“David said to him: “Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth testified against you by saying, . . .” (2Sa 1:16)
“For your error dictates what you say, And you choose crafty speech. 6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; Your own lips testify against you.” (Job 15:5, 6)
“Out of your own mouth I judge you, wicked slave.. . .” (Lu 19:22)
Imagine being condemned by your own words! What stronger condemnation could there be? How can you refute your own testimony?
The Bible says that humans will be judged during Judgment Day based on their own words.
“I tell YOU that every unprofitable saying that men speak, they will render an account concerning it on Judgment Day; 37 for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Mt 12:36, 37)
With this thought in mind, we come to the November broadcast on tv.jw.org. If you have been a long-time reader of this blog and its predecessor at www.meletivivlon.com, you will know that we’ve tried to avoid referring to the false teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses as lies, because the word “lie” carries with it a subtext of sin. One may inadvertently teach a falsehood, but lying implies foreknowledge and willful action. A liar seeks to harm another by misleading him. The liar was a manslayer. (John 8:44)
That being said, in the November broadcast the Governing Body have themselves given us the criteria to qualify a teaching as a lie. They use this criteria to judge other religions and other individuals. ‘By our own words we are declared righteous and by our own words we are condemned’, is the lesson Jesus teaches. (Mt 12:37)
Gerrit Losch hosts the broadcast and in his opening remarks he states that true Christians are to be champions of the truth. Carrying forward the theme of championing the truth he states at about the 3:00 minute mark:
“But in the case of true Christians, all can be champions of the truth. All Christians are to defend the truth and become conquerors, winners. It is necessary to defend the truth because in today’s world, truth is being attacked and distorted. We are surrounded by a sea of lies and misrepresentations.”
He then continues with these words:
“A lie is a false statement deliberately presented as being true. A falsehood. A lie is the opposite of the truth. Lying involves saying something incorrect to a person who is entitled to know the truth about a matter. But there is also something that is called a half-truth. The Bible tells Christians to be honest with each other.
“Now that you’ve put away deceit, speak truth,” wrote the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:25.
Lies and half-truths undermine trust. A German proverb says: “Who lies once is not believed, even if he says the truth.”
So we need to speak openly and honestly with each other, not withholding bits of information that could change the perception of the listener or mislead him.
As to lies, there are different types. Some politicians have lied about matters they wanted to keep secret. Companies sometimes lie in advertisements regarding their products. What about the news media? Many try to report events truthfully, but we should not be gullible and believe everything newspapers write, or everything we hear on the radio, or see on television.
Then there are religious lies. If Satan is called the father of the lie, then Babylon the great, the global empire of false religion, can be called the mother of the lie. Individual false religions could be called daughters of the lie.
Some lie by saying that sinners will get tormented in hell forever. Others lie by saying, “Once saved, always saved.” Again, others lie by saying that the earth will be burned up on Judgment Day and all good people will go to heaven. Some worship idols.
Paul wrote in Romans chapter 1 and 25, “They exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the Creator…”
Then there are many lies of a personal nature that people express in everyday life. The businessman may get a phone call but tell his secretary to answer the caller by saying he’s not in. This may be considered a small lie. There are small lies, big lies, and malicious lies.
A child may have broken something but when asked initially, out of fear of punishment, denies having done it. This does not make the child a malicious liar. In contrast, what if an entrepreneur tells his bookkeeper to falsify the entries in the books in order to save on taxes? This lying to the tax office is certainly a serious lie. It is a deliberate attempt to mislead somebody that has the right to know. It also robs the government of what they have established as legal income. We can see that not all lies are the same. There are small lies, big lies, and malicious lies. Satan is a malicious liar. He is the champion of the lie. Since Jehovah hates liars, we should avoid all lies, not just big or malicious lies.”
Gerrit Losch has provided us with a useful list by which we can evaluate future articles and broadcasts emanating from the Governing Body to determine whether or not they contain lies. Again, this may seem like a harsh word to use, but it is the word they have chosen, and it is based on the criteria they have provided.
Let us break it down into key points for ease of reference.
- Witnesses are required to defend the truth.
“All Christians are to defend the truth and become conquerors, winners. It is necessary to defend the truth because in today’s world, truth is being attacked and distorted. We are surrounded by a sea of lies and misrepresentations.” - A lie is a deliberate false statement presented as truth.
“A lie is a false statement deliberately presented as being true. A falsehood. A lie is the opposite of the truth.” - Misleading those entitled to the truth is lying.
“Lying involves saying something incorrect to a person who is entitled to know the truth about a matter.” - It is dishonest to withhold information that could mislead another.
“So we need to speak openly and honestly with each other, not withholding bits of information that could change the perception of the listener or mislead him.” - Jehovah hates all lies, of any size or nature
“There are small lies, big lies, and malicious lies. Satan is a malicious liar. He is the champion of the lie. Since Jehovah hates liars, we should avoid all lies, not just big or malicious lies.” - A malicious lie is a deliberate attempt to mislead someone who has a right to know the truth.
“In contrast, what if an entrepreneur tells his bookkeeper to falsify the entries in the books in order to save on taxes. This lying to the tax office is certainly a serious lie. It is a deliberate attempt to mislead somebody that has the right to know.” - Half-truths are dishonest statements.
"But there is also something that is called a half-truth. The Bible tells Christians to be honest with each other." - The false doctrines that Christian religions teach constitute lies.
“Some lie by saying that sinners will get tormented in hell forever. Others lie by saying, “Once saved, always saved.” Again, others lie by saying that the earth will be burned up on Judgment Day and all good people will go to heaven. Some worship idols.” - Babylon the great is the mother of the lie.
“If Satan is called the father of the lie, then Babylon the great, the global empire of- false religion, can be called the mother of the lie.” - Any false religion is the daughter of the lie.
Individual false religions could be called daughters of the lie.
Applying the JW Standard
How does the Governing Body and the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses measure up to their own standard?
Let us start with this broadcast.
Following Losch’s talk, he calls for the viewer to see how faithful ones around the world champion the truth. The first video is a dramatization instructing Jehovah’s Witnesses on how to treat family members who leave the organization.[i]
Christopher Mavor introduces the video by telling us, “While watching this dramatization, pay attention to how the mother was able to champion the truth by remaining loyal to Jehovah.” (19:00 min.)
According to point 2 (above), “A lie is a false statement deliberately presented as being true.”
Is Christopher telling us a truth, or is this “a false statement deliberately presented as being true”? Is the mother in this video championing the truth and thereby remaining loyal to Jehovah?
We are disloyal when we disobey God, but if we obey his commandments, we are showing loyalty.
In the video, the baptized son of a Witness couple is depicted writing a letter of resignation from the congregation. No mention nor depiction of him engaging in sin is shown. There is no inference that a judicial committee was involved. We are left to conclude that the announcement that he is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is a disassociation announcement based on his letter to his parents. This implies they turned it over to the elders. Elders do not announce a disassociation unless they get confirmation in writing, or orally before two or more witnesses.[ii] Remember that disassociation carries the same penalty as disfellowshipping. It is a distinction without a difference.
Later, the boy texts his mother who is tearfully concerned about his welfare. She could text back, but decides not to because she has been taught by the Organization that any contact at all would constitute a violation of 1 Corinthians 5:11 which reads:
“But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.” (1Co 5:11)
Losch tells us (point 3) that “lying involves saying something incorrect to a person who is entitled to know the truth about a matter.”
Is it correct to teach that Paul is instructing us in 1 Corinthians on how to deal with a child who abandons our faith? No, it is not correct. We are entitled to the truth about this matter, and the video (and countless articles in the publications) are misleading us on the subject.
The context of Paul’s first letter to the Christian congregation in Corinth concerns a member, a man ‘calling himself a brother’, who is engaging in sexual immorality. He hasn’t written a letter of resignation from the congregation, nor anything like that. The son in the video is not calling himself a brother. Nor is the son depicted as committing any of the sins Paul lists. Paul is referring to a Christian who is still associating with the congregation in Corinth and yet who is sinning in a most public manner.
Under point 4 Gerrit Losch says,“...we need to speak openly and honestly with each other, not withholding bits of information that could change the perception of the listener or mislead him.”
The Governing Body’s video is withholding this vital bit of information from the discussion:
“Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.” (1Ti 5:8)
This provision is not limited to the lesser material provisions, but extends to the more important spiritual ones. Based on the video, the mother has an obligation to continue striving to provide for her son spiritually, and this cannot be accomplished without some level of communication. The Bible does not prohibit a parent—or a fellow Christian for that matter—from communicating with one who has simply departed from the congregation. Even eating a meal with such a one is not prohibited because a) he is not calling himself a brother, and b) he is not engaging in the sins Paul lists.
Jehovah loved us when we were sinners. (Ro 5:8) Can we be loyal to Jehovah if we do not imitate his love? (Mt 5:43-48) How can we help an errant child (based on the video’s depiction) if we refuse to communicate, even by text? How can we show loyalty to God by obeying the command at 1 Timothy 5:8, if we will not talk to those who need our spiritual provisions?
So let’s review.
