Sep. 2, 2022

"Beliefs Clarified"

We are told by the organization’s leadership that the running list of accumulated adjustments in teachings since 1870, shows evidence of three vital factors at work, which somehow prove that the leadership is directed in the same way as the early apostles.  These three factors are -  

 

#1 -  Holy Spirit

#2 -  angelic assistance

#3 - reliance on the scriptures

They state that since Jesus knew “first hand” that these three factors “helped him take the lead” when on earth, he has provided the governing leaders with the same assistance. In my heart, I feel this statement is an appalling defamation against the power, authority, and wisdom of Christ in their attempt to substantiate their decision to “take the lead” over God’s anointed in the organization. (Luke 22:24; Mark 10:42-45; John 5:41-43; Rom 12:16; 1 Cor 4:6; Phil 2:3-6; Matt 24:48-51)  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A24%3B+Mark+10%3A42-45%3B+John+5%3A41-43%3B+Rom+12%3A16%3B+1+Cor+4%3A6%3B+Phil+2%3A3-6%3B+Matt+24%3A48-51&version=CSB

Please let these scriptures speak, few among many, addressing the authority and power of Jesus Christ; while also remembering that the “governors” are by their own admittance,  not inspired by Holy Spirit.  (Isa 11:2; Matt 17:1-5; 2 Pet 1:17; John 1:1-4,14; 16:33; 18:37; 1 Pet 3:18; Col 2:2-3) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa+11%3A2%3B+Matt+17%3A1-5%3B+2+Pet+1%3A17%3B+John+1%3A1-4%2C14%3B+16%3A33%3B+18%3A37%3B+1+Pet+3%3A18%3B+Col+2%3A2-3&version=NKJV

They are in essence, denying their anointing, which is the divine pouring out of Holy Spirit into one’s heart, becoming spiritual members of Christ’s body.  (Rom 8:9,11;1 John 2:27; Gal 4:6; 2 Cor 13:5; 1 Cor 11:29; Col 2:18-19) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom+8%3A9%2C11%3B1+John+2%3A27%3B+Gal+4%3A6%3B+2+Cor+13%3A5%3B+1+Cor+11%3A29%3B+Col+2%3A18-19&version=NASB1995

Despite obvious proof in the list of failures itself, where each replaced doctrine was once blasphemously called “truth” coming from God…(Num 23:19; Mark 7:7; 2 John 1:9; Heb 6:18; Gal 1:6-9; Col 1:10) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Num+23%3A19%3B+Mark+7%3A7%3B+2+John+1%3A9%3B+Heb+6%3A18%3B+Gal+1%3A6-9%3B+Col+1%3A10&version=NASB1995

 …despite this, the leaders continue to assure the JW, that their teachings are “not by human wisdom, but with wisdom taught by the spirit.” (1 Cor 2:13).     https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor+2%3A13&version=NASB1995

However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy”.   James 3:17

If God does not lie, and if Jesus is the Way of Truth, we should ask ourselves which spirit of “wisdom” would inspire someone to call a false teaching, “the truth”.  (John 14:6;7:18) (Gen 3:3-5; Isa 5:20-21;29:13-16; Rom 1:18; 1 Cor 2:6; 1 Tim 4:1) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A6%3B+7%3A16-18%3B+Gen+3%3A3-5%3B+Isa+5%3A20-21%3B29%3A13-16%3B+Rom+1%3A18%3B+1+Cor+2%3A6%3B+1+Tim+4%3A1&version=CSB

I have mentioned this list a few times in the past.  Knowing that JWs accept its obvious failures as apparent evidence of “new light”- or as they say, the revealing of the “deep things of God” - is troubling enough; yet, I find it equally disturbing how in the same breath, the leaders over the years, have compared themselves on equal footing with Moses; and by evidence made here, to Jesus, and to the apostles. (Ps 92:5-6; Rom 12:3; 15:18-19; 1 Cor 2:4; 2 Cor 12:9; Eph 1:3-6,19) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps+92%3A5-6%3B+Rom+12%3A3%3B+15%3A18-19%3B+1+Cor+2%3A4%3B+2+Cor+12%3A9%3B+Eph+1%3A3-6%2C19&version=NKJV

