01-01-2007, 09:40 PM
I thought I would jumpstart this subject by posting my letter to the society. I sent it on August 30, 2006, and four months later, still have not had a reply.
August 30, 2006
Dear Brother Lett,
My name is Micah {Last name withheld}. I am ?? years old, and I currently live in ---------. I attend the ---------congregation. I was advised to write to you. I hope that is okay. If it is not, please pass this letter on to someone who can address my concerns.
First of all, I want to ask about the involvement of the Watchtower Society with the Rand Cam Engine Corporation. The SEC has stated that the WTBTS owned 50% of this company for over 16 years. This company is involved with making engines for fighter planes and jets and long-range capable war machines. Please explain to me how this is not a betrayal of neutrality.
http://www.geocities.com/wtgreed/article.htm
Along these same lines, please explain to me why the Society accepted monies from a trust fund from Henrietta M. Riley when those monies came from stock in Philip-Morris, a company which manufactures and distributes cigarettes.
*** g00 10/8 p. 27 Is It Wise to Invest in the Stock Market? ***
By considering the background of a company, an investor can also ensure that his money will not be used to support an unethical enterprise.—See Awake!, February 8, 1962, pages 21-3.
Secondly, I want to discuss the issue of the Watchtower Society being an NGO for the United Nations. Please do not respond that this was only to get a library card. For one thing, you have told us for decades that to join the YMCA just to use the pool would be a betrayal of our neutrality. This is no different. For another thing, it is a well documented fact by the UN that admission to the library did not necessitate joining the DPI as an NGO. And how do you explain that the Watchtower Society unknowingly met all the requirements of an NGO, including re-applying every year? Finally, please explain why Gregory Allen was listed as the WTBTS’ official representative as an NGO for the OSCE Conference as recently as June 9, 2005. http://www.randytv.com/secret/NGOduties.htm This is another betrayal of neutrality, and surely must anger Jehovah. James 4:4
Thirdly, I want to voice my distress over the issue of child molestation that has been covered over or outright ignored due to a denial by the accused or a lack of “two or three witnesses.†This is simply outrageous, and cannot be fathomed. That an organization based on Jesus’ words at John 13:34 to love one another as Christ Jesus loved us can in the same breath deny the cries of these “silent lambs†is appalling and horrifying. As a victim of physical abuse myself, having been “raised in the truthâ€, I can personally assure you that for a victim to come forward at all is a testament to their strength. To ignore the pleas of these little ones is truly criminal, and all who have had a share in it, to any extent, will, I am sure, answer to Jehovah. Ezek 3:19. James 1:27 tells us to look after orphans and widows. Yet here you are, throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Do you really expect the thousands that have suffered abuse at the hands of fellow Christians to want to have anything to do with this religion?
Also, I would like to understand more about the blood issue. Why is it that it is suddenly okay to accept blood fractions? The Society’s stand on donating blood and storage of blood has not changed, so it would seem that you have a double standard where blood is concerned. We can accept fractions, but not whole blood; we can accept fractions of blood that is donated, yet we ourselves are not allowed to donate blood; and finally, we are allowed to accept fractions of blood that has been stored, but are not allowed to store our own blood-even if it were split apart into fractions- to be used later? I feel the current understanding of the blood issue is quite contrary to the Bible’s teaching. Either we abstain from blood- including fractions, or we do not. It seems a simple matter, yet the Society has caused mass confusion on this subject.
Another subject I would like to explore is that of the New Covenant. At 1 Timothy 2:5,6, Jehovah says that the New Covenant is between him and “menâ€, and that Jesus gave himself as a ransom sacrifice for “allâ€. There is no mention of this being just for the Anointed. Jesus Christ is also listed as the Mediator to this covenant, between God and “all†“menâ€. Luke 22:28-30 is where Jesus makes the covenant with his apostles for a kingdom. This is noteworthy for two reasons: One, it is a separate and distinct covenant made from the one symbolized by the bread and the wine, which happens more than eight verses earlier. Two, Jesus conducted this covenant. It was between him and his apostles (and the rest of the 144,000). Therefore, it cannot be the same covenant that he is a Mediator for, since you cannot be a Mediator for a covenant you are a party to. After seeing this evidence in the Bible itself, it is hard for me to believe that only the anointed are under the New Covenant. It is, instead, quite clear to me that all of faithful Christianity is under the New Covenant, as stated at John 3:16. The covenant for a kingdom is between Jesus and his anointed ones, and is a separate and distinct covenant than the New Covenant- between Jehovah and “all†“menâ€. Since we are all under the New Covenant, we should all do as Jesus commanded, and “keep doing this in remembrance of me.†Luke 22:19
It has also been brought to my attention that too, too often in the magazines, we are told to “thank the faithful and discrete slaveâ€, and yet no mention is made of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why are we not directed to thank him, to praise him, to pay attention to him, at all? “For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.†Phil 2:9-11 Surely, this is more important than the so called faithful and “discrete†slave patting itself on the back, yet again?
