This is one of the most disturbing studies that I have read in a while.
The Watchtower's tack in recent years has been trying to set up a mythic battle between Jehovah and apostates. They used to concentrate on the invisible spiritual battle between Jehovah and Satan. The fear of evil "apostates" is built up to a ridiculous level. I thought it was Satan the Devil making life so hard for witnesses. No, it's apostates and their reasonings. This article didn't associate bad ol' King Jeroboam with Satan the Devil, no, he's equated to modern- day apostates!
Para. 14. What should be our response to apostate thinking?
Like the faithful Levites back in the tenth century B.C.E., God's loyal ones today are not deceived by apostate ideas. Anointed ones and their Christian associates are quick to avoid and reject apostate ideas. (Read Romams 16:17.) While we gladly submit to governmental authorities in secular matters and remain neutral in worldly conflicts, our loyalty goes to God's Kingdom. (John 18:36; Rom. 13:1-8) We reject the false claimsof those who profess to be serving God and at the same time dishonor him by their conduct.-Titus 1:16.
What are the "apostate ideas"? The Watchtower never actually says what they are? Why not?
There is also an incessant repetition of how Witnesses are put their trust in a man made human organization.
See paragraph 15 which says:
With hearts full of gratitude, we stay close to "the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time." Christ has appointed this slave "over all his belongings." (Matt. 24:45-47) Therefore, even if we as individuals do not fully understand a certain position taken by the slave class (Note: there is no Slave Class mentioned in the Bible), that is no reason for us to reject it or return to Satan's world. Instead, loyalty will move us to act humbly and wait on Jehovah to clarify matters.
Don't you just love the cautionary "wait on Jehovah" phrase? This same phrase is used by cults to get it's members to submit blindly and humbly to whatever it is they say. Witnesses are too stupid to figure it out for themselves. Witnesses are just to wait until the Governing Body tells them what to think.
Look at these quotes from previous Watchtower magazines that admonish witnesses to keep on being loyal to a man made organization:
*** w06 5/15 p. 22 par. 8 Are You Prepared for Survival? ***Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah’s universal organization.
*** w06 9/1 p. 16 Highlights From Book Five of Psalms ***Have we formed a loyal attachment to the organization that Jehovah is using today?
*** w00 8/15 p. 28 Are You a “Full-Grown” Christian? ***How inappropriate it would be to challenge or undermine the authority of appointed elders! You should also feel a sense of loyalty to “the faithful and discreet slave” and the agencies that are used to disseminate spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45) Be quick to read and apply the information found in The Watchtower and its companion publications.
*** w07 4/1 p. 24 par. 12 Loyal to Christ and His Faithful Slave ***Therefore, when we loyally submit to the direction of the faithful slave and its Governing Body, we are submitting to Christ, the slave’s Master.
It is incredible that after over 100 years of this religion and after over 100 years of them still having to correct their teachings that people still put trust in them. It is crystal clear that this religion does not have Jehovah's blessings and it never will.
34 comments:
Good and yet scary stuff LGB. It is sad though too. No "Governing Body", No "Slave Class", mentioned in the Bible. But followers are told to keep waiting on them by stating to the masses to "wait on Jehovah". Indeed, Jehovah is clearly not with such an organization.
Use Common Sense
Isa 60:22
Whatever you write or say not is stoping his car from moving forward !!!
Peace
Questions for thought:
Do you believe that the Bible was written to all people? (Acts 17:30; 1 Cor. 1:2)
Do you believe that true Christians have always existed somewhere in the last 2000 years?
Do you believe that anyone, anywhere, who just had a Bible, and no other literature, could understand it and be saved?
Do you think a person should examine not only the teachings, but also the history of any religious organization before deciding it is the truth?
What if I joined one of these groups and later discovered fraud at the top of the organization, or that they have altered their teachings or prophecies? Should I stay in it?
Both Deuteronomy 18:20-22 and Matt. 24:11,23-27 warn us of false prophets. How would one identify a false prophet using these verses?
What would you think if members of a certain religion were not allowed to read other religious literature?
The Mormons claim that one must study their books to attain to an accurate knowledge of the Scriptures, even though they also use the Bible. What do you think of that?
If I were examining the Mormons, etc., do you think it would be a good idea to read books by ex-members?
What if all dissent from a religion is seen as evidence of pride or sin?
What if this religion is not open to public criticism? What if they do not allow for public debate?
Can the Bible be interpreted correctly only by the Watchtower?
(Acts 17:11; 1 John 2:26,27)
What method does the Watchtower use to interpret Scripture?
