Herk and Berean ---
Again, I deeply appreciate your words and thoughts. But before condemning me too thoroughly for my words, keep this in mind: I was disfellowshipped nearly 15 years ago for something that I never did, and it is well known that I didn't do it. All the elders here have acknowledged that and so have many that are much higher. I've been asked quite a few times if I would like to be reinstated, and I have always answered "Yes, but first we will discuss the circumstances of my being disfellowshipped." That they refuse to do.
The following is how I described my position to one of the individuals who is higher than an elder. It's part of a letter I hand delivered to him and later posted here on the board. This is the address:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=16556&site=3
This is the excerpt:
WHY I'M RELUCTANT TO SUBMIT A LETTER REQUESTING REINSTATEMENT
1. This Organization claims to be Jehovah's chosen path for people to approach him, to the exclusion of all others, and is under his divine direction. If this is true, then there are certain things that one could expect of it. That includes:
That scripture should take precedence over any other consideration, including such things as the personal pride of people in official positions or any established procedures. He speaks of himself as "loving" (1 John 4:8), "just" (Deut. 32:4), "understanding" (John 12:12), "merciful and gracious" (Ex. 34:6), and "good and ready to forgive" (Ps. 86:5), among other things. Therefore, any organization that is indeed Jehovah's spokesman will put these qualities first and foremost and no procedures and/or pomposity would be allowed to interfere. If they don't do this, then they are liars for having claimed to be Jehovah's servants in the first place and are serving themselves instead.
Yes, it is true that all organizations are imperfect and cannot live up to Jehovahs standards completely. But we must not use that fact as an excuse to encourage wrongdoing by accepting a minimal amount as normal and then allowing it to slide by without doing all that's humanly possible to correct it. That someone wishes to save face is not important and their problem, not mine. To compromise with this is to become part of the problem.
That is why I pose the question to everyone, especially those in Brooklyn: "If I did nothing deserving of disfellowshipping, for what reason should I need to do anything (other than calling it to their attention) to be reinstated?" Those who actually are Christian in the true sense of the word would be hastening to do something about it as soon as they became aware of it, not demanding that I jump through hoops in order to guarantee that their grandeur remains unsmirched.
This is also the reason that I declare openly that if this is indeed Jehovah's organization, then I will be vindicated. If it is not, then for what reason should I care? In addition, if it is not, then of what use is either their approval or disapproval?
If the organization that I gave 45 years of my life to cannot bring itself to do even this simple, elementary act of Christianity, then it looks like to me that I've wasted those 45 years. Worse, I've taught my family to have faith in an organization that follows the conduct of the rest of Christendom in using the name as a front to hide their personal agendas and pride behind.
And I'm not interested in that nonsense about going along with such things in order to keep reproach away from Jehovah's name. See item 2 below.
(You may find the rest of the letter interesting too.)
Another factor you might wish to consider is that for 5 years after that DFing, I made it a point to NOT say or do anything, for I had no desire to do an injustice to anyone. I knew that I was too emotionally wrought up to function in a fair manner.
I relate these things in order to assure you that I've not said the former things lightly or without reason.
Another factor in my own situation is that I am not closely connected with the top leaders as you two apparently are (or have been). This makes things a little more difficult, as I need accurate information in order to be effective. Long distance analysis is not easy.
Yet regardless of distance, when things go wrong it is equally mandatory on all of us to speak up and say something. To illustrate, remember the time when the 12 spies came back from the promised land and 10 of them gave a bad report? Remember who received punishment? That's right, all of the men 30 years of age and older, which included the lowly such as the menservants and the shepherds in the field. Why? Because they didn't speak up.
However, to speak accurately and effectively, I have to have an accurate picture of the circumstances. Ergo, I pose questions such as the one at the beginning of this thread. Input such as yours helps considerably, and if those spoken of wished to speak, I would welcome theirs with open arms. However, I must agree with TR. The silence is deafening. I've had a bellyful of that tactic, which to me is the height of both arrogance and foolishness. When one goes to another with a problem and is treated in such a manner, that is an indication that they are anything but christian. Therefore, for some time now whenever anyone pulls that stunt with me (and there is something important riding on the outcome), then its "Abby-get-the-baby-the-dog-catchers-coming" because there's hell to pay and no holds barred.
