Posts by processor

Jehovah’s Witnesses consider apostasy the worst of all sins. They “share Jehovah’s feelings toward such apostates … they ‘feel a loathing’ toward [them].” (The Watchtower, October 1, 1993, page 19) The manual Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock makes it plain what “apostasy” means: “Persons who deliberately spread (stubbornly hold to and speak about) teachings contrary to Bible truth as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses are apostates.” – page 94.

So it is apostasy when someone spreads teachings contrary to those of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A man who excelled in doing that was Moses. He even introduced a complete code of law which was contradicting the Watchtower doctrines in many respects – for example, he claimed that divorce would be allowed as long as the man issues a “certificate of divorce” to his former wife. (Deuteronomy 24:1) He also asserted that preaching from house to house would not be required for salvation (Exodus 14:3). He ‘stubbornly held to and spoke about’ these teachings, so he surely is guilty of apostasy.

Many centuries later, the apostle James too spread false teachings when he claimed: “The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.” (James 1:27) The most important aspects of worship – witnessing from house to house, attending meetings, and obedience toward the “faithful and discreet slave” – he did not mention at all! Rather he encouraged Christians to waste their time ‘looking after orphans and widows’ instead of participating “in the lifesaving preaching work.” – Our Kingdom Ministry, December 2009, page 1.

The “Bible truth as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses” involves the obligation to hate apostates. The August 1, 1953 Watchtower issue applied Psalm 139:22 to them: “[Apostates] we hate and count as our enemies … ‘I hate them with perfect hatred: they are become mine enemies.’” (page 479) The October 1, 1952 issue explained: “We must hate in the truest sense, which is to regard with extreme and active aversion, to consider as loathsome, odious, filthy, to detest … We cannot love those hateful enemies, for they are fit only for destruction … These are the true sentiments, desires and prayers of the righteous ones today.” – pages 599, 600.

The July 15, 1992 Watchtower issue confirmed this viewpoint: “Our attitude toward apostates should be that of David, who declared: ‘Do I not hate those? … With a complete hatred I do hate them.’” (page 12) What an impudence it was that Jesus dared to disagree with this clear doctrine! He said in public: “You heard that it was said [to wit, in the Watchtower], ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you.” (Matthew 5:43) He prized his own word above the Watchtower’s and claimed that “he knows better … than the ‘faithful and discreet slave!’” – The Watchtower, August 1, 1980, page 19.

Moses, James and Jesus were not the initiators of these false teachings; they only shared in spreading them. The one who brought these “teachings contrary to Bible truth as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses” into the world was Jehovah. (Deuteronomy 26:16; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21) So, more than anyone else he is guilty of apostasy.

22

What part of the opening ceremony did you like best on Friday night?

by dreamgolfer in

processor

As a fan of Mike Oldfield, of course it were his 11 minutes that I liked the most. But Chariots of Fire was great, too.

36

New contribution box at the hall ?

by Poztate in

jw
friends

do you think in view that they now have wt production videos.. (a costly endevour) that they might in addition to the www, local and literature donation boxes start a wt video productions box with special guilt laid on parents with small children to donate ?.

it does seem to be all about the money so it wouldn't suprise me...how about you.

processor

They also have a new publication:

Draw

14

Jehovah's Witnesses vs. Pharisees

by processor in

also here: http://eng.svhelden.info/?page_id=22.

similarities between pharisees and jehovahs witnesses.

pharisees .

processor

Yes, I'm also very grateful to the presiding overseer for being so hypocritical and self-righteous. It was a great help to me.

14

Jehovah's Witnesses vs. Pharisees

by processor in

also here: http://eng.svhelden.info/?page_id=22.

similarities between pharisees and jehovahs witnesses.

pharisees .

processor

Also here: http://eng.svhelden.info/?page_id=22

Similarities between Pharisees and Jehovah’s Witnesses

Pharisees (according to Watchtower publications)

Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Pharisees constituted a prominent sect of Judaism in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. They tried to keep themselves separate from others, including fellow Jews. (w77 6/15 380)

Jehovah’s Witness constitute a prominent sect of Christendom in our day. They try to keep themselves separate from others, including fellow Christians.

As a body, the Pharisees were concerned about establishing their own righteousness. They scrupulously paid the tenth of such small products as mint, dill and cummin. (Matt. 23:23) On a regular basis, they would fast for religious reasons. (Matt. 9:14) They were concerned about observing traditions to the letter, especially in connection with Sabbath observance and the washing of hands. (w77 6/15 380)

As a body, Jehovah’s Witnesses are concerned about establishing their own righteousness. Multiple times per week they study the Bible and their publications. On a regular basis, they share in the house-to-house ministry. They are concerned about observing Watchtower doctrines, especially in connection with congregation meeting attendance and the preaching from house to house.

