Secretive "Judicial" Hearings Are Tel...

Secretive "Judicial" Hearings Are Telling

Watchtower literature depicts the Jewish model of judicial hearings as one that involved public hearings.

Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1 page 475 under the subject City states[1]:

"On entering the gates, one found himself in a large open place, the city’s marketplace, the public square, where all kinds of selling and buying were carried on, and where contracts were made and sealed before witnesses. (Ge 23:10-18; 2Ki 7:1; Na 2:4) Here was the public forum where news was received and passed on (Ne 8:1, 3; Jer 17:19), where the elders held court (Ru 4:1-10), and where the traveler might spend the night if perchance private hospitality was not extended to him."[Underlining added]

The Watchtower organization teaches that the early Christian congregation was similar to the Jewish system of handling judicial matters. Insight on the Scriptures Volume 1 page 198 under the subject Assembly states:

"At times, the people of Israel were represented in gatherings by “chieftains of the assembly” (Ex 16:22; Nu 4:34; 31:13; 32:2; Jos 9:15, 18; 22:30), or “older men.” (Ex 12:21; 17:5; 24:1) When judicial matters required attention, a number of persons might assemble at the city gate. However, whether gathered there or elsewhere, they would not all vote on the case under consideration in a democratic fashion. Instead, theocratically, respected older men would weigh matters in the light of God’s law and then announce their decision. (De 16:18; 17:8-13) Similarly, the early Christian congregation was represented in such matters by those placed in positions of responsibility by the holy spirit. (Ac 20:28) In Israel, if the wrongdoing required the death sentence, the whole assembly might execute it.—Le 24:14; Nu 15:32-36; De 21:18-21." [Underlining added]

Highlighted in the above statement is the public nature of judicial proceedings and that the early Christian congregation was similar to the Jewish model. Elsewhere Watchtower literature underscores the benefit and good reason for public judicial hearings. For example,

The Watchtower journal of December 1, 1976 on page 732 under the title Giving Reproof "Before All Onlookers" states:

"The Bible regulations and accounts indicate that cases of wrongdoing came before the city elders at the gates primarily when controversies were involved, as in cases where an offender would not acknowledge having wronged another, and also when the community as a whole was seriously affected or endangered by the wrongdoing." [Underlining added]

Therefore one very important benefit of the public judicial hearings was to alert a community as a whole when it was seriously endangered by wrongdoing. Watchtower judicial proceedings today are not similar to the Jewish model in this instance. The Watchtower system maintains hearings of alleged pedophilia in complete secrecy, and pedophilia is wrongdoing that seriously endangers a whole community.

The Watchtower journal of November 15, 1995 on page 13 under the title Cities of Refuge-God's Merciful Provision states:

"Though you were received hospitably, you would have to state your case to the elders at the gate of the refuge city. After entering the city, you would be sent back to stand trial before the elders representing the congregation of Israel at the gates of the city having jurisdiction over the area where the killing occurred. There you would have an opportunity to prove your innocence."

Highlighted here is the benefit of public hearings to an accused person's reputation. Since serious allegations of wrongdoing are very seldom kept strictly confidential between the alleged transgressor and victim, a public hearing allows a person to defend their good name so they can retain it. Alleged pedophilia is a good example since victims will inevitably share their allegations in the form of gossip. Therefore persons falsely accused of pedophilia have every reason to request or demand a public hearing of allegations in order for whatever has merit to be made known. On the other hand, guilty persons have every reason to avoid public scrutiny for the very reason that they are guilty! So, guilty persons want secret hearings whereas innocent persons have every reason to want public scrutiny. Watchtower judicial procedures do not allow for public saving of reputation because innocent persons who want a public hearing are categorically denied. This leaves the innocent vulnerable to gossip that would have been easily refuted had there been a public hearing.

The Watchtower journal of March 15, 1980 on page 30 under the title Why Look to Jehovah in All You Undertake? States:

"Since the city elders judged in the open area near the gates, it would be there that the sons would speak with opponents in a legal case, successfully putting to silence baseless accusations and false testimony."

Again we see highlighted one of the powerful benefits of public judicial hearings. The sheer publicity allows substantial silencing of baseless accusations and false testimony. Watchtower judicial proceedings do not allow this silencing precisely because of the lack of publicity.

Conclusion

Falsely accused persons among Jehovah's Witnesses are not afforded the time and God honored privilege of public hearings. When innocent ones request or demand a public hearing and are denied we can only wonder why the dissimilarity within the Jehovah's Witness paradigm? In light of God's honoring of public hearings throughout the biblical record, what scriptural backing supports this refusal?

Perhaps here the following words attributed to Jesus take on an ominous meaning.

"For he that practices vile things hates the light and does not come to the light, in order that his works may not be reproved. But he that does what is true comes to the light, in order that his works may be made manifest as having been worked in harmony with God.”--John 3:19-21

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Endnotes

1. All references are to official publications of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

((((marv ))))

Marv - well written. You most likely would NOT want the job, but you have my vote for chairman of the board GB!

