Posts by David.L.Henson

18

Those members who passed away

by Gorb in

jw
friends

who of those passed away jwd/jwn members, do we think of??.

oompah and the lady from australia, are there more??.

g..

Watchtower thoughts on Jazz

by David.L.Henson in

jw
friends

women!

don't listen to jazz!.

"new orleans jazz has a primitive tom-tom rhythm that does a single woman's peace of mind no good, is one of the insane claims from the tower about the harmful jazz music.. the fact is - if you check up the writings of the tower - the only safe music is the "kingdom songs" - and those do kill your brain if you love music:-)) .

David.L.Henson

Women! Don't listen to Jazz!

"New Orleans jazz has a primitive tom-tom rhythm that does a single woman's peace of mind no good, is one of the insane claims from the Tower about the harmful jazz music.

The fact is - if you check up the writings of the Tower - the only safe music is the "Kingdom Songs" - and those do kill your brain if you love music:-))

**** w93 4/15 24 Guard Against Unwholesome Music! ***
This does not mean that you cannot enjoy music; not all popular music is objectionable. Some youths have also learned to broaden their musical tastes and now enjoy certain classical, folk, light jazz, and other forms of music. The Kingdom Melodies tapes have helped many youths develop a taste for uplifting orchestral music.

**** g93 3/22 15 How Can I Keep Music in Its Place? ***
Of course, you still need to be selective. But within the realms of folk, jazz, and, yes, classical music, there is an abundance of wholesome music that you can learn to enjoy. In fact, you may already enjoy such music without realizing it.

*** g93 10/22 28 Watching the World ***
Even with their different types of music, the jazz musicians had no difficulty in merging their music with the sutras. "I think improvisation is somehow closely connected to spiritual awakening in religion,

*** g87 3/8 12 Part 1: 1920-1928 The Roaring Twenties-Lull Before a Storm ***
Jazz, the United States' contribution to 20th-century music, now came of age. It was a "music that represented a generation's disdain for restraint and respectability.

*** g87 3/8 12 Part 1: 1920-1928 The Roaring Twenties-Lull Before a Storm ***
This rejection of long-accepted standards of conduct and values caused author F. Scott Fitzgerald to refer to the 1920's as the Jazz Age. And as jazz rapidly gained worldwide acceptance, so did the pleasure-seeking attitude it represented.

*** g87 3/22 24 Part 2: 1929-1934 Worldwide Depression and On to War Again ***
"As abundance ebbed, leaving millions suffering privation, the twenties seemed no more than an unreal interlude or a cruel joke-an immoral jazz age, the era of the golden calf."

*** g85 9/22 22 Rock Stardom Was Not Enough ***
Yes, I still love music! I particularly enjoy classical, folk-rock, and some jazz, but I have now become more selective in the kind I listen to.

*** g82 8/22 29 Watching the World ***
"Keep off jazz, rock, pop or any other loud music in the interest of your unborn child,"

*** g75 8/8 29 Watching the World ***
Jazz on Vatican Radio
• Things have changed at the Vatican's radio station, inaugurated in 1931 by Pope Pius XI. Today one can tune in the program "Studio A" and hear jazz music in stereo.

*** g72 5/22 23 Music of the Twentieth Century-How It Affects You ***
Is jazz your choice? Then you evidently like the syncopation, the "blues" sound, and perhaps you admire the improvisation. But, remember, not everything that is improvised has beauty. How does it affect you?

*** g72 12/8 8 Making a Success of Singleness ***
New Orleans jazz has a primitive tom-tom rhythm that does a single woman's peace of mind no good.

*** yy 130-1 17 The Music and Dancing You Choose ***
20 At the other end of the musical spectrum from classical compositions we find the syncopated jazz and rock music. Even here one finds some music that is melodic and moderate. But some of it is wild and strident. That is why musicians themselves distinguish between jazz and rock music that is "soft" and that which is "hot," "hard" or "acid." You should be able to tell what kind of conduct the music is promoting-your ear, your mind and heart should tell you. The words or the tone of certain music is sometimes so obvious that people easily associate it with certain types of conduct or kinds of persons.

