PJ54
Well-known member
*** Text for Thursday, May 12, 2022 ***The apostles Peter and John viewed it as an honor to be persecuted for following Jesus and sharing his teachings. (Acts 4:18-21; 5:27-29, 41, 42) The disciples had no reason to feel ashamed. In the long run, those humble first-century Christians did more good for mankind than any of their opposers did. For example, the inspired books written by some of those Christians continue to give help and hope to millions of people. And the Kingdom they promoted not only is now in existence but will soon rule all of mankind. (Matt. 24:14) By comparison, the great political power that persecuted the Christians has collapsed into the ash heaps of history, whereas those loyal disciples are now kings in heaven. Their opposers, however, are dead; and if they are ever resurrected, they will be subjects of the Kingdom that was promoted by the Christians whom they hated.—Rev. 5:10. w20.07 15 ¶4
They summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name.—Acts 5:40.
From the Watchtower apostasy has spread
Friday, September 3 The existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. —Rom. 13:1. Do elders comply with secular laws about reporting an allegation of child abuse to the secular authorities? Yes. In places where such laws exist, elders endeavor to comply with secular laws
e-watchman.com
From the Watchtower apostasy has spread Part 1
Friday, September 3 2021
There is no lie they won’t tell. No truth they will not twist.The existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. —Rom. 13:1.
Do elders comply with secular laws about reporting an allegation of child abuse to the secular authorities? Yes. In places where such laws exist, elders endeavor to comply with secular laws about reporting allegations of abuse. Such laws do not conflict with God’s law. (Acts 5:28, 29) So when they learn of an allegation, elders immediately seek direction on how they can comply with laws about reporting it. Elders assure victims and their parents and others with knowledge of the matter that they are free to report an allegation of abuse to the secular authorities. But what if the report is about someone who is a part of the congregation and the matter then becomes known in the community? Should the Christian who reported it feel that he has brought reproach on God’s name? No. The abuser is the one who brings reproach on God’s name. w19.05 10 ¶13-14
It is true, in the United States, some states do not require religious leaders to report child abuse. But child abuse is a crime everywhere. What the Watchtower is saying is that if elders are not required by law to report that a crime has been committed against a child under their oversight they will not report it to the authorities. Why, why must elders be compelled by law to do the right thing?
A crime against a child is a terrible thing. The mouths at Bethel say “we abhor child abuse.” You do? Why not come down on a pedophile like a ton of bricks if you abhor child abuse? If the policy was: ‘You molest a child in our congregation we are not going to call the WT Legal Department. We are going to call the cops. And we are going to cooperate 100% with the prosecutors to see that you do some serious jail time.’ I knew a lot of elders who would have loved to enforce a policy like that. But, no. WT lawyers tied their hands.
Obviously, by their own admission, the Watchtower does not care at all that a pedophile is in their midst. As stated above, elders are only concerned about “how they can comply with laws about reporting it.”
The Watchtower is fond of telling victims and their advocates to “wait on Jehovah.” That platitude is served up ad nauseam to placate victims for the inaction on the part of those who are charged by God to defend the defenseless.
The good news is, from all indications the wait is coming to an end. Soon Jehovah will unleash the storm. And this particular tempest is not like a natural whirlwind that destroys indiscriminately. The storm God is brewing up will be directed at specific persons. Here is the way it is described in Jeremiah: “Look! The windstorm of Jehovah will burst out in fury; like a whirling tempest it will whirl down on the head of the wicked.” (Jeremiah 23:19)
There certainly are some wicked fellows running the Watchtower—the Devil’s spawn to be sure. When will God unleash the beast against them? “The anger of Jehovah will not turn back until he has carried out and accomplished the intentions of his heart. In the final part of the days you will clearly understand this.” — Jeremiah 23:20
The Watchtower has always claimed that the final part of the days has already begun. Originally Russell claimed the time of the end began in 1799—something or other having to do with Napoleon. Whatever. Then around 1930 everything was updated and pegged to 1914. Now the Watchtower teaches the final part of the days has been ongoing for 107 years and still no whirling tempest!
With amazing foresight, Jehovah foresaw that those functioning as “prophets” would fabricate a phony eschatology. Going on in the same 23rd chapter of Jeremiah, Jehovah says: “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran. I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my inner circle, they would have made my people hear my words and would have caused them to turn back from their bad way and their evil deeds.” — Jeremiah 23:21-22