Witness

At that point, he would have been labeled by today's standards a "PIMO" - physically in, mentally out. I doubt very much that he had any regard whatsoever for organizational protocol. He had seen its abusive tactics over the years already, used against his own father. Arauna, I lived a hundred miles shy of a thousand, from my son at the time. I didn't hear of this until he decided to move back home. Yes, please do blame my son and myself for another person's hypocrisy...if that makes you feel better.

Always blame-shifting. “What is Blame-Shifting? Escaping responsibility. . . Blame-shifting is an emotionally abusive behavior or tactic. Blame-shifting or “blaming the victim” is a form of context switching and crazy making. When you are confronting them on something they did or attempting to set boundaries, they switch the whole focus back to you, and thus put you on the defensive. Now the focus is on you and they slither (Isa 59:8) away. This gets you way off track and off balance right where they want you–derailed. Clever huh, unless you are on the receiving end of this crazy making.” And on a sadder level of this blameshifting, concerning child abuse: In order to discredit a victim, an abuser will often blame the victim for their own actions, even going so far as to say the victim is in fact the one who committed the abuse. This may cause the victim to feel defeated or like they are losing their mind. In a particularly weakened state, the victim may even believe they are at fault. Abusers often claim friends, family, mental health professionals, church leaders or other authorities are in agreement with them, which has the effect of isolating the victim and preventing the victim from getting help. Now the abuser has all the power and control over the victim and their relationship. Blame-shifting is a way to escape taking responsibility." https://www.thehaguepsychologist.nl/what-is-blame-shifting-escaping-responsibility/ Wow, the entire organization is guilty of blameshifting in several ways, throughout its hierarchy. I’ll bet there is a WT article about this… Indeed, there is: ‘You Must Be Holy Because I Am Holy’ Wt 96/8/1 pp 10-14 “Jesus clearly taught that what is in the heart will become evident by what a person says and does.” It quotes Matthew 12:34; 15:18-20. “Holiness is not achieved by taking the line of least resistance or by being self-indulgent. That kind of person will always make excuses for his conduct and try to place the blame elsewhere. Perhaps we need to learn to become responsible for our actions and not be like some who allege that fate stacked the deck against them because of family background or genetics… (we are not inspired, we can err) The root of the matter lies in the heart of the individual. Does he or she love righteousness? yearn for holiness? desire God’s blessing? The psalmist made the need for holiness clear when he said: “Turn away from what is bad, and do what is good; seek to find peace, and pursue it.” The apostle Paul wrote: “Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked, cling to what is good.”—Psalm 34:14; 97:10; Romans 12:9. Obviously, anyone who loves righteousness, yearns for holiness and desires God's blessing, has the valid right to "shun" the GB and the entire leadership for their hypocrisy and blameshifting.

Very true. It is why many leave the organization. They want nothing more to do with false doctrine. They can use the word of God to verify their reason for leaving. How can the GB, who repeatedly err in direction, predictions and doctrine, direct the judgment of another, as spiritually "dead"? (Rev 13:15) Was Harold Camping a false prophet? Yep, but he apologized for misleading thousands with false predictions. Is the GB a composite "false prophet"? Yep, and they make silly excuses for misleading millions with false predictions. Which one is forgiven by God? You will most like say, the GB, of course! But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Rev 21:8

