Christian greetings,
@goldie,
I'm arriving late to the discussion (I jumped in
late in the discussion, actually), saw this post when I went back through it, and felt I'd share some of my experience to see if we share any common ground.
First, this sounds like some of my feelings I went through as I took a closer look at things after the accusations which I ran into online on Usenet and later Hourglass2. The freedom (not to mention personal responsibility
and accountability that come as a result of said freedom, mind you!) to investigate and if it's truth, it's the truth was a big attraction for me as far as interest in Jehovah's Witnesses— of course, that was before I informed myself on the organization
behind Jehovah's Witnesses.
I don't know if you have come across it yourself, but back in the waaaay back years of dial-up there was someone who posted under the name of the "Prominent Bethelite" and he shared this massive document listing every prediction and prophetic interpretation published by the Watchtower organization
to be consumed by Jehovah's Witnesses, and anyone of the public ("interested ones") who received the literature-- often at the expense (by "contribution") of the brother or sister who believed it was more important to get said literature into the person's hands.
It was called, simply, The List.
And it
does what it claims: it lists every published failure of the Watchtower organization. They have succeeded like no other religious organization when it comes to publishing their own failings in condemnation before the world. And they are completely blind to it. Or, they know it but justify it in their puny-minded way Man justifies nonsense before Jehovah God. I don't know their heart.
Jehovah's Witnesses, on the other hand, I have to believe, are simply deceived, and as a result they elevate the Watchtower organization to the position it has before them as they move together as a group toward their expected future. A modern-day gold calf. And who was behind the golden calf in Moses' day, but the one appointed the care of the people while Moses was away— Aaron. Is it really any surprise to see the same thing happening with Jehovah's Witnesses during Christ's absence while he "prepares a place"— with the Governing Body playing the role of Aaron?
Nope.
But getting back to The List— as you noted, the entire history of false predictions and failed expectations is on record; the Watchtower organization is either blind to something that is obvious to us
now (why wasn't it
before, when we would've then made a different choice, had we known?)— or it is intrinsically evil.
Me, I've come to be of the conclusion that, like
all things which begin with a Man's intentions, it may start out looking well, and the intentions sincere, but Jehovah hasn't allowed Man to build his attempts to reach where God resides since the Tower of Babel. At
some point, it takes on a life of its own, and everyone becomes a cog in this
machine, that it can perpetuate.
The
support of the people
becomes the
subjection of the people to this... thing.
You went on to write, "That is not from Jehovah," and I agree with you. The Watchtower organization is not from Jehovah God. If it had been, it would have been perfect. The Law came from Jehovah God, and was perfect. Jesus came from Jehovah God, and was a perfect Man. The Watchtower organization didn't come from Jehovah God.
But,
was it ever used by Jehovah God?
To that, I can still answer Yes.
In spite of itself, Jehovah was and has been able to use the Watchtower organization to reach those He was searching for, as it were. A great many of Jehovah's Witnesses learned of Jehovah through the Watchtower organization's field ministry in spite of organizational requirement of 10 hours of service, a self-evident pharisaical tabulation, sure-- but Jehovah is perfectly capable of using imperfect things to accomplish His Purposes. And He did. That time may have passed, though, by some of what I'm seeing from the Watchtower organization now, especially when it comes to the door-to-door ministry as the primary means of reaching people. . . no more.
And I think I agree with you saying, "This deluding influence can be applied to any religion," and that's because we're talking about
religion. It's
religion that mystically takes on a life of its own, and subjects people to itself in order to perpetuate itself.
I don't know of
anyone who sets out to start a religion. They just think they're onto something that everyone else seems to be incapable or unwilling to go along with, and they naturally seek out others to join them in their course. And things go well, for a time. Until it all takes on a life of its own.
The Watchtower organization
is a religion. Maybe it wasn't to start, but it is now. And it's a publishing corporation, as well. But convince me that Jehovah cares one bit about the very thing that the men in charge of this religious empire hold dear-- their Tower of Babel.
He dispensed with the Jewish leadership and all the rest, Temple and all, when it no longer had any use in His Purpose in 70CE. Why would it come as a surprise to anyone for Him to do so with the Watchtower organization? Crumple it up and toss it in the bin. Done and done.
It's never been about Temples with Jehovah. It's been about people. He has no desire to be found in temples --
or man-made organizations. He desires to be found in our
heart, dwelling
with us. We have become a
living temple. (2 Corinthians 6:16)
Since Jehovah will dispense with the Watchtower organization in His Time, and preserve those He brought to Himself
through that organization, one can hate the Watchtower organization's wickedness and yet continue to love those Jehovah has drawn to Himself while using the organization (
Confer Genesis 50:20) in the same way first-century Christians in their rejection of the organization in place for the practice of the Jewish religion (Temple cult, etc), but love for those who were dominated by the religious leaders of Israel.
And compassion, like Jesus:
And having seen the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were wearied and cast away, as sheep not having a shepherd. —Matthew 9:36
Berean Standard Bible
Submitted for perusal and consideration,
Timothy
a believer.
It was a great venue and like I imagine the early Christian cong set up. The congregation today is way different to those days in my opinion.
. I'm pretty much disgusted with religion, period! Thanks again.