"We Want to Go With You:

HOW SHOULD YOU REACT?

How should you treat someone who partakes of the Memorial emblems?  Jesus told his disciples:  "All of you are brothers." He went on to say:  "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted ."  (Matthew 23:8-12)  Therefore, it would be wrong to exalt individuals, even if they are anointed brothers of Christ.  Speaking about Christian elders, the Bible encourages us to imitate the faith of those who take the lead, but it never commands us to elevate any human as our leader.  (Hebrews 13:7)  (note: we are to imitate God and Jesus Christ, because anointed or not, they are still imperfect and make mistakes. When we do, we need to ask for forgiveness; But God and Christ are perfect, so  those are the ones, we imitate. These words from the writer of the publications, to me,  are not thinking clearly when they say those words,they forget they are not perfect like God and Christ are. Please keep that in mind.We don't know how they act at home. Just saying.)   True, the Scriptures speak of some as being "considered worthy of honor, not because they are anointed, but because they "preside in a fine way" and "work hard in speaking and teaching." (1 Timothy 5:17)  Therefore, it would be embarrassing for those with a heavenly calling if others were to give them undue praise or attention.  Worse still, if they received special treatment, anointed Christians might find it difficult to remain humble.  (Romans 12:3) None of us would want to cause one of Christ's brothers to stumble! - Luke 17:2. 

Note: We are all imperfect and sin, and to not stumble or sin in any way at all, is presuming we are perfect and we are not. Being perfect is not sinning at all, and only God and Jesus Christ can claim that perfection. 

How can we show appropriate respect for those whom Jehovah chooses to anoint? We would not ask them personal questions about their anointing.  We thus avoid meddling with what does not concern us.  (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:11) We should not  assume that the parents, spouse, or other relatives  of one of the anointed would also be anointed.  Genetics or marriage play no part in the process.  (1 Thessalonians 2:12) We should also resist the urge to quiz spouses of anointed ones about how they feel knowing that  they will live without their mate  in the future earthly Paradise.  Rather than raise questions that may cause pain, all of us can full confidence that Jehovah  will open his hand and "satisfy the desire of every living thing." -Psalm 145:16. 

Those who treat anointed Christians in a proper manner protect themselves from an insidious danger. The Scriptures tell us that "false brothers" can slip into the congregation.  (Galatians 2:4, 5; 1 John 2:19) These impostors may even claim  to be anointed. In addition, some anointed Christians may fall away from the faith.  (Matthew 25:10-12; 2 Peter 2:20, 21) If we avoid the trap of "admiring personalities,," we will not be drawn away from the truth by such ones; nor will our faith suffer a crippling blow if a prominent or long-serving Christian becomes unfaithful. -Jude 16. 

Note: If they became unfaithful, it is because their faith was as strong as they thought it was.  But all in all you can be swayed to go the wrong path; particularly if you associate with a false Christian enough.  

Next time: "We Want to Go With You" - WHAT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF THOSE PARTAKING IN THE MEMORIAL? 

From the jw.org publications