Along with this, the Pharisees wanted to impress others with their righteousness and therefore made a public display of it. They did this even in their dress. The Mosaic law required the Israelites to have fringed edges on the skirts of their garments. … The Pharisees took this a step farther. They enlarged the fringed edges of their garments in order to stand out among the people. (w77 6/15 380, 381)

Along with this, Jehovah’s Witnesses want to impress others with their righteousness and therefore make a public display of it. They do this even in their dress. The Bible requires Christians to dress “with modesty and soundness of mind”. Jehovah’s Witnesses take this a step farther. They dictate the exact type of clothing, ban pantsuits for women (even during winter), and regularly discuss about the length of skirts.

Because of what they did, the Pharisees felt superior to fellow Israelites who did not observe the Law according to the Pharisees’ traditional interpretation. Their attitude is reflected in a prayer that Jesus Christ, in one of his illustrations, represents as being spoken by a Pharisee. … The Pharisees actually looked with contempt upon those who failed to observe the great body of rabbinic tradition. (w77 6/15 381)

Because of what they do, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that they are “the only true religion” and “God’s people”. Hence they feel superior to fellow Christians who do not observe the Bible according to the Watchtower’s interpretation. Their attitude is reflected in a Watchtower article: “’Righteous’ means meeting God’s standard, not man’s. Worldly men occupy their minds with unrighteous schemes.” Jehovah’s Witnesses actually look with contempt upon those who refuse to live according to Watchtower doctrines and avoid any closer contact with them.

It appears the Pharisees thought that defilement resulted from contact with people who did not observe the Law according to their traditional view. (Luke 7:36-40) So Jesus’ associating and even eating with reputed sinners and tax collectors gave them occasion to object. (w77 6/15 381)

It appears Jehovah’s Witnesses think that defilement results from contact with people who do not observe the Bible according to the Watchtower interpretation. So a member’s associating or even eating with someone who is not a Jehovah’s Witness gives the elders occasion to object.

Their attitude toward God’s law and fellow Israelites did violence to the spirit of that law, making it burdensome to the people. They lost sight of the weightier matters of the Law—justice, mercy, faithfulness and love of God. (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42-44) As Jesus pointed out regarding the Sabbath: “The sabbath came into existence for the sake of man, and not man for the sake of the sabbath.” (w77 6/15 381, 382)

Jesus declared that … the Pharisees, had added many things, making the Law burdensome for the people to follow, loading the people down. (it-2 878)

Their attitude toward the Bible and fellow Christians does violence to the spirit of Christianity, making the Bible’s commands burdensome to Christians. Jehovah’s Witnesses lost sight of the weightier matters of the Christian doctrine – charity, mercy, faithfulness and love of God.

“The congregation came into existence for the sake of Christians, and not Christians for the sake of the congregation.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses have added many things to the Bible (ca. 50 Watchtower study articles and numerous other publications every year), making it burdensome for the people to follow all these instructions. They keep loading the people down.

In areas that really touched the lives of people, their sticking to human precepts was responsible for serious injury. For example, children could get out of helping aged and needy parents by claiming that all their property was dedicated to God. (w77 6/15 382)

In areas that really touch the lives of people, their sticking to human precepts is responsible for serious injury. For example, Christians can get out of helping needy persons by claiming that all their time was dedicated to the preaching work.

The Christian Greek Scriptures reveal that the Pharisees fasted twice each week, tithed scrupulously … and did not agree with the Sadducees. (it-2 625)

Their publications reveal that Jehovah’s Witnesses meet twice each week, report their field service hours scrupulously and do not agree with other Christian groups.

The Pharisees were so biased in their application of the Law that they made it burdensome for the people, insisting that it be observed according to their concepts and traditions. (it-2 625)

Jehovah’s Witnesses are so biased in their application of the Bible that they make it burdensome for their followers, insisting that it be observed according to their concepts and traditions.

The Pharisees went to great lengths in making proselytes. (it-2 625)

Jehovah’s Witnesses go to great lengths in making converts.

To a blind man whom Jesus had cured on the Sabbath they said concerning Jesus: “This is not a man from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.” (it-2 625, 626)

Regarding members of other religions groups who perform works of Christian charity they say: “These people are not Christians because they don’t go from house to house.”

Jesus voiced God’s rejection of the Pharisees: … “This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.” (w95 10/15 29)

Jehovah’s Witnesses honor God with their lips (in their field ministry). But this is in vain, because (at the people’s doors as well as in their meetings) they teach commands of men (from the Watchtower) as doctrines.

The Pharisee prayed: “O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, ... or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.” (w87 7/15 10)

The pioneer prayed: “O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, worldlings, or even as this inactive one. I preach 70 hours a month, I visit all five congregation meetings.”

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The Pharisaical Laws of JW's

by Emery in

jw
friends

i remember hearing from a former elder of a situation he found himself in while conducting the old weekly bible study.

that morning only one male was present during the morning study, however that brother forgot his tie.

under instruction from the slave, any brother not properly dressed for a meeting is not to have any congregation priviledges (hold mics, talk, attendent, magazines, reading).

processor

From my letter of disassociation, also here: http://eng.svhelden.info/?page_id=22