Perhaps they're about to do away with the loophole known as FADING!?!?!?!
That will rock some apple carts!!!
TheListener
JoinedPosts by TheListener
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May 15 WT - Survival depends on loyal association with the organization
by truthseeker inwith the recent wt articles stressing how "new light" has appeared over the decades, this article is geared towards making sure individuals are active within the organization in order to ensure their survival.. this article is taken from e-watchman's discussion board, this is not my article.. .
http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1019&st=0.
just got a hold of the new may 15, 2006 watchtower containing the study article, "are you prepared for survival?
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May 15 WT - Survival depends on loyal association with the organization
by truthseeker inwith the recent wt articles stressing how "new light" has appeared over the decades, this article is geared towards making sure individuals are active within the organization in order to ensure their survival.. this article is taken from e-watchman's discussion board, this is not my article.. .
http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1019&st=0.
just got a hold of the new may 15, 2006 watchtower containing the study article, "are you prepared for survival?
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Dozy - More Clarification on the UN Issue?
by slimboyfat ini know you feel a bit bombarded with questions, but please if you could clear up just a couple of things for me that would be appreciated since i found your posts on the issue especially interesting.
i must admit this whole "un scandal" bores me to tears and i have avoided most posts on the issue right from the start.
however, from the little i have read i think there are some holes in the defense of the society you have provided on this issue.
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TheListener
Slimboy, in response to your second request regarding firm evidence for submitted articles for NGO status.
Here is one link I'm aware of where the UN OHCHR uses an Awake article as an example of a supportive write-up.
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/materials/articles.htm
Here is the link to the UN NGO website. This website specifically states that
http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/application-pro.html
For those who can't link here is an excerpt of what is required (I messed up the formatting):
- Evidence of an active information programme relevant to the UN: at least six (6) different types of samples of the organization’s most recent information materials (e.g. newsletter, periodical, tapes of radio or television programmes, conference reports, website, news clippings) (Note: Electronic materials, such as a website or periodicals, should be sent in hard copy form.);
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from organizations (UN or others);
- 3. The NGO needs to submit all the requested materials. Once all the required materials are received and all the documents are in order, the DPI/NGO Section will write to the NGO informing them of the approximate date the DPI Committee on NGOs will meet to review the new applications for that period. As mentioned above, the DPI Committee on NGOs that decides on association and disassociation meets twice a year, in June/July and December.
Using deductive logic:
All UN NGO applicants must submit 6 articles or other material as stated in the application. The WTS was a UN NGO. Therefore the WTS submitted at least 6 articles or other material as stated in the application.
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Dozy - More Clarification on the UN Issue?
by slimboyfat ini know you feel a bit bombarded with questions, but please if you could clear up just a couple of things for me that would be appreciated since i found your posts on the issue especially interesting.
i must admit this whole "un scandal" bores me to tears and i have avoided most posts on the issue right from the start.
however, from the little i have read i think there are some holes in the defense of the society you have provided on this issue.
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TheListener
I found this in another thread on this board posted by Nicolaou (highlighting mine):
*** w91 6/1 15-20 Their Refuge-A Lie! ***
Their Refuge—A Lie!
“We have made a lie our refuge and in falsehood we have concealed ourselves.”—ISAIAH 28:15.
DO THOSE words apply to Christendom today as they did to the ancient two-tribe kingdom of Judah? Surely, they do! And that parallel bodes ill for modern-day Christendom. It means that catastrophe will soon overtake that apostate religious organization.
2 To the north of Judah was the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. When Israel proved faithless, Jehovah allowed her to be conquered by Assyria in 740 B.C.E. Her sister kingdom, Judah, witnessed this tragic event but clearly felt that such a thing would never happen to her. ‘Why,’ her leaders boasted, ‘is not Jehovah’s temple in Jerusalem? Are we not God’s favored people? Do not our priests and prophets speak in Jehovah’s name?’ (Compare Jeremiah 7:4, 8-11.) Those religious leaders were confident that they were safe. But they were wrong! They were just as faithless as their northern kinsmen. So, what happened to Samaria would also happen to Jerusalem.
