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Jehovah’s Witnesses: Is your governing body strong enough to repel an attack of apostate infiltration?

Most religions have systems of checks-and-balances, so that a leader who violates the sacred duties of his/her position can be removed. For example, even the Pope can be removed from his duties if it’s determined that he is “mentally defective.” But how does this work with your religion? I understand that your governing body is unelected, appointed for life, and that the existing members invite new members to join. And the only way to get removed from the position is by majority vote of the current nine members. Isn’t that the way it works? In the past (as I’m sure you know), the apostate hordes infiltrated your “faithful slave class” in Brooklyn. So this is not a hypothetical question. But with the help of Jehovah, the existing members of your governing body were able to repel the invasion and purge the cancer from their midst. Here’s what happened: One member of your governing body (Leo Greenlees) was removed because he had long-standing pedophile practices, molesting ten-year old boys. Likewise, another governing body member (Ewart Chitty) was removed for sodomizing youthful JW men who came to receive special training at Bethel (this occurred over a 30 year period). Finally Raymond Franz was forced to resign after it was determined that he was an “insane apostate.” (He refused the society's offer of a monthly stipend as a member of the Infirm Special Pioneers.) http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/scandals/5466/1/Greenlees-Chitty-Some-Sources So as you can see, your governing body is not immune to satanic infiltrations (even the 12 apostles suffered from satanic infiltration by Judas. Correct?). The question is what you rank-and-file JWs would be able to do if Satan managed to get five of your nine leaders to turn and worship him. You have absolutely no process in place to purge the evil from your “high places.” Since your governing body has absolute dictatorial power, there would be nothing you could do if the majority of them became “insane apostates,” sodomites, and/or pedophiles. Am I wrong? And are you at all worried about this? @ SmilingJW (also known as Dot Cotton): I have a deal for you and any other JW who is blocked. If you unblock me, I'll unblock you. After all, you blocked me first. @ Mookie/Defeater of Rust, or whatever you want to be called: If you think that I am lying about these three members of your governing body, please correct me. Tell me why they were removed. Or do you even know?

Public Comments

1. Yes!
2. Not one of Jehovah's Witnesses myself, but have studied many times. My not being one of Jehovah's Witnesses is due to a personal conflict and not one from which I chose not to be. Just not got around to the religion thing of God yet. As for the "faithful and discreet slave". I have never read anywhere in any of their books, magazines, tracts, or pamphlets that they are infallible. To the contrary. I know that they do teach that each of our relationships with Jehovah is ours and ours alone. Which is one of the reasons I am not one of Jehovah's Witnesses I feel that my relationship with the Almighty is mine. But I do find that going to the Kingdom Hall is refreshing. The society has stated many times to always make sure of the things taught. Following the apostle Paul's counsel is always timely. "Keep making sure of what is acceptable". Following this wise counsel we will find that we are less likely to fall due to Satan's influence whether that be by the society or someone off the street or someone here on YA!
3. Jehovah's Witnesses recognize no man as their leader. Their organizational structure has no equivalent of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church, the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, or the leaders of other churches and sects of Christendom. Their allegiance is to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Christian congregation, who stated: “Your Leader is one, the Christ.”—Matthew 23:10. The book of Acts, relating the history of the early years of Christianity, shows beyond doubt that Christ used his authority by actively leading his congregation on earth. He did this by means of the holy spirit, the angels, and the governing body made up of the 12 apostles and the elders of the Jerusalem congregation. Jesus stated that he would be with his disciples right up to the conclusion of the system of things, where we now are. Since Christ is “head over all things” with regard to the Christian congregation, he exercises his authority over all that takes place within the congregation. Nothing that occurs within the congregation escapes his notice.So in answer to your loaded question, I have to say that no I am not worried in the slightest as I have full faith in my God, Jehovah and the one who He has appointed as 'head over all things' my reigning King Christ Jesus.
4. You won't get many JW's to answer this question...its too thought-provoking!
5. most jws who give a defense are tactically blocked from answering rustic q's haa this guy's n @ss! yay!
6. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aur4TUiEtuPFZVK7xYe4JGfj1KIX;_ylv=3?qid=20101014172741AAe4jLl Heck if you make them defend their theology they think it is warfare. There is so much corruption in the Governing Body I would wonder what would offend or threaten them. Franz wanted to make them follow the teachings of the Bible and they were going to have none of that! Watchtower Society encourages members to evaluate teachings for themselves: “We need to scrutinize whatever is presented to us, deciding what to accept and what to reject. However, we do not want to be so narrow that we refuse to consider facts that can improve our thinking… Test whatever you are reading or watching, to see if it is truthful…”—official WT web site, http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2000/6/22/article_03.htm Watchtower Society prohibits members from evaluating teachings for themselves: “What else does the Devil use in trying to turn us away? Has he not always tried to stir up rebellion, to cause Jehovah's servants to become critical of those taking the lead?... A person may go further and claim that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses or other responsible brothers interfere with freedom of conscience and the individual's "right" to interpret the Scriptures. But remember Joseph's humble words: "Do not interpretations belong to God?" … And did not Jesus foretell that in these final days an organization of anointed ones, "the faithful and discreet slave,"*would be entrusted with providing spiritual food at the proper time?... Beware of those who try to put forward their own contrary opinions… The evidence is clear that Jehovah has used and is continuing to use his one organization, with "the faithful and discreet slave" taking the lead.. God's own Word unquestionably points to Jehovah's Witnesses as the one organized people that have his blessing!.” -- Watchtower 1986 March 15 pp.15-20 *Note: The Watchtower Society claims IT is the “faithful and discreet slave”. Therefore, the above quote is claiming that people should rely on WT to interpret scripture. “Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses… That there is a "faithful and discreet slave" upon earth today 'entrusted with all of Jesus' earthly interests,' which slave is associated with the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses.”-- Watchtower 1986 April 1 pp.30-31 “a mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave."-- Watchtower August 1, 2001 p. 14 “Fight Against Independent Thinking As we study the Bible we learn that Jehovah has always guided his servants in an organized way. And just as in the first century there was only one true Christian organization, so today Jehovah is using only one organization. … Yet there are some who point out that the organization has had to make adjustments before, and so they argue: "This shows that we have to make up our own mind on what to believe." This is independent thinking. Why is it so dangerous? Such thinking is an evidence of pride.”-- Watchtower 1983 January 15 p.27
7. Considering the fact that your information comes from a known apostate website which is filled with a ridiculous amount of false information, outright lies, and half-truths......that tends to taint all of your "question" here. Rank-and-file hate group cult members, such as yourself, tend to resort to posting that kind of trash and act as if its truth.......when it's far from it. Can't help but "LOL" at the idiocy of claims that the governing body has "absolute dictatorial power". There is nothing for us to be worried about. Anytime something wrong has been done, Jehovah has seen to it that it be discovered and the proper corrections made at just the right time. *** The reasons why such individuals left Bethel (or may have been asked to leave) are not known. In cases like those, the true details are kept confidential, just as any judicial case in any congregation would be. I would just as soon take the word of my cat over any biased, lie-filled apostate website which claims to know what happened.......and of which you obviously put stock in simply because of it's anti-Jehovah's Witness nature.
8. As witnesses' , we happen to spend more time studying the bible than any other religion. Why do you think we are the only religion that can go door to door in the entire earth. The scriptures say "taking in knowledge..Means everlasting life. We are knowledgeable of the scriptures. It would not be too difficult to spot false teachings. The organization, like the first century Christians, looks to the teachings of Christ Jesus. Today, we have those same resources. As to you saying 5 members, it is hypothetical. For 1 here or there may fall. But, Jehovah keeps the christian congregation clean. It's only a matter of time,if someone is doing wrong, that Jehovah will expose him...Mark
9. GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) - Galatians 2:4 "False Christians were brought in. They slipped in as spies to learn about the freedom Christ Jesus gives us. They hoped to find a way to control us." New International Version (©1984) - Romans 16:17 "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." I have heard this before. If what you have copied from other sites is true, I am not worried. As you stated and I quote in part: "[...]with the help of Jehovah, the existing members of your governing body [are] able to repel the invasion and purge the cancer from their midst." As to apostate material and speech is concern: Bible in Basic English "Those who make war against the Lord will be broken; against them he will send his thunder from heaven: the Lord will be judge of the ends of the earth, he will give strength to his king, lifting up the horn of him on whom the holy oil has been put." - 1 Samuel 2:10
10. People can only speculate why these guys were, as the anti-jw's claim, asked to leave Bethel. Nobody knows except for the person who was asked to leave and the elders who asked them to leave. Most times the person who was expelled from the congregation lies because they are embarrassed they were caught practicing sin without repentance. Other times they were expelled because they cause divisions among the congregation, and you know that to cause divisions is an expellable offense according to what the Bible teaches. As I have proved the anti-JW's cannot quote in context what Jehovah' witnesses write. The purposely misapply teachings and take our magazines out context in order to mislead those who are searching for Jehovah. How can you trust anything that comes from them? You cannot. Lastly, I am also banned from responding to other anti-JW questions. Off the top of my head the one I can think of right now is Unsilenced Lioness. Why do you suppose that is?