Do prominent scholars, either secular or religious, support the Watchtower interpretations of Scripture?
Does the Watchtower believe all other "Christian" groups are false?
Does a person have to be part of the Watchtower organization to be saved?
What does the Watchtower consider as proof that they are the real Christians? Are these marks exclusive to the Watchtower, or are they shared by other religions?
Isaiah 60:22 (New King James Version)
22 A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation.
I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.”
Fantastic! That can apply to numerous religious organizations. Including growth of the Pentecostal movement From zero in 1901 to almost 450 million in 1999.
HERE'Ssome non-bias information.
In the first paragraph, Jerobeam is pictured as bad, because he required total submission of his people. What about the Governing Body, if you explain something in the Bible to co-witnesses different to today's spiritual light, you will be disfellowshiped as an apostate. Even if you claim to be an anointed and thus a part of the slaves, appointed to give spititual food, it will not save you. So who acts as Jerobeam today?
And the calf in the Bethel today?
And the sin of Jerobeam, he removed the true levite priests and put common people as priests. There is a similarity today. The anointed members of the Governing Body appoint common members of JW to be elders(priests). Even though the article pointed out that today's true priests are the anointed christians among JW. But new anointed are not especially welcomened.
Acts 5:39 "If it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them."
In spite of persecution and attacks in the media, Jehovah's Witnesses keep growing. Where I live the congregations are splitting every year. Nothing can stop the Witnesses; hence God must be on their side.
Some JW wrote: "Nothing can stop the Witnesses; hence God must be on their side"
Hmm. I guess is backing the Muslims, then. There are more than 1 billion and they are growing. The average Muslim mother in Europe is having six children.
Growth doesn't indicate anything. Especially, considering that only 1/3 of JW children remain in the religion.
There are now more ex-JWs than there are active JWs.
If "growth" makes you feel better, great.
I prefer what the Bible says. A rotten tree will produce worthless fruit. You will know Jesus' disciples by their fruit.
The Watchtower has been and continues to be a False Prophet. No number of denials will erase their record.
Don't be afraid to test your religion. If you already have the truth, you have nothing to fear. If you investigate your beliefs. Find out what critics of JWs have to say, then PROVE to yourself that they are either wrong or right. Don't take anyone's word for it.
You already believe that billions of sincere Muslims are not approved by God. Why is it so difficult for you to imagine that the JWs could also be sincere, but wrong?
Use the brain that Jehovah gave you. You owe it to Him and yourself.
There is NO Doubt THat the one who is managing this site is a Number one APOSTATE.
O man, it is not your responsibility to ensure the quality of the watchtower study material, it is the responsibility of Jesus, head of the christian congregation. And we around 7000000 people have that confidence.
You please do not waste your time.
The Watchtower is just pumping more fear into it's followers with that kind of rhetoric.
I have to agree with what 'feddies big toe' said about truth...if you have it, you shouldn't fear anything being said about it.
You must USE your God given THINKING ABILITY and be able to look at ALL things being said, both good and so called bad, which may NOT be 'bad', but, rather just the fuller story which reveals the truth of the matter.
Keep in mind Satan is a master of deception and he is the one with fear, not J. God. He is the one that is afraid of TRUTH, or CRITICAL THINKING.
With that in mind, why does the Watchtower disperse such FEAR of information other than their own??????
Remember what the Watchtower said about other religions? They said they were a 'RACKET AND SNARE'. Well, that is also what the Watchtower is. DO NOT BE MISLED.
"Joice said...
There is NO Doubt THat the one who is managing this site is a Number one APOSTATE.
O man, it is not your responsibility to ensure the quality of the watchtower study material, it is the responsibility of Jesus, head of the christian congregation. And we around 7000000 people have that confidence.
You please do not waste your time."
No, he's not an 'apostate'. He's just one of the growing number of people who disagree with the policies and doctrine of the Watchtower Society. The Watchtower society uses loaded terms and phrases like 'apostate' and 'feeding at the table of demons', but what is the truth? The truth is that the Watchtower Society has set itself up as an intermediary between God and Jehovah's Witnesses and doesn't like it when people point this out.
Additionally, it is LGB's responsibility to point out problems with the Watchtower study material... it's also your responsibility Joice.
(1 John 4:1) 4 Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
We all have the personal responsibility to examine what is being taught and reject false teachings. In this case, the Watchtower Society is trying to control its members by demonizing anyone who questions their policies or teachings.
Jesus is certainly the head of the Christian congregation, not the head of an apocalyptic cult.
The good news, Joice, is that you're in the right place. Keep disobeying the Watchtower Society. Keep reading the opposing views. Recognize that the Watchtower Society does not have Jehovah's backing and that the concept of the governing body has no scriptural basis.
