WT COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE 11-10-02 WT STUDY
KEEP PRACTICING THE THINGS YOU HAVE LEARNED PHILIPPIANS 4:9
Philippians 4:9 NWT
The things that
YOU learned as well as accepted and heard and saw in connection with me, practice these; and the God of peace will be with you.
Introduction
When I see a theme scripture, I first try to imagine what is going to be discussed. Notice that the title is not even close to a direct quote of the scripture as previous ones have been. Paul is saying that whatever the Philippians heard him teach and accepted, it was because they saw him living what he preached. He was admonishing them to practice what THEY preached.
One Bible commentary says, "Observe, Paul's doctrine and life were of a piece. What they saw in him was the same thing with what they heard from him. He could propose himself as well as his doctrine to their imitation. It gives a great force to what we say to others when we can appeal to what they have seen in us."
The introduction starts out on that note. After quoting a secular source that seems to say that more people go to church but morality is not gaining ground, the WTS says, "Many people who say they accept the Bible and are religious are not letting the Scriptures exert any real influence in their life." Then another secular source, "we still hold the Bible in high regard, but in terms of actually spending time reading it, studying it and applying itthat is a thing of the past." No examples or specifics are quote from the secular source. It is presented by the WTS as a given because a secular source said it which is typical (later in this article the media and worldly sources are demonized as unreliable liars).
But, of course, the WTS says with "genuine Christians (translate to JWs), the situation is different. The application of counsel from Gods Word has brought about changes in their thinking and conduct." "For the followers of Jesus, the Bible is not an unused book that gathers dust on a shelf." This is an amazing comment from an organization that has had to admonish members to look up the Scriptures when invited to at the meetings and has had to direct members to start using the Bible in the field ministry.
But now they steer us away from Pauls point in Philippians 4:9 that he practiced what he preached and his fellow Christians should also to the real point they are making in this article. The WTS says that is not easy to put these things into practice because we live in a wicked world controlled by Satan. "It is essential to be on guard against anything that would hinder us from pursuing a course of integrity to Jehovah God." And what are these hindrances? First, "loyally upholding true worship, despite opposition from unbelievers."
HOLD TO "THE PATTERN OF HEALTHFUL WORDS"
The WTS admonishes, "Our discipleship cannot be a mere phase of our life or a passing devotion that can be here today and gone tomorrow." This seems to imply that those leaving are new ones but the reality is that long-time JWs are fading away; elders are stepping aside at a WTS reported rate of 25% a year.
Then the WTS uses a phrase from 2 Timothy 1:13, "the pattern of healthful words that you heard from me (Paul)" Using the illustration of a pattern referring to an artists sketch the WTS says "such a representation has well-defined boundaries to that a discerning viewer can perceive the overall picture."
The application by the WTS, "Similarly, the pattern of truth that Paul taught Timothy was not designed to give a specific answer to every conceivable question (and what is the WTS hinting here?). Yet, this body of teaching (I thought it was the pattern of healthful words. Ever hear of the "full range of Christian truth"?) provides sufficient guidance, an outline, as it were, so that honesthearted ones can perceive what Jehovah (translate WTS) requires of them.
WT 1/15/96 page 12 Mankind Needs the Knowledge of God
We need to keep this pattern of healthful words in mind and heart. If we are to avoid figurative heart trouble and remain spiritually healthy, we must apply the Bible in life and put to full use the spiritual provisions God is making through "the faithful and discreet slave."
Now we jump right into the apostate theme. "Hymenaeus, Alexander and Philetus were advocating ideas that did not fit "the pattern of healthful words. How could the early Christians avoid being led astray by? By carefully study the inspired writings and applying them in their life." They would then be "able to recognize and reject anything that did not conform to the pattern of truth they had been taught." And what is the measuring rod? The Bible, not the WT or any WTS publication. And it doesnt have to be the NWT; any Bible can be used. After all, how did JWs before 1950 measure the truthfulness of what they were taught? There was no NWT.
Yes, these ones are "mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words." What words are those that the WTS speak of today? Not these words. What is child abuse? Should it be reported to the police? Exactly what is a blood fraction? What about alternative service? What is a generation? Did the great tribulation start in 1914 and was interrupted in 1918 to start up again at a later date? What about transplants? Will the people of Sodom and Gomorrah be resurrected? Who are the "superior authorities"? Did Jesus start reigning in 1874 or 1914?
REJECT "FALSE STORIES"
Now the gloves are off. "Its all apostate lies. The media is lying." "Sowing doubts" is from Satan. Hasnt the WTS sown doubts itself by hiding the truth about the topics above? Hasnt the WTS tried to rewrite history?
