WT Comments You Will Not Hear at the 3-30-03 WT Study

by blondie 26 Replies latest watchtower bible

• 

  blondie

  WT COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE 3-30-03 WT STUDY

  February 15, 2003

  WTS quotes will be in red

  ; reviewer’s comments in black or in parentheses

  WHY OBSERVE THE LORD’S EVENING MEAL?

  1 Corinthians 11:23

  1 Corinthians 11 (MSG)

  
  23 Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord's Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread.

  This week’s lesson and next’s are obligatory by the WTS to prepare the rank and file for the Memorial of Christ’s death on April 16. There are only 3 Sundays left before that day. The outline for April 16 will contain exactly the same information only condensed into 45 minutes. The WTS is so afraid that someone will partake by mistake. I always ask myself why they use the account in 1 Corinthians rather than the account of Jesus and his disciples.

  "KEEP DOING THIS"

  I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you.

  How does the WTS explain this statement by Paul?

  Although Paul was not with Jesus and the 11 apostles in 33 C.E., he surely learned from some of the apostles what happened on that occasion. Furthermore, Paul evidently got confirmation of aspects of that even by inspired revelation

  .

  WHY IT WAS INSTITUTED

  First,

  Jesus’ death in faithfulness proved Satan’s contention that humans serve God only out of selfish motives to be false.

  Second,

  To remind us that by means of his death as a perfect, sinless human, Jesus ‘gave his soul a ransom in exchange for many.’

  The WTS teaches that Jesus is only the mediator for the anointed. Does the ransom then only apply to the anointed?

  Yet not to leave Jehovah out of the equation,

  Reminds us of the great love shown by both Jehovah and his Son

  OBSERVE IT WHEN?

  1 Corinthians 11 (NASB)

  
  26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes .
  

  What does the WTS teach about this? They used to teach that Jesus presence began in 1874?

  They also taught that the resurrection of the dead disciples began in 1881 and that the calling for new anointed ended then. Later they adjusted that to 1918.

  If so, why is the Memorial still celebrated in 2003?

  "Until he arrives," said Paul evidently meaning that these observances would continue until Jesus’ arrival (1918) to receive his anointed followers into heaven by a resurrection during his "presence" (now considered to be 1914).

  So why does it continue?

  Next, the WTS explains why it is celebrated only once annually. It may be my JW upbringing, but I figure that the Passover was the model for the Memorial and it is celebrated only once a year and on Nisan 14.

  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BREAD

  Apparently, then, the breaking of the Memorial bread has no spiritual significance.

  "Apparently" means there is no scripture to back this up but the WTS has spoken.

  Unleavened bread signifies the sinlessness of Jesus body.

  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WINE

  I can accept that it must have been fermented wine. Grapes ripen in the fall, are crushed and naturally ferment and would have been fermented for sure by spring. Jesus used the wine that was present during the Passover.

  The WTS is so careful to have the right kind of wine. This is a gnat thing while they gulp down the camel of unkindness to many in the congregations.

  THE MEMORIAL—A COMMUNION MEAL

  More than one cup can be used to allow the wine to be passed in a reasonable time.

  And this warning is given:

  Avoid filling a cup to the point that there is danger of spilling wine.

  Right up there with not saving seats and wearing baggy pants at the conventions.

  And then around 150 to 200 people will meet to pass the wine and the bread for none to eat or drink and to listen to a talk that is aimed at the anointed and the other sheep feel like uninvited guests at a party.

  Conclusion

  There is such precision to the table, the flowers, the cups, the plates, bread and wine at the Memorial. Every detail is so important. Yet, the people who come will be given a semblance of caring. Elders who have no time for you the other 51 weeks of the year, will suddenly become your best friend, introducing you to someone’s Bible student there for the first time. Yes, the congregation must give the appearance of being "loving." Teenagers will be telling you how to park your car. Attendants will be trying to get you to find your seat rather than talking to people because it makes their life easier. Afterwards, congregations in the same area will compare grand totals to see who is having the most growth and is more spiritual.

  Next week, the WTS tries to stem the tide of the increased in anointed partakers. According to the plan, the number of the anointed is supposed to decrease as they die off. Many interesting comments by the WTS.

  I will not be going this year. It will be the first time in 50 years. I will be observing at home with my family, with those who truly love me and care for me. It will be the first time I will really have my heart into the event.

  Blondie
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  artful

  Thank you for these comments Blondie - this series of articles is very sickening.
  It's great to hear that you will really be observing the occasion this year, and not just participating in the annual plate and glass pass! Although my wife will be going and I will not (only my second time in 30 years - I missed last year as well), we have decided to observe this occasion together at home when she returns. Your comment summed up my feelings about this perfectly:
  "It will be the first time I will really have my heart into the event".
  Thanks
  Artful
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  Gopher

  Why go to this event, when over half of the talk is devoted to "who cannot partake of the emblems... and why they should not partake". Yawn, I heard that same spiel 30-plus times.