Then we both should be called apostates. Disfellowshipping is an across-the-board condemnation for everything from smoking, celebrating Christmas, drunkenness, infidelity, fornication, murder, child abuse, rejection of the organization and the GB’s leadership, etc. In ALL cases, shunning is expected. But what do see, Arauna? Partiality when it comes to child abuse, where the elders have hidden this sin from the congregations for years. They have also hidden the perpetrator by allowing him into another congregation! In many cases concerning this, who is disfellowshipped? The victim, who is BLAMED for letting it happen! And when he or she speaks against the failures of the elder body, that person is SHUNNED - disfellowshipped. From my experience in the congregations, many elders were drunkards and that “finer detail” was ignored. My oldest son moved into another state and became friends with two young men who were in the new congregation he joined. They shared an apartment together. One of these young men was an elder's son, who engaged in wild partying, fornication and drunkenness away from the eyes of his father and the congregation. He maintained a good profile as a JW and received "privileges" because his father was an elder. My son would call him on his actions when the boy would return home from partying, obviously drunk. This added to the observation of hypocrisy that my son had perceived through hypocritical treatment of his family by the elder body, and he eventually left the organization. When he moved away from there, he received a call from both of his previous roommates, saying that they would have to SHUN him for his choice. They were compelled to let him know this, even though he is not disfellowshipped. He told the two-faced elder's son, "you know you don't believe in it either", and the boy told him he was right, but he loved the attention, friends and family too much to leave it. He said it was an "easy" life. It is an easy life for him, because his conscience has been seared through the hypocrisy established in your organization. "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." 1 Tim 4:1,2 "The Cost of Life" - https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-cost-of-life.html

What is that "different word"? "Disfellowshipped"? I think "shun/shunning" is more part of your (all JWs) vocabulary than you realize. Good question! My question is, why is there argument over the obvious? Is there some sort of sub-conscience guilt about the act of disfellowshipping, by referring to it as "shunning"? Is that why the lawyer had to hide the facts? But then, perhaps the lawyer thought his lie would be left unchallenged, and the GB also, as JWI pointed out the act of manipulating access to articles, to show complete support of the lawyer's words. However, this article entitled, "Can You Be True To God, Yet Hide The Facts?", in the WT 74/1/15 p. 35-37, makes a good point: “WHAT results when a lie is let go unchallenged? Does not silence help the lie to pass as truth, to have freer sway to influence many, perhaps to their serious harm? If you are among those seeking to be faithful to God, the issues these questions raise are vital for you today. Why? Because God’s servants in every period of history have had to face up to the challenge these issues present. They have had to expose falsehood and wrongdoing and warn people of dangers and deception—not just in a general way, but in a specific way, in the interest of pure worship. It would have been far easier to keep silent or say only what people wanted to hear. But faithfulness to God and love of neighbor moved them to speak. They realized that “better is a revealed reproof than a concealed love.”—Prov. 27:5.

Definition of a hypocrite: 1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings

Here, the word “shunned” is interchangeable with “disfellowshipped”: "We do not automatically disfellowship someone who commits a serious sin. If, however, a baptized Witness makes a practice of breaking the Bible’s moral code and does not repent, he or she will be shunned or disfellowshipped. W 13/8/1

How fitting this statement applies to the governing body. There is one mediator between men and God, Jesus Christ. 1 Tim 2:5 “mediator”, according to the scriptures: a medium of communication, arbitrator “Arbitrator” - an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute. Who is the “arbitrator” in the organization? The GB and their elder body. (Matt 24:48-51) There is one Head of the anointed Body of Christ; one mediator. (Col 1:18) No one has the right to tell Jesus’ anointed members not to BOND together, not to study the words/teachings of their Head, as one body. (Eph 4:1-6) No one, should judge them for doing so as losing God’s Holy Spirit, through the judgment of those not anointed which leads to disfellowshipping. However, the large number of the priesthood allows it; out of fear, out of loss of family members, out of losing their own reputation before others. They refuse to submit to the “chastising” and persecution for following God’s Son. (Matt 5:10-12) They have allowed “Gentiles” to over-run the Temple of God. 1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22; Rev 11:2,2; Rev 13:7 “This is what the Lord says: “‘Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. 14 All your allies have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. I have struck you as an enemy would and punished you as would the cruel, because your guilt is so great and your sins so many. 15 Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure? Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you. 16 “‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. 17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’ Jer 30:12-17 “Zion” is restored outside of the organization; where members of God’s priesthood can BOND together. Isa 2:1-5