*** yb79 124 Canada ***
"If I have to choose between having my children listening to that sort of thing [jazz] as against some of the elevating and enlightening programs broadcast by the Bible Students, I prefer that some of this other material be taken off the air and that the Bible Students' programs be allowed to remain, even though I may not agree with their religious views.
*** w83 1/15 8 Modern Trends in Music-Can They Sway You? ***
Robert Palmer, a jazz critic writing for The New York Times under the heading "Witchery Pervades a Jazz Album," commented about the black jazz group called The Art Ensemble of Chicago, stating: "The Art Ensemble of Chicago's slogan is 'Great Black Music-Ancient to the Future' . . . But there is more than one sort of blackness here. There is . . . the blackness of voodoo spells cast in the dead of night. It isn't exactly a malevolent blackness, but this is not the sort of record one would put on at even the wildest party. . . . It is a phantasmagorical expedition into the heart of darkness." As a disciple of Christ would you want that type of music in your collection?

*** w83 1/15 9 Modern Trends in Music-Can They Sway You? ***
Former nightclub performer Gordon Grant, who once earned his living playing jazz and then rock in Los Angeles, U.S.A., stated: "All the groups that I was associated with were to some degree into spiritism. The opening gambit when you met someone new was 'What's your sign?' They took astrology seriously and your zodiac sign was important." Do you want to be identified with astrology and other demonic practices?

*** w83 1/15 28 Music Ruled My Life ***
I developed quite a liking for alcohol and frequently got drunk during my college days. For a while I resisted the temptation to use drugs, but before long I was pressured by my jazz friends into trying marijuana.

*** w74 5/15 303 The Music You Choose ***
At the other end of the musical spectrum from classical compositions we find the syncopated jazz and rock music. Even here one finds some music that is melodic and moderate. But much of it is wild and strident. That is why musicians themselves distinguish between jazz and rock music that is "soft" and that which is "hot," "hard" or "acid." You should be able to tell what kind of conduct the music is promoting-your ear, your mind and heart should tell you. The words or the tone of certain music is sometimes so obvious that people easily associate it with certain types of conduct or kinds of persons. The Bible, for example, speaks of the "songs of drinkers" and the "song of a prostitute."

*** w68 8/1 478 Why Christians Seek to Avoid Loose Conduct ***
Often there is much eating and drinking, which tend to encourage one to become less discreet. Substitute noisy "jazz" and rock 'n' roll music with 'good music

*** w60 9/1 515-6 The Age of Rebellion ***
United States, either hitchhiking or using secondhand cars, going to wild parties . . . , living on very little or nothing, occasionally stealing, and always talking intensely about love, God and salvation, listening ardently to jazz in small crowded joints and availing themselves freely of casual, generous and beautiful girls. . . . The quest for 'immediate experience' means that first place is given to sexual freedom. . . . Like many jazz enthusiasts the Beat Generation may indulge marijuana, morphine and other drugs

*** w56 5/15 312 Careful Living Helps Avoid Life's Pitfalls ***
Some merely glorify movie stars and kings of jazz. Others, taught to revel in deeper sins, glorify crime and sex and become intoxicated with these idol practices of this corrupt world. Deadly bait are all such injurious practices

*** w52 5/15 320 Questions from Readers ***
Sexually suggestive or passionate dancing to blaring jazz is not for Christians

Intolerance

by David.L.Henson in

jw
friends

some organizations don't seem to be able to exist without an archenemy.

an opponent on which they can heap scorn and blame for all the bad in the world.

someone they can demonize, judge and condemn creating a contrast to themselves in order for them to look better.

David.L.Henson

Some organizations don't seem to be able to exist without an archenemy. An opponent on which they can heap scorn and blame for all the bad in the world. Someone they can demonize, judge and condemn creating a contrast to themselves in order for them to look better. This is usually achieved by focusing on the enemies' worst sides and at the same time engages in self-praise, thus demonstrating the striking contrast's there is between "false" an "true" religion.

The Watchtower Society has chosen the Catholic Church as their archenemy. The Watchtower has up through the years demonized and heaped scorn on the Catholic Church to an extent one would hardly think possible. It has been blamed for virtually all the bad things that have happened in the world the last 1800 years. At the same time the Watchtower has engaged in the most shameless self-glorification imaginable. Their megalomania doesn't seem to have any limit. They are for example "taking care of God's interests on earth". The mere thought that God should need some totally insignificant human organization to take care of his interests is of course both ridiculous and presumptuous.

