BLONDIE’S
FOOD FOR THOUGHT, 11/03/2019 WT STUDY ARTICLE, JAH VALUES HUMBLE SERVANTS,
SEPTEMBER 2019
https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/watchtower-study-september-2019/jehovah-values-his-humble-servants/
Opening
Comments/Food For Thought
I first asked
myself, why does the WTS sometimes use the word “servant” then “slave”? Are we led to assume that servant = slave? Is a servant the same as a slave? Servants are employees of a person with set
duties, set work hours, and paid a wage.
Slaves are owned by the person, must do what they are asked to do with
no set schedule and are not paid, except for a place to live, food to eat. Servants after serving the period of time
agreed upon between them and the employer, can leave. Slaves cannot, except in the case of Israel,
where it was a specific period of time, 7 years or at the Jubilee.
Now I know
that there is probably the possibility of a detailed discussion of the Greek
and Hebrew words and their meanings. But
what does the average jw think when they see the words, servant or slave?
Can you think
of ways neither the WTS or its members, especially those in appointed
positions, are not humble based on their actions and words?
Paragraph 1
Notice the WTS
does not just say “relationship” but “warm, personal relationship.” Does that mean you can have a lukewarm,
impersonal relationship with god?
Who are the haughty? Jws who do not completely support the WTS/GB
in everything, even when it is clear it is not scriptural or the WTS doesn’t
even use a scripture that clearly talks about their point? Or do they use words like, “apparently” or “likely,”
to couch their statements?
Paragraph 2
Are individual
jws allowed only to test their humility or are there appointed and
self-appointed jws that do it for you, and tell others behind your back and rarely
to your face?
Paragraph 3
Are elders
humble when apply to themselves what the bible seems to say that they are due “double
honor” just for holding the position of elder?
If you are or were an elder, what was said at the BOE meetings as to
what that meant? What were elders doing
that would make them worthy of that label?
How does that make them humble, acknowledging as the WTS says “everyone
is superior to him in some way”?
it-2 pp. 782-783
They were “worthy of double honor,” including voluntary
material assistance for their hard work in behalf of the congregation.
Paragraph
4
Did/do you know people who only tried
to appear humble in public. Or some only
because their culture/upbringing taught them to be that way in public. (I wonder what cultures they were thinking about,
certainly not the US). “Deep down they
are may actually be very prideful…reveal what they truly are at heart.” Based on the statement, that elders are
worthy of double honor, do you think that the WTS is thinking about rank and
file members? Sounds like the elders are
doing what the WTS is “suggesting” they do or putting on an act.
Paragraph 5
“Confident…forthright…not necessarily
proud.” Who judges which jws are like
that? Are these characteristics of “outgoing
personalities” or is that a euphemism for bossy, abusive people? At the same time the WTS cautions “must be
careful not to rely on their natural ability.”
Again, I think they are addressing elders about this. Yes, no one no matter their abilities or
privileges can disregard the WTS/GB “loving” counsel.
Paragraph 6
Example, Paul: Used mightily (meaning publicly, many
privileges, wrote many letters eventually put in the bible, visiting many
congregations, accomplished more in the ministry, etc.) Do you know jws who point to their special
privileges, number of hours in the ministry, and so on as proof that they have
more value to god? Yes, Paul said he was
“the least of the apostles” did he mean one of the 12 apostles selected by Jesus,
including Matthias who was selected afterwards to replace Judas, by casting
lots (like dice)? So how was he the
least of the apostles, if he wasn’t one of the 12?
So, weren’t other elders in the
congregation that wanted to prove themselves superior to Paul, not the rank and
file members?
Or was it the “superfine apostles”
mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:5?
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1971368?q=paul+apostle+twelve&p=par
● Was the apostle Paul one
of the twelve apostles?
The evidence reveals that, while Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ, he is not presented by the Bible as one
of the “twelve apostles.”
Paragraph 7
Jehovah’s people—just substitute “only
jws”
So recently the WTS said that those self-reported
anointed jws, should not introduce themselves as “anointed,” and I thought does
that mean that other jws should identify them as anointed and special to other
jws? Why was he allowed to go 2 years
without going out talking to others about the kingdom without any seeming repercussions? How long did he harbor resentment because of
receiving counsel, how did he receive new counsel after “harboring”
resentment? So why should it be hard for
a “well-known” brother to admit his “weaknesses”? Did you know of elders (perhaps you) who “freely”
admitted “weaknesses” or making mistakes?
I never did. Perhaps elders only
admit them to other elders.
I wonder how many elders applied this
counsel from the WTS/GB?
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1993847?q=admit+mistakes+elder&p=par#h=22
An elder may be
reluctant to admit a mistake because he fears that this will undermine his
authority in the congregation. However, trying to justify, ignore, or minimize
a mistake is much more likely to cause others to lose confidence in his
oversight.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/201982444?q=admit+mistakes+elders&p=par
Talk on
subject “Why Admit It When You Are Wrong?” from September 1, 1982, Watchtower. Elders and
publishers alike need to acknowledge their own mistakes with humility
and honesty, not taking themselves too seriously. This can work for the
upbuilding of all.