“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 Ifyou endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” There are two words used, “scourge” and “chasten”. “Scourge” – “flog, literally and figuratively”; metaphorically, of God as a father chastising and training men as children by afflictions. “Chasten” – “learn, teach, instruct, educate” The writer of Hebrews includes everyone whom he was speaking to as receiving a “chastening” from God. Jesus also was chastened – he continually resisted sin which led to his obedience and he is our example of what would happen to us for following in his footsteps. Yes, he proved his obedience through the “scourging” he received. In his case it was both physical and figurative. He was not disciplined in this manner because he sinned! He was submitted to this type of “scourging, chastening” by God who allowed it, since Satan has asked to “sift” each one of us, as “wheat”. Satan didn’t let up in his “scourging” until the moment Jesus died. Luke 22:31 “Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. 9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” Heb 5:8,9 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” Heb 4:15 Are those in the WT immune to THIS type of discipline? The GB certainly is. How contradictive it is to shun an individual who may have developed a smoking habit, yet ignore a full-fledged lie spoken by your leaders as an error in direction. How insane it is for JWs to shut their eyes to the cover of the Awake magazine showing the generation of 1914 “that will not pass away”, when they actually did pass away. If a JW is caught in a lie several times, wouldn’t he be disfellowshipped? To say that disfellowshipping fulfills the scripture is only partially true. God has always disciplined His people by allowing Satan to step in and deceive, or use direct attacks against them; while God removes his protection of His people who had sinned. We have account after account of this type of discipline in the Bible. ONLY those who recognize what they had done to cause their suffering, turn back to God. Anyone else, like the GB seem very content in living with their sin, and most JWs accept it whole-heartedly. Should we tolerate a leadership that uses shunning as a discipline for sin while their own sins have “reached to heaven”? (Jer 23:16; Rev 18:4-8) How long would you allow your older child to speak lies as truth, without “chastising” them? Who will scourge the GB? God will. (Rev 17:15-18) To suffer as Christ suffered, we experience “scourging” at the hands of our own people, just as he did. (John 15:20) Disfellowshipping is a spiritual “death”. (John 16:2; Rev 13:15) That act alone by men who are sinners themselves, is blasphemy. If it is caused because we awake to our sins and choose to obey God and Christ’s teachings and not those of men, it is for our benefit; and shows our desire to repent and resist sinning against God. We then "endure hostility from sinners" - those who judge us without authority by God to do so. (Matt 7:1,2) The organization is Satan’s last threshing tool of deceit to come upon those in Christ. (Matt 10:16-23; Rev 12:4,15) The word “scarlet” in the Bible refers to the sins attributed to God’s people, for deviating from His guidance and decrees. (Jer 4:30,31; Isa 1:18) During these times, foreign armies would rule over and kill many in Israel. God withdrew His protection from them. They commonly set up idols and merged them into their worship of God. In the “Isaiah’s Prophesy”, book II, a note is made under an illustration saying, “The Jews had a tendency to attribute Jehovah’s acts to idols.” Well, today’s spiritual “Jews”, God’s holy priesthood (Isa 43:10; 1 Pet 2:5-10) has done the same thing at the suggestion of a corrupt “Jewish” leadership. (Rev 8:13:11,12) The organization is your idol that is attributed as the outlet of God’s acts. Although a minority of JWs suffer in Russia, it doesn’t involve all of the anointed “Israel”. THEY are already under a “scourge” at the direction of modern-day Pharisees. The elder body “Gentile” army, and heart of the organization, has been given the authority to spiritually “kill” any who resist the teachings of the GB, and the idol itself. It has been given authority to silence Christ’s members of his body through the use of lies and blasphemy. (Rev 13:5-8) It has been given the authority to replace God's holy priesthood. (2 Thess 2:3,4; Rev 11:1-3) It is not the sins of the world God is addressing in Revelation, but the sins “like scarlet” of His people under covenant. “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of [b]her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” Rev 17:3-6 https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/09/scarlet-colored-discipline-followed-by.html

