The Watchtower Society will often imploy the use of the third party when applying its indoctrination to make less transparent or obvious the control message they are dispensing to Jehovah's Witnesses. Take for instance the November 15, 2009 Watchtower article, "Treasure your Place in the Congregation", under the sub-heading "Cherish Our Place - How?"
Paragraphs 3 through 5 make the following statements:
"...We need to examine our response to the direction we receive from the slave class. Over the years, for example, we have received pointed direction on dress and grooming, entertainment, and improper use of the internet. Do we carefully heed this good counsel so that we are spiritually protected?..."
"Some might reason that areas such as entertainment and dress and grooming are personal matters. For the dedicated Christian who cherishes his place in the congregation, though, personal preferences should not be the sole determining factor when making decisions..."
"The spirit that now operates in the "sons of disobedience" is so widespread that it is like the air we breathe. That spirit can cause us to think that we do not need guidance from Jehovah's organization... We need to guard against developing a spirit of independence. By word or action, may we never challenge the channel of communication that Jehovah is using today. On the contrary, we should cherish our privilege to cooperate with the slave class. And should we not strive to be obedient and submissive to those taking the lead in our local congregations?"
Taking the above article and couple it with the admonishing and teaching Jehovah’s Witnesses receive that such counsel and direction is to be applied directly to them personally, the real information being fed and ultimately embedded in the minds and hearts of a Jehovah’s Witness makes it all too clear the level of control the organization applies over its members.
Let’s remove the third party terminology being used by the Watchtower Society and rewrite to the first party and the message with its level of control is crystal clear:
"...You need to examine your response to the direction you receive from us. Over the years, for example, you have received pointed direction on dress and grooming, entertainment, and improper use of the internet. Do you carefully heed (our) good counsel so that you are spiritually protected?"
"Some might reason that areas such as entertainment and dress and grooming are personal matters. For you, though, personal preferences should not be the sole determining factor when making decisions..."
"The spirit that now operates in the "sons of disobedience" is so widespread that it is like the air we breathe. That spirit can cause you to think that you do not need guidance from us...You need to guard against developing a spirit of independence (from us). By word or action, may you never challenge us, (as we are) the channel of communication that Jehovah is using today. On the contrary, you should cherish your privilege to cooperate with us. And should you not strive to be obedient and submissive to those taking the lead in your local congregations?"
The above is really what is being inculcated into Jehovah's Witnesses. The original writings are control enough in and of itself; however, the true meaning of the information behind dispensed articles such as the aforementioned Watchtower shows the true nature of its writers and leaders along with their intentions and the effects it would have on Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Much of this may be hard for a Jehovah's Witness to accept or believe. Nonetheless, go back and review other articles concerning guidance, direction, or admonishment, from the pages of the Watchtower and try the same technique. Remove the third person writing and replace with the first, and expose for yourself the true nature of the religion called Jehovah's Witnesses.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Friendship with Jesus Christ
Jehovah’s Witness are taught that friendship with Jesus Christ is highly contingent upon their obedience and support of the Watchtower Society. This has been detailed in many of the Watchtower Society’s publications which Jehovah’s Witnesses are instructed to study and meditate upon.
Let’s take one example: The Watchtower from October 15, 2009 on page 15, under the subheading ‘Friendship with Christ Today’ states the following in paragraph 14:
"How, then can we be friends of Christ? One way is to obey the direction provided by the faithful and discreet slave class, which consists of Jesus' spirit-anointed brothers still alive on earth."
The “faithful and discreet slave class” as mentioned above, consists for Jehovah’s Witnesses of several men who reside in Brooklyn, NY who supposedly look over and approve all literature or ‘spiritual food’ provided to Jehovah’s Witnesses. They set doctrines such as not allowing the transfusion of whole blood, blood fractions are a conscience matter, no celebrating of holidays or birthdays and the shunning of former Jehovah’s Witnesses besides many other regulations and teachings.
It is sickening to think that one’s friendship with Jesus is conditioned with obedience to these men. The article does not stop there though. Continuing further in paragraph 17, this statement is made for Jehovah’s Witnesses to believe as truth:
"A second way that those of the other sheep class can help Christ's brothers is by financially supporting the preaching work."
While Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses will not ‘pass around plates’ so to speak, there are ‘contribution boxes’ found throughout their places of worship. While such monetary contribution may appear on the surface to be voluntary, what is being taught is if you want to be a friend of Jesus you will financially support the preaching work. The Watchtower Society has been masters over many years of causing Jehovah’s Witnesses to ‘read between the lines’ of the indoctrinating messages they dispense in their literature such as the Watchtower. This is just another example of one of them.
