The truth will set you free
by Eddie
Are Jehovah's Witnesses free Christians?
These words, pronounced before about 2.000 years ago, by our only Lord and Lord in Johannes 8 verse 32, to whom I always want to believe and adhere, without hesitation and without behest to further, so-called "co-intermediaries" or "deputies on earth" and without further, new and self-added "prophets" and "apostles", alone already indicate the direction in which it should run. "I am the way and the truth", as well as his words, which prove that there is only "one mediator" to God, the man (and Son of God at the same time) Jesus Christ, begotten by the Spirit of God, also described as "Holy Spirit". Described in the Bible, the inspired Word of God – see John 8 verse 33, same book, chapter 14 verse 6, First Letter Pauli to Timothy, chapter 2, verse 5, and Second Letter to Timothy chapter 3, verse 16.
But Christianity is full of such "elements" mentioned above, persons and groups of persons of all colours who give of themselves to be the only way or at least the primary one towards heavenly (or earthly, as the case may be) calling. This Christ even warned shortly before his execution that at the end of the days (meant is the end of our age, also described as "time of grace"), it will happen that many such persons and groups, thus also churches, organizations etc., will appear in this respect – see Matthew 24, verse 24 as well as parallel passage to it Markus 13 of verse 22. According to his words, this will happen in order to, if possible, also mislead the elect with great deeds and miracles.
Here one could now, if one wanted to, enumerate whole lists of such churches, organizations, faith and religious communities, together with individual persons who all give of themselves to be the only salvific way to God. Again, this Christ said of them, if anyone should say here is the Christ, or there one should not believe him (Matthew 24, verse 23). Whether Mormons, the Seven-Day Adventists, the New Apostolic Church, the Watchtower Society, and, yes, also the "large" churches, such as all directions of the Orthodox, the Catholic, Protestant, Coptic, etc., the Mormons, the Seven-Day Adventists, the New Apostolic Church, the Church of the Holy Spirit, or also persons like Ivo Sasek, Benny Hinn, Joice Meyer and many others, belong to those, who claim, only with us you find truth, you are blessed, etc. and so on, or with the other, already mentioned words from the Holy Scripture "here is the Christ (to be found), nowhere else".
Well, one could now write volumes about all these – which has already happened several times – but here on this website everything (more or less) revolves around the Jehovah's Witnesses faith community. That is why I will limit myself to reporting only with regard to them.
I've already spoken about the false and erroneous teachings of this sect – see among other things the article "Dogmen der Zeugen Jehovas". I must and will not repeat myself here. If you want, you can read it (again). What this article here is about is already said in the title: It is about the biblical statement that the truth will make free. The yoke of Christ is light and therefore we should take his upon us and come to him. No such thing is said about the yoke of others, whether human or institutional (Matthew 11, verses 28 and 29). On the contrary. See above, as already mentioned.
Now, on the basis of this statement alone, one would think that everyone would like to come to Jesus Christ to enjoy his light yoke instead of the obviously heavier yoke of others. One would think. But it is not so.
So the big question is why people obviously prefer to come to liars, storytellers, false prophets instead of to the only true mediator, our Lord Jesus? What are the reasons for this?
I don't want to talk about the many religions that exist outside Christianity or Christianity, I'm only interested in the so-called Christian side, because that's what this is about.
About psychological reasons I have already left myself out in my four-part story, and the Bible text, which names the true and ultimate background, we also know who know the Bible more inside than out – see 1. Letter to John, chapter 5 verse 19 as well as 2. Timothy 3, verses 1 to 7.
Our Christian foundation ("sola scriptura", as Martin Luther rightly calls it), the Bible, already gives a number of reasons for this. Let's take a closer look at them:
(1) Titus 1, verses 14 and 15
... not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. (English Standard Version)
When I once visited the German Bethel ("House of God") of the WTS in Selters many years ago, or more precisely, a friend I had there, and we went to lunch together, I was instructed, to wash my hands outside before entering the large dining room before I sat down at the table. All the time – a few hours – before that, we had done nothing but visit this "house of God", of course, in suit and tie, and had had no contact whatsoever with anything that would remind even remotely of dirt or garbage, or even touched it while passing by. Nevertheless, "it is so common with us", I was told.