  And they do have some anal-retentive stuff in here, like "don't overfill the wine glass". Geez, don't they think the JW's can think for themselves??? OH YEAH -- they're TRAINED to NOT think for themselves. Statements like that are ludicrous. Why don't they also include statements like, "the servers should NOT spit in the wine -- that would be disgusting", or "the servers who have laced-up shoes should be sure to properly tie their shoes, so as not to trip unnecessarily over their shoes and thus spill the emblems", or "don't play frisbee with the bread plates".

  I always remembered how congregations compared attendance numbers with each other. This in direct violation of the Bible's reminder "do not be stirring up competition with each other".
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  Pistoff

  Great comments blondie.

  I read next weeks(not the one you reviewed) lesson some time ago, and found it to be some of the most offensive material I have read in a while; that is saying something, as I read a lot of WT material.

  When I grew up, we wondered aloud many times about how you would know if you were anointed. I have had feelings many times, ones I dismissed as emotionalism, of oneness with Jesus and powerful feelings of belonging. I ignored them as dangerous and mistaken.

  I can see how many partook, "mistakenly". When I was growing up, no one spoke badly of ones who then stopped, it was just a mistake.

  Of course, the society no longer looks at it that way, as next week will reveal

  THANKS blondie.
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  Azalo

  you guys have piqued my curiosity. so what are the consequences of partaking when you shouldn't and how do they possibly intend on judging who should and who shouldn't?
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  blondie

  hi artful,

  I missed last year as well

  And Armageddon did not come and catch you outside the ark!

  I'm glad you and your wife will observe together afterwards. Perhaps she will notice that it will have more meaning.

  You make me laugh, Gopher:

  Why don't they also include statements like, "the servers should NOT spit in the wine

  Yes, the WTS is anal-retentive, another word for controllling. I'm surprised they don't tell us how to wipe our b..t. But then the Bethel New Boys Book used to warn that Bethelites should "flush thoroughly."

  Yes, pistoff, I agree with this.

  I read next weeks(not the one you reviewed) lesson some time ago, and found it to be some of the most offensive material I have read in a while; that is saying something, as I read a lot of WT material.

  I get sick to my stomach even contemplating my review. I am going to start now and do a few paragraphs at a time, then vomit.

  As to partaking worthily, I wonder how many JWs know that the last 4 to 5 GB members started partaking after 1935 when the calling for the anointed was supposed closed?

  azalo, the elders responsible for counting those partaking are cautioned not to count people who start partaking now until a few years go by and they prove themselves. If you read the accounts of the early Christians in the Bible, you will find that they did not have to meet some stringent Christian qualifications other than having faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Paul had to counsel Christians many times to change their actions, but he never suggested that meant they were no longer anointed.

  Blondie
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  blondie

  I just found this. The "decreasing" of the anointed in number is supposed to be the sixth evidence that we are in the last days. The fact that they aren't decreasing makes them look foolish at the very least.

  1/15/00 WT p. 13 "Keep on the Watch"

  18

  Sixth, the number of genuine anointed disciples of Christ is dwindling, though some will evidently still be on earth when the great tribulation begins. Most of the remnant are quite elderly, and over the years the number of those who are truly anointed has been getting smaller. Yet, referring to the great tribulation, Jesus stated: "Unless those days were cut short, no flesh would be saved; but on account of the chosen ones those days will be cut short." (Matthew 24:21, 22) Evidently, then, some of Christ’s "chosen ones" will still be on earth when the great tribulation begins.
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  JeffT

  I really realized what a hollow ritual memorial is when I participated in communion for the first time in the spring of 1989. At our church we do so twice a month and it is a solemn but enjoyable event. They pass the bread and wine (actually grape juice - they don't want to stumble an alcoholic) and we hold it until everybody has been served, then partake together.
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  Maverick

  It appears to me like a showy display to 'prove' they are Christians. When in fact they act more like the Jews at passover than the first Century partakers. Jesus said to, "Do this in remembrance of me." But most J-dud just sit their like their watching some hokey cultural village show for tourists! According the Central Command these J-duds do not directly benefit from the Memorial. Only the FDS can save them! Buying new clothes and going out to dinner after is the Big Show! The FDS make a big push to get the numbers up, so they can prove God's blessing. It's realy pitiful if you think about it. Maverick
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  jgnat

  I have not come up with a witty response to this article yet. It sounds like the real horrors are next week. My happy thoughts go with you, Blondie, as you work on it this week. My honey has been proudly proclaiming all week that the Memorial is the only sacrament the WTS observes - the only one that Jesus commanded. You know, Christmas and Birthdays are all pagan made-up stuff. I asked, "Oh yeah, howcome you guys don't have foot-washing ceremonies? Jesus did that, too, you know."

  So howcome the WTS does not have foot washing ceremonies? And they better not get it backwards. The slave washes the feet of those he serves. And don't tell me that the "figurative" washing comes out once a week in published form. Where is the water? Where is the towel?