Theocratic War Strategy

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Withholding information that you know the answer to in a court of law is the same as lying. The result is the same. You are punished for it. The lie is called perjury and you are held in contempt of court fot it. Refusing to answer is showing your contempt for the court. You are punished for it. In both cases, you have failed to answer a question from a truth seeking authority. Many Jehovah's Witnesses have had their consciences dulled by their blind devotion to a less than honest organization.
The Jehovah's Witnesses have used the Courts extensively in their efforts to legitimize their religion. Truth in a court of law, as elsewhere in life, is paramount.
By being truthful in all things and to everyone we show that we are true christians. Jehovah's Witnesses teach wait on Jehovah for other things, why not tell the truth at all times and use the wait on Jehovah doctrine?

Watchtower Encourages It's Members to Lie Instead of "Waiting on Jehovah"

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Remember that God and Jehovah equals the Watchtower.

The Watchtower Defines Independent Thinking

Please note that none of the Watchtower's definition of Independent Thinking have to do with the Bible. They all pertain to their man made rules and doctrines.
The Watchtower January 15th 1983 Issue, Page 22:
"Avoid Independent Thinking"
"Avoid.... questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization."
"How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization."------------------------------------
The Watchtower January 15th 1983 Issue, Page 27:
"....some who point out that the organization has had to make some adjustments before, and so they argue: "This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe." This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous?"
"Fight against independent thinking."
The Watchtower September 15th 1989 Issue, Page 23:
"In the world, there is a tendency to reject leadership. As one lecturer said: ;'The rising education level has improved the talent pool such that followers have become so critical that they are almost impossible to lead.' But a spirit of independent thinking does not prevail in God's organization, and we have sound reasons for confidence in the men taking the lead among us."
(Perhaps this is why the organization does not want it's young to attend college. Intelligent people are more difficult to lead.)
Watchtower March 15th 1986 Issue, Page 17:
"Beware of those who try to put forward their own contrary opinions."
The Watchtower July 1st 1994 Issue, Pages 12-13:
"As loyal servants of Jehovah, why would we even want to peek at the propaganda put out by rejecters of Jehovah's table...."
The Watchtower August 1st 1960 Issue, Page 474:
"Jehovah's witnesses, though international, are 'one heart and soul,' of the 'same mind' and the 'same line of though.'"
The Watchtower June 1st 1967 Issue, Page 338:
"....in Jehovah's organization it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organization who are assigned to that very thing...."
The Watchtower August 1st 1972 Issue, Page 458:
"....the Watchtower study conductor, who presides over this meeting, has an important responsibility. This study enables all to be united in the same line of thought."
The Watchtower August 1st 1980 Issue, Page 19:
"Thus, the one who doubts to the point of becoming an apostate sets himself up as a judge. He thinks he knows better than his fellow Christians, better also than the 'faithful and discreet slave,' through whom he has learned the best part, if not all that he knows about Jehovah God and his purposes."
The Watchtower March 15th 1986 Issue, Page 12:
"Do you wisely destroy apostate material?"
The Watchtower March 15th 1986 Issue, Page 14:
"Why is reading apostate publications similar to reading pornographic literature?"
Watchtower, February 1st 1987 Issue, Page 19:
"First of all, there is the matter of being obedient and ready to respond to encouragement. When direction and encouragement come from the proper source, it is only right that we should respond readily."
"We also remember that one feature of 'the wisdom from above' is being 'ready to obey.' (James 3:17) These are qualities that all Christians are encouraged to put on. Due to background and upbringing, some may be more given to independent thinking and self-will than others. Perhaps this is an area where we need to discipline ourselves and 'make our mind over' so that we can perceive more clearly what the 'will of God' is. Romans 12:2."
Who do you think they are referring to when they say that witnesses should be ready to obey?