When it comes to articles bashing the Catholics the Watchtower literature is an extremely rich source. For over hundred years they have written about the horrible intolerance and abuse showed by the Church during the middle ages. They have to talk about the Middle Ages and of course ignore the changes the Church has undergone since then. The incredible thing is that they even criticize the Church for having abandoned one of their middle age practices.

Something that seem to gall the Watchtower more than anything is the dogma of the Pope being the representative of Christ, and that no one can be saved if they don't belong to the Church, (sounds familiar, eh?). Because of this claim the Watchtower quite rightfully points out that anyone making such bold claims must accept to be put under close scrutiny and be prepared to be criticized.

"The Catholic Church occupies a very significant position in the world and claims to be the way of salvation for hundreds of millions of people. Any organization that assumes that position should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism." Awake! August 22. 1984, page 28.

No fair-minded person would object to this argument. It is of course only reasonable that anyone making claims like this must accept scrutiny and criticism. As we know the Watchtower makes an almost identical claim:

"For one thing, Jesus' anointed followers, who are part of Jehovah's earthly organization, are "ambassadors substituting for Christ."… Mind you, they are not ambassadors and envoys of a mere human government and of sinful rulers. They represent Jehovah, his exalted spirit king Jesus Christ and the mighty kingdom of God. What an inestimable privilege! Of course, to serve and praise the Universal Sovereign, one must associate with the organization of Jehovah's Christian witnesses.
4 Consider, too, the fact that Jehovah's organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God's holy spirit or active force. (Zech. 4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah's purpose and to his praise. To it alone God's Sacred Word, the Bible, is not a sealed book."
The Watchtower July 1. 1973, page 401, 402.

As we can see the Watchtower leaders claim to "represent Jehovah" and Christ, much like the Pope does. They are also the only ones who are lead by Holy Spirit and the only ones who understand the Bible. Pretty substantial claims, and if true an organization like this would of course welcome scrutiny and investigations, they would of course not have anything to fear, having the almighty on their side.
Earlier this immense power and privilege was even in the hands of one person. Imagine that, old Joe "Booze" Rutherford, that guy really did have the "spirit":

"The Theocracy is the promised administration of earth's affairs by Jehova God. . . That Theocracy is now functioning in the earth. The Theocracy is at present administered by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of which Jugde Rutherford is the president and general manager."
(Consolation 4 sept.1940, s. 25).

No wonder the Watchtower is so preoccupied with the Catholic Church, they really are the only competition. But remember the principle, which was so excellently expressed by the Awake! That anybody making such claims should be "willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism."

The Watchtower does as documented claim to be the ONLY way to salvation for all human beings today. Yet somehow they are not at all willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism. This does simply not apply to them. On the contrary it is WRONG to criticize the Watchtower. It is even worse, it is rebellion against God. What strange reasoning.

"So important is it never to raise the voice in bitter criticism of the Lord's organization or its appointed representatives. Jehovah is the omniscient Judge before whom accounting must be made for these and other unprofitable sayings. - Matthew 12:36, 37; Leviticus 19:16; Jude 8.
Those who despise Jehovah's teaching include individuals who criticize and complain about Jehovah's clean organization and its rules for maintaining peace and good order. There is only a fine line of demarcation between such and those who are outright rebels."
The Watchtower May 15. 1984, page 17.

Some times the incredible paranoia and siege mentality of the Watchtower is displayed on no uncertain manner when they let us have a glimpse of their black and white world, where the big universal conspiracy's is unfolding:

"The faith of Jehovah's Witnesses is under attack from all sides-by the clergy of Christendom who hate the Kingdom message we take from house to house, by apostates who collaborate with Christendom's clergy, by medical authorities who want to impose blood transfusions on us and our children, by atheistic scientists who reject belief in God and the creation, and by those who try to force us to compromise our neutrality. All this opposition is orchestrated by Satan,.."
The Watchtower December 1. 1989, page 12.

