Hi, after reading the first page, I wrote this possible response. I now realize there are two more pages I haven't read. Please forgive if my points have already been made. I lifted some of these points from the very long letter I wrote to my mother...
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Mom... In the beginning, a man named Charles started a religious association in an attempt to bring people together. People of all different religions who were often childishly separating themselves from one another. In the Watchtower of February 1884, he wrote...
"We call ourselves simply Christians and we raise no fence to separate from us any who believe in the foundation stone of our building mentioned by Paul: "That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures"; and those for whom this is not broad enough have no right to the name Christian."
Yes, Charles saw the idea of 'raising fences' to be an unnecessary and un-Christian thing. He proceeded with his ministry in this spirit, recognizing that people have a right to use the minds God gave them, and that there was no need to be upset by disagreements...
"We do not require therefore that all shall see just as we do in order to be called Christians..." [Watchtower April 1882 Q&A]
He even recognized the tragic result of 'raising fences' and forcing others into a required system of belief...
"The endeavor to compel all men to think alike on all subjects, culminated in the great apostasy and the development of the great papal system…" [Watchtower September 1st, 1893]
Obviously much has changed in the organization Charles started. He wrote, "A visible organization is out of harmony with God’s divine plan." [Watchtower December 1st, 1894] Yet today this organization sternly warns against even "questioning the counsel that is provided by God’s visible organization.” [Watchtower January 15, 1893]
The Bible says “Do not put YOUR trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs.” [Psalm 146:3, NWT] The Apostle Paul often identified the relationship we were supposed to have with those who "take the lead" among us. He said such persons would not be "masters over YOUR faith, but we are fellow workers for YOUR joy, for it is by [YOUR] faith that YOU are standing.” [2 Cor. 1:24, NWT] With reference to those with authority who would judge him, he said, "Now to me it is a very trivial matter that I should be examined by YOU or by a human tribunal.” [1 Cor. 4:3, NWT]
But even though the Bible clearly teaches that it is by your own faith you are standing, even though the Christian example is not to let the "fear of man" guide your life, your letter indicates that you have come to recognize "the society" as the only means to know "how to live and gain God's favor!" You do not even know how to 'stand by your own faith.' "I can only do what I been doing for 40 years."
My love for you and Dad is not affected one bit. I love you for all of the things you are that have nothing to do with these men in New York. This love is something God put in you and I—and the rest of our family. It is an entirely unnatural and unscriptural thing to allow a group of men to convince you that, because I no longer think they are what they say they are, you should act out of harmony with that love by shunning me.
I submit to you that it is the height of small mindedness for either of us to decide that, since we may have disagreements about what is and is not true, we should punish the other for it. I love you and want you to be happy. And although we have disagreements in some areas, I want you to know that, in the sincerity of my heart, I am endeavoring to be every bit as righteous as you originally hoped I'd be.
