"Responding To Your Conscience"

Last week's Watchtower study article "Responding To Your Conscience" starts out with the idea that a governing body controlled (or should have) all first century congregrations in matters of conscience.

Paragraph 4 Over ten years earlier, the Christian governing body concluded that circumcision was no longer required to become a true worshipper, and they informed the congregations accordingly. (Acts 15:1, 2, 19-29) Yet, some on Crete were still 'adhering to the circumcision.' They openly disagreed with the governing body, "teaching things they ought not." (Titus 1:10, 11) With distorted thinking, they may have been advocating regulations from the Law about foods and ritual cleanness. They may even have been embellishing what the Law said, as did their predecessors in Jesus' day, as well as advocating Jewish fables and human commandments.-Mark 7:2, 3, 5, 15; 1 Timothy 4:3.

Has the society ever taught things considered as fables...

Reconciliation 1928 p14 "The constellation of the seven stars forming the Pleiades appears to be the crowning centre around which the known systems of the planets revolve even as our sun's planets obey the sun and travel in their respective orbits. It has been suggested, and with much weight, that one of the stars of that group is the dwelling-place of Jehovah and the place of the highest heavens"

"The constellation of the Pleiades is a small one compared with others which scientific instruments disclose to the wondering eyes of man. But the greatness in size of other stars or planets is small when compared with the Pleiades in importance, because the Pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of God."

...or human commandments?

The Watchtower August 15, 1978 "Extreme hair styles can easily lead one into a trap of the Devil also, and cause others to stumble. "

Our Kingdom Ministry April 2007 "Should we manifest a dignified appearance only when attending the program? Remember that many will observe us wearing our convention badges while in the convention city. Our appearance should make us stand out from the general public. Therefore, even during leisure time, such as when going out to eat after the program, we should dress as befits ministers who are in the city for the purpose of attending a Christian convention and should not wear such -clothing as jeans, shorts, or t-shirts. What a witness this will give to the community! Jehovah is pleased when our appearance bespeaks our role as ministers."

The Watchtower Study then misses the point.

Paragraph 6 How can we benefit from what Paul wrote to Titus? Well, observe the contrast found in this statement: "All things are clean to clean persons. But to persons defiled and faithless nothing is clean, but both their minds and their consciences are defiled." (Titus 1:15) Paul certainly was not saying that for a morally clean Christian, absolutely everything is clean and permissible. We can be sure of that because Paul had made clear in another letter that one practicing fornication, idolatry, spiritism, and so on "will not inherit God's kingdom." (Galatians 5:19-21) So we must conclude that Paul was stating a general truth about two types of people, those who are morally and spiritually clean and those who are not.

It's not easy to wonder why they didn't cite the rest of the scripture.

Galatians 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

That "so on" includes, hatred, jealousy, selfishness. Scripture also attests that all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8). We must be perfect like God is perfect and that won't happen unless He does it himself. Thank you Lord for being merciful upon this filthy sinner.

Suddenly, the Society decides this is a good time to talk about sex in front of young children listening or reading along.

Pargraph 7 The things that a sincere Christian needs to avoid are not limited to what the Bible specifically prohibits. As an example, consider this forthright statement: "Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers." (Hebrews 13:4) Even non-Christians and ones who know nothing of the Bible would rightly conclude that this verse rules out committing adultery. It is plain from this and other Bible passages that God condemns sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and someone other than the lawful husband or wife. What, though, about two unmarried persons engaging in oral sex? Many teenagers claim that this practice is harmless because it is not sexual intercourse. Could a Christian view oral sex as clean?

Paragraph 8 Hebrews 13:4 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 establish that God disapproves of both adultery and fornication (Greek, pornei'a). What does the latter include? The Greek term involves the use of the genital organs in either a natural or a perverted way with lewd intent. It includes all forms of illicit sexual relations outside of Scriptural marriage. So it includes oral sex, despite the fact that many teenagers around the world have been told or have come to the conclusion that oral sex is acceptable. True Christians do not guide their thinking and actions by the opinions of "profitless talkers, and deceivers of the mind." (Titus 1:10) They hold to the higher standard of the Holy Scriptures. Rather than try to make excuses for oral sex, they understand that Scripturally it is fornication, pornei'a, and they train their conscience accordingly.*-Acts 21:25; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5:3.

This isn't the first time (nor the most explicit) they do this, regardless of the age or maturity of the reader.

Sorry for posting this a couple of days later!