I may be butting in a bit here but I don't think Bleep is very JW minded about the idea to take very seriously this important decision of worshipping God.
You see, the WT itself instructs against this.
JWs are to have blind faith only- no checking it out and they must trust the WT implicitly otherwise they are prideful and offending Jehovah. Jehovahs channel is pure and direct from God so one only needs to read the material put out by them. Consider the following quotes and ask yourself if this sounds like something Jehovah would say:
(bold added by me & red=my comments)
*** QUALIFIED 1955 p.156 *** If we have love for Jehovah and for the organization of his people we shall not be suspicious , but shall, as the Bible says, 'believe all things,' all the things that The Watchtower brings out...
The Bible does not say believe all things the WT says as illuded to here. Quite prideful to equate
human writen literature with the word of God.
*** Watchtower 1957 May 1 p.284 Trust Your Proved, Faithful Brothers ***
We will realize that Jehovah knows what is going on in his organization, and if he is willing to permit it, who are we to insist it should be different? If we really have faith, we will know that if it is wrong he will straighten it out eventually, and we are far safer inside his organization even with these minor difficulties than we would be on the outside where only chaos and destruction await us.
Okie.....So, even if the WT is wrong, God doesn't care and he's the one allowing it so it's ok. Just follow the WT anyway and God will fix it eventually. If the WT is wrong then they would be teaching false doctrines and thus be false teachers, not to mention false prophets. God say to NOT follow false teacher and false prophets.
*** 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.
Cute. So don't bother studying cuz' the WT'll do it for you. Don't bother reading the Bible if you don't have time- just read our interpretation of it to save time. This doesn't sound like what the Berean's were doing and commended for.
*** Watchtower 1981 February 15 p.19 Do We Need Help to Understand the Bible? ***
OUR VIEW OF THE "SLAVE" ... Jehovah is not pleased if we receive that food as though it might contain something harmful . We should have confidence in the channel God is using.
Really? God said to test the spirits and keep you're life and doctrine pure so how is one to do that without considering the scriptures on everything?
*** Watchtower 1983 January 15 p.22 Exposing the Devil's Subtle Designs ***
Avoid Independent Thinking ... questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization
*** Watchtower 1983 January 5 p.27 Armed for the Fight Against Wicked Spirits ***
Fight Against Independent Thinking ...Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: "This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe." This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous? 20 Such thinking is an evidence of pride.
Actually. it is prideful of the WT to claim one shouldn't think for themselves and trust them only. Why? Because this assumes that they are infallible and as good as scripture or God himself.
*** Watchtower 1986 March 15 p.19 Allow No Place for the Devil! ***
14 Finally, we might consider what the Society has published in the past on chronology. Some opposers claim that Jehovah's Witnesses are false prophets. These opponents say that dates have been set, but nothing has happened. Again we ask, What is the motive of these critics?
Notice they don't deny the failed prophecies, they just shift accusations to those that know about it. The motives of each "critic" probably vary but the majority of people including myself only wish the truth to be known. The Bible has some very harsh words and judgement for people that prophecy in the name of Jehovah and are speaking on their own. It also gives the false prophet test: Prophet prophecies but nothing happens = false prophet- God's Word not mine! And he instructs not to follow them. I'd rather listen to God's word.
*** Watchtower August 1, 2001 p. 14, par. 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.
A 'mature christian' must have confidence is Gods channel. Okie. What happens when the channel is wrong consistently? Not just a few misunderstandings here or there but numerous false predictions, false teachings, changing doctrine, and ungodly practices and sources? Are they still to be 'trusted'? A mature christian or at the very least a dedicated person must put loving God above all politics and human controls and allow themselves to read God's word with no agenda but loving God and hearing what he says to them.
Now to be fair the WT does teach the opposite in many places as well:
*** Awake! October 22, 1973 p. 6 Examine the Evidence *** Reasonable persons agree that the only fair method is to examine the evidence on both sides , both for and against a disputed theory. That is how one arrives at the truth.
Bleep, do you truly mean for the Wt to be studied in the light of the scriptures or do you just want blind faith in what they teach? If you realy want a comparison between WT and the Bible then I'm game but only if your care about the truth. Sorry this is longwinded but I think the WTs stance on this is very telling and speaks volumes.
In Yahweh Alone, <>< Angie
