ARE JWS A "PRIVILEGED" PEOPLE?

[Witness]

It seems the circumstances that prompts disfellowshipped JWs to return to the organization are usually after suffering severe hardships from one’s life choices, or the longing to return to family and friends. It could also be the loss of status and recognition no longer received on the outside. Often, it is a combination of all these reasons.

 

As I listened to a short clip of a circuit overseer’s account relating his choice and experience upon leaving the organization when young, it was apparent that he left for selfish reasons; and, he returned for selfish reasons. There was no awakening to the organization’s falsehoods and hypocrisy, no seeking truth through Jesus Christ, but purely his motivation was to experience the world of drugs and immorality, which brought him to the brink of collapse. This was not the difficult road to finding truth that many experience when leaving the WT, but an alternative fork in Satan’s deceptive world, leading to hardship. (Matt 5:10,11; 7:14) 

 

Before doing this, he had been a regular pioneer, a title that comes with status, and was supported fully by his family through his development process of becoming a baptized JW. He stated his return came with discipline through guidance of ‘loving’ elders. He mentioned that this discipline ‘molded and trained’ him…to accomplish what? As he said; ultimately, he received “privileges and service” that he would never have imagined.

 

I thought of the frequent use of the word, ‘privilege’ found in the magazines. Just quickly searching for it on the JW website, brought up 3,891 hits. I tend to bristle at the organization’s use of this word, since it relays a sense of superiority, from the elite leadership, down to its members. (Matt 20:26,27; 23:12; Phil 2:3,4) 

The apostles and anointed throughout time, suffered affliction repeatedly, while under service to God and their Master. (Acts 7:57-70; 1 Cor 4:11-13; 2 Cor 11:23-29; 1 Pet 4:12; Heb 10:32; 2 Tim 3:12)

 

The peace and love they experienced was amidst those conditions, which is completely contrary to this man’s experience. Likewise, those who leave this Beast/organization and its “false prophet” to serve the Father whole-souled, suffer persecution from their own spiritual and fleshly family members. Jesus predicted that any who obey his teachings and follow him, would expect such treatment from their own people. (Luke 10:25-28; Matt 5:10,11;10:38; John 15:18; Luke 21:12; John 16:2; Heb 13:13; 2 Tim 3:12; Rev 13:15) 

The type of privileges and service the overseer and thousands like him enjoy, is not related to serving God; but related to serving men and their disciplinary rules necessary to run an earthly organization – a religious idol. (Rom 1:25; Rev 13:1,2,4,11,12,16,17) 

 

The English word, “privilege” can be defined as “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.”

Contrast that with the Bible’s use of the word, “charis” (Rom 12:6) which many translations do define as “privilege”; yet, its primary application is “graciousness…especially the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life; including gratitude”. Basically, it is the gift of divine favor, grace and its benefit. Through the anointed Body of Christ, these gifts of the Spirit benefit all believers in Christ. (1 Cor 12:4-7; 1 Cor 4:1; 2 Cor 5:20; Eph 4:29) 

 

Who bestowed the “privilege” of bearing the title of elder and circuit overseer on this man? God? Although it is said that Holy Spirit plays a hand in deciding who becomes an elder, they are appointed through a system of recommendations by a body of elders and circuit overseers. On the other hand, an anointing by God, which is an appointment of service under Christ, involves no other person but the individual receiving the outpouring of Holy Spirit. (John 15:16; Rom 5:5; 8:16,28; 1 John 2:27; Gal 1:11,12) While this appointment by the Father is both subtly attacked and ignored in the organization, man’s choice of who are to shepherd, is heightened and honored. (Jer 23:1,2) 

 

The circuit overseer calls elders “trained spiritual doctors”. (Jer 8:11) This type of verbiage is just what JWs willingly respond to. I’ve heard many members fully defend the elder body, while giving little notice to the anointed in their congregations, whose spiritual “molding” and training is to be received directly from God and their Head, Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:7; Eph 2:10; Phil 2:13; Heb 13:20,21) 