(For an example of that, see "Spanking a Body of Elders" http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.aspx?id=27787&site=3 . This was a situation where I was concerned about my daughters treatment by her husband (an elders son), and fed up with the endless evil motives that I was being credited with. The letter freaks some people out, but her situation improved considerably and I've never again had some damned fool elder accuse me of some stupid evil motive.
I'm right on the ragged edge of this with the entire outfit now. They use head games to control us ("Were holy, you ain't"; "Sass us and God will zap you"; etc., etc.), and their cynical arrogance is monumental. Im including them all, for the same reason that Jehovah included all men 30 and under in the situation with the 10 spies. They knew, but they were too cowardly to say anything.
What the Society apparently doesn't know (and I do) is that mind games are as easily used against entire organizations as they are individuals. You can judge by the sample above as to whether I speak truth or not.
Such questions as those I posted originally help me get the inside knowledge of the men and their personalities that I need to know as to where they are vulnerable. I see no reason to use a cannon to blast them to pieces when a little egg white in the fuel tank will incapacitate them just as well.
Now, as to the proof of such matters: No, I would not try to convict any of them on the basis of facts that we have available right now. However, neither will I cut them any slack, any more than I would an accused pedophile who wanted to baby sit my kids. This is tripled in such cases as this one where all they do is maintain a haughty silence.
And keep in mind they ARE baby sitting my kids --- in a spiritual sense, and they ARE molesting them --- in the same spiritual sense. How? Heres another quote from the first letter above:
To sum up: The manner in which these scriptures have been misconstrued and the resulting shift in teachings is not only utter hogwash, it has been an unmitigated disaster for the faith of millions. This includes those still in the organization, for the gullible have been led to place their faith on blind obedience. Thats not only building on sand, its preventing them from forming the answer that Jehovah desires from us. Both are forms of futility.
As to those who can see through it --- They stay in, not due to love for Jehovah and his ways, but due to the fear of the devastation that this organization will deliberately wreak upon their families if they don't go along. That too is a form of futility. Am I to compromise with this?
A final thought before answering some of your specifics: The type of arrogant self-worship that it takes to rape someone spiritually is identical to that required to rape one physically. Do I feel that the GB are capable of raping someone physically? Yes, for that reason.
I know Jaracz personally, and I was a friend of Greenlees and Chitty, as well as other members of the governing body. I'm no longer a JW, partly because of my disdain for the antics of persons like Jaracz.
Any information, favorable or not, that you would feel free to add to this would be entirely welcome. Surely Greenlees and Chitty must have had some good points, and I'm quite interested in why you hold Jaracz in disdain. Was this a personality clash, or were there specific causes for it?
Would any of us want to go through life having such a terrible false charge hanging over our heads, if indeed we were innocent?
No, we wouldn't. But rightly or wrongly, if such a thing did happen the effects of it spread to many more than ourselves. Some people have the maturity and love necessary to step down in cases like these, as they know that their continuing on in a high position will harm the very cause for which they work. When they continue on, it demonstrates that they care more for themselves than they do for either Jehovah or the sheep. Do you remember that one of the requirements for being an elder is that they be "free from accusation"?
There are plenty of things wrong about JWs and the WT Society that should be exposed and condemned.
LOL. Isnt that the truth!
I see no reason why anyone should feel the need to invent additional crimes for which there isn't a shred of proof. When we do such things, we show ourselves worthy of the same condemnation we're trying to pin on the persons we've accused. Additionally, we end up totally lacking any credibility when we actually have something that should be brought to the attention of the world.
I feel the term "invent" is inappropriate here. Certainly I haven't "invented" anything, as the accusations are in a public forum and have been announced to the world. All I've done is weigh the implications of them, should they be true. In addition, I wouldn't wish to accuse those who make such allegations that they "invented" them either, for if they are true, then all they have done is testify truthfully.
We may simply not know, but at the same time, when the stakes are as high as these are, we have both a right and a duty to take precautions. Such a limited reaction will prevent much of the loss of credibility you mention.
This whole dilemma illustrates beautifully why lying is such a despicable sin.
Berean --- You dont seem to be posting as much lately. I am missing your thoughts.
Til later.
Tom Howell
Alias: LoneWolf
Edited by - LoneWolf on 6 December 2002 9:25:4
