A critical exposé of the publication Organized to Do Jehovah's Will. I will post scriptures in context wherever they appear, the portion pointed to by the Governing Body will be highlighted in yellow.
Letter from the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses (the Masters Over Your Faith):
Paragraph 1:Organized to Do Jehovah's Will is published for Jehovah's Witnesses. This book makes clear what is involved in pleasing God and finding delight in doing God's will. It provides an overall view of how the Christian congregation is organized for getting God's work done. The book offers counsel and direction to help us maintain unity with our brothers world-wide. (1 Pet. 2:17; 5:9) It highlights how we can have a share in declaring the good news of the Kingdom in recognition of God's will that "all sorts of men ... come to an accurate knowledge of truth."--1 Tim. 2:4; Matt. 24:14
Organized to Do Jehovah's Will is actually published to provide Congregations with basis for acting according to the directions of the Governing Body without direct involvement of the Governing Body. This enables the Governing Body to be responsible for all actions taken by individual Congregations without being legally accountable for anything those Congregations do. It is callow cowardice, however ancient the prepetrators. (Psalm 10:7-11)
The only thing this book "makes clear" is that the Organization insists on a strict "our way, or the highway" philosophy, invoking God as the source of that view to protect themselves from scrunity. Throughout the entire publication, "pleasing God" and "doing God's will" equate to "doing what the Governing Body says, when we say, and how we say." The book provides an overview of how Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses are organized (you won't catch me calling them Christian congregations), for getting the Governing Body's work done.
The book offers counsel and direction to help the Governing Body maintain the illusion of unity with the Governing Body's brothers world-wide.
1 Peter 2:13-17 For the Lord?s sake subject yourselves to every human creation: whether to a king as being superior or to governors as being sent by him to inflict punishment on evildoers but to praise doers of good. For so the will of God is, that by doing good YOU may muzzle the ignorant talk of the unreasonable men. Be as free people, and yet holding YOUR freedom, not as a blind for badness, but as slaves of God. Honor [men] of all sorts, have love for the whole association of brothers, be in fear of God, have honor for the king.
1 Peter 5:6-11 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt YOU in due time; while YOU throw all YOUR anxiety upon him, because he cares for YOU. Keep YOUR senses, be watchful. YOUR adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour [someone]. But take YOUR stand against him, solid in the faith, knowing that the same things in the way of sufferings are being accomplished in the entire association of YOUR brothers in the world. But, after YOU have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called YOU to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish YOUR training, he will make YOU firm, he will make YOU strong. To him be the might forever. Amen.
It highlights how the Governing Body and those brothers who maintain the illusion of unity can share in declaring the good news in recognition of will of the Governing Body that "all sorts of men ... come to [pretend that they agree we have an] accurate knowledge of truth."
1 Timothy 2:1-7 I therefore exhort, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, offerings of thanks, be made concerning all sorts of men, 2 concerning kings and all those who are in high station; in order that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness. This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, whose will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all?[this is] what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times. For the purpose of this witness I was appointed a preacher and an apostle?I am telling the truth, I am not lying?a teacher of nations in the matter of faith and truth.
Matthew 24:9-14 ?Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name. Then, also, many will be stumbled and will betray one another and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and mislead many; and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off. But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Interesting. In the opening paragraph we readers have already been separated from a contextual comprehension of the Bible. We all know how often Witnesses look up partially quoted Scriptures. The doctrine of salvation, expressed succinctly in only three (3) words, was inexplicably omitted! It won't be the last time. Read on, brothers and sisters. Read on.
Paragraph 2:In addition to preaching the good news of the Kingdom, we desire to render spiritual assistance to all those who are being drawn to Jehovah in response to the invitation to praise him in association with his people. (Ps. 145:21; Rev. 22:17) New ones need to become familiar with the operation of Jehovah's organization and learn how they can have a share in the modern-day preaching work. They are encouraged to continue in their endeavors to meet the Scriptural requirements for becoming dedicated and baptized Witnesses of Jehovah.
In addition to preaching the bad news for the entire world of non-JWs (1000 to 1), the Governing Body desires to render "spiritual assistance" to all those who are feeling out of place in human society, feeling emotionally and mentally weakened by recent tragedy, or who are already clinically eligible cases for treatment of borderline to advanced psychopathy. "Spiritual assistance" is an internal code word for "several attempts to persuade you to pretend that you agree that they have the accurate knowledge of truth."
