If the Watchtower claims it only does what the Bible says
and does not "go beyond the things that are written", then by
what authority does it encourage the baptism of teenagers?
Is there anyone, even in high station within the leadership
of the Watchtower Society, who really believes that teenagers
are adults? That they are generally capable of making wise
decisions as to choosing a marriage mate? or raising a family?
or making any kind of serious long term commitment?
Why would any person, in "the bloom of youth", with the greatest
sexual drive and hormone blood levels that they will ever possess,
be capable of sound, consistent judgement?
Isn't it more likely that Watchtower leaders would
be among the first, and MOST VOCAL, of all critics who observe
teenage conduct, to judge them as lacking responsibility?
If they can observe that much, why do they HYPOCRITICALLY
encourage their baptism - instead of demanding adult status?
This topic wouldn't even be necessary if the Watchtower's
attitude about shunning was reasonable, moderate, - and
scriptural. The leadership has known for some years that
their extreme view of this matter is not Biblical - as shown
by the organization's attempts at reform during the 1980's.
('Can you help a disfellowshipped person change a flat tire'?)
It has also been known that 2 Thess. 3:13-15 actually applies
to such ones anyway - which means communication with them
should continue.
The Watchtower leadership has chosen to reject the "wisdom
from above" that is "peaceable, reasonable,...full of mercy
and good fruits" (James 3:17) - and instead criticize Witness
parents who don't push their children towards baptism during
their teen years, threatening them with death at Armageddon.
What kind of statistical greediness forces them to pad their
shrinking baptismal 'pool of candidates' by putting kids under
duress? Have temptations from the world grown greater, with
video games, internet porn and the disappearance of nuclear
families, such that Watchtower sanctions are now all the more
unreasonable?
Even "fanatical" religions have gathered some wisdom over the years
in dealing with teenagers. The Amish have a custom called "Rumspringa"
wherein teenagers are expected to act up and rebel. After this
has passed and some maturity has been gained, they may officially
join the church - as ADULTS.
What can we observe as the bad fruitage of the Watchtower's
insatiable lust for control in this?
Well, consider, would you send your child, or any loved one
to a hospital that ONLY DID AMPUTATIONS? 'Our Lady of Missing
Limbs Care Center', perhaps?
Then, why depend on an organization that can do nothing more than
disfellowship and shun, shun, shun? That has no programs, basketball
courts, official charity, or infrastructure to take care of its
membership? Why do HOURS and MAGAZINES placed get counted and
written down by an officious organization - but real needs
of congregations members are left 'catch as catch can'?
Is it right to push Witness children, threaten them endlessly,
hold them to standards that even Witness adults can't face
anymore, force them into hidden 'double-lives' - and THEN
CONDEMN them as traitors, perhaps throwing them out of the house?
Is it right to remove all their (good) hope of getting a
college education and really achieving something more than
being an itinerant magazine salesman?
Folks, I'm not writing about theory here.
I (and others) went thru this foolish agony
and if the cold-hearted, elderly theocrats can't
see what's wrong here
maybe you, reading this, lurking, CAN!
metatron