GB David Splane's "Way of Holiness"

[Witness]

A good park or backcountry trail could be compared to a smooth highway accessible for every vehicle’s use.  Over the years, my husband shared with me the necessary building techniques needed to create a user-friendly hiking trail. His skills enhanced the user’s experience with nature; balancing the need to care for the environment, while also keeping in mind the goal of the hiker.  He had the ability to deftly and carefully merge what nature had to offer, by creating a trail that would lead one to experience it.

Good techniques limit the need for maintenance, yet maintenance is ultimately scheduled, to check erosion, for the removal of downed trees, and removal of any cause for stumbling that would detract from the hiker’s view of his surroundings, while on the trail. The goal is not to worry about possible obstacles ahead, but to ensure that the experience that the path provides, remains top-notch.

These trails that we enjoy are created by men, and they could never be perfect.  However, the Bible tells us of a way, a path of Holiness, built by God and Jesus.  It describes it as a lofty, exalted highway leading to eternal life.  The Hebrew word for “holiness” means “apartness, sacredness, the divinity and holiness of God”. The highway would be flawless, with no maintenance needed on this perfect path.  (Isa.35:8; 40:3; Ps.118:20; Isa.57:14; 62:10)

The way of Holiness is illuminated with the light of Christ – the wisdom of God found in His decrees and the teachings of Jesus. (Ps 119:130; 27:11; Isa 2:3)  He prepared the way for salvation and the receiving of righteousness from God. (2 Cor 5:21; Titus 3:5; Eph 2:8; Heb 7:25; Rev 5:9,10) The person who steps onto this path, experiences the light and truth of Christ by following in his footsteps; which ultimately leads to the joy of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.  (1 Pet 2:21; 1 John 2:6; Luke 22:28,29)  

However, this isn’t what a governing body member will have you believe.  At the Annual Meeting of this year, David Splane stated that the highway of holiness “was opened for travelers” in 1919, when the “testing and refinement of God’s people foretold at Mal 3:1-4, was complete.”  Keep in mind that after 1919, there were many false predictions established, and changed doctrine initially laid out as truth; failed “light” later discarded over the years. (Isa 5:20;8:20; 50:10,11; John 15:5-7; James 1:17)  

Such motivation to teach illusions from the minds of men, is not a sign that the organization and its leaders ever reached refinement from sin. (Jer 23:26,27; Ps 119:118; Matt 7:15-20) It is a sign that its leadership persisted in the actions of their predecessors, gradually raising a figurative siege ramp and walls of lies precariously set on the shaky foundation their predecessors laid. (Ps 119:150; Ezel 13:4-7,14; Hab 1:9,10; Dan 11:15; Rev 11:1,2)

The words of these men have polluted the teachings of Jesus Christ. (Matt 15:9; 2 Cor 11:3,4; 2 Tim 4:3; Gal 1:6-9)  As evident from the governing leader’s talk, they continue in this vein down to today. (Jer 18:15; Isa 59:8)

A siege ramp? (Ezek 4:1-3)  Yes. This is a spiritual war. (2 Cor 10:3-5;Eph 6:11-14) God’s anointed under covenant are held captive and “tested” by these lying teachings (Luke 22:31; Lam 3:7,9; 4:20; Col 2:8; Rev 13:10,5-7; Rev 16:13-16; 12:1-4; 20:7-9).

Unless they reach out for refinement with Jesus’ help, they will remain in a climate of cold darkness and spiritual famine, with the eventuality of the house falling down around them.  (Lam 2:14; Rev 2:4,5,20,21; Lam 3:1,2; John 8:12;12:46; Lam 5:4;3:19; Rev 8:10,11;13:11,12,16,17; Lam 5:9; Rev 13:10; John 4:10; 6:35; Rev 22:17) (Lam 4:11; Matt 7:24-27)

According to the organization, 1919 was the end of religious captivity, and Babylon the Great “fell” that year.  How confusing, when JWs are said to still be leaving Babylon when entering the organization; and they regularly prophesy that Babylon the Great, “the empire of false religion” is yet to fall.  The world’s religions were not affected in the least when the small number of Rutherford’s followers began their preaching work; most religions have grown, exponentially.   Within 2 years after 1919, it is said that a “faithful and discreet slave”, industriously produced the publication, the Harp of God.  Let’s just say, this book is chock full of visions from a false prophet’s mind. (Jer 23:16,21; Luke 6:45; Matt 7:15-20; 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Cor 11:13-15)  What brazen boldness to mention it to the leader’s audience, placing it on a pedestal by boasting that before it ceased printing, 6 million plus copies were circulated. (Ps 52:1-4)  It is a book of incredible falsehoods, baited with a small sprinkling of truth. (Eccl 9:12; Ps 64:5; 66:11) This means that lies infiltrated the hearts and minds of the innocent, throughout the realm of Wt’s preaching at the time.  He didn’t dare quote from its pages and face embarrassment, but why not share just one of its many infamous remarks:

“In Nahum 2:1-6 the Prophet records his vision of a railway train traveling at a high rate of speed, as another evidence of the day of preparation for the establishment of Christ’s kingdom.” P. 124  

The speaker described it as a “simple” book for beginners “to come into the truth”. It is undoubtedly, a way of confusion, leading one far from the straight path of truth in Jesus Christ. (Isa 40:3; 42:16; Prov 16:17) Instead, JWs follow a crooked road of twisted teachings and unfulfilled promises, that the organization’s leaders are experts at envisioning. If the Harp of God was “simple truth”, would it not be placed on the shelf and referred to today?   This signifies that when one enters the organization by stepping onto their counterfeit “highway of holiness”, that person has sunk deep into the mire of “Babylon”, the promised broad road leading to death.  (Eccl 10:3; Ps. 1:1; Prov 4:14; Isa 57:20; 28:7,8,14,15; Rev 13:1,11,12;17:1,3,5,6; 18:4-8; Matt 7:13)