John 8:1-11: At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” This account is considered by many “Bible scholars” as a “spurious” set of scriptures, meaning its authenticity is in question. Others wholeheartedly defend it as unquestionably meant to be included in the book of John. I tend to agree. The Pharisees' motivation was to accuse him of breaking the law covenant – this Jesus, whose coming fulfilled the law…in love. (Matt 5:17-20; Rom 13:8-10) What he wrote on the ground, surely was seen by the Pharisees and understood; adding an even greater reason for their shamed departure when Jesus said, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (Matt 8:11) This set of scriptures is left out of the organization’s bible, supposedly for their spurious intent; but we, who no longer adhere to the organization, fully see them as challenging the authority of its elders’ “judicial” actions when their own spurious accusations of condemnation, are made against us. (Luke 12:11,12; 12:45, John 16:2; Heb 13:13; Rev 13:15) Shortly before this occurred, Jesus had taught in the temple courts during the Festival of Tabernacles. He walked among his people who were celebrating a feast that recalled to mind, two things; that God had delivered His people out of Egypt, and to remind them of the coming Messiah, who would establish God’s new spiritual dwelling/tent or “tabernacle”, to reside among His people. (Deut 18:15; 2 Sam 7:12,13; Acts 7:44,48-51; John 2:19-21; 4:21,23,24; 1 Pet 2:5; 1 Cor 3:16;6:19; Eph 2:20-22; Heb 8:1,2; Rev 21:2,3) I find it helpful to know what occurred on the last day of the Feast. On this final day, the priests carried the last containers filled with water from the pool of Siloam, “living” spring water, which they had collected for the previous days’ rituals as well. They paraded around the altar seven times before dramatically pouring it out ceremoniously on the ground. It was to be an act of supplication, asking for God’s continual blessing to be upon them, and the remembrance of the forty-year period Israel wandered the desert with tents (“tabernacles”/ “booths”) as their temporary dwellings. That time was a period of relying solely on God for their sustenance, while He “dwelt” or “tabernacled” with them in the ark of the covenant. (Lev 23:42,43; Exod 25:8,9; 29:45; 2 Sam 7:4-6) “Sukkot” as it was called, was also a celebration of the end of the harvest. “Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. 14 Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. 15 For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” Deut 16:13,14 The seriousness of observing this festival is outlined in Zech 14:16-19. With Jesus’ arrival, the entirety of this festival observance, which had become empty in meaning because of additional traditions, decrees and over-riding sins, would change. (Matt 15:1-3; 23:23; Mark 7:6,7) God had rejected their pomp display and altered ceremonies of sacrifice. (Hos 6:6; Matt 9:13) This humble and holy man, who had already been shunned by most of the Jews, would stand up among the throngs of people reveling in their festivities, and bring them a message from God. Would they listen? (Matt 17:5) The Pharisees had already considered ways to kill him. (John 7:1) To his brothers who also didn’t believe him, he said: “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” John 7:7 I can imagine that it was when all the Jews were intently watching the priests pour the “living waters” of Siloam on the ground, that Jesus then stood up and loudly proclaimed these words: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37b,38 What did he mean by saying, “as Scripture has said”? Prov 13:14 – “The teachings of a wise person are a fountain of life to turn one away from the grasp of death.” Prov 18:4 – “The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.” 1 Cor 10:1-4 – “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.” John 7:16 “Living water” from God through Christ, contains spiritual truth, life and righteousness, which the Pharisees had rejected well before Jesus’ arrival. (Jer 2:13; Matt 3:7-10; 23:13-15; John 4:14) Jesus, as the Word of God, brought to his people life-giving teachings sourced in the Father of life. (John 1:1,4; 5:21-23) John 5:26,27 - For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. By rejecting the coming of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, they were also rejecting God. (Matt 3:9; Luke 10:16) From here we move forward to the event that occurred the next morning after the feast, when the Pharisees sought to trap Jesus, who had earlier declared that God “had entrusted all judgment to the Son”. (John 5:21-23) Having hearts "far removed from" God; we see from this situation with the adulteress, that their inclination is to condemn, and not to forgive. What is God's judgment for such hypocrites? Matt 6:15 explains. What is the destiny of those whose sins are not forgiven by God? Job 7:21(NLT) tells us that they descend into the dust, and cease to exist. What was Jesus writing in the dust? Writing a name down, establishes God's judgment of condemnation or favor. (Deut 29:20; Mal 3:16; Dan 12:1; Luke 10:20; Heb 12:23; Rev 2:17; 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27) Jesus was testifying to those who sought to condemn and murder the adulteress, that their wicked and hypocritical scheme, brought condemnation upon them. Indeed they were hypocrites. For they themselves were guilty of being spiritual adulteresses... (Isa 1:1,21; Jer 23:10-12; Matt 23:33-38) ...while condemning others to death. Pearl Doxsey - “What Was Jesus Writing in the Dust?” Jesus was falsely accused of being a wicked blasphemer, and was condemned to death by these men whose hardened hearts refused to accept that the Messiah had arrived. Today, the organization freely judges all men, women and children on the basis of decrees established by a spiritual adulteress – the Harlot of Rev 13:11; 17:3,4. Without hesitation, its unchallenged counterfeit priesthood judges Gods holy people as spiritually “dead”, for trespassing the rules and regulations of an idol, directed by modern day Pharisees. (Rev 13:1,5-8,15) Just as God has always done, He “sends” His awakened servants to warn His people of their coming destruction. (Ezek 3:17-19; Amos 3:7; Rev 11:1-3) Neh 9:26 – “But they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They flung your law behind their backs and killed your prophets who warned them in order to turn them back to you. They committed terrible blasphemie”s. God’s people were held in captivity by a powerful, evil “generation” when Jesus arrived; a generation of evil that has spanned the stream of time down to today. (Gen 2:16,17; 3:2-5; Matt 12:33; John 8:44; Matt 3:7-10; 7:15-20) Neh 9:36,37 - “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress” We face a time of even greater distress, as the existence of two Beasts have enslaved and surrounded God’s anointed and their companions, using trickery and all levels of deception. (Prov 2:12-15; Matt 24:20-25; Col 2:8; Rev 13:14;16:13-15; 20:7-9; 2 Thess 2:9-12) Yet, as promised by the Father, another “festival of the tabernacles”, the “Marriage Feast of the Lamb”, has begun for those who have gained their freedom, and thirst for the living waters from Christ. (Isa 48:20-22) (Matt 22:1,2,8-10; Rev 22:17) In Jesus day, the number of Jews who believed in him and obeyed his teachings, were few. The message was then extended to the nations for all to receive the living Word of God. (Acts 13:46) Today, most of spiritual “Israel” reject the provisions of the marriage feast; likewise, the invitation is extended to all. (Matt 22:3,9-10) For those of “Israel” and their companions in the organization, spiritual famine befalls them. (Zech 14:17,18; Jer 14:2-4; Amos 8:11; Matt 24:7; Rev 6:8) “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’ 11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. 12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord— the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. 13 Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. 14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,” declares the Lord. Jer 31:10-14 https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/ “Who Are the Stones that Cry out?” Two Witnesses – “Elijah” and “Moses” Pearl Doxsey

