The Britain branch of JW’s has been afforded significant but involuntary exposure in the media recently. This is principally because of the investigation of the Charities Commission in a congregation in the suburbs of Manchester as well as an investigation into the Britain Branch of JW’s itself.
If a job is being done well, it normally withstands scrutiny. For many years, I have noted the WTBTS’s message and exhortation to brothers and sisters to be make application of Romans 13:1,2 – “Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God….. Therefore, whoever opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of god; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgement against themselves.”
A friend of mine sent me some links about the WTBTS of Britain being in the news. Well, I thought I couldn’t be shocked anymore! Probably you are aware of these news items, but here they are for you just in case….
Victoria Derbyshire TV programme and shunning....
BBC News - JW's let paedophile interrogate victims....
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qh1KIZzHFfg
BBC Radio 4 - Sunday programme.
Kathleen Hallisey a lawyer for survivors and Harvey Grenville, Head of Investigations and Enforcement at the Charity Commission...... (forward to about 33 minutes).....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08z97zy
What is revealed in these documentaries and news items is truly shocking and egregious. No apologies like that offered by the RC Church, the Church of England, and the Methodist Church. Remember that exhortation to the rank and file (Romans 13:1,2)?
My assessment….
They have sought to avoid scrutiny rather than withstand it! They have trampled over their own advice based on Romans 13:1,2 and sought to obstruct / frustrate the due process and functioning of the "higher authorities"
The WTBTS of Britain exemplify that which is cold, remote, focused on and preoccupied with self. It is far far removed from any paradigm of love which it superficially projects of itself. They are the very ones who demonstrate “having a form of Godly devotion but proving false to it’s power…” (2 Tim 3:5). No wonder many in Britain are now turning away as the Bible suggests.
In its most recent yearbook, the WTBTS of Britain reports a publisher increase of a mere 26 despite just under 3000 being baptised in the same period. I look forward to what the next report states.