The Organisation Sponsored My Higher Education
During the recent Australian Royal Commission’s (ARC) inquiry into Jehovah’s Witnesses’ (JW) responses to child sexual abuse, many nuggets of truth came to light, not least of which concerned the subject of higher education.
I’d like to begin my analysis by saying: ‘Angus Stewart,[1] I salute you.’
The first witness to take the stand on August 5, 2015 was none other than Vincent Joseph Toole, 67, legal counsel for the Australian branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was appointed Elder in 1977, served as Circuit Overseer (CO) from 1980-1989, and from ’89 onwards became a bethelite in Australia. The interesting tidbit proceeds as follows:
Stewart: When you commenced working at the branch headquarters, is it then that you commenced your legal studies?
Toole: Yes, not long after I arrived there.
Stewart: Yes. And did the Branch Committee or the Jehovah’s Witnesses then sponsor your legal studies?
Toole: Yes.
Stewart: And in 1993 you completed those studies and were admitted as a solicitor, is that right?
Toole: Yes, that’s correct.
Stewart: And since then you’ve done legal work for ‘Jehovah’s Witness Australia’ or Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Australia on a voluntary basis, is that correct?
Toole: Yes, that’s right.
Angus Stewart SC, 50, the South African-born Counsel Assisting at the Australian Royal Commission.
Let’s back track a little bit. So the Australian branch of Jehovah’s Witness sponsored a Brother’s legal studies?
Wag net ‘n bietjie, let me rephrase: So the organisation took donated funds, out of the contribution boxes, in order to sponsor a Brother’s pursuit of higher education?
[Laughing]
No wait! Wait wait wait, hold on, let me rephrase that just one more time; bear with me here… I have to process all of this: So the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses (the ‘Faithful and Discreet Slave’… ‘Guardians of our Doctrine’) authorized the sending of a Brother to university in order for him to obtain a law degree – higher education – notwithstanding the ‘fact’ that we are living in the Last Days, so deep in the time of the End, when Jehovah’s Day could come at any time?
Am I getting this right?
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane, shall we. Let’s peruse the pages of the Awake! magazine of May 22, 1969, pages 14 and 15. The title of said article reads: ‘What Future For the Young?’ It vigorously states:
‘If you are a young person, you […] need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this system of things […] because all evidence in fulfillment of bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. Of the generation that observed the beginning of the “Last Days” in 1914, Jesus foretold: “This generation will by no means pass away until all these things [including Armageddon]” occur. – Matthew 24:34. Therefore, as a young person, you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. [If you pursue a degree], where will this system of things be by [the time you finish]? It will be on its way towards the finish, if not actually gone!’ [Emphasis mine]
Awake! Magazine, May 22, 1969 told young people they will never fulfill any career because the End of this world is near.
Whoa! Okay… a‘ight.
[Laughing]
Gatta pattata!!!
To understand the nature of this Awake! article and it’s position, we have to put it in context. This article was written during the time when Witnesses the world over had a bona fide belief that the world would come to an end in 1975. This belief was not the invention of the rank-and-file Witness, it was a product of the organisation’s innovation. The book ‘Life Everlasting – In Freedom of the Sons of God’ (1966), a book believed to have been authoured by the then chief theologian, the late Frederick ‘The Wizard’ Franz, 73, speculated that ‘the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E.’ Further still the book emphatically proclaimed:
‘How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make this coming seventh period of a thousand years a Sabbath period of rest and release. […] It would be most fitting on God’s part [to make this a Sabbath].’[2] [Bold mine]
Also, one particular District Overseer (DO), Charles Sinutko, is credited as having said – at least in one District Convention held at Wisconsin Sheboygan (1967), in a talk entitled ‘Serving with Everlasting Life in View’ – the now famous words: “Stay alive ’til ’75.”