Well, I don't mind washing my hands. Why should I? Cleanliness – not only in the spiritual, but also in the physical sense – is nothing bad; on the contrary. Only to make a law out of it again, when we are (at least allegedly, according to the Bible anyway, see Epistle to the Galatians) free of such laws, goes beyond what is written. When I briefly cut this into my friend's conversation, he looked around to see if someone was around to listen, and then said, in the same way: "Eddie, I know they're all human commandments, but it's just the way it is with us, and if someone sees you sitting down at the table without having washed your hands beforehand, I'm rebuked afterwards why I didn't instruct you to do so".
Both the approach and the methodology are known from dictatorial systems, regardless of whether they are politically or religiously motivated or otherwise.
I don't want to talk about the above-mentioned freedom, of which Christ himself spoke (Matthew 15 verse 2), when he himself was reprimanded in the same matter with his disciples, because they did not wash their hands either.
Obviously there is one thing: Outward appearances, even if this is washing one's hands, are probably much more important than the core of a thing – see also the film about clothing at the JWs and their (WTS) argumentation under www.bruderinfo-aktuell.org. See also Matthew chapter 23, verse 27.
A second example: In the 80's of the last century there was once a big theme among the brothers and sisters: "Pure language". What hasn't been done with this hype (this expression didn't exist back then)! This hype was based on some WT- and further articles, which should take care that "true Christians" – thus we, the JWs from their own view – should behave and behave accordingly. Well, to arm oneself against – also verbal – failures is again a positive thing. However, here, too, the waves were again high, excesses occurred. With us in Southern Germany it is usual, instead of "good day", to say "greeting god", which is a local saying or expression, or with our neighbours, the Swabians, to say "Ade" instead of "Auf Wiedersehen" (= good bye); a descendant of the French "Adieu" (a historical relict of French ruled period while emperor Napoleon), which literally translates as "go to God", like the Spanish "Adios" or the Portuguese "Adeus". Also with the Franks this expression is so usual.
But because these are "worldly" expressions and we should "speak a pure language," these expressions were often – depending on the personality of the brother or sister – frowned upon and condemned to the last. How often, because of this absurd outwardity and small-mindedness, brothers quarreled until they fell! One may not believe it, but adult people behaved like in kindergarten. Only when after a year or so again the district servant spent the week with us (and other) assemblies (= congregations) and announced from the stage that actually we, the JWs, would be entitled to speak like this, because, finally and finally we (again the JWs) would have "the only true faith", which entitled us to do so, this topic was more or less put aside. Now it was "blessed from above" and no brother was allowed to hold against it anymore. At least not openly and officially.
Be sure, dear reader of these lines, that was not the reason why I left this organization years later. This matter was simply too pathetic for me. To such things I can only say: small-minded up to millimeter paper. But, it shows what spirit one (in the majority) is in this community and how unfree at the same time. See Luke, chapter 6 verses 41 and 42.
(2) Titus 1, verses 10 to 11
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. (English Standard Version)
The financial machinations of JW.Org have already been reported in many different media. It is also known that this organization always calls for donations towards the end of the year. Good, other organizations, churches and people are doing the same. Only, the question is, does it make the matter less serious because others do the same? Does the fact that this "organization of God", the "channel" or "mouthpiece of God" paid several million in punishment (perhaps still does) because it did not disclose the names of suspicious paedophiles to the courts, in the matter thereby value less, or is it not just the other way round? This Nazarene (= Jesus) once said, you have received free of charge, you shall give free of charge – Matthew 10, verse 8. Of course the counter-argument is immediately brought out here, "the Work", as the WTS calls its own procedure, of course costs money – kingdom halls (places of worship), printing and paper, actually the entire infrastructure and the everything around as well as the personnel cost enormous sums. Of course this is the case. But where does the Bible say that an organization is needed? And the so allegedly only one who does everything right with regard to Matthew 24, verses 45 and following, the biblical passage that is to be seen as a parable (see parallel text from Luke 12) and not as an erroneously interpreted prophetic preview.
