shadow: incidentally, would you admit the possibility of error on your part as well?
In this statement, I would not ever be willing to admit error: "Jehovah, the God of the Bible, would never provide holy spirit to actively support an arrangement that is hypocritical or Pharisaical."
While Jehovah did not immediately correct or punish every authority figure that stopped doing his will, he immediately removed his spirit from it. I find no scriptural exception to that rule. His spirit cannot support hypocrisy. His spirit did not support the Pharisees or those from that sect who later tried to subvert the souls of early Christians.
Paul said that he wished such men would even get themselves emasculated. (Galatians 5:1-12) He said that such men did not recognize that we were called for freedom and that we should never "let [ourselves] be confined again in a yoke of slavery" to laws and traditions of men.
{edited to add} His spirit cannot continue to support anyone who does not fully attempt do his will, witness Moses in Kadesh. Jehovah said, "YOU must speak to the crag before their eyes that it may indeed give its water." Moses did not do just so. He "struck the crag with his rod twice." As consequence, Moses was not used to bring the Israelites into the Land of Promise. Jehovah let the Israelites get water to keep his promise to Abraham.
shadow: How about a pragmatic look at this situation? You boldly speak out against what you see as error (incidentally, would you admit the possibility of error on your part as well?) and injustice. You are invited to a JC & df'd. At this point 99.9% of JW's (probably including at least some of your family) will no longer listen to you or have anything to do with you. Most other people you meet will not care a bit about what you have to say about JW's. Without a meeting schedule, your Bible study begins to fall by the wayside or perhaps you seek out another religion that will have its own version of corrupt human authority and likely fail on many points of essential criteria for God's approval such as Isa 2:4. Would you say that anyone's situation has improved enough to justify your actions? If, as a result of your actions, the faith in God of your wife and children are destroyed, would it be worth that price? Some of this reasoning could no doubt be spouted by individuals of other religions which takes us back to the necessity of endeavoring to perceive what the essential criteria are from God's viewpoint.
I have thought down this road for the last 15 years. That is what has kept me in, the inability to wake anyone else up. "Without a meeting schedule, [my] Bible study" would be much more productive and would result in my being more in harmony with the leadings of holy spirit, because I would not have to waste mental energy correcting the wrong thinking presented in the material being considered. Most Witnesses don't do Bible study. Most don't even do WT Publication Study. They do WT Publication Reading with the aid of a few partially quoted verses from the Bible. Or they may hastily look up a verse or two at the meeting.
I'm sure you know that is a problem addressed by every CO, but the response has been to dumb down the literature even more. This makes me think it is not seen as a "problem" at higher levels. Bible reading is stressed, while Bible study should always be along with the publications provided by the Faithful and Discreet Slave (see paragraph 11 in this past week's study article) to keep anyone from the sin of "harbor[ing] private ideas."
"Would you say that anyone's situation has improved enough to justify your actions?" If I were DF'd? Yes. Mine. Each person has one relationship with God to think of - first and foremost. No one else's relationship is totally dependent upon me. In my opinion, that is not selfishness and I think it is unkind of you to paint it as selfishness. Unless that is part of how you cope, in which case, I don't consider it unkindness but I would consider it at least a little self-deluding. Understandably self-deluding, though.
I have considered fading. If I fade away, no one would be restricted from talking to me and I would have access to elders, as a "weak one," to ask questions of them. As a weak Christian, I would not be held to as rigid a standard as a mature Christian. If I am inactive and not attending meetings I will automatically be viewed as weak without ever saying a word to that effect. They would form their own conclusions and then anything questioning that I say would just reinforce that preconception.
shadow: the faith in God of your wife and children are destroyed
If her faith was that weak to begin with, did I do what a spiritual head should do? Did I really encourage her and help her place her confidence and assurance on solid ground? If not, could my leaving possibly be destructive to something that was never really present to begin with? I think we have much in common, but I am getting the feeling that you would recommend I play by the rules inside a system you admit is corrupt (diseased, plague-ridden) while every bone in my body daily screams, "Quit touching the unclean thing!"
Shadow, obviously you do not mind "harbor[ing] private ideas" that conflict with Governing Body doctrine. I respect you very much for your willingness to help me cope with what you know is a very difficult situation. So I would like your personal opinion.
Do you think John 13:34, 35 is fulfilled by an organization, or by individuals?
Do you believe that "the righteous ones" mentioned in Proverbs 4:18 refers to an organization or individuals?
What about "the righteous one" of Psalm 97:11?
Does Psalm 119:105 apply to the feet (plural) of an organization, or to a roadway provided by an organization?
Who is "the light of the world" in Matthew 5:14, an organization or individuals?
Applying the Genesis 2:7 rule to Matthew 5:14, do I have light or am I light?
I feel I am currently under a measuring basket and have felt that way for a very long time. I feel cramped for room. If you don't, I am eager to know how you cope. Is it by the mental tricks you recommend here? Is there more to it than that? Do you believe this is God's organization for the salvation of mankind, that they are truly faithful stewards of sacred secrets? (1 Corinthians 3:2)
Respectfully,
OldSoul
