by jwsons 8 Replies latest jw friends
According to The Watchtower issue October 1st 2004 page 12, paragraph 14:
"A second way that organized religion dishonors God is through the conduct of its adherents. Christians are expected to follow the teaching of Jesus. Among other things, Jesus taught his followers to "love one another" and to remain "no part of the world."
So are they no longer an organized Society ? No longer God' visible organization, anymore ?
jwsons
No change. "Organized religion" is just another term they use to refer to "Babylon the Great", which of course they exempt themselves from:
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w54 11/15 p. 679 Is World Unity a Dream? ***This scarlet-colored wild beast represents a combination of nations, as the League of Nations was and the United Nations is. It has blasphemous names plastered on it, just as organized religion said the League was the political expression of Christ?s kingdom and has similarly extolled the United Nations as man?s only hope for peace. False religions mixing in politics have tried to give guidance to the United Nations, just as the harlot atop the wild beast tried to ride it.
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w80 3/1 p. 13 After Destruction of Organized Religion, Which Way? ***"ORGANIZED Religion of the world has fallen!" Such words we may expect haters of all popular religion to shout out jubilantly, when organized religion of today goes down in violent destruction. In which way will the survivors of that almost unbelievable event go? What will there be for them to turn to then? We ask these questions in all seriousness.
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g84 9/8 p. 15 Luther?A New Force for Unity? ***Antichurch and antireligious sentiments are growing. Organized religion seems to be falling apart. Secularization is on the march. Reunion is seen as a means of stemming the tide.
Funny how they can condemn "organised religion" and then call themselves an "organisation." *rolls eyes*
Here is their reasoning that they are an organized religion but the only good one. The WTS once taught they were not a religion (pre 1950). They have taught they are the only "true" organization but are not an organized religion. This could be a vomit alert for some.
Reasoning from the Scriptures p . 326 - p. 328 Religion
Is
belonging to an organized religion necessary?Most religious organizations have produced bad fruitage. It is not the fact that groups are organized that is bad. But many have promoted forms of worship that are based on false teachings and are largely ritualistic instead of providing genuine spiritual guidance; they have been misused to control the lives of people for selfish objectives; they have been overly concerned with money collections and ornate houses of worship instead of spiritual values; their members are often hypocritical. Obviously no one who loves righteousness would want to belong to such an organization. But true religion is a refreshing contrast to all of that. Nevertheless, to fulfill the Bible?s requirements, it must be organized.
Heb. 10:24, 25: "Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near." (To carry out this Scriptural command, there must be Christian meetings that we can attend on a consistent basis. Such an arrangement encourages us to express love toward others, not only concern about self.)
1 Cor. 1:10: "Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought." (Such unity would never be achieved if the individuals did not meet together, benefit from the same spiritual feeding program, and respect the agency through which such instruction was provided. See also John 17:20, 21.)
1 Pet. 2:17: "Have love for the whole association of brothers." (Does that include only those who may meet together for worship in a particular private home? Not at all; it is an international brotherhood, as shown by Galatians 2:8, 9 and 1 Corinthians 16:19.)
Matt. 24:14: "This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come." (For all nations to be given the opportunity to hear that good news, the preaching must be carried out in an orderly way, with suitable oversight. Love for God and for one?s fellowman has caused people around the earth to unite their efforts to do this work.)
See also the main heading "Organization."
Is
loving one?s fellowman what really counts?
There is no doubt about it, such love is important. (Rom. 13:8-10) But being a Christian involves more than simply being kind to our neighbor. Jesus said that his true disciples would be outstandingly identified by their love for one another, for fellow believers. (John 13:35) The importance of that is emphasized repeatedly in the Bible. (Gal. 6:10; 1 Pet. 4:8; 1 John 3:14, 16, 17) However, Jesus showed that even more important is our love for God himself, which is shown by our obedience to his commandments. (Matt. 22:35-38; 1 John 5:3) To demonstrate such love, we need to study and apply God?s Word and assemble with fellow servants of God for worship.
Is
having a personal relationship with God the really important thing?It certainly is important. Merely attending religious services in a formalistic way cannot take the place of it. But we need to be careful. Why? In the first century, there were people who thought they had a good relationship with God but whom Jesus showed to be badly mistaken. (John 8:41-44) The apostle Paul wrote about some who evidently were zealous about their faith and obviously thought they had a good relationship with God but who did not understand what was really required in order to have God?s approval.?Rom. 10:2-4.
Could we have a good personal relationship with God if we treated as of little importance his commandments? One of these is that we regularly assemble with fellow believers.?Heb. 10:24, 25.
If
we personally read the Bible, is that sufficient?It is true that many people can learn a great deal by reading the Bible personally. If their motive is to learn the truth about God and his purposes, what they are doing is highly commendable. (Acts 17:11) But, being honest with ourselves, are we truly going to grasp the full significance of it all without help? The Bible tells about a man who held a prominent position but who was humble enough to acknowledge his need for help in understanding Bible prophecy. That help was provided by a member of the Christian congregation.?Acts 8:26-38; compare other references to Philip in Acts 6:1-6; 8:5-17.
Of course, if a person reads the Bible but does not apply it in his life, it does him little good. If he believes it and acts on it, he will associate with God?s servants in regular congregation meetings. (Heb. 10:24, 25) He will also join with them in sharing the "good news" with other people.?1 Cor. 9:16; Mark 13:10; Matt. 28:19, 20
JW walks with a big billboard on his chest **Religion is a snare and a racket**while tapes of J.F Rutherford blast in the background...man runs upto JW and whispers..your in a Religion dumkoff.
Don't they have a book called, "Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry?"
Oh, I guess everyone is supposed to know that this was a different definition that they use for "organize." For some reason, this morning I am really hating them. I am not usually so vehement. I better chill, gotta spend the morning with the young'uns.
Shoshana
Of course, if a person reads the Bible but does not apply it in his life, it does him little good. If he believes it and acts on it, he will associate with God’s servants in regular congregation meetings. (Heb. 10:24, 25) He will also join with them in sharing the "good news" with other people.—1 Cor. 9:16; Mark 13:10; Matt. 28:19, 20
And what, pray tell, is a JW to do if he or she has proven to their self that the 1914 doctrine has been an error? It being a mistake means that the Kingdom was NOT established that year, and so neither has Jesus' Parousia taken place yet. Likewise, Satan hasn't been cast down out of heaven yet, and therefore Matthew 24:7 hasn't undergone fulfillment yet. Shall a person still attend meetings? Shall a person take books that teach such falsehoods and go from door to door offering what he knows to be false to people? What a dilemma!
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"they have been misused to control the lives of people for selfish objectives; they have been overly concerned with money collections and ornate houses of worship instead of spiritual values; their members are often hypocritical. Obviously no one who loves righteousness would want to belong to such an organization" ....OBVIOUSLY!!!!! BUBBAMAR NOW VOMITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JW walks with a big billboard on his chest **Religion is a snare and a racket--
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yep- when the federal gov started to give perks to RELIGIONS, the wt which for years had stated WE ARE NOT A RELIGION - and stated the above quote on sandwich boards of jw walking the street----------ALL OF A SUDDEN - -"WE ARE A RELIGION"
YOU GOT TO LOVE IT
