@Longlivetherenegades: ORGANIZATION = JEHOVAH
"What does Exodus 20: 4,5 states You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be enticed to serve them for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation of those who hate me,
You cannot serve Jehovah and the organisation because in reality Jehovah does not have an organisation."
I completely
agree. They say -
“Loyal Submission
to Jehovah and his organization”
“Maintain a
warm personal relationship with Jehovah in association with his organization”
They have
certainly glued “Jehovah” and “organization” together. Going further in Exodus 20 that you quoted,
God says in verse 23 – “Do not make any gods to be alongside
me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or
gods of gold.”
“alongside” –
usage; with, near, together with. “Nearness
and vicinity”. I don’t know of any other
religion that has attached God to an organization so tightly, that no matter
what is spoken of – “organization” or “Jehovah” - they are one in the same; which, according to
the Bible, makes JWs idolaters. And you’re right, we don’t really envision it,
until we detach ourselves from the Wt. This concept has transformed the
organization into salvation.
“To whom
will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.” Isa 40:25
Isa 44 - “How
foolish are those who manufacture idols.
These prized objects are really worthless.
The people who worship idols don’t know this,
so they are all put to shame.
10 Who but a fool would make his own god—
an idol that cannot help him one bit?
11 All who worship idols will be disgraced
along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—
who claim they can make a god.
They may all stand together,
but they will stand in terror and shame.
12 The blacksmith stands at his forge to
make a sharp tool,
pounding and shaping it with all his might.
His work makes him hungry and weak.
It makes him thirsty and faint.
13 Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood
and draws a pattern on it.
He works with chisel and plane
and carves it into a human figure.
He gives it human beauty
and puts it in a little shrine. (the JW heart, maybe?)
14 He cuts down cedars;
he selects the cypress and the oak;
he plants the pine in the forest
to be nourished by the rain.
15 Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire.
With it he warms himself and bakes his bread.
Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it
and makes himself a god to worship!
He makes an idol
and bows down in front of it! ("Remain Loyal to Jehovah and his Organization)
16 He burns part of the tree to roast his meat
and to keep himself warm.
He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.”
17 Then he takes what’s left"
and makes his god: a carved idol!
He falls down in front of it,
worshiping and praying to it.
“Rescue me!” he says.
“You are my god!” (“…identifying
themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation”)
18 Such stupidity and ignorance!
Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see.
Their minds are shut, and they cannot think.
19 The person who made the idol never stops to reflect,
“Why, it’s just a block of wood!
I burned half of it for heat
and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat.
How can the rest of it be a god?
Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”
20 The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes.
He trusts something that can’t help him at all.
Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,
“Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” ("They demonstrate their full trust in Jehovah's organization")
