beroean said: Since my appointment (over 5 years ago), I have not asked, been asked, or heard other elders in my cong. talk about spying on publishers. In fact, at a recent Elders school it was mentioned how we are NOT a policing organization.
Sorry, but that is a gross misrepresentation of the facts. First of all, paranoia is rampant in the Organization; inparticular, in the Governing Body's minds. Witnesses are trained from the time they can talk, that if you know of someone in the congregation who has committed a sin (like breaking one of the hundreds of manmade rules the GB has forced upon the rank and file), then you either convince them to confess to the gestapo elders, or it's your God-given duty to squeal on them. Want some proof? Here's a few quotes from the horses' mouth:
*** w01 6/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***
Even if a person does not voluntarily confess his sin, he may still be moved to repentance when approached by the elders, as David was when approached by Nathan.
***
w97 8/15 p. 27 Why Report What Is Bad? ***
So if you learn about the serious wrongdoing of a fellow Christian, what should you do? First of all, it is important that there is valid reason to believe that serious wrongdoing has really occurred. "Do not become a witness against your fellowman without grounds," stated the wise man. "Then you would have to be foolish with your lips."—Proverbs 24:28.
You may decide to go directly to the elders. It is not wrong to do so. If the person does not report to the elders within a reasonable period of time, then you should.
***
w81 3/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***
It is understood that when "fornication" on the part of a believing marriage mate comes to light, this should be brought to the attention of the body of elders in the congregation. (Matt. 19:9) If the guilty party does not do this, then the innocent mate would have a responsibility to report the wrongdoing in the interests of keeping Jehovah’s congregation clean.
***
w85 11/15 pp. 20-21 par. 15 Do Not Share in the Sins of Others ***
Therefore, after we have given the erring individual a reasonable amount of time to approach the elders about his wrongdoing, it is our responsibility before Jehovah not to be a sharer in his sin. We need to inform the responsible overseers that the person has revealed serious wrongdoing that merits their investigation.
This next one is the real killer though. Not only are you told to squeal on your fellow Christian, but you're told to do so, even if it means breaking the law (with the very real possibility that you'll get fired from your job and possibly get charged with a crime.) And for what? Because they like to police everyone to make sure the reputation of the congregation is a-okay:
***
w879/1p.13"ATimetoSpeak"—When?***
Hence, there may be times when a Christian is obligated to bring a matter to the attention of the elders. True, it is illegal in many countries to disclose to unauthorized ones what is found in private records. But if a Christian feels, after prayerful consideration, that he is facing a situation where the law of God required him to report what he knew despite the demands of lesser authorities, then that is a responsibility he accepts before Jehovah. There are times when a Christian "must obey God as ruler rather than men."
In this instance, however, Mary had some other significant information. For example, she knew that the sister had paid the bill [to pay for an abortion], apparently acknowledging that she had received the service specified. Also, she knew personally that the sister was single, thus raising the possibility of fornication. Mary felt a desire lovingly to help one who may have erred and to protect the cleanness of Jehovah’s organization, remembering Proverbs 14:25: "A true witness is delivering souls, but a deceitful one launches forth mere lies."
Mary was somewhat apprehensive about the legal aspects but felt that in this situation Bible principles should carry more weight than the requirement that she protect the privacy of the medical records
why would an Elder ask a publisher who's not zealous enough to become a pioneer, ministerial servant, or elder to spy on a fellow publisher. Wouldn't the average 'Joe Blo' publisher warn the publisher in question if that were the case? Just because the 70 year old nosy publisher meddling in other people's affairs who's constantly bending an Elders ear doesn't mean they are hired by the Elders.
I think the examples I provided above from the Society's own literature speaks for itself. I've known quite a few people who were being stalked by the local elders. One of them is a good friend of mind. He and his wife had split up (due to her committing adultery and just generally being a psychpath) and he moved out. Even though he hadn't gone to the meetings for 3 years, the local elders decided to take it upon themselves to follow him around to see if he was committing fornication. One night, he was taking a box of stuff that belonged to his ex-wife, over to his brother in law's house and the elders followed him. He went right up to them, knocked on the window of the car and said "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" They were flustered and got out of there. He phoned them later and told them that if they ever followed him like that again, he'd have them charged with stalking.
They do for the same reason other cult leaders tell their flock to spy on each other and why Hitler trained his followers to rat on anyone who didn't believe in him or the Third Reich: It's another form of mind control. And it's sick.
