Hello,
Do you still believe that the Society is "God's organization"?
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God has a people who make up his household, and they are his temple. (1 Cor.
3:16,17; Eph. 2:19-22) Within that household he has his faithful servants, but
also those who will be exposed as wicked. (Matt. 13:49; Jer. 5:26, 29-31) Before
God passes judgment upon the world, including Christendom, he will first judge
his own household. As the apostle Peter writes, if the righteous within God's
household are going to be saved with difficulty where will the others, the
sinners who were not obedient to the good news, make a showing? (1 Peter
4:17,18)
The Watchtower Society is not God's organization, but it operates within
it. Their president and his board of directors have imposed themselves upon
God's people and are dominating them as if they belong to them. (Isa. 26:13) The
Society was formed back in the late 1800's to facilitate the printing and
distribution of Bible literature. A few of the prominent members of the board of
directors, especially the president (Rutherford), voted themselves as rulers
over God's people, and began to operate God's house as if it were just some
worldly corporation, putting much emphasis on efficiency, expansion, and
accumulation of real estate. Jehovah has never recognized this arrangement, it
certainly did not exist among the early Christians (although the Jews did have
something similar in their Sanhedrin), and although it is not from him he has
allowed it to operate for a limited time, at least until Jesus' presence. In
fact, the apostle Paul foretold this development within God's temple, and that
God's people would be judged in connection with their acceptance or rejection of
the deception they would be exposed to. Although this "man of lawlessness"
claims to have been appointed to their position by Jesus, yet Paul tells us that
their presence is "according to the operation of Satan." (Eccl. 8:11; 2 Thess.
2:3-12) (Luke 12:42-48)
I believe we are witnessing the foretold hardships at the hand of the "wicked
slave," as we see some being disfellowshipped simply for disagreeing with that
self-proclaimed "faithful and discreet slave," who, for the sake of unity,
requires absolute obedience even when some of their teachings are clearly in
conflict with God's Word. Shortly, upon the Master's return, this wicked slave
will be removed from the midst of God's people and thrown into the darkness
outside; while at the same time the real “wise servant[s] who can be trusted” (Worldwide
English Bible) will be clearly identified and receive his reward for feeding
and genuinely caring for the members of God's house. (Matt. 24:45-51; 13:40-43)
I don't believe it is up to us to judge who will and who will not be identified
as faithful or wicked before God’s appointed time and all the evidence is in. (1
Cor. 4:5)
Therefore, the secular Society is not itself
“God’s organization,” but it functions within it, just as was prophesied for the
last days. According to Paul, it's governing body is actually sitting in
"opposition" to true worship, in a similar way to that of the rulers of the Jews
in Jesus' day. Although they were God's people, the majority of them followed
and trusted in their their leaders, while refusing to listen to Jesus for fear
of being expelled from the synagogue. We can learn from that example because it
is so similar to what we are experiencing today.
My question has to do
regarding your essay on the New Covenant with your statement that Jehovah's
placing of the tree of knowledge of good & bad in the garden with the command
not to partake of its fruitage was not a "test", merely a simple law. Would you
be inferring that "perfect" creation in the form of humankind would not need
to be "tested"? Also, you state that Jehovah did not give his people laws to
test them, but rather to guide them. Yet Exodus 20:20 states in part, "Do not be
afraid, because for the sake of putting you to the test the [true] God has
come". This occurred after he gave his people the 10 commandments, which was
then followed by the rest of the law.
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There have been times
when Jehovah tested his people, individually or as a whole. Concerning Abraham
being tested the account in Genesis 22:1-12 tells us "Now after these things it
came about that the [true] God put Abraham to the test." Abraham did as
Jehovah had directed him to do and God answered, “Do not put out your hand
against the boy and do not do anything at all to him, for now I do know that
you are God-fearing in that you have not withheld your son, your only one,
from me.”
By means of this test Abraham was able to proof how genuine his faith in Jehovah
really was. Jehovah tells us that he let his people Israel, whom he had brought
out of Egypt, go hungry and thirsty "in order to humble you, to put you to
the test so as to know what was in your heart, as to whether you would keep his
commandments or not." (Deut. 8:2)
Concerning Hezekiah we are told that "the [true] God left him to put him to
the test, to get to know everything in his heart." (2 Chronicles 32:31)
We can likewise expect Jehovah to test us, to get to know everything in our
heart.