3 In a similar way, Christendom claims to have a special relationship with God. ‘Why,’ she boasts, ‘we have tens of thousands of churches and a professional clergy, as well as hundreds of millions of adherents. We also possess the Bible, and we use the name of Jesus in our worship. Surely, we are favored by God!’ But what happened to ancient Jerusalem stands as a stern warning. Despite recent extraordinary political developments, we know that Jehovah will soon act decisively against Christendom and all other false religions.
“A Covenant With Death”4 In ancient times, unfaithful Jerusalem received many warnings through God’s true prophets, but she did not believe them. Instead, she bragged that death would never take her down into Sheol, the grave, as it had taken the northern kingdom of Israel down. Isaiah the prophet was inspired to say to Judah: “Therefore hear the word of Jehovah, you braggarts, you rulers of this people who are in Jerusalem: Because you men have said: ‘We have concluded a covenant with Death; and with Sheol we have effected a vision; the overflowing flash flood, in case it should pass through, will not come to us, for we have made a lie our refuge and in falsehood we have concealed ourselves.’”—Isaiah 28:14, 15.
5 Yes, Jerusalem’s leaders thought they had an agreement, as it were, with death and Sheol so that their city would be preserved. But did Jerusalem’s supposed covenant with death mean that she had repented of her sins and now trusted in Jehovah for salvation? (Jeremiah 8:6, 7) Not at all! Rather, she turned to human political rulers for help. But her reliance on worldly allies was a delusion, a lie. The worldlings she trusted could not save her. And since she abandoned Jehovah, Jehovah abandoned Jerusalem. It happened just as the prophet Azariah had warned King Asa: “Jehovah is with you as long as you prove to be with him; and if you search for him, he will let himself be found by you, but if you leave him he will leave you.”—2 Chronicles 15:2.
6 Confident in their political alliances, Jerusalem’s leaders were sure that no “overflowing flash flood” of invading armies would come near them to disturb their peace and security. When threatened by an alliance of Israel and Syria, Judah turned to Assyria for help. (2 Kings 16:5-9) Later, when menaced by the military forces of Babylon, she appealed to Egypt for support and Pharaoh responded, sending an army to help.—Jeremiah 37:5-8; Ezekiel 17:11-15.
7 But Babylon’s armies were too powerful, and Egypt’s troops had to withdraw. Jerusalem’s placing confidence in Egypt proved to be a mistake, and in 607 B.C.E., Jehovah abandoned her to the destruction he had foretold. So Jerusalem’s rulers and priests were wrong! Their trust in worldly alliances for peace and security was “a lie” that was swept away by the flash flood of Babylon’s armies.
Rejecting the “Tried Stone”8 Is there a parallel situation today? Yes, there is. The clergy of Christendom also feel that no calamity will overtake them. In effect, they say as Isaiah foretold: “We have concluded a covenant with Death; and with Sheol we have effected a vision; the overflowing flash flood, in case it should pass through, will not come to us, for we have made a lie our refuge and in falsehood we have concealed ourselves.” (Isaiah 28:15) Like ancient Jerusalem, Christendom looks to worldly alliances for security, and her clergy refuse to take refuge in Jehovah. Why, they do not even use his name, and they mock and persecute those who do honor that name. Christendom’s clergy have done just what the Jewish chief priests in the first century did when they rejected Christ. They have said, in effect, “We have no king but Caesar.”—John 19:15.
9 Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses warn that a flood of executional armies will soon sweep over Christendom. Moreover, they point to the true place of refuge from that flood. They quote Isaiah 28:16, which says: “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: ‘Here I am laying as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, the precious corner of a sure foundation. No one exercising faith will get panicky.’” Who is this ‘precious cornerstone’? The apostle Peter quoted these words and applied them to Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:6) If Christendom had sought peace with Jehovah’s King, Jesus Christ, then she would have avoided the coming flash flood.—Compare Luke 19:42-44.
10 However, she has not done so. Instead, in her quest for peace and security, she insinuates herself into the favor of the political leaders of the nations—this despite the Bible’s warning that friendship with the world is enmity with God. (James 4:4) Moreover, in 1919 she strongly advocated the League of Nations as man’s best hope for peace. Since 1945 she has put her hope in the United Nations. (Compare Revelation 17:3, 11.) How extensive is her involvement with this organization?