"Apostates and others use the media to spread distorted information or even outright lies about the methods and motives of Jehovahs people." Jehovahs people or only certain select ones with authority such as the elders, COs, DOs, Bethel staff, and GB?
"What were these false stories (in Pauls time)?" "Perhaps (a buzzword used by the WTS which means the Bible does not say but we have special insight and know what God left out) Paul had in mind fanciful legends such as those found in the apocryphal book of Tobit. False stories may also have included sensational and speculative rumors (about what I wonder, child abuse, military cards, simplification, close association with the UN). And here it is, the real reason everyone leaves "the truth", "endorsed a permissive view of Gods standards or who were critical of those taking the lead in the congregation." Yes, "some evidently preferred falsehoods over the truths of Gods Word." Yes, the elders lie to the congregation, people take exception, and leave because they preferred falsehoods?!
What are the "false stories" today? "The media often promote immorality," "Many people encourage agnosticism or outright atheism," "Higher critics ridicule the Bibles claim to divine inspiration."
What is missing? What about the WTS affiliation with the UN, what about the mishandling and concealing of child abuse cases, what about the blood stance in Bulgaria or other medical flip-flops such as transplants and immunizations, what about the doctrinal flip-flops about alternative service, superior authorities?
Yet the WTS invites, "test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world (1 John 4:1). But dont test the WTS because they are from God and we know that because they say they are from God. The "apostates" and "media" dont purport to be from God after all they are promoting "agnosticism or outright atheism." Who is saying they originate with God, the WTS! Certainly any testing should start with "their inspired expressions."
WT 10/1/82 page 27 Be as Men Who Are Facing Har-Magedon UnafraidIn behalf of such individuals who at heart seek Gods rule instead of mans rule, the "prophet" whom Jehovah has raised up has been, not an individual man as in the case of Jeremiah, but a class. The members of this class are, like the prophet-priest Jeremiah, wholly dedicated to Jehovah God through Christ and, by the begettal of Jehovahs holy spirit, they have been made part of "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession." (1 Peter 2:9) At this late date there is a mere remnant of this "prophet" class yet on earth. The "war of the great day of God the Almighty" at HarMagedon could not start before this composite "prophet" ends his work.Holy Spirt pages 148-9 8 "Spirit of Life from God Entered into Them"
The announced purpose behind Gods pouring out of his spirit upon all sorts of flesh was that the recipients thereof might prophesy. The facts substantiate that the remnant of Christs anointed disciples have been doing that prophesying to all the nations for a witness in favor of Gods kingdom. Logically, then, they must be the ones upon whom Gods spirit has actually been poured out. That spirit is behind their worldwide preaching. Why argue about it?
The WTS says, "keeping testing whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5). But notice what we should test "whether we are adhering to the body of Christian beliefs." We already say them use the phrase "body of teaching." Inactive ones beware because it is phrases like these that the visiting elders will use to trap you into an admission of apostasy. Because it is the "body of Christian beliefs" as taught by the WTS/FDS.
The WTS asks, "Have we been hurt by the words or actions of someone? If so, are we keeping things in proper perspective? Any tribulation we face in this system of things is temporary?
Should we ask an abused child to keep things in proper perspective and that their tribulation is temporary? Should we ask a brother who spent years in prison and lost his civil rights after becoming a felon, that he shouldnt be hurt because now brothers can "accept" alternative service? Should we tell a sister who was disfellowshipped because she didnt scream during her rape that things will work out in the end for her? Can we tell a husband who lost his wife because they refused a transplant because it was forbidden between 1967 and 1980 by the WTS, that they should have joy that it will not happen to others because the WTS reversed its decision in 1980 (after all there is the resurrection)?
The WTS asks, "Even if we experience some trial in the congregation, why should we quit serving God?" Does leaving a corrupt congregation mean we have left God? Was God there in the first place? No.
The WTS continues, "If we are upset over something, is it not far better to do what we can to resolve the matter and leave it in Jehovahs hands."
The truth is "do what the WTS allows you to do to resolve the matter."
Now the WTS brings out the big guns. "Instead of questioning Gods Word (the WTS actually puts their words on the same plane as Gods), how much wiser it is to have the attitude of the first-century Beroeans who examined the Scriptures closely!"
Notice how the WTS has applied this scripture in the first quote compared to the second.
