A quite interesting article on the possibility of reforming ones religion was printed in the February 1. 1995 issue of the Watchtower, which asked the following question:
"Your Religion—A Ship That Should Never Be Abandoned?
A SHIP is in the midst of a tempest. The crew, who are struggling desperately to save their vessel, are faced with a dramatic decision: either to stay aboard or to abandon ship and save themselves. Did you know that this terrifying scenario is used as a theological illustration? Theologians, especially Catholic scholars, often compare their church to a ship that is weathering a storm. They say that this ship, with Jesus or Peter at the helm, represents the only means of salvation. The position of the clergy is, ‘Never abandon the ship. The church has been through serious crises before, but it is a ship that has weathered all of history’s tempests.’ Some say, ‘Why abandon her? What alternatives are there? Why not stay and help steer her into calmer waters?’ In harmony with this figurative language, many people, belonging to all manner of religions, reason, ‘I know that my religion is wrong in many things, but I hope it will change. I don’t want to abandon it. I would like to have a part in helping it overcome its difficulties.’ This kind of reasoning may be dictated by sincere affection for one’s ancestral religion or even by the fear of “betraying” it." The Watchtower, February 1, 1995, page 3.
It is strange to see some of the arguments here. The Catholics are saying that "Jesus" is behind the church and that it represents the "only means of salvation".
Doesn't such claims ring a bell folks? Haven't we heard those words before, somewhere?
Indeed we have. Like the Catholic Church, the Watchtower organization is even elevated to the position of saviour!
"Faith in Jehovah's Victorious Organization"
The Watchtower, March 1, 1979, page 12'Stay Awake and Keep Your Senses'
And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation, the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone, like a “great war cry." The Watchtower, December 1, 1981, page 21.
Also the Catholic song and dance about, "Why abandon" the church, and the question: "What alternatives are there?" seem strangely familiar. Yes, we have heard it before. The Watchtower seem to take this even one step further by stating that abandoning the organization are equal to abandoning Jesus Christ himself.
"Praise Jehovah with His People
16 If we truly appreciate Jehovah’s earthly organization, we will remain loyal to it, knowing that the organization is his. If we were to leave it, where else could we go? There is no other organization that is doing the divine will or that is educating people for life everlasting. When many abandoned Jesus Christ, he asked his apostles: “You do not want to go also, do you?” Peter replied: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life; and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)" The Watchtower, June 1, 1973, page 404."The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***
But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his “faithful and discreet slave,” made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do." The Watchtower, December 1, 1981. Page 27.
The article then continues:
A case in point is that of Hans Küng, a well-known Catholic dissident theologian, who mused: “Should I abandon the boat during the storm, leaving those with whom I have sailed until now to face the wind, to bail the water, and perhaps to fight for survival?” He replied: “I will not give up my effectiveness within the church.” Another alternative would be “breaking with this church, because of its defection, for the love of higher values, and perhaps, to be more authentic Christians.”—Die Hoffnung bewahren.
The Watchtower, February 1, 1995, page 3.
The well known Catholic critic Hans Küng is not expelled from the church, he is certainly not very popular in Rome, but he still remains within the church. A man like Küng would be impossible in the Watchtower organization, he would have been DF'd years ago and his name would have been dragged trough the mud by the Watchtower. Under the condition, which is quite common in many mainstream churches, where dissent and differing opinions are allowed, there can of course be room for reform. In the Watchtower movement it is impossible with anything resembling reform under the prevailing conditions.
In conclusion, the article states:
But can a person stay aboard the boat of his own church in the hope that God, in his mercy, will allow all religions an unlimited period of time to reform? That is a serious question. As indicated by the illustration, hurriedly leaving an endangered ship by taking to insecure lifeboats would be as dangerous as staying aboard a sinking ship. Is it wise to stay in a church at all costs, whatever its condition? What prospects of reform do religions today offer? How long will God allow them to work against his will?
The Watchtower, February 1, 1995, page 3.
We all understand why the Watchtower comes to the conclusion that a Catholic should leave the church because there is no hope for reform there, of course totally ignoring the fact that the Catholic Church has changed a lot for the better. Catholics should of course not hesitate to join the Watchtower organization. The question this Watchtower raise: "Is it wise to stay in a church at all costs, whatever its condition?" is a question which it is far more relevant for the JW “reformers” to ask themselves, than it would be for any Catholic.
Norm.