"dear older ones, steadfastly living up to their dedication to Jehovah despite the maladies of advanced age."
Translation: if they can be at the meetings with their ailments, there is no excuse for anyone else to miss a meeting due to illness.
Alternate translation: Don't forget to throw them a bone of civility and kindness every so often. We can't afford for them to quit now, because they've bequeathed their estates to us.
w03 5/15 p. 21 Remain Steadfast, and Win the Race for Life ***Even some steadfast ones with many years of faithful service to God behind them may be undergoing a test because their expectations have not yet been completely fulfilled.
Who caused them to have their expectations in the first place?? Would they have entertained their expectations if the WTS had not constantly, for decades, published Promises? that Soon? Millions Now Living Will Never Die? or that The Generation That Saw The Beginning of The Last Days in 1914 Would Live to See Armageddon?? If you put shingles on your roof that have a guaranteed 50 year lifespan, and they fail after 20 years, don't you have some kind of recourse with the manufacturer to either fix the problem or refund your money?? Why isn't the WTS being held accountable for its faulty Promises? and the incalculable personal costs that people have had to suffer because of buying the WTS's faulty Promises???
Without well-defined direction or goals
*** w81 12/1 p. 27 The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***However, it may have seemed to some as though that path has not always gone straight forward. ("Without well-defined direction or goals", you mean?) At times explanations given by Jehovah?s visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view. But this has not actually been the case. This might be compared to what is known in navigational circles as ?tacking.? By maneuvering the sails the sailors can cause a ship to go from right to left, back and forth, but all the time making progress toward their destination in spite of contrary winds. And that goal in view for Jehovah?s servants is the ?new heavens and a new earth? of God?s promise.?2 Pet. 3:13.
I thought "tacking into the wind" was supposed to be a good thing. Oh. I get it, now. It's good when the WTS does it, but bad when JWs or unbaptized children of JWs do it. Ok. That makes perfect sense now.
Only Jehovah is able to fathom our inner person?our motives, thoughts, and emotions.
Except when the Elders? DF or DA and Inactive? person without first approaching them about allegations of wrongdoing that have been made against them. Or except when other JWs speculate and gossip about you behind your back about why you no longer go to meetings or Door-to-Door?.
Solomon ?OT example again as how to live a "Christian" life
Where do we sign up to be one of the 300 wives and 700 concubines? (Note to self: call Gumby)
Caleb staunchly refused to go along with the majority ?Another OT example of how to be a Christian
Shouldn't the Israelites (being Antitypical? of the 144,000) have considered Caleb to be an Apostate? for refusing to go along with the majority??
But where does the ultimate responsibility lie if we are to persevere in our way of life based on the truth? Really, the responsibility rests with each one of us. And that is true both under normal circumstances and in difficult times. Consider the following incident.In Scotland some young lambs were grazing in a pasture when one of them strayed to the side of a hillock and tumbled onto a ledge below. It was uninjured, but it was frightened and unable to climb back. So it started to bleat plaintively. Its mother heard it, and she too began to bleat until the shepherd came and retrieved the young lamb.
Notice the sequence of events. The lamb called for help, the ewe added her voice to its cries, and the alerted shepherd sprang into action to rescue it. If a very young animal and its mother can sense danger and immediately call for help, should we not do the same when we stumble spiritually or face unexpected dangers from Satan?s world?
Yet, what usually happens when a JW falls ill - physically - and asks the congregation for assistance? What happens when they ask the Elders? for help to get to the meetings and go out in Service? because they desire to keep Serving Jehovah?? How often do we hear the Elders? (or more often, their wives, or JWs in general) bitching and moaning about how busy they are? How often do Brothers? and Sisters? stop by your house to use your bathroom because they were in the Territory?, but didn't have 5 minutes to see if you were really ok? Or how about Pioneers? who can't be bothered to assist Publishers? who are struggling to get in Service?, and tell these Honest Hearted? people to "get your own damn Bible Study?"? Do they really give a crap about the Lost Sheep? caught in the well? It sure doesn't seem that way.
Love, Scully
