WEBVTT
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Welcome to our update!
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How did the 2023 annual meeting affect you?
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Remember the information
that highlighted Jehovah
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as the merciful “Judge of all the earth”?
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We were thrilled to learn
that individuals who died
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in the Flood of Noah’s day,
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in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah,
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and even some who might repent
during the great tribulation
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could benefit from Jehovah’s mercy.
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Since hearing that information,
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have you found yourself
thinking a lot about Jehovah’s mercy?
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Well, so has the Governing Body.
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In our prayerful study,
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meditation, and discussions,
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we’ve focused our attention
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on how Jehovah has dealt with people
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who engaged in serious sin.
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In this update, we’ll briefly consider
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the pattern Jehovah set in the Bible record.
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Then, we’ll discuss some new information
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regarding the way we’ll handle
cases of wrongdoing
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in the Christian congregation.
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Second Peter 3:9 tells us
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that Jehovah “does not desire
anyone to be destroyed
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but desires all to attain to repentance.”
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What does that teach us?
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It helps us understand
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that Jehovah wants people
to repent and gain life.
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When the first human couple rebelled,
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they condemned the human race
to sin and death.
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What did Jehovah do?
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He took immediate steps
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to help as many of their descendants
as possible to gain life.
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Through the sacrifice of Jesus,
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Jehovah arranged to cover the sins
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of all who would exercise faith and repent.
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Such ones can live forever.
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So it’s not surprising
that throughout the Bible record,
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we find Jehovah
appealing to sinners to repent.
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He urges those
who have strayed from true worship to return.
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This is in harmony with Romans 2:4,
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which says:
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“Or do you despise
the riches of his kindness
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“and forbearance and patience,
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“because you do not know that God
in his kindness
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is trying to lead you to repentance?”
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Consider some examples
in which we see Jehovah
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trying to lead sinners to repentance.
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Cain showed murderous hatred
for his brother Abel,
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but Jehovah reached out to Cain
and tried to reason with him.
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When David sinned,
Jehovah used the prophet Nathan
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to lead David to repentance.
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And what about the nation of Israel?
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Jehovah kept appealing to them,
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even when they showed no desire to repent.
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At Ezekiel 33:11,
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Jehovah appeals to the nation of Israel:
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“As surely as I am alive, . . .
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“I take no pleasure
in the death of the wicked,
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“but rather that someone wicked
changes his way
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“and keeps living.
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“Turn back, turn back from your bad ways,
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for why should you die, O house of Israel?”
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What does this teach us?
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That while Jehovah
doesn’t force anyone to repent of his sins,
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he has demonstrated great compassion
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for imperfect humans.
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He’s gone to great lengths
to make forgiveness possible,
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to appeal to sinners,
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and to lead them to repentance
if at all possible.
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What a compassionate
and merciful God we worship!
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The Governing Body
has prayerfully considered
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how Jehovah’s mercy could be better reflected
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when dealing with wrongdoers
in the congregation.
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And that’s led to a clearer understanding
of three scriptures.
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Let’s consider the first.
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It’s 2 Timothy 2:24, 25.
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There Paul said:
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“For a slave of the Lord
does not need to fight,
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“but needs to be gentle toward all,
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“qualified to teach,
showing restraint when wronged,
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“instructing with mildness
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“those not favorably disposed.
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“Perhaps God may give them repentance
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leading to an accurate knowledge of truth.”
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To whom was Paul referring
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when he mentioned
“those not favorably disposed”?
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A study note on 2 Timothy 2:25 explains:
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“Paul uses a Greek word that in this context
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“refers to people
who resist Christian teachings
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“or who place themselves
in opposition to them.
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“Paul may have had in mind, among others,
those in the congregation
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“in Ephesus who had a negative attitude
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“toward following Scriptural counsel
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or heeding admonition
from brothers taking the lead.”
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Today, this could include
brothers and sisters in the congregation
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who disregard Scriptural counsel
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and become involved in serious wrongdoing.
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Someone who gets involved
in serious wrongdoing
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needs help from the elders,
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so a committee of elders
meets with the wrongdoer.
