Entrapment is defined as:
to catch in or as if in a trap or to lure into danger, difficulty, or a compromising situation.
What does this have to do with the recent releases from the Society, "What Does the Bible Really Teach" and "Organized to do Jehovah's Will"?
I started to read the "What Does the Bible Really Teach" from a critical perspective.
On the first page, the publication IMMEDIATELY appeals to our emotions by asking
"Is This What God Purposed? READ any newspaper. Look at television or listen to the radio. There are so many stories of crime, war and terrorism! Think about your own troubles..."
Any student would agree that these are serious questions. Thus, the book develops the theme of Jehovah and his Kingdom. I have no problem with that. However, what is conspicuously missing is any reference to the organization, its requirements and the faithful and discreet slave.
Basic Bible teachings are covered in chapters, such as "The Truth About God", "Who Is Jesus Christ?", "Are We Living In the Last Days" and "Baptism and Your Relationship With God."
For a closer analysis, let's consider some chapters and a brief quote - then, listed after the quote will be information published by the faithful and discreet slave that a bible student is unaware of, or seemingly contradicts the "appealing" message to the public...
Chapter 2: The Bible - A Book From God
page 18: "The Bible is a gift from God, one for which we can truly be grateful. This unique book reveals things that we could never find out otherwise....The Bible is a heartwarming gift, for it reveals something about the Giver, Jehovah God. The fact that he has provided such a book is proof that he wants us to get to know him well. Indeed, the Bible can help you draw close to Jehovah."
WHAT WE REALLY MEAN
We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the "faithful and discreet slave" organization. *** Watchtower 1981 February 15 p.19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***
Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible. For this reason the Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind. *** Watchtower 1967 October 1 p.587 Finding Freedom with Jehovah's Visible Organization ***
Chapter 4: Who Is Jesus Christ?
page 37: "It is important for you to know the truth about Jesus. Why? Because the Bible says: "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. (John 17:3) Yes, knowing the truth about God and about Jesus Christ can lead to everlasting life on a paradise earth."
WHAT WE REALLY MEAN
Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his "faithful and discreet slave," made up of spirit-anointed ones … Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do. *** Watchtower 1981 December 1 p.27 The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***
4 The Scriptural expression "congregation of the living God" makes evident who direct it. The organization is theocratic, or God-ruled. Jehovah provides direction for his people through the one that He appointed to be the invisible head of the congregation, the Lord Jesus Christ, and by means of His own inspired Word, the Bible. 7 [...] To please Jehovah, we need to accept the instruction he provides through this channel and act in full harmony with it.*** United in Worship of the Only True God (book, 1983) chap.15 p.118-124 How Does Jehovah Direct His Organization?***
What is missing from this chapter? Jesus' role as mediator for all mankind. No mention is made of Jesus being our mediator.
Chapter 13: A Godly View Of Life
page 130: "Does the command to abstain from blood include blood transfusions? Yes."
WHAT WE REALLY MEAN
However, since blood can be processed beyond those primary components, questions arise about fractions derived from the primary blood components. Such therapies are not transfusions of those primary components; they usually involve parts or fractions thereof. Should Christians accept these fractions in medical treatment? We cannot say. The Bible does not give details, so a Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God. *** Watchtower 2000 June 15 p.31 Questions from Readers ***
To have a fraction of blood, would involve another donor's blood in the first place.Chapter 15: Worship that God approves
page 147: "Those Who Worship The True God"
- base their teachins on the Bible
- worship only Jehovah and make his name known
- Show genuine love for one another
- accept Jesus as God's means of salvation
- Are no part of the world
- Preach God's kingdom as man's only hope
No reference is made in this chapter to the organization known as "Jehovah's Witnesses". While the chapter tries to identify the true religion, it
does not name the true religion. If you applied yourself to all of the points listed above, would that be enough to be approved by God?
WHAT WE REALLY MEAN
And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah's organization for salvation... ***Watchtower 1981 November 15 p.21 'Stay Awake and Keep Your Senses' ***
Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one. There was just one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization—God's visible organization — that will survive the fast-approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal... You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life...*** You Can live Forever (1982, 1990) p.255 ***
Chapter 17: Draw Close To God In Prayer
page 167: "Jehovah requires that we acknowledge his position of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ...Jesus was sent to earth to serve as a ransom to redeem us from sin and death. He is the appointed High Priest and Judge. Hence, the Scriptures direct us to offer our prayers through Jesus. He himself said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me."
WHAT WE REALLY MEAN
Christ, though, is the "mediator of a new covenant" between Jehovah and spiritual Israel, the "Israel of God" that will serve as kings and priests in heaven with Jesus...So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the "mediator" only for anointed Christians. *** Watchtower 1979 April 1 p.31 Questions from Readers ***
Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members. *** Worldwide Security Under the "Prince of Peace" (1986) pp.10-11 ch.1 The Desire for Peace and Security Worldwide ***
After consideration, it is obvious that the Watchtower speaks with a forked tongue. The book, "What does the Bible really Teach" deliberately leaves out the other requirements to be approved by Jehovah God. No reference is made to Jehovah's Witnesses, the compulsory attendance at five weekly meetings, and a minimum of 10 hours a month to be spent in field service.
Only after the bible student has been thoroughly indoctrinated to the point of baptism, does the trap close in on them.
The Society directs that no copies of the book "Organized To Do Jehovah's Will" be given to unbaptized Jehovah's Witnesses - and for good reason.
The information in this book, goes above and beyond the simple requirements laid out in the brochure 'What Does God Require Of Us' and the study book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach."
This book devotes a whole chapter on "Trusting the faithful and discreet slave" - a concept that is and teaching not even mentioned in the previous study aids.
The Bible student has now been directed, not to Jesus Christ who "has sayings of everlasting life," but to an organization who has deceptively misplaced his loyalities. Thus, the worship of God, and the proper respect due to his Son as mediator for mankind has now been replaced by creature worship of a man made organziation.
And that is how the entrapment works.
As regards the "faithful and discreet slave", Matthew 10:24-25 says: "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master."
Has the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, who claim to be the "faithful and discreet slave" actually been discreet? Have they elevated themselves above Jesus Christ?
New features of the work have required new methods, which has meant revisions and changes from time to time in organization instructions, but it is all a part of the advancement of Jehovah's theocratically controlled organization under the immediate direction of Jehovah God himself. Therefore, these revisions and changes are themselves fully theocratic, so they do not alter in any way the fully theocratic structure of the organization. *** Watchtower 1965 June 1 p.352 Questions from Readers ***
Jehovah poured out his spirit upon them and assigned them the responsibility of serving as his sole visible channel, through whom alone spiritual instruction was to come. Those who recognize Jehovah's visible theocratic organization, therefore, must recognize and accept this appointment of the "faithful and discreet slave" and be submissive to it. *** Watchtower 1967 October 1 p.590 Finding Freedom with Jehovah's Visible Organization ***
A critical examination and cross analysis of both these publications should reveal that Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult of Christianity, whose motives show that they would prefer to be God's channel rather than acknowledge that they are slaves to Christ.