Thanks for your posts, Metraton.
I agree with you on all your points. I think your point about arrogance underlies the others and is indeed the root
of all problems they have caused. I'll give you an example:
The WTS says that no privileges can be extended to a brother who wears a beard. They know they cannot support
this scripturally. But because they can never be wrong (your point) they can NEVER admit that this is a rule they
have and God's congregation cannot have man made rules. So they INVENT biblical reasonings for their stance on this. I mention
this point because it is just a little thing (facial hair) and yet they turn it into some kind of sacred pronouncement from God.
If they were not so arrogant they would just say: "Look, its a rule of ours. It's our preference. Right or wrong we feel it's
our perogative." But they can't bring themselves to ever admit that they have rules because that would be admitting that THEY
are just like the churches they condemn WHO HAVE THEIR OWN RULES!.. And the r & f see through this. While they are
willing to accept these little things, they now see how it is the BIG things (Blood Issue) as well which have NO BASIS in Scripture and instead depend
upon the same non-sensensical, unsupported arguments and it is bringing about
the other consequences: loss of membership, diluted brainpower, growth in poorer less educated countries where the needs
are staggering, the withholding of the purse,. And they(r&f) are beginning to see that shunning is the tool of the tyrant, for
only tyrants need to silence dissent. You silence who you fear. And that creates a loss of trust.
How many members actually TRUST each other? And you can't love whom you can't trust. By their fruits you will know them?
You are spot on and I always look forward to hearing more.
Thanks,
Zack---