D. Splane stated, “every good road needs ongoing maintenance”. He mentioned that although CT Russel died in 1916, he takes part in the maintenance on the road. He claimed that Russell and his associates have looked down from heaven since 1919; apparently not missing the inauguration of the highway’s opening.  From heaven, Russell helps ensure that all future offerings of spiritual food provide the clear path out of Babylon the Great and onto their counterfeit “highway of holiness”.  Can a false prophet, as Russell was, ensure a clear path to truth?  (Ps 119:118; John 8:44; Matt 24:11,24;1 John 4:1)

Their concept of this road is of course, one fabricated by false teachers, and not by God and Jesus Christ.  It is full of potholes, lies, rotten teachings, discarded doctrine; all are stumbling blocks that detract the traveler from any progressive spiritual experience in truth, that one should have in their relationship with God and Jesus Christ.  (Ps 119:105; John 1:1,4,5; John 14:6) This governing leader has blasphemed the holiness of God with his fantasies.  It’s interesting, but when he mentioned his version of the path of holiness and the perpetual maintenance needed, I immediately envisioned a hot, black, sticky asphalt road, each year needing a new coat of tar and gravel, to fill its holes and cracks. No cognizant person walking this road, would be anxious to use it again.  (Prov 1:15,16; 4:26)

He says, “The way of holiness is open, but maintenance on that way of holiness goes on and what’s the goal?  It’s to make it as easy as possible for people to identify Babylon the Great, and to leave Babylon the Great, that is the goal”.

On the contrary; the goal behind the existence of the organization and its leadership, is to make it “easy” to enter and remain in “Babylon”, without one realizing it. False prophets have deceived their listeners who set foot on their fabricated “highway”, and the spiritually blind grope their way along it. (Lam 4:14; Isa 59:10) Those who follow this dark path are at the mercy of Satan’s “Beasts”.  They are at the mercy of spiritual “harlots” who have left their covenant in Christ; and, they are at the mercy of thieves. (Prov 7:24-27; John 10:7-10)  These are the deceptions that have overcome the holy ones.  (Rev 13:7; Dan 8:11,12; Matt 24:24,25; Rev 13:14,15; 2:20)  

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 1 Pet 2:1-3

There are two definitions for the word, “fabricator”.   

#1 – a person who devises or invents something, especially a lie or a fictional narrative or character:

#2 – a person or company that produces a product, especially in an industrial process.

The organization’s false prophets/teachers have fulfilled both meanings.  They have manufactured a “highway” of lies, leading to a fabricated and destructive…industrial…“Gentile” giant, the iron Beast that has trampled down God’s Temple in the anointed.  (Dan 2:40-42; 7:19; Matt 24:15,16; 2 Thess 2:3,4; Rev 11:1,2; 9:1-4,9-11)

To walk on the path of Holiness, we analyze our personal spiritual obstacles, avoiding teachings that defy the word of God. (Prov 2:10-16; Ps 119:127,128) This requires wariness of Satan’s schemes; it requires redemption from sin, and the shedding of false doctrine found in the publications that litter the organization’s highway. (Luke 22:31; 1 Pet 5:8; Ps 119:134; Matt 9:17; 1 Pet 1:6-9; Eph 5:6-11)

It requires courage, obedience and faith in the decrees of God in Christ. (1 Cor 16:13; Ps 119:138; John 5:24)  Our eyes are then opened to the distinct, clear difference of what is truth in Jesus Christ, and what is a lie called truth, taught by deceitful men. (Jer 31:8; Isa 42:16; Heb 12:13; Prov 4:18)  

The scriptures in Nahum 2 that the book quotes, not only sheds light on today’s Harlot, her Beast/organization that she directs, and its coming destruction, but it promises the “restoration of Jacob”, the restoration of the spiritual Temple of truth, when the trampling of God’s holy people comes to an end.   (Isa 49:6; Dan. 7:25; 8:11-14; Rev 11:2,3; Mal 3:1-3) (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22)

Jesus clearly knew his path. One of his fellows tried to dissuade him (Matt 16:22,23).

The path of holiness is also clear during this time of great test and sorting (Amos 9:8-13; Isa 54:8,11,9,10; Rev 6:14; Heb 12:27; 1 Cor 3:13,14; Ps 102:26).

Will we hide our "talent of gold" and shrink back to destruction? (John 12:42; Matt 25:25,30; Heb 10:38,39; Rom 1:17) 

Spirit and scripture, make the path of life clear; along with the requirements to be on it. 

(Matt 7:14; Isa 35:8; 40:3; 62:10; Matt 24:16; Ezek 36:8; Isa 49:11; Jer 50:5; Ps 118:20; Rev 19:8) (Ezek 17:23; Matt: 31,32)

Pearl Doxsey - Hide or Herald, Stay or Flee?

[Srecko Sostar]

On 12/15/2021 at 2:25 AM, Witness said:

At the Annual Meeting of this year, David Splane stated that the highway of holiness “was opened for travelers” in 1919, when the “testing and refinement of God’s people foretold at Mal 3:1-4, was complete.”

His statement is ridiculous. Well, didn't Jesus establish and open the way when he was on Earth? Plus, the challenge of being right and clean never ends.