I watched the whole thing. I was riveted. I mean...it was so much like my own committee that I started to feel flashbacks, man. But you handled yourself extremely well. It was very clear that they were trying to get you to answer that $10,000 Question: Do you believe this is God's organization? Do you want to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses? They wanted the answer so they could let the hammer fall. And you were floatin' like a butterfly and stingin' like a bee! Ha ha!
What was troubling to me was when you were talking about your own personal trials with your marriage and all, they said something that sounded like they should have the right to decide who the victim was in your situation. Small wonder how they must handle cases of rape... Suddenly when you have a real and deep problem, "confidentiality" is cited as a reason not to be a support for you during that time. Says a lot about what kind of shepherds they really are (hired men)...
As always, the elders' response when you pointed out obvious contradictions in doctrine and false teachings, was to say they just plain didn't care. "God is using us because this is the truth", "I haven't found anything better", etc. Same things the elders said to me, same exact things. So every other religion is browbeat in the pages of the Watchtower for every mistake they've made since 325 A.D., but Jehovah's Witnesses get a free pass for stuff they said and did for the entire last century. Somehow they are more special.
"Jesus is our Mediator through the faithful slave". I never thought I would hear anyone actually say it. It chills me to the bone. Where in the Bible does it say that association with 'the anointed' is what leads to our relationship with God? A good thing to point out at this point is that twice this year that I can recall, the Society has said that the anointed will help Jesus apply the value of the ransom to our sins during the Thousand Year Reign. How? Where is the scripture that says that? There isn't one. Never has been. It's made up. We have to remember that 'anointed' is actually a translation of the term 'Christ'/'Messiah'. They're saying pretty clearly that they are assistant-Christs, Jesus chose them to help him do what he apparently never did in heaven ONCE FOR ALL TIME with his own blood. Forget Hebrews 9:24-28! Throw it out!
I'm amazed at how well you handled this. The pain of that situation, it just...it's like an emotional memory got triggered inside me, you know? I felt it, like I was there with you. But you know, Jehovah's Witnesses believe they are exclusively God's people, exclusively Christians, exclusively preaching about the Kingdom (all while minimizing Jesus Christ into an archangel and an equal to men who haven't even gone to heaven, who are still on earth --begun ruling as kings much?), etc. It's called 'demand for purity', I think.
I find it, well, cognitive dissonance is the only explanation I can think of, as to the elder saying he was 'hurt' by your letter saying you didn't want to deal with some sort of tribunal/star chamber kind of thing. All while sitting...in a star chamber tribunal...in judgment of you. You know, they read similar opening scriptures to me (I think the one they did for me was Prov. 28:13)--basically, you're already guilty in our eyes, so...just admit it. But oh no! We weren't trying to say you're guilty! We're not trying to intimidate you!
You know, if a person has legitimate doubts about this organization, the judicial committee process really removes all doubt as to the nature of this religion. You no longer wonder if something is wrong, there is no more confusion. Everything that it truly is gets laid bare and exposed for you to see. And that, my friends, is why they do not handle these trials in public. It would be far too dangerous for everyone to see exactly how it really is.
It's an honor to know you, man, and to identify with your experience. I mean, not that I know you personally, just...watching your videos I totally get where you're coming from. I hope you're doing alright with all this. That committee, in my experience, is a very traumatic thing to face.
Oh yeah, those baptism questions:
BEFORE:
*** w567/1p.407pars.20-21WhyOneMustBeBaptized***
20 (1) Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him the Father through his Son Jesus Christ?
21 (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightenment of the holy spirit?
AFTER:
*** w856/1p.30SubjectingOurselvestoJehovahbyDedication***
At the close of the convention baptism talk, the baptism candidates will be in position to answer with depth of understanding and heartfelt appreciation two simple questions that serve to confirm that they recognize the implications of following Christ’s example. The first question is:
On thebasisofthesacrificeofJesusChrist,haveyourepentedofyoursinsanddedicatedyourselftoJehovahtodohiswill?
The second is:
Do youunderstandthatyourdedicationandbaptismidentifyyouasoneofJehovah’sWitnessesinassociationwithGod’sspirit-directedorganization?
Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism.
Had to post that here, since it was brought up in your conversation with them. Hope it helps anyone who isn't sure.
--sd-7