You know, the book of Isaiah made a "joke" about God's people in the past, who preached their own doctrine and rules. The GB freely add footnotes to God's Word and call it, "spiritual food", which most definitively can be proven through scripture as found outside of the "food" taught by Christ and the apostles. Do you remember how Jesus addressed the addition of rules outside of God's laws, and enforced by the Pharisees? Matt 23 goes in to detail about this. Go ahead, read it. To God, a lie cannot be changed to a truth. It is a "joke" to believe every failed prediction and doctrine taught by the GB/organization, is acceptable to God. And these also stagger because of wine and stagger because of strong drink; priest and prophet stagger because of strong drink; they are confused because of wine. They stagger because of strong drink; they err in vision. They stagger in the rendering of a decision, 8 for all the tables are full of disgusting vomit, with no place left. 9 To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from milk, those taken from the breast? 10 For it is blah-blah upon blah-blah, blah-blah upon blah-blah, gah-gah upon gah-gah, gah-gah upon gah-gah,[h] a little here, a little there. [h] - In this context, the Hebrew expressions tsaw-tsaw and qaw-qaw are likely meant to sound like baby talk, but they could mean “command upon command” and “rule upon rule” For he will speak with stammering lips and another tongue to this people, 12 to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they were not willing to hear. (Matt 11:28) 13 And to them the word of Yahweh will be blah-blah upon blah-blah blah-blah upon blah-blah gah-gah upon gah-gah gah-gah upon gah-gah, a little here, a little there, so that they may go and stumble backward and be broken and ensnared and captured." Therefore hear the word of Yahweh, men of mockery, rulers of these people in Jerusalem: 15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and we have made an agreement with Sheol. The overwhelming flood, when it passes through, will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves in falsehood.” Isa 28:7-15 (the entire chapter is well worth considering)