Again, in an effort to make the imminence clear in the minds of the Witnesses, one Watchtower article (1969) even stated:
‘In view of the short time left in which to do the work, Jehovah’s witnesses do not continue to study the bible with any who fail to respond to its urgent message within six months. […] This Arrangement is not meant to be harsh, but the urgency of the time in which we live demands it.’[3] [Bold mine]
There were earlier statements made (and written) in praise of those who abandoned ‘worldly’ pursuits and material goods in order to spend the ‘remaining months’[4] of this system serving ‘where the need is great.’ As an example, the Kingdom Ministry of 1974 stated:
‘Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly, this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end.’[5] [Bold mine]
Add to that the then understanding of the generation of Matthew 24:34, namely, that this referred to the literal generation of people that lived (or were born) in 1914; that it was ‘this generation’ of people, as a class, that would not go extinct before this system came to an end (i.e. Armageddon) – and, take note, this was before the current ‘overlapping generation’ innovation.
As further evidence of this, the Awake! masthead even confidently stated of itself that ‘this magazine build’s confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away.’ [Bold mine] This masthead was subsequently changed as of November 8, 1995 to read: ‘…secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.’
If that isn’t enough, there was a Watchtower (January 1, 1989) article that boldly stated:
‘The Apostle Paul was spearheading the Christian missionary activity. He was also laying a foundation for a work that would be completed in our 20th century.’[6] [Bold mine]
The ‘20th century’ part was subsequently airbrushed out in the bound volume edition of the Watchtower, to instead read: ‘…in our day.’ This suggests that the Governing Body was already preparing itself for the possibility of extra time, in case the ‘Creator’s promise’ failed.
The Watchtower January 1, 1989 stating a work to be completed in the 20th Century. Subsequently airbrushed.
Succeeding members of the Governing Body continued the onslaught on higher education with some radical rhetoric and guilt-tripping nuances. Consider the following.
In May 22, 2005 while giving a keynote talk at a Special convention in the city of Monza, Italy, Governing Body member, Gerrit Lösch, said:
‘Going to college or not may be a reflection of your faith, or lack of your faith, and it may indicate how present the imminence of the Great Tribulation is in your mind. What is undoubtable is that the time left is reduced […].
If you are currently going to college, why not meditate in prayer on the possibility of dropping out and doing something better? [..] There are more worthy reasons for not putting a worldly career first in our lives. […] The End is near.
[…] Now you have listened to the advice. What will you do now? Some advocate going to college by citing the example of some Elders’ children who are attending college or that did so [in the past]. We are not able, nor willing, to tell you what you should do. […] We are not masters over your faith; however, the Faithful and Discreet Slave has the responsibility to warn against spiritual dangers and to encourage to put kingdom interests first. So, the Slave discourages from going to college for a long period of time. I have often times heard experiences of individuals who were about to complete their college programs, and who dropped out when they learned the Truth. Some other baptised individuals have turned down scholarships. What will you do? What decision will you make? Will you refuse or not? Will you get a university education or not? You will be accountable to Jehovah for this. We would like to praise those in the audience who dropped out of college when they accepted the Truth, as we praise all those who, after listening to this talk, will make the same decision.
Maybe you still want to advocate the possibility of going to college. You may say: “You see, Brother X went to college, and now he’s serving in the congregation and is also a pioneer.” True, he may have survived college, so to speak. […] Some have survived college, but would you recommend that to others? Instead of investing in a higher education it would be advisable to grow in the knowledge of Jehovah.’[7]
Vincent Toole’s admission that the organisation sponsored his legal studies comes hot on the heels of the organisation’s eventual admission and confirmation, in the January 2015 JW Broadcasting monthly program, of the long-held rumours that the organisation not only launched, but financed, the higher education of a number of bethel brothers, assisting them obtain law degrees; one such brother being Philip Brumley, 59, son of missionary George Brumley,[8] who got accepted into bethel (circ. 1975), and subsequently became ‘overseer of the legal department’ (circ. 1987) having been admitted as an attorney in New York in 1988 – he obtained his law degree (JD) from Brooklyn Law School.[9]
Philip Brumley, 59, overseer of the legal department at world headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, was himself a beneficiary of a Watchtower sponsored higher education.
