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Loyalty To Jehovah's Visible Organization.

A poster named Sir82 at JWN posted a few highlights from a CO's talk in his congregation about loyalty to Jehovah's visible organization.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/frien...octrinally

Theme was something about "Loyalty to Jehovah's visible organization".

I have neither the time nor inclination to summarize the whole thing, but a few points stood out:

1) Be loyal to visible org. even if it causes you personal hardship

Example: Joshua & Caleb returned from spy trip to promised land with good report, but were "outvoted" by the other 10 spies. Jehovah punished the faithless Israelites by forcing them to wander in wilderness for 40 years. Joshua & Caleb were right all along, but stuck with "Jehovah's organization" even though they suffered the penalty as well, through no fault of their own.

2) Be loyal to visible org. even if you get difficult-to-understand instructions

Example: After Israelites crossed Jordan river, but prior to attacking Jericho, Jehovah commanded all uncircumcised Israelites to get clipped. Seemed like very poor strategy -- they needed several days to recover, and were extremely vulnerable, being trapped between flood-stage river and hostile city. But they did it anyway, and Jericho did not attack - Jehovah protected them.

3) Be loyal to visible org. even if you know they are wrong

Example 1: 1st century "governing body" told Paul to ceremonially cleanse self before talking to Jews. He must have known it wouldn't work, and in fact it didn't work, as they tried to kill him & he had to appeal to Caesar. But that opened the way for him to give a witness in Rome. The 1st century "governing body" weren't thinking "what's the best way to get Paul to Rome", but it worked out that way - Jehovah used them to accomplish his will.

Example 2: During World War I, the WT did not promote a strong neutrality position, told Bible Students to "follow conscience" with regard to supporting war efforts. Some Bible Students knew this was wrong, and broke away. But soon after breaking away, they "faded and came to nothing." Eventually, by 1939, the organization got it right and published a series of WT articles on the importance of strict neutrality.

Warm Christian Love
Bangalore

Dear Bangalore

The Watchtower Society claims excactly the same as the Pope to speak for God or be His channel, even they have elected themselves and are sending spiritual persons, Brothers, Sisters and their Children into a premature death based at their doctrines of men.

They are acting in the same manner as other Cults, it is therefore interesting to read this article about cults and it doesn't matter whether they are controlled by one or more leaders, the patterns are exactly the same:

From Dissociation: Clinical and Theoretical Perspectives. Lynn, SJ and Rhue JW, eds. ©1994 The Guilford Press. Reprinted with permission.

http://earthops.org/cult/dissociation1.html

A totalist cult is defined as follows: "Cult (totalist type): a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea, or thing, and employing unethical, manipulative or coercive techniques of persuasion and control:

E.g., isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressure, information management, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it, suspension of individuality and critical judgment, and so on, designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders, to the possible or actual detriment of members, their families, or the community."

The basis for this definition, and a general discussion of the cult problem, is given elsewhere (West, 1983). Among various totalist cults, there may be some differences as to how intense the persuasive activities are, and in the degree to which recruits can be separated from their previous social networks. Even though he may have been attracted to the cult by elaborate and deceptive recruiting techniques, the neophyte cultist enters it "voluntarily." With rare exceptions, nobody puts a gun to his head. Yet, successful indoctrination of a cult member often includes many elements similar to the political indoctrination by such groups as the Chinese communists, which Schein (1961) described as coercive persuasion. In cults, as in the Chinese "brainwashing," "thought reform," or "coercive persuasion," people are often encouraged to criticize themselves in small-group confessionals as a means of strengthening their dependence on the group.

As the process continues, members are systematically trained to relinquish independent action and thought, since only obedient behaviors and passive attitudes are rewarded, while resistance or self-assertion is punished.

Haven't we been warned in the Scriptures and can se that The Watchtower Society create martyrs of their members, as described i Awake May 22, 1994, like those described in Jeremiah chapter 7:

31 And they have built the high places of Tophet, which [is] in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded [them] not, neither came it into my heart.

Furthermore do exactly the same as the Pharisees, as described in Jeremiah chapter 8:

8 How do ye say, We [are] wise, and the law of the LORD [is] with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he [it]; the pen of the scribes [is] in vain.

So when people have put their trust in a man created organisation, who they claims to speak for God and are under so strong influence as members of a Cult, they can't se clear, how self deluted men are manipulating and deceiving them, in opposition to Jehovahs will and heart and what his son Jesus Christ show us in question of compassion and love and it is wisely to remember what comes forth in Psalm chapter 146, concerning men and man created organisations:

3 Put not your trust in princes, [nor] in the son of man, in whom [there is] no help.

4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

5 Happy [is he] that [hath] the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope [is] in the LORD his God:

NOT IN VISIBLE, BY MAN CREATED ORGANISATIONS!

48. “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says:

49. “‘Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

What kind of house will you build for me?

says the Lord.

Or where will my resting place be?

50. Has not my hand made all these things?’

51. “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always reject the Holy Spirit!!!

52. Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him—

53. you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

54. When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

57. At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58. dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Those who prophecy in God's name are guilty of spiritually stoning their own brothers, and for no other reason than them being filled with the Holy Spirit! Those who are free in Christ worship the Father out in the open sky.

Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2. For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Jeremiah 7:1-14 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

2. Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. 3.Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. (REST)

4. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.

5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; 6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place (PEDOPHILES)

, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

7.Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.

8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

[/color] 11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. 12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spoke unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; 14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.

They've said this many times - but the thing is, they must know there are still Bible Student ecclesias all over the world. So - it's a lie to keep the sheep in the dark about the truth of it. Why lie about it?

:scratchhead: