The Way Truth and The LifeJohn 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.

(Written by Andrew, Re-posted by Greybeard)

 

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18 Comments on The Organization: the Way, the Truth, and the Life? (Re-post)

  1. v says:

    Brother Andrew.
    Sisiter Ruth say.
    Yes what the watchtower has taught us was such a dreadful lie. Come to Jehovahs organisation for salvation. Our Lord had to step down in there and take second place. l remember older brothers telling me how the organisation took our Lord Jesus from the song books.
    One thing for certain we do know is our Lord is taking the sheep out of false religions and bringing them home to himself as the head of the real sheep.

    All his sheep are being led one by one home to him so to speak
    . Its so amazing to see us all being brought out. Teaching us that man is not the way. Nor churches and organisations. “Jesus is the only way to the Father.John 14:6

    Not only that, just by reading our bibles and associating with each other that keeps us going.
    I know right here in my town I’m alone. But 1 hours drive down the coast there are two more each a different religion. Alone. Even Further down the coast there is a brother alone.
    Across in Tasmania theres a sister Alone “All coming to Jesus” from religion and organisations.

    Yet, we feel sure our Lord is teaching us. Helping us. The spirit of God is opening our eyes taking the vail away. At last we can see where own journey is taking us. ‘Its such a relief!

    We feel so sad when we leave family behind. It hurts so much. Not all will come follow Jesus.
    Yeshua. “Thats a sad fact.” A difficult fact.” A cross or stake we must bare”

    Now we intern must learn not to add or take away from the scriptures on this new journey.
    Viewing everything as our thoughts only. Being sure we never stumble anyone,otherwise we can fall into the same trap again.

    This is just the real start of our Journey. Seeing through our Gods eyes. Feeling through his heart.
    Listening to his Shepherds voice. Hearing through his ears. Speaking his words through our mouths. What a responsibility is on all our shoulders. BEING RELIABLE IN ALL THINGS.
    But then again he said his commandments are not burdensome . The lovely thing about that statement is its so true.
    We are not in it for the rewards. The fact we have been introduced to the true Heavenly Father and his only begotten is the most important aspect of our lives.

    Yes we now will put 1st the Kingdom and its righteousness! In time we will reap if we do not tire out.
    Love you all may God bless your weary souls. Keep up the fine fight.
    Sisiter Ruth
    .

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    • Yeldud says:

      Dear Sister Ruth, your thoughts match my own experience and pain, along with that special peace that comes when we realize that Acts 4:12 is telling us that God has put NO ONE between us and our savior, Jesus Christ. I think you’d enjoy my “Points for Pondering No.1” which sums up what has been on my heart since 1981 when my expulsion for “apostasy” was confirmed, because I’d said that the Watchtower, not God, appointed our elders–which included me.
      I’ll try to paste it here; but if this fails, I’ll be happy to mail or email it to you if you wish to give me an address…
      Sorry, but apparently ‘paste’ isn’t allowed here :( . However, JJ has a copy of this paper; maybe he could send you a copy??
      — your older brother, ‘yeldud’

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  2. C M says:

    Now that I have learned TTATT I am an awakened witness and notice things alot more on how like this article mentioned we are led to believe that our way to salvation is only through this organization and so many people are blinded br it because they do not test their faith thay do not educate themselves and let the Holy Spirit guide them to the Truth by seeking for it. In a recent article of the Awake of August there is an article by the title of Do You Need to Belong to a Church I may be wrong about the title but it started off by saying that by just reading the bible we can find the truth however we need the Organization to develop alot of the “christian qualities” and acquire additional knowledge that we would not have by just reading the bible and I was taken back by the audacity the nerve the brother had while writing this article. I appreciate the knowledge you have all shared with us and seeking to help us in our struggle. May Jehovah keep blessing you all with his holy spirit.

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  3. Anonymous says:

    I just went to check on this , CM . This was the article “The Bible’s Viewpoint – Must You Go to a Temple, Shrine, or Church to Pray to God?”

    In applying Hebrews 10: 24,25 , on the need to gather together as disciples of Christ , the article said that “God’s true servants are a spiritual family.” So I know we all appreciate your visits here for such fellowship . Of course we need to get past the implication made in the true statement above on the identity of “true servants of God” . If the organizational understanding on this were correct , they might have encouraged in this article to attend the Christian church of ones choice , or to make friends with the many Christians who attend no church building at all .

    It was interesting that the article had said how that first-century Christians had met in homes in small groups , and had also talked on how Jehovah’s Witnesses meet in kingdom halls . At least the article gave some of “The Bible’s Viewpoint” . It’s good that you are understanding better the truth about their “truth” . So many millions have unknowingly accepted at face value the indoctrination process that articles such as this one use as “ice-breakers” for any that will accept the magazines .

    Most folks in “Christian Lands” can smell a dead fish in the neighborhood . It certainly takes a huge number of hours to bring just one new potential convert to a kingdom hall !

    This is such a better invitation , recorded by John :

    “Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

    . . . ( not an organization ) .

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  4. CM says:

    Exactly my understanding Anonymous on this article I agreed with a portion of it just not the indoctrination that we keep being fed. I am glad and hope we can all meet one day to discuss openly about what we have all learned as individuals in our struggles and how Jehovah keeps making our understanding as awakened witnesses more clearer.

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  5. DanielB says:

    Somehow my identity was kicked out again , so I showed up as “Anonymous” .

    I thought you would be in agreement with me on these things , CM . You realize , I am sure , that “Awake!” magazine is specifically designed to interest people in the territories in which they are distributed . This is why I picked up on the lead-in words in the article that “God’s true servants are a spiritual family.”

    This is an inticement for people who are earnestly seeking to find a true fellowship with God . This affected me this way 42 years ago when I was called on by 2 sisters at my apartment . And then when I followed through and went to my first meeting , I was “love-bombed” , and later on that summer , I was “love-bombed” again at another kingdom hall . I knew I was being directed closer to God ! I have since gone forward from that organization .

    So the reason I bring this up is because you have a thought that acknowledges : ” how Jehovah keeps making our understanding as awakened witnesses more clearer. ”

    You are absolutely right , in the way that Jehovah keeps our understanding progressing . It is not the Organization that is the ” Way , the Truth , and the Life . ” Rather ,
    Jesus said : “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No organization in heaven or on earth can take his position in this .

    While I was a “Witness” , on a few occasions , some old-timers had told me this same secret from John 14: 6 . I listened to the aged brother who died of old age who told me this . He was a Saint . I listened to the aged woman who told me this , who did not claim to be anointed . And I listened to this same point from my dear fellow anointed sister shortly before she died .

    These were true disciples of Christ ! They would place no earthly organization before Christ and his Father YHWH . They were not center-fielders in the “organization” , but close friends of Christ .

    One day , our understanding of all such things will be crystal clear .

    In the meantime though , we ought to consider that the WTS / GB is only a stepping-stone toward the life that is offered to us through the Son of God , for He only is ” the Way , and the Truth , and the Life ” .

    With you in Christ ,

    brother Daniel

    P.S. – I am just passing this along to you , from my friends I mentioned above . . .

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  6. Disappointed says:

    This has been the most important thing for me. I always felt something was missing. We were always told that it is wrong to worship Jesus, the NWT translation changed the word ‘worship’ for ‘obeisance’ claiming it was different.
    For instance Heb 1:6 ‘But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him”.
    What do most other translations say? “And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
    Also we are not to pray to him. At John 14:14 most translations say: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
    What does the NWT say? “If you ask anything in my name I will do it”. Notice what is missing between ‘ask’ and ‘anything’.
    Another thing they say is that Christ is not our Mediator, he is only the mediator for a tiny minority. Is this right?
    Watch our video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....ature=plcp
    Once I realised this was all wrong I knew what was missing… it was Christ himself!
    They have placed themselves ‘on the seat of Moses’, between us and our Father and have pushed our Lord aside. Like an unsubmissive ‘wife’ usurping her husband’s headship and deciding for herself what is good for the children.

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  7. DanielB says:

    Many householders in the territories have better spirit in Christ than the witnesses calling at their doors . The word “Jesus” comes from their lips more than those in the “door to door work” . Who is teaching who ?

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  8. DanielB says:

    I apologize if I seem too harsh on the message that Jehovah’s Witnesses take to the world . But there is more Spirit for YHWH shown by other Cristians in the world around them , than that which they show themselves as an organization .

    They do in fact preach good news of the Kingdom . But it isn’t quite “THIS Good News of the Kingdom” which Yeshua was talking about .

    He directed no one toward a Christian Organization , but rather to himself and his Father .

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  9. FutureMan says:

    Thank you for your thought provoking post Greybeard.

    I have something to share with you all on religions and organizations.

    And here is an interesting thought that I will share with you all that I had found to be very thought provoking and also rang true to me.

    I will quote it just below.

    (Quote)

    “(1092.1) 99:6.1 Sectarianism is a disease of institutional religion, and dogmatism is an enslavement of the spiritual nature. It is far better to have a religion without a church than a church without religion. The religious turmoil of the twentieth century does not, in and of itself, betoken spiritual decadence. Confusion goes before growth as well as before destruction.

    (1092.2) 99:6.2 There is a real purpose in the socialization of religion. It is the purpose of group religious activities to dramatize the loyalties of religion; to magnify the lures of truth, beauty, and goodness; to foster the attractions of supreme values; to enhance the service of unselfish fellowship; to glorify the potentials of family life; to promote religious education; to provide wise counsel and spiritual guidance; and to encourage group worship. And all live religions encourage human friendship, conserve morality, promote neighborhood welfare, and facilitate the spread of the essential gospel of their respective messages of eternal salvation.

    (1092.3) 99:6.3 But as religion becomes institutionalized, its power for good is curtailed, while the possibilities for evil are greatly multiplied. The dangers of formalized religion are: fixation of beliefs and crystallization of sentiments; accumulation of vested interests with increase of secularization; tendency to standardize and fossilize truth; diversion of religion from the service of God to the service of the church; inclination of leaders to become administrators instead of ministers; tendency to form sects and competitive divisions; establishment of oppressive ecclesiastical authority; creation of the aristocratic “chosen-people” attitude; fostering of false and exaggerated ideas of sacredness; the routinizing of religion and the petrification of worship; tendency to venerate the past while ignoring present demands; failure to make up-to-date interpretations of religion; entanglement with functions of secular institutions; it creates the evil discrimination of religious castes; it becomes an intolerant judge of orthodoxy; it fails to hold the interest of adventurous youth and gradually loses the saving message of the gospel of eternal salvation.

    (1092.4) 99:6.4 Formal religion restrains men in their personal spiritual activities instead of releasing them for heightened service as kingdom builders.” (end of quote) from the [Urantia book].

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  10. DanielB says:

    I must say FutureMan , that this statement , ” It is far better to have a religion without a church than a church without religion ” , is better said that ” It is far better to have a church , an ecclesia ,without religion , than to have religion without the congregation of God. ”

    However , the statement that “Formal religion restrains men in their personal spiritual activities instead of releasing them for heightened service as kingdom builders” is true .

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  11. MDC says:

    Excellent points are derived here! If I may I would like to interject a thought. It is one that has been discussed before by many here as well as other (fruitful websites). But when the thought is discussed about our (understanding of the truth) away from the JW indoctrination, namely that Christ should be our center of worship and that orginizations who claim ” truth control” is wrong and not beneficial for “true salvation”. But my experience, albeit, personal; is that I constantly second guess myself, and I see this in many statements I have read. True it is that this is only expected from those who are truly seeking God and Christ in a prayerful and spiritual way. I remember that the years spent in the org., the thinking and even the way my prayers were directed to God through Jesus, but with the ( Organizations) idol before me. The idol concept. When realizing that “idol worship” is at the fore here, it makes me ill. Knowing that it is a disgusting part of the Jw movement, without there seeing it. No wonder I personally fell into sin, and could never get out of this practice, eventually DF’d. But coming to the real understanding, through the spirit of God and Christ, I am living by faith. And this faith is one that is backed up by works. A true sense of peace and understanding. As I mentioned prior my second guessing myself is being slowly evaporated as I put on Christ and seek the spirit of Christ in my life. As a typical Jw, they don’t express the sayings of our Lord, but express the sayings of men who have put error in their thought process. Sad it is that “the Truth of our Lord Jesus Christ” is lost in an “org.”, that has “shut the door to the kingdom” . The “Truth” will set you free!! God Bless!! MDC

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  12. MDC says:

    Greetings,

    As people have the custom of introducing themselves to one another, politely and with a decent reverence. Please allow me to do that at this point. Sufficient it will be to be brief at this point about me, maybe a little more later. First and foremost I seek friendship and association out of love and respect, modeled I hope with “Christ in my heart” as a goal and purpose. Praying that we are living upright lives with no deception here. I personally have seen over the years, as Im sure many here have, the negative and self delusions of those who can frequent a site such as this. I have been guilty of this as well. But to worship God, and( wanting ) to be sincere in truth and spirit, is not the same thing as “worshiping God with spirit and truth”. So I seek out comments and scriptural discussions where the “spirit” directs me. Like many do! So in the future I hope we can get along together and “incite one another to love and fine works”. I have no special revelations to reveal or insight to share except these important Christ centered spiritual things. Love, Joy, Peace , Kindness, Mildness, Goodness, Self control, Long suffering. And I don’t have to keep track of my time spent here with like minded non Jw’s or Jw’s alike. May Jehovah bless us with association with each other and with His Son! MDC

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  13. FutureMan says:

    Is this light that is shining through the darkness?

    Here is a site that is well worth a look at, that is said to be creating a stir in the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

    https://anointedjw.org/Anointed_JW.html

    May God bless you all in your efforts in searching for the truth.

