News in KM , dfd,

by happy man 69 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  HadEnuf

  From ignored_one's post on KM:

  "Matthew 18:17 also bear on the matter: "Let [the expelled ones] be to you as a man of the nations and as a tax collector." Jesus' hearers well knew that the Jews of that day had no fraternization with Gentiles and that they shunned tax collectors as outcasts. Jesus was thus instructing his followers not to associate with expelled ones."

  A good friend of mine countered this thinking with the thought that one of the criticisms the Pharisees had of Jesus was that he "eats with tax collectors and sinners." So was Jesus really saying to treat such a person the way the Pharisees would treat them? Shouldn't we as Christians be following Jesus' example in this case also? He must have frequently eaten with sinners, tax collector's, etc. in order to encourage them to leave their "sinful" way of life. He apparently did not shun them.

  "13. After hearing a talk at a circuit assembley, a brother and his fleshly sister realized that they needed to make adjustments in the way they treated their mother, who lived elsewhere and who had been disfellowshipped for six years. Immeditately after the assembley, the man called his mother, and after assuring her of their love, he explained that they could no longer talk to her unless there were important family matters requiring contact. Shortly thereafter, his mother began attending meetings and was eventually reinstated. Also, her unbelieving husband began studying and in time was baptized."

  The GB is certainly ignoring the fact that in many cases shunning of family members and friends does NOT lead to them returning to the organization, but rather to suicide or severe mental distress. I certainly know that this is true in my case when recently both my mother and sister decided that since I was no longer interested in the "truth" that they would not have anything else to do with me...and this even though I am neither disfellowshipped or disassociated. That has only strengthened my resolve to stay as far away as possible from this cultist organization but has also increased the depression that I have suffered from since my teen years.

  I believe it all to be nothing more than HOGWASH (whatever that may be!)
• 

  Room 215

  Ther really sad thing about this, as I've pointed out in earlier threads, that all this shunning business would vanish under the glare of ``new light'' if those bastards lost just one big shunning case in the courts with a big monetary damages award attached to the the verdict. You would see how fast articles urging ``balance'' and ``compassion'' in dealing with the wayward would appear in its aftermath.

  But, to their credit (I guess), the enlightened tolerance of the judicial system reveres reedom of religion, regarding it as sacrosanct, and their basic policy is to urge the prospective convert to exercise due diligence BEFORE he/she joins up. Otherwise he/she has only him/herself to blame for the consequences.
• 

  TheStar

  Bad Association asked:

  matty- are you certain it is the aug issue? how do you come about rec'ing it so early? I only ask as I may show up at the kh & cheerfully with huge grin boldly give a "HELLO!" to all in attendance, so was wondering the date they will be covering it- appreciated if you would possibly follow up with the date- thanks

  Matty or ignored one please answer BA's question. I'm also curious to know. This is very important to me for personal reasons. I need to see this article and know when it will be studied. Is it the August KM? Like BA, I ask because it seems too early for you guys to already have your August KMs. Please let us know.
• 

  Matty

  I did say what Month it was!

  It is in the August 2002 issue.

  I'm at work at the moment and I don't have a copy to hand. If nobody else does I will tell you the exact week it is studied tonight when I get home. Please bear in mind that there is a possibility that the United States edition could be different.
• 

  blondie

  I see that Matty lives in the UK and some of us live in Canada, Australia, US, etc. Each branch office prints the KMs in their own country. Some KMs may even have articles that don't appear in the others IF they pertain only to that country's field ministry issues. That is why in some countries served by different branch offices, the JWs get theirs earlier than in others. I don't think an article on DF'ing would appear in only one branch office's issue though. I just think is a matter of when each branch office prints theirs.

  In the US they are shipped through the mail and sometimes don't get to the PO until around the 25th of the month so the August 2002 KM won't reach the PO until July 25.
• 

  ItsJustlittleoldme

  Some KMs may even have articles that don't appear in the others IF they pertain only to that country's field ministry issues

  What, different spiritual food for different people? How can this be?
• 

  Matty

  Sorry about the delay, I just plain forgot! If I promise something like this again and don't deliver the goods, please feel free to e-mail me a reminder.

  As you can see below, the article is being studied in two parts, and is basically going to be in the same format as the Watchtower study. I think this is unprecedented for a service meeting item.

  If there is anyone here who isn't familiar with service meeting items, the articles are often done in a question-and-answer format, but questions are not printed in the Kingdom Ministry, the questions are worked out by the speaker. Sometimes the KM asks for specific paragraphs to be read, but it is rare that all paragraphs are asked to be read.

  August 2002 "Our Kingdom Ministry" Page 2

  Week Starting August 19

  18 min: "Displaying Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped."* (Paragraphs 1-8) To be handled by a well-qualified elder, using the questions that are provided. Have each paragraph read aloud by a brother who is a capable reader.
  Song 136 and concluding prayer.

  Week Starting August 26

  18 min: "Displaying Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped."* (Paragraphs 9-14) To be handled by a well-qualified elder, using the questions that are provided. Have each paragraph read aloud by a brother who is a capable reader.
  Song 125 and concluding prayer.

  Edited by - matty on 7 July 2002 8:36:50
• 

  blondie

  To justlittleoldme,

  What, different spiritual food for different people? How can this be?

  Yes, when I visited the Canadian branch, they explained that some issues regarding field service apply only to certain countries because the laws affecting it are different.

  For example, an article about a problem regarding trespassing laws could be different in the US compared to Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, etc., because the laws are different.

  Or there would not be an article on telephone witnessing in the UK KM because the laws are different than in the US.

  An article about mailing regulations might be different. Announcements about the conventions, assemblies, locations would be different.

  As to "new light" or "spiritual insight" articles, there would be no difference.
• 

  blacksheep

  I commented on this in another thread. Well, that I think explains some recent standoffish behavior on the part of my JW mom and sister. I've already pretty much called their bluff.

  Too bad they're sacrificing relationships with their infant grandchildren/neices and newphews.
  I can tell they haven't fully thought THAT one out. It'll be a cold day before I let them see THEM, while treated me like a leper.

  Tough times ahead mom/sis. The ball's in your court.
• 

  avengers

  Why did you have to post this KM? Dang dang dang. Now I have to clean up my monitor and keyboard.

  I don't think I ever had to barf this bad.