Lastly, it has come to my attention that Charles T. Russell was devoutly involved in pyramidology, and arrived at the date of 1914 by measuring the inner chambers of the Great Pyramid.
http://www.afcministry.com/The_Destructi...usalem.htm
This by itself would be troubling enough, but there is more. Several times the Society has changed dates to suit their own devices. The most recent being the debacle of 1975. Even in the last ten years the Society’s own teachings of the “generation†has changed, readjusted as the actual generation that saw 1914 rapidly declined. I have also read that when Ray Franz was a member of the governing body, that 1914 was discussed, to be replaced with 1957- the year that Sputnik went into space. As if Jehovah’s timetable was somehow affected by the doings of us puny mortals.
Since I have been reading the website of e-watchman, produced by a Brother Robert King, I have come to question the date of 1914 as being the date when Christ began to rule in heaven. This is not just because of the way the date was originally decided upon, or by the ever changing dates of significance, but largely because I don’t think Jesus would take a century to start ruling over the earth- which he has quite obviously not done. I feel that the house cleaning, and the subsequent appointment of a faithful and discreet slave is yet future. I fear that the WTBTS will not fare well when he comes to demand an accounting of his belongings.
The above mentioned subjects are only the ones I know about, and the only ones I currently have questions about. As Creator of the Universe, Jehovah will see into our hearts, and will judge accordingly. I am also troubled by the WTBTS’ constant denial of themselves as being under inspection. We are very clearly NOT living in a spiritual paradise, when our leaders betray our neutrality, waver on important issues like blood, cover up abuse and then lie about it, shun those who would try to protect the innocent by warning of lurking pedophiles, leaders who say time and again we are “God’s channel†and outcast any who dare to question the very mortal men in charge, and time and again prove to be false prophets.
Please understand I come to you with these questions because I do not want to cause divisions inside the Christian congregation. Any response would be greatly appreciated, so as to put my mind at ease. Phil. 4:6,7
Most sincerely,
Micah {Last Name Withheld}
August 30, 2006
Dear Brother Lett,
My name is Micah {Last name withheld}. I am ?? years old, and I currently live in ---------. I attend the ---------congregation. I was advised to write to you. I hope that is okay. If it is not, please pass this letter on to someone who can address my concerns.
First of all, I want to ask about the involvement of the Watchtower Society with the Rand Cam Engine Corporation. The SEC has stated that the WTBTS owned 50% of this company for over 16 years. This company is involved with making engines for fighter planes and jets and long-range capable war machines. Please explain to me how this is not a betrayal of neutrality.
http://www.geocities.com/wtgreed/article.htm
Along these same lines, please explain to me why the Society accepted monies from a trust fund from Henrietta M. Riley when those monies came from stock in Philip-Morris, a company which manufactures and distributes cigarettes.
*** g00 10/8 p. 27 Is It Wise to Invest in the Stock Market? ***
By considering the background of a company, an investor can also ensure that his money will not be used to support an unethical enterprise.—See Awake!, February 8, 1962, pages 21-3.
Secondly, I want to discuss the issue of the Watchtower Society being an NGO for the United Nations. Please do not respond that this was only to get a library card. For one thing, you have told us for decades that to join the YMCA just to use the pool would be a betrayal of our neutrality. This is no different. For another thing, it is a well documented fact by the UN that admission to the library did not necessitate joining the DPI as an NGO. And how do you explain that the Watchtower Society unknowingly met all the requirements of an NGO, including re-applying every year? Finally, please explain why Gregory Allen was listed as the WTBTS’ official representative as an NGO for the OSCE Conference as recently as June 9, 2005. http://www.randytv.com/secret/NGOduties.htm This is another betrayal of neutrality, and surely must anger Jehovah. James 4:4
Thirdly, I want to voice my distress over the issue of child molestation that has been covered over or outright ignored due to a denial by the accused or a lack of “two or three witnesses.†This is simply outrageous, and cannot be fathomed. That an organization based on Jesus’ words at John 13:34 to love one another as Christ Jesus loved us can in the same breath deny the cries of these “silent lambs†is appalling and horrifying. As a victim of physical abuse myself, having been “raised in the truthâ€, I can personally assure you that for a victim to come forward at all is a testament to their strength. To ignore the pleas of these little ones is truly criminal, and all who have had a share in it, to any extent, will, I am sure, answer to Jehovah. Ezek 3:19. James 1:27 tells us to look after orphans and widows. Yet here you are, throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Do you really expect the thousands that have suffered abuse at the hands of fellow Christians to want to have anything to do with this religion?