Obey The Dictates of The Governing Body

ACCEPT JEHOVAH'S (Governing Body of Imperfect Men) AUTHORITY "This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome."-1 JOHN 5:3.
As you study the article it becomes evident that Jehovah's Authority means Governing Body Authority.
Here are some of the more incriminating paragraphs:
Q 10. What is one area in which Satan has sought to undermine God's authority?
10. Satan has long sought to undermine God's authority. His independent spirit is manifest in many ways. (Do you see how the witness is being manipulated into believing that independent thinking is bad. It is being linked with Satan.)
12. Consider the comments made some time ago by a Christian named Sharon: "Because of disregarding Jehovah's law, I have contracted the deadly disease AIDS. I often look back at the many happy years I had in serving Jehovah." She recognized that it was foolish to break Jehovah's laws and that she should have treated them with the greatest respect. Jehovah's laws are for our own protection. Sharon died just seven weeks after writing the above words. As her tragic experience shows, Satan has nothing good to offer those who become part of this wicked system. As "the father of the lie," he makes many promises, but they fall flat, just as did the one he made to Eve. (John 8:44) Truly, it is always best to accept Jehovah's (Governing Body)authority.
So by not listening to the Governing Body you are likely to contract AIDS and die? Actually I know Jehovah's Witnesses that have contracted AIDS from their Jehovah's Witness husbands. Stuff happens to all of us, both inside and outside of the congregations.
Q 13. What is one area in which we need to guard against an independent spirit?
13. In accepting Jehovah's (Governing Body) authority, we need to guard against an independent spirit. A haughty attitude can cause us to feel that we do not need guidance from anyone. For example, we might resist counsel given by those taking the lead among God's people. (Elders who are infallible, have had no formal training, and whose opinion is probably just as good as mine?). God (The Governing Body) has established an arrangement by which a faithful and discreet slave class provides spiritual food at the proper time. (Matt. 24:45-47) (How do we know that this Faithful andd Discreet Slave is the Governing Body? Because they said so!) We should humbly recognize that this is the way Jehovah is caring for his people today. Be like the faithful apostles. When some disciples were stumbled, Jesus asked the apostles: "You do not want to go also, do you?" Peter replied: "Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life." -John 6:66-68.
Can you believe that the Watchtower has the audacity to compare themselves to Jesus. It is simply incredible, but the most incredible thing is that Jehovah's Witnesses really believe it!
18. Yes, make it your aim to resist the world's spirit of independence and to accept Jehovah's (Governing Body of Imperfect Men) authority. From time to time, meditate appreciatively on the great privilege you have to serve Jehovah. The fact that you are among God's people is evidence that he has drawn you by means of his holy spirit. (John 6:44) Never take your standing with God for granted. Strive in all aspects of life to show that you reject an independent spirit and that you accept Jehovah's (Governing Body) authority.
The Watchtower Societies policy of putting themselves in the place that Christians put Jesus in is not new but it has become more and more blatant over the years.
It is interesting to note the change that has taken place in the vows taken just prior to baptism.
Years ago these were the two questions to be answered at baptism:
“Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognising yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his son Jesus Christ?”
“On the basis of this faith in God and his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening holy spirit?”
These questions, or vows, were changed in 1985 to the following:
“On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?”
“Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in association with God’s spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in the right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism.”
The Watchtower organization is changing. At assemblies, conventions, the magazines and publications, they are going more towards rules and authority and less towards the doctrine.
Their message is now OBEY US, OBEY US.

Were Jehovah's Witnesses Chosen By God?

Jehovah's Witnesses often try to defend their religion against various charges by comparing themselves to the Israelites and then saying, "Well, the Israelites were God's chosen people even though they made mistakes. And even though we make mistakes we are still God chosen people today."
Well of course that argument simply doesn't cut it. The Israelites, according to the Bible, came into existence as a result of a promise that God made to Abraham. God caused Abraham's descendents to multiply profusely and grow into a populous nation. They existed because God said he would cause them to come into existence, and that he would make them his special people because of his promise to Abraham. Their being a chosen people had nothing to do with their conduct as individuals or as a nation -- their relationship with God had little to do with them, and everything to do with God.
Eventually God made himself known to the Israelites as "Jehovah", caused the Israelites to worship him, and gave them the Law. However, people outside of the Jewish nation could also worship Jehovah, as did Job and his friends. And as we know, God eventually abandoned the Israelites for their unfaithfulness, and formed "the Christian congregation".
The Christian congregation was different in principle from the Israelite congregation. In the latter, people had no choice whether to belong; they were Jews by birth. On the other hand, people had to make a conscious decision about joining the Christian congregation. They became or remained Christians because of their conduct and their relationship with God and Christ.
The Israelites remained Israelites no matter what bad things they did. But a Christian might no longer be a Christian for any number of reasons. In fact, the standards written by various New Testament writers were a litmus test for Christianity. Anyone violating certain standards of conduct was by definition not a Christian (of course, one can split hairs no end about the details, but we're talking about gross violations of what virtually all professed Christians agree on). Anyone who repudiated the Christian faith was no longer a Christian, whereas a Jew who repudiated his religion remained a Jew.
Jesus instituted the Christian congregation, meaning the entire body of faithful Christians, and said that he would be "with" them until he returned. Assuming that that holds true today, the entire body of faithful Christians on earth would constitute the Christian congregation. Here is where Jehovah's Witnesses get into serious trouble.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that they and they alone are real Christians and therefore that "the entire body of faithful Christians on earth" is composed exclusively of Jehovah's Witnesses. Oh, a few individuals will allow that a few outside their organization might be true Christians, but that is not what the Jehovah's Witnesses organization that "speaks" through the printing presses of its Watchtower Society teach. The leaders have stated quite explicitly that salvation for Christians cannot be obtained outside the Jehovah's Witness organization, that it is in fact exclusively the "ark of salvation". By such teachings, Jehovah's Witnesses condemn all other supposed Christians as fakes, imposters, as members of wicked "Christendom". Therefore one should expect that Jehovah's Witnesses, both as individuals and as an organization, would be a cut above others who claim to be Christian and would always have been so. After all, no one becomes a Christian by birth, but by choice.
Jehovah's Witnesses also teach that there were no real Christians on earth until the 1870s, when the Watchtower Society's founder, Chares Taze Russell, began his Bible studies. They teach that Russell was the first modern-day member of "the anointed", of the "faithful and discreet slave class". However, this conflicts with another teaching that "one generation of the 'slave' class fed the next succeeding generation". JWs have never explained this contradiction.
At any rate, Jehovah's Witnesses teach that somehow God brought them into existence in the 1870s as "the Bible Students" under the leadership of C. T. Russell. After Russell died and J. F. Rutherford became their leader, they teach that in 1919 Christ made an inspection of all of the Christian religions on the earth, found all of them except one -- the Bible Students -- wanting, and chose their leaders "to be over all Christ's belongings." Thus we find that JWs teach not only that their religion was instituted by God himself in the 1870s, and their leaders appointed as "the faithful slave", but that Christ reaffirmed it and gave these leaders great spiritual authority over the entire body of Christians in the world in 1919.
What do Jehovah's Witnesses actually base all this reasoning on, beyond their arguable interpretations of the Bible? Why, on their claim that they and they alone were so much better than all other Christian groups that Christ specially appointed their leaders in 1919 to have spiritual authority. In other words, they base these claims on their claims that their conduct was and remains a cut above that of everyone else, and that their teachings are virtually identical to those of the early Christians.
To sum it up, Jehovah's Witnesses teach that they are God's chosen people today because of their conduct and their teachings, whereas the Israelites were God's chosen by virtue of birth. The two situations cannot be compared.
This naturally leaves the Witnesses open to criticism. What if their claims of being such good Christians are not true? What if their leadership has proved itself unfaithful to God by, say, telling lies in God's name? Making false predictions in his name? Allowing pedophiles to roam freely in the congregations? Teaching their members that salvation lies not in Christ but in attending meetings and going in field service? Not allowing Christians to think for themselves but dictating to them what their faith is? Would these disqualify them from being "God's chosen"? Of course they would! The truth of the base claim of Jehovah's Witness leaders to speak for God relies on whether they in fact speak for God. But since God doesn't answer questions of this sort, people must observe Jehovah's Witnesses and judge for themselves whether they measure up.
On this blog and other internet websites it quickly becomes evident that many Jehovah's Witness teachings, and their most fundamental one of all, cannot stand up to criticism. They have no means at all of proving that they are "God's chosen". The best they can do is compare themselves to the Israelites and whimper, "well, they were God's chosen despite their faults, and so are we". Jehovah's Witnesses, as individuals, have been so heavily indoctrinated with the fundamental teaching that theirs is the true religion they cannot fathom the fact that it is not. Their faith in the Organization is based on mere claims, not demonstrable facts -- and all Jehovah's Witnesses know this, even though they will not admit it. That's why many of them become so angry when their basic doctrine is challenged.