Paragraph 8
Who wrote the book, “Come Be My
Follower”? It is a WT publication. Why no reference to that in the
publication? So, the WTS is supporting
their WT article with another publication with the opinion in it.
https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/Come-Be-My-Follower/
Paragraph 9
So, if you don’t have many people who
talk to you or are your “friend,” does that mean you aren’t humble enough? Does that mean you “insist on your own way
and refuse to accept suggestions”? The
first BOE meeting a new elder attended, the COBOE said that in his congregation
“it was his way or the highway.”
Wow! Where is the “fellow
feeling, brotherly affection, tender compassion, and humility” in that
statement, and that was to the other elders!
Paragraph 10
“We may observe things that do not SEEM
to be right or fair.” Why combine what
is right with what is fair? Is what is
right always what is fair.” So, do the “princes”
in your congregation walk as the servants do?
Is recognition more important than having abilities? Is that why men who know nothing about
construction can be put in charge of trained construction workers? Does that mean that man is given more
recognition than the people who actually did the work? So, should jws face the reality of serious
wrongdoing by other members and “wait on Jehovah” to correct things? Should the “accept life as it is, not as we
think it should be”?
Paragraph 11
“When we receive counsel” does that
mean that the elders are giving us counsel because they really “care” about the
person? Who tends to “reject” counsel
more often, elders who feel that their authority cannot be questioned, even
when they are wrong? Why can only other
elders “correct” and elder when he is wrong?
Do elders correct other elders when a rank and file member points out
that that elder is wrong?
Paragraph 12
Should we “appreciate” counsel about
things that we know we didn’t do, can prove it?
I did that once and the elder said, “well, maybe you didn’t do it this
time, but how do I know you haven’t done it, and no one found out?”
So, counsel by the elders can be compared
to pointing out someone has food on their teeth? Why not some poor woman seeing a brother has not
zipped his pants zipper. Who is brave
enough to point that out?
Paragraph 13
“When others receive ‘privileges of
service’” Who coined that phrase? It
makes it seem like those who are not given those by imperfect men, those people
are not valued. Why is it that some men
in the congregation who don’t have these POS for years, move to another
congregation and suddenly are being used for everything, MS then quickly elder,
giving public talks every month, appointed to school servant, conducting a book
study, all within month? Did he suddenly
develop the qualities he had not had at the other congregation in one month?
Paragraph
14
So, Moses had
left his brother Aaron in charge when he went up to the mountain and what
happened? The Israelites were frightened
by the mountain shaking and smoking, and Aaron let them make a golden calf and
worship it. Aaron managed not to be
killed like the other Israelites. Why? If Moses could not trust his own brother to
handle things, why should he think he could trust others?
Paragraph
15
“When we face
new circumstances” Change of assignment—a
euphemism for “being kicked to the curb” after many years of “faithful” service
at Bethel, the branches, as a missionary, a special pioneer, a circuit or
district overseer 70 or over, or an elder over 80 as being a COBOE? These were not “because of health problems,
family circumstances or other personal circumstances” but the arbitrary
decision of the WTS/GB because the WTS/GB is having financial troubles.
Paragraph
16
Adjustments—like
suddenly having to support themselves after years of not paying into social
security or similar retirement plans, because of the vow of poverty they made
required by the WTS administration. Now
in order to qualify in the US, these people must work FT for 4 years and
accumulate 40 points to receive social security. Many jw family members have died or in no
financial situation to help. Will their last
congregation (not their assigned Bethel one) help them out, do they remember
them, will they want to support some stranger?
Are they
grieving leaving their friends, or returning to an unknown financial situation
after years of living a frugal life? How
many times has the WTS/GB in the past venerated Bethelites that served their
whole adult lives to Bethel? How should they
expect their God to support them in “practical” ways if not through the other
jws they know?
Paragraph
17
So are the GB
cultivating humility, if they are autographing the bibles of adoring jws, or
the ones who want to have a jw selfie, with a GB member, or the jws that
describe them first as of the anointed, as if that is more special than an
older woman in their congregation who has done more in the preaching work than
that GB could even imagine doing?
CONCLUDING
FINAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I found in
every congregation, that the really humble people were those who did not judge
others and whether they had value to their god or to the congregation. When I was still believing, I felt that the
only thing that mattered is what god thought about me and I could be confident
that he saw the real me and what I really thought and felt. Not something humans can do even in the official
opinion of the WTS. Even they in print
say that only their god and Jesus could read hearts and minds.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2017643#h=26:0-28:0 (paragraph 17)
Unlike Jehovah and Jesus, elders cannot read hearts.
So, knowing this, no one else can
determine what our real value is to Jesus and his father.
Now that I have this out of my
system, let me know what your thoughts when you read this article or had to sit
through the not-so honest answers at the meeting.
Love, Blondie
