ACCEPT JEHOVAH'S (Governing Body of Imperfect Men) AUTHORITY "This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome."-1 JOHN 5:3.
As you study the article it becomes evident that Jehovah's Authority means Governing Body Authority.
Here are some of the more incriminating paragraphs:
Q 10. What is one area in which Satan has sought to undermine God's authority?
10. Satan has long sought to undermine God's authority. His independent spirit is manifest in many ways. (Do you see how the witness is being manipulated into believing that independent thinking is bad. It is being linked with Satan.)
12. Consider the comments made some time ago by a Christian named Sharon: "Because of disregarding Jehovah's law, I have contracted the deadly disease AIDS. I often look back at the many happy years I had in serving Jehovah." She recognized that it was foolish to break Jehovah's laws and that she should have treated them with the greatest respect. Jehovah's laws are for our own protection. Sharon died just seven weeks after writing the above words. As her tragic experience shows, Satan has nothing good to offer those who become part of this wicked system. As "the father of the lie," he makes many promises, but they fall flat, just as did the one he made to Eve. (John 8:44) Truly, it is always best to accept Jehovah's (Governing Body)authority.
So by not listening to the Governing Body you are likely to contract AIDS and die? Actually I know Jehovah's Witnesses that have contracted AIDS from their Jehovah's Witness husbands. Stuff happens to all of us, both inside and outside of the congregations.
Q 13. What is one area in which we need to guard against an independent spirit?
13. In accepting Jehovah's (Governing Body) authority, we need to guard against an independent spirit. A haughty attitude can cause us to feel that we do not need guidance from anyone. For example, we might resist counsel given by those taking the lead among God's people. (Elders who are infallible, have had no formal training, and whose opinion is probably just as good as mine?). God (The Governing Body) has established an arrangement by which a faithful and discreet slave class provides spiritual food at the proper time. (Matt. 24:45-47) (How do we know that this Faithful andd Discreet Slave is the Governing Body? Because they said so!) We should humbly recognize that this is the way Jehovah is caring for his people today. Be like the faithful apostles. When some disciples were stumbled, Jesus asked the apostles: "You do not want to go also, do you?" Peter replied: "Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life." -John 6:66-68.
Can you believe that the Watchtower has the audacity to compare themselves to Jesus. It is simply incredible, but the most incredible thing is that Jehovah's Witnesses really believe it!
18. Yes, make it your aim to resist the world's spirit of independence and to accept Jehovah's (Governing Body of Imperfect Men) authority. From time to time, meditate appreciatively on the great privilege you have to serve Jehovah. The fact that you are among God's people is evidence that he has drawn you by means of his holy spirit. (John 6:44) Never take your standing with God for granted. Strive in all aspects of life to show that you reject an independent spirit and that you accept Jehovah's (Governing Body) authority.
The Watchtower Societies policy of putting themselves in the place that Christians put Jesus in is not new but it has become more and more blatant over the years.
It is interesting to note the change that has taken place in the vows taken just prior to baptism.
Years ago these were the two questions to be answered at baptism:
“Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognising yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his son Jesus Christ?”
“On the basis of this faith in God and his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening holy spirit?”
These questions, or vows, were changed in 1985 to the following:
“On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?”
“Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in association with God’s spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in the right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism.”
The Watchtower organization is changing. At assemblies, conventions, the magazines and publications, they are going more towards rules and authority and less towards the doctrine.
Their message is now OBEY US, OBEY US.
13 comments:
I have yet to see any harm in obeying the direction from the governing body.
But then again, they have not made any rules that are outside the Bible so your whole writing is misguided.
Your supposed 'dictates' do not exist.
Ronde you should obey them and not view or post here, or are you trying to "run ahead" and learn things before they are made known.
