Once more they don't have the correct mind set, to begin with they should be so trigger happy in expelling people from the org, and if they want to return they should be embraced with love. Not of course that it is good to return to a lying cultish org like this.
the lesson of the prodigal son
by joelbear 23 Replies latest jw friends
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aniron
Agree with many of the comments.
How the JW's made it fit their DF policy I could never understand. It was just the opposite of what they said.
The Father was obviously keeping a look out for his son. Not sitting indoors waiting for him to call. When he saw his son he RAN to greet him. Rejoiced that he had come back. Does this sound like JW Elders?
Did the Father say "Son you'll have to stay outside the house until I've decided you repented enough to come back inside"
They had a celebration that the son had returned. Many JW's still would avoid the reinstated DF'd one for a while.
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greendawn
And from what some people here post they avoid the reinstated in the long term if not permanently as they say "things would never be exactly as before" especially if the "crime" was apostacy.
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Englishman
WT, 15 Aug 1965 puts it's own interpretation of The prodgal son parable:
>>>>>>THE
YOUNGER SON COMES TO HIS SENSES9
Telling what happened to the younger son, Jesus next said simply: "When he came to his senses," followed by a statement of how the younger son reasoned within himself. (Luke 15:17-19) The clergy of Christendom often say to those suffering adversity that God sends such experiences to teach a lesson, to bring them to their senses. That makes God responsible for the permission of evil and a party to it. Such a teaching is unscriptural and brings much reproach on God’s name. God’s Word says that "with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone," that is, with evil things. God tests and disciplines, but not by using evil instruments. The scripture continues: "But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire." (Jas. 1:13, 14) Just so with the prodigal son. True, he would not likely have come to his senses while enjoying himself, but what enabled him to start using his senses properly was his recollecting certain information that was at the back of his mind. As with the Israelites when abandoned to the enemy, they knew where to turn. So also did the young man, as shown by his subsequent reasoning.
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Learning there was no famine in his own country, the young man said to himself: "I will rise and journey to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Make me as one of your hired men.’" (Luke 15:18, 19) His words indicate far more than merely the desire to escape the famine and be well fed. First, he acknowledged within himself that he had sinned, not only against his father, but against God in heaven. His words also show that he had but one goal in mind, and that was to go back and live and serve under his father at home. He knew his father and he knew what home was like. When he previously left home, if his father had turned on him and angrily shouted at him, he would not have been so single-minded as to what he should do. He could have decided to return and expect to find work somewhere in the country, without having to face up to his father. But no such thought entered his mind. It was home for him! No place like it!
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The same is true of those pictured by the young man. By reason of their earlier contact with Jehovah’s people and the message of truth, they have a basis on which to come to their senses. True, while things are going well with them, they do not stop to think about it. All the same, they have a mental picture at the back of their minds of what "home" life was like with God’s people in their theocratic organization. When they experience the frustration and beggarly emptiness of Satan’s world, then they can make the contrast. Further, as implied in the illustration, they get current news of the continued prosperity of the dedicated servants of Jehovah, that they are, spiritually speaking, "abounding with bread" and all the happy activity connected with a home where there is plenty. (Luke 15:17) In fact, it is common knowledge that Jehovah’s witnesses are enjoying those very things to a marked degree.
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Having come to their senses and made the contrast in their minds, then they make the right decision. They now make a dedication on a sound basis of knowledge and appreciation. They are ready to say Yes with deep meaning and sincerity to the two questions asked of all the candidates before every baptism service. Like the young man, they make full confession of their unclean, sinful condition, and offer themselves to the heavenly Father in unreserved dedication to do his will and serve him. With what outcome? What happened to the young man in the illustration?
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We come now to the most moving part. Imagine the scene. The long journey back to his home country has been a grim ordeal, but his determination and the goal in mind keep him going. At last, ‘while yet a long way off,’ he comes in sight of home. What does he see? His father, shading his eyes, looking in his direction! Ah, how often his father must have done that! Though the boy is far off, the father recognizes him and runs to meet him. Filled with pity, he embraces and tenderly kisses him. Arriving home, the son makes his confession and offers his services as ‘one of the hired men.’ But the father decides that first his son must be made presentable with the best clothing; then all are invited to enjoy themselves in a feast, "because this my son was dead but has come to life again; he was lost but has been found."—Luke 15:20-24.