Anyone who is not persuaded rejects "spiritual assistance" and is therefore undeserving of the good news, in which case the focus of "spiritual assistance" shifts to insuring that those who are already persuaded stay that way. This is effectively accomplished by removing anyone who is not persuaded and anyone who refuses to stop associating with one who is not persuaded.
Psalm 145:21 The praise of Jehovah my mouth will speak; And let all flesh bless his holy name to time indefinite, even forever.
Revelation 22:17 And the spirit and the bride keep on saying: ?Come!? And let anyone hearing say: ?Come!? And let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life?s water free.
How does the real life application match with the Scriptures they cite? Why, in both Scriptures I see incredibly clear indication that this would be an individual activity. On the one hand, between an individual and Jehovah; on the other, between an individual and the spirit. How can someone tell whether they are being drawn to Jehovah? By the amount of "spiritual assistance" invested in them by Jehovah's Witnesses, of course! When the "spiritual assistance" stops, you'll know it.
New ones need to become familiar with the operation of the Governing Body's organization and learn how they will be required to have a share in the modern-day proselytization work. I encourage their endeavors to thoroughly investigate the Governing Body's requirements for becoming dedicated and baptized Witnesses of Jehovah and determine whether those requirements are truly Scriptural. I strongly encourage you to avoid concentrating on only those requirements laid out in Organized to Do Jehovah's Will.
For instance, decide whether avoiding hypnosis is something required by the Scriptures. Decide whether avoidance of any ideas regarding the Bible from any source other than the Governing Body is something required by the Scriptures. Decide whether unity, as described in the Scriptures, requires thinking identically about doctrinal matters. Decide whether distinguishing between right and wrong is something a Christian should do or whether it is something which leads to apostasy. (Hebrews 5:14; Compare w80 8/1 pp. 19-20 Remain "Solid in the Faith", subheading "Causes and Effects of Apostasy")
Paragraph 3, 4:
General information is here published concerning the duties of elders and ministerial servants, judicial procedures, and various other features of congregation organization. Details regarding these matters are reviewed from time to time in The Watchtower, Our Kingdom Ministry, and other publications of Jehovah's Witnesses.
It is our prayer that the application of what is contained in this publication will help you progress spiritually. May you continue to find delight in doing Jehovah's will in harmony with his organized people!
Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
It is true. General information is in this publication. Incredibly generalized information. So generalized, in fact, that the average Witness has no idea whether any decision he or she makes will make them subject to a fate worse than death -- the loss of everlasting life! Oh, er, I guess that is death ... anyway, the uncertainty of conduct creates a dependent relationship where the average Witness is thoroughly bound to the opinion of others. Salvation through consensus and succumbing to peer-pressure. If that is what you want from a religion, you may have found the right one for you!
Detailed information on requirements is available in The Watchtower, Our Kingdom Ministry, and other publications! Detailed information on potential consequences for a lack of unity are more difficult to come by, but they are still technically available in another publication. Pay Attention to the Flock is that "other publication." But even this publication does not cover all consequences and courses of action! Do the elders in the Congregation then use their own judgment? Sometimes. Often they call someone else (codependency), someone at the Service Desk, the Legal Department, or HIS. Why do "mature Christians" need the input of these other men? They aren't mature! That's why!
If you decide to join, may you continue to find delight in doing the Governing Body's will in harmony with their Stepfordian people!
Please pardon the gratuitous use of exclamatory remarks. If you are a Witness or an ex-Witness you may not have even noticed. The exclamation marks would have been accompanied by thunderous applause at any convention of Jehovah's Witnesses. Even if read exactly as worded here. Most of them would only notice the increase in tempo and pitch, and someone would start clapping. The Group Think would kick in and each would believe that because someone did they all should. The entire hive would erupt in busy hand-slapping, and many would note during the lunch break that this was interesting new light and how this was "the most wonderful convention yet!" Someone nearby would lovingly overlook the mayonnaise on the corner of the speaker's mouth and respond glowingly, "We say that every time, but it's so true! How do they keep getting better every year?"
No one has the heart to say, "Saying it doesn't make it so."
Respectfully,
OldSoul