the watchtower—study edition | august 2020. study article 32. walk humbly and modestly with your god.
jesus is depicted in the heavens.
next to him stand some of his co-rulers.
Justaguynamedmorph said:Would NOT be considered irreprehensible...
the watchtower—study edition | august 2020. study article 32. walk humbly and modestly with your god.
jesus is depicted in the heavens.
next to him stand some of his co-rulers.
17 What about the propriety of brothers wearing a beard? The Mosaic Law required men to wear a beard. However, Christians are not under the Mosaic Law, nor are they obliged to observe it. (Lev. 19:27; 21:5; Gal. 3:24, 25) In some cultures, a neatly trimmed beard may be acceptable and respectable, and it may not detract at all from the Kingdom message. In fact, some appointed brothers have beards. Even so, some brothers might decide not to wear a beard. (1 Cor. 8:9, 13; 10:32) In other cultures or localities, beards are not the custom and are not considered acceptable for Christian ministers. In fact, having one may hinder a brother from bringing glory to God by his dress and grooming and his being irreprehensible.—Rom. 15:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 7.
Jehovah's Witness with a beard in Ukraine. ( acceptable and respectable)
The same Jehovah's Witness in California, the United States of America. ( would be considered irreprehensible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
the watchtower—study edition | august 2020. study article 32. walk humbly and modestly with your god.
jesus is depicted in the heavens.
next to him stand some of his co-rulers.
https://jw.support/beards-and-jehovahs-witnesses/
Pastor Russell who founded the Watchtower religion had a thick white beard.
After he died, Judge Rutherford took over as Watchtower’s leader.
Many did not accept Rutherford as Watchtower’s second leader. Rutherford was insulted that brothers wanted to imitate Russell and started to force brothers to shave their beards.
“Brother Rutherford … noticed that over the years Brother Balzereit had grown a beard very similar to the one worn by Brother Russell. His example soon caught on … . During his next visit, within earshot of all the Bible House family, he told Brother Balzereit that he could buy the rotary press on the condition that he shave off his beard.” 1974 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses pp.97-98
the watchtower—study edition | august 2020. study article 32. walk humbly and modestly with your god.
jesus is depicted in the heavens.
next to him stand some of his co-rulers.
The Watchtower—Study Edition | August 2020
STUDY ARTICLE 32
Jesus is depicted in the heavens. Next to him stand some of his co-rulers. Together they look at a vast number of angels. Some angels are going toward the earth to carry out their assignments. Jehovah delegated authority to all shown in this picture (See paragraph 5)
Here is today's modern depiction of grooming for men :
"For men, a neat personal appearance may include being clean-shaven. In areas where mustaches are widely viewed as dignified, any who wear these should keep them neatly trimmed." Ministry School p.133
For assignments at conventions and assemblies, specific instruction is given against using brothers with beards, such as the following from a talk outline in 2009.
"Dress and Grooming
Those giving talks should wear suits. If your talk calls for an interview or a demonstration, please do not use any brother who wears a beard and make sure your participants are aware of the importance of good grooming and modest dress."
More common discussion regarding beards appears in the form of experiences of worldly men removing their beards on conversion. These experiences have appeared regularly over the decades, such as the following examples.
''brothers, let's not fool ourselves.
this virus is really hitting our business finances.
our brothers and sisters are loving every minute of the local congregation zoom meetings.
''Brothers, let's not fool ourselves. This virus is really hitting our business finances. Our brothers and sisters are loving every minute of the local congregation zoom meetings. No driving to their respective congregations, spending less on gas money, and contributions are way down since contribution boxes are not hitting them in the face as they walk in and walk out of the meetings. We know from Bible prophecy that pestilence is a notable feature of the last days... but I'm getting a little worried. Since we are God's earthly channel, Mr. Lett.... can you pray and make supplication to Jehovah to get us out of this mess?''
the watchtower—study edition | june 2020. .
study article 26.
6 who can share in the search for inactive ones?
16 Many experiences indicate that the angels are working alongside us to help us find inactive ones who yearn to return to Jehovah. (Rev. 14:6) For example, Silvio, from Ecuador, earnestly prayed for help to return to the congregation. While he was still praying, his doorbell rang. Two elders were at his door. During that visit, they were happy to begin providing him with the help he needed.
( ILLUSTRATION ) NOT FROM WATCHTOWER ARTICLE
Silvio must have been really lucky this day. He earnestly prayed at the right moment. While praying to Jehovah to help him return to the congregation, angels directed two Elders to ring his doorbell and provide him with help to make his comeback. These Elders were in the right place at the right time!
the watchtower—study edition | june 2020. .
study article 26.
6 who can share in the search for inactive ones?
6 Who can share in the search for inactive ones? All of us—elders, pioneers, family members, and congregation publishers—can help in locating them. Do you have a friend or a relative who has become inactive? Have you met an inactive one in your house-to-house ministry or while sharing in public witnessing? Explain to the person that if he would appreciate a visit, you would be happy to provide his contact information to the local elders.