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How forcefully Jesus here illustrated the Bible principle: "Return to me, and I will return to you." (Mal. 3:7) If only those who have gone astray would realize what great joy their returning home would cause! Doubtless their sense of shame often holds them back. But if they stay and starve in Satan’s famine-stricken world, what happiness does that give to anyone? None at all! What can we do to help these ones? Do we want to help them, or are we going to make the same bad mistake as did the older son in the illustration?
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We can best help those who have gone astray by noting what Jehovah has done, as indicated in the illustration, and acting accordingly. In the story, Jesus made very plain the attitude and course taken by the father. He did not wait for his son to arrive home and then say, "Well, what have you to say for yourself?" No. He was anticipating his son’s return and had been on the lookout for him. Jehovah has shown this same attitude by causing to be recorded long ago in his Word the many prophecies and illustrations foretelling the return of this class and the joy it would bring to him and all in his homelike organization. Just when needed, he caused these scriptures to be understood, back in 1943. Their meaning was given through the "faithful and discreet slave" class, the anointed remnant, as part of the spiritual food to be dispensed "at the proper time." (Matt. 24:45-47) Those in harmony with Jehovah, at home with him, were very grateful for the understanding thus given. They did not keep it to themselves, but published it abroad by every possible means, thus reflecting their Father’s keen interest and compassion toward those showing signs of coming to their senses.
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Briefly reviewing the progress thus made, we note that in 1923, for the first time, The Watchtower gave the true explanation of the "sheep and goats" illustration. The identity of the "sheep" was shown to be an earthly class who are gathered to the King’s right hand with the prospect of eternal life under his rule. (Matt. 25:31-46) In 1931 this same class was identified with those "sighing and groaning over all the detestable things" done in Christendom. These receive a ‘mark on their foreheads,’ signifying their knowledge of the truth and open acknowledgment thereof, leading to their preservation at Armageddon. (Ezekiel, chapter 9) In 1932 this class was identified with Jonadab, who gladly joined with King Jehu in his chariot on his way to the execution of Baal worshipers, picturing the execution of all false worshipers at the destruction of Babylon the Great and at Armageddon. It was stressed that the way was still open for interested people to join in the service of the King Jesus Christ, the Greater Jehu, in his chariotlike organization. (2 Ki. 10:15-27) In the years 1933 and 1934 practical help was given on behalf of this class by the institution of the back-call work, that is, return calls on interested people, opening the way for spiritual feeding through the regular home Bible study arrangement. The fitness of their taking the step of dedication, followed by water baptism, was made clear in 1934.
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Since 1931 a steady increase was seen in these sheeplike ones’ taking a definite stand with Jehovah’s anointed witnesses and sharing in field service with them. Many, like the prodigal son, had wasted earlier opportunities of entering into dedicated relationship with Jehovah and serving him. In the development and recovery of this class, however, the year 1935 appears to be the most decisive. In that year something took place that corresponded to the return of the prodigal son and the generous treatment accorded him by his father, amounting to an open and public acknowledgment of a long-lost son who had returned home. He had actually arrived and been made to look fit to be the appropriate cause for feasting and rejoicing. What occurred in 1935 to correspond with this?
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Our attention is focused on a convention held in May of that year at Washington, D.C. Significantly, in the preliminary Watch Tower notices, those known as Jonadabs were specially invited to attend. At that convention it was clearly proved from the Scriptures that the "great crowd" of Revelation 7:9 was not a sort of secondary spiritual class, as previously understood, but was now shown to be of the same earthly class as referred to in those other scriptures we have just reviewed. Further, those in attendance who saw themselves to be of this "great crowd" were asked to stand, and a large number responded. It was a marked time for spiritual feasting and rejoicing. A like procedure was followed at other assemblies, with similar results. The "great crowd" of "other sheep" had arrived! There they were!
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But you will say that all this happened thirty years ago. What is the situation today? Before answering, let us consider the last part of Jesus’ illustration, featuring the attitude and course of the older son over his brother’s return.
NO
JUST CAUSE FOR STUMBLING20
It happened that the older son was absent when his brother arrived home. On approaching the house he asked a servant as to the meaning of the music and dancing. On being told, he became very angry and would not go in. His father begged him to come and join in the celebrations. But no! The older son accused his father of unjust treatment, in being soft and partial to that scamp of a prodigal, also in denying what was due to him, a kid never having been given to him so that he could enjoy himself with his friends. In pleading tones the father again appeals, at the same time correcting the older boy on both counts, saying: "Child, you have always been with me, and all the things that are mine are yours; but we just had to enjoy ourselves and rejoice, because this your brother was dead but has become alive, and he was lost but has been found." (Luke 15:25-32) There the story ends, leaving the door open for the older boy to come in, after thinking it over and coming to his senses.