And ronde I'm sorry but your wrong I'm an active jw and we do need reform, in the past we banned vaccinations for years (wheb they were desperately needed) many were hurt and died from that we also banned transplants as cannibalism (many died and some were dffed over thus) now we allow certain fractions of blood while others found in other places than blood are banned( by the way you take in a lot of blood with an organ)
My dear I'm sorry but there are no loopholes with God, he's not as legalistic as many witnesses think, and if you think sacrifice is still over mercy remember your judge is Jesus and he allowed people to break the mosaic law on occasion to be healed (the woman with the flow of blood for example) what is more valuable to symbol (blood meaning life) or life itself ...idolatry.
I can't beloeve I agreed to substitute read the watchtower this week.. Man
Ronde if your not afraid to read the truth read in search of christian freedom by raymond franz, its all true and we need reform in many areas.
Aramis said:
"Ronde you should obey them and not view or post here, or are you trying to "run ahead" and learn things before they are made known."
Why do you care? Really?
You should want JWs to come here to read this material. But the fact is that you can't handle the truth, so you bring out that old line.
"And ronde I'm sorry but your wrong I'm an active jw and we do need reform,"
No, 'we do not need reform' as in the religon, but , you and every other individual needs reform, but that will take 1000 years. Leave that to Jesus.
"we banned vaccinations for years (wheb they were desperately needed) many were hurt and died"
Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!
There never was a ban on vaccinations. Some point to articles in the Golden Age, but that was not a ban. They did not have the authority to do such a thing.
And concerning vaccinations, go talk to Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carey (They are the ones getting the press) and all of the others who state that vaccinations give children autism. Infact, typing vaccinations autism in Yahoo results in 2.3 million hits. Well, maybe Woodworth had something there.
"we also banned transplants as cannibalism (many died and some were dffed over thus) "
Oh really? Are you referring to the obscure 1967 Q from Readers?
That is not a ban. That was never restated at a meeting or assembly.
And as for ones that died or Dffd, I have not heard of anyone. But if they refused, that was their choice, not the religion.
The only reform is that people worship the Watchtower too much.
"now we allow certain fractions of blood while others found in other places than blood are banned( by the way you take in a lot of blood with an organ)"
Not true. Whole blood with the 4 main components, we abstain from it as opposed to banning it.
We abstain, that means the individual voluntarily chooses not to take it because of one's faith and convictions. Ones who choose to take it do not have the faith and convictions of Christians.
As to the factions. Since God's law on blood is ambiguous about that, the rule of lenity applies.
"My dear I'm sorry but there are no loopholes with God, he's not as legalistic as many witnesses think,"
You all are the ones who think that he is legalistic. We think that he is just.
You mention this week's Watchtower.
My comment will be that many focus on theory and not application. Many do not use them together. The application about abstaining from blood is that when we as an organization abstain, that forces the doctors and hospitals to improve so that there are bloodless centers. That gives the rooming dept at the conventions hotels that will work with us when we all work together.
I have read Ray Franz and he is lacking as he does not know or understand Jehovah's Witnesses. How can he he left 30 years ago.
Hey aramis.
Why do you think that posting her eis not „allowed“?
You are in right, we need reform. But I don’t really understand the things you mentioned in this context. We need reform in present things. Vaccinations and transplants were issues 20 years ago and even earlier.
There is another thing that has to be considered here. There never is a ban on such things! That is not true! Sometimes it is stated to a certain matter, that Christians should abstain from it. But this is no ban. For example, if you accepted a blood transfusion. Of course this is against God’s law. But, and Ronde is wrong here, some people might be so afraid of dying in such a situation that their physician persuades them to accept blood. That does not necessarily mean that their faith is weak. Remember what Peter did, although Jesus warned him that he would do so. He denied Jesus 3 times. But Peter surely wasn’t weak in faith. And now here is the good side of the story. If it happens that someone accepts blood this way, he won’t be thrown out of the congregation. Yes it was an error, but people who recognize their errors are never thrown out. So the word ban does not fit, since you won’t be punished in the sense of a law.