As usual we are forced to draw the conclusion that all these principles only applies to others, not to the Watchtower itself. Other Churches should subject themselves to criticism by the Watchtower, it is however completely improper for anyone to expect the same from them. Only unquestioning obedience is acceptable to Brooklyn:

"At times there are heard from immature ones slighting remarks, careless talk or outright criticism of the Society's operations. Such is outright lack of respect for the means Jehovah is remarkably using to perform his will in this pre-Armageddon time. Truly the Society as directed by God's Holy Spirit merits our deepest respect and wholehearted obedience." The Watchtower July 15. 1960, page 444.

When someone criticizes the Watchtower this can conveniently be called something else. That sounds so much better. The magic word is persecution. Now if criticism is synonymous with persecution, then the Watchtower must have horribly persecuted the Catholic Church for over hundred years now. Of course not, silly. When the Watchtower does it it isn't called persecution, then the correct term is criticism. Lost? Well let us see how elegant the Watchtower explain this:

"Then it raised the question: "Is the exposing of false religions a persecution of their adherents? Is it un-Christian bigotry?" The answer was: "No; otherwise Jesus Christ was a bigoted persecutor of the Jews, …. This does not mean that individuals are attacked but, rather, the system that enslaves them."
The Watchtower April 1. 1988, page 24,25.

When the Watchtower persecute, bash, oops, criticize the Churches this is of course dictated by the best of motives:

"We have a kind and loving interest in people of all religions, but when their religious beliefs and practices are false and merit God's disapproval, it is showing love to bring this to their attention by exposing falsehood…. We follow in Jesus' footsteps by drawing attention to what God's Word says, which can be to the everlasting benefit of those who will hear." Awake! July 8. 1988, page 28.

Well, now we know. If you are convinced you are dealing with a false religion then it is ok. But now we also know that all criticism of the Watchtower is bitter persecution by evil people and the Devil is behind it, this is of course in stark contrast to the loving concern which the Watchtower show when they are exposing falsehood in the Churches. You can say what you want, but the guy's in Brooklyn really do know how to manipulate the language.

At the beginning I mentioned the Watchtower accusations
against the Catholic Church for their intolerance against independently thinking people during the middle ages. Let us take a look at how well this is done in the Watchtower literature by this example:

"Catholic Intolerance
Catholic canon law states: "Most firmly hold and in no way doubt that every heretic or schismatic is to have part with the Devil and his angels in the flames of eternal fire, unless before the end of his life he be incorporated with, and restored to the Catholic Church."
The Awake! November 8. 1983, page 4-5.

Then compare this statement from Catholic law, which the Awake! Magazine clearly and rightly
identifies as Intolerant, with this one:

"Apostates of the apostles' day and their modern counterparts are not represented by the "weeds." Yet the Bible shows that such apostates are "not of our sort," have God's disapproval and should be shunned by loyal Christians. Any who apostatize and do not repent by the end of this system of things will experience the same fate as the "weeds," being "burned with fire" or destroyed completely."
The Watchtower March 1. 1984, page 31.

When the Catholic Church stated that anybody who dies without belonging to the Church will be lost, it is intolerance. But somehow we don't see that term used anywhere when "Watchtower law" states exactly the same, why?

Some times this incredible double standard and juggling with words becomes almost unbelievable, like in this next example:

"No one was free to worship as he pleased or to express opinions conflicting with those of the clergy. This clerical intolerance created a climate of fear throughout Europe."
The Watchtower September 1. 1989, page 3.

Quite correctly the Watchtower states that in a situation where it is prohibited to express opinions conflicting with religious leaders like the clergy, this is a clear manifestation of INTOLERANCE!

Then read this:

"Beware of those who try to put forward their own contrary opinions."
The Watchtower March 15. 1986, page 17.

"Avoid Independent Thinking" The Watchtower January 15. 1983, page 22.

"How is such independent thinking manifested? A common way is by questioning the counsel that is provided by God's visible organization." The Watchtower January 15. 1983, page 22.

"Fight Against Independent Thinking" The Watchtower January 15. 1983, page 27.

Why criticize the Church for something it practiced in the middle ages, when the Watchtower actually practice exactly the same intolerance in our days?

Why was it intolerant when the clergy in the middle ages denied people the right to express opinions contrary to the clergy's? But quite all right order the Witnesses today to AVOID independent thought, yes, even FIGHT against it! Why is it necessary to "BEWARE" of those having "contrary opinions"?

