Hi Red Piller I agree with Loz compassion and lots of it is needed on our journey out. When hubby and I were in we could never understand how the elders would keep attending these large EL and MS meetings and come back and be more judgemental and self Arighteous each time. Treat the flock with no tenderness but harsheness instead.
Until hubby became appointed and attended one it all slotted into place he realised this is what they encourage and promote. Expressions such as [brothers are not worth their salt] blah blah. They instill a judgemental attitude within them, what a wake up call.
what happened to , THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE John 8.32 and MY YOKE IS KINDLY AND MY LOAD IS LIGHT . jOHN11.30
Who said being a christian was easy, JESUS certainly didn't, but treating people as CHRIST would do is a world away from what the WT.org teaches. On the surface the wt. may at times appear to talk the talk,but seldoms walk the walk, and when the info get filtered down to the shop floor to the rank and file , well say no more! ' BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS ATTITUDE COMES RIGHT FROM THE TOP' from the GB to the writing commitee downwards. This is not what Christianity is all about and was one of many many issues and concerns why we eventually walked away.
They bind heavy loads on men. ' Woe to you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut up the kingdom of heavens before men, for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way to go in. Woe to you scribes and pharisees hypocrites! because you traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one you make him a subject for gehenna twice as much as you yourselves. ' MTT 23 v 13-15 NWT. If you follow the watchtower you will be in a world of hurt follow Christs teachings and not mens and you will be set free and you will find the strenghth to get out.
Legalistic religions such as JW's, Mormons, Scientologists and other similar cults always promote a distorted reward system and a consequence of failure a million miles away from true Christianity. Legalistic cults that rely on policies and procedures rather than Christian freedom which just enslaves people and go into a form of sleeping sickness where they can no longer think for themselves in fear of retribution.
A Scripture the watchtower never like to use in connection with the 'rank and file' is Romans 8 v 1 'Therefore those in union with Christ Jesus have no condemnation.' NWT. So what they are actually saying is 'you have no part with Christ' , 'This Scripture does not apply to you' , 'Christ is not your mediator', and that is why they need policies and procedures to keep you under control.
1Tim 2 v 5 'There is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all men.' NIV
All people that Christ identifies as Christians today are in the new covenant as the Jews were in the old covenant. Ex 34 v 27 NIV
Keep reading the Bible and ask for Gods Spirit and let his word speak to you, you do not have to go through and organisation or men, the GB are not moses or Christ.
I wish you all the best in your exedus out [LET MY PEOPLE GO] EX. 5 v l.
RosePetal
