Recently the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses published a video featuring Anthony Morris III denouncing apostates. It’s a particularly hateful little piece of propaganda.
I have received a number of requests to do a review of this little piece from both Spanish and English viewers. To be honest, I didn’t want to critique it. I agree with Winston Churchhill who famously said: “You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.”
My focus is not to keep slamming the Governing Body but to help the wheat still growing among the weeds within the Organization to get out of enslavement to men.
Nevertheless, I came to see a benefit from reviewing this Morris video when a commentator shared Isaiah 66:5 with me. Now why is that relevant. I’ll show you. Let’s have some fun, shall we?
At around the fifty second mark, Morris says:
“I thought we’d discuss the final end of God’s enemies. So, it can be very encouraging, albeit sobering. And to help us with it, there’s a beautiful expression here in the 37th Psalm. So, find that 37th Psalm, and how encouraging to meditate on this beautiful verse, verse 20:”
“But the wicked will perish; The enemies of Jehovah will vanish like glorious pastures; They will vanish like smoke.” (Psalm 37:20)
That was from Psalm 37:20 and is the reason for the controversial visual memory aid he adds at the end of his video presentation.
However, before going there, he first draws this interesting conclusion:
“So, since they’re Jehovah’s enemies and Jehovah’s our best friend, that means they’re our enemies.”
Everything Morris says from this point forward it based on this premise which, of course, his audience already accepts wholeheartedly.
But is it true? I can call Jehovah my friend, but what matters is what he calls me?
Didn’t Jesus warn us that on that day when he returns, there will be many claiming him as their friend, crying out, “Lord, Lord, did we not do many wonderful things in your name”, but his answer will be: “I never knew you.”
“I never knew you.”
I agree with Morris that the enemies of Jehovah will vanish like smoke, but I think we disagree on who those enemies actually are.
At the 2:37 mark, Morris reads from Isaiah 66:24
“Now it’s interesting…the Isaiah prophecy book had some sobering comments and find if you would, please, the very last chapter of Isaiah and the very last verse in Isaiah. Isaiah 66, and we’re going to read verse 24:”
“And they will go out and look on the carcasses of the men who rebelled against me; For the worms on them will not die, And their fire will not be extinguished, And they will become something repulsive