Not all seven million Jehovah's Witnesses 'have that confidence'. Many of them are stuck, afraid or unwilling to give up their friends and family because of the policy of disfellowshipping.
There are others among those seven million Jehovah's Witnesses who don't know the truth about the history of the Watchtower Society. They may have confidence, but it is misplaced.
http://wtsdissident.blogspot.com/
Joice said..."And we around 7000000 people have that confidence."
Even if all ~7,000,000 truly have such a confidence, there are ~6,993,000,000 which do not have that confidence in the Watchtower.
Sheeplike said..."Acts 5:39"If it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them."
Jehovah's Witnesses keep growing."
You must have missed the post that stated "...growth of the Pentecostal movement From zero in 1901 to almost 450 million in 1999."
Again, numbers do not me a thing. If they do, the Witnesses pale in comparison to the growth of other religions.
Why should we speak out against the Watchtower? The Watchtower puts it well:
WT Mar 1 1966 p132
'How will you respond when pointed when pointed statements are made about false religious teachings and corrupt practices?
Will you immediately condemn the PERSON or organization making the expose?
Do you feel it is alright to teach lies and misrepresent God's Word, but wrong to expose the error?
CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME MAY THINK, IT IS NOT UNKIND AND UNLOVING TO LAY BARE FALSEHOOD AND CORRUPTION.
Remember the example of Jesus Christ.....
It is RIGHT and PROPER to speak out STRONGLY against falsehood and corruption.
A PERSON...that, in imitation of Jesus Christ, HAS THE COURAGE TO DO SO DESERVES ATTENTION AND RESPECT.'
Thank you GBL for your courageous exposes on this blog. You deserve ours and especially, the JWs respect.
*** w67 8/15 494 The Need for Security ***
“No man, regardless of how prominent he may be and with what power he may be invested, religious or political, no nation of this world and no international organization can provide true security and salvation for mankind.”
*** w72 4/15 250 Is Church Membership Enough? ***
“The Bible gives us a striking example of this. It emphasizes the point that, even though sincere, an individual or even an entire organization can fall far short of exclusive devotion to God.”
*** w90 11/1 26 Our Relative Subjection to the Superior Authorities ***
“As Christians, we face up to similar challenges today. We cannot take part in any modern version of idolatry-be it worshipful gestures toward an image or symbol or the imputing of salvation to a person or an organization.”
Does the Faithful and Discrete Slave Class of Jehovah's Witnesses truly believe and practice what they preach?
Love your comments you guys!
I can't wait till next weeks Awake study. How I must resist temptation to buy a new car, to play video games, and even have a good job (dress with suit). So basically Im going to buy an old used car wich may end up quitting on me and leave me and my familly stranded, burn my video game consoles, and give up my job at the courthouse so I wont need to wear a suit and just wear a janitor uniform......all so I can resist temptation...yeah!
By resisting remptation....im going to have all this money left over......I wonder what I should do with it?
anon 8:58..I'm sure the brothers would have a couple of suggestions of where to spend that money! Just shove it in the box tonight at the meeting! I feel the JW's keep their ppl in the dark. I was one of them for over 30 yrs. I am not DF'd or an apostate. Just left on my own. No intention of ever going back. I felt lost & forgotten. I wasn't wealthy, didn't have a new fine home or fancy car for meetings & service, couldn't afford to go out to a meal after every meeting & service. I was an outcast. As were my kids. We tried, it wasn't for us. One day we just stopped going. The meetings had become an ominous place to be. We all had such a bad feeling about it every time we went. We stopped going and a year later all the elders were removed! Can never be elders ever again. Some were nealy DF'd, one said he cannot ever reveal to his wife why he cannot ever be an elder again! WTH? We left becsue it felt wrong to be there. Turns out we were right. I am glad we left. The mind control is over. We are no longer using all our grocery money for gas to go back & forth the 30+ miles to each meeting 5 x a week. This is not from God. This religion is a cult. Why else do the ppl walk blindly in it? & leave with their eyes open? Leave it & get well friends.
Im going to go to the 2 day assembly in Utah next month. I think I heard they are going to pound us regarding the kingdom ministry....I can't way for them to tell us how 'some brothers' are lacking and that the time we put in and efforts is never enought and how this translates to us being spiritually weak ....just makes me wanna go out there with a big smile and do more, so I can obtain great joy unlike those who only put in 1 or 2 hours a month....the shame! Aren't we thankfull? Then prove it by pioneering or doing more......im so ungratefull.