11. Let's see -- you get your information from a known apostate site, from Alan Feuerbacher, a known, long-term opposer and apostate, and expect us to accept that 9-year-old disinformation as accurate? "AlanF" is the same guy who argued with me years ago that Israelis do not have to vowel-point their Hebrew books. He is as wrong about this present matter as he was about that. Gossip is proof of nothing. One-sided assertions are proof of even less. Several years ago, The Watchtower printed that there had been some moral failures among some Witnesses who had high privileges. Nothing prevented their removal. All Christians are held to the same moral standards, wherever they serve and whatever their privileges. The relevant point is that wrongdoers are reproved and/or removed, regardless of who they are. No Witness of Jehovah claims perfection, but we are all held to the same high standards that the Bible sets for followers of Jesus Christ. However, as long as "Rustic B" and "Marvin Shilmer" are not members of the Governing Body, Jehovah's Witnesses can sleep peacefully at night. Jehovah protects His loyal ones. The Governing Body does not depend on its own strength.
12. You blew it when the article that you quoted says " For those inclined to discount the following information,keep in mind that the evidence "WHILE THIRD HAND" or "CIRCUMSTANTIAL" is from a number if "INDEPENDENT SOURCES." My question to you is. If you went to court do you really believe that this accusations or allegations would really hold up in court ? Let me flush your question down the toilet.
13. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE ELDERS AND APPOINTED ONES TO BE IGNORANT OF THINGS LIKE THE DYNAMICS OF CRIMINAL MATTERS.......LIKE MOLESTATION OR AN ALCOHOLIC FAMILY....... I LIVED IN A JW DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY IN WHICH THERE WAS VIOLENCE, INCEST, ALCOHOLISM AND ADULTERY.............. AND THE ELDERS DIDNT DO A DAMN THING WHEN THEY WERE TOLD.......AS A MATTER OF FACT.......THEY TOLD ME TO "PRETEND NOTHING HAPPENED AND JUST GO TO MEETINGS "!!!!! TALK ABOUT IGNORANCE .......
14. I don't understand the purpose of this question, Is it just for curiosity or are you really looking to do something. You know reading the whole bible and having all this head knowledge isn't the way for a True Christian. Being a hearer of the word and not a doer of what is said will not bring you any closer to God Jehovah, and looking for a straw in a person's eye is not any good either, you most likely will have a rafter sticking out of your own eye, First you need to remove the rafter from your eye before your can extract the straw from anothers eye. Or are you asking if the will of God can be undone by man. Not hardly. even til death, God's will will be done, his people will suffer. but they will not be ruined, in fact God Jehovah himself said that if anyone hurts any of his children it will be like sticking a needle in his eye. So what do you think would happen if some one on the Governing Body would betray their position. or if someone not associated with Jehovah's people tried to undue God's will by hurting or ruin one of his children. Your question may seem valid, but it has no real purpose for you to know the answer. Perhaps you can find something more useful to do with your time. How about a bible study, you are more then welcome to receive one at no charge and even in your own how. If your heart is sincere and you pray to Jehovah with all your heart, then you will be able to have more meaningful answer to all your question and even more then you can imagine, way more! because at best you don't even know the half of it. I am being direct with your question. I don't know how else to put it for you, so don't think I am trying to give you a rude answer, Just the truth. Thank You!