JW's, how much would you do to obey the November 15th Watchtower order?

[I Try]

A disturbing quote from the November 15th Watchtower edition this year:

"At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not."

Would you, as suggested, take an unknown tablet at the bidding of your elders?

Would you stop going door to door at the bidding of your elders?

Would you stop speaking for one week to any person, including your family or other JW's at the bidding of your elders?

How far would you go or where would you stop at obeying this direction from the society?

I know taking an unknown tablet would not be sensible to a strategic thinking person but you were told to do it anyway whether it appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not.

Honestly how far would you go to obey this direction?

Please don't answer with, "Our elders would never ask us to do anything like that." I am asking how far would you go not what would they ask you to do or not do.
NOTE, My question should have said November 15th last year.
@Gary, the whole quote still makes no difference to to facts, you are told to obey these 8 men no matter how stupid it sounds, but you did not come close to answering my question just tried to make your organization sound better but failed.
@ Caribbean Man, you hit the nail on the head showing @Gary to be even further from reality.
@Good News Proclaimer, I was sure you have said over and over again you have no leaders but Jehovah, how come you would obey the men of the GB?

[curvedpatch164]

As long as what they tell us does not conflict with Jehovah's laws and righteous principles, then yes, I will be obedient to those taking the lead.

I will listen to the apostle Paul's instruction who said to be obedient to those taking the lead among you. He did write those words under inspiration from Jehovah.

Hebrews 13:17
Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you.

We are obedient and submissive to our shepherds. Are you?

[Christiana]

Yikes! This is worse than I ever imagined!

[Iron]

Would they run away if asked what flavor koolaid do they prefer?

Ok, in all seriousness. The more I think about this statement in the wt, it disturbs me more and more.
Just think about the wording. It is one thing to just say, be ready to obey, but by adding the words - NOT logical from a HUMAN STANDPOINT, takes on a whole different meaning.
Good news proclaimer says they will not do anything that goes against God's principles. But if you think about it, how could anything that does not sound logical from a human standpoint, not go against God's principles or right out Laws from Christ Jesus?
HUMAN STANDPOINT. JWS, take a min and think about those words.

[Call me Gary]

Lets see the context. Before your quote, this was related to us about Hezekiah.

"Concerned shepherd that he was, Hezekiah gathered the people and encouraged them spiritually with the words: “Do not be afraid nor be terrified because of the king of Assyria . . . , for with us there are more than there are with him. With him there is an arm of flesh, but with us there is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles.” What a faith-strengthening reminder—Jehovah would fight for his people! Upon hearing this, the Jews “began to brace themselves upon the words of Hezekiah the king of Judah.” Notice that it was “the words of Hezekiah” that caused the people to take heart. He and his princes and mighty men, as well as the prophets Micah and Isaiah, proved to be effective shepherds, just as Jehovah had foretold through his prophet.—2 Chron. 32:7, 8; read Micah 5:5, 6."

Jehovah would fight for His people!

The lesson goes on:

"Hezekiah was understandably upset, but instead of turning to a foreign power for help, he sent for Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah told Hezekiah: “He [Sennacherib] will not come into this city nor will he shoot an arrow there.” (2 Ki. 19:32) All that was required of the inhabitants of Jerusalem was that they stand their ground. Jehovah would fight for Judah. And fight he did! “It came about on that night that the angel of Jehovah proceeded to go out and strike down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians.” (2 Ki. 19:35) Judah’s salvation came, not by Hezekiah’s stopping up the fountains of waters of the city nor by his building up its walls, but by divine intervention."

Jehovah fought for His people!

The articles goes on:

"LESSONS FOR TODAY

The prophecy about seven shepherds and eight dukes has its major fulfillment in our day. The citizens of ancient Jerusalem were attacked by the Assyrians. In the near future, Jehovah’s apparently vulnerable people will come under attack from the modern-day “Assyrian,” whose intent will be to wipe them out. The Scriptures refer to that attack as well as the attack of ‘Gog of Magog,’ the attack of “the king of the north,” and the attack of “the kings of the earth.”

"Today, Jehovah certainly has provided an abundance of spiritual men to shepherd his precious sheep, to strengthen his people for the future attack of the modern-day “Assyrian.”"

"Elders who are reading this article can draw some useful conclusions from the account we have just considered: (1) The most practical step that we can take to prepare for the coming attack of “the Assyrian” is that of strengthening our faith in God and helping our brothers to do the same. (2) When “the Assyrian” attacks, the elders must be absolutely convinced that Jehovah will deliver us."

Then your quote:

"At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not."

And then what:

"Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith."

Is an elder counseling against people "putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions" appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint?

