#6 - Congregations Suffer! Mt 24; 48,49.

They, (The Current Governing Body) for example; produced “tracts”, I use that term loosely, as they were barely leaflets. Colourful, quick, one question, one answer, short and to the point. There were a few questions to each, but they were certainly not the spiritual meal the former ones were. You could cover the information with a Bible student in 5 minutes. Certainly “building on the sand”, Matthew 7:26.

It would not be likely that a person handed one in the street would barely have time to meditate or ruminate on the points made. “There’s your answer”, “take it or leave it”.

Colourful but pretty, pretty useless! Of course if God wants it to “grow” in an individual’s heart, he can water it, despite its source.

I call these “confetti”. Why? I can imagine them, a rainbow of colours, after being handed out along a street or subway, being possibly read, then ripped up and strewn across the pavement. Just like confetti, colourful, but blown away by the wind. Maybe giving someone a moments pleasure but soon forgotten. The result? Attractive litter, pleasing to “the eyes”, yet again luring you in with the senses.

There were other changes to the organisation that were more than troubling.

They began to delete Bethel homes around the world. Robbing individuals of a privilege of a spiritual service, once adored. Young ones, and some not so young, would receive an invitation to serve at Bethel, A branch for certain parts of the globe. Their they would receive training in all forms of life, the ministry and even a trade or work skills. Along with a spiritual banquet and training by long serving pillars in the spiritual community, a joy for all. Now limited, Mt 24; 48,49.

Also, in doing this, that is restricting Branch offices they conveniently limiting the avenues for complaint. And of course, making money from property sales and saving money in expenses.

Our own kingdom hall, our Quaint place of worship built with love and by the hands of our older ones, sorely needed modernising. One of the first in our entire region and the long loved centre of pure worship. The discission was made that a new place of worship was the recommended course. The decision was handed down by The Regional Building Committee and was gladly accepted by the congregation. Although it was a sad result for our existing hall, the idea we could assist in building a new one was thrilling.

The Congregation saved their Penny's for renovations for quite some time, until the decision was made to rebuild on another site. We were told, as a congregation; “save up for a deposit on a block of land, we will sell this Kingdom Hall and build you a new one”.

The congregation was excited, “the opportunity to build our own hall, something we can put our sweat into and feel it’s our own”, a beautiful place to invite our neighbours.

We began a building fund, and for a couple of years ones would drop in what they could even though as a group we were not very financially able to. We did our best.

Though time and again the “regional building committee” would say; “soon, not yet”! Till one day we were finally given the go ahead to sell the old hall and look for land. What happened?

Around this time we were shattered to hear that the norm of assisting with the build was a thing of the past. We would barely share in the privilege.

The congregation began to look at their options for land.

(3/11/23, I was driving with my granddaughter and remembered some information, relevant, though I don't think I wrote it. Maybe I have elsewhere?? I had conversations with a few land owners in our territory, Good options, at a fair to good price. I informed the Brother in "Charge", he thanked me and I didn't hear about it again for some time.

I ended up approaching him and asked, "What is happening about the land options?". His reply? "'We' have discussed it and are leaning towards a property at so and so". Ok, I said, "But why out their?

It was a section of land at the rear of a mans home. Not associated with the organisation at all. It would have required an access road built to drive down behind his house and it was literally 'in the scrub', Messy bushland. Not even fit for farming and not anywhere that could be easily found by visitors or newly interested ones. He tried to sell the option and idea to me as I was baffled as to why on Earth anyone would consider a Place of worship to be built in the middle of no where and hard to find. "It would be good so that neighbour's wouldn't complain about singing our Kingdom songs"! He said,"Hymn's". That was really puzzling to me.

A Kingdom Hall or any place of worship, dedicated to God, should be a thing to be proud of, Not a cause for embarrassment. The options I put forward were prime building blocks, visible to all and potentially a source of glory to the Living God. But No! They preferred to hide away like some backwaters Cult or secret society it was very baffling, to me anyway. ....