11 A recent book gives an idea when it states: “No less than twenty-four Catholic organizations are represented at the UN. Several of the world’s religious leaders have visited the international organization. Most memorable were the visits of His Holiness Pope Paul VI during the General Assembly in 1965 and of Pope John Paul II in 1979. Many religions have special invocations, prayers, hymns and services for the United Nations. The most important examples are those of the Catholic, the Unitarian-Universalist, the Baptist and the Bahai faiths.”
Vain Hopes for Peace12 One of the world’s most powerful political leaders echoed the hopes of many when he said: “This generation of people on earth may witness the advent of an irreversible period of peace in the history of civilization.” Was he right? Do recent developments mean that the warnings Jehovah’s Witnesses have issued concerning Jehovah’s execution of judgment on the nations will not come true? Are Jehovah’s Witnesses wrong?
13 No, they are not wrong. They know they are telling the truth because they put their trust in Jehovah and in the Bible, which is God’s own Word of truth. Titus 1:2 says: “God . . . cannot lie.” So they have full confidence that when a Bible prophecy says that a certain thing will happen, it will without fail come to pass. Jehovah himself states: “So my word that goes forth from my mouth will prove to be. It will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted.”—Isaiah 55:11.
14 In the years before the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E., Jeremiah reported that the leaders were crying, “There is peace! There is peace!” (Jeremiah 8:11) However, that was a lie. Jerusalem was destroyed in fulfillment of the inspired warnings of Jehovah’s true prophets. The apostle Paul warned that something similar would happen in our day. He said that men would be crying “Peace and security!” But then, he said, “sudden destruction” would be “instantly upon them.”—1 Thessalonians 5:3.
15 As we entered the 1990’s, newspapers and magazines everywhere were saying that the Cold War is over and that world peace is at last in sight. But then a shooting war broke out in the Middle East. However, sooner or later the world situation will develop to the point where the cry of “Peace and security!” prophesied at 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3 will increase to a climax. With our hopes firmly anchored in God’s Word, we know that, as that climax is reached, God’s judgments will be executed swiftly and unerringly. No patched-up peace and security pronouncements should make us think that destruction foretold by God will not come. Jehovah’s judgments are unchangeably recorded in his Word the Bible. Christendom, along with all other false religion, will be destroyed. And then Jehovah’s destructive judgments will be expressed against the rest of Satan’s world. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8; 2:8; Revelation 18:21; 19:19-21) Since Jehovah’s Witnesses are confident that Jehovah will fulfill his word, they continue to keep on the watch under the guidance of the faithful and discreet slave class and carefully observe how world events unfold. (Matthew 24:45-47) Certainly, no peacemaking efforts of man should make us think that Jehovah has abandoned his purpose to bring a flash flood of destruction on sin-laden Christendom.
‘God Is Our Refuge’16 Some may take offense at the frankness of Jehovah’s Witnesses in proclaiming this. However, when they say that Christendom’s religious rulers have taken refuge in a lying arrangement, they merely relate what the Bible says. When they say that Christendom deserves punishment because she has become a part of the world, they merely report what God himself says in the Bible. (Philippians 3:18, 19) Moreover, because Christendom puts her confidence in the schemes proposed by this world, she actually supports the god of this world, Satan the Devil, who Jesus said is the father of the lie.—John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4.
17 Therefore, Jehovah’s Witnesses declare: As for us, we do not encourage false hopes of world peace because of the changing political scene. Instead, we echo the words of the psalmist: “God is a refuge for us. . . . The sons of earthling man are an exhalation, the sons of mankind are a lie. When laid upon the scales they are all together lighter than an exhalation.” (Psalm 62:8, 9) Human schemes to promote and preserve Christendom and the rest of this system of things are a falsehood, a lie! All of them put together have no more power to forestall Jehovah’s purposes than does a mouthful of hot air!
18 Jehovah’s Witnesses also quote Psalm 33, verses 17 to 19, which declares: “The horse [of Egypt, symbolizing warfare] is a deception for salvation, and by the abundance of its vital energy it does not afford escape. Look! The eye of Jehovah is toward those fearing him, to those waiting for his loving-kindness, to deliver their soul from death itself, and to preserve them alive in famine.” Today, true Christians trust in Jehovah and in his heavenly Kingdom, the only arrangement that can bring permanent peace.