- A liar makes false statements deliberately presented as being true. (Point 2)
Therefore, it is a lie to teach that the mother is loyal to God when she doesn’t answer her son’s text. - A liar misleads by telling a falsehood to someone entitled to know the truth. (Point 3)
Applying 1 Corinthians 5:11 to this situation is misleading. We are entitled to know that this does not apply to those who leave the Organization. - A liar withholds information that might change the perception of someone. (Point 4)
Withholding the applicable command at 1 Timothy 5:8 allows the Organization to change our perception of how to treat a child who leaves the Organization. - A malicious liar is someone who makes a deliberate attempt to mislead somebody that has the right to know the truth on a matter. (Point 6)
Parents have a right to know the truth about how to deal with those who willfully disassociate themselves. It is a malicious lie—one that results in untold harm—to mislead the flock about this matter.
Losch quoted a German proverb in his speech: “Who lies once is not believed, even if he says the truth.” He says that lying undermines trust. Is this video the only example of lying to the flock? If it were, according to the proverb, it would be enough to cause us to doubt all the teachings of the Governing Body. However, if you read the other Bible-based review articles on this site, you’ll see that such lying abounds. (Again, we use the word based on the criteria that the Governing Body itself has just provided to us.)
Gerrit Losch tells us that a single Christian religion that teachings lies (false doctrines by his own words) is to be considered a “daughter of the lie”—she being a daughter of the “mother of the lie, Babylon the great.” (Again, his words—points 9 and 10.) Can we call the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses a daughter of the lie? Why not be the judge yourself as you continue to read the reviews posted here, analyzing each in the light of God’s Word, the Word of Truth?
__________________________________________________________
[i] This is not the first such video on this theme. Spending time and dedicated funds to produce yet another video instructing Witnesses to toe the Organization line on disciplining former JWs rather than dramatizing inspiring Bible accounts should tell us much about their motivations. It is a modern-day application of Jesus words: “A good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart, but a wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of his wicked [treasure]; for out of the heart’s abundance his mouth speaks.” (Lu 6:45)
[ii] Elders can also announce disassociation if they have evidence that an individual engages in activity such as voting, joining the military, or accepting a blood transfusion. They do not disfellowship in these instances to avoid costly legal repercussions. The difference between “disassociation” and “disfellowshipping” is like the difference between “pigs” and “swine”.
Archived Comments
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Comment by william on 2016-11-11 22:07:44
I haven't associated for decades. I knew that people were disfellowshipped for sexual sins, smoking, using drugs, stealing, apostasy, and most of the sins mentioned in Revelation 21:8. But I don't remember anybody ever being disfellowshipped for lying. And I used to wonder why since Rev. 21:8 says: “But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” Since the organization is so outraged at liars, have they been disfellowshipping liars in the last 2 decades? If not, are they planning to start? Since liars go to the lake of fire, maybe the organization will subject liars to judicial action now, as they do with other sins, and maybe the WT will set the example and quit telling constant lies.
Reply by katrina on 2016-11-12 22:13:11
They are hypocrites.
Comment by JimmyG on 2016-11-11 22:31:09
Oh yeh, Gerrit Losch the GB member who in a written declaration to a court of law stated: "I do not answer to Watchtower...Watchtower does not have, and never has had, any authority over me." Yeh, he's the right guy to lecture WT acolytes on lying.
By the way his statement to the court, if written by a rank and file JW and submitted to a local body of elders would be considered a resignation letter.
Comment by Truth-Seeker on 2016-11-12 03:30:24
Amen, amen, amen.
Comment by Truth-Seeker on 2016-11-12 03:33:23
It is revolting that they came out with yet another video on disowning ones child. There is an Italian proverb, which says: "To err is human, to persevere in it; diabolical".
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-11-12 08:17:34
Love that saying. :)
Comment by anonymous on 2016-11-12 03:36:04
The idea presented as truth that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BCE is the mother of all lies for this organisation. Nelson Barbour started it. Charles Taze Russell perputuated it. Carl Olof Jonsson dismantled it in his treatise. The only member of the Governing Body intellectually honest enough to admit it was false was Raymond Franz. The Governing Body have read Carl's irrefutable treatise and know the truth. But they choose to withhold this information from the rank and file, those who are entitled to know the truth, and classify it as apostate. This speaks volumes to me. Once you have convince yourself 607 is an absolute lie, everything else collapses. This is why the Governing Body withhold the truth. Jesus truly is the only way, truth, and life, not men or any organisation. This is the narrow road which many do not find. Peace and love to everyone
Reply by tyhik on 2016-11-13 18:15:35
From Ray Franz's books I have got an understanding that it is not (normally) possible to climb the ladder in the org without believing the single most important falsehood - the org being Jehovah's chosen. Landing in GB may well bring some disillusionment about the org, but it seems entirely possible that most of the GB members continue to believe it. Now, as all the JW world is built on that falsehood, it is vital for a GB member to defend and perpetuate it no matter what. And this 'no matter what' involves resorting to small, big, and malicious lies about matters like 607/1914, JW history, failed world end prophecies, UN membership, pedophilia cases etc.etc all the time. Obviously, for GB, the end justifies the means. Which makes Lösch's talk about lying hypocritical.