We find no long list of adjustments in God’s inspired Word.  We have no book in the Bible that could remotely be compared to their “beliefs clarified”; where erroneous teachings devoid of any light of truth, are stacked precariously high, like wooden blocks in a game of chance. (Prov 2:11-14; John 3:19-20) What the apostles wrote has stayed with us throughout the millenniums.   But these men, in their lack of divine inspiration and progression in the wisdom of Christ, have failed to produce not even one book as a primary teaching tool since the organization’s inception. However, their ambition has not been deterred from establishing their spiritual authority at the same level or above, that of the apostles. (Ps 82:5-7; 2 Thess 2:1-2; Rev 2:2) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov+2%3A11-14%3B+John+3%3A19-20%3BPs+82%3A5-7%3B+2+Thess+2%3A1-2%3B+Rev+2%3A2&version=CSB

They declare to possess the same powerful gift of teaching as the twelve men Jesus chose to set the foundation of the spiritual house of God. (John 2:19-21; Matt 16:18-19;Matt 10:1; Acts 1:8; 2:43; 5:12-16; 2 Cor 12:12; 1 Thess 1:5; 1 Cor 3:10-11; Eph 2:20-21)  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+2%3A19-21%3B+Matt+16%3A18-19%3BMatt+10%3A1%3B+Acts+1%3A8%3B+2%3A43%3B+5%3A12-16%3B+2+Cor+12%3A12%3B+1+Thess+1%3A5%3B+1+Cor+3%3A10-11%3B+Eph+2%3A20-21&version=CSB

They boldly claim to be sent by God to teach us in the truthful doctrine of Jesus Christ. (Deut 18:21-22; Jer 28:15; Isa 8:20; Matt 24:45,48-51; 2 Cor 11:1-4; 2 Tim 4:3,4; 1 John 4:1,5-6; Rev 2:20; 13:11-12) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut+18%3A21-22%3B+Jer+28%3A15%3B+Isa+8%3A20%3B+Matt+24%3A45%2C48-51%3B+2+Cor+11%3A1-4%3B+2+Tim+4%3A3%2C4%3B+1+John+4%3A1%2C5-6%3B+Rev+2%3A20%3B+13%3A11-12&version=CSB

Pearl Doxsey -

“…an anointed one's progress in the knowledge of God relies upon that person's progressive development of intimacy, faith, and trust in God's spirit (Eph.1:191Pet.1:17,21Rom.12:6). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.1%3A19%3B+1Pet.1%3A17%2C21%3B+Rom.12%3A6&version=CSB

This requires experience with that spirit, as we learn to completely rely upon it as young children would, and progress in our imitation of Christ (Eph.4:20,21,13Matt.18:32Cor.3:4,5Ps.78:7Prov.22:19Jer.17:72Thess.3:5James1:3,4,5Phil.1:61Pet.5:10). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.4%3A20%2C21%2C13%3B+Matt.18%3A3%3B+2Cor.3%3A4%2C5%3B+Ps.78%3A7%3B+Prov.22%3A19%3B+Jer.17%3A7%3B+2Thess.3%3A5%3B+James1%3A3%2C4%2C5%3B+Phil.1%3A6%3B+1Pet.5%3A10&version=CSB

Those who resist such a reliance due to a lack of Faith, will not progress. These are the ones Christ referred to as trees with "unripe figs" who do not bring anything to perfection, and will   be abandoned up the coming wrath if they do not repent (Luke8:14Heb.12:2Rev.6:13Jer.24:3,5,8,17; Matt.7:16). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke8%3A14%3B+Heb.12%3A2%3B+Rev.6%3A13%3B+Jer.24%3A3%2C5%2C8%2C17%3B+Matt.7%3A16&version=CSB

Such "trees" have hindered the operation of Holy Spirit within them (Eph.4:301Thess.5:19Acts7:51Matt.7:19Jer.48:13) by overconfidence in themselves or others. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.4%3A30%3B+1Thess.5%3A19%3B+Acts7%3A51%3B+Matt.7%3A19%3B+Jer.48%3A13&version=CSB

From Holy Spirit at work / The "Token" https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/07/holy-spirit-at-work.html

“overconfidence in themselves”– “Woe to those who consider themselves wise
and judge themselves clever.”  Isa 5:21