Also, I would like to understand more about the blood issue. Why is it that it is suddenly okay to accept blood fractions? The Society’s stand on donating blood and storage of blood has not changed, so it would seem that you have a double standard where blood is concerned. We can accept fractions, but not whole blood; we can accept fractions of blood that is donated, yet we ourselves are not allowed to donate blood; and finally, we are allowed to accept fractions of blood that has been stored, but are not allowed to store our own blood-even if it were split apart into fractions- to be used later? I feel the current understanding of the blood issue is quite contrary to the Bible’s teaching. Either we abstain from blood- including fractions, or we do not. It seems a simple matter, yet the Society has caused mass confusion on this subject.
Another subject I would like to explore is that of the New Covenant. At 1 Timothy 2:5,6, Jehovah says that the New Covenant is between him and “menâ€, and that Jesus gave himself as a ransom sacrifice for “allâ€. There is no mention of this being just for the Anointed. Jesus Christ is also listed as the Mediator to this covenant, between God and “all†“menâ€. Luke 22:28-30 is where Jesus makes the covenant with his apostles for a kingdom. This is noteworthy for two reasons: One, it is a separate and distinct covenant made from the one symbolized by the bread and the wine, which happens more than eight verses earlier. Two, Jesus conducted this covenant. It was between him and his apostles (and the rest of the 144,000). Therefore, it cannot be the same covenant that he is a Mediator for, since you cannot be a Mediator for a covenant you are a party to. After seeing this evidence in the Bible itself, it is hard for me to believe that only the anointed are under the New Covenant. It is, instead, quite clear to me that all of faithful Christianity is under the New Covenant, as stated at John 3:16. The covenant for a kingdom is between Jesus and his anointed ones, and is a separate and distinct covenant than the New Covenant- between Jehovah and “all†“menâ€. Since we are all under the New Covenant, we should all do as Jesus commanded, and “keep doing this in remembrance of me.†Luke 22:19
It has also been brought to my attention that too, too often in the magazines, we are told to “thank the faithful and discrete slaveâ€, and yet no mention is made of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why are we not directed to thank him, to praise him, to pay attention to him, at all? “For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.†Phil 2:9-11 Surely, this is more important than the so called faithful and “discrete†slave patting itself on the back, yet again?
Lastly, it has come to my attention that Charles T. Russell was devoutly involved in pyramidology, and arrived at the date of 1914 by measuring the inner chambers of the Great Pyramid.
http://www.afcministry.com/The_Destructi...usalem.htm
This by itself would be troubling enough, but there is more. Several times the Society has changed dates to suit their own devices. The most recent being the debacle of 1975. Even in the last ten years the Society’s own teachings of the “generation†has changed, readjusted as the actual generation that saw 1914 rapidly declined. I have also read that when Ray Franz was a member of the governing body, that 1914 was discussed, to be replaced with 1957- the year that Sputnik went into space. As if Jehovah’s timetable was somehow affected by the doings of us puny mortals.
Since I have been reading the website of e-watchman, produced by a Brother Robert King, I have come to question the date of 1914 as being the date when Christ began to rule in heaven. This is not just because of the way the date was originally decided upon, or by the ever changing dates of significance, but largely because I don’t think Jesus would take a century to start ruling over the earth- which he has quite obviously not done. I feel that the house cleaning, and the subsequent appointment of a faithful and discreet slave is yet future. I fear that the WTBTS will not fare well when he comes to demand an accounting of his belongings.
The above mentioned subjects are only the ones I know about, and the only ones I currently have questions about. As Creator of the Universe, Jehovah will see into our hearts, and will judge accordingly. I am also troubled by the WTBTS’ constant denial of themselves as being under inspection. We are very clearly NOT living in a spiritual paradise, when our leaders betray our neutrality, waver on important issues like blood, cover up abuse and then lie about it, shun those who would try to protect the innocent by warning of lurking pedophiles, leaders who say time and again we are “God’s channel†and outcast any who dare to question the very mortal men in charge, and time and again prove to be false prophets.
Please understand I come to you with these questions because I do not want to cause divisions inside the Christian congregation. Any response would be greatly appreciated, so as to put my mind at ease. Phil. 4:6,7
Most sincerely,
Micah {Last Name Withheld}