Christendom “a Trampling Place”19 To trust any man-made substitute for God’s Kingdom makes that substitute an image, an object of worship. (Revelation 13:14, 15) Thus, encouraging reliance on political institutions, such as the United Nations, for peace and security is an illusion, a lie. Concerning such objects of false hopes, Jeremiah says: “His molten image is a falsehood, and there is no spirit in them. They are vanity, a work of mockery. In the time of their being given attention they will perish.” (Jeremiah 10:14, 15) Therefore, the war-horses of antitypical Egypt, that is, the military-political might of the nations today, will not protect the religious realm of Christendom in her day of crisis. The alliance of Christendom’s religions with this world will surely fail to protect them.
20 Christendom rested her hopes in the League of Nations, but it was overturned even without the coming of Armageddon. Now she has transferred her allegiance to the United Nations. But it will soon have to face “the war of the great day of God the Almighty,” and it will not survive. (Revelation 16:14) Even a revived UN can never bring peace and security. God’s prophetic Word shows that the United Nations organization with its member nations “will battle with the Lamb [Christ in Kingdom power], but, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, the Lamb will conquer them.”—Revelation 17:14.
21 Jehovah’s Witnesses confidently say that there is no salvation for Christendom in her alliances with Satan’s world. And when they say this, they are merely pointing out what the Bible itself says. Isaiah 28:17, 18 quotes Jehovah as saying: “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the leveling instrument; and the hail must sweep away the refuge of a lie, and the waters themselves will flood out the very place of concealment. And your covenant with Death will certainly be dissolved, and that vision of yours with Sheol will not stand. The overflowing flash flood, when it passes through—you must also become for it a trampling place.”
22 When Jehovah’s judicial decision is carried out, it will be according to perfect justice. And Christendom’s basis for confidence, her “covenant with Death,” will be completely swept away as if by a flash flood. Isaiah goes on to say: “Morning by morning it will pass through, during the day and during the night; and it must become nothing but a reason for quaking to make others understand what has been heard.” (Isaiah 28:19) How terrifying it will be for onlookers to witness the full power of Jehovah’s judgment! How awful for Christendom’s clergy and their followers to find out, too late, that they have trusted in a lie!
Jehovah’s Name “a Strong Tower”23 But what of Jehovah’s Witnesses? Even in the face of international hatred and persecution, they persist in keeping separate from the world. They never forget that Jesus said of his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:16) Throughout these last days, they have put their trust in Jehovah’s Kingdom, not in human schemes. Therefore, Christendom’s calamity will not cause Jehovah’s Witnesses to be terrified. As Isaiah foretold: “No one exercising faith will get panicky.”—Isaiah 28:16.
24 Proverbs 18:10 says: “The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.” We therefore invite all sheeplike persons to take refuge in Jehovah and in his Kingdom by Christ. As a concealment place, Jehovah is no falsehood! His Kingdom by Christ is no lie! Christendom’s refuge is a lie, but the refuge of true Christians is the truth.
Can You Explain?
• How did ancient Judah take refuge in a lie?
• In what way has Christendom tried to conceal herself in falsehood?
• How did Isaiah warn Judah, and how do Jehovah’s Witnesses utter a similar warning today?
• How will Christendom find that her confidence is misplaced?
• In contrast with Christendom, what stand do Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain?[Study Questions]
1, 2. (a) Which organization today should take note of what happened to the ancient kingdom of Judah? (b) What misplaced confidence did Judah have?
3. Why does Christendom feel confident as to the future, but is there good reason for her confidence?
4. What covenant did Judah think she had made?
5. (a) What was Judah’s supposed covenant with death? (b) What warning given to King Asa had Judah forgotten?
6, 7. What steps did Judah take to ensure her security, but with what final result?
8. How has Christendom taken a position very much like that of ancient Judah?
9. (a) Who is warning Christendom today in the same way that Isaiah warned Judah? (b) To whom should Christendom turn?
