THE HYPOCRISY OF THE WTS KNOWS NO BOUNDS
Most JWs would say, "But we have faith in Jehovah, Jesus and the Bible, not in men." Yet in many places the WTS does demand JWs to have faith. Interestingly it said this focusing on non-JWs.
1/15/70 Watchtower page 37 Which Comes First-Your Church or God?
The "first man" represents the believers who remain faithful to their church out of loyalty to the religion they were brought up to believe in. Their attitude is: Right or wrong, it is my religion! Is that the way you feel? If so, you are certainly a loyal person. But to whom do you owe the greater loyaltyto your church, or to God? With so much disbelief rife throughout the earth, you are to be commended for maintaining your faith, but where should your faith be placedin a religious organization, or in God? Why do you go to church? Basically, is it not because you believe in God? Do atheists go to church? Is not the very purpose of churchgoing to worship God and gain his approval? So if it became clear that your church was not fulfilling its basic purpose, where would your first duty lie?
Yet what does the WTS say faith in the organization means? Trusting their mistakes in prophetic explanations.
10/1/99 Watchtower page 5
PEOPLE often say, "I should have done it sooner." Or possibly in hindsight, "I should have waited." Such reactions demonstrate the difficulty that imperfect humans have in determining the right time for certain things to be done. This limitation has caused relationships to crumble. It has led to disappointment and frustration. And worst of all, it has weakened some peoples faith in Jehovah and his organization.
Having the wisdom and the insight that humans lack, Jehovah is capable of foreknowing, if he so desires, the outcome of every action. He can know "from the beginning the finale." (Isaiah 46:10) Hence, he can unerringly pick the most opportune time to do anything he wants to do. Rather than trusting our own faulty sense of timing, therefore,
we are wise to accept Jehovahs determination of appointed times!For example, mature Christians loyally wait for Jehovahs appointed time for certain Bible prophecies to be fulfilled.
They stay busy in his service, all the while keeping clearly in mind the principle of Lamentations 3:26: "Good it is that one should wait, even silently, for the salvation of Jehovah." (Compare Habakkuk 3:16.) At the same time, they are convinced that Jehovahs announced execution of judgment, "even if it should delay, . . . will without fail come true. It will not be late."Habakkuk 2:3.On the other hand,
if we fail to understand fully certain Bible texts or explanations provided in Watch Tower publications, do we have reason to become impatient? Awaiting Jehovahs appointed time to clarify matters is the course of wisdom. "For the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will not do a thing unless he has revealed his confidential matter to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) What a marvelous promise! But we must realize that Jehovah reveals his confidential matters at the time he deems advisable. For that purpose God has authorized a "faithful and discreet slave" to provide his people with "their [spiritual] food atthepropertime." (Matthew 24:45) There is, therefore, no reason for us to become overly concerned, or even agitated, that certain matters are not fully explained. Rather, we can be confident that if we patiently wait on Jehovah, he will provide, through the faithful slave, what is needed "at the proper time."Faith in the organization is strengthened by living at Bethel. (Not according to all the experiences posted here at JWD)
12/1/98 Watchtower page 30
Living and working for a couple of months with the large Brooklyn Bethel family strengthened my faith in Jehovahs visible organization .
Faith in the organization is destroyed by doubt.
2/1/96 Watchtower page 23
To avoid having our faith destroyed by doubt as Eves was, we need to be vigilant. If some tinge of doubt about Jehovah, his Word, or his organization has begun to linger in your heart , take quick steps to eliminate it before it festers into something that could destroy your faith.Compare 1 Corinthians 10:12.
Faith in the organization = Faith in Jehovah
7/1/84 Watchtower pages 17-18
The record in 2 Chronicles 20:20 continues: "As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood up and then said: Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Put faith in Jehovah your God that you may prove yourselves of long duration. Put faith in his prophets and so prove successful ." Similarly, the head of the Christian congregation, our now-reigning King, has given his people much encouragement to faithfulness. We find it in passages such as the following: Matthew 10:27, 28; 24:9-13; John 16:33. Faith in Jehovah, faith in those whom he is using as spokesmen, yes, faith in his organization! As we go out to Jehovahs service today, how important it is that we exercise such faith!
3/1/79 Watchtower page 18 Faith in Jehovah's Victorious Organization
Since the end of that second total war, which threatened the very existence of Jehovahs visible organization, about 34 trialsome years have passed. But, steadfastly, devoted Witnesses have kept their faith in Jehovahs organization. They know which one of all organizations on earth the Almighty God has used to give the greatest witness to his name and kingdom in all Christian history.Matt. 24:14.
What, then, should be our position today?
Is there any cause for us to lose faith in Jehovahs visible organization because of mounting difficulties in this world? Those who believe that Jehovah will never desert his faithful witnesses answer, "Absolutely not!" In demonstration of such faith, we will keep on sticking to it and working with it without slacking the hand. Our unwavering faith will be rewarded with victory and the crown of life!Faith in the organization = not questioning what they tell JWs
7/15/74 Watchtower page 443
13. How has it proved beneficial for a Christian to have faith in Jehovah and his organization?
13
Love"believesallthings." This is not to imply that Christians are gullible. The point is that Christians have implicit trust in their heavenly Father; they do not question what he tells them through his written Word and organization. Things work out well for those who in this trusting way go along with Gods way of doing things. For example, Jehovah through his organization has for years warned his people of the harmful effects of using tobacco, and those who heeded this advice were benefited both physically and spiritually. Perhaps some did not understand why they should not use tobacco. Yet it was to their benefit to believe all things though not completely understanding the reason why, Scripturally or physically. Today we have the Scriptural basis as well as the fact that the medical world recognizes the sound practical basis for refraining from the use of tobacco.2 Cor. 7:1.3/92 Kingdom Manifesto page 2
Talk based on November 1, 1991, Watchtower article, "Do You Appreciate Jehovahs Earthly Organization?" Build up faith and confidence of congregation in the organization.
1998 Yearbook pages 196-7
We can still remember the "Victorious Faith" International Convention of 1978, when we were honored by having as main speaker John C. Booth , a member of the Governing Body. In one of his talks, Brother Booth declared: "We have no reason at all to lose faith in Jehovahs organization," and he added: "Our unmovable faith will be rewarded when we will triumph victoriously. Jehovah will never disappoint his loyal servants."
Faith in the organization = supporting disfellowshipping
1972 Yearbook page 170
During the year over 4 percent were disfellowshiped. Sad as this may seem, it
brought faith in the organization and opened the way for the free flow of Jehovahs spirit. During the same period the publishers in that city increased 18.3 percent, despite the 4-percent loss.Edited by - Blondie on 2 February 2003 20:22:38