I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: Is this not patently duplicitous? You discourage higher education, you flood the subject with negativity, you question people’s motives, their faith, you tell them to trust in Jehovah, to abandon higher education, to drop out of college and ‘do something better’ (i.e. pioneering); you create these false dichotomies, making youngsters believe that it’s either one or the other, higher education or fulltime service, as if one can’t actually do both, as if it’s impossible to serve Jehovah while studying towards a degree; you tell people it’s their choice to decide, that they are free to do as they wish, that they are accountable to Jehovah, but then you turn around, generate pessimism and phobias around the topic, such that the words ‘higher education’ now carry a stigma and make the average Witness cringe and wince at the mere sound; and after creating this false dichotomy – this false choice – you effectively take the actual choice away; you put under review anyone holding a congregation privilege who happens to take up higher education, and in so doing, you create a climate of concealment and suppression, where anyone who chooses to study is left with little choice but to bend over backwards trying to fly under the radar of your anti-higher education missiles. Every opportunity you get, you take a jab at higher education. And yet, the funny thing is, at annual conventions and assemblies there’s usually a petition made out, for anyone who has a qualification (i.e. lawyers, doctors, dentists, nurses, engineers) to please consider rendering their services at the local bethel branch. Why, a bethelite once quoted to me – correctly or not – that Frans Muller, co-ordinator of the South African Branch Committee, once said: ‘We don’t encourage Brothers to go to university, but, if they have a degree, we’ll use it to the full.’
This sort of thing used to baffle me during my time as a regular pioneer; it created a conflict in my mind that I chalked up to a lack faith on my part. I now appreciate that the inconsistencies presented – based on empirical evidence – were gradually fermenting cognitive dissonance in my mind. Think: is the request for qualified persons not an appalling request under the circumstances? Would it not amount to an unconscionable attempt at having one’s bread buttered on both sides at the expense of others? You tell them not to go to varsity but then petition them to use their qualifications ‘to serve Jehovah’ – to serve you, really?! And worse still, you tell them not to pursue higher education, but then secretly send others to law school using the very funds donated by some of the most indigent Witnesses.
Governing Body member, Gerrit Lösch, one of the ‘Guardians of our Doctrines’ told youngsters to quit university and ‘do something better.’
You are poor examples of your own mandate. Yes, you tell Witnesses they are free to do what they want, but then you put all your ‘theocratic’ weight into discouraging them not to, you practically marinate them into your private views, through overt statements, subliminal messages and cherry-picked stories of Brother so-and-so who got wrecked by the pursuit of higher education. Your appeals to the emotions are stellar. You’ve crafted the art of argumentum ad passiones; your command thereof puts most propagandists to shame.
But, now, we must ask: what happened to the ‘fact’ that ‘you will never grow old in this system,’ that all ‘evidence’ shows that this system will end in a ‘few years,’ few ‘remaining months,’ the ‘20th century’ and that consequently ‘you will never fulfill any career that this system has to offer,’ that this system could very-well be ‘gone’ by the time you graduate and so why not consider ‘dropping out’ and doing something better?
When will you ‘Guardians of our Doctrines’ ever learn (to mind your own business)? When will you ever learn not to lord it over the flock? When will you learn not to super-impose yourselves? Did y’all never read the story of the highly esteemed prophet, Samuel, when he went to anoint as king one of the sons of Jesse? Jehovah made it abundantly clear that what mattered most was not Samuel’s view, but Jehovah’s view. Samuel was a bona fide prophet whose appointment was not contested, whose opinions were esteemed by the public, yes; and, yet, even he had to learn to step aside and let God; the reason was simply that ‘the way men sees is not the way God sees, for God sees what the heart is’ (1 Samuel 16:7). Will you ever learn?