We – my family and I – were active at that time in the 80's in foreign-language, thus non-German municipalities and had to drive from our places of residence (we moved at that time) depending upon place of residence and meeting place between 25 and 35 km in approximately. So on average 60 km back and forth. Twice a week. That's 120 km per week. In addition came the book study still taking place at that time in small circles, thus also again several km. That makes extrapolated approx. 500 km per month. Additionally twice a year circuit congress to other localities each time there and back further 200 km plus once a year district congress, often across Germany up to the place of action. Let's say, well calculated, another 600 to 800 km per year. So, summa sumarum, calculated over the year, approx. 7,000 km only for trips to the meetings, not yet including the routes to door-to-door service in the respective areas (and back). So, again maximum number, perhaps 8,000 km, perhaps (rather even) more. Now, my dear reader, calculate out the petrol you need, from the kilometre lump sums that you could and would bill professionally, quite apart from that. Then you know how much we as a family alone had to pay for the journey. Of course we also donated to the donation boxes in the Kingdom Hall and at the congresses, of course we also paid for our literature, of course we also sacrificed the time for cleaning the hall and a thousand other things (hall building, for example, with larger sums of money and time stakes).
Of course there was also the fact that one took less wealthy – not to say poor – brothers on the journey, without participation for gasoline, etc., because we had a bigger van, a seven-seater, in which an additional couple could take a seat.
In comparison, take again the "rank and file Christian" of the first or second century, who, following the instructions of our Lord, missionized in his natural environment, of his own free will and without an organizational mess, which pushed him to it, because contrary to what these societies often claim (especially the WTS!), there was no "governing body", no headquarters, no head office, or whatever it was called. There were only independent local churches, larger and smaller, and individual Christians, with or without families. That was it.
Question: Who has the lighter yoke now and who has the harder yoke to carry, only from this point of view?
(3) 1. Timothy 4, verses 1 to 3
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (English Standard Version)
Are there any (at least hidden) references to the WTS or the JW.Org today?
Yes, there are!
Precisely this text, so often applied by the WTS against "apostates", that is, those who have left this organization (even voluntarily!), hereby turns the tide against itself!
Here is an example of this (quoted from: Quote from "Mistakes and confusions" by "Network sect exit"):
1938
False Prophecy:
Because the end is so near, Jehovah's Witnesses are told to wait until Armageddon to marry and have children (Watchtower, 1, November 1938, p. 323) [Note: 1 Tim. 4:3].
False Prophecy:
This idea is repeated in the book "Look the Facts in the Eye":
If this conclusion is biblically correct, it would mean that those men and women who make up the 'great multitude' would marry in justice and have children ... Would it be biblically appropriate to marry today and start raising children? No, that is the answer supported by the Bible ... Those Jonadabe (Jonadabe: This means, in the speech of the WTS, the majority group of armageddon who will survive this event, are called in their misinterpretation as "Jonadabes". It's a synonym for that.) who are considering marrying today would apparently do better to wait a few years until the firestorm of Armageddon is over, and then marry and enjoy the blessing of participating in filling the earth with just and perfect children." (pages 46, 50; English [See 1941 and 1992])
1941
False Prophecy:
Armageddon is supposedly only "months away" (Watchtower, September 15, 1941, page 288). Because Armageddon is "certainly near", the fictitious witness couple John and Eunice decide to "postpone" marriage and children's plans" until Paradise on Earth is established (Children, page 366) [See 1941, 1987 and 1992];
There are said to be more than eight million Jehovah's Witnesses today. They have all (unfortunately!) abandoned their faith (without mostly noticing it themselves) in order to join people (the Leadership Body of the JWs Faith Community), from whom they repeatedly join with false teachings and dogmas (so-called "new light";; see this point again under Dogmen page or Antichrist page), also referred to as "new inspirations", are deceived by hypocritical liars who pretend to be other than they are.
