The Kingdom Hall as a "holy place": Is it scriptural?

by Island Man 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Island Man

  Jehovah's Witnesses implicitly regard kingdom halls as holy places. Both in talks and in literature, the kingdom hall is sometimes described as a "center of pure worship in the community". Kingdom halls are dedicated to Jehovah, in immitation of the fact that Solomon dedicated the temple to Jehovah. There are also Watchtower policies stipulating what cannot be done at a kingdom hall - even though the very said things can be done elsewhere and presided over by elders and attended by JWs in much the same format as done at the kingdom hall. (think of who qualify to have their funeral at the kingdom hall, as one example)

  All of the above show that JWs regard the physical kingdom hall as a holy place. But are christians supposed to view a physical meeting place as a holy place? I think Jesus' answer to the Samaritan woman's question of where should persons worship God, covers this issue. Jesus indicated that true worshippers would not be required to worship God at prescribed physical locations regarded as holy, but to worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:20-24) There are thus no holy places for meeting - only holy meeting sessions convened in Jesus' name and presided over by those worshipping God in spirit and truth. (Matthew 18:20; 1 Timothy 3:1-10)

  Note too, that the NT makes no mention of christians constructing places of worship and dedicating these to God. They simply met in homes. The whole Watchtower concept of dedicating a building as "Jehovah's house" of pure worship seems to be an atavism to the temple worship arrangement of OT Judaism. It demontrates that Watchtower has not progressed to full christian maturity but is still allowing itself to be sucked into OT legalism, slaving for them all over again, even after the christ has fulfilled the law. (Galatians 4:9)
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  blondie

  Some jws think there is some special physical safety for them in the building, KH. That is why some jws in the Philippines ran to the KH and all died.

  There was a case in South America where a volcano blew and mud covered the town. If the jws had run uphill rather than to the KH down from the mud they would have lived.

  Like some other religions they confuse "congregation" with a building rather than a group of Christians together. Many jws misapply Isa 26:20 as being the literal building, not the group of people. Congregation is misinterpreted.

  *** w09 5/15 p. 8 Where Should You Be When the End Comes? ***

  In our day, the “interior rooms” of this prophecy could be closely associated with the more than 100,000 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world. Such congregations play an important role in our lives. They will continue to do so through “the great tribulation.” (Rev. 7:14) God’s people are commanded to go into their “interior rooms” and hide themselves “until the denunciation passes over.” It is vital that we develop and maintain a wholesome attitude toward the congregation and be firmly resolved to stay in close association with it.
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  cofty

  Some of the elders in my old hall treated the platform as the Most Holy.

  They would get really upset if the children went on the platform after the meeting.
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  Island Man

  Some jws think there is some special physical safety for them in the building, KH. That is why some jws in the Philippines ran to the KH and all died.

  There was a case in South America where a volcano blew and mud covered the town. If the jws had run uphill rather than to the KH down from the mud they would have lived.

  Great examples Blondie! They show how this teaching poses a danger in time of natural disaster and has already cost lives.

  Someone should do up a parody of the JWs' 'End of False Religion' kingdom news tract but with only the teachings of JWs that are harmful - blood, two witness rule for dealing with pedophilia, discouraging higher education, kingdom hall as a holy place causing loss of life in time of disaster, etc.
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  zeb

  Blondie: Will the wts mention the dead of the Phillipines? No chance. If their Kh had survived the storm Bethel would have been shouting from the NY rooftops.

  We have many Phillipinos in our town lovely hard working good citizens my heart rent when i saw what happened there.
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  OUTLAW

  When the Real Estate Value goes up..

  The WBT$ has no problem selling a "WBT$ Holy Place" Kingdom Hall to another Church..

  .

  .............Satan`s Money is Good!..

  ......The WBT$ Loves Satan`s Money!..

  ...

  .................................................... ...OUTLAW
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  blondie

  cofty, in the congregations I went to the sound equipment would at times be left out and not put away. I saw a 6 year old swinging the mike around and drop it...not good. In one case I saw a little one tumble down the stairs off the platform. So I can see some good reasons to keep children off the stage unless they have a part in the program.

  I did see parents let their child run wild at the KH mowing down disabled, older jws. I had no problem stepping in and stopping it, though only a sister. I can remember when it became a requirement for parents to accompany children to the restroom after it had been flooded several times and the celing pasted with wet toilet paper. Or the children who played outside in the parking lot at night annoying the neighbors and almost getting run over by jws going home.

  Holy, not in my experience but wanting to keep things safe.

  What annoyed me were congregations that had the Tetragrammaton framed at the entrance as if there was some holiness connected with it.
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  Island Man

  Holy, not in my experience but wanting to keep things safe.

  Perhaps "holy place" is a somewhat poor choice of terminology on my part. JWs don't regard the Kingdom hall with the same degree of reverence that the Jews regarded the temple. But they do nonetheless have a measure of reverence for the building. They do regard the physical building itself as being "Jehovah's house". They dedicate the building in imitation of the ancient Jews dedicating the temple so they do have a similar kind of reverence for the KH as the Jews had for the temple. The only difference is in the degree of reverence.
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  braincleaned

  Good post Island Man!
  
  OUTLAW, totally nailed it! LOL!
  
  What annoyed me were congregations that had the Tetragrammaton framed at the entrance as if there was some holiness connected with it.
  
  Yep blondie — JWs are THAT superstitious! LOL!
  In the early 70's it was a fad putting the Tetragrammaton on their cars! Then the society said "No!" LOL! — it was the JW version of St. Christopher!!!
  
  
  Island Man, you were right in the first place, I know MANY that consider it holy and a physical protection! Superstition at its best.