Baptism Into the Organization

by AlanF 6 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  AlanF

  Today's remarks about the WTS's 1985 baptismal vows reminded me of
  an incident an elder recently told me about. Seems a man was still
  married to his first wife when he married a second wife, making him
  a bigamist. Then they both got baptized. Eventually the congregation
  learned about the bigamy, so the man was brought before a judicial
  committee. Eventually the Society was called in, which decided that
  the man's and the woman's baptisms should be annulled, since they
  were not "clean in Jehovah's eyes" when they were baptized. So the
  baptisms were annulled, but the man couldn't be disfellowshipped
  since, no longer being baptized, he was not a member of the
  congregation.

  Now think about that a bit. If baptism is a symbol of one's dedication
  to God, then nothing that any human being might decide has any
  bearing on either the dedication or the baptism. Therefore the
  Society's action in annulling the baptisms was outrageously
  unchristian. On the other hand, if the ceremony of baptism in
  JW-land is not a dedication to God, but a rite of joining the JW
  organization, then the Society can certainly annul it, since it
  makes the rules for JW membership.

  Given these facts, it becomes obvious that the Watchtower Society
  does not view baptism as a dedication to God, but as a ceremony
  where a proselyte joins himself to the Watchtower organization.
  In other words, in JW-land, dedication and baptism have nothing to
  do with God, but are entirely focused on the Watchtower Society.

  Anyone who retains any notion that Jehovah's Witnesses have anything
  to do with "Jehovah" is fooling himself.

  AlanF
• 

  Amazing

  Hi AF: Yep, well said, "Given these facts, it becomes obvious that the Watchtower Society does not view baptism as a dedication to God, but as a ceremony where a proselyte joins himself to the Watchtower organization ... Anyone who retains any notion that Jehovah's Witnesses have anything to do with "Jehovah" is fooling himself."

  I have to admit that this is the first time I have ever heard of the Society 'annulling' a baptism. But, if they are willing to 'annull' for some bigamist, then why not 'annull' for any who simply desire to leave peacefully, or those baptized as minors.

  When I was an Elder, if this situation would have come up, we would have dealt with the man the same as with a normal baptized JW ... and we would have given him some time to clear up the mess as a show of his repentance. If he did not clear it up, such as divorcing the second wife and moving back with the first wife (or something that would have at least ended the duplicity of marriages), we would have simply disfellowshiped him.

  Although, it is a rare enough case, I can see where we might have consulted with the Circuit Overseer. And, depending on who he might be at the time would have determined what course of action. I have no doubt that a CO would call the Society for direction, and hence, we may have experienced an 'annullment' too.

  Thanks for sharing that information. - Simply Amazing
• 

  Uncanny

  I got baptised as one of Jehovah's Christian Witneses in 1982, three years before the oral vows during the ceremony were altered to pledge allegiance to the Watchtower Society as well as the Creator.

  Therefore, I rate my baptism as fully legal and acceptable to God. (Not that it means much to me anymore. Time will tell.)

  But do baptised brothers and sisters from the past 15 years enjoy the same status? Hardly. And the great shame is that virtually none of these brothers and sisters even realise that they have really dedicated their lives to an Organisation, not a God. This newly written baptismal pledge of allegiance makes one wonder how many other sneaking changes have been made by the Organisation in the past 15-20 years; only to go unchallenged, or worst, unnoticed, by the faithful rank and file JW majority.

  You can hardly blame the sheeplike ones though. For since the failure of other long held doctrines and 'unofficial' predictions like that epic 1975 "Armageddon is Here" one, it seems the WTBS' Governing Body has turned chameleon-like alterations and/or additions into an art form. As a faithful witness, I wasn't even aware of the impact of the changes made for a symbolic dedication until I did some exterior research when on my way out of the organisation just over a year ago now.

  So how insidiously dangerous a religion like this one can be. For when you think you've found the right channel - that exclusive hotline to God - it's so easy to be mind controlled: lulled into mental lethargy by just always going along with what you're told.

  Not only are the Society's so-called powers to annul a baptism completely outrageous and unacceptable, as you have related above, AF, a JW baptism is indeed bogus - an insult to the Creator - and just a totally adulterated sham. A snare and a racket, for sure.

  Uncanny
• 

  logical

  Therefore, I rate my baptism as fully legal and acceptable to God. (Not that it means much to me anymore. Time will tell.)

  Read Ecclesiastes 5:4-6
• 

  Uncanny

  Oh dear, I stand unliked and corrected. How logical of you.

  'When you make a vow to God do not be backward about paying it off, because fools are not liked...' Eccl 5:4 (The Bible In Living English.)

  I would rather be a fool than a fraud.

  Uncanny
• 

  mann377

  After all when a person is disfellowshiped the anouncement is that so-and-so is no longer a JW. I once asked an elder if the person disfellowshiped is still a Christian. He said he didn't know. So therefore the Society is instructing christians to not speak to other christians? And this is the spritual paradise? (give me a break!!!)
• 

  Chalam

  Hi Uncany,
  "Therefore, I rate my baptism as fully legal and acceptable to God."
  
  The Bible says to believe and then be baptised?
  
  So are you sure that what you have believed is acceptable to God?
  
  John 1 (New International Version)
  12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[c] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
  
  Acts 4:12 (New International Version)
  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
  
  Have a read of the passages where these verse come from if you want to know what name that is.
  
  All the best,
  Stephen