought to establish contact with the responsible ones so that they too could benefit from what spiritual food became available in Buchenwald, these viewed it as “beneath their dignity” to discuss matters.
Wilhelm Bathen from Dinslaken, who is still serving Jehovah, relates how he personally was affected: “When I realized that I too had been disfellowshiped I was so spiritually shaken and depressed that I asked myself how such a thing was possible. . . . I often got down on my knees and prayed to Jehovah that he should give me a sign. I asked myself if I were to blame for the situation and whether he too had disfellowshiped me. I had a Bible and I would read in it in the dim light and I found a great deal of comfort in the thought that this was coming upon me as a test, otherwise I already would have been destroyed, for this being cut off from the brothers was a tremendous pain.”
Thus human imperfections and an exaggerated view of one’s own importance, led to divisions among God’s people, resulting in severe tests for some.
Anyone Ever Read This? Ironic much?
by lambsbottom 12 Replies latest watchtower bible
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lambsbottom
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BU2B
They sure do like to see the straw but not the rafter dont they?
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AndDontCallMeShirley
"But in time he became an idol The Governing Body, known as “the wonder of Buchenwald,” Brooklyn, ....and his their statements, even his their personal opinion, were viewed as final."
"Any who were not in full agreement with him The Governing Body were referred to as “enemies of the Kingdom” apostates ... to be avoided by the “faithful ones” gullible worshipers of The Governing Body. Almost four hundred 7.5 million Jehovah's Witnesses brothers more or less willingly had no choice and went along with this arrangement."
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steve2
Only subservience to a man-made religion could cause such power plays. Pathetic - and a damning account of how quickly the tables will turn in this sort of human-obeying outfit.
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L3G
DCMS:
Thanks for the parallel!!!
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Apognophos
And the IsraelitesWitnesses said, "Where has our leader Mosesthe governing body gone? Let us make an image of our God, that we may worship it!" So this guy was their golden calf.
People who don't know anything other than high-control groups will naturally recreate them on their own in a vacuum.
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prologos
thank you for those comments. This spirit of entitlement, I am "God's Gift to men" syndrome is alive and well today and will ultimately do great damage to the wt who has appointed them.
thesad possibility is that there is no Jehovah (so says the fool) that listened and can be called upon to straighten out where WT deviated from Jesus' instructions:
Do not rule over them the way the nations do.
but they do.
what rimes with do?
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Listener
Wilhelm Bathen from Dinslaken, who is still serving Jehovah, relates how he personally was affected: “When I realized that I too had been disfellowshiped I was so spiritually shaken and depressed that I asked myself how such a thing was possible. .
It was possible because Judge Rutherford wasn't going to allow anyone to become more idolized than himself.
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Crazyguy
Great Find!!!!
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stillin
Well, there was no governing body in 1974, when that yearbook was published. There was actually some balance regarding idols in the congregation. If a speaker was too flashy he was gently reminded to focus his talk less on himself.
But I guarantee that this passage from the yearbook won't be covered in one of those service meeting parts anytime in the future! If it ever is we would witness cognitive dissonance at its' best/worst.