Quote:
"... interesting (but not surprising) to see how similar a pattern it follows to the RCC."
I hear you, dear Tams (peace to you, luvee!). NOTHING surprises me as to the similarities. Because our dear Lord opened my eyes as to the following with regard to the WTBTS being no different:
Quote:
"But not everyone was thrilled with the success of The Finished Mystery. The book contained some references to the clergy of Christendom that were very cutting. This so angered the clergy that they urged the government to suppress the publications of the Bible Students. As a result of this clergy-inspired opposition, early in 1918, The Finished Mystery was banned in Canada. Opposition soon mounted against the Bible Students in the United States.
To expose this clergy-inspired pressure, on March 15, 1918, the Watch Tower Society released the tract Kingdom News No. 1. Its message? The six-column-wide headline read: “Religious Intolerance - Pastor Russell's Followers Persecuted Because They Tell the People the Truth." Below the heading "Treatment of Bible Students Smacks of the 'Dark Ages' " were set forth the facts of the persecution and the ban that had begun in Canada. The instigators? The tract pulled no punches in pointing to the clergy, who were described as "a bigoted class of men who have systematically endeavored to prevent the people from understanding the Bible and to throttle all Bible teaching unless it comes through them."" What a hard- hitting message!
Sadly, the leaders of the WTBTS never grasped what our dear Lord meant when he said:
"Stop judging that you may not be judged; for with the judgment you are judging, you will be judged, and the same measure that you measure out, will be measured out to you."I have seen this fulfilled in the WTBTS tenets and teachings, its judgmental "elders," its self-righteous JWs, and even among many of mankind in general, time and time again. The world calls it "karma" or "what goes around comes around." In showing this to, he exposed to me not only their hypocrisy their utter blindness as to it. And that he had meant what he said (as he always did and does). This made me fully grasp why he said:
"Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."and, of the religious leaders and scribes:
"All the things they tell you, observe, but do not do what they do, for they say but do not do what they themselves."In other words,
watch what these
say because
they don't always
do what they say [to do].
Indeed, I have NO doubt the conduct isn't limited to "elders"/ministerial servants/publishers (equal to RCC curates/monks/parishoners) - it just hasn't come out as to COs, DOs (equal to RCC priests/bishops)... and I even read once where a certain GB (equal to RCC Cardinal/ Archbishop) engaged in homosexual activities with new (and young) Bethelites. The only reason this last one might not come out is because it wouldn't be considered pedophilia (Bethelites usually 18 and up), might not be proven as rape, and is outside the new (pending?) 55-year statute of limitations.
But since the WTBTS is really just another "daughter" of the Harlot, I think we're going to learn of even more similarities, at some point. I would caution all as to our dear Lord's command against judging, but even more, he caution at
Proverbs 24:17-22:"Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or JaHVeH will see and disapprove and turn His wrath away from them.Which might be why the RCC is even greater and stronger than the WTBTS. Also:
Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. Fear JaHVeH and His king, my child, and do not join with rebellious officials, for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?" It can be hard not to feel joy when one's enemies meet with adversity, don't I know it - LOLOL! But since I know, again, that he
meant ALL that he said, I try to always remember this and try to pray for everyone "in" her, especially those I knew, that they MAY hear the call and get out. And soon, to the praise of JaH and Christ.
We know who and what they are... and are not... but must always be vigilant to make sure our own eyes are free of rafters when exposing them to others. Which is why listening to our dear Lord even closer in the coming times might be even more crucial.
Peace to you all, and to your households!
Your servant, sister, and a slave of Christ,
Shel