Who make up the new memorial partakers? (page 2)

The Fall Guy

Maybe a lot of JW's have actually read their Bible and realised that Deuteronomy 29:10-15 proves conclusively that the "faithful slave" is lying in its claim that foreigners were not participants of the Law Covenant. So much for the org's type/antitype scam.

dozy

Talking to a PIMO cousin about this subject ( a sister in his congregation has recently started partaking ) he is of the view that with the ditching of the 1935 teaching and the appointment of younger GB members , there simply isn't the stigma that there used to be when people suddenly announce they are "anointed". This is despite the Society trying to discourage new partakers by suggesting they are mentally unstable etc.

In percentage terms as well , there only needs to be a tiny number of new partakers in percentage terms to shift the numbers. The increase of 12,000 or so in the last few years only equates to one in every 700 JWs becoming "anointed" - that is basically 1 JW in 10 congregations in a 12 year period.

In addition , most of the new partakers are relatively young so the residual number is hardly decreasing as people die off. The sister in my cousins congregation is in her 40's , so she ( presumably ) will potentially stay on the anointed list for 40 years or more. There also definitely is a copycat effect as well- my cousin is convinced that the sister was influenced by another JW in a neighbouring congregation doing the same.

In terms of demographic etc - purely anecdotally and on only a small sample - generally middle aged 2nd generation lifetime indoctrinated female JWs.

truth_b_known

The Watchtower response to all of this is no different than it has been since 1935 - JW partakers are not Annointed; the PROFESS to be of the Annointed.

In general, in less you are a white haired, elderly male who lives at Bethel, most JWs will not accept you as one of the Annointed. Half of the Memorial attenders could partake of the emblems this year and the Watchtower couldn't care less.

neverendingjourney

Edit: Never mind.

careful

It is interesting to think about the individual cases of the current GB members since they all began partaking of the emblems long after the old "baptized before 1935" doctrine was thrown out. At least one case has been discussed here, that of Mark Sanderson, and I think someone here once mentioned that he or she knew of doubters regarding Geoffrey Jackson. Sanderson's case goes like this. He was raised in during the 1960s and 70s in San Deigo not partaking in his cong at the time. At 18 when he finished high school, he went off to Canada to pioneer. Immediately he began partaking and has ever since. Of course, he got flack for doing so—see here:

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/6327964561047552/new-khs-still-being-built

The comment by newsheep is not directly on-topic but is provided in the context of a comment on the elder Kelly Flodell. The key description: "t was Kelly who had taken Mark Sanderson aside when he was really really young and told him he better know what he is doing partaking of the emblems. That Mark wasn't even an MS yet and in his late teens partaking of the emblems. Heard this story over and over from Kelly."

I bring this up for the following reason. It is quite likely that each GB member today went through the experience of having various cong members doubt their genuinely "being of the anointed." That this must have been personal and painful is clear. Therefore, they probably don't want to come down hard on others, especially males in the full-time service, who would be experiencing the same thing they went through.

Just some thoughts to share.

Half banana

Quick answer: those who are even more delusional than the paradise seekers.

jwfacts

Continuing to report a rising number makes it seem Watchtower is being somewhat honest about the number partaking. However, they don’t count all partakers. An apostate took the emblems when i was in Parramatta congregation and the elders advised not to count him as a partaker, so it seems the number is filtered down to only include Jehovah’s Witnesses in good standing. No doubt many of those that are counted are viewed with suspicion as well.

redvip2000

What is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
It’s a nice feeling to be admired. It naturally makes us feel good and feel important.

Bingo. And by the way, if the number had continued to go down, the GB would not have shifted their position on who is the FDS.

A few thousand egos, ruined it for the entire bunch.

steve2

Only in a "Christian" cult would the "hope" of going to be with Christ in heaven upon death be viewed with such scepticism, scorn and derision (even among ex JWs). By contrast, in mainstream Christianity the "heavenly hope" is commonplace - and generally doesn't invite any head scratching.

We can thank Rutherford for his sniffy take on the 144,000, the residue of which persists well into the eighth decade of his death.

Sea Breeze

The Watchtower freely admits that for 19 centuries after the apostles, there was only one salvation from judgment (Heb. 9:27).

"For 19 centuries there was only the one calling, the heavenly one, with Jehovah being very selective as to who would serve with his Son to make up the Kingdom government. Many would be invited but only a precious few chosen. (Matthew 22:2, 14)
In time the prescribed but limited number of 144,000 would be reached. After this no more would be anointed by holy spirit as witness that they had the heavenly hope, unless, in a rare occurrence, the unfaithfulness of one of the remaining 'chosen ones' made a replacement necessary." Watchtower 1982 Feb 15 p.30

Those who receive this offer eventually receive a body like Christ had after his resurrection.... one suitable for heaven and earth. (1 John 3:2 "we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him")

This is the New Testament Gospel of your Salvation taught by the apostles. (Eph. 1:13 - "the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed "

But, the Watchtower freely admits to teaching a different gospel than the one the apostles taught.

How can any Jehovah's Witness read the following verse and not be deeply bothered by this biblical double warning ?

Galatians 1: 8,9 - But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Who make up the new memorial partakers?

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