There are those of us who cry out for freedom. Is there such a thing as Christian Freedom? I believe that there is. Many of us in our own religious circles are being suppressed not to think and to feel. The human need of expression and love to one another is being dictated to only love those in our own religious environment. This alone causes the division we know in and else where throughout the world. This must stop, but it cannot unless we ourselves put a stop to it. We can never like everybody everywhere all the time but at the same time do we need such divisions; on the other hand, religion supposedly preaches love but approves the actions of shunning and neglect because one is not part of their organization.
As a member of the Jehovahs Witness Organization I see this problem within our group. In the last two weeks I have been told that we must avoid those who are not of our faith and to also avoid any one who questions the Organizations policies. Yes, it is true. We are being told by the leaders of each congregation to follow this direction so not to be against god's word. I have spoken too many of my associates and peers about this matter and we are all dumbfounded that our own organization has subjected us to follow the same rules and guidelines the Pharisees had done in Christ time.
I read a book recently and it brought some facts I wanted to share with others. It was written by Bernard McGinn. In his book titled the Coming of the Antichristo he explained in his chapter of Heretics how religions then and now are still similar. He said,
Rhetoric was used internally; to identify certain Christians as apocalyptic enemies because of their heretical beliefs.....{These} traditions offer unusually strong resources for group solidarity and action against threats, imagined or real. This is as true as we approach the year 2000 as it was at the turn of the first millennium....Those who use [this] language and its equivalents [use it] only as a weapon to smear opponents.
I can say this. We ask Jehovah that we have recognized the cunning and the damaging seduction of our souls by false and hypocritical prophets, guided by the Antichrist against the Law of Jehovah that we may beware of them and diligently be on our guard against them. For we now clearly see the Great Abomination standing in the , as prophesied by the prophet Daniel: the ridicule, blasphemy, suppression, and repudiation of all Gods truth. I ask for the reformation of our current problems.
It is clearly evident that only those who say the word Apostate are afraid that their faith and traditions can not hold up to the truth or criticism. Is it true that our religion is scared that its members are fed up with the useless speculation about the end? The irony is that many who are members are convinced the Antichrist is working within the Organization. The movement has begun for the Elders to stop frightening their congregations of the coming end to create their own means of getting them to obey what ever whim they have that week.
An article came out published by the Organization, and I quote,
All Christians should be careful not to add to the burdens of others by taking it upon themselves to impose their own ideas in matters of personal choice.....Others tend to turn the Societys suggestions and guidelines into rules....Some have carried this mature counsel to extremes.
If the article can be published and written for us for counsel then obviously there is a problem of those who are doing this within the organization. It stands to reason this is so or it would have not been written for us.
I think these scriptures apply to all: Ephesians 2:8-10, 2Corinthians 3:6, Romans 7:6, John 7:24.
One last point that should be brought out is the issue of disfellowshipping. It is unscriptural and against the true teaching of our Holy God. The New Jerusalem Bible, NIV, and the Bible and others give the correct interpretation of the Holy Bible without the slighted version we are forced to except as the true Bible. Isaiah 58:7 says, you should not deny your own kin. Yet, the Organization will follow Matthew 18:15-17 and back it up with its own litature. The Elders handbook Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock quotes all internal doctrine to support this crime of the personality. The vague interpretation is as solid as truth as far as the other members are concerned and will say anything to defend this injury. Shunning was condemned as part of the old order by Christ himself; furthermore, the Elders assume a position to be judges by claiming to purify the congregation. Sadducees and Pharisees way of thinking is supported in are new way of thinking or the new light as they call it. The Elders handbook says convicting the wrongdoer and convincing the wrongdoer of his errors can bring him back to repentance. This is the facts and all should know the truth about the true order of things in this organization.