Blondie, considering the Fortress article, what seems to be the theme is that Jehovah's protection will come thru the congregation. For some this might be true; however, what I think most of the people on this site are trying to say is that we have empirical data to the contrary. It is unfortunate, but a lot of the logic being used is based upon assumptions, and those assumptions are the problem itself.
{"You know what happens when you make an assumption, don't you? You make an ass out of you and 'umption'." Samuel L. Jackson}
The primary statement (corollary) is that Jehovah is our fortress in times of distress. This is true, as ultimately, we have nowhere else to go. A major part of the problem, though, lies is the interpretation of the term 'distress'. Being able to say 'oh, I burned the darn muffins' may be distressful indeed, but hardly worth his time and attention. It would seem that the time(s) when our soul is being ripped apart, where death is not only imminent but probably welcomed, where the opening verses of Psalm69 is made to sound like a tea party, is when Jehovah is longed for (and attentive?). Curiously, however, we are instructed to go to the KH and associate with our Bros & Siss because this is a "another provision" that CAN help us. But what if the Bros & Sis are the source of the problem itself? What does one do then? Apparently, the assumption is that this situation never happens? What do you do when you're being tossed about by a blustering sea, and the "crags from the wind" are the problem?
I have read a number of personal stories as to why people left the truth and I haven't, as yet, run across anyone leaving a KH because their dog died, or their car wouldn't start, or their diet wasn't working. (But then, admittedly, I don't know EVERYBODY'S story) Even though some may have been crushed by a pet's death, or angered at their transportaion, or disgusted with their girth, so far, without fail, the issue of egression seems triggered from the congs either refusing meaningful concern or showing outright hostility toward whatever distressful issue is at hand. So, the therapy suggested here is a lot like saying, "What? This patient has OD'd on Heroine? Quick, give him 15mg of morphine!"
But all is not lost. We are given a REASON for this perculiar regimen: (I love this. A personal favorite) Standard answer #1A:
By allowing Satan to bring a measure of hardship upon us, Jehovah has given each of us the opportunity to furnish our personal answer to Satan?s challenge.
What this means is that if you are suffering (you poor slob) I don't have to help you because if I do help you, (drum roll please) it will interfere with your personal answer to Satan! So when you wusses come crawling in here begging for help for whatever malcontention you're going thru, why I can just slap you on the back and say, "Way to go. Keep up the good work. Now stay warm and well fed."
What is actually happening, and has been for some about four years now is that something has been turning up the pressure on this world. (Gee, I wonder what?) Anybody who doesn't believe that hasn't bought any gas lately. What has been occuring inside the borg, however, is what happens within every institution that is created for a situation in history during a differing situation. Like the military during peace time and war time. The officer corps during peace time will be vastly different than the office corps during a war. (We're talking total war here, not little lopsided political skirmishes like Iraq) Why? Because the value of a man, his attributes, the talents that it takes to be an officer during peace time are almost meaningless when the sh*t hits the fan. Circumstances have begun to outstrip most of the borg's leadership potential. The smiles and the politics and the WT waving that vaults one into the "elder" corps is fast becomming ineffectual in the face of our 21st century. That's why the article of 9/5. It is/was a general cry for a different type of recruit to the officer corps, and, a general admission of the current failure to adapt and understand that the rules have changed. Just because you bluffed, bamboozled, and hornswoggled your way to an "eldership" doesn't mean you know how to handle the life long results of decisions facing an 18 year old being on either accepting a full scholarship to Harvard or the evening slot at the drive thru window. The old tried and true BS that use to work back in the 70's and 80's, but that have since been laid to waste by circumstance and time, are just so much hot air now, and an insistence that a "true Christian" has to accept them just like it was 1976 is not only a foolish denial of history, but an insult to the individual as well. The vast majority of the "elders" are just like the vast majority of the rest of humanity: they are struggling so hard to convince themselves and everyone else that nothing has changed, and that anyone who says otherwise is subversive. Anybody remember the movie "1942" with John Belushi and Dan Akroyd? Well, that general feeling of doom, panic, and insecurity is within the borg and growing. (Became a UN NGO? What the hell were you thinking? I can't turn my back for a minute!) Jehovah may not let this slide all the way down the toilet, but read the handwritting on the wall: you need to start getting YOURSELVES ready. The cong may be a great place to get solace and sympathy, but don't expect anything beyond that. You need to start hunkering down and learning how to rely on yourself because the JW next to you may not be trustworthy.
The stress fractures are starting to appear. You are some of them. Remember, all of this is going to get a hell of a lot worse before it get's any better. If you believe the Bible, then you've got to remember that it's going to get so bad that unless it is stopped, nobody gets out alive.
