The Governing Body
Service department of Jehovah’s Witnesses
2821 Route 22
Patterson
New York
12563
9/07/2016
Dear Brothers,
In my latest letter, I wanted to feed back or highlight a reason (I believe), as to why many of our halls appear to be half empty; why brother half hearted and sister ‘can’t be bothered’ feel the way they do; why the ‘organisation appears to be haemorrhaging many of its members all around the world at this time.
While I was reading through Matthew chapter 23, it occurred to me that you have fallen into the exact same trap the Pharisees fell into thousands of years ago. Throughout this particular chapter, Jesus chastised the religious leaders for all their man made rules they loaded down on the people. I can only wonder what Jesus would say to you ‘the Governing Body’ of Jehovah’s Witnesses today, concerning YOUR many man made rules, policies and teachings that YOU load down on YOUR members.
Mat 23:1 - Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. 3 Therefore all the things they tell YOU, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform.
Where have the Governing Body seated themselves? More honor seems to be shown to the Governing Body than Jesus ‘our leader’ – Just an observation!
4 They bind up heavy loads and put them upon the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger.
Most Witnesses, especially Elders and Ministerial servants feel loaded down with all your rules, policies, teachings, meetings, obligations etc. Are you willing to lighten the load/budge them with your finger? That is why so many tire out and give up!
……………………………………………………………8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ. 11 But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Often at Judicial committees…the person under ‘interrogation’ will be asked to state if they view the Governing Body as the sole channel of communication used by God - to ‘ULTIMATELY PROVE’ their loyalty to the ‘ORGANISATION’. It doesn’t seem to matter if the person being interviewed ABSOLUTELY believes that OUR leader is the Christ?
13 “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for YOU yourselves do not go in, neither do YOU permit those on their way in to go in. 14 ——
How many have been disfellowshipped (ie kicked out, cut off, shunned by family members and friends) for trivial matters eg celebrating their childs birth ( instead of leaving it to a matter of conscience); or not agreeing on a particular teaching as interpreted ‘today’ (not being allowed to agree to disagree etc)
15 “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one YOU make him a subject for Ge·hen′na twice as much so as yourselves.
How many hours do we spend in preaching and teaching individuals to become Jehovah’s Witnesses, but are ready to judge them on just about any triviality according to your rules, policies and teachings. Many fall away because they can’t be themselves anymore!
…………………………………23 “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cumin, but YOU have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness. These things it was binding to do, yet not to disregard the other things.
Where is the justice and mercy toward individuals who decided to disassociate for the reason they didn’t ‘for example’ get justice in the past if raped or abused as a child by another member; their ‘shepherds’ simply letting them down when they needed them most (because of YOUR policies and especially YOUR interpretation of the 2 witness rule policy). The choice of formally leaving the organisation isn’t even an option, despite the trauma they have had to endure. You kick such ones when they are already down, by putting in place your cruel shunning policy, thus creating further stress and trauma on these poor individuals whose family members then proceed to cut them off as a result. That is despicable on your part as religious leaders. I apologise…its not my place to say that!
24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel 27 “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men’s bones and of every sort of uncleanness. 28 In that way YOU also, outwardly indeed, appear righteous to men, but inside YOU are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
YES – Things kept ‘in house’ and ‘swept under the carpet’ eg The Royal Australian Commission – Need I say anymore
Brothers, please reform now and issue an apology to all those who have been and continue to be hurt by YOUR policies and teachings. Bring about change; a system of beliefs (in line with scripture) where the rank and file members can truly experience Christian freedom without fear.
Thank you for taking the time in reading this letter
Your brother
JM
Witness for Watchtower reform