10. What involvements has Christendom cultivated?
11. What representation does religion have at the UN?
12, 13. Despite widespread hopes that peace is on the horizon, why are Jehovah’s Witnesses confident that their warnings are true?
14, 15. (a) What were the leaders of Judah proclaiming shortly before Jerusalem’s destruction in 607 B.C.E.? (b) What did Paul foretell would be proclaimed before sudden destruction would come upon this world? (c) What can we expect at the climax of the proclamation prophesied at 1 Thessalonians 5:3?
16, 17. How do Jehovah’s Witnesses respond if some take offense at the frankness of their message?
18. What warning of the psalmist is appropriate today?
19. Why is reliance on political organizations to bring world peace an illusion?
20, 21. (a) What happened to the League of Nations, and why will the United Nations fare no better? (b) How did Isaiah show that Christendom’s alliances with the world will not save her?
22. When perfect justice is applied to Christendom, what will result?
23, 24. Rather than seeking security in this world, what will Jehovah’s Witnesses do?
[Box on page 17]HIGH HOPES VOICED FOR THE UNITED NATIONS
“For the first time since World War II the international community is united. The leadership of the United Nations, once only a hoped-for ideal, is now confirming its founders’ vision. . . . The world can therefore seize this opportunity to fulfill the long-held promise of a new world order.”—President Bush of the United States in his State of the Union message to that nation, January 29, 1991 -
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Hi Everyone I'm New
by Gracey inread my profile to learn a little about me.
i would love to hear from those whom have experienced similar backgrounds as myself.
as i said, read my profile and then get back with me.
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TheListener
Welcome Gracey. I'm so sorry for what you've been through. I want you know that I appreciate the strength it took for you to tell your story.
I hope the board can be a place of healing for you.
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Please help me. Advice re. children
by jambon1 ini have been out for a few months & have been doing the supportive role for my wife who still goes to most meetings and is taking the lead with our 2 kids.
the supportive role has cushioned the mental anguish for my wife and i would not have wanted to be frank about my disbelief in god & the wts, it would have put a tremendous strain on our relationship.
at the moment she is hoping i will come back.
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TheListener
Hello Jambon1.
I'm in the exact situation you are in.
It's tough living it day by day. Especially with the holidays coming up all the time and birthdays too. Never mind the meetings, service and family bible study.
I've made some posts on this in the past and if I'm able to locate them I'll paste them here.
One thing I know for certain, train your kids in critical thinking. It's never too late or too early to teach them to reason for themselves.
Not only is this tough on the marriage and everyone's mental health but it puts your kids in the middle. To try and keep the peace you may not want to outright say the WTS is the devil. But, you may not be able to idly stand by and allow your wife to completely indoctrinate the kids. This puts you in a position of treading softly.
Your job is to spend as much time with the kids as possible. Expose them to new thoughts and ideas. Make play dates with school kids and neighbor kids; take them to community plays, crafts, story times, etc. Find out what interests them (easier as they age) and help them pursue it. Talk about college as though it's not an option but part of life's routine.
One thing for sure I do is discuss with my kids that we never hate or dislike or hope God will destroy anyone just because they don't look like us, think like us or believe like us. When alone I get specific with my kids and have said "what do we think of people who don't call God Jehovah?" The answer "That's ok, you don't have to call him Jehovah, it doesn't matter what they call him." Small thing but important when the dub indoctrination says that using the name Jehovah is paramount and separate the men from the boys.
Sometimes when we pass churches or synagogues I say "look, isn't that beautiful. That's where some people go to talk about God. Oh look they have a play area; they must have lots of families and kids who like to play." Kids: "oh yeah! Can we go there one day?" Me: "it looks nice, we'll have to see."
One of the best ways I've found to help kids think critically and use reason is with commercials for kids products. The products appear so great on tv but once you buy them they stink. Teach your children that concept. The concept that commercials only discuss the positive aspects of the product and highlight only the good things while keeping any bad stuff hidden away. I've even had to buy some of that crap to ensure that the lesson sticks. After buying some things that turned out to be crap they have gotten the message. Now many times when a commercial comes on for kids stuff they tell me "oh that wouldn't work like that at home" or "that looks good but I can tell it wouldn't work." Be careful not to make them cynical.