Thanks for your experience. I think that there were some brothers, elders, who genuinely cared, but unfortunately they were usually rushed off their feet trying to cope with all the work that the Organization required of them, so the shepherding work, which was not reported or seen, got shoved onto the back burner.
Statistics are more important than people in the JWs.
Anon who quietly left after 30 years: Did you experience withdrawal? Was it painful and disconcerting? Do you have other family members still in the cong.?
Really funny stuff! People who are here making comments in defense of the W.T.S. should, according to that study article, not even be here at all. So, in defending the organization they ignore the counsel of the organization. lol
There is a movie out there called "To Verdener (worlds apart)" It is a UK film about the Watchtower/Jehova's Witnessess Religion that separates father and daughter.
As Jehovah's Witnesses, a family lives under strict rules, dictating what they can and cannot do. A father must make a decision between his daughter whom is dating a "worldy" guy or his religion. Based on a true story.
Im trying to get the film to watch it- seen the previews and it seems like a really deep movie. We go thru this all the time in our congregation. I dont have children but I could not imagine having to make that decision, my son/daughter or religion.
anon "So, in defending the organization they ignore the counsel of the organization."
I know I do :-)
I have never questioned the "Descreet Slave" but after having found about the UN and the elders not being able to give me responce (they dint even know and din't care- called me an apostate)......it makes me wonder what else is being 'left out' and I am realizing that some of the 'apostate' information is actually true.
I find p.15 disturbing, telling JW's to obey them even if it does not make sense. Is this not what they taught about "false religion" that their followers blindly follow their church leaders? I know thinking JW's still in that find this comment disturbing. I think there is a growing number that will stay in but won't follow the FDS over a cliff. It is obvious that the WTS is losing its grip on its members when they have to make comments like in p.15 or come up with the "invisible growth" that they are feeding the r&f.
Just like King Jeroboam DEMANDED loyalty without question.....why? Because he was scared his people would forget about him and leave him to go worship the true God.
Likewise the modern King Jeroboam is the Watchtower which is scared its memmbers will desolate it or even go against it so it demands complete loyalty witout question. Good stuff.
" Anonymous said...
anon "So, in defending the organization they ignore the counsel of the organization."
I know I do :-)
I have never questioned the "Descreet Slave" but after having found about the UN and the elders not being able to give me responce (they dint even know and din't care- called me an apostate)......it makes me wonder what else is being 'left out' and I am realizing that some of the 'apostate' information is actually true."
I've started cataloging the discrepancies in the Watchtower Society's publications over the years. http://wtsdissident.blogspot.com/ Really, there's no need to 'disseminate errors and lies' as the WTS likes to print about their critics... All one has to do is read their publications from the past through the present.
Thanks Shawn.
I have read some of the "old light" and I cant beleive we claimed it came from God's divine dirrection.
The 'old light' light is just that- old stuff that nobody reads except foes of the witnesses.
The Bible Students and then the Witnesses always claimed to be searching the scriptures to bring things as close as possible to first century Christianity.
'The Bible Students and then the Witnesses always claimed to be searching the scriptures to bring things as close as possible to first century Christianity.'
Pity they never succeeded.
"Anonymous said...
The 'old light' light is just that- old stuff that nobody reads except foes of the witnesses.
The Bible Students and then the Witnesses always claimed to be searching the scriptures to bring things as close as possible to first century Christianity."
===============================
Let's look at how the Watchtower Society views 'old stuff', shall we?
*** w05 3/15 p. 4 Jesus’ Worldwide Influence ***
Christendom has a long record of failure in living up to Jesus’ teachings. Cecil John Cadoux, historian of Christianity, noted that “the gradual and steady growth throughout the Church of a certain moral laxity” had the “attention of Christian leaders as early as . . . 140 A.D.” He observed: “This abatement of the primitive moral rigour would naturally assist the process of conformity to the ways of the world.”
This process gained momentum in the fourth century, when Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity. “Historians have not failed to notice, and in some cases to deplore,” wrote Cadoux, “the immense compromise to which the Church was committed by her alliance with Constantinus.” During the centuries since then, professed Christians have carried out many dark deeds that dishonor the name of Christ.
***
*** w05 12/15 p. 25 par. 4 Now Is the Time for Decisive Action ***
Christendom’s clergy also have a long record of supporting wars and are thus responsible for the deaths of countless millions of church members.
***
*** w04 2/15 p. 6 Is Religion at the Root of Mankind’s Problems? ***
What has been the record of fundamentalist religions in this regard? “Fundamentalist faith,” she writes, “be it Jewish, Christian, or Muslim, fails this crucial test if it becomes a theology of rage and hatred.” (The Battle for God—Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam)
***
*** w01 10/1 p. 5 You Can Have True Faith ***
Christendom has a shocking record of hypocrisy, brutality, and immorality.