“For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

See, I have warned you about this ahead of time.” Matt 24:24,25

This warning has come true.  The “day” of the reign of false prophets over “Israel”, is here. The chosen/”elect” ones are the anointed of spiritual Israel, residing among JWs in the organization. (Rom 9:6; 2:28-29) Many of us coming out of the organization searching for truth, will fully admit to once being deceived by its leaders’ doctrine – a flood of lies originating with the father of the lie. (Ps 124:1-8; 2 Tim 2:26) Satan has demanded to “sift as wheat” the “remaining ones of the woman’s seed”, and God allows this deceitful test by Satan, to come upon them. (Luke 22:31; Jer 9:8,13-16; 2 Thess 2:9-12;1 Tim 1:3-4; Col 2:8,22; Rev 13:10; 12:17,15) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom+9%3A6%3B+2%3A28-29%3B+Ps+124%3A1-8%3B+2+Tim+2%3A26%3B+Luke+22%3A31%3B+Jer+9%3A8%2C13-16%3B+2+Thess+2%3A9-12%3B1+Tim+1%3A3-4%3B+Col+2%3A8%2C22%3B+Rev+13%3A10%3B+12%3A17%2C15&version=NKJV

Pearl Doxsey -

The final test, is the great tribulation. It is Satan's final great lie, that comes through the false prophet (governing body) and it's beast (organization). When we are taken into the organization because we believe that lie, that it is directed by God's spirit... then we come to the test. In the end, will we remain idolators? Or, will we realize that only God deserves our worship, obedience, and service? Will we take a stand, that we only follow the words of our Father? Or, will we obey and believe every lie coming from men? Will we make the doctrine of men, more important than the Bible? Will we follow men as our ruler, rather than God and Jesus? That is the test that we find ourselves in, after joining the organization. 

Thousand Years / Angels / The Final Test / God's organization - https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2018/12/thousand-years-angels-final-test-gods.html

Notice how 2 Peter chapter 2 describes the revealing attitude toward the truth of Jesus Christ, practiced by these false prophets:

“But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them." 2 Pet 2:1

How do these teachers deny or “contradict” the Master?  By producing, upholding, and demanding obedience to, the “crooked” ever changing lying doctrines of men, instead of the truthful teachings and laws of God established in Jesus Christ. These teachers are efficient at perverting, polluting, and contradicting the words of truth in Christ.  (Prov 17:20; Zeph 3:4; Deut 29:18-19; Ezek 34:17-19; Rev 8:10-11;1 Tim 6:3-5,20; Titus 1:16) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prov+17%3A20%3B+Zeph+3%3A4%3B+Deut+29%3A18-19%3B+Ezek+34%3A17-19%3B+Rev+8%3A10-11%3B1+Tim+6%3A3-5%2C20%3BTitus+1%3A16&version=CSB

Peter states that false teachers would be “among you”, meaning “with you, in the interior of some whole”.  He is telling us that false prophets will arise from within the anointed Body of Christ, who are the “living stones” of the Temple of God. (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:20-22) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Pet+2%3A5%2C9%3B+1+Cor+3%3A16%3B+Eph+2%3A20-22&version=CSB

Do those within the organization need to worry about being deceived by a false teacher or prophet outside of its walls?  No, the majority are mentally locked into the “empty philosophy” of the organization, fully convinced it is the “way” to salvation. They willingly submit themselves to the established arrangement, deceitfully planned by Satan to bring about their downfall. (Deut 13:1-5; Rom 1:21,22,25; Rev 13:4,14-17,5-7) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deut+13%3A1-5%3B+Rom+1%3A21%2C22%2C25%3B+Rev+13%3A4%2C14-17%2C5-7&version=NASB1995

One use for the Greek word translated as “heresies” is “a body of men following their own tenets”

“Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slanderedIn their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.” 2 Pet 2:2-3

The apostle Paul also warned us of their arrival -    

“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among you yourselves men will arise, speaking perversions of the truth[ah] (“crooked things”) in order to draw away the disciples after them.”  Acts 20:30

If we rely on the scriptures to teach us, Jesus illustrates clearly how to identify a false teacher as a “tree”, or branch of a vine, that cannot produce “good fruit” -  fruit that always remains “good”, edible and nourishing. Picture for yourself, the list of “beliefs clarified” as a bushel of diseased and rotten fruit; and yet that fruit was once called, “truth”.  (Matt 7:15-20; John 8:31-32; 15:2,4-7,16) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt+7%3A15-20%3B+John+8%3A31-32%3B+15%3A2%2C4-7%2C16&version=CSB