Kids are smart they can see which way the wind blows. They'll be able to tell the difference between a calm refreshing wind of openness and a cold dark wind of repressiveness.
One other thing. Try to counteract any demonization of the holidays or birthdays. Perhaps outright celebrating them won't occur anytime soon. OK. But, make sure they don't get in the mindset of 'Jehovah hates the holidays/birthdays.' It will be harder to counteract if that happens. How can you do this? I have no idea. But, here's what I've done: I use the term birthday and not day or date of birth or some other jwism. When with the kids I will ask them if any classmates have had birthdays. If they say yes, I'll say 'oh that is so great' it's nice to get older and have everyone be happy. When at the store and we see a santa claus or easter bunny. I'll say something like wow isn't that cool or isn't that pretty. I make it ok to laugh, or like the holiday stuff.
Ok I think I just typed everything I've said in the past so I'm not looking for old posts now.
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what do you think?
by joanne_ inhi everyone, i have a friend, who wants me to attend the meetings again.
he has said that the faithful and discreet slave are inviting those that have not attended for awhile, to come to the memorial, and then there is going to be a special talk in april-may, and then they want us to come to the convention in the summer.
which apparently will be about welcoming those who once were involved to come back.
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TheListener
Hi Joanne. Every year at the memorial they make a special announcement. It's the offer of a free home bible study to anyone interested. Yes, a letdown for sure.
Also, every year after the memorial (on a Sunday a few weeks after) there is a special talk that is given in every congregation. The title and gist is on this board somewhere but I think it's about God still being in control. After this "special" presentation of this talk the outline for it will go into regular circulation for KH use - not so special then eh?
Yes, there is a push to get more attenders at the conventions. They've already downsized most of the convention site to smaller venues and cities. Now they realize that they're having trouble keeping those filled. This year there is a big push to keep the smaller venues filled up to the maximum.
Anything special or new? No. Just the usual "the end is near, the end is near"
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TheListener
Well, I see this was popular.
Where is the thread that asks if you've ever started a thread you regretted?
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TheListener
I’ve reviewed the 1976 article on Sacred Service that was ostensibly written by Ray Franz and the 3 rebuttal articles written in 1980 and 1981. I would like to present in this post a review of these articles and the argumentation each employ.
Wt 1976 10/1 pp. 597-602 Rendering Sacred Service Night and Day
Argument #1
Par. 4 “Yes, our “sacred service” needs to be a balanced one, one that balances words of praise to God with deeds, with the “doing of good and the sharing of things with others.”
Par. 5 “So, like Jesus we want our whole life to be a witness to the truth. Of course, we cannot perform miracles as Jesus did to help people, but our fine conduct, honesty, sincerity and helpfulness to people when we can and with what we have are just as acceptable.”
Par. 6 “Our “sacred service” cannot be complete unless we both live and declare the good news.”
Par. 9 “”Sacred service,” then, is not something that occupies only a portio of our lives. It is not limited to just one activity or a certain number of activities but it takes in every aspect of our daily living.”
Pars. 10 – 20 – Discussing aspects of sacred service: par. 10”a large part of your “sacred service” to God involves your children.” Par. 14”Husbands and wives can render “sacred service” by making their marriage successful and an honor to God’s institution of marriage.” Par. 15”Housewives have a fine opportunity to perform acceptable “sacred service” to God.” Par 16”children…are concerned with rendering “sacred service” to Jehovah” Par. 17”Christian elders are also called on to serve night and day.” Par. 20”having a clean conscience and a right motive in his secular work, could make this part of his “sacred service.””
Par. 26 “It is “sacred service” by Jehovah’s people that is drawing thousands toward him today. They see the attitude of love and helpfulness, the cleanness, the sterling integrity, the peaceableness of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
Support for argument #1 includes:
Hebrews 13:15, 16 “Through him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name. 16 Moreover, do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Par. 5 “So, like Jesus we want our whole life to be a witness to the truth. Of course, we cannot perform miracles as Jesus did to help people, but our fine conduct, honesty, sincerity and helpfulness to people when we can and with what we have are just as acceptable.”
Matthew 5:16 – Likewise let YOUR light shine before men, that they may see YOUR fine works and give glory to YOUR Father who is in the heavens.”