I agree, Arauna. Peer pressure is everywhere and in every form. The GB manipulates JWs to obey them "to do their bidding", using threats of losing God's friendship otherwise. Can you see this? Were they inspired when they wrote the above quote? We know they weren't, since they admit they are not "inspired" by God's Holy Spirit. So then, what was their motivation to threaten their "sheep" with the loss of God's favor for not obeying the GB? JWs "show" their obedience to the organization through adherence to rules and regulations devised by these men. These are rules and regulations to support the life of an organization, not the life of an individual. Jesus and the apostles are our foundation of truth to go by. The GB are not apostles, nor Moses, and they are not inspired; yet they have successfully gained 8 million followers who believe that without their leadership, no one can be God's friend. How did the anointed and believers in Christ before the organization was born, develop a relationship with God AND Jesus Christ, without the GB to OBEY? This is deceitful manipulation of the worst kind. It is a fabrication, a myth, and one that robs individuals of spiritual eternal life. John 10:1 "I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, 2 preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and instruction. 3 For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, because they have an insatiable curiosity ("itching ears"), 4 and they will turn away from the hearing of the truth, but will turn to myths. 5 But you, be self-controlled in all things, bear hardship patiently, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Tim 4:1-5 It is not "sound teaching" but pure manipulation to enforce obedience to men who fail time and time again in their teachings - their doctrines. Failed predictions, false teachings are rotten fruit. How much of if will JWs consume before feeling its manipulative effects? Isa 28:7-13; Matt 7:15-20; Gal 1;6-10

About twenty percent of the time. Eighty percent of the time, the results of JW peer pressure are brutal. Would you call the statement below, nudging in the safer direction? Or, is it a tyrannical threat? "But we are acting against Jehovah’s purpose if we do not obey the faithful and discreet slave or if we choose to obey only what we think is important. And if we act against Jehovah’s purpose, we cannot be his friends. In the next article, we will talk about some situations that give us the opportunity to show if we are obedient. The decisions we make in these situations will show if we have entered into God’s rest." WT 11/7/15 p. 21 Are your peers keeping tab on whether you are 'showing' that you are obedient to the GB? Are elders your peers, or are they the tyrants that must decide if God is still your friend? "It (false prophet) was permitted to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast (organization) could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." Rev 13:15 "give breath" - spirit breathed - "spirit directed" https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/search?q=Elder+bloodguilt