To understand in what way Jehovah was testing his people at Mt. Sinai, when
giving them the Ten Commandments, let us consider the surrounding verses also.
Exodus 20:18-21, "18 Now all the people were seeing the thunders and the
lightning flashes and the sound of the horn and the mountain smoking. When the
people got to see it, then they quivered and stood at a distance. 19 And they
began to say to Moses: “You speak with us, and let us listen; but let not God
speak with us for fear we may die.” 20 So Moses said to the people: “Do not
be afraid, because for the sake of putting YOU to the test the [true] God has
come, and in order that the fear of him may continue before YOUR faces
that YOU may not sin.” 21 And the people kept standing at a distance, but
Moses went near to the dark cloud mass where the [true] God was.
The test was in connection with God manifesting himself there by "the thunders
and the lightning flashes and the sound of the horn and the mountain smoking."
It inspired great fear in the people, a test of their healthy attitude, their
reverence, towards God. This event should always be on their minds and prevent
them from disobeying his laws in the future. They should always consider the
fearsome consequences of disobedience. Rather than the Law being a test, the
test was about their attitude toward God and their wholesome fear of him.
The reason why understanding God's command regarding the
tree of knowledge of good and bad is important is
shown by the conclusions some have come to. Some reason that since God is
all-knowing, and he gave Adam a test of obedience, God must have known in
advance that Adam would fail the test. Since God knew beforehand what Adam would
do, it must have been part of God's purpose for Adam to disobey. What could that
purpose be? They feel it was in order for God to make known his great love for
us by providing a ransom, which there would have been no reason for otherwise.
In other words, we would never have known God's great love for mankind if Adam
had not sinned. That is twisted reasoning. That is blaming God for Adam's sin.
It is like a fireman committing arson so that he can demonstrate what a great
firefighter he is by putting out the fire he set.
Although the law regarding the tree of
knowledge of good and bad in a way was a test, like all laws are, that was not
why Jehovah gave it. It was a simple law that represented mankind’s dependence
on his Creator, which is what the covenant was all about. It was a simple
beginning to other laws to follow, to guide us for our benefit and blessings.
If Jehovah wants us to stay with his people (preaching
the good news, going to the meetings, give encouragement to our brothers and
sisters) and yet, as
you recognize, nowadays "some elders are known to have disfellowshipped those
who have expressed doubt about certain teachings of ours. Matter of
fact, it has become quite common".
In your essay you ask yourself how does Jehovah view these shepherds, but
I ask myself: How could we possibly do the will of God Jehovah and preach and go
to meetings and give encouragement to our brothers if these elders have cast us
away from all these things?
It could even happen to you, for you're openly giving us some information
that is not interesting for the Watchtower-Society.
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For a long time I was very
reluctant to put my website up, fearing that I would stumble some by what they
would read. Instead, I have received many encouraging letters, such as yours,
thanking me for explaining what is going on within God's household at this time.
But, the only ones benefiting at this time from this information are those who
are "sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done in
[our] midst." (Eze. 9:4) For that reason, be discerning with whom you share what
you have learned. If someone is disfellowshipped, (not for scriptural reasons,
such as immorality or genuine apostacy) that person need not worry about his
relationship with Jehovah. Jehovah will hold the shepherds accountable
for how they have dealt with his sheep. (James 3:1; 1 Peter 5:2-4) As he says to
them:
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and you must
say to them, to the shepherds, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has
said: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have become feeders of themselves!
Is it not the flock that the shepherds ought to feed? 3 The fat is what YOU eat,
and with the wool YOU clothe your own selves. The plump animal is what YOU
slaughter. The flock itself YOU do not feed. 4 The sickened ones YOU have not
strengthened, and the ailing one YOU have not healed, and the broken one YOU
have not bandaged, and the dispersed one YOU have not brought back, and the lost
one YOU have not sought to find, but with harshness YOU have had them in
subjection, even with tyranny. 5 And they were gradually scattered
because of there being no shepherd, so that they became food for every wild
beast of the field, and they continued to be scattered. 6 My sheep kept straying
on all the mountains and on every high hill; and on all the surface of the earth
my sheep were scattered, with no one making a search and with no one seeking to
find.