Alas! To my dismay, empirical evidence suggests not any time soon… at least not in my generation.
#HigherEducation
#ThinkingWitnesses
[1] South African born lawyer, Angus Stewart SC, 50, Counsel Assisting at the Australian Royal Commission, case study of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
[2] Life Everlasting – In Freedom of the Sons of God (1966) pages 29, 30.
[3] ‘Have You Been Studying For Six Months?’ The Watchtower (969) May 15 page 312.
[4] The Watchtower (1941) September 15 page 288.
[5] ‘How Are You Using Your Life?’ Our Kingdom Ministry May 1974 page 3.
[6] The Watchtower (1989) January 1 page 12.
[7] The talk was captured on video and the YouTube link was last accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R4f9ygxDbk on September 28, 2015. The talk was delivered in Italian and we operate under the assumption that the subtitles are a fair translation of what was said.
[8] ‘The Joy that Serving Jehovah Has Brought Me’ The Watchtower (1992) December 1 pages 21-25.
[9] New York State Unified Court System: last accessed at https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorney/AttorneyDetails?attorneyId=5453452 on September 24, 2015.
Comments (20)
Everything published was actually very logical. However, think on this, suppose you added a little content?
I am not suggesting your information isn’t good, however suppose you added a post title that makes
people desire more? I mean The Organisation Sponsored My Higher Education – Thinking Witnesses is kinda plain. You could glance at
Yahoo’s front page and watch how they create article headlines to grab people to click.
You might try adding a video or a related picture or two to get people interested about
what you’ve written. Just my opinion, it could
bring your posts a little livelier.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. You may be correct in saying that my titles are “plain.” My approach has always been SEO oriented. Additionally, I aim to steer clear from sensationalism. But, nevertheless, I’ll take your advisement on board.
The governing body as a group is highly hypocritical.
Young people, please go to university if you desire it and available to you. You likely will never regret of having a solid education and a good way of making a living
Sober advice that, Milord. I vouch for it; and I base this, not on hearsay, but on empirical evidence.
Thanks Clement I find this a great surprise. Recently I was also surprised to find that contrary to what I had been told for years at the kingdom hall world class scholars do not have great respect for the New World Translation.
Yes, I personally have extreme reservations about the Revised NWT 2013 (“Silver Sword”) bible. They’ve diluted it too much, and they aren’t as forthcoming about the word insertions they put into this particular version. The current Silver Sword is not a bible for a serious student. But, otherwise, glad you found the article on higher education interesting, Adam. I certainly enjoyed writing it. 🙂
Education is the JW’s BIGGEST adversary. Think about this, the single thing that perpetuated slavery was….. The lack of Education! Keep people from educating themselves (don’t listen to apostate’s don’t even let it enter your mind) and you can make them do, believe anything. Education is ALWAYS the answer!
Yes, Rick. The average genuine Witness is encouraged to create a kind of “firewall” against potential “viruses,” but, unfortunately, this firewall, it seems, ends up blocking good sense and logic from entering in as well. The apostasy thing, as it was introduced in the early ’80s by the Watchtower, is purely a control mechanism. And, unfortunately, Witnesses seem to have a default readiness to accept it. Why? Simply because it comes from the “Faithful and Discreet Slave.” Never underestimate what men in power will do to remain in power. Ignorance can only be cured by reading and informing ourselves.
Very true and precise….Clement,how can I reach you
Hi, Pat. You may reach me by using the general form on our contact page.
Hi Clement,
I have a few questions for you. First, when you decided to get baptized as a JW, were you ignorant of the facts you are presenting in your blog? Namely, that the watchtower had made wrong predictions, that the GB call themselves faithful and discreet slave, that they claim to receive God’s guidance through His Holy Spirit, that they don’t encourage higher education, etc?
Second, do you still believe in God, and that the bible is His inspired word? If so, do you still preach the good news of God’s kingdom as actively and regularly as you did when you were a JW ?