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The goal of these elders
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isn’t merely to judge
whether the wrongdoer is repentant
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but also to act in harmony
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with 2 Timothy 2:24, 25.
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The elders must correct
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and instruct the wrongdoer with mildness.
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What is their goal?
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Notice what another study note
on 2 Timothy 2:25 says.
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“When a Christian elder mildly corrects
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“or instructs ‘those not favorably disposed,’
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“the good result may be repentance,
or ‘a change of mind.’
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“The credit for such a change
in thinking and attitude
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“goes, not to any human, but to Jehovah,
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“who helps the wayward Christian
make this vital change.
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“Paul goes on to mention
some of the beautiful results
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“of such repentance
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“—it leads the sinner
to a more accurate knowledge of the truth,
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“it helps him come back to his proper senses,
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and it enables him
to escape from Satan’s snares.”
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So the elders have the goal
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of leading the wrongdoer to repentance.
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How does a clearer understanding
of 2 Timothy 2:24, 25
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adjust our current arrangement?
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Presently, a committee of elders
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normally meets
with a wrongdoer only one time.
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However, the Governing Body has decided
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that the committee may decide
to meet with the person more than once.
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Why?
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At Revelation 2:21,
regarding “that woman Jezebel,”
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Jesus said: “I gave her time to repent.”
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We hope that
through the loving efforts of the elders,
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Jehovah will help a wayward Christian
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to come back to his proper senses and repent.
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If he repents,
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the committee will provide shepherding
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so that the person
can escape from Satan’s snares
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and keep making straight paths for his feet.
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This arrangement reflects the same effort
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that Jehovah personally made
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to help David
and the nation of Israel to repent.
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What about baptized minors
—those under 18 years of age—
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who engage in serious wrongdoing?
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Under our current arrangement,
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such a baptized minor
along with his Christian parents
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must meet with a committee of elders.
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Under our new arrangement,
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two elders will meet
with the minor and his Christian parents.
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The elders will find out
what steps the parents have already taken
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to help their child come to repentance.
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If the minor has a good attitude
and the parents are reaching him,
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the two elders might decide
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that it isn’t necessary
to take the matter any further.
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Of course, the elders
will occasionally check with the parents
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to make sure that the minor
is getting the help he needs.
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However, what if a baptized minor
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unrepentantly persists in a wrong course?
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In that case, a committee of elders
would meet with him
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along with his Christian parents.
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The Governing Body is confident
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that these adjustments
reflect Jehovah’s desire
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to lead sinners to repentance.
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He wants them to “come to their senses
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and escape from the snare of the Devil.”
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“He does not desire anyone to be destroyed
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but desires all to attain to repentance.”
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Let’s move on to our second scripture.
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It’s 1 Corinthians 5:13, which says:
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“Remove the wicked person
from among yourselves.”
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The Bible clearly teaches
that an unrepentant wrongdoer
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should be removed from the congregation.
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And really, it’s a consequence
that the wrongdoer has chosen.
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Why so?
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Because he refuses to respond
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to repeated loving attempts by the elders
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to lead him to repentance.
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Even when the elders inform a person
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that he’s being removed
from the congregation,
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he won’t be left hopeless.
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The committee will not simply explain
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what steps he can take
to be welcomed back into the congregation.
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What else will they do?
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The elders will explain that they’d like
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to meet with the individual again
after a few months
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to see if he’s had a change of heart.
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If the individual is willing to meet,
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the elders will make a warm appeal
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for him to repent and return.
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What about individuals
who were disfellowshipped in the past,
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perhaps even many years ago?
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In some cases,
they may not even recall
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the reason they were disfellowshipped.
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They may have abandoned
their wrong course years ago.
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The Governing Body has decided
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that the elders should visit such ones,
pray with them,
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and make a warm appeal for them
to return to the congregation.
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If a person has been away
from the congregation for many years,
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he would no doubt be very weak spiritually.
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Therefore, if such a person is willing,
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the elders could arrange for him
to have a Bible study
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even before he’s reinstated.
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Of course, the individual
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would have to want
to return to the congregation,
00:11:28.448 --> 00:11:33.078 line:90% position:50% align:center
and the elders would always be the ones
to arrange for such a study.