It is a fantastic list Meleti composed based on Lösch's talk!
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2016-11-13 03:32:22
Meliti, you are probably on the most controversial subject. Note what JW.Org states under shunning :-
"Those who were baptised as JWs but no longer preach to others, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers are not shunned".
Is this not an excellent example of a half truth ?Reply by THE DRIFTER on 2016-11-13 08:25:24
Lie of omission,
Theocratic warfare...
--
A man was sitting on the porch and a dog was sitting next to him.
A salesman approached and asked does your dog bite? To which the other man replied, "Nope!"
The salesman took one step on the porch and the dog bite him. The salesman said to the other man, "I thought you said your dog doesn't bite!"
The other man said he don't, this ain't my dog!
--
The Australian Royal Commission asked Geoffrey Jackson if a person could leave the congregation. He said yes, they are free to leave anytime they wish!
No mention of losing all of your JW family and friends if you do. (Insert church lady - Isn't that special)
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2016-11-13 08:36:39
It is indeed. Something else Losch condemned.
Comment by amoreomeara on 2016-11-14 05:10:11
"Some lie by saying that sinners will get tormented in hell forever. Others lie by saying, “Once saved, always saved.” Again, others lie by saying that the earth will be burned up on Judgment Day and all good people will go to heaven. Some worship idols."
Decieved, confused, poorly communicated - perhaps, but not technically lies, unless there is a concious attempt to mislead. Plank talking to the speck maybe?
Just a thought, with regards idol worship, if JWs are prohibited from pledging allegiance to the US flag, how does this compare to pledging allegiance to the WT? Love the article! :-)
Comment by Our Christian Life and Ministry Review – Nov. 14-20 | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2016-11-14 06:02:52
[…] as Gerrit Losch said in the November, 2016 broadcast while discussing lies (See point 7) and how to avoid them, ”there is also something that is called a half-truth. The Bible tells […]
Comment by Smoldering Wick on 2016-11-14 12:42:30
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 says:
“‘If any prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name that I did not command him to speak or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. However, you may say in your heart: “How will we know that Jehovah has not spoken the word?” When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word is not fulfilled or does not come true, then Jehovah did not speak that word. The prophet spoke it presumptuously. You should not fear him."
What I find so interesting is that there is just one publication in the entire Watchtower Library that dares comment on this scripture (w65 3/1) which doesn't apply it to any organization ....least of all, ours.
Comment by Parents, Help Your Children Build Faith | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2016-11-20 18:02:51
[…] please be a champion of truth as Gerrit Losch instructed you to do in this month’s broadcast. (See Point 1 – Witnesses are required to defend the truth.) Use the commenting feature of this article so share your findings. There are thousands of […]
Comment by 2016, Dec 19-25 – Our Christian Life and Ministry | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2016-12-19 17:13:27
[…] to properly understand Romans 13:1-7 is a gross misrepresentation and a lie—based on the definition given to us by Governing Body member Gerrit […]
Comment by Do You Highly Esteem Jehovah’s Own Book? | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2017-01-09 08:03:36
[…] paragraph 9, we get into outright lies. (I am basing this on the definition which Gerrit Losch recently imparted to […]
Comment by They Broke Free From False Religion | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2017-01-23 15:30:22
[…] [ii] “Then there are religious lies. If Satan is called the father of the lie, then Babylon the great, the global empire of false religion, can be called the mother of the lie. Individual false religions could be called daughters of the lie.” – Gerrit Losch, November Broadcast on tv.jw.org. Also see, What is a Lie. […]
Comment by Are You Willing to Wait Patiently? | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2017-09-24 18:08:17
[…] We know it is wrong to support and carry on a lie. (Re 22:15) We also know that false doctrine—by the organization’s own definition—constitutes lying. So if “waiting on Jehovah” means that a witness can continue […]
Comment by A Critical Examination of the Current JW.org Position on Child Sexual Abuse | Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2018-05-14 10:52:05
[…] Scripturally based position of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” This is also only true in part. Brother Gerrit Losch has defined half-truths as lies, which we believe aptly qualifies the two points we’ve just mentioned. We will demonstrate […]