7 “‘“Therefore, YOU shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah, 8 ‘“As I am alive,” is
the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, “surely for the reason that my
sheep became something for plunder and my sheep continued to be food for every
wild beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, and my shepherds did not
search for my sheep, but the shepherds kept feeding themselves, and my own sheep
they did not feed,”’ 9 therefore, YOU shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah. 10 This
is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘Here I am against the shepherds,
and I shall certainly ask back my sheep from their hand and make them cease from
feeding [my] sheep, and the shepherds will no longer feed themselves; and I will
deliver my sheep out of their mouth, and they will not become food for them.’”
(Ezekiel 34:1-11)
It's good to remind ourselves that
Jehovah is not holding the sheep accountable for what the shepherds are doing,
or have done. But at the same time it would not be wise to feel that it is our
responsibility to correct the shepherds. That would result in problems for
ourselves that Jehovah would not shield us from. Being disfellowshipped makes it
harder to endure in our worship, since we need each other for the association
and encouragement. That is why Jehovah has the arrangement of his household.
(John 16:1-4; Heb. 10:23-25) But if harsh and tyrannous elders make it
impossible for us to associate any more and prevent us from continuing to
worship Jehovah in fellowship with his people, then we need to rely on Jehovah
to sustain us. And be assured that he will help you to endure as long as you are
loyal to him. (Psalms 18:25) No one, not any elder, judicial committee, nor Body
of Governors can separate us from God’s love when we stick loyally with him.
(Rom. 8:38,39).
As more and more are being cast out of God’s household for having doubts about
the “faithfulness” and “discreetness” of the self-proclaimed “faithful and
discreet slave” we will have more and more brothers to associate with for mutual
encouragement. And as to preaching, you do not need anyone’s permission to do
that, for the command to preach comes from Jehovah and Jesus. You can continue
to preach in the same way the early Christians did, by talking to whoever is
willing to listen. Stick to the basic kingdom theme for that is what Jesus told
us to preach, and that is what he set the example for us in. What to do when you
are studying with someone interested? Direct them to God’s household after
having explained to them the present situation among God’s people and how it
serves as a test for all. And watch Jehovah bless your efforts.
By all means, continue to trust in Jehovah and patiently wait on him to take
action when he starts his judgment with his own household. I am convinced that
we are very close. Christ, The Master, will return suddenly and unexpectedly.
(Luke 12:40) Do not rebel against the arrangement God has allowed to continue
thus far. Be comforted in knowing that there are many even within the New York
Bethel who are likewise aware of these things and are also patiently waiting on
Jehovah. The despotic rule by the few over the many will soon come to an end.
Where do the Watchtower's so-called
"apostates" fit into "God's household"?
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Who really is an apostate according to
Jehovah? In Paul's day who were the apostates, he or the "superfine apostles"
(not among the twelve) who were seducing the minds of the disciples (such as the
serpent had seduced Eve), by preaching things contrary to what Jesus had taught?
(2 Cor. 11:3-6,12-15) If we are taught things which are clearly unscriptural and
perhaps even self-contradictory (such as our doctrine on dedication) who are the
apostates, the ones doing the teaching or the ones getting disfellowshipped for
questioning those teachings?
When Jehovah tells us "Do not put your trust in nobles, Nor in the son of
earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs" and certain few tell us that we
must absolutely put our trust in them in order to gain salvation, who is the
apostate, the ones contradicting Jehovah's words or those obeying him? (Psalms
146:3) The new book Organized to do Jehovah's Will says on page 18,
"There are many reasons
to have complete trust in the slave class."
The "slave class" being
identified as "the
composite body of Christ's spirit-anointed footstep followers who live on earth
at any given time. (Luke 12:42) Yes, Christ uses this body to publish
information on the fulfillment of Bible prophecies and to give timely direction
on the application of Bible principles in daily life."
And to clear up any
misunderstanding regarding this "slave class" we are assured that it more
specifically applies to
"the anointed ones making up the present-day Governing Body."