00:11:34.163 --> 00:11:39.001 line:90% position:50% align:center
In imitation of Jehovah’s mercy
toward imperfect sinners,
00:11:39.001 --> 00:11:43.214 line:90% position:50% align:center
we want to reach out
and help as many as possible
00:11:43.214 --> 00:11:45.633 line:90% position:50% align:center
to know that the door is open
00:11:45.633 --> 00:11:48.636 line:90% position:50% align:center
for them to come back to the congregation.
00:11:49.512 --> 00:11:54.517 line:90% position:50% align:center
If you are a disfellowshipped person
listening to this update,
00:11:54.517 --> 00:11:58.354 line:90% position:50% align:center
we urge you
to accept the efforts of the elders
00:11:58.354 --> 00:12:01.942 line:90% position:50% align:center
to help you return to the congregation.
00:12:01.942 --> 00:12:05.987 line:90% position:50% align:center
If you’re living in an area
where you don’t know the local elders,
00:12:05.987 --> 00:12:10.075 line:90% position:50% align:center
please feel free to call
or visit the local Kingdom Hall
00:12:10.075 --> 00:12:13.120 line:90% position:50% align:center
and request spiritual assistance.
00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:17.833 line:90% position:50% align:center
Jehovah wants you to come home,
and we do too.
00:12:19.293 --> 00:12:22.046 line:90% position:50% align:center
In keeping with the Scriptural admonition
00:12:22.046 --> 00:12:25.007 line:90% position:50% align:center
at 1 Corinthians 5:11,
00:12:25.007 --> 00:12:28.553 line:90% position:50% align:center
when a person has been removed
from the congregation,
00:12:28.553 --> 00:12:31.472 line:90% position:50% align:center
we “stop keeping company” with that person,
00:12:31.472 --> 00:12:33.892 line:90% position:50% align:center
“not even eating with such a man.”
00:12:34.726 --> 00:12:36.936 line:90% position:50% align:center
That means we don’t socialize
00:12:36.936 --> 00:12:39.731 line:90% position:50% align:center
with those who are removed
from the congregation.
00:12:40.357 --> 00:12:43.151 line:90% position:50% align:center
However, that does not mean
00:12:43.151 --> 00:12:46.613 line:90% position:50% align:center
that a Christian could not invite
a disfellowshipped person
00:12:46.613 --> 00:12:49.533 line:90% position:50% align:center
to attend a congregation meeting.
00:12:49.533 --> 00:12:52.870 line:90% position:50% align:center
That disfellowshipped person
could be a relative,
00:12:52.870 --> 00:12:57.708 line:90% position:50% align:center
a former Bible student,
or someone we were close to in the past.
00:12:58.667 --> 00:13:02.797 line:90% position:50% align:center
How appropriate
this adjustment is at this time,
00:13:02.797 --> 00:13:07.802 line:90% position:50% align:center
as we’re preparing for the most important
meeting of the year, the Memorial,
00:13:07.802 --> 00:13:11.639 line:90% position:50% align:center
which will be held on Sunday, March 24!
00:13:12.849 --> 00:13:16.645 line:90% position:50% align:center
What if a disfellowshipped person
comes to a congregation meeting?
00:13:17.187 --> 00:13:20.440 line:90% position:50% align:center
Under our current arrangement,
we don’t say a greeting
00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:24.111 line:90% position:50% align:center
to individuals who’ve been removed
from the congregation.
00:13:24.111 --> 00:13:26.613 line:90% position:50% align:center
However, the Governing Body
00:13:26.613 --> 00:13:28.449 line:90% position:50% align:center
has decided that publishers
00:13:28.449 --> 00:13:31.827 line:90% position:50% align:center
can use their Bible-trained conscience
00:13:31.827 --> 00:13:34.622 line:90% position:50% align:center
to decide whether to give a simple greeting
00:13:34.622 --> 00:13:37.208 line:90% position:50% align:center
and welcome a disfellowshipped individual
00:13:37.208 --> 00:13:39.961 line:90% position:50% align:center
who attends a congregation meeting.
00:13:39.961 --> 00:13:41.838 line:90% position:50% align:center
Hi.