Many religious organizations are high profile, like Mormonism, the Catholic Church and Islam. Blood, sweat, even tears over the centuries created some stunningly beautiful buildings. JWs pride themselves on their own building feats, as if God has blessed their hand, when history shows greater works in the name of religion have been built. All it takes is slave labor and money. I know I’ve referred to John 4 so many times, and Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well. She pointed to the mountain in Samaria where her temple stood; Jesus mentioned the temple in Jerusalem. These were literal places which he remarked would no longer be used for worship. No mountain would be necessary to worship God. But man continued building “mountains" to worship God. They named them, “God’s house”or " God's temple". How many houses of God or temples stand in various religions today? Which one does God really reside in? Which one would He choose? Such works are futile attempts for over 2,000 years. They all have left a legacy of lies, while promising salvation, and the WT organization is following in their footprints. “Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” 7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.” Luke 21:5-8 “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.” Phil 3:18,19

Aren’t you being somewhat presumptuous in thinking that I don’t comprehend anything about the ransom, given my short note in response to you? Is it because it is impossible outside the organization to grow in the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice? You believe I must repent because of…what? Because I left an EARTHLY organization that has spoken lies, and found in SATAN’S realm, the father of the lie, to instead worship God and Jesus Christ in SPIRIT and TRUTH, the type of worshipers that God is seeking?( John 4:23,24) JWs speak of Christ, but attribute salvation to an organization. This alone, is blasphemy. Acts 4:12 It is pretty ironic for you, a JW, who relies on an organization to bring you through “Armageddon”, to say I don’t understand Christ’s ransom. What guarantees our hope of eternal life is our obedience to Christ’s teachings. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." John 14:23 Yes, he bore the sins of mankind. (1 Pet 2:24) He opened the door to life and light, in a dark world. John 10:9-16 JWs choose another door, where "thieves" rob individuals of truth by their false teachings and false doctrines. He suffered grueling persecution by Satan more so than any other human up to that point. He died for TRUTH. (John 14:6) But, even when on earth, he retained the spirit of life from God. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:4,5 “The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” John 6:63) The spirit of a man no longer exists at death. (1 Cor 2:10-16) When his fleshly body died, he became a life-giving spirit, and he was spiritually alive in the abyss where he made “proclamation to the spirits in prison”, before his physical body was raised up on the third day. 1 Cor 15:45; 1 Pet 3:18,19 I will not look back at what I left. (Luke 17:32,33) My hope and faith is in the Father and Jesus Christ. You really believe I must ask for forgiveness for listening to them, to the Word of God, instead of false doctrine? Perhaps you may want to reflect on this passage: "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Phil 3:7-11 https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2020/04/satan-in-abyss.html

"that taught you the truth about the ransom sacrifice and god's name" No, they didn't. I was not lacking in religion before I became a JW. I was well aware of why Jesus came to earth, and am even more keen to understanding that since leaving the WT, as well as the true role of the anointed. And absolutely no, they have not taught me "god's name". Through research that people all over the earth can tap into, they can find that the name "Jehovah" has been existence for a long time. (400 years or so) You can thank the Catholics for that. However, saying that name means nothing. Learning to know God is the beginning of understand His true name. I am finally on that path, without the need to please men who desire to rule over every JW - including God's holy priesthood. Arauna, I have no desire to return to the organization/idol. I do not regret being labeled an apostate, because it is an empty word. I realize I had actually turned away from Jesus and the Father by participating in doctrines - a "different gospel" according to men while in the organization. For that transgression against my only Rock, I have repented. I am wondering how comparing doctrine of two similar religions, your's and the Catholic Church, using myself as an example regarding excommunication and disfellowshipping, turned into my being an "unthankful dog". You seem to be all over the place! "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." Gal 1:6-12