If one slanders or profanes the meaning of God’s truth and wisdom by attaching scripture to men’s false teachings, would not the source of truth, Jesus Christ himself, also be defamed? (Lev 19:16; Prov 10:18; Matt 12:36; Rom 3:8; 2 Cor 11:4; James 3:13-15)  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lev+19%3A16%3B+Prov+10%3A18%3B+Matt+12%3A36%3B+Rom+3%3A8%3B+2+Cor+11%3A4%3B+James+3%3A13-15&version=CSB

Playing the children’s game of building a tower with interlocking wooden blocks, stacked one on top of another, requires clever moves and careful strategies when it’s your turn to remove a block, without toppling the finished tower. In comparison, removing a defunct teaching of the organization and replacing it with a spruced up lie at the top of the infamous list, is done with deliberate strategy; the new teachings must keep the “tower” stable. Yet, in the physical game we play with our children, each block removed and placed at the top of the tower, progressively weakens the structure, and ultimately leads to the tower’s fall.  (Ezek 22:28; Isa 25:12; Rom 16:18)  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezek+22%3A28%3B+Isa+25%3A12%3B+Rom+16%3A18&version=NASB1995

Looking again at the three factors said to guide the organization, we can confidently strike off #1 and #3, which claim that the organization is guided by Holy Spirit through reliance on God’s word.

But what about #2?  If 1 and 2 are disproved by the words of Jesus Christ, what sort of “angelic assistance” guides the organization’s teachers? 

To the anointed in Christ, Paul says: 

“Now I consider myself in no way inferior to those ‘super-apostles’.                                                                                              

But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to cut off an opportunity to those who want to be regarded as our equals in what they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostlesdeceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.” 2 Cor 11:5,12-15

The word, “angel” in Greek is defined as a “messenger”; messengers are priests, and God’s priests are His anointed servants. (Mal 2:7; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Rom 15:16; Rev 5:9,10) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mal+2%3A7%3B+1+Pet+2%3A5%2C9%3B+Rom+15%3A16%3B+Rev+5%3A9%2C10&version=CSB

 Jesus Christ sends his “angels”/priests to announce truth and give warnings to God’s people. (Matt 13:41; 24:31; Jer 5:14; Rev 14:6-12; 18:4-8) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt+13%3A41%3B+24%3A31%3B+Jer+5%3A14%3B+Rev+14%3A6-12%3B+18%3A4-8&version=CSB

To thwart this message of truth, Satan sends out his messengers with detrimental warnings to God’s people held captive  (Matt 12:34; Joel 2:2; Dan 11:10; Rev 9:2,3; 12:15-16; 16:13-14)…https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt+12%3A34%3B+Joel+2%3A2%3B+Dan+11%3A10%3B+Rev+9%3A2%2C3%3B+12%3A15-16%3B+16%3A13-14&version=NKJV

… shielding them from those whom Jesus sends.  (Rev 11:3; Zech 7:11; John 16:2-3; Rev 13:152 Cor 2:14-17; 1 Pet 3:16)   https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev+11%3A3%3B+Zech+7%3A11%3B+John+16%3A2-3%3B+Rev+13%3A15%3B+2+Cor+2%3A14-17%3B1+Pet+3%3A16&version=CSB

Thus, the battle of truth against lies rages, until all sinful acts, all deceitful works committed by Satan’s greatest achievement to deceive and destroy the temple members of Christ, are exposed and eliminated.  (Mal 3:18; Eph 5:11; Jer 23:29; 2 Pet 3:7; Rev 12:7,8; 20:7-9,14) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mal+3%3A18%3B+Eph+5%3A11%3B+Jer+23%3A29%3B+2+Pet+3%3A7%3B+Rev+12%3A7%2C8%3B+20%3A7-9%2C14&version=CSB

The tower built by the organization’s false teachers, is very close to collapsing.  (Matt 7:24-27; Ezek 13:9:14; 38:19-20) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt+7%3A24-27%3B+Ezek+13%3A9%2C14%3B+38%3A19-20&version=CSB

The draw of power, riches and authority, will be the downfall of these “clever” fools, who have profaned the name of God.  (Rom 2:19-21,24) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom+2%3A19-21%2C24&version=NASB1995

“Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?”  Prov 17:16

"Walk away from a fool—
for you will find no knowledge on his lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to consider his way,
but the folly of fools is deception.
Fools mock guilt of sin,
but among the upright is goodwill.

The house of the wicked will be demolished,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

The naïve believes every word,
but the shrewd discerns his steps.
16 The wise fears and turns away from evil,
but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.
18 The naïve inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge." Proverbs 14