00:13:41.838 --> 00:13:43.965 line:90% position:50% align:center
It’s so good to see you here.
00:13:45.049 --> 00:13:47.093 line:90% position:50% align:center
Thank you.
00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:52.933 line:90% position:50% align:center
While we wouldn’t have
an extended conversation
00:13:52.933 --> 00:13:55.894 line:90% position:50% align:center
or socialize with such a person,
00:13:55.894 --> 00:13:59.773 line:90% position:50% align:center
we do not need to ignore him completely.
00:14:01.108 --> 00:14:03.986 line:90% position:50% align:center
That brings us to our third scripture.
00:14:03.986 --> 00:14:06.822 line:90% position:50% align:center
It’s 2 John 9-11.
00:14:07.698 --> 00:14:09.116 line:90% position:50% align:center
There we read:
00:14:09.116 --> 00:14:13.120 line:90% position:50% align:center
“Everyone who pushes ahead
and does not remain
00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:15.122 line:90% position:50% align:center
“in the teaching of the Christ
00:14:15.122 --> 00:14:17.208 line:90% position:50% align:center
“does not have God.
00:14:17.208 --> 00:14:19.836 line:90% position:50% align:center
“The one who does remain in this teaching
00:14:19.836 --> 00:14:23.715 line:90% position:50% align:center
“is the one who has
both the Father and the Son.
00:14:23.715 --> 00:14:28.219 line:90% position:50% align:center
“If anyone comes to you
and does not bring this teaching,
00:14:28.219 --> 00:14:33.141 line:90% position:50% align:center
“do not receive him into your homes
or say a greeting to him.
00:14:33.141 --> 00:14:35.644 line:90% position:50% align:center
“For the one who says a greeting to him
00:14:35.644 --> 00:14:38.689 line:90% position:50% align:center
is a sharer in his wicked works.”
00:14:39.314 --> 00:14:42.109 line:90% position:50% align:center
But doesn’t 2 John 9-11 tell us
00:14:42.109 --> 00:14:44.612 line:90% position:50% align:center
not to say a greeting to anyone
00:14:44.612 --> 00:14:46.822 line:90% position:50% align:center
who’s been removed from the congregation?
00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:50.785 line:90% position:50% align:center
In examining the context of those verses,
00:14:50.785 --> 00:14:52.870 line:90% position:50% align:center
the Governing Body has concluded
00:14:52.870 --> 00:14:56.958 line:90% position:50% align:center
that the apostle John
was really describing apostates
00:14:56.958 --> 00:15:00.545 line:90% position:50% align:center
and others
who actively promoted wrong conduct.
00:15:01.337 --> 00:15:04.883 line:90% position:50% align:center
For good reason,
John strongly directed Christians
00:15:04.883 --> 00:15:07.719 line:90% position:50% align:center
not even to greet such a person
00:15:07.719 --> 00:15:10.722 line:90% position:50% align:center
because of his contaminating influence.
00:15:11.348 --> 00:15:16.353 line:90% position:50% align:center
Therefore, if a disfellowshipped individual
is a known apostate
00:15:16.353 --> 00:15:20.190 line:90% position:50% align:center
or someone
who actively promotes wrongdoing,
00:15:20.190 --> 00:15:22.902 line:90% position:50% align:center
the elders would not visit him.
00:15:22.902 --> 00:15:26.238 line:90% position:50% align:center
Neither would individual Christians
greet such a person
00:15:26.238 --> 00:15:29.992 line:90% position:50% align:center
or invite him to attend
a congregation meeting.
00:15:31.452 --> 00:15:35.540 line:90% position:50% align:center
In this update,
we’ve examined Jehovah’s desire
00:15:35.540 --> 00:15:38.418 line:90% position:50% align:center
to lead sinners to repentance
00:15:38.418 --> 00:15:42.213 line:90% position:50% align:center
and we’ve received clarification
on three scriptures
00:15:42.213 --> 00:15:45.467 line:90% position:50% align:center
that relate to how wrongdoers
should be dealt with.