Maybe this was all just to slow down the process till what came next arrived. OR It was another indicator as to just how far from working along with the Holy Spirit they all were, from the Governing Body, down to the Elders who lapped it up, so as to mislead the congregations as it is till this day.)

{Question; If you were building a dream home for your loved ones or for your parents, and you had the resources and funds to build whatever was required. Would you build something for them to be proud of? For yourself to be proud of?

A place for memories and love? Deciding to hide such a place from your community would not demonstrate a sense of pride at all, would it? I wanted to build for my Brothers and sisters a house of God that showed pride in our relationship with Him, my God. A place that was a never ending source of spiritual food and instruction. It should be a safe and a welcoming environment for all. Not just for those who had not been cast aside. It should take pride of place, a beacon for education, knowledge that answers our needs regarding our Father, and His Son. Helping us to acquire the answers about who we are and the knowledge that inspires wisdom and helps fill us with answers to the questions in our heart and to give us a direction and purpose for everlasting life.

It's not just a building for singing songs and for some man to bombard us with how we are falling short with words to attack the spirit within us, as in Christendom. It should be a haven for upbuilding, not tearing down. Certainly not something to be ashamed of.

Not like "The New World Headquarters" of Jehovah's witnesses. A place that is now afraid of publicity, a place of hiding in shadows. Why, once servants of The Living God welcomed visitors and media. What went wrong? To me it's obvious.

Of course the primary purpose of such a place, is the drawing near to the living God. Jesus referred to it as "A house of prayer". Like Samuels mum. or the multitudes of others who felt just a little closer to the Living God in such a place.

A place where, IF kept holy, that is clean spiritually, is a conduit for holy spirit. I personally used to enjoy the times when I was alone in our place of worship, now sold off. I would pray, sit, and reminisce about those I loved who sat in the chairs, the times we had within these walls, occasions for fellowship, mostly spiritual instruction and more than a few lighter times of association'.}

Returning to the subject;

The hall was sold and earned "far" more money than was expected, then comes the “But”. We were then informed, “There’s been a change of plan”.

“The organisation” had decided that an individual Kingdom Hall, a place where a community could have a personal identity and tend to with pride and somewhere accessible for locals, was no longer the norm. Now the direction was, “You split up your little congregation, (that is, some travel to here, some over there, or simply move your entire life) join with other congregations in your area and travel”, much further for many to attend a simple meeting and now splitting up families, friends and even ones from their Bible students. Not to mention the added financial and environmental impacts for further travel.“And, use your hard earned building fund money to upgrade their halls”.

And “WE will keep the funds, you earned from the sale of your old hall” which you will so “kindly donate to us”.

I could see something was very wrong with this also.

The congregation was to take a vote, I discretely refused to vote. Another elderly sister, a shrewd lady, not easily swayed, refused also, asleep in death now. She too seemed to have her eyes open and looked out for the scattered sheep. I would like to think she would have noticed the Apostasy, may Jehovah remember her, for her loyalty!

An Elder noticed and quietly asked me later, “You didn’t vote”? “No! That’s right, there is something very wrong with the whole thing”, I politely replied.

“They took no note”. Nobody questioned me further.

Before long, halls were closing in communities. Either multiple areas using the same hall, or super halls were being built so that many congregations were using the one. Where’s the problem?

No longer was there a sense of community of ownership, no longer a place of pride in what a group had nurtured and built, it felt like cleaning another persons hall or toilets. Now there was nowhere close to direct interested ones to go to for spiritual fellowship, with many having to travel far. But, instead, like small cattle, we were treated like we were being penned for market. Why?

Yet again! Profit and convenience.

When did the rot set in?

The entire organisation, within the space of 3yrs, had been stripped back, re-invented, raped and pillaged. All for the same reason, Convenience and Money.

Who would benefit from such changes? The public? Jehovah? Spreading of the Word? Declaring Gods kingdom? No!

Only one could benefit his plans and schemes. The one called Devil and Satan.

Jesus resisted Satan's offer, They didn't.

The one miscalculation he has made though, “Jehovah” is not only all powerful, wise and loving.

He is the creator, and along with all other things, He created “time”. Satan can interfere as much as he likes, but the true God can see every possibility, every outcome.