WT 1/15/89 page 6 Are You Open to New Ideas?That we should be selective about accepting new ideas. We would do well to imitate the Beroeans by "carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things [taught by Paul] were so." (Acts 17:11) Rather than blindly accepting every new idea presented to us, we need to do careful and exact research, just as a judge would in hearing a legal case.But during the apostate wars in 1980 and 1981 the application is:WT 2/15/81 pages 18-19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible?
ANOBLE-MINDEDVIEW How shall we view the spiritual food provided by this "faithful and discreet slave"? Should it be viewed criticallyOh, well, it might be true but then again it might not be and so we have to scrutinize it very critically? Some apparently have felt that way about it. To support their way of thinking they have quoted Acts 17:11, But does this mean that those Beroeans were looking for flaws in the message they were hearing, or that their attitude was one of doubting? Does this set a precedent for regarding critically the publications brought forth by the "faithful and discreet slave," with a view to finding fault? Not at all!
"Then there is another type of false story, sensational tales circulate, often means of E-mail." Here the publishers need no help from the "apostates." Who didnt know the person(s) in the congregation that had a direct pipeline to Bethel through a family member or friend? They would send typed accounts of what was said at the breakfast table, reports at lunch from branch overseers, and the general scuttlebutt. It might be experiences or news bits said by Bethel speakers who visited their congregation or at assemblies and conventions.
"Even if an experience or story was sent by a reputable Christian (what is a disreputable Christian?), that individual may not have firsthand knowledge of the facts (only the WTS has all the facts!). What about the story about the man with the Ph.D. that preferred working at MickeyDs? I wonder if that was carefully checked? The WTS continues, "It is important to be cautious about repeating or forwarding unverified accounts." Long before e-mail there was snail mail and phones which was the medium JWs used to pass on these "unverified accounts."
The WTS is worried big-time about information on the UN, child abuse, and blood issues that are easily verifiable.
And they conclude this section with this amazing statement, "Since we also have an obligation to speak truthfully to one another (do not include the WTS or their representatives in this statement, they are allowed to lie because is part of theocratic warfare or strategy), we are acting wisely by avoiding anything that would cause us to even unwittingly spread untruths."
POSITIVE RESULTS OF PRACTICING THE TRUTH"Practicing what we learn through personal Bible study and Christian meetings will bring many benefits." And what might that be, "For example, we might find that our relationships with those related to is in the faith improve." Only "might"?
Now they zero in on young people and "personal study of the Bible and Christian (what happened to Bible-based) publications as well as by regular presence (in body only) at congregation meetings." But more importantly after giving an experience (that Im sure the WTS properly verified, not), they say "How Jehovah must rejoice when young ones who practice what they have learned muster up courage to witness at school!"
The WTS continues with this correct statement, too bad they dont apply it to themselves. "Dishonesty can ruin our relationship with others, and more important with Jehovah himself." So the WTS dishonesty with their members puts their status with God on shaky ground. Some of their members may be honest but doesnt prove the WTS is honest. That is why the WTS has "secret" books for the elders and letters sent to them with information that only the elders see.
CONTINUE PRACTICING WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNEDAnd what have we learned with this article?
That the WTS is concerned about the information JWs are getting from the internet and media. The picture they paint is that no information is reliable unless it is directly from the WTS. All other sources, even so-called reputable Bethelites, are unreliable. I found it noteworthy not once did the WTS mention any specific topics that are really being publicized by the "apostates." It reminds me of the story about the elephant in the living room.
Bobby: "Psssst. Don't tell anyone. It's our secret! There's an elephant in the living room, but we're pretending it's not really there and it's not really an elephant." Billy: "But it smells and it's enormous!" Bobby: "Just ignore it. Maybe it will go away."
Pictures
Page 18
A white, balding man about 40 contemplates; a computer screen, TV screen with a interview show on it (obviously staged with JWs), and letters in the background
Caption: Seeds of doubt can be sown by the media, through the Internet, and by modern-day apostates (as if the WTS does sow enough doubts with their untruths)
Page 19
A young, white man at a computer printing off material
Caption: It is unwise to circulate unverified reports (does that include newspapers stories?)
Page 20
A white woman and her daughter purchasing items at a store (obviously staged with a Bethelite young brother grinning from ear to ear. I went to Subway the other day and the young woman behind the counter had a ring in her lip. Ouch! You can tell Im an old fogey)
Young black brother reading to his teacher in school
Caption for both: At work, at school, and elsewhere, Jehovahs Witnesses apply what they read in Gods Word (obviously they dont know the sister I work with. She has a reputation for being the laziest worker yet she posts Bible scriptures in her work area and newspaper clippings about assemblies.)
Edited by - Blondie on 5 November 2002 23:1:55