The present text by Paul to Timothy also clearly shows here the misdemeanours or the additional hard yokes of this society, which often deviate very strongly from that of the Lord Jesus.
(4) 2nd Thessalonians 2, verses 9 to 12
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (English Standard Version)
Can the WTS/JW.Org perform miracles?
If you take reason and logic as a basis, hardly. However, sometimes one or the other event is interpreted (one could also say "so turned" or "bended") that it is called a miracle. One heard stories over and over again that took one's shoes off, so to speak.
One heard, for example, the story of a JWs woman who came home from work in the evening and had to trudge a bit through lonely terrain on her way. In this area, it is said, there were several times raids and rapes up to murder. This woman, who is at stake now, was, as I said, a JWs who always prayed when she was on her way home that nothing would happen to her. And indeed nothing happened. When the perpetrator who attacked the women was caught at some point and confessed to his actions, he was also asked about this woman, why he had not attacked her, because she also crossed his path practically every day. His answer: This woman was never alone, always a strong man went left and right of her and the danger to attack her and get caught would have been simply too big for him. Of course the two men – the woman swore stone and leg that she had always been alone – were two angels who would only have been visible to this evildoer, but not to all the others, including this woman herself. Well, the story can be right or not, the following is interesting: Later, when I was lying in a hospital due to an accident, I told this story to my room mate who was a member of the NAC (New Apostolic Church). What did he answer me? "Mr. X., this is very interesting. The very same story is circulating in us (the NAC) as well;
Two "Christian" religions – the same effect, the same story. One miracle – two religions. Is God divided into two?
Another example of "miracle": Until 1990, Germany was also divided in two. BRD was called the western, "free" side, GDR the eastern, as one knows, "unfree". Often enough I changed the borders of both German states between Hesse and Thuringia because my then wife (= today's ex) had relatives "over there" and we visited her practically once a year and spent the night with her aunt. Most of the time we travelled over in spring, often after the memorial meal, which is celebrated by the JWs only once a year, on the 14th Nisan according to the Jewish calendar. Because "over there" the religious community of the JWs was forbidden and its followers were persecuted by the state, and the dear relatives belonged to this religion, we were "enjoined from over there" not to take any magazines or the like with us, because they would get their "spiritual food" (= their literature) from other sources, about Poland. We stuck to it, but nevertheless flew up sometime, at the border, because the border guards of the GDR (NVA soldiers) noticed my blood identity card, which every JWs was supposed to carry with them and I hadn't hidden it well enough. I skip the details of the subsequent search of our four people (Daddy, Mommy, two children) and our vehicle, which took several hours. I am convinced that since that time we have had a Stasi file that was created for us at that time (I haven't checked that yet; it would be a small pastime for my retirement age in the future).
A confrere from our assembly at that time, who had to go to Leipzig for business reasons, because of a trade fair, had more luck there already. Even twice. The first time he was lucky was when he arrived at the German-German border and was supposed to open his trunk, but this did not happen, because just at this time, when the border guard demanded it, he was called to the office via loudspeaker, because of a telephone call and his replacement, who was supposed to continue to control the dear brother, said that everything had already happened. So the trunk remained closed and brother's heart was waved through. He came to a few kilometres before Leipzig, when he was allowed to experience the second "miracle". Once again there were road checks by the NVA / Stasi / Police (acronyms: NVA = army, Stasi = secret service) and a higher ranking officer asked our brother if he could take him a bit further, up to a certain point. The brother affirmed and the officer informed him that the controls were carried out because it was suspected that banned literature was being smuggled from the West to Leipzig Fair, to a greater extent. The journey went smoothly and when Brotherherz opened the trunk in his hotel, a row of watchtowers lay at the top, immediately visible, which he had simply forgotten in the car.
Also quite interesting again: This story was also known to my NAC room neighbor, just from his point of view and instead of the watchtowers his writings of the NAC.