I know what it means also. I was raised a Catholic, and while the Watchtower has clamped down with a heavy hand about disfellowshipping and shunning, the Catholic religion has relaxed its view on excommunication. Think how you view me, an apostate, and someone who rejects the organization. I do not reject God and Christ, but my label "apostasy" is viewed as the worst of the worst of the apostate labels one could receive. Any JW in my area cannot make eye contact with me, since I am evil....and apparently full of hate. I'll borrow a quote from the article I posted, replacing "Watchtower" where needed: "This means that you are looked upon with the blackest contempt by the "Watchtower", being cursed and damned with the devil and his angels". Actually, there is a JW on here who has alluded to similar words about myself. Just as Gockentin said about the organization, "there is just no other way to succeed", this would mean everyone on the outside of the organization, is cursed and damned with the devil and his angels. Another quote: "This is Cannon law which the "Watchtower hierarchy" seeks to enforce on the pretext that it is God's Law" So you see, the comparison is not "oranges to mars", but oranges to oranges.

Arauna, it seems you might be a little confused about who posted the video. It was me, not @4Jah2me. As I recall, it is difficult for him to hear any videos posted here, at least at one point. Perhaps that has changed by now. You must play golf, since I've heard this example from you before. As the Watchtower shows, young adults - children - have been forced to leave their homes when disfellowshipped. The lawyer was lying. Should we be comparing the rules of a club to our worship of God? I know you've seen this before:

What am I thinking? Would an organization which calls itself “the truth”, yet has sputtered out a hundred plus years of lies, send out a representative who would tell the truth about his own organization? “ And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." 2 Cor 11:12-15 Everything about the organization, is a masquerade. Masquerade! Paper faces on parade . . . Masquerade! Hide your face, So the world will Never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade . . . Masquerade! Look around - There's another Mask behind you! Flash of mauve . . . Splash of puce . . . Fool and king . . . Ghoul and goose . . . Green and black . . . Queen and priest . . . (Rev 2:20; 13:11; 18:7) (Ezek 44:6-9;2 Chron 13:9; 23:6; Mark 13:14; 2 Thess 2:3,4) Trace of rouge . . . Face of beast . . . (Dan 8:13; Rev 13:1,2,5-8, 11,12) Faces . . . Take your turn, take a ride On the merry-go-round . . .(Isa 5:20) In an inhuman race . . . Eye of gold . . . Thigh of blue . . . True is false . . . (2 Thess 2:9,10) Who is who . . .? Curl of lip . . . Swirl of gown . . . Ace of hearts . . . Face of clown . . . Faces . . . Drink it in, drink it up, Till you've drowned (Rev 8:10,11) In the light . . . In the sound . . . But who can name the face . . .? (Phantom of the Opera) https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2015/12/locust-scorpions-abaddon.html

Does the court know the inside and out of jw . org? This man is to represent an organization, in truth, and under oath. Yes, he will be "disbarred" by Jesus Christ and the Father....unless he repents.

Oh, I see you added more to your initial comment. "He just said something you did not like" - Of course I don't like it, because it is a lie. "which is not the same as “committing perjury.” Perjury: "the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation." He stated:

I knew my comment would open a wave of persecution to come my way. 🙂

Hmmm. It's too bad this Witness attorney was not ordered to shut up for committing perjury. "Jehovah's Witnesses don't use the word, shun or shunning, they refer to it as disfellowshipped, disfellowshipping...." WT's infamous video bears the title, Loyally Uphold Jehovah’s Judgments—Shun Unrepentant Wrongdoers Your use of adhominen attacks remind me of how little intellect you care to show for scriptural truth. Maybe because you don't care to possess such discernment - of what is truth and what is a lie?

Will you argue with the Word of God?

No hate is ever intended, only scriptural truth. Here is an example: God's anointed have every right to challenge the authority of men not part of the Body of Christ who demand to rule over them. Rom 14:4 No one has the authority to tell God's anointed priesthood that they must not bond together as one Body. This defies scripture. 1 Cor 12. Another most recent example is the WT refusing to take part in the ARC Redress Scheme. While contemplating that thought, read Prov 30:13,14 once again.