Thursday, February 11, 2010

Believe it because we say it

*** w59 5/1 p. 269 pars. 6-7 Attain Completeness in the New World Society ***

The whole body under the direction of the head moves and acts as a beautifully co-ordinated unit, perfectly organized. In the same way Christ, the Head, employs the organization that is his body to carry out his assigned work. His orders reach the whole of the organization on earth through the governing body, and on down through the Branches to the congregations.—1 Cor. 12:12-18; Matt. 24:45-47.

7 To hold to the headship of Christ, it is therefore necessary to obey the organization that he is personally directing. Doing what the organization says is to do what he says. Resisting the organization is to resist him


This is one of the most amazing statements i've seen made by the Watchtower, as I was recently made aware of. Most Jehovah's Witnesses won't think twice about this, but those of us on the outside certainly will. Notice the parallel:

Doing what we say = not resisting us


This means that under no circumstances can you question or disbelieve any teaching of the organization. Thus, anything they say is the truth, according to Jehovah's Witnesses. The problem is, every JW knows that the organization has taught many things that are not true since the organization's inception. And we all know that the organization doesn't claim infallibility or inspiration. So what are we to do with this? The thinking person would say to themselves, "If the organization has taught things in the past that were completely false, and we must believe everything the organization teaches without question, then I am probably believing things that are false at the present moment. But that doesn't matter, because I must believe everything they say."

Ultimately, truth cannot matter to the JW. If it did matter, then JW's throughout their history would have questioned the organization when they taught false ideas. But they don't and cannot.

My challenge to Jehovah's Witnesses is to start caring about truth. Read the Scriptures and study them for yourselves. If your conclusions disagree with the Society, don't just think to yourselves, "God will straighten this out if the Society is wrong. In the meantime, I won't question them. After all, who am I to say I know better than them?" There is nothing biblical about this mindset. The Scriptures are your ultimate authority. And your organization is not above that. So, if the Bible disagrees with your organization, then the organization is wrong. Don't be afraid to speak out. You may fear the consequences. But the cost will be worth it because the truth is worth it.

2 comments:

Religion is a Racket said...

Things are much the same way in the watchtower organization today as they were in Jesus day. In John the 9th chapter the parents of the man born blind didn't want to speak up and say Christ had preformed a miracle for their son, because as the account says they were afraid of being thrown out of the synagogue. (9:22)Today. witnesses put up with things they know are wrong for the same reason. Association with friends and family mean more to them than the truth.

Jonathan said...

Hey there. I found you over at brennansthoughts and liked your comments.

Keep up the good work defending the faith.

Sola Fide!