John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the way to the Father. This means he is mediator and High Priest for all humankind who have faith in him. 1 Tim. 2:5 – “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus”. Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God. The organization claims that he is mediator for only 144000 throughout all history. If this is so, who is the mediator for the so-called “other sheep”?
*** w79 11/15 p. 27 par. 25 Benefiting from “One Mediator Between God and Men” ***
25 To keep in relationship with “our Savior, God,” the “great crowd” needs to remain united with the remnant of spiritual Israelites. Why? Because these spiritual Israelites are the “holy nation” of which we read in Jeremiah 31:35, 36
*** w98 2/1 p. 17 par. 16 Greater Blessings Through the New Covenant ***
Those of spiritual Israel still remaining on earth make up “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Only in association with them can acceptable sacred service be rendered to God.
The organization seems to say: the way = Watchtower organization.
Jesus is the truth. Worshipping God in “truth” (John 4:24) revolves around Jesus. It entails accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and following his teachings.It is common to hear JWs ask “How long have you been in the truth?”, which means “How long have you been in the organization?”. If a JW says that someone has left the truth, they mean that the person has left the organization. If someone is in the organization they are in the truth. The organization seems to say: the truth = Watchtower organization.
Jesus is the life. Only through him can we gain eternal life. Only by following him and putting complete trust in him can we gain salvation. How does a JW gain salvation?
*** w81 11/15 p. 21 par. 18 ‘Stay Awake and Keep Your Senses’ ***
And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation, the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone
*** w83 2/15 p. 12 You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth—But How? ***
Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.
The organization seems to say: the life = the Watchtower organization.
This is one of the biggest if not the biggest aspect of the Jehovah’s Witnesses that truly saddens me. At a recent special assembly day the FDS was mentioned more than Jesus was. I am forced to agree with those that say that the organization has been put in front of the JWs as an idol and what breaks my heart is to see how the friends are just taking it all in with no suspicion whatsoever. When I was asked by the local body of elders why I would even doubt something that God’s organization said I quoted Ps. 146:3,4 “Do not put YOUR trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs.4 His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; In that day his thoughts do perish.” They believed that this text doesn’t apply to the Governing Body or the organization, because it isn’t men talking it is Jehovah. If that isn’t idolatry I guess I don’t know what is.
Some people go to the extreme and say that JWs aren’t Christians. I don’t agree with this. Most do have faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, however they have been misled to put too much emphasis on the org. and not enough on Jesus. This doesn’t prove they aren’t Christians just that they are unfaithful in this important matter. This doesn’t mean however that they are condemned. In Luke 12 Jesus gives the parable of the faithful and the evil slave but he also mentions 2 other types of slaves. Notice Luke 12:47,48 – “Then that slave that understood the will of his master but did not get ready or do in line with his will will be beaten with many strokes. 48 But the one that did not understand and so did things deserving of strokes will be beaten with few.”
The slaves that will be beaten with few or many strokes will have been disobedient to varying degrees but will not be judged as part of the evil slave. I believe many JWs truly want to do their Master’s will but just do not understand clearly what it is. Perhaps many of them will be judged as deserving of a few strokes. None of us knows this of course, but we shouldn’t judge individual JWs as not being Christian. I do believe the leaders of the organization have put themselves in a dangerous position, but again that is for Jesus to judge.
We can only as individuals stop looking to an organization or a church as some kind of mediator, rule-giver, or an ark of salvation. We as humans tend to concentrate on what is seen and that is why it is so easy to give more importance to a visible organization than we should. Although to stay strong we need fellowship with other Christians never let us lose sight of the fact that Jesus and Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
HE’s ALIVE! Hey Andrew where have you been? Great article! A little to kind to the “organization” for me… You say, “The organization seems to say” three times. They don’t “seem” anything. They ARE saying. But I’m a bull in a china cabinet. You made some excellent points here! Excellentee!
Your brother,
Greybeard
greybeard(Quote)
Hey Greybeard, I’ve been a little busy lately.
I don’t like to make a blanket condemnation of the organization because there are good things it teaches and it has strong points. Most other Christian church organizations are in the same boat as the Watchtower, its just that since we are so intimately acquainted with the Watchtower it is so easy to see its shortcomings now that we have had our blindfold taken off.