00:15:46.343 --> 00:15:50.514 line:90% position:50% align:center
In harmony with 2 Timothy 2:24, 25,
00:15:50.514 --> 00:15:53.725 line:90% position:50% align:center
a committee of elders will lovingly correct
00:15:53.725 --> 00:15:56.020 line:90% position:50% align:center
and instruct a wrongdoer
00:15:56.020 --> 00:15:59.815 line:90% position:50% align:center
with the goal of leading him to repentance.
00:16:00.483 --> 00:16:03.861 line:90% position:50% align:center
As outlined at 1 Corinthians 5:13,
00:16:03.861 --> 00:16:06.822 line:90% position:50% align:center
a person who refuses to repent
00:16:06.822 --> 00:16:10.201 line:90% position:50% align:center
must be removed from the congregation.
00:16:10.201 --> 00:16:12.704 line:90% position:50% align:center
However, the committee will still try
00:16:12.704 --> 00:16:16.458 line:90% position:50% align:center
to help him see the need
to repent and return
00:16:16.458 --> 00:16:20.128 line:90% position:50% align:center
and will arrange
for a follow-up meeting in a few months.
00:16:21.004 --> 00:16:23.381 line:90% position:50% align:center
We also clarified our understanding
00:16:23.381 --> 00:16:25.550 line:90% position:50% align:center
of 2 John 9-11,
00:16:25.550 --> 00:16:29.596 line:90% position:50% align:center
which we learned
applies specifically to apostates
00:16:29.596 --> 00:16:33.392 line:90% position:50% align:center
and others
who actively promote wrong conduct,
00:16:33.392 --> 00:16:36.187 line:90% position:50% align:center
not to all those who have been removed
00:16:36.187 --> 00:16:38.189 line:90% position:50% align:center
from the congregation.
00:16:38.814 --> 00:16:41.609 line:90% position:50% align:center
Ever since the first human couple sinned,
00:16:41.609 --> 00:16:46.197 line:90% position:50% align:center
Jehovah has been working
to rescue repentant humans.
00:16:46.197 --> 00:16:48.992 line:90% position:50% align:center
Of course, Jehovah isn’t permissive,
00:16:48.992 --> 00:16:52.287 line:90% position:50% align:center
and he doesn’t shield unrepentant wrongdoers
00:16:52.287 --> 00:16:55.540 line:90% position:50% align:center
from the consequences of their actions.
00:16:55.540 --> 00:16:58.293 line:90% position:50% align:center
Still, in his love,
00:16:58.293 --> 00:17:01.838 line:90% position:50% align:center
Jehovah wants sinners
to become reconciled to him
00:17:01.838 --> 00:17:04.049 line:90% position:50% align:center
if at all possible.
00:17:04.049 --> 00:17:07.010 line:90% position:50% align:center
He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed,
00:17:07.010 --> 00:17:09.888 line:90% position:50% align:center
so he appeals to them to repent.
00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:15.394 line:90% position:50% align:center
Elders are privileged
to be fellow workers with Jehovah
00:17:15.394 --> 00:17:19.231 line:90% position:50% align:center
as they work to help sinners
come to repentance.
00:17:19.941 --> 00:17:23.903 line:90% position:50% align:center
Our love for Jehovah continues to deepen
00:17:23.903 --> 00:17:27.073 line:90% position:50% align:center
as we meditate on his love,
00:17:27.073 --> 00:17:30.452 line:90% position:50% align:center
mercy, and compassion.
00:17:30.452 --> 00:17:32.537 line:90% position:50% align:center
We know you’ll be happy to hear
00:17:32.537 --> 00:17:35.540 line:90% position:50% align:center
that the information contained in this update
00:17:35.540 --> 00:17:38.377 line:90% position:50% align:center
will be published in a series of articles
00:17:38.377 --> 00:17:42.214 line:90% position:50% align:center
that will appear
in the study edition of The Watchtower.
00:17:42.881 --> 00:17:46.218 line:90% position:50% align:center
In addition,
the elders will receive direction
00:17:46.218 --> 00:17:49.263 line:90% position:50% align:center
on how to apply this information.
00:17:49.972 --> 00:17:52.641 line:90% position:50% align:center
May Jehovah bless us
00:17:52.641 --> 00:17:55.853 line:90% position:50% align:center
as we work to implement these arrangements
00:17:55.853 --> 00:17:59.232 line:90% position:50% align:center
that reflect his love and mercy.