Mak

jw.com Cheerleader

Some men worship rank, some worship heroes, some worship power, some worship God, & over these ideals they dispute & cannot unite--but they all worship money.
- Mark Twain

Excellent post, Marvin!

Are you sending a letter to the Society?

outnfree

Great job Marvin,

Some years ago I covered exactly the same material with pretty much the same comments and challenged any JW to show me how in light of the scriptures, the modern-day JW judicial hearings can be justified.

The silence was deafening.

Farkel

BTTT

outnfree

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. -- Jonathan Swift

Does this kind of logic and reasoning sound like the works of just a "sorehead" XJW as 'Dr' Robert Stark and other criticizers label those who oppose the WTS's policies?

I can understand why, when Farkel challenged the WTS with this logic, he found the silence was deafening. Logic and justice goes out the window when the WTS wants to "protect its image".

Had Enough

"Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."...Margaret Mead

Thanks for this well-written and very important essay. A public hearing is very necessary to keep the proceedings fair and honorable and to protect the reputation of the innocent.

Gossip among JWs is absolutely outrageous and these private hearings only fuel this gossip. Any reason justifying a private hearing is only in the interest of the organization, usually to protect themselves because of errors that might be made on their part and to give the illusion to the rest of the congregation that the decision was reached by God's direction and that it is not to be questioned.

It is very much about control, guarding an imaginary authority and preventing divisions and dissent in the congregations at large. For a group that says they "love truth and light" they seem very much afraid of it. Powerful scripture at the end.

Path

The Jewish Bet Din was the subject of a documentary on local TV about 2 months ago.

The modern version has evolved into a more private situation, like the JW judicial committees. However, they do permit the accused to present evidence and have witnesses speak on their behalf, and if the case is difficult, the three rabbis serving on the Bet Din will consult with other rabbis.

The goal of the Bet Din is not to establish guilt or innocence in civil matters, but to serve as mediators between the two parties, to air their differences before objective listeners, and to resolve the issue at hand without having to resort to the civil courts of the land. If I recall correctly, the Bet Din refers matters of a criminal nature to the proper authorities, rather than handling them internally.

Love, Scully

Marvin,

Your post makes a lot of sense. The general thought about how modern-day JW Judicial hearings are really different from the Scriptural pattern has crossed my mind, but your post really got me to thinking about it.

Making these "judicial" hearings public also would tend to reinforce the concept of the community/congregation using THINKING and REASONING ability to reflect on the matter brought out publicly, instead of just acquiesing to a decision made behind closed doors.

The Watchtower Machine, however is obsessed with their "appearance" to the "world", and twists and contorts Biblical concepts to promote their self-image. God forbid anyone should know there is adultery, fornication, embezzlement, or drunkeness in the congregation, let alone child molesters. They are every bit as hyprocitical and self-serving as the other religious organizations they loudly denounce.

--Dan

Marvin,

An excellent summation of the miserable WTS Judicial Committee machinery, and how it stands hands on hip, and whip in hand above its victims.

I am very much of the philosophy that *nothing* the WTS teaches and preaches is unique to them and on this basis I searched some while ago for a historical context for the 'three elder and one sinner' in a closed meeting scenario.

It actually bears a remarkable resemblance to the disciplinary procedures, now long since abandoned, adopted in the late C17th and early C18th by the Quaker's and the Methodists. These procedures came complete with disfellowshipping and remarkably enough, 'religious restrictions'.

The way disciplinary cases were to be handled was contained in their books of 'Disciplinary Procedures'. The Methodist books at least were publicly published, originally the 'Society Of Friends' procedures only fell into the hands of their elders ( sounds familiar). They were later available for public use.

The WTS is quite happy to snatch lonely doctrines from the theological bottom drawer of other religions and cleverly blend them together to bake a cake with a very strange taste indeed. It seems however, that more and more people are suffering from 'Theocratic' indigestion these days!

Best regards Marvin - HS

Marvin,

Excellent research and reasoning.

Not only was the evidence presented publicly but the accused and the public knew the identity of the accuser. Then if a conviction resulted the accuser had to throw the first stone in serious cases.

Recently the accuser of several friends has hidden behind a veil of secrecy. Who really is behind the charges brought against those who speak up for molested children? The accusers are not only trying to remain anonymous but the accusers are ultimately the JUDGES in the matter, directing by either mandate or implication the outcome they expect from the hearings. They even send the executioners back with new charges when local boys fail to get the job done, as in the Barbara Anderson hearings. Then the accusers try to play the only source of reporting, the media for loyal JW's.

So the WT, unlike the "Jewish model", are the accusers, the judges and the information Regulators so the facts cannot be known publicly. This is not only far short of the Jewish model but even farther short of the Christian model, where serious problems are taken to the entire congregation. (Mat 18)

Thanks, Marvin.

Jst2

Notice how none of the Watchtower Apologists are touching this thread with the proverbial ten foot pole held in the mouth of a starving tiger wandering around in a field packed with fat sheep with steak stapled to their faces!

"Vaccination has never saved a human life. It does not prevent smallpox." The Golden Age, Feb 4 1931 p. 293-4 - The Sacredness of Human Blood (Reasons why vaccination is unscriptural)