Third, of the Christian denominations that you know, how do you think the JW’s rank in terms of bible interpretation accuracy and faithfulness to it ?
Fourth, why do you think Jesus spoke of a faithful and discreet slave when describing the last days ? Do you think that in the last days, this faithful slave would stand out ? If so, what would be the characteristics that would allow faithful followers of Christ to recognize this slave ? If I may ask, and assuming you do believe that this slave does exist, who do you think it is ?
Finally, from your website address, should one understand that your perception of JW’s is that they don’t think for themselves?
I will not hide the fact that I am a JW, but rest assured, I welcome any rational and civilized discussion or debate.
I’m not against education. In fact, I am a computer engineer and now, at the age of 40, I’m back in school to do a PhD in engineering.
All this to say that my questions are genuine and objective and my sole aim is to have an enriching discussion with you if you welcome the idea.
Apologies for the late reply, Samuel; your comment was erroneously marked as spam; only recently discovered that.
Let me begin by stating that I do not claim to be the ultimate authority for any subject matter presented; these are merely my views premised on documents I’ve seen and, of course, empirical evidence. I suspect you already have a sense of my views to a number of your question, for I have indulged them in previous blogs. Nevertheless, you do ask some fairly pertinent questions that deserve an answer.
1. There is difference between “knowing” something and “understanding” it. Prior to my baptism, I knew a lot of things, but I did not necessarily understand them; I did know enough to put them in context. My first congregation was what is colloquially called a “university congregation.” It was a predominantly young congregation full of publishers who had traveled to Johannesburg, some as far as the DRC, in order to study at the two university close by. I started attending meetings at said congregation in 2003. This, it should be noted, was the brief window in which the organisation had turned down the heat on higher education (beginning early ’90s). In that sense, Brixton was an “unusual” congregation, it was chalk-a-block with students, so I had no sense of the whole higher education thing. In fact, I was originally meant to get baptised in late 2004, but ended up doing so in 2005. Incidentally, it was in 2005 that the Governing Body went back to the anti-higher education stance. I was a teenager at the time, and I can’t say that I grasped the import of all of the, or even that I was in a position to connect those dots. In fact, I didn’t know all that was previously said about higher education; and the fact that I was in a “university congregation” didn’t give me any cause for concern. All I knew was: Hey, these are such nice people and they really want to serve God, and I want to too. Those were the circumstances of my baptism.
I was not aware of their many false predictions; I knew about the Governing Body, of course at that time they weren’t said to be the exclusive embodiment of the so-called Faithful and Discreet Slave. I recall while going through the baptismal questions, I generally knew all the answers that were sought, but when it came to the question of the Faithful and Discreet Slave, I didn’t even bother to attempt an answer, I told the Elder questioning me (Stephen le Roux) to just explain that to me. I can’t say that I understood, but suspect I accepted in in good faith (the idea was I can’t expect to understand everything now, one has to grow spiritually, and so I did what my bible instructor usually advised me to do when I didn’t grasp something, namely, to “put it on the shelf”). Additionally, I didn’t know how jealous (even “narcissistic”) the Governing Body was about their views of the bible, I certainly had no idea how they treat those who respectfully disagree with them – this whole “apostate” thing. I had no idea of that, none whatsoever. So yes, there were a lot of things that I didn’t know, and for those that I did, I didn’t appreciate the nuances.
2. I’ve always believed that there is a God. I’ve always had faith that there is a God. I like the idea that there is a God who deliberately created me and that there some divine purpose for my existence. I love those ideas. However, do I know that God exists? Frankly, I do not. Objectivity and self-honesty compel me to acknowledge that I am not 100% certain that he exists. Post-JW, I had to interrogate this subject in a way I had never allowed myself to before, for fear that it might be sacrilegious somehow. Does God exist? What if there is no God? What if all of this is for nothing? (An Elder buddy of mine admitted to having these questions cross his mind). And these are fair questions. My ultimate position as it currently stands, resembles that of Darwin and Sagan, namely, that I will withhold belief until such time as there is irrefutable evidence that he exists. I’ve been through a lot; from here forward I’m going to employ a healthy measure of skepticism. If there is a God and he takes offence, that “good fella” will just have to forgive me; I done been through a lot, yo. Too much.