7. What do you learn from the comments of an elder named Thomas?
7 What practical steps can elders in particular take to locate those who want to return to Jehovah? Note the comments of an elder named Thomas, * who lives in Spain. He has helped more than 40 Witnesses to return to the congregation. Thomas says: “First, I ask various brothers and sisters if they know where inactive individuals now live. Or I ask the publishers if they remember any who no longer attend meetings. Most in the congregation respond enthusiastically because they feel involved in the search. Later, when I visit inactive brothers or sisters, I ask about their children and other relatives. Some inactive ones used to bring their children to the meetings, and these children may have been publishers at one time. They too can be helped to return to Jehovah.”
Exaggeration at its finest! Here we have super Elder Thomas ( who has some kind of ability to visit inactive individuals and magically have each one return to Jehovah).
YES! You read that right! 40 inactive individuals returned to Jehovah. Most inactive never return to the congregation. And if they do return, it's because they don't want to lose association with family.
Super Elder Thomas makes all Elders look like slackers when it comes time to locating inactive individuals and having them return. Maybe that is the article's point!
the watchtower—study edition | august 2020 .
study article 33. the resurrection reveals god’s love, wisdom, and patience.
8 for a number of reasons, we can assume that those greeting resurrected individuals will be able to recognize their loved ones.
''Will those resurrected in the New World be re-created imperfect like Lazarus?
9 Jehovah promises that no one living under Christ’s rule will say: “I am sick.” (Isa. 33:24; Rom. 6:7) Thus, those who are raised from the dead will be re-created with healthy bodies. However, they will not immediately be perfect. If they were, they might seem unfamiliar to their loved ones. It seems that all mankind will gradually grow to perfection during the Thousand Year Reign of Christ.
the watchtower—study edition | august 2020 .
study article 33. the resurrection reveals god’s love, wisdom, and patience.
8 for a number of reasons, we can assume that those greeting resurrected individuals will be able to recognize their loved ones.
STUDY ARTICLE 33
8 For a number of reasons, we can assume that those greeting resurrected individuals will be able to recognize their loved ones. For instance, based on resurrections that have already occurred, it seems that Jehovah will re-create people so that they look, speak, and think in the same way as they did shortly before they died. Remember that Jesus likened death to sleep and the resurrection to being awakened from sleep. (Matt. 9:18, 24; John 11:11-13) When people awaken from sleep, they look and sound the same as when they went to sleep, and they retain their memory. Consider the example of Lazarus. He had been dead for four days, so his body had begun to decay. Yet, when Jesus resurrected him, his sisters immediately recognized him, and Lazarus obviously remembered them.—John 11:38-44; 12:1, 2.
Lazarus was resurrected after being dead for four days. John 11:44 reads... The man who had been dead came out with his feet and hands bound with wrappings, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them: “Free him and let him go.”
Lazarus was laid out dead in a cave where his corpse would have been preserved. His corpse was not buried in the ground. No dirt, water touched his corpse. Lazarus walked out four days later wrapped in the same cloth that covered his hands, feet, and face. He walked out of the cave looking the same as he was laid out.
Supposedly, Jehovah will resurrect individuals in the ''new system''. How does the Watchtower explain the following questions?
Since most individuals are either cremated or buried and decayed in the ground, how will these individuals be resurrected? Will they magically appear in a designated area? Will coffins have to be dug up and be brought back with the newly resurrected walking out? What about the cremated?
a plane with 99 people on board has crashed into a populated area of karachi, but at least two of the passengers survive.
one of them is reported as saying, “god has been merciful”.
what kind of mercy was shown to the other 100 or more that died?.
According to the latest figures published by Johns Hopkins University, 5,231,328 cases have been detected worldwide, with 338,515 deaths and 2,070,114 people now recovered.
In the USA, there have been 1,601,434 confirmed cases and 96,007 deaths with 350,135 people recovering from the virus.
My cousin Sam was in a coma for nearly four weeks from the coronavirus. He is in rehab and is expected to recover. Here is a post his brother posted on his Facebook page. Did prayers help my cousin recover? If so, why didn't God listen to prayers from family members whose loved ones passed away from the virus? Why is God impartial? If God is in the business of miracles, why not have a miracle for all victims?
Well we definitely serve a mighty God that hears and answers prayers! Sam was awake and watching tv when I called the hospital! Obviously Sam is weak and has a long road ahead of him being in a coma for over 3 and a half weeks Thank u all for your prayers, nice comments and love for Sam and our family during this time! We've been overwhelmed with gratitude! God is still in the business of miracles! He does for his children not because of anything good we've done but it's the unmerited favor of God on us! I am thankful for the miracle in my brother's life of course, but yet my heart goes out to the many victims and family members of the folks that fell to this terrible virus! There's a lot more I can say about everything, but for now let me say God bless you all! Also I pray for God's protection over all of our many friends and family members and honestly everyone else in the world for that matter. It seems like this is the biggest altar call and wakes up call in the history of mankind ❤