Independent Thinking Is To Be Avoided

"Avoid Independent Thinking... How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization." - The Watchtower January 15, 1983 p. 22
The incident of the Ethiopian eunuch is often used by the Watchtower to show that we need the help of an organization to understand the Bible.
However, reading the entire book of Acts, helps us to see that it does not say that at all.
The Ethiopian eunuch was not a Christian, but Philip was used by the Holy Spirit to lead him to Christ. The passage goes on to say: "Jehovah's spirit quickly led Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore." (NWT, emphsis mine.) God led Philip to the eunuch, Philip gave the man the Gospel, baptized him, then God led him away.
Does this sound as though Jehovah God thought it necessary for the eunuch to remain in contact with a central organization? He was probably one of the first Christians in Ethiopia. If we follow the Watchtower's interpretation, the eunuch must have gone into spiritual darkness shortly thereafter, without God's organization to guide him. But, no, he did not go into darkness, for he had the Holy Spirit as his guide, comforter, and teacher. (John 14:16, 17, 26.) God often uses Christians to explain the message of salvation to unbelievers. Acts chapter 8 is not telling us that Christians must submit to a human teacher. Notice what the apostle John said on this subject later: "And as for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to be teaching you; but, as the anointing from him is teaching you about all things, and is true and is no lie, and just as it has taught you, remain in union with him." (1 John 2:27, NWT, emphasis mine.)
While the Watchtower organization does not want its members to questions their doctrines, Jehovah says differently. We are all responsible for our own salvation.

Can We Understand The Bible Without A Constant Series of Bible Aids?

In a rare moment of lucidity, the Watchtower made this startling confession:
Watchtower, April 15, 2005
Is taking in knowledge of God and Christ beyond our capacity? No. It is true that knowledge of the Creator’s works is endless. Yet, Jesus was not referring to astronomy or one of the other sciences when he linked "knowledge" and "everlasting life." Proverbs chapter 2, verses 1 and 5, indicates that the "sayings" and "commandments" found in the Bible are fundamental to "the very knowledge of God." And concerning Jesus, John 20:30, 31 indicates that the things written down are sufficient that we "may have life."
Hence, the knowledge of Jehovah and Jesus Christ as found in the Bible is sufficient to show you how to gain everlasting life. The Bible is a unique book. The Creator kindly inspired it in such a way that even unlettered men with limited opportunities can take in enough knowledge to gain everlasting life. Likewise, someone with a quick mind and with much time and means at his disposal will always be able to learn something new from the inspired Scriptures.