Why prepare food and drink for no one, or just in case?
Can you say traditions of men? It doesn't really venture to far from the traditions and formalities of the Catholic church does it. You will see if you go how formal and ritualistic it is...
They believe only the anointed go to heaven, only the anointed benefit from Christ's ransom sacrifice in a heavenly sense and almost all of the anointed have already died and been resurrected. They also believe that since only the anointed are going to heaven then only the anointed benefit from the covenant Jesus spoke of when he commanded his followers to continue to "do this in rememberance" of him.
Quite a stretch in my opinion considering Jesus did not say only some of his followers would benefit from that covenant and not others. He also did not say that only some of his followers should continue to partake of the bread and the wine.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe those on there earth today are said to be of the other sheep who will live in paradise on earth forever. They do not believe the other sheep or the great crowd benefit from Christ's sacrifice in a heavenly sense, they do not believe that Christ serves mediator for the other sheep with God and they do not believe that the great crowd are part of the covenant between Christ and those who will serve with him in heaven.
In some warped way they think they are doing what Christ commanded by passing the stuff around and yet not partaking of it.
How can they be doing what Jesus commanded if they are not partaking and sharing in the covenant for the heavenly Kingdom? Who knows... It doesn't make any sense to me now that I am no longer in that religion. I personally want Jesus as my saviour and my mediator so I can have a relationship with God and enter his Kingdom.
Hoe is this respectful to Christ's teaching?
I don't believe so but they think they have taken it all right out of the Bible. They take the mention of 144,000 in Revelation literally and they believe only that literal number (all of them happening to be Jehovah's Witnesses) will be in heaven ruling as kings with Jesus. The rest of Jesus' followers will live on the earth with Jesus and the 144,000 ruling over them.
I would in all seriousness appreciate an answer to my question about why all disciples of Christ should not do as he said. Do JWs not teach other teachings or commands of Jesus apply to the whole congregation?
I'm with you that all of Jesus' followers should do as he said.
The WTBTS' rules and regulations apply to the entire congregation. The heavenly hope is only held out for a few though. Why the majority of them continue to serve regardless of the fact that they are not considered worthy to be of the heavenly class is beyond me...
You will not find a scripture in the Bible that says Jesus promised a "paradise earth" (those two words together) to any of his followers. You will find plenty that speak of him promising a Heavenly kingdom though. You will not find a scripture that says you have to be in a manmade organization, part of a literal number of followers or in a certain religion to enter into the heavenly kingdom promised by Jesus. You will not find a scripture that says you are not allowed to commemorate Jesus' death in the way he commanded if you are not part of a group of 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses.
They take randomn scriptures throughout the Bible and piece them together to form a belief system that is completely contrary to Jesus' teachings when he was on earth.
Personally, I don't go because I don't believe they are showing respect for what Jesus died for and I don't believe they are showing appreciation for the heavenly hope held out by Jesus for his followers. I would rather not support yet another false religion.