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In this regard the older son does not picture the entire remnant of the "little flock" yet on earth, but only those who adopt an attitude similar to his. How is this seen? Keep in mind that right down to 1931 attention was centered almost solely on the ingathering of those with the heavenly hope. An earthly class had been foreseen, but it was not understood that this class would be specifically dealt with by God and organized this side of Armageddon. No work of gathering and instructing the "other sheep" prior to Armageddon was then envisaged, especially any who had wasted their opportunities, like the prodigal son. Besides, some held extreme views as to how Jehovah was preparing them for their heavenly inheritance, believing that their every experience was supervised down to the last detail, along the lines of development of a sweet disposition. This made them self-centered and overly important in their own eyes. They became egotistical in a humble sort of way. They saw only themselves in the picture, as was evident with the older son.
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Was Jehovah under any obligation to delay his good pleasure, waiting on these self-centered ones to get the right viewpoint and show the right spirit? Not at all. He went forward in providing a feast of fat things for the "younger son" class when the time was ripe for their public recognition. He provided them, spiritually speaking, with a fine robe, a ring and sandals, signifying his identification of them as prospective earthly sons, now having a good standing in his organization, with their "feet shod with the equipment of the good news of peace." (Eph. 6:15) But the "older son" class did not appreciate this and inquired about it in a challenging way. They refused to come into the house of God’s organization, having no desire to share in welcoming a class that was stealing the limelight!
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Their viewpoint was incorrect on both counts. As for themselves, their own reward was assured as firstborn ones on their proving faithful. As for the "younger son" class, there was no favoritism of one class over another. If, in God’s love and patience, an earthly class was found and became alive, brought right into the picture sooner than expected, ought we not all to rejoice with our heavenly Father on their account? Surely we cannot afford to adopt an argumentative and churlish attitude!
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Though Jesus closed the illustration with the older son outside the house, we cannot conclude that none of this class will ever respond to Jehovah’s appeal. The door is still open. Remember that it was the Pharisees and scribes who called forth this illustration. Their superior attitude toward the sinners and tax collectors was the same as that of the older son to his brother. But quite a number of these religious leaders later came to their senses. In fact, as the record discloses, "a great crowd of priests began to be obedient to the faith."—Acts 6:7.
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Are Jehovah’s love and patience still operative? Have there been any developments since 1935 to prove this? How can we profit from the false step taken by each of the sons, and what can we learn from the attitude of the father, as described so vividly by Jesus? We are naturally keenly interested in the present situation and will discuss these questions in the succeeding article<<<<<<<
Englishman.
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ozziepost
Liked this oh-so-usual swipe at the clergy:
The clergy of Christendom often say to those suffering adversity that God sends such experiences to teach a lesson, to bring them to their senses. That makes God responsible for the permission of evil and a party to it. Such a teaching is unscriptural and brings much reproach on God’s name.
Notice that they join two not necessarily related statements and make them one:
Statement #1: The clergy of Christendom often say to those suffering adversity that God sends such experiences to teach a lesson, to bring them to their senses
Statement #2: God responsible for the permission of evil and a party to it.
I have yet to hear "clergy" make Statement #1 but they certainly would Statement #2.
It's obvious that if God is all-powerful, as the Dubbies claim, then God must, by definition, be "permitting evil". Why is a study in itself, but as enlightened posters have already highlighted, the WTS miss the point completely because of their mindset. Come to think of it, are JWs really christians? Hmmmmm..................
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Room 215
As usual the WTBTS spin on this parable is nothing more than a self-serving justification for their actions. To me, the basic message of the Prodigal Son is that God's love for humanity is akin to a parent's love for his/her child.
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tijkmo
The long journey back to his home country has been a grim ordeal, but his determination and the goal in mind keep him going
yup that was my experience
If only those who have gone astray would realize what great joy their returning home would cause
yup that too
not
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ozziepost
the basic message of the Prodigal Son is that God's love for humanity is akin to a parent's love for his/her child
It's all about grace, Roomie, something the WTS can't even speak!!
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stillajwexelder
Oh and BTW - remember, no clapping when somebody is reinstated at the hall -yet what did the father do for the prodigal son - threw a party!!!
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Honesty
correct me if i am wrong but was the prodigal son required to prove he was repentant before he was accepted back into the family?
Only if he was raised in a demonised cult.