***
*** w00 10/15 p. 26 Working in the “Field”—Before the Harvest ***
An examination of the historical record makes it evident that especially from the 15th century onward, minds were being stirred, even among the masses in Christendom who were like the “weeds,” or imitation Christians
***
*** w97 4/15 p. 22 Naḥmanides—Did He Refute Christianity? ***
Christendom’s immoral behavior and wanton bloodshed, so daringly highlighted by Naḥmanides, are also indisputable matters of record.
***
*** w95 6/15 p. 16 par. 15 What Motivates You to Serve God? ***
What was true of the temple is true of millions of professed Christians, as the record of Christendom shows.
***
*** w94 6/1 p. 16 par. 13 Responsibility Goes With Knowing the Right Religion ***
It is not difficult to see the record made by Christendom and other religions because they want to be part of the world. Church funds have been used to finance revolutionary activity. Priests have become guerrilla fighters.
***
*** w91 1/15 p. 29 The Pure Language Unites a Great Crowd of Worshipers ***
the Society has provided the fine 384-page book Mankind’s Search for God. It authoritatively presents the basic teachings of main religions outside of Christendom. But it also traces the record of false religion within Christendom.
***
*** w89 5/15 pp. 3-4 Babylon the Great—Her Execution ***
Yet, the history of Christendom’s religions is one of hatred and bloodshed. Ancient and modern-day crusades involving pillage, rape, and death have been blessed and condoned. For instance, Fascist Italy’s rape of Abyssinia (1935) and Franco’s “crusade” in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) were blessed by dignitaries of the Catholic Church.
Theological differences have been settled by burning people at the stake. Bible translator William Tyndale was strangled at the stake and his body burned in 1536, after he published his translation of the “New Testament” in English. Earlier, at the behest of Pope Martin V, religious authorities, driven by a spirit of vengeance, dug up the bones of Bible translator Wycliffe 44 years after his death so as to have the pleasure of burning them. During the Catholic Inquisition, thousands of Jews and “heretics” were stripped of their possessions, tortured, and burned at the stake—all supposedly in the name of Christ! Spanish theologian Michael Servetus, who was persecuted by Roman Catholics and Protestants alike, was burned at the stake on the orders of Protestant John Calvin
***
So apparently, the Watchtower Society views the historical record of a religion as relevant to our day. It is reasonable then to consider the historical record of the Watchtower Society as well as these other religions.
It's interesting that when the Watchtower Society highlights the misdeeds of other religions they consider it to be standing up for true Christianity, but when someone highlights the misdeeds of the Watchtower Society they are 'foes', 'apostates' or 'instruments of Satan'. Nonsense! If the historical record is important when determining who really are true Christians, then we should examine the record of every faith. Unfortunately, even though the Watchtower Society has only had a short time over the past 130 years, they've managed to rack up scores of false prophesies, bad medical advice and cult control techniques as doctrine.
Some bright mind uses Acts 5:39 "If it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them" as proof that the religion they call Jehovah's Witnesses must be the truth, but doesn’t recognize that it is even better evidence for the Catholic Church for it HAS NOT been ‘overthrown’ in TWO THOUSAND YEARS! Using that logic means Rome must have God's favor and truth.
As for growth...JW's are barely keeping up with population growth while Islam's growth is astonishing. So are Muslims right?
it is not your responsibility to ensure the quality of the watchtower study material...
Oh yeah, I forgot, Jesus speaks to the Faithful and Discrete Slave so they can channel his messages to the faithful.
Problem is, either he doesn't tell them the truth or they aren't listening any to good because they keep having to revise those messages.
If you excuse the WT's errant teachings on the basis of the "light growing brighter as the day dawns" then you have just admitted that the FDS has been "running ahead of Jehovah"--a crime for which YOU could be "cast out to the demons".
> Joice said..."And we around 7000000 people have that confidence."
no, its 6999999, because im counted and i KNOW its not truth. have lived through the obvious failings in the wts and in the bookstudies for years. i hope i can overcome my fear in front of humans and stand for what is right soon, so the number really decreases by ONE.
" Anonymous said...
> Joice said..."And we around 7000000 people have that confidence."
no, its 6999999, because im counted and i KNOW its not truth. have lived through the obvious failings in the wts and in the bookstudies for years. i hope i can overcome my fear in front of humans and stand for what is right soon, so the number really decreases by ONE."
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