I'm not sure if this has been posted yet, but on pages 28-29 of the April 15, 2007 Watchtower study on Let the Congregation Be Built Up, they seem to be trying to justify the notion that a person cannot be 'saved' if they leave the Organization, even if they have just cause:
Paragraph 15 reads" In modern times, some have ceased associating with the local congregation, feeling that they will serve God on their own. They may say that it is because their feelings were hurt, they think a wrong is not being corrected, or they cannot accept some teaching. How reasonable is their course? While it is true that each Christian should have a personal relationship with God, we cannot deny that he is using a worldwide congregation, as he did in the apostles' day. Furthermore Jehovah used and blessed local congregations in the first century, arranging for qualified elders and ministerial servants to benefit the congregations. That is also true today."
Hmmm.....hurt feelings? A wrong not being corrected? Cannot accept some teaching? Sounds to me like more and more Witnesses are tired of being told they have to "do more, do more, do more" or are very upset that they never paid into a company pension and are now retiring and living in poverty, or a host of other things that go on in every congregation. As for a 'wrong' not being corrected, well, how many pedophiles are walking free amongst the brothers and sisters, including their victims, and nothing's ever been done about it? How many wives stay with a husband who beats the holy hell out of her and the kids, yet presents a purer-than-pure image at the Hall? And as for those who 'cannot accept some teaching'------well, I believe this is becoming more commonplace all the time. This shouldn't be a huge surprise to the GB. After all, they said for how many decades that the Generation of 1914 would be the ones to see the Big A. To question that was viewed as apostasy and you were disfellowshipped, like Mouthy was. Since they up and changed this doctrine in 1995, perhaps more and more are realizing that there's something seriously wrong here.
I find it pathetic that they are still trying to tell you what you must believe when they say "we cannot deny that he is using a worldwide congregation as he did in the apostle's day". There is (naturally) no scriptural reference given to back this claim up, but you have to accept it anyway because we said so. I love how they're always comparing themselves to the first century congregation, yet there is no biblical reference to the first century Christians having to meet 5 times a week, or go out banging on doors on the Sabbath, or keep tract of how many scrolls they placed. There's no evidence that any brother who had a beard couldn't be an elder or MS......I could go on but I'm sure you get the picture. There's virtually nothing similar between those who met 2,000 years in private homes and the WTB&TS today.
Anyway, paragraph 16 whines on"...If a Christian feels that he can rely just on his own relationship with God, he is turning away from a God-ordained arrangement---that of both the worldwide congregation and the local congregations of God's people. (a scriptural reference to back this up please?) The individual might go off on his own or be associating with just a few others, but where is the arrangement for congregation elders and the provision of ministerial servants?.....when Paul wrote to the congregation in Colossae and directed that the letter be read also in Laodicia, he spoke of being "rooted and beign built up in [Christ]." Those in the congregations, not individuals who separated themselves from such, would benefit from this.--Colossians 2:6, 7; 4:16
Once again, the Writing Department jumps in where angels fear to tread. There is certainly nothing wrong with Christians meeting to discuss scriptural matters and it is encouraged that Christians do so. However, it is insane and scripturally dishonest to imply that those who aren't attending all the meetings are somehow inferior to those that do. Good lord, when Paul was travelling, he sure as hell wasn't at an official "meeting" every week. For a good portion of his ministry, he was on his own, or at the most, with one or two other brothers. What about John, the writer of Revelation? The poor bugger was on a freaking island all by himself----he wasn't part of any 'congregation'. There are many other references in the NT that clearly shows having God's spirit on you had nothing to do with how many meetings you attended-----It had everything to do with your heart condition. And didnt' Jesus say " . . .For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.. . .(Matthew 18:20) ??
I find it interesting though, that they really didn't have anything to say with regards to 'waiting on Jehovah' for any of the above problems----they simply drone on about "you MUST do this!" or "you MUST believe this!" even though there's no scriptural evidence to back their outlandish claims. I guess the ever-growing problem of low meeting attendence had to be addressed, although they did a lousy job as per usual.
I'm giving this Craptower study article, two thumbs down.