(pages 16-18) Is that not in defiance
of what Jehovah tells us at Psalms 146:3? (see also Romans 3:4)
Are not apostates those who leave Jehovah and refuse to listen to him, going
beyond the things written? (Matt. 23:2-4; Gal. 1:8) Is it not those who stumble
their brothers by what they teach and do? Proverbs 11:9 says in this
regard, "By [his] mouth the one who is an apostate brings his fellow to ruin." (NWT)
There are those who have been "brought to ruin" financially or health-wise, due
to unnecessary anxieties about carrying the heavy burden that has been placed on
all who would want to please Jehovah, by what they have been taught. Fifty years
ago Jehovah's people were told that the end was very close and therefore
discouraged from seeking a higher education in order to care for themselves and
provide for their families, (at that time even marrying and raising a family was
discouraged) by those who were publishing
"information on the fulfillment of Bible
prophecies" and giving
"timely direction on the application of Bible
principles in daily life," as they
claim in the “Organized” book. They have not accepted responsibility for the
consequences of their teachings, but we can be sure that Jehovah will hold them
accountable. (James 3:1) Many others have been disfellowshipped simply for
having lost their confidence in that slave. There are over three million who
have stopped walking with Jehovah over the past twenty-five years. Woe to the
stumbling blocks. (Luke 17:1,2; 2 Peter 2:1-3)
What of those who have suffered unjustly at the hands of ruthless shepherds
within God's household, where the sheep ought to feel save? Jehovah is aware of
his sheep that were slaughtered, sick, ailing, broken, dispersed, or lost. He
addresses the shepherds in Ezekiel chapter 34,
"2 Destruction is certain for you shepherds who
feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn't shepherds feed their sheep?
3
You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals,
(such as disfellowshipping
fellow anointed) but you let your
flocks starve. 4 You have not taken care of the
weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the broken bones. You have not
gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have
ruled them with force and cruelty.
5
So my sheep have been scattered without a
shepherd. They are easy prey for any wild animal. 6
They have wandered through the mountains and hills, across the face of the
earth, yet no one has gone to search for them."
Jehovah loves his sheep. He sacrificed his only Son for their salvation and
therefore promises to take care of them when his time for judgment comes.
"11 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I
myself will search and find my sheep. 12 I will be
like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue
them from all the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy
day. . . 15 I myself will tend my sheep and cause
them to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. 16
I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely
home again. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will
destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes--feed them
justice!" (Ezekiel 34:2-6, 11,12,15,16, New Living Bible)
Therefore, from what Jehovah says, it is clear that “Watchtower’s so-called
apostates” are God’s sheep who have been allowed to starve, become weak,
sick and wandered away and are lost and scattered about. But Jehovah has
promised to search for them and find them and “bring them safely home again.”
Then woe to the wicked shepherds, the real apostates, who had failed to
listen to Jehovah. Therefore he tells them: “I shall certainly ask back my sheep
from their hand and make them cease from feeding [my] sheep.” (Ezekiel 34:10)
Who is doing the "feeding" of God's
household today?
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God's household is "the congregation
of the living God"; Jesus is still the head; and within it are many who are
still lovingly and faithfully carrying out the responsibility of feeding their
fellow slaves. Jehovah knows them. (2 Tim. 2:19) And they will receive their
promised reward accordingly. We can be certain that they are not among those who
are sitting in some big office building, with personal secretaries, doing the
"feeding" by means of countless magazines; but they are personally reaching out
to God's individual sheep, where ever they are found, helping on a personal
level, within their own congregations like it was done in the first century.
Jesus will identify these faithful ones as his "faithful and discreet [or wise]"
servant when he returns and judges his slaves. He will take into consideration
that the wicked slave, the "man of lawlessness," was actively opposing these
ones from carrying out their God-given assignment. They are not responsible for
the deplorable condition that exists today among God's people, as described
above in Ezekiel chapter 34. Jesus' letters to the Seven Congregations in Asia
Minor help us to understand how these things can exist today, and how they
affect us all. We probably have the same ratio of good congregations to bad
congregations—five that are in need of repentance to every two good ones. And
even in some of the worst congregations, such as were in Thyatira and Sardis,
there are often a few righteous ones who "have not come to know the deep things
of Satan," and whom Jesus takes notice of. (Rev. 2:18-25; 3:1-5) We cannot
expect the true spiritual prosperity of God's sheep to happen until the return
of our Lord and Master, Christ Jesus, and the wicked slave has finally been
identified and thrown out into the darkness where his portion will be "with the
unfaithful ones." (Luke 12:46) Then Jehovah will appoint shepherds after his own
heart who genuinely care for his sheep. Many present day faithful shepherds will
be blessed with further responsibilities at that time.