If the high level control has not enforced itself enough with this study article for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the next paragraph drives the obedience and support of the Watchtower Society organization home once more. Paragraph 18 brings the following admonition and instructions:
"A third way that all of us prove that we are friends of Christ is by cooperating with the direction provided by congregation elders."
&
"When we overlook the faults of the elders and joyfully follow their directions, we prove our love for Christ."
As if obedience to the men in Brooklyn, NY were not enough along with the financial support of the organization’s preaching work of distributing their literature and asking for money in order to solidify friendship with Jesus, Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that cooperating with the Elders including overlooking their faults and following their directions is what proves your love for Him.
To be friends of Jesus Christ and to prove your love for Him, requires your obedience and support of the Watchtower Society. How convenient for the organization and how terribly controlling for its members.
How much so it contradicts the Bible which clearly states Jesus’ words regarding love and friendship. Even in the Watchtower Society’s version of the Bible, The New World Translation states in John 15: 13-15:
“No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends. YOU are my friends if YOU do what I am commanding YOU. I no longer call YOU slaves, because a slave does not know what his master does. But I have called YOU friends, because all the things I have heard from my Father I have made known to YOU.”
Jesus never mentioned obedience to an organization as being a stipulation on whether or not he would be friends with an individual. Never was there any hint of financially support a 19th century started publishing company in order to show love or have His friendship either. Furthermore, the notion of going along and joyfully following the directions of elders in the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses in order to prove one’s love for Jesus is so far gone from anything that Christ taught.
It is clearly evident that while the Watchtower Society may print articles respecting ‘Friendship with Jesus’, what their real motive reveals is a controlling, manipulative message of obedience and support of their organization.
Let’s take one example: The Watchtower from October 15, 2009 on page 15, under the subheading ‘Friendship with Christ Today’ states the following in paragraph 14:
"How, then can we be friends of Christ? One way is to obey the direction provided by the faithful and discreet slave class, which consists of Jesus' spirit-anointed brothers still alive on earth."
The “faithful and discreet slave class” as mentioned above, consists for Jehovah’s Witnesses of several men who reside in Brooklyn, NY who supposedly look over and approve all literature or ‘spiritual food’ provided to Jehovah’s Witnesses. They set doctrines such as not allowing the transfusion of whole blood, blood fractions are a conscience matter, no celebrating of holidays or birthdays and the shunning of former Jehovah’s Witnesses besides many other regulations and teachings.
It is sickening to think that one’s friendship with Jesus is conditioned with obedience to these men. The article does not stop there though. Continuing further in paragraph 17, this statement is made for Jehovah’s Witnesses to believe as truth:
"A second way that those of the other sheep class can help Christ's brothers is by financially supporting the preaching work."
While Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses will not ‘pass around plates’ so to speak, there are ‘contribution boxes’ found throughout their places of worship. While such monetary contribution may appear on the surface to be voluntary, what is being taught is if you want to be a friend of Jesus you will financially support the preaching work. The Watchtower Society has been masters over many years of causing Jehovah’s Witnesses to ‘read between the lines’ of the indoctrinating messages they dispense in their literature such as the Watchtower. This is just another example of one of them.
If the high level control has not enforced itself enough with this study article for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the next paragraph drives the obedience and support of the Watchtower Society organization home once more. Paragraph 18 brings the following admonition and instructions:
"A third way that all of us prove that we are friends of Christ is by cooperating with the direction provided by congregation elders."
&
"When we overlook the faults of the elders and joyfully follow their directions, we prove our love for Christ."
As if obedience to the men in Brooklyn, NY were not enough along with the financial support of the organization’s preaching work of distributing their literature and asking for money in order to solidify friendship with Jesus, Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that cooperating with the Elders including overlooking their faults and following their directions is what proves your love for Him.
To be friends of Jesus Christ and to prove your love for Him, requires your obedience and support of the Watchtower Society. How convenient for the organization and how terribly controlling for its members.
How much so it contradicts the Bible which clearly states Jesus’ words regarding love and friendship. Even in the Watchtower Society’s version of the Bible, The New World Translation states in John 15: 13-15:
“No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends. YOU are my friends if YOU do what I am commanding YOU. I no longer call YOU slaves, because a slave does not know what his master does. But I have called YOU friends, because all the things I have heard from my Father I have made known to YOU.”
Jesus never mentioned obedience to an organization as being a stipulation on whether or not he would be friends with an individual. Never was there any hint of financially support a 19th century started publishing company in order to show love or have His friendship either. Furthermore, the notion of going along and joyfully following the directions of elders in the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses in order to prove one’s love for Jesus is so far gone from anything that Christ taught.
It is clearly evident that while the Watchtower Society may print articles respecting ‘Friendship with Jesus’, what their real motive reveals is a controlling, manipulative message of obedience and support of their organization.
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