You have now been told what the article really means. Now please do not spread false accusations again.

edit:

Are you serious? Stop misrepresenting what was said! We are told to follow the lead of Christians even though it will seem stupid from non-Christians. The examples were secular education, material things and human institutions. Non-Christians push that the answer is a secular education, having all the toys in the word and man lead governments are all we need to put our trust in. Christians teach one another to trust in Christianity. This seems stupid advice from non-Christians.

[Psalms 37:9-11]

Please do not tell us how to answer. If you do not like hearing the truth, don't ask us questions.

If you want to know how Jehovah views things or what the Bible teaches, ask away.

It seems you have a problem with obeying anyone taking the lead.
Paul's council means nothing to you.

[Caribbean Man]

That Watchtower message was contradictory. Earlier it said not to put your trust in men. Then it turns around and tells JWs to obey seemingly unsound instructions coming from 8 men! Then right after that - in the very same paragraph - it tells them now is not the time to put their trust in human institutions.

"At that time, the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization [in actuality the 8 member human, governing body] may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not."

"Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions [like their man-made organization headed by their 8 member governing body?] to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith."

[Grey Tower]

A similar question went out on Facebook in the form of a poll, and attracted some very interesting responses from Jehovah's Witnesses. The link is in the source box below, if you want to check it out.

As regards the 15 November 2013 study Watchtower article, Seven Shepherds and Eight Dukes – what they mean for us today? here are some highlights:

The Watchtower study article is pointing forward to the coming great tribulation, when Jehovah's enemies will rise up against his people - Jehovah's Witnesses. The admonition to "obey any instructions we may receive" pertains to the future when Jehovah's Witnesses expect false religion and governments to turn against them. Here is their interpretation of the Bible characters:

HEZEKIAH = JESUS
LEVITES = JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES (led by the Faithful & Discreet Slave)
MODERN DAY ‘ASSYRIANS’ = ANY WHO ATTACK THE WATCHTOWER SOCIETY AND ITS TEACHINGS

“Elders who are reading this article can draw some useful conclusions from the account we have just considered: (1) The most practical step that we can take to prepare for the coming attack of ‘the Assyrian’ is that of strengthening our faith in God and helping our brothers to do the same. (2) When ‘the Assyrian’ attacks, the elders must be absolutely convinced that Jehovah will deliver us. (3) At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not. (4) Now is the time for any who may be putting their trust in secular education, material things, or human institutions to adjust their thinking. The elders must stand ready to help any who may now be wavering in their faith.” (p.20)

Below is a link to a review of this Watchtower study article. Also a link to another Watchtower article entitled 'Obey Jehovah's Shepherds.' “Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls.”—HEB. 13:17.

And just in case any Witness has forgotten, here are direct quotes from the Society on obedience:

4 January 2007 Watchtower, page 24 paragraph 12: “When we loyally submit to the direction of the faithful slave and its governing body, we are submitting to Christ.”

15 July 2011 Watchtower, page 24: “We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval.”

15 July 2013 Watchtower, page 20: "That faithful slave is the channel through which Jesus is feeding his true followers in this time of the end. It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual health and our relationship with God depend on this channel.”

As a former Jehovah's Witnesses, when the Society said "Jump!" our only question was "How high?" Remember, your salvation depends upon total obedience to your leaders.

LM

[Grey Tower]

You say @ Good News Proclaimer: "how come you would obey the men of the GB?"

What is it about her quoting of Hebrew 13:17 that you don't comprehend? Given the GB are "taking the lead" among Jehovah's people, and Hebrews 13:17 states "Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you," why would you then ask, "how come you would obey the men of the GB?"

The Watchtower study article you quote from gives the sort of circumstances [as CmG outlined] that might constitute "lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization [that] may not appear practical from a human standpoint."

The GB has a proven record of seeking to do things in obedience to what they perceive is Jehovah's will and direction for his people. Any mistakes they have made concerning prophesy have never been with any malicious intent. So why would JWs expect them to depart from that stance in the manner that you suggest, for example, "Would you stop speaking for one week to any person, including your family or other JW's at the bidding of your elders?"

All that sort of comment serves to prove is how inane and juvenile your thought processes must be.

[TRUTH IS ?]

Noah built an ark and it had never rained before.

You would have tried to get in at the last minute-sorry !

TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE

Of course, Jehovah is well aware of the state of affairs in the ancestral land of the Jews. About 420 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, he warned his people that if they turned away from his commandments and served other gods, he would “cut [them] off from upon the surface of the ground,” and the beautiful temple would “become heaps of ruins.” (1 Kings 9:6-9) True, Jehovah found delight in the land he had given to his people, the magnificent temple built in his honor, and the sacrifices made to him. But loyalty and obedience are more important than material things, even sacrifices. The prophet Samuel aptly said to King Saul: “Does Jehovah have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Look! To obey is better than a sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of rams.”—1 Samuel 15:22.