James 1:27 (New World Translation): "The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after ophans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world."
Please ask the Witnesses who visit with you what provisions they have for orphans and widows in the organization. Do they build orphanages? Feed or educate the poor? Is there a fund to help older women if they are struggling financially? An institution that helps with their physical needs? A van that takes them to their medical appointments? A cleaning service for their homes? (They have none of these things but will try to tell you that they provide such assistance on a one-on-one basis for congregation members. Ask who arranges the help. Also, ask if the member must be in good standing to get such aid. Ask what being in good standing entails.)
Some religions feel that the events which unfold in Revelation unfold in conjunction with pure worship in the heavens. If so, at Witness services, where are:
Lamps of fire? Revelation 4:5 "And out of the throne there are proceeding lightnings and voices and thunders; and [there are] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, and these mean the seven spirits of God." (Witnesses teach these seven spirits represent the fullness of God's holy spirit.)
Water? Revelation 4:6 "And before the throne there is, as it were, a glassy sea, like crystal." (Witnesses teach the glassy sea represents the cleansing, recorded, Word of God.)
Obeisance (Kneeling)? Revelation 4:9,10a "And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanskgiving to the one seated upon the throne, the one that lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated upon the throne and workship the One that lives forever and ever"
Revelation 7:11,12 "And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell upon their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength [be] to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Reading of Scrolls (Bible) as at the synagogue? Revelation 5:1, 2 "And I saw in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne a scroll written within and on the reverse side, sealed tight with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice: 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals?'" (The answer is the Lamb, the Word of God personified.)
Incense? Revelation 8:3,4 "And another angel arrived and stood at the altar, having a golden incense vessel; and a large quantity of incense was given him to offer it with the prayers of all the holy ones upon the golden altar that was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense ascended from the hand of the angel with the prayers of the holy ones before God."
There is also singing depicted, but Witnesses DO sing as part of their meetings.
Acts 2:40-42 "And with many other words [Peter] bore thorough witness and kept exhorting them, saying: 'Get saved from this crooked generation.' Therefore those who embraced his word heartily were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added. And they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to sharing [with one another,], to taking of meals and to prayers."
1 Corinthians 14:26-33 "What is to be done, then, brothers? When YOU come together, one has a psalm, another has a teaching, another has a revelation, another has a tongue, another has an interpretation. Let all things take place for upbuilding. And if someone speaks in a tongue, let it be limited to two or three at the most, and in turns; and let someone translate. But if there be no translator, let him keep silent in the congregation and speak to himself and to God. Further, let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern the meaning. But if there is a revelation to another one while sitting there, let the first one keep silent. for YOU can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be encouraged. And [gifts of] the spirit of the prophets are to be controlled by the prophets. For God is [a God], not of disorder, but of peace."
1 Corinthians 16:1, 2 "Now concerning the collection that is for the holy ones, just as I gave orders to the congregations of Galatia, do that way also yourselves. Every first day of the week let each of YOU at his own house set something aside in store as he may be prospering, so that when I arrive collections will not take place then." (Witnesses make a big deal that there is no public collection at their meetings and this does seem to have Scriptural backing with this verse. They also make a big deal that they have no paid clergy. But there are contribution boxes for the "Worldwide Work" in every Kingdom Hall, and those donations help pay for the room and board of thousands of Witness 'holy ones' around the world -- the Witnesses own sort of 'religious': traveling overseers, Branch overseers, Bethelites, Governing Body, missionaries.)
Good luck!
outnfree
