The WTS is a beacon for people, in the same way that the Mongols and Huns and Nazis and Soviets and Catholic Church and Protestant Church and almost innumerable other institutions have served as "beacons" for their own generations.
Shall we praise them for this? Shall we honor them for having so kindly given us "purpose" in life?
If anyone glorifies God it will have a lasting impact on those closest to that one.Longer-lasting than a mere lifetime. And, I suppose, like money it can rub off on ya!
is the WBTS message just too far removed from the real message of the gospel to be of any use in leading (enough) people into a living relationship with God the Father?
The fact of the matter is that the WTBS (Joe Rutherford) created a new category of people and mandated that such people be removed from any Biblical covenant with God. This category is known as the Great Crowd--a new class which by definition is a dependent slave to another class. If some finally find themselves in a true covenant with God despite the efforts of the WTBS, it is to God's glory ALONE.
He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills by the sword must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.