And in every scenario, Satan loses. He can’t change God’s Grace or Mercy, his Love and long suffering. Or the truth that Jehovah has Faithful loyal servants who dearly love him, his Son and his word. Despite Satan’s efforts to prove otherwise. Whatever he tries, Jehovah has told what the final outcome will be. “After the thousand years have ended” Revelation 20:1-3 assures us, he will be released and then cease to exist.

Although I noticed a gradual shift in publications, reduction in size and page numbers and becoming paperback, in the 1990s, all seemingly reasonable economic decisions. The content of the book “you can live forever in paradise on earth" which I learned the truth from, was very grounding and more than sufficient to set things straight in my mind.

But they changed the books being made for Bible study students. “The Knowledge book” then “What does the bible really teach” followed, even changing and reprinting this. After the Live Forever book was when paperback books began.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing really wrong with paper back books, other than being prone to damage more easily, as a study aid they work fine.

But it was the pattern of cost savings that became the issue.

I looked back through the Watchtower magazine to see if I could pinpoint a shift in thinking, a deviation. What did I find?

The 2009 annual general meeting program was discussed in a magazine, it highlighted the year text for 2010, “you should have love among yourselves”. Sounds fine, right?

The problem with that is: that the Lord Jesus said that this already should be an identifying feature of true Christians, John 13:35, “By this all will know you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves”.

Investigating a little closer in the magazines articles that shortly followed. Which I can’t seem to find at the moment. I think it was around February 2010?, an article that, at least in part was on demonstrating love in the congregation, which in intent demanded something like, Anyone who is a VICTIM of a matter that the Brothers (elders in the congregations) had dealt with, must, demonstrate the Christian quality of love and sit with the guilty one and forgive, or get over it, pretty much.

Putting all the stress and burden of responsibility for demonstrating Christlike love, on the victim of wrong doing. For example, if your wife had been groped or assaulted by an individual, but no-one else witnessed it, then, due to a lack of evidence the Brothers would dismiss the case, expecting all to move on.

If the victim was a child? If adultery? The counsel, "Demonstrating love will benefit the congregation". In other words, "our hands are tied, please don’t make things hard for us, ignore it and move on".

How could following blindly be acceptable?

I can’t see all that God can, obviously. There were a few red flags though. For example; when being baptised as a Jehovah’s Witness, a candidate goes through a series of questions, to ensure they are confident of their "personal decision". As no one should be baptised to please others, it’s a personal dedication for mature Christians who desire to serve, Jehovah, Jesus and all. On the day of their baptism they are asked 2 more questions which are answered before all in attendance. To which they answer aloud, “Yes”. Being;

• 1st, On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to do Jehovah’s will? Which seemed ok to me.

2nd I thought could lead to trouble in the future. “Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses” fair enough. However it continues, “In association with the God’s spirit-directed organisation”? To which they answer “yes”.

Even when I was baptised in the 90s. I thought “that could be a problem”. The reason being; it locks people into the mindset that they must follow the organisation, no matter what. Also, being “spirit begotten” the “organisation or Governing Body”, would logically be faultless, right? Especially considering the track record of the former brothers who did tenderly, try, to look after the sheep, they would not likely expect that those taking the lead would fail them. In effect, with this thinking, they have been set up for failure.

Although; Of course I acknowledge and expect that there certainly would have been serios issues that arose within the congregations and within the organisation in days gone by also, from time to time. We are all flesh.

Similarly, the congregations themselves became "workers of lawlessness", also gradual, and almost inevitable. I will discuss this later.

The Disgusting thing hadn’t yet fully infiltrated the congregations. I had to see it for myself. February 2014 the congregations worldwide re-considered the book “Draw close to Jehovah”.

“Yes, after they, yet again, had changed it”. Adding pages to glue over old ones. This was the last meeting I attended apart from one memorial meeting a few years later.

The meeting highlighted the section regarding the God's name “idea” of men. From the extra information I mentioned earlier in the rear of the new Bible. From the new Bible,“The grey ghost”. I was just hoping someone would at least look uncomfortable. But nothing, the meeting went off without a hitch.