One can or may not believe these stories as well as thousands of others, the brothers in faith – no matter on which side – see this as a miracle and their faith is strengthened by it. In any case, this coincides with the above-mentioned biblical quotation from the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians.
(5) 2. Corinthians chapter 4, verses 3 and 4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Exactly this Bible quotation is very often quoted by the JWs. Of course, from their point of view it concerns all those who are not willing to follow their WTS convictions. All, whether atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, members of natural religions, free thinkers – and, last but not least, other Christians, who of course are not "true" Christians, because, of course, these are only the JWs, belong to the victims blinded by Satan, because none of them questions their own religion. Well roared, lion! Ask yourself, dear JWs, if you yourself have questioned your religion! And, before you answer rashly with "yes", also ask yourself, how you did this! Only very superficially, how the Catholic asks his priest whether the Catholic faith is the right one or whether you then ask the Watchtower as JWs whether your JWs faith is the right one or do you respond to real (counter) arguments of the Bible, as the only valid original? Do human explanations of a church/organization count at least as much for you as Holy Scripture, God's inspired word itself? What do you say to a Catholic who considers the Pope's word, made ex cathetre, infallible? Why does "the earthly channel of God", the governing body (GB) of WTS constantly "need new light"? Has a prophet of the Old Testament or a preacher of the New Testament like Paul, Peter, John, etc. ever had to revise his word? Why then must the churches, whatever they may be, also the WTS? Do you know now what the term "question" for really means?.
Do you see, dear JWs, whose spirit the GB is when it forbids you (Kingdom Service September 2007) to study the Bible independently with other Christians ? Are you free, as Jesus says, or are you dependent on your earthly leadership?
Keep in mind what the title of this essay says, taken from Jesus' words themselves: The truth will set you free! – Or, in other words: A person freed from Christian truth no longer needs the approval of any human institution!
(6) Epistle to the Romans Chapter 1, Verses 24 and 25
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (English Standard Version)
In the context of this passage it is said that there are people who give more glory to creation than to the Creator himself. And – in fact – there is also (at least hidden) a reference to homosexuality, which God does not consider good – to put it mildly. But there is another point of view: people (= creation) worship instead of worshiping God.
How this?
If the governing body (GB) of WTS, so to speak the "supreme army leadership" of it, equates itself with Jesus, what it does with one of its dogmas (144.000 "intermediaries" instead of Jesus alone), then – although the corresponding biblical passages negate the teachings of the WTS – it gives honour to itself, which is also confirmed in many passages of its media – see among other things a part of its spiritual songs, documented on www.bruderinfo-aktuell.org.
Several of their articles in the Watchtowers and other literature urge their members not only to follow this GB, but also to honor them according to their position. That does not only border – that is already Blasphemie and megalomania. Like once with the Roman catholic church centuries ago likewise. Also this had to be carried out unconditional obedience – for better or for worse. Mostly on perdition.
Nothing new under the sun.
(7) 2nd Timothy Letter, Chapter 3, Verse 6-7
For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (English Standard Version)
If one reads this text only briefly and superficially, one would think that these men, of whom we are talking here, are mocking "weak" women with sexual desires in order to seduce them. Well, of course you can never completely rule that out, but there is also something completely different meant with it, and that should be to be seen in something like this: In the majority, as in all so-called Christian religions, above all women are to be found in the respective meetings. That is also not different with the JWs. Why? Because the fair femininity in general is more responsive to religious topics than the male world, whereby of course exceptions also confirm the rule. When I think back, for example, to an English-speaking assembly in southern Germany in the 1970s, it was mainly women who were present. Why? Mainly – apart from the Germans – it was women of US-American soldiers who "served" there. The men, soldiers ("GIs") served as occupation soldiers in Germany, their wives "the only true religion", the WTS in the local town/community.
Also in other-language congregations did not (and does not look it today) look much differently, including the national-language ones, thus likewise the German ones: There are more women than men.
