The title mentioned above is the title of the last talk of this year's regional convention/district convention program.

Generally, by the time I get to the end of a convention program, I just sit back and listen to the speaker summarise the program.

This time, I recognised who the speaker was and sat up straight, making sure that I followed every word. (Almost swallowed my peppermints whole - wasn't expecting to see this brother on the platform.)

The speaker was Rodney Spinks - he is the head of the Service Department of the Australian Bethel and was one of the brothers who was interviewed publicly during the Australian Royal Commission Into Child Abuse.

He made several statements which, if were looked at on their own merit would not be very significant. However, when looked at altogether and in context of what Mr Spinks was speaking about, I find some of them to be unusual, particularly the choice of wording. Also, bearing in mind, that Mr Spinks has been interviewed by the Royal Commission and so has some inside knowledge on a matter that some rank-and-file brothers and sisters may not have. (I believe that some brothers and sisters are aware of the work of the Royal Commission, it's just that they don't discuss it openly.)

I don't have time to expand on that today but will add to this later.

 

Mr Spinks began by speaking about the loyalty programs that airlines and stores use to reward their customers. He stated that “this is just business and that the airlines and stores don’t really love you as a customer.” “Jehovah rewards his loyal servants.”

Psalms 97:10.

The theme of the talk was from Psalms 4:3 – “Know that Jehovah will treat his loyal one in a special way. Jehovah will hear when I call to him.”

Footnote reads: “Or distinguish his loyal one; set his loyal one apart for himself.”




How will Jehovah treat his loyal one in a special way? – Psalms 4:1-8. David was confident that Jehovah would hear his prayer. Philipians 4:7.

“Jehovah loves us when we are loyal.” I believe that statement too. But concealing child abuse within the organisation, is not an act of loyalty. So why would Jehovah protect the organization from discipline?

He related an experience where a Witness family was kidnapped and later released alive. The family prayed to Jehovah for strength.

“Jehovah didn’t take the chains off from the feet of the kidnapped people.”

“We will have trials before and during the Great Tribulation.”



The convention is one means that Jehovah uses to treat his loyal one in a special way. – He reviewed the convention program. He mentioned the “bunker videos” (only he referred to them as the “basement” videos.) I personally couldn’t tell what the difference was. Anyway, he talked about how the brothers/sisters related how they had overcome obstacles to their faith.

No mention was made of the Royal Commission or child abuse issues. These are subjects that he has inside information on. He did not share that with the rank-and-file brothers and sisters.



How will we meet the challenge of keeping loyal to Jehovah?


“If we get a test of loyalty, we have to remember that this test is not coming from Jehovah.”

Question - Is he going to remember that when the authorities act on the information they have received from the Royal Commission, and begin to search for the paeophiles and those who have concealed them?




Next, he talked about the experience of a young brother, Jonathan Walker. Jonathan had been diagnosed with leukemia and refused a blood transfusion. He passed away shortly afterwards.

“Jonathan wasn’t afraid to die.” “We need to show that same courage during the Great Tribulation.”

Question – why do the brothers/sisters in the bunker, need to have the courage to be ready to die?


In the past, when brothers have spoken about what trials we may experience during the Great Tribulation, they discuss being placed under ban and imprisonment and that we can’t be sure about what the future holds.

The authorities will not be searching for the brothers/sisters because they are Jehovah’s Witnesses. As already mentioned, they will be searching for paedophiles and those who have concealed them.

The penalty for child abuse crimes is imprisonment – in Australia, the penalty is not the death sentence. Mr Spinks would know this already.

Question – why didn’t he relate an experience about someone who was imprisoned for their faith? Why did he relate an experience about someone who died for their faith?




Next, he talked about the preceding drama about Hezekiah, who took a stand for Jehovah. Ahaz was an apostate. Yet Hezekiah did not follow example. There was a scene in the drama about a young girl who cared for an injured bird. Hezekiah advised her to set it free, when it had recovered. Mr Spinks said that this was a sublime message included in the drama – young ones who grow up in a divided household can leave home when they are old enough. They will be able to serve Jehovah without hindrance.


2 Kings 18:7. Hezekiah stood up to Sennacherib and the Assyrian army. Mr Spinks stated that “this was a very difficult situation. It wasn’t like he was negotiating with the Australian government.” That last statement is one of arrogance. It implies that he thinks the Watchtower Society is above the secular law.


“The organization will get good leadership. We will get good direction.”

Question – how will the brothers/sisters be getting good leadership and good direction, when the leadership is not being transparent with them, regarding events that affect Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Isn’t that the role of those in leadership in the organization? Don’t they serve as a “watchman?”




“We will come out on the wrong side of the government at times.”

Hezekiah maintained loyalty to Jehovah. 2 Kings 19:14-19. “If we are distressed, we should pray to Jehovah for help.” Jehovah blessed Hezekiah’s loyalty.




How will Jehovah treat his loyal one in a special way, in the future? – The directions will come from the “faithful and discreet slave.”

“There may be more ridicule and negative publicity.”


“Nations will turn on us. They know we have the truth.” (The nations will not be turning on Jehovah’s Witnesses because of who they are. It will be over child abuse issues. I believe that Mr Spinks is trying to “spin” this as “Look out! The nations are persecuting us!”)


Daniel 12:1. “Jehovah’s people will escape. Jehovah’s army will back us up.”


Next, there was a video depicting the resurrection.


He said: “Picture yourself in the resurrection scene, relating how you kept loyalty, in the same way that you recounted how you kept loyalty, staying in the basement.”

He didn’t say “picture yourself in the New System.” He said: “Picture yourself in the resurrection.”


I think that I could sum this talk up in 2 sentences. "Get to the bunker when you're told to. Don't be afraid to be die for your faith."

(Just speaking for myself here, if I die for my faith, it won't be over child abuse issues.)

 

Perhaps the child abuse issues are the prophetic "shaming" we'll have to endure?

Fortunately we can distance ourselves from the organization to people in our lives and make the higher argument.