Concerning fractions of blood: well I am not really happy with that, but we will see how it evolves. However the question is not if certain fractions can be found in other places than in blood too. The question is if those fractions are gained through blood. If they are gained from plants it’s no problem. If they are gained from the blood of another human it is a problem.
what are you talking about, the watchtower this week had very good instructions to help those who really want to obey God.
the watchtower bible principles not the Governing Body opinions
Hebrew 13:4
1 corinthians 6:18
it encourages Respect for the marriage arrangement, encourage young people to stay faithful despite all the bad influences they are facing with in school and their entourage.
flee from fornication, and not only you will Rejoice Jehovah but you will protect yourself.
so if you are against these types of instructions who is the wisest the Governing Body or you?
Resist Satan, Respect the Marriage Arrangement, Flee from Fornication,
Obey those who are taking the lead,
Reject bad Ambitions,
all are based on scriptures keep talking craps.
hebrew 13:17 said to obey those who are taking the lead among you.
this is a scripture from the bible if you don't like it, it is your problem.
if you have something to say againstthese instructions you are not talking yakee yak against the Governing Body you are talking against Jehovah Himself
because the instruction was based on the bible.
No wonder you are no longer a witness, you love satan world, you love independent spirit.
like the watchtower said you don't want no one to tell you what to do, you want to do your own things , but are you really independent, you know the answer to that. go figure
yes those who refused to follow instruction from the Governing Body are manifesting independent spirit because these were not personal opinions they are based on scriptures.
if you don't like the instructions and you have to yakkeee yakkk about the watchtower it is your problem. but those who appreciate these instructions and applied them will be protected and continue to serve the True God Jehovah
the sincere ones can thank Jehovah for the Governing Body, who provides good instruction for the time we are living now.
Nathan said:
"For example, if you accepted a blood transfusion. Of course this is against God’s law. But, and Ronde is wrong here, some people might be so afraid of dying in such a situation that their physician persuades them to accept blood. That does not necessarily mean that their faith is weak. "
I am not wrong here.
People, threatened with death and do something such as accept blood or renounce faith in Nazi times is not because of weak faith as it is not a voluntary decision. What matters is that which is voluntary.
"Remember what Peter did, although Jesus warned him that he would do so. He denied Jesus 3 times. But Peter surely wasn’t weak in faith. "
Sure he was. There was no threat against him. He ought to have said"I was with Jesus, got a problem with that?"
"And now here is the good side of the story. If it happens that someone accepts blood this way, he won’t be thrown out of the congregation. Yes it was an error, but people who recognize their errors are never thrown out. So the word ban does not fit, since you won’t be punished in the sense of a law."
You are correct there. The objective is not to throw people out but to help them get back up.
My comment was that, we hear theory alot and we hear application but not both together.
I gave an example such as when we use the hotels on the convention list, the rooming dept can get better rates, but when we don't then the hotels have no reason to cooperate. So being obedient is beneficial to all.
Some doctors will pressure patients to take blood by stating that he knows a Witness that has taken blood. But when we all abstain from blood, that does not happen and we help our brothers and sisters. And our stand has forced the medical community to accomodate us by creating bloodless medicine centers. Thus we all benefit by our obedience.
You are right ronde, if all would abstain from blood, it would be easier for the individual, because doctors couldn't say what you mentioned in your last post.
but as far as peter was concerned: well he was afraid! and yes there was threat on him. they would have tried to judge him along with jesus. he was not weak in faith generally, he had a weak moment. that is something completley different! if he had had a lack of faith, jesus would not have used him. juds had a general lack of faith. that is the difference!
and that is the reason why we do not throw out people who make errors! everybody makes errors. some make minor errors other major errors. but as long as we realize our errors and repent them, there is no problem.
Nathan, careful about talking about Peter; GBletters and others will accuse him of abusing that girl who accused him. Since he was the first FDS/GB they accuse him.
We do not throw out people who make errors, the only error is when people leave.
Of course we have to obey the GB and the Society. Who do you think is going to lead us after Armegeddon? Those who are obedient now will survive and be accustomed to following directions right on into the New System. Is is just that simple and that wonderful.
Except Anonymous, there is nothing specific from them that we have to obey.
What we do is because of love, not out of obedience.
lol, jw idiots...
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