"THEY WORSHIP ME IN VAIN, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN"

[Witness]

Quote from the 2016/1/24 Wt. magazine, pp. 22-27:

“In addition, anointed Christians do not view themselves as being part of an elite club. They do not seek out others who claim to have the same calling, hoping to bond with them or endeavoring to form private groups for Bible study. (Gal 1:15-17) Such efforts would cause divisions within the congregation and work against the holy spirit, which promotes peace and unity.”  Wt 16/1/24, pp. 22-27

The above is a sarcastic example of spiritual, emotional and mental abuse used to devour the anointed in the organization. (Ps 73:8; Ezek 36:6,7; Isa 3:12-15;  Zeph 2:8; Dan 11:31,36; Rev 9:1-4; 13:5-7)

Their use of Gal 1:15-17, is quite hypocritical, since it is required that the “preaching work” by JWs follow the strict mandate of the governing body and their army of elders, who “bond” together, and who consult with one another, several times weekly. (Rev 2:20; 13:11,12,16,17)  These scriptures actually help prove that there was not an organization with a governing body in the first century, that Paul felt he had to answer to. 

Paul; a prophet, a teacher, a leader, a priest. was sent by Christ to instruct those called as priests out of the Jewish and Gentiles nations, of their spiritual obligation to one another in the house of God. (Acts 9:15; Rom 15:14-19; Eph 3:6,8)  He, with Jesus Christ and all of the apostles, laid the foundation of truth – a foundation built with faithful “living stones” of God’s anointed priesthood.   (1 Pet 2:4-10; 1 Cor 3:10; Eph 2:20-22)

 

 Ephesians chapter 4:

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

1 Corinthians chapter 12:

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 

 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Incredibly, God’s word completely contradicts the words of the magazine.  What hold more weight in the mind of a JW, the doctrine of men who cannot tolerate any threat to their rule, or the words of God?

“Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; ¹¹ for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.”  1 John 2:9-11

We are in the middle of a war of words, spoken by the sons of the kingdom, and sons of the wicked one. (Joel 3:14; Mal 3:18; Matt 13:38-43)  Lies promoted by false teachers/prophets harbor the demonic intent to “deceive the elect”. (Matt 24:24,25; Col 2:8; 1 Tim 4:1; Rev 9:13:10, 5-7)   

This war against the “saints” is “inhouse”, not on the political battlefield of the world. (Luke 17:20) It is where a great army of “Gentile” elders have overcome a spiritual people – God’s priests of “Israel” -  with a “flood” of lies.  (Matt 24:15,16; 2 Thess 2:1-4; Rev 11:1,2;1 Cor 3:16;17; Rev 12:15; 16:13-16)

 How many times as a JW did we hear…

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  1 Pet 5:8

He seeks to trample and devour the “kings of the earth”, (Rev 1:5; 16:14; 20:7-9) and although the anointed believe Satan is in the wicked world outside of the organization, outside of their “spiritual paradise” and “peace and security” (1 Thess 5:3),  Proverbs gives us a better perspective.

The lazy person claims, “There is a lion in the road!
    There’s a lion in the streets!”
¹⁴ The door turns on its hinges—
    as does the lazy person on his bed.    Prov 26:13,14

 

Anointed "Priests" and prophets must warn people according to God's truth...for their protection, awareness, and vigilance to present danger (Jer 28:8; Ezek 3:4,18; Mal 2:7; Dan 12:3,10; Matt 24:45).

The war is not over yet! (Rev 12:17; Eph 6:12; 2 Cor 2:9; 11:3; 10:4-6; Matt 24:13,11,10; 10:22; Luke 13:24) 

Any "walls" erected by men, to keep Satan out are an illusion...as long as he still dominates the world (1 John 5:19; Eph 5:15,16). Our only true protection is the meaning of YHWH's name (Prov 18:10) which is that HE is our only saviour (Isa 43:11; 2:22; Rev 14:7; Ps 146:3; 118:8).

 We must have faith and trust in HIM and the truth of His Word, (not the doctrines of a human organization -Jer 17:5; 1 John 4:1; Mark 7:7,8), in order to possess a realistic spiritual shield (Eph 6:13,16).

The anointed are not protected from Satan's machinations by means of a membership in an organization, nor by obedience to it. (Rev 12:17; Luke 22:31; Rom 6:16; 1 Cor 7:23)

Pearl Doxsey

What's Wrong with "Peace and Security"?