"let's see a show of hands of those who know that the end is very close (everyone raises thier hands while looking around at each other).
excellent!...we know this because we have a whole-hearted faith in the faithful and discreet slave don't we?".
no explanation needed .
I'd bet that it was true. I have seen something like it on a small scale. The kids these days commuicate in a whole different way. Like Gayle said there is a deep lack of respect for the elders. It has got to be frustrating for the local elders, co's and Branch when they have a judicial case and suddenly everyones story is exactly the same! No wonder they hate the Book face.
SIAM
"let's see a show of hands of those who know that the end is very close (everyone raises thier hands while looking around at each other).
excellent!...we know this because we have a whole-hearted faith in the faithful and discreet slave don't we?".
no explanation needed .
don't place literature,
I heard the same experience in the Elder School.
SIAM
does anyone with phostoshop skillz care to amend this photo to make it more accurate?
25% of these dudes are dead already..... .
Foodalls, Why don't you post the proof for everyone here on JWN instead of having them email you??
SIAM
come on in, the water's fine.
you may even realise you have close friends and family here.
.
Confused,
I hear you, and am in the same position as an active witness. My advice is to read the bible and pray for clarity and truth. My dilemma as an elder was being expected to teach people something I did not whole heartedly believe in. This board has helped me in the fact that it is the only place I can express my doubts or questions without being punished. I hope that it provides the same help for you whatever conclusion you come to.
SIAM
come on in, the water's fine.
you may even realise you have close friends and family here.
.
curiousconfused, Welcome, I served as an elder up until recently. The changing Generation doctrine is what made me question the validity of the claim that the GB spoke for Jehovah. I have come to the realization that there are a number of good loving people within the organization but the teachings and interpretations are the "teachings of Men". I was born in and this is all I know. It is disconcerting to say the least to begin to see cracks in your faith. I wish you the best and am always available to compare notes. Take Care, SIAM
most of you recognize that line from the godfather iii, which wasn't the greatest film in my opinion, but that line was classic.
it perfectly depicts my life as it stands now.
i'm at a crossroads in life, and my heart is being tugged in different directions.
Misery you have a PM
most of you recognize that line from the godfather iii, which wasn't the greatest film in my opinion, but that line was classic.
it perfectly depicts my life as it stands now.
i'm at a crossroads in life, and my heart is being tugged in different directions.
I look forward to the rest of it.
SIAM
before i begin my introductory post, i would like to mention that a number of my initial comments here may be viewed by several of you as watchtower apologist or as sympathetic to the views of the jehovahs witnesses.
the last thing i want to do is incite a flame war regarding my legitimacy or intentions in joining this forum.
mostly, i would describe myself as on the fence.
Welcome to both of you,
It is nice to hear your experiences and see that you are balanced in terms of your beliefs. I agree that it can be disconcerting for someone who is born in like yourself and myself to see the level of emotion that some express about the organization. I have realized though that the passion and vitriol that some display/express is a louder statement to the lack of love and care they have received in the org than their words are.
Many people have been hurt deeply by the organization. As a MS please try your best while you are still in the organization to care for those who need a balanced hearing ear. There are many walking wounded within the WTS.
Take Care,
SIAM
i attended a recent ministerial servant k m school on the east coast and the main school instructor mentioned among other things (part entitled: 'objective of the km school course') that the total number of ministerial servants is seriously less than it should be.
in times past the ratio of m ss to elders was much more than it is today.. in the u.s. apparently the total number of elders is 88,500+ as opposed to m ss 65,000. the numbers show & numbers don't lie: the society is running out of spiritual men.
the instructor stated that this is a new downward trend that has (in so many words) the society worried.. the next speaker (part entitled: 'why we must be spiritual men') added that in his years as a traveling servant the pool of m ss has always been much, much larger than it is today.
In my Hall there have been 3 elders who have recently been removed and or stepped down leaving a BOE of 5. The BOE has been anxiously wringing their hands because out of 5 MS there is only 1 who hits the congregation average for FS. All others are Low hour pubs and or limited in intelligence or motivation. There is only one prospect for another MS and at the rate it is going none for Elders.
hypothetical scenario.
you are a city manager in a major metropolitan city with a population of 3,000,000.. .
if the governing body was truly convinced themselves of the impending disaster and the fact that the end is imminent would they not focus their efforts in spreading the message through effective means such as telephone, television, internet, social networks etc?
Thanks for your comments. As a follow up...
If you doubt that the Governing Body doesn't believe themselves that the message that is born is urgent, take a look at the Proclaimer's book. You will see a distinct contrast with the way the message used to be spread, compared to the half hearted ineffective way today.
You will see pictures of the radio stations the society used to run (with world wide interconnects), the photo drama of creation shown in theaters (cutting edge for its time), the newspaper advertisements about talks given by the presidents, the sound cars, the phonographs, and lastly Witnesses with sandwich boards marching through cities. These photos are clear proof that the leadership sincerely believed that the message they bore was urgent and lifesaving. This was in the 1910's-1940's those guys walked the walk. They backed up their claims with action.
We often hear that the message that is born by witnesses is urgent and means peoples lives.... this claim is the same as in the 1910-1940 era but has been proved to be empty rhetoric by the actions of the leadership. Not one person's life has been saved by the preaching work in the last 130 years.
SIAM
