I hope to send this letter today although I must seriously consider the consequences if I do.
Please let me know if I got the NGO info right.
Dear brothers,
I am writing on two matters of major concern to me.
Firstly recently I have become aware of the fact that the Watchtower society of Jehovah’s witnesses in New York is associated as an NGO (non governmental organisation) with the department of public information of the United Nations organisation.
At first I was very skeptical of the idea , but when I checked it out on the UN’s web site I found that Jehovah’s Witnesses were indeed listed in partnership with the UN.
This is puzzling to me as by belief has been that the UN was taught by the Faithful and discreet slave to be part of Satan’s political system of things.
Here are some quotes from Watchtower literature.
*** re 248 34 An Awesome Mystery Solved ***
The UN is actually a blasphemous counterfeit of God’s Messianic Kingdom by his Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ—to whose princely rule there will be no end.
*** w87 9/1 20 On Guard Against "Peace and Security" as Devised by Nations ***
9 In the prophecy of Isaiah, the Creator explicitly says: "The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool." (Isaiah 66:1) The nations down here on his footstool are not adorning it by their United Nations organization. They are striving politically to maintain global peace and security and thereby keep the United Nations in existence. Jehovah’s dedicated Witnesses on earth cannot join with the world in depending upon the man-made measures that are being undertaken for the peace and security of the worldly nations. They take to heart the words of James 4:4: "Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God."
Here are some of the requirements set out by the UN in the UN’s web site as to who qualifies as an NGO.
"Non-Governmental Organizations formally associated with United Nations through the Department of Public Information (DPI) disseminate information about the work of the United Nations to their memberships and endeavour to build knowledge about the United Nations and support for the Organization at the grassroots level. Informally, these organizations are known as"DPI/NGOs"."
"Organizations eligible for association with DPI are those that: Share the ideals of the UN Charter; Operate solely on a not-for-profit basis; Have a demonstrated interest in United Nations issues and proven ability to reach large or specialized audiences, such as educators, media representatives, policy makers and the business community Have the commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes about UN activities by publishing newsletters, bulletins, and pamphlets; organizing conferences, seminars and round tables; and enlisting the cooperation of the media."
It is my understanding that the application to become a NGO was signed by a member of the governing body .
I don’t think I need to explain why this issue raises concern in me.
Please can you confirm the information provided is correct.
Also please explain why this has been kept from the knowledge of Jehovah’s witnesses in general and also why this seemingly hypocritical situation has been allowed to exist?
My second point of concern is in regard to a statement found in the Aug 1 W 2001 pg 14 p8.
Talking of mature Christians it says,
"He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbour PRIVATE ideas when it comes to bible understanding."
A dictionary definition of harbour is :Keep in ones mind.
So we are told we are not to keep in mind private ideas as regard to the bible.
That is , ideas that we tell no one about , only we ourselves know them.
Therefore we must think only what the faithful and discrete slave tells us to think as regard to the bible even if it does not make sense to us or we have seen other evidence that contradicts the teachings of the watchtower publications.
Compare this to the statement found in the July 1 2001 W pg 18 p 3.
"Religious exhortations to the effect that you should just believe and should doubt nothing are dangerous and deceptive."
I find the statement found in the Aug 1 Watchtower to be a religious exhortation that I should believe what the faithful and discrete slave say through the publications and that I should not doubt what they say , even to the extent that I give my mind over to them and not even think differently to them even if I feel I have reason to do so.
Therefore I find the evident contradiction found in the Watchtower publications troubling.
Consider the statement made by the Christ Jesus at Matt :23,10.
"Neither be called leaders, for your leader is one, the Christ."
What is the difference between being called leaders and acting as such?
A leader is simply "a person or thing that leads."
Are the faithful and discreeet slave appointed to lead our minds, or to help us?
Have not the watchtower publications said in the past that they are only "helps"
in bible understanding?
I trust that you understand why these above mentioned facts have been of great trouble to my mind. I anticipate that you will consider what I have written and will be able to justify the stand taken by the watchtower society by means of a reasonable explanation.
Your brother,