Well, men, but also women, who address other people at the doors in the well-known door-to-door service, again and again start so-called Bible studies (which are actually none at all; it should rather be called "studies of the WTS articles") with the apartment owners in order to seduce them, as is a winged messenger "spiritually speaking". "Seducing" not in sexual, but in spiritual respects, i.e. they infiltrate individual people with pseudo-biblical teachings, directly also called false or false teachings. Those who know the Bible know that moral impurity in this book is often equated with unfaithfulness to God. This is exactly what is meant here. The partial utterance that always learn and yet are never able to come to an exact knowledge of the truth, applies pretty much to Jehovah's Witnesses. Well, this also applies to other churches/faith communities. I myself also had negative experiences with the seven-day Adventists in this regard. It was similar when I got involved in something like this for a short time), but here we are talking primarily about Jehovah's Witnesses. This group of religionists studies, thus learns and learns and learns, for years again and again the same, sometimes just provided with "new light", that is: a modification of known and traditional teachings. But they never come to an exact knowledge of the truth, as expressed above. Nor can they do so as long as they do not make Christ their only Lord, but still (increasingly even) adore, consciously or unconsciously, "side mediators" to side gods, even if they deny it themselves. Nevertheless this is so. They are by no means free Christians.
(8) Hosea chapter 10, verses 1 and 2, the conclusion of which is then chapter 14 of verse 10
Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.
These first two verses from chapter 10 are in the German original which is called Die gute Nachricht this quotation is titled "Full Victims, but Fake Heart". Not without (background) reason.
Hosea was an inhabitant of the northern kingdom of Israel and a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah. He worked from the last time of Jeroboam's reign until the end of the kingdom of Israel and the Assyrian captivity, that is from 760 to 722 B.C. His main theme: Israel's unfaithfulness – God's judgment and mercy. Here is the key idea mentioned above: Apostasy from God corresponds to adultery in the intimate relationship between man and woman.
The conclusion is described in chapter 14, verse 10, overwritten in Good News with the heading "An epilogue":
He who is wise and insightful, pay attention to what is written in this book! The commandments of the Lord point the way to a fulfilled life. Those who follow them will reach their destination, but those who rebel against the Lord will fall.
The reference to WTS?
The WTS is a rich, by no means a poor religious community, even if something else is propagated elsewhere. Alone already their real estates are x millions, if not even more worth. It also takes a lot of money monthly from its donors, its loyal "lemmings". She also spends a lot of money on "the work", as she calls her own agitations (including fines, as described above). The more prosperity grew in the country, the more splendidly they decorated the consecrated stone paintings. Also fully applies. But with their hearts they were not with the Lord. That is also true – unfortunately! – too. Like that, the reading JWs may ask now, we are full of eagerness! Well, with full zeal: Yes. But with whom? With Jesus Christ or an earthly religious community that rejects him in satanic form at the memorial banquet? If they (the JWs) were really there with their hearts, they would have long since been questioning their own religion in this regard – but they don't, but continue in the old ways, as they have always done. Hosea – a contemporary prophet whose divine insights apply more than ever to this organization in comparison with the ancient people of Israel!
(9) Amos Chapter 5, verses 21 to 27
"I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. (English Standard Version)
At the JWs there were or are still some congresses per year. In my time these were two circuit and one district or even international congress per annum. Of course, it was my duty and honour to participate there. Often, under great stress and effort, everything possible was done to be present. Only illness or even bigger and more serious were acceptable exceptions, not to be able or to have to participate. Months before, at least at the "big congresses", the Kingdom Service, a piece of paper used internally at that time, with which your "personal conscience", i.e.: collective effort, threshed in, means, argumentatively and psychologically in the manner of a column of pushers, that you do not come up with the idea not to participate, was used. Even school-age children were often brought out of school prematurely with special permits if there was an overlap with the end or beginning of the holiday, on the grounds of Article 4 of the Basic Law, namely the freedom of worship guaranteed there. Holiday trips were coordinated so that participation in such a congress could also be ensured. Non-participation, even if this was not said openly, but navigated, commanded and represented internally in such a way, amounted to a sin so to speak. The whole thing was always justified with the annual festivals of the Jews in the Old Testament, which were also obligatory, thousands of years ago. Passover and Yom Kippur, Khannuka and Purim, all these Jewish festivals were and are equated with the congresses of the WTS of today. While thousands of years ago it was the law and commandment of the Jews to participate in them, today it is also the case with the JWs at their congresses. The fact that the "organization of Jehovah," the alleged God of the Bible "visible part on earth today," was often glorified more than God Himself (or at least on an equal footing) is very reminiscent of the words just quoted by Amos. Again the question arises: Are Jehovah's Witnesses really free Christians, or are they not prisoners of a human enterprise, a corporation in the USA that dictates pretty much everything in the life of a JW?