I don’t view the organization as some kind of enemy. Most of us have expressed the opinion that if the organization would make a few big changes that we would continue to be part of it. But I just can’t see that happening unfortunately.
andrew(Quote)
I understand Andrew. I am really kidding around when I say, “A little to kind… for me”. I on the other hand, do actually see the GB as an enemy. Not the flock, I feel they are trapped and controlled by the GB. The GB has set themselves up as our savior and as a God. I even believe there are some on the GB that know “The Truth About The Truth” but won’t let on. No I don’t know for a fact but after reading “Crisis of Conscience” it makes me wonder. I agree with your article 100%
greybeard(Quote)
I see this too; as though the Org is looked to in place of God. But it also looks more like a false Christ to me, placing it in the place of Jesus, and putting words in Jesus’ mouth. I would definitely heed the scripture and not go after them. They would need to abandon all false prophesy and teachings and prostrate themselves in lowly submission to YHWH, and before His Son, before they could organizationally attach to the Mediator, and receive the “Well done faithful slave!”. I don’t see this happening, even though there has been some accomplishment with preaching. But the judge is yet to come. It’s not left to our own personal analysis and decisions.
DanielB(Quote)
I agree with you DanielB, good points.
greybeard(Quote)
Andrew, again a well thought out and balanced analysis of things.
I’m a bit like GB. I strongly, let me repeat STRONGLY dislike the GB but your take is more balanced and I thank Jah and his son Jesus that we have moderating influences like yourself in our midst. Otherwise the posts from the likes of me, would just be one condemnatory criticism after another.
I agree with everything you said and DanielB you also made some nice comments as well. Thank you all.
So far this forum is turning out to be a nice place to learn, take a deep breath and look at things from a fresh perspective.
To everybody, its great being here and long may that be the case.
LonelySheep(Quote)
Your a bit like the Governing Body (GB) LonelySheep? Don’t say such things! But true, they are “condemnatory” and offer much “criticism” 😛 😉
😉
greybeard(Quote)
A very good post Andrew! Talking about not judging people of Christian faith, I was reminded of the parable of the talents. In that parable, it was the master himself who entrusted this thing or that thing to each of his slaves. A long time ago when I was contemplating getting baptized, I remember reading something in the Aid to Bible Understanding about the fact that it is God who chooses what he will use each individual for not, not us (and I might add, not anyone else for that matter!). That told me all those years ago that we shouldn’t expect to be clones of each other. In later years I realized more ant more that the key is to act according to the way God’s spirit moves us.
Matthew 25:14-15:
“For it is just as when a man, about to travel abroad, summoned slaves of his and committed to them his belongings. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to still another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went abroad.”
Matthew 25:22-23:
“Next the one that had received the two talents came forward and said, ‘Master, you committed to me two talents; see, I gained two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'”
JWB(Quote)
I was doing some reflection on this very subject today and then read your concise article. Can we say “food at the proper time?” hahahaha
I liked how you showed from their very own publications that the GB (because let’s be honest, the F&DS is nothing – the GB runs the show) purports to be the way, the truth, and the life. I’ve been struggling with wrapping my mind around WHERE in scripture does it say we need anything but Jesus to be in an approved standing before God? He was the ONE mediator we needed, he gave us the 2 great commandments, and he died to open the way for people of all nations to be approved before God. Nowhere did it say anything about “…but you have to be a Jehovah’s Witness to do so.”
I have come to realize that my hatred lies with the Governing Body. Most Jehovah’s Witnesses are exactly the sheep we always compare them to: blindly following their leader. The Governing Body has made it abundantly clear that they are above the rank and file, above the Faithful and Discreet Slave, thus above the anointed kings and priests, and come shamelessly close to saying they’re above Jesus.
It seems to me that everyone would recognize this hierarchy if it were on the shoulders of one man. When CT Russell were still in charge, how foolish it was when he called himself the F&DS! And the tyrannical Watchtower presidency of Judge Rutherford! But it’s like since they instituted the Governing Body arrangement, no one sees how they reign in a position of power and dominance over the congregations. I don’t get it!
Dinah(Quote)
Yes Dinah. I was one of those faithful slaves with all I could do with those Watchtower talents (door to door work). But as soon as I couragously pleaded for help from the society over problems within our elder body, they began sweeping me out the door. I suppose that their talents were tarnished, and there are better ones found elsewhere. My gut said to move on.
Now, we share precious understandings while letting the GB world go on eating and drinking until all of remaining Babylon is devoured.
I hope my own flesh and blood make the escape soon.
Every time a Witness contradicts Jesus’ words, they put their words above his. I am so sad over this. And away back when, I encouraged it “for” my family. I am sorry, Father, and I ask your Son to forgive, in your Name.
Daniel
DanielB(Quote)
Timely article for me Andrew. Thanks
Dennis
Anonymous(Quote)
Take heart! Do not blame Jah! Do not blame his people! Read the books of the Prophets! Jah will soon act against the evil slave! Stay in and be there for others as they will need help in seeing the idol for what it is!
Warning(Quote)