by ithinkisee 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
One of the traits of cults is that they constantly have to re-assert their authority and remind people that they are the boss and to listen and not question.
What are the scariest examples of authority articles to you in the Society's publications?
-ithinkisee
w01 8/1 p. 14 Make Your Advancement Manifest
8 First, since "oneness" is to be observed, a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave." By regularly taking in the spiritual food provided "at the proper time"--through Christian publications, meetings, assemblies, and conventions--we can be sure that we maintain "oneness" with fellow Christians in faith and knowledge.--Matthew 24:45.
IMO, hands down the scariest. Well, the scariest public assertion of authority, anyway.
Search "Korah"...
*** Watchtower 1967 June 1 p.338 Move Ahead with Jehovah's Organization ***
12 How will we put these four things into effect? First, study: We may think of study as hard work, as involving heavy research. But in Jehovah's organization it is not necessary to spend a lot of time and energy in research, for there are brothers in the organization who are assigned to do that very thing, to help you who do not have so much time for this, these preparing the good material in The Watchtower and other publications of the Society. But you do not study enough? Take this suggestion: Often the very best and most beneficial studying you do is that done when you read a new Watchtower or Awake! or a new book with the joy of getting the new truths and a fresh view.
i.e dont bother undertaking private research because we do it all for you, which seems like a great gesture until you read the above post by old soul which suggests that private views or opinions are not to be permitted.
*** Watchtower 1986 April 1 pp.30-31 Questions From Readers ***
Questions From Readers
? Why have Jehovah's Witnesses disfellowshipped (excommunicated) for apostasy some who still profess belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ?
[?]
Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. What do such beliefs include? That the great issue before humankind is the rightfulness of Jehovah's sovereignty, which is why he has allowed wickedness so long. (Ezekiel 25:17) That Jesus Christ had a prehuman existence and is subordinate to his heavenly Father. (John 14:28) That there is a "faithful and discreet slave" upon earth today 'entrusted with all of Jesus' earthly interests,' which slave is associated with the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. (Matthew 24:45-47) That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the heavens, as well as the time for Christ's foretold presence. (Luke 21:7-24; Revelation 11:15-12:10) That only 144,000 Christians will receive the heavenly reward. (Revelation 14:1, 3) That Armageddon, referring to the battle of the great day of God the Almighty, is near. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-21) That it will be followed by Christ's Millennial Reign, which will restore an earth-wide paradise. That the first to enjoy it will be the present "great crowd" of Jesus' "other sheep."-John 10:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 21:3, 4.
Lessons learned in summary
Now tell me that isnt the scariest of all.
From http://quotes.watchtower.ca/cult.htm
***w59 May 1 p.269 Attain Completeness in the New World Society ***
"In the same way Christ, the Head, employs the organization that is his body to carry out his assigned work. His orders reach the whole of the organization on earth through the governing body, and on down through the Branches to the congregations.--1 Cor. 12:12-18; Matt. 24:45-47. To hold to the headship of Christ, it is therefore necessary to obey the organization that he is personally directing. Doing what the organization says is to do what he says. Resisting the organization is to resist him."
Come on, it doesn't get any scarier or black-or-white than that.
Leo,
Reading this quote sent chills up and down my spine,, how utterly totally scary, Jim Jonestown get the cool aide scary.
I don't know if this counts but for anybody who hasn't gone there in years there has been more counsel about how we should not criticize the elders. It seems they are hypersensitive on this subject. They want to shut everybody's mouth.
They are also elevating the elders somewhat with this appointed by holy spirit thing.
Never would we want to have a fleshly viewpoint of this channel of communication. To do so could cause us to lose sight of the fact that Jehovah is directing his organization, and we could thereby reject his efforts to draw us closer to him. -Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, pg 171
This directly contradicts anyone who says "the FDS is just a bunch of imperfect men".
The old fraudsters have always been masters at the use of arguments that are meant to intimidate and frighten, the one I recall is about someone who touched the ark when it was about to tilt over and fall, to prevent it from doing so, and got struck by the jewish god jehovah.
The moral is that the R&F JWs should not meddle in matters of doctrine or else jehovah will seriously harm them.