What's the difference? Why is this only intolerance when Catholic's and others do it? Why is this seemingly all right when the Watchtower does it? Is it because most Churches have stopped terrorizing and persecuting independently thinking people, the reason why the Watchtower hates them so much?
Where else but in the Watchtower Society do we find such middle ages thinking today?
"In the Middle Ages, clergy rule meant the destruction of personal liberties."
The Watchtower September 1. 1989, page 3.

Unfortunately in 1997, the Witnesses have to sneak around on H2O hiding their identity, from their leaders because of the intolerance of the Watchtower "clergy". In 1997 it means loss and destruction of personal liberties, yes even life because of the Society's intolerance.

Just like the clergy in the Middle Ages, the Society try to:

"root out individuals who dared to hold different views." The Watchtower September 1. 1989, page 3.

Awake! Magazine asks:

"'But surely the world has outgrown such intolerance,' some might reason."
Awake! November 8. 1983, page 3-4.

Yes indeed, what do history show us now in 2021. Has the world outgrown such intolerance in our time? Is there really a religious organization today, where it is prohibited to have a different view's that the leaders, without being subjected to Star Chamber courts, expelled and shunned? Does it really exist religious societies today where the leaders have such fear of criticism that members are forbidden to read certain literature and talk to certain people. Does such gross intolerance exist today? Oh yes, it does. One such society is known as the WTBTS and its members are known as Jehovah's Witnesses.

13

Don't take my booze!

by David.L.Henson in

jw
friends

a direct confirmation that judge joseph rutherford, 2nd president of the watchtower organization, had a weak spot for good whisky, can be found in the following hilarious watch tower article.. the u.s. congress had passed the spirit prohibition law, and the judge was absolutely furious that these "servants of satan" tried to take his booze away.. the watch tower, which according to fred franz had jehovah as editor during these days, directly stated that christians could not "participate in" such a prohibition.

in other words, they had to smuggle and drink booze to be loyal to god.

the jws are unfortunately a much more boring sect these days.. the watchtower, november 1, 1924prohibition.

David.L.Henson

A direct confirmation that Judge Joseph Rutherford, 2nd President of the Watchtower organization, had a weak spot for good whisky, can be found in the following hilarious Watch Tower article.

The U.S. congress had passed the spirit prohibition law, and the Judge was absolutely furious that these "servants of Satan" tried to take his booze away.

The Watch Tower, which according to Fred Franz had Jehovah as editor during these days, directly stated that Christians could not "participate in" such a prohibition. In other words, they had to smuggle and drink booze to be loyal to God.

The JWs are unfortunately a much more boring sect these days.

The Watchtower,
November 1, 1924

Prohibition

Since the time of Abel there have been some good men
who desire to eliminate evil from the earth. Various
methods have been employed to this end and all without
success. The Jews tried the method of keeping the Law,
and were not able to keep either the spirit or the letter
thereof. Some have tried to make themselves righteous,
but have learned that such is impossible. Others have
been trying to eliminate evil by legislation. This method
also has failed.

God is not limited in power. He could destroy evil at any
time. He has permitted it for some good reason. The fact
that he has permitted it and has not destroyed it is a
sufficient reason for Christians not to attempt to run
ahead of the Lord in its elimination. One of the reasons,
which seems apparent, is to give all intelligent creatures a
full opportunity to acknowledge, accept, and serve
Jehovah as God or to follow the way of the devil; in
other words to give an opportunity to prove man's
loyalty to his Creator. God has permitted man to have
experience with evil, that he might learn lasting lessons;
and when the time comes for God to establish
righteousness in the earth, those who learn the lessons as
he has arranged them will become righteous. The great
Creator has made man a free moral agent, placed good
and evil before him, and given him the choice of
selecting one and rejecting the other.

The real issue before man is God or the devil. God has a
well-defined plan concerning man, which plan will
successfully eliminate all evil from the earth. Every part
of the divine plan Satan, the mimic god, has tried to
copy. The devil's counterfeit plan has been for the
purpose of deceiving mankind, making God appear a
liar, and his Word untrustworthy. Up to this time Satan
has succeeded well in blinding the people.