(10) And last but not least Zechariah chapter 5, verses 1 to 4
Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits." Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. I will send it out, declares the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones."
(Quote from the Good News again, overwritten with the subtitle "Sixth Vision: Penalty undiscovered injustice")
(The conversion of Old Testament measures of length to today's measures has already been done by the Bible translators. Note from Eddie)
Zechariah thus describes in his sixth vision that no one gets away with it unscathed, even if, apparently, atrocities that have happened have remained unrecognized or hidden. But nothing remains hidden from God and on the Day of Judgment he will see to it that all these things are revealed.
Once in the 1980s, as far as I remember, there was a Watchtower or Awake article dealing with this topic. I also remember the picture that was drawn right at the beginning of this article very clearly: It depicted a man sweeping some rubbish directly and literally under the raised carpet. This article dealt with the fact that "nothing will remain hidden from Jehovah", everything will come out, at the latest on the day of court. But, better still: before. So one must not try to hide something from "the organization of God" – speak, cover up, but report mistakes (sins) of this organization. Faithfulness and loyalty to the "channel of God" counted more than friendships if a brother and a friend at the same time made a mistake of any kind.
Greetings from Scientology (topic Auditing). If I now apply exactly this procedure and, as described above in Zechariah, also to the organization of the Watchtower Society, it looks bad for them.
So I think of all the names of suspected paedophiles that this organization is unwilling to unveil, or of the "financial hanky-panky" (keyword: "Panamapapers") that are all hidden today from their own members by the Watchtower leadership, the so-called "governing body", instead of transparently reporting them to them ("they are all brothers"). Or also the turning-over and turning of any arguments in favor of the organization and cover-ups and/or deceptions about facts towards governments or also towards their own brothers and sisters (examples: Why does "Jehovah" need no more personal notes, for some time now, but earlier he needed them (obviously) in comparison to the European Data Protection Act or: Why were at some point the kitchen supplies stopped at congresses due to tax measures and much more), oh, oh, oh.
The conclusion of all these things: Jesus himself once told us (Christians) that his yoke would be easy, but difficult for the religious leaders, because they would add additional things and laws/commandments to the true biblical ones. They would also claim that the Messiah (Christ) could only be found with them (the respective group) and that everything would be right with them. It is simply a matter of twisting biblical facts, "loving" Mammon and exercising power over one's own sheep. On the Internet I found the following quote, where both the author and the affiliation to which faith/religion (however) are completely unknown – at least to me. But, this saying, as quoted, releases exactly the background thought that ultimately counts with all these churches/organizations, no matter which: "First we want to hold: Christ has given everything for us, and as Christians we belong entirely to him, including our finances."
With this saying, wherever it may come from, you can clearly see what religions are primarily concerned with: namely, as I said before, two things: your money and the exercise of power over your entire life. If you want to be and remain such a victim, if that is your goal, then stay in your religion, which regulates everything for you, from thinking ahead to implementation. If not, then take the consequences and leave the whore of Babylon, to whom all religions ultimately belong, including the Watchtower Society. revelation 18 verse 4.
To all quoted sources in my four-part on the subject of psychology and also in this one I would like to point out again.
Eddie