00:18:00.024 --> 00:18:01.859 line:90% position:50% align:center
Before we conclude,
00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:06.156 line:90% position:50% align:center
the Governing Body has asked me
to read the following announcement:
00:18:07.449 --> 00:18:09.534 line:90% position:50% align:center
“The Governing Body has decided
00:18:09.534 --> 00:18:12.496 line:90% position:50% align:center
“that sisters may choose to wear slacks
00:18:12.496 --> 00:18:15.123 line:90% position:50% align:center
“when participating in the ministry
00:18:15.123 --> 00:18:17.417 line:90% position:50% align:center
“and when attending Christian meetings,
00:18:17.417 --> 00:18:19.920 line:90% position:50% align:center
“assemblies, and conventions.
00:18:20.587 --> 00:18:24.633 line:90% position:50% align:center
“If a sister chooses
to wear slacks on such occasions,
00:18:24.633 --> 00:18:28.262 line:90% position:50% align:center
“they should not be casual but dignified,
00:18:28.262 --> 00:18:30.639 line:90% position:50% align:center
“modest, and appropriate.
00:18:31.641 --> 00:18:34.310 line:90% position:50% align:center
“When a sister has a part on the program,
00:18:34.310 --> 00:18:37.230 line:90% position:50% align:center
“she should wear a skirt or a dress
00:18:37.230 --> 00:18:40.358 line:90% position:50% align:center
“if that is the standard of dress
in that land.
00:18:41.150 --> 00:18:45.238 line:90% position:50% align:center
“Of course, some sisters
may choose to wear a skirt or a dress
00:18:45.238 --> 00:18:48.283 line:90% position:50% align:center
“even when they do not have
a part on the program.
00:18:49.242 --> 00:18:53.997 line:90% position:50% align:center
“In addition, brothers may choose
not to wear a tie or a jacket
00:18:53.997 --> 00:18:58.627 line:90% position:50% align:center
“when participating in the ministry
and when attending Christian meetings,
00:18:58.627 --> 00:19:01.922 line:90% position:50% align:center
“assemblies, and conventions.
00:19:01.922 --> 00:19:04.675 line:90% position:50% align:center
“If a brother chooses not to wear a tie
00:19:04.675 --> 00:19:07.219 line:90% position:50% align:center
“or a jacket on such occasions,
00:19:07.219 --> 00:19:10.556 line:90% position:50% align:center
“he should dress in a manner
that is appropriate,
00:19:10.556 --> 00:19:13.059 line:90% position:50% align:center
“modest, and dignified
00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:15.436 line:90% position:50% align:center
“—not casual.
00:19:15.436 --> 00:19:18.064 line:90% position:50% align:center
“When a brother has a part on the program,
00:19:18.064 --> 00:19:20.525 line:90% position:50% align:center
“he should wear a tie and a jacket
00:19:20.525 --> 00:19:24.029 line:90% position:50% align:center
“if that is the standard of dress
in that land.
00:19:24.029 --> 00:19:27.365 line:90% position:50% align:center
“Of course, some brothers
may choose to wear a tie or a jacket
00:19:27.365 --> 00:19:30.452 line:90% position:50% align:center
“even when they do not have
a part on the program.
00:19:31.244 --> 00:19:34.456 line:90% position:50% align:center
“When visiting Bethel,
it would be appropriate
00:19:34.456 --> 00:19:37.584 line:90% position:50% align:center
“for brothers to wear a tie and a jacket
00:19:37.584 --> 00:19:40.754 line:90% position:50% align:center
“and for sisters to wear a skirt or a dress
00:19:40.754 --> 00:19:44.383 line:90% position:50% align:center
if that is the standard of dress
in that land.”
00:19:46.260 --> 00:19:49.388 line:90% position:50% align:center
We love you all very much!
00:19:49.388 --> 00:19:52.517 line:90% position:50% align:center
From the World Headquarters
of Jehovah’s Witnesses,
00:19:52.517 --> 00:19:54.769 line:90% position:50% align:center
this is JW Broadcasting®.