We have now come to a crisis in the affairs of man.
Legally the devil's dominion is at an end. The rightful
King, the beloved Son of God, is here and has taken his
sovereign power. Satan desires to hold the people in
subjection to himself. Hence it must be expected that he
will resort to every possible means of fraud and deceit to
accomplish his end.

Duty of the Christian is Plain

What is the duty of each Christian under the
circumstances? We answer: His duty is plain. Having
entered into a covenant with God by sacrifice through the
merit of Christ Jesus, and having been begotten to the
divine nature, he has solemnly agreed to do the will of
God. Any other course willingly taken would be
disloyalty to God, and therefore a repudiation of his
covenant. There is no possible ground of compromise
for the Christian. To be a Christian one must be on the
Lord's side; and when he willingly ceases to be on the
Lord's side, he ceases to be a Christian. Surely every
true Christian will agree that these statements are sound
and true.

Recently the President of our Association, responding to
a question concerning the Eighteenth Amendment of the
Constitution of the United States, which prohibits the
manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating
liquor within the United States and which is known as
the prohibition law, said: "Prohibition is a scheme of the
devil," referring of course to the law above mentioned.
Some of the brethren have made strenuous protests
against this statement. Because of the seeming
misunderstanding we deem it proper for The Watch
Tower to state the Scriptural view of the matter.

In the outset it must be conceded by all fair-minded
people the prohibition is either the result of God's will
being done on earth or else a scheme of the devil. Let
each one judge which it is in the light of the undisputed
facts.

A desire to eliminate intoxicating liquor and all other
evils is a proper and laudable desire. All Christians
should be in accord with that desire. But how to
accomplish that end is a different thing. The devil has a
way of appearing to accomplish it, and his way is that of
fraud and deceit.

God's way of accomplishing that end if righteous and
complete. In his own due time he will completely
eliminate intoxicating liquors and all other evil
influences. He has said to man: "For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." -- Isaiah
55:9.

God's way is not popular with the majority of mankind
at present. All true Christians are for God's way. He
who seeks the approval of the world and who is a friend
of the world is an enemy of God. (Jas. 4:4) The Lord's
friendship and his approval are the only things worth
while.

Intoxicating liquor is a great evil. The devil stands for all
things evil. He is the very personification of wickedness.
Then how could prohibition of intoxicating liquor be the
devil's scheme? St. Paul answers: "For Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no
great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the
ministers of righteousness." (2 Cor. 11:14,15) In the
prohibition scheme he appears as an angel of light; his
ministers likewise. Fraud and deceit are Satan's principal
methods of operation. He is the god of this evil world,
and has long deceived the nations and blinded their
minds to the truth of God's plan. -- 1 Cor. 4:4.

Satan Beguiles Ruling Factors

More than a century ago good men and women, seeing
the evil of intoxicating liquor, started a movement to
expel it from the earth. In America they organized the
Prohibition Party. That party is now dead, and had
nothing to do with the enactment of the Eighteenth
Amendment. But even had that party succeeded in its
plan, such would not have been God's way.

Long ago Satan caused the union of church and state in
Europe, and therefore the downfall of the clergy. He
desired to accomplish the same thing in America. Union
of church and state is repugnant to the fundamental
American principles. To accomplish his end Satan knew
that he must resort to fraud and deceit by putting forth
something that had the appearance of good. The World
War furnished the opportunity for him to act, and he did
act.

Jesus taught his followers to pray: "Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," and also
taught them to wait for his second coming for the setting
up of that kingdom and the establishment of
righteousness. Satan induced the clergy to believe that
they could set up God's kingdom on earth without
waiting for the Lord, and that to accomplish this they
must bring into the church men of wealth, influence and
power. The clergy fell under this temptation, brought in
the profiteers, politicians and other men of influence, and
made them the chief ones in their congregations. The
ruling factors have long been under the influence of
Satan, whether they knew it or not. The chief ones
amongst the rulers are those of commercial power. It is a
well-known fact in America that this power has
nominated the candidates for the leading parties for
several years, and has elected the one they desired.