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  14. June says:

    When I first studied with JW’s many years ago I was told to physically punish my new born baby daughter if she made any sounds or cried during meetings or study. The person I studied with and the elder quoted Prov.22:6, 15 to train up a boy according to the way for him and foolishness is tied up with the heart of a boy and discipline is what will remove it far from him. I prayed to YHWH and was directed to Deuteronomy 6:7 to inculcate and teach. When I showed this to the elder he was furious. He told me I was a blasphemer and an apostate. At that time I walked to the Kingdom Hall with my baby in her pram but later my husband moved house and there was no or little transport my husband would not permit me to drive. My husband refused to give me maintenance for the child and I. Later more children were brought into the world. I was ordered and disciplined whenever I was found reasoning with my children. The elder and his wife repeatedly re-iterated “1st opinions matter, and my opinion of You was not good; Not Good At All, and my opinion of you will NEVER change, Never .. change. No matter how you change or your life changes My opinion of You will never change… I was disciplined without let-up for things beyond my control. One evening I had to be severely disciplined at a time when my eyesight was failing due to cataracts and my husband smashed the light bulb making it impossible for me to see. I put on one brown shoe and one black shoe. My husband refused to give me money so no doubt they would be old shoes with flapping soles. My husband lived a separate life from me. When my husband refused to give me money for clothes and food I decided to try to buy a ball of wool every week to knit clothes for my child. This I was disciplined for and told I was to make sure of what was important in serving Jehovah. I was regularly told I was apostate. I was told if I wanted to continue studying I must stop having association with an older woman who was raising her grandson but told the person studying with me could not be a friend to me quoting part of Matthew 15:14 “if a blind man leads a blind man both will fall into the pit”. After most meetings many of the ‘spiritually strong’ sisters and the elder and his wife would come pointing their finger and asking if I took in my needed discipline which I should recognise I needed. My children seemed to be hated just as much as I seemed to be hated. Whenever it proved impossible for me to attend meetings I was told I would go down at Harmageddon. I pleaded with the elder not to pass judgement on me. His reply was thus “ME PASS JUDGEMENT ON YOU!! Me pass judgement on You. I am NOT passing judgement on You.. It is JEHOVAH who is passing judgement on You. I replied, “so be it if that is Jehovah’s judgement”, and he and his wife retorted in high squeeky voices “Oh but it won’t be nice for you when you go down at Harmageddon. The birds of the heavens will eat up your fless and your entrails will be scattered over the earth.

    There were many scriptural obusive remarks made by many. I was always told the sisters were to keep separate from me as I was spiritually immature and they had to keep with the mature ones. I was told I was on the outside waiting for Satan to pluck me away. My children and I suffered much both from the organisation and from my husband whom I would say was psychopathic. At the end of his life my husband was diagnosed as a very sick man with bi-polar disorder. When my husband was behaving in a way that endangered my life or my children’s lives and in ways that should have permitted a divorce I was told Jehovah hated a divorce and was stopped on occasions from attending a meeting with a lawyer. I was told it was my duty as a Christian to stand and allow my husband to beat me until near death. I was told I couldn’t expect my husband to love me as I was a very unlovable person. YHWH doesn’t agree with these opinions. It might seem stupid that I permitted these people to control my life but I did gain the ability to know and understand the bible from the bible concordance which wasn’t available when God 1st directed me to Deuteronomy when I prayed and the Insight book I found of great benefit in my learning. YHWH informed me I was free to leave the organisation and I did. I believe I am instructed by God. I am free and content in my relationship with God and Jesus although I believe my association did harm one of my children in particular who died in an horrific incident two years ago last week.

    I am aware that Satan is the one who is behind all the evil and confusion in the organisation and in the world but I know YHWH will soon send his son to sort out the demonic control over the organisation and over the world. I believe the persons who are leading the world into destruction is operational within all religious organisations including and especially the Jehovah’s Witnesses Organisation. It is cruel the way the people have their minds controlled so they cannot see clearly what is true. We must pray for their release from this captivity.

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    • JJ says:

      June

      It is indeed tragic the way you were dealt with dear Sister! This is not the way one of Christ’s little sheep should be treated, let alone any person one might encounter on the street. God has indeed instructed you, and called you to freedom now that you are out of the mind control of the WT. It’s wonderful to have your comments and your story here on the site- thank you for sharing the account of your trials with all of us.

      In Christ,
      JJ

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  15. enlightened says:

    June, suffered similarly-was told the same line of crap about how Jehovah hated a divorcing even when being a victim of abusive destructive behavior. Was stripped of all congregation privileges for life because my second divorce was not on scriptual grounds-that went on for 7 years-have since faded. Was also told to physically punish my three kids at a ridiculously young age.

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  16. Ruth says:

    Dear Yeldud.
    l would be so happy if you could email me at truthistimeless@gmail.com

    Ruth

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