A man looks into the mirror and considers the image that is reflected. He sees a model of physical fitness, good looks, competence and popularity. He smiles at the positive image that he perceives. Even as years pass he continues to see this same image of health and virility. He looks at the people next to him and sneers internally at how they have aged and become ill. He thinks to himself: ”If only they had adopted my lifestyle they might be in the peak of health also”.
In this same room there is a person who sadly looks at the man considering himself in the mirror and sees a person that is a shell of what he once was. He is evidently sick as shown by his yellowed complexion. His muscles have atrophied and his back is curved by scoliosis. His hair and teeth have fallen out and his internal cancer has spread. Despite this the man puffs out his chest and brags about how he has never been in such a state of health and good looks and how people should be lucky enough to know him and associate with him.
The organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses is like that man who is fawning over himself in the mirror. They have a much distorted view of themselves and how they have changed over the years. They see a picture of health, and view everyone around them with contempt. They are like a terminal patient who refuses to admit that he is sick. Those of us who are now on the outside looking in can see that the organization is a shell of what it used to be. The symptoms that we see are:
· Slowing worldwide growth and declining growth in most Western Countries
· Aging membership combined with low retention of young members
· Lack of qualified men to serve as Elders and Servants
· Layoffs of branch volunteers and District overseers
· Publishing cuts and simplification of books and magazines
· Reduced meetings and assemblies
· Changes in recruiting tactics that don’t require a workforce with doctrinal education
· Rapid sale of branch offices, assembly halls, kingdom halls and consolidations of congregations
· A membership that is limited in IQ due to prohibitions on education
· Stale doctrine that is becoming increasingly ridiculous with every adjustment
· Lots of negative media articles and reports on an international scale
· Shrill ad hominem attacks against anyone that reports or shares negative news
· Frantic grab for money as donations wane and lawsuits increase
This patient is terminally ill even if he can’t see it.