Next, the commercial powers were induced to see that if
liquor could be taken away from the laboring man the
result would be beneficial to bankers, manufacturers and
merchants. Big business, the real controlling power of
the politicians of the land under the supermind of their
guiding and invisible god (Satan), set about to unite the
forces of the Democratic and Republican parties to
accomplish their purpose. It was an easy matter to get the
preachers to do the shouting and to make the noise,
because they felt that now big business and big
politicians were with them and that they could set up the
Lord's kingdom in earth. The World War furnished the
opportunity, and an appeal was made to the people by
the politicians and the preachers to patriotically support
the movement for prohibition in order to win the war,
and thus many were induced to support it.

The appeal was made to the order-loving ones by the
preachers that it was the will of God that prohibition
should be enacted; and the people were again deceived,
and acted accordingly. By the combined action of big
business, big politicians, and big preachers they induced
the Congress to take the necessary steps to amend the
Constitution, and the state legislatures to ratify it. At the
time, the New York _Tribune_ editorially said: "This
legislation seems to be propelled by some invisible
force." It was indeed an invisible force, and that force
was the devil. The result was a union of clergy with big
business and big politicians in a combination to control
the American people.

Can any Christian, who believes God and his Word, for
one moment think that the Lord God of righteousness
used the Democratic and Republican parties, and the
higher critics and evolutionists, and those who deny the
blood of Christ Jesus, to enact the prohibition law; and
that such was his will and plan? Does the God of
righteousness need any such unholy alliance as this to
accomplish his will on earth? Does any Christian believe
that this is the plan of God? If not, then whose scheme is
it?

God's Word Gives Wholesome Advice

It is well known that the ultra-rich, the politicians, and
even many clergy are supplied with all the intoxicating
liquor they can consume, while they are making the
greatest noise for the enforcement of the prohibition law.
As an illustration: One influential clergyman, who led the
fight in his vicinity for prohibition, shortly after the
enactment of the law had his house burglarized. The
burglars found his cellar stocked with liquors, and
indulged in same so freely that they broke up his
furniture. The clergyman refused to prosecute the guilty
ones because it would expose the fact that he, an
advocate of prohibition, had stocked up well in advance,
that he might to need to deny himself things that he was
willing to take away from his neighbors merely for
show.

It is also well known that many of the agencies employed
to enforce the prohibition law have taken the illicit liquor
away from the bootlegger and either used it themselves
or sold it to others. Many of the prohibition law officers
have connived with others to steal great quantities of
liquor from warehouses, and have then wrongfully sold
it to others or divided it amongst those particularly
favored by them. Can any Christian for a moment
believe that prohibition, as we now see it, is the result of
God's will done on earth?

Intoxicating liquor is a great evil, and the saloons a curse
to humanity. The good American people do not want
either. They are also sick and disgusted with pious-faced
frauds, who parade in the name of Christ, hypocritically
claiming to representing God and righteousness, who
join hands with the conscienceless politicians and
profiteers to enact and enforce a law, and claim it to be
the carrying out of God's will. When Jesus was on earth
he denounced above everything else fraud and
hypocrisy. God's Word admonishes Christians to
abstain from every form of evil. Fraud and hypocrisy are
amongst the greatest evils.

Let the people adopt the Lord's way, accept Christ and
his kingdom, and be submissive thereto; and their ways
will be right. But so long as the people adopt Satan's
fraudulent methods and ignore the Lord's way they can
not accomplish a lasting good. All Christians should
refuse to stultify themselves by joining hands with any
scheme that has the appearance of good when in truth
and in fact it is honeycombed with fraud and deceit, and
denies the Lord and his methods of accomplishing the
blessing of mankind.

No Christian advocates the use of intoxicating liquor.
The question is not concerning the existence of the evil,
but the *method* of elimination of that evil. Instead of
running ahead of the Lord and joining hands with some
scheme that is contrary to the Lord's way, the Christian
should remember the scripture: "Be patient therefore,
brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the
husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth,
and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early
and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts;
for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Take, my
brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of
the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of
patience." -- James 5:7,8,10.