Matthew 12: 34,35 – “Offspring of vipers, how can YOU speak good things, when YOU are wicked? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure sends out good things, whereas the wicked man out of his wicked treasure sends out wicked things.”
Acts 26:7 – “whereas our twelve tribes are hoping to attain to the fulfillment of this promise by intensely rendering him sacred service night and day. Concerning this hope I am accused by Jews, O king.”
Romans 12: 1,2 – “Consequently I entreat YOU by the compassions of God, brothers, to present YOUR bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with YOUR power of reason. 2 And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making YOUR mind over, that YOU may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Wt 1980 8/15 pp. 21-26 Sacred Service in This “Time of the End”
Argument #1
Par. 2 (discussing John 16:1,2) – “Instead of “sacred service,” the Jerusalem bible says “holy duty”; the New English Bible says “religious duty”; rotherham’s The Emphasised(sic) Bible says “divine service.” The original Greek word thus translated is latrei’a. The verb form of that Greek noun is latreu’ein. It differs from the Greek verb diakonein’, which means “to minister or serve,” and which is used even in common, ordinary, mundane things, things not sacred, as in Matthew 8:15”
Par. 5 “So their doing something of a sacrificial kind would be out of the ordinary, something not carried on in general by the unchristian people of this worldly system of things.”
Par. 12 “By those words does the apostle Paul mean that all things we do now as Christians become “sacred service” (lat rei’a) because of our having a different viewpoint respecting these things? …. No; why should it?”
Par 14 “On the other hand when all Christian witnesses of Jehovah do what the apostle Paul instructs them to do in Romans 13:1-7, they are doing only what is required of all other citizens or alien residents of a country. ….But our now acting in this way under the name of Christian witnesses of Jehovah does not automatically change our proper conduct into the Scriptural “sacred service.”
Wt 1980 8/15 p. 31 Questions From Readers
Argument #1
Par. 2 “Does this “sacred service” mean simply ‘living a good life,’ being a fine example in raising and providing for one’s family, keeping the house clean, applying oneself at school, and so forth? Hardly, for the Israelites did such things over and above the sacred service that Jehovah commanded them to perform.”
Par. 3 “Obviously, this has to do specificially with service to God, done out of appreciation for sacred things – something out of the ordinary that calls for the sacrifice of time and energy. It is different from secular work or everyday living, though with Christians this also should be done “for God’s glory.””
Par. 4 “our “sacred service” requires obedience to Jesus’ commands to preach and teach “this good news of the kingdom,” warning the people and making disciples. (matt. 24:14, 21; 28: 19,20) It also embraces our assembling for worship, our family studies of the Bible and discussions of the text each day. It extends to special service in the pioneer and missionary fields, and at
Argument #2
Par. 5 “Our “sacred service” must be modeled after the kind of service Jesus did on earth.” (1 Pet. 2:21-21) …. This service places emphasis on our public preaching,”
Summation for Question from Readers
Last par. “Do you have to readjust your viewpoint on “sacred service”? If so, may you do so in the spirit expressed at Second Corinthians 13:11.
In summary then here is what I took away from the articles:
The 1976 articles speaks of balance and moderation. It urges Christians to use their entire life course to bring honor to God and discusses specific ways that we can do that. Jesus is used as an example to follow in both preaching and helping others physically.
The 1980 articles are quite pointed in telling the readers that daily things of life, regardless of the motivation or result, are not “sacred service.” Sharing in the ministry, meetings, bethel work, elders and ministerial servants performing their duties are rendering “sacred service.”
Each viewpoint uses Jesus as an example. In 1976 Jesus entire ministry including his physical help and assistance to individuals and his preaching is used and in the 1980 articles his preaching work only is used.
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New boy here.
by LtCmd.Lore ini'm 16 years old and have been raised as a jehovahs witness.
i'm currently considered a very spiritual brother, and have an assignment comming up for the memorial.
but i realized it was all a bunch of crap last year at some time.
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TheListener
Welcome Cmdr.
I wish I had thought like you when I was 16. I could have saved myself from so much pain.
Make a plan and stick with it. Study the reasons why you don't want to be a witness and know them well.
Do you have a plan for college?
Good luck.