 

Yet, the majority of God’s called ones, also defend the power and privilege of those who rule over them. The “divine influence on the heart” of an anointed one is the receiving of God’s laws as His priest. No JW can see this with their spiritual perception, let alone with their literal eyes; thus, these laws lay unheeded in the anointed heart. An anointed one is not sought after to teach the people. (Mal 2:7; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Heb 8:10) JWs see the training of elders through regulations and protocol outlined by the organization, which takes precedence over the laws of God fulfilled in Christ. (Matt 5:17-20; Mark 7:7,8; Col 2:20,21; Eph 4:14; Gal 1:11,12)

This is exactly what Satan desires them to see. (2 Thes 2:3,4,9-12; Rev 13:1-4) 

 

"When Jesus describes which of his slaves are rewarded in the life to come, he portrays them...
NOT as men who have already honored themselves or one another....
but as men that wait for Jesus himself to judge and honor them...when he returns.
(see Matt.25:19,20,21)
 

Now I must tell you, that although Jesus taught us to lower ourselves and not to accept glorifying titles.....
"Jehovah's Witnesses" ARE GUILTY OF THIS.
They may not use the title "Reverend", but they do use the titles of "elder", "overseer", Pioneer", etc.
all of which bestow undeserved honor. To learn FROM THE BIBLE who deserves to be called an "older man" and "overseer", is to realize that those who carry these titles, do so without scriptural backing. They may believe that they fulfill the scriptural qualifications (1Tim.3:1-9) for these titles, but they believe so in their ignorance. They do not dig deep enough into the Bible, to see who these "overseers" really are (1Pet.5:2; Deut.15:10; Isa.65:22). 

The word "pioneer" or "governing body" is not in the Bible (Gal.1:15,16,17,11,12; Mark10:42,43), nor their designations, nor their positions (Matt.6:1,2,3,4).

Pearl Doxsey, "Accepting Titles"

 

The man in the video said he “poured his heart out to Jehovah” in prayer, wanting to return to him. In truth, his return was to the same spiritually corrupt religious system he had left; this time to rise in rank as an integral element in the “trampling” of God’s Temple priesthood, resulting in truth of God’s Word in Christ, being cast “to the ground”. (Dan 8:10-12;Matt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:3,4; Rev 9:3-5; 13:5-7; 11:1,2) 

This is also due to God’s priests, bending their backs to those who bear titles approved by men. (Ezek 44:6-9; Mal 2:8,9; Jer 3:12; Hos 14:1,2;Isa 51:1,7; Jer 1:19; 23; 1 Cor 7:23; Gal 1:10) 

 

 

Jer 8:4-13 -

“Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘When people fall down, do they not get up?
When someone turns away, do they not return?
5 Why then have these people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;
they refuse to return.
6 I have listened attentively,
but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent of their wickedness,
saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course
like a horse charging into battle.
7 Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know
the requirements of the Lord.

8 “‘How can you say, “We are wise,
for we have the law of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
has handled it falsely?
9 The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and trapped.
Since they have rejected the word of the Lord,
what kind of wisdom do they have?
10 Therefore I will give their wives to other men
and their fields to new owners.
From the least to the greatest,
all are greedy for gain;
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.
11 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
“Peace, peace,” they say,
when there is no peace.
12 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when they are punished,
says the Lord.

13 “‘I will take away their harvest,
declares the Lord.
There will be no grapes on the vine.
There will be no figs on the tree,
and their leaves will wither.
What I have given them
will be taken from them.’”

 

At https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/

Where is the "True Religion" -- Christ's Body -- God's Temple? 

“Superiority? No..., not for any one of us” -

Are Elders Spirit-Appointed? -

The Anointing Teaches Truth--How? / The "Refining Pot" / Who should partake, and when? / "Tribulation"

Foolish Virgins -

Holy Spirit at work / The "Token"