Reformation Impossible by Legislation

The Lord Jesus is now present. His kingdom is at hand.
Satan, in his desperation to deceive the people, has
appeared as an angel of light and has put forth a thing, to
wit, prohibition, which appears to be good but which in
truth and in fact is a fraudulent scheme to turn the minds
of the people away from Christ and his kingdom. God,
in his own due time, will eliminate intoxicating liquor
and all other evils from the earth; and when he does so,
there will be no apostate preachers ("Ministers of Satan
appearing as ministers of righteousness"), no politicians
and no profiteers advocating prohibition that their own
selfish ends may be accomplished. There will be no
fraudulent agencies claiming to enforce the law, and at
the same time violating it. Shortly Satan will be aborn of
his power. (Rev. 20:1-4) The eyes of the people will be
opened to the truth. The Lord will rule them in
righteousness. He will have no dishonest agencies
representing him; but, as he says, "when thy judgments
[the Lord's] are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world
will learn righteousness." -- Isa. 26:9.

Experience shows that it is impossible to reform men of
evil merely by legislation. This does not mean that men
should not be reformed, but when the great Jehovah God
has plainly told us in his Word how these reformations
will be brought about, every Christian should adopt the
Lord's way because it is right and every Christian should
refrain from the devil's way because it is wrong. -- 2
Cor. 6:15-18.

The Christian would be more popular with the world to
advocate the present scheme of prohibition. It is better to
be right than to be popular. The Christian's allegiance
must be to God and his kingdom. Remember the issue
now is, The Lord's kingdom against Satan's rule. If we
are followers of the Lord, then let us hear and obey his
Word: "Wait yet upon me, saith the Lord...For then will
I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call
upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one
consent." -- Zeph. 3:8,9.

The Lord could prohibit intoxicating liquors at any time,
but it is not yet his due time. It follows, then, that the
scheme put forth at this particular time in the light of the
evidence is not God's plan or scheme but that of the
devil. In God's due time his kingdom will rule the
nations and enforce righteousness. He will so reform the
hearts of men that they will refrain from evil. For a
Christian to be loyal to the Lord he must now stand for
the Lord's way, and not for any other.

With the kindliest feeling toward all who desire the
elimination of every form of evil from the earth, as
Christians we must follow the Lord's way and wait upon
him. The evidences are so conclusive at this time that his
kingdom is at hand that there can be no doubt in the mind
of one who is really informed on the Bible. Let each
believer in the Bible then ask himself: Has God brought
about the present condition of prohibition? If not, then
should I advocate it? Is God going to reform through
Christ's kingdom the world and eliminate evil and bring
blessings to the people? If so, then I must be on the
Lord's side.

The Watch Tower has nothing to do with politics.
Prohibition is not a political question. If the people of the
world wish to make a prohibition law and enforce that
law, well and good. That is not our affair. A Christian
can not consistently participate therein. He must keep
himself separate from the world. The sole question is,
Who is on the Lord's side? If we are on the Lord's side,
our way is clear: Be patient and wait upon him to fully
establish his rule in the earth.

49

Before you judge anti-vaxxers

by David.L.Henson in

jw
friends

.

David.L.Henson

"LOL! So employers have the "right" to force employees take experimental therapies? Where is that in the Constitution? You do know that forced medical experiments violate the Geneva Convention."

Constitution has nothing to do with it. You're not "forced". You can choose to go work elsewhere. You sound like those people getting booted from stores for being maskless and screaming that their "constitutional rights" are being violated.

49

Before you judge anti-vaxxers

by David.L.Henson in

jw
friends

.

David.L.Henson

103

I'm now turned off by this site

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

in one form or another i've been a member of this site for almost 10 years.

in the past this was a great place for debate, news and support for ex jws.

i logged on several times a day and posted several times a week.

David.L.Henson

I’ve been here forever.

You certainly have. We are painfully aware of this. It's a pretty good explanation as to why very few others are still here though....

7

Just checking in

by Hylandyr in

jw
friends

some of you may remember me as spannerintheworks.

David.L.Henson

hello hylandyr.

41

Have you been vaccinated? Have you had any side effects?

by LoveUniHateExams in

jw
friends

hi all.. i'm 42 years old.

i have had two jabs of the oxford-astrazeneca vaccine.. after my first jab i experienced flu-like symptoms - shivering, wanted to lie down in a dark room, etc.. i experienced no side effects after my second shot.. how about you?.

how many jabs have you had?.

David.L.Henson

Just have the word 'vaccine' somewhere in the title and as sure as the sunrise WTWizard will show up blabbering about 'torture shots' and telling us for the 1000th time about how he ordered Quercetin and Zinc.