The Governing Body and Satan must have been thrilled. The congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, worldwide just gobbled it up. All, from what I could see, were quite content. Ready for service, another day.

Sadly, “they took no note”.

It had become official, to me at least. The 'River' of spiritually clean waters had stopped.

Not only had the spiritual channel been thoroughly corrupted, now the congregations. every single one around the globe, to my knowledge, lapped it up.

“They took no note”. The Euphrates had dried up!

They; the organisation, the congregations along with the modern information and publications had become “the unclean thing” to me.

2 Corinthians 6:17,18, “Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; and I will take you in.’ “’And I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah the Almighty.”” And that’s what I did.

I began my flight into the mountain. Not the “organisation” as was suggested, but my hope was with my God, not with man.

From time to time I reflected on this scripture; “Where the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered”. Eagles have far sightedness. So, I knew it must be not something close, and difficult to see. “The carcase” of the faithful anointed, in my mind, are in heaven, since 1914, enthroned alongside their King and mine, Christ Jesus. Therefore my conclusion is: “that the heavenly mount Zion”, “Jerusalem above” where the King rules from, must be, my and our secure height.

I have to wait on Gods kingdom Rule for salvation from these “times hard to deal with”, which are fast running out, as we will go into more depth later.

There were medical and other circumstances that assisted my exit, I, however, when questioned by the Brothers regarding my absence never lied to them. I gave them the version of truth they deserved. Matthew 7:6, John 7:8-10. God is my witness.

Beauty lost

As I mentioned that was the last meeting I attended. Until the memorial. What’s that?

That’s the anniversary of Jesus’ sacrificial death. It’s the night of the Passover of the Jews. A very important meeting, a favourite of mine. It clearly demonstrates the love that The Christ has for us in sacrificing, not only his perfect life but his position in heaven alongside his Father to be born and die, just for us. Giving us confidence that he never asks us to do anything that he isn’t prepared to do himself. Not to mention Jehovah’s sacrifice, not only knowing what his first born would go through but to allow him to do it, all for us.

Truly a beautiful evening. Before "the Apostasy", that is.

Why did I attend the meeting? My wife had never been to a meeting and said to our daughter she will go. I just had to see how these men would treat such an important occasion.

In my mind, I believe the Anointed few are already in heaven and the memorial soon to stop, or change.

The meeting typically is quite short. So to my surprise the Brothers seemed to spend the first 10-15 minutes patting themselves on the back for being there. Telling stories of ones who travelled many hours to be in attendance etc. Then they had to rush through the most beautiful opportunity to reflect on such great love. The affect.

Afterwards, I asked my wife, “Did you learn anything tonight”? Her answer “No”!

Even though she is barely familiar with all Jesus had done for us. Very little hit her heart or built on her knowledge.

In all this, much of the actions of these men and the counsel for the congregations is summed up in the letter of Jude in the Bible.

Much of, that is, parts of, the following texts and prophecies also looks to apply. 1st letter of John, 2 John verse 7, 9 and 10, 2nd Peter chapters 2 and 3. James 1:26,27, Hebrews 1:11,12, 2:1-3, 3:7-19, 6:4-8, 10:26-31, 12:18-29, 13:9, Titus 1:7- 2:1, 2 Timothy 3:1-17, 1 Timothy 4:1-7, 2 Thessalonians 1:6- 3-16, Colossians 2:4, Galatians 2:4, 5:4-6:18.

There are still many more in the Hebrew Scriptures by many prophets.

Next time I will go I will discuss who is behind it all.

Thanks again, man in expectation :)

The mash-up! "You must love Jehovah your God, with your whole Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength and keep His Commandments. If you do, you will be wise enough to bypass any trial with ease, and have an indefinitely lasting name with The Living One. Those who fail to take these things to heart, will suffer shame and fall short in a large way, all that is his, will be destroyed and cease to exist.

You who love Him, however, will flourish with joy, under the tent cloths of Jehovah, always." Ecc 12:13, Mark 12:30 and Ps 37:18-20.