I view the bible as interesting piece of literature. It has some good stuff… and it has some weird stuff. But, is it inspired? Frankly, I do not know. I couldn’t say for sure, but I welcome any conclusive evidence.
My contribution to mankind is primarily through my blog now.
3. In light of the previous statement, I think it’s pointless for me to rank JWs in relation to other denominations. I tend to view religions in the same light. In fact, I have a few unpublished articles that will expound on that.
4. As far as the whole faithful and discreet slave thing, what I know is that it was a parable by Jesus — a parable. What I also know is that you can make the bible say what you need it to say, and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve seen that happen way too many times. We could debate that particular subject for days and I don’t believe we’d be nearer to anything concrete. That’s just my view, I’m afraid. (Have a look at footnote 3 of my blog entitled: Quora What is it Like Being a Door-to-Door Proselytizer for an expended explanation of my position).
5. I think it would not be unfair to say that, at least as far as biblical interpretations are concerned, Jehovah’s Witnesses do their “thinking” by proxy, namely, through the Governing Body (see the blog: Who Thinks For You?). In fact, I think it’s common knowledge that the Governing Body actively impedes/discourages Jehovah’s Witnesses from originating private views on the scriptures independent of the Governing Body. Such private views are maligned as “independent thinking,” a very loaded term among Witnesses, a term classed with the traits of the devil, having the real potential of labeling them as “apostates” with all the concomitant effects thereof. So no, I don’t believe Jehovah’s Witnesses think for themselves. My aim, through this website, is to encourage them to think for themselves. I do not in anyway insist that they share my views, but that, at the very least, they should make the necessary exploration and come to a truly self-informed conclusion. If, after such a fair and honest exploration, they still maintain the same views as the Governing Body, then, man, I’m happy for them. At that point, one becomes truly accountable.
Well, Samuel, that’s my tuppence.
If what you say about your circumstances is true, Samuel, then you, my friend, are what may be considered an “aberrant Witness,” chatting with “apostates” and what-have-you. But, if I may quote an African proverb: “Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse.” So, keep searching, keep making sure of all things. I respect whatever views you have, even if they don’t align with mine.
Take Care.
Hi again Clement
first I’m very sorry you’ve been through many hardships and tribulations in your life. You know as well as I do what the Bible says about the imperfect world we live in.
Personally I’ve tried to find an explanation about the reasons of our sufferings and why we still cling to life no matter what. If Darwin’s theory makes any sense, then we’re nothing but a product of random mutations that started for no reason. Even your brain would be unreliable since it’s not designed, but only a blob of matter who happens to have the ability to produce thoughts. You wouldn’t be able to make decisions as you wouldn’t have free will.
Maintaining a position like the one of Darwin or Sagan will lead you down a path of darkness and will make you lose the most precious thing you had: a relationship with your Creator. And that doesn’t mean you have to be a JW. God’s word is available to all and it contains the truth that neither Sagan nor Darwin nor Hawking or any other imperfect human, regardless of their intelligence and education, possess.
God’s Word is outside space and time, it is always the same, which is why for centuries the Bible has been the world’s most widely available book, despite the countless attempts to exterminate it.
I can feel that you’re somewhat frustrated with God for letting you go through tribulations. It’s understandable. However, please don’t let the agnostics or atheists who worship science and highly ranked scientists cause you to miss out on the big prize that is awaiting you if you remain faithful to the almighty through all situations. These reveered scientists are only humans like you and me and have nothing to offer you except illusion. I’m specifically talking about the ones who do their utmost to make people believe there’s no God and the universe, space and time, the thousands of laws governing the universe, etc, just popped out from nothing. All the information contained in the building blocks of life came from a mindless process, as if that was possible. They have a agenda and they are being used by the enemy of humankind, who wants you and me and everyone on this planet to lose faith in our maker. You know better than that Clement, don’t fall in the Devil’s trap.
If there’s one thing I’d wish you would do is simply to read the Bible again and see how it answers all your questions infinitely better than anyone can.
Regards my friend
Hi Sam,
Thanks for your feed back. For what it’s worth, you sound like a good guy; I appreciate your concern for my personal well-being. I feel I must clarify myself, however. I do not specifically champion evolution (I don’t necessarily dismiss it either), neither am I an atheist. As far as my “sympathies” with Darwin and Sagan go, I relate to the actual position that they maintain, and especially the logic that led to it — this position being: I do not know for certain, beyond the shadow of a doubt, about option “A” or “B”, and such being the case, I will await any conclusive evidence and definitive answer, in the meantime, I will be interrogating these two options (See footnote 1 and 2 on the article “Carl Sagan on Jehovah’s Witnesses” for a better explanation).
I know and understand that I am predisposed to one of the two options, namely, the existence of God; I love the idea. However, I have since consciously stripped myself (or have attempted to) of any “bias” and am prepared to let the facts speak for themselves, either way. This is a personal “battle” of mine, partly documented in my blogs.
I will, however, take your advice on board and will be ever mindful of your warranted concerns.
🙂
Hello Clement,
I am not commenting to support anybody, me being one of jw. I always had wondered when GB makes bold claims regarding prophecy and higher education. I truly accept they failed miserbly. However I often ask myself, living a comfortable lifestyle and having Higher education degree and at the same time working for Jehovah is it wrong?
The scriptures answer is very clear,
1 Timothy 6:17-21
You don’t get any better than what is written.
James 4:11-15
What I am coming to say is you need balance when you either criticize someone or somebody for what they have done wrongly. There is no doubt that GB has personally involved in the lives of Jws and became a master over their faith which Apostle Paul warned. But it’s true that whatever they have said is right, but the point is never force or blackmail others. Each one will carry his own load.
At the same time judging others with a scale of inaccurate readings at the same time is wrong.
James 3:11-18
Rick,
While we might disagree on the finer details, I do appreciate your effort towards a more balanced outlook.
#But it’s true that whatever they have said is right#
This statement is not claim to say they never failed in their words. It means what they said till now is morally right. I did not mean the general word “right”. That was very important since today’s world is morally degraded and in debauchery. When something comes from them although they make bold claims they never go out of God given moral standards. Although they need to improve in the judiciary committee, and they will make the needed change. And again the point never a unclean or immoral come across from GB. This makes them precious in Jehovah’s eyes.
Daniel 1:8, 9:23, 10:11, 19
James 5:7, 8
There is Latin maxim that I’ve come to appreciate over the years: “audi alteram partem.” Basically, it is the idea of reserving judgment until you have given yourself a chance to hear the other side of the story.
Once you have the benefit of both sides, then you are empowered to make a value judgment…
Rick, the Governing Body and their policies have affected people’s lives in a very real way. We should take care never to minimise that…
Do as I say. But, don’t do as I do. Watchtower, first stance was no higher education. Then, they changed their minds. Now, they say no higher education. This flip-flop stance continues to be a burden on people. Watchtower paying for higher education to get Philip Brumley a law degree and eventually pass the bar exam is confusing for the majority of the brothers and sisters.
The reason for the flip flop in education is because Brother Schroeder, one of the Governing Body members, was an advocate for higher education. His son had attended university. The rules were changed, not due to Holy Spirit, but because died in 2006. So there you have it. It goes to show that the Governing Body makes rules of hardship for the rank and file, but ensures they themselves and their families don’t have to live by the same rules.