From yesterday WT, don't have kids and if you do then don't see them often nor the grandkids either (page 5)

Formerbrother

Watchtower 2016 Apr Study ed. p.9 "Thousands of young Christian men and women are willingly sacrificing marriage or are not having children—at least for now—in order to serve Jehovah to the full. Older ones too may be sacrificing the time they could otherwise spend with their children and grandchildren in order to work on theocratic construction projects or to attend the School for Kingdom Evangelizers and to serve in areas where the need for Kingdom publishers is greater. Others set aside personal matters to share in service campaigns during the Memorial season. Such wholehearted service brings deep joy to Jehovah, who will never forget their work and the love shown for him. (Read Hebrews 6:10- 12.) Would it be possible for you to make additional sacrifices to serve Jehovah more fully?"

They are NOT discouraging having children, or spending time with them.

They are praising the hard working self sacrificing brother and sisters who put Jehovah ahead of personal interests.

Think how Jehovah feels about such self sacrificing Brothers and Sisters?

purrpurr

Former brother, what you see here in the paragraph is a classic case of speak. By encouraging and praising the flock to do one thing they are essentially saying not to do the opposite. This is a tactic that the GB use alot

Barrold Bonds

They've been doing that for as long as I can remember. Anytime they say something like

"many brothers have chosen to do (or not do) this"

'we commend our brothers for this"

that's their way of saying "This is what you should do if you want to please the governing body and not get your ass fried during armageddon'

sparky1

Formerbrother, I am sure that you would be welcomed back with open arms to Jehovah's loving 'spiritual paradise'. There you can partake of 'food at the proper time' to your hearts content. You wouldn't have to waste your time coming here defending the 'swill' that the current Governing Body (tm) passes off as loving counsel, 'new light', brotherly encouragement and directions from Jehovah's forward moving chariot.

JWdaughter

Why are you a former brothers, FormerBrother? Why are you looking for another WTBTS when there's a perfectly rotten one already in N.Y. State?

stuckinarut2

I think 'formerbrother' was being sarcastic guys....

Well, I would hope so anyway....

stuckinarut2

As for the double speak, it is no different to that classic article in the late 1960's that said "reports are being heard of brothers selling their homes and pioneering in the final years before Armageddon. SURELY this is a fine thing...etc"

In other words, they were telling the flock that is what they should do. It is similar with this article now - they are directing the flock as to "the right" thing to do... (in their eyes)

Pistoff

Thousands of young Christian men and women are willingly sacrificing marriage or are not having children—at least for now—in order to serve Jehovah to the full.

This is how a supposedly main stream religion gets away with drifting toward cult territory.

If you marry and have children, you are NOT serving Jehovah 'to the full'.

It is implied, rather than stated.

Those who marry and have children will now again be viewed as selfish and 'running ahead of ~~Tony Morris~~ Jehovah'.

Older ones too may be sacrificing the time they could otherwise spend with their children and grandchildren in order to work on theocratic construction projects or to attend the School for Kingdom Evangelizers and to serve in areas where the need for Kingdom publishers is greater. Others set aside personal matters to share in service campaigns during the Memorial season.

Separating families is well on the road to cult territory; the WT has made several bold moves this year alone toward that end: shun, shun, shun your family and now don't have kids, don't get married, spend time in service instead of with your adult children and grandchildren.

Congratulations, Tony and crew; you are making progress toward the culture of Scientology.

bradford

I think this is an extremely clever paragraph by the WT writers.

1. Witnesses will continue to have children and the writers know that. The amount of couples foregoing having children is probably not too many. I doubt it is even measurable or they have statistics to back it up. They just know that some couples have chosen to do this.

2. It is the same guilt trip they always use. One example that is very extreme (not having children) and an example that isn't very extreme (increasing activity during the memorial season).

End result: hopefully some witnesses will feel guilty enough to make some sacrifice for the good of the organization (money, time, skills).

That is ultimately what they really want.

From yesterday WT, don't have kids and if you do then don't see them often nor the grandkids either

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