COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE 4-13-03 WT STUDY
March 1, 2003, page 8
Red highlight indicates quotes from the Watchtower
Black and (parentheses) are reviewer statements.
‘BE COURAGEOUS AND STRONG!’
John 16:33
John 16 (MSG)
33 I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."
Introduction
The next 2 articles are designed to combat the fallout from the child abuse TV shows, Connie Chung and Panorama, as well as other issues such as the UN membership of the WTS as an NGO. The WTS spins these without directly mentioning them, as being an attack on the individual JW. With the TV, newspaper, and internet information, the WTS will be repeating this caution at assemblies and conventions, as well as CO visits. If you wonder why JWs respond, "it’s all lies," without a discussion of the facts, these articles should enlighten you.
"Today, true Christians are soon to cross into the promised new world, and like Joshua need to be courageous."
"Moreover, Joshua had to fight many fierce battles even after entering the Promised Land. But we experience our (WTS) fiercest struggles now—before we cross into the new world."
WHY DO WE HAVE TO STRUGGLE?
Satan goes about like ‘a roaring lion’ trying to intimidate and devour faithful Christians.
He uses humans who knowingly or unknowingly serve his ends…Satan and all his agents.
At first the WTS compares these struggles to "talking to strangers about the good news" or not saying the pledge of allegiance but then paragraph 6 goes to the real reason this article was written.
We also need courage when opposers maneuver the media into spreading bad (but not necessarily untrue) reports about God’s servants.
Yes, the media who are aware that they could be sued are negligent about gathering accurate information about the litigious WTS. I think not. The media are not fools and this is not the tabloid press.
How should be feel when newspaper, radio or television reports about Jehovah’s Witnesses are distortions or outright falsehoods? Should we be shocked? No. We expect such things.
Yes, the WTS has drilled the conspiracy/paranoid thinking into all JWs. We are God’s representatives, how can we be wrong or bad? Thus anything bad written or said about the WTS must be a lie. Circular reasoning at its best.
And we are not surprised when some believe the published lies and distortions since "anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word."
But what if these words are carefully documented and repeated by many different people who have similar experiences. It takes only 2 witnesses to establish a situation according to the WTS. More than 2 cases have been presented by the media.
Loyal Christians (followers of the WTS) refuse to believe just any statement made about their brothers and they certainly do not allow bad publicity to cause them to miss Christian meetings to slow down in the field ministry or to waver in their faith (in the Bible or is it their faith in the WTS that is wavering).
Translation: Quite a few a missing meetings and slowing down because of these media reports. Could it be that they hear the echo of truth from their own experiences and the experiences of friends and family?
"Do I let those around me know that I am a Witness of Jehovah, or do I try to hide the fact?"
After such shows, I would hide that fact. Of course, there is no reason to be ashamed of being a Christian and that is not mentioned by the WTS. Christ can only be reached through the WTS.
SPEAKING WITH AUTHORITIES
To appear before a judge or a ruler because of false accusations takes courage.
Yes, and those ex-JWs that are appearing in courts across the world have more courage than I can imagine. To put themselves in a position of attack by the full might of the legal arm of the WTS, takes enormous bravery.
But what kind of court case does the WTS select? One of freedom of worship.
Notice how the WTS lets the rank and file know that if a judge rules against the WTS it is the same as ruling against God.
"Judges should be aware that the highest law is that of Jehovah God. They should remember that all humans, including judges are accountable to Jehovah God and Jesus Christ."
The WTS summarizes:
Our standing firm despite persecution, including slanderous reports in the media, is a cause for rejoicing.
Then the WTS will be looking forward to many opportunities to rejoice as more and more cases of abuse they and their representatives have mishandled reach the courts.
The next article counsels to trust in Jehovah. Find out next week how that means to trust in the WTS instead.