From the Sept. 15, 1981 Watchtower, p. 23, par. 15:
“A person might renounce his place in the Christian congregation by his actions, such as by becoming part of an organization whose objective is contrary to the Bible, and, hence, is under judgment by Jehovah God. So if one who was a Christian chose to join those who are disapproved of God, it would be fitting for the congregation to acknowledge by a brief announcement that he had disassociated himself and is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
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From the Jan. 1, 1979, Watchtower, p. 31:
“In joining the YMCA as a member a person accepts or endorses the general objectives and principles of the organization. . . Hence, for one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to become a member of such a so-called “Christian” association would amount to apostasy.”
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From the June 1, 1991, Watchtower, p. 17, pars. 9-11:
“9. Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses warn that a flood of executional armies will soon sweep over Christendom. Moreover, they point to the true place of refuge from that flood. They quote Isaiah 28:16, which says: “This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: ‘Here I am laying as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, the precious corner of a sure foundation. No one exercising faith will get panicky.’” Who is this ‘precious cornerstone’? The apostle Peter quoted these words and applied them to Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:6) If Christendom had sought peace with Jehovah’s King, Jesus Christ, then she would have avoided the coming flash flood.—Compare Luke 19:42-44.
“10. However, she has not done so. Instead, in her quest for peace and security, she insinuates herself into the favor of the political leaders of the nations—this despite the Bible’s warning that friendship with the world is enmity with God. (James 4:4) Moreover, in 1919 she strongly advocated the League of Nations as man’s best hope for peace. Since 1945 she has put her hope in the United Nations. (Compare Revelation 17:3, 11.) How extensive is her involvement with this organization?
“11. A recent book gives an idea when it states: ‘No less than twenty-four Catholic organizations are represented at the UN. Several of the world’s religious leaders have visited the international organization. Most memorable were the visits of His Holiness Pope Paul VI during the General Assembly in 1965 and of Pope John Paul II in 1979. Many religions have special invocations, prayers, hymns and services for the United Nations. The most important examples are those of the Catholic, the Unitarian-Universalist, the Baptist and the Bahai faiths.’”
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The “recent book” mentioned in paragraph 11 above is New Genesis: Shaping a Global Spirituality by Robert Muller. The sentence immediately preceding the quoted portion of Muller’s book reported: “All major world religions are accredited to the United Nations as non-governmental organizations.”
Clearly, the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society (WTBTS) denounced all religious organizations which had registered with the United Nations (UN) as non-governmental organizations (NGO), suggesting that such organizations are deserving of execution by God at Armageddon. Yet, in that same year of 1991, the WTBTS, itself, registered with the UN as an NGO.
The WTBTS presumed to set the standard for individual Christians of what constitutes apostasy from the true Christian faith and then callously violated that standard by voluntarily registering with the UN as an NGO and acting essentially as publicity agents for the UN from 1992 to 2001. As awareness of this duplicity on the part of the WTBTS and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses spreads, conscientious Christians are leaving the organization in large numbers. Still, the WTBTS has yet to offer a public explanation for its curious action in this regard.
In view of the foregoing, would a conscientious Christian be justified in viewing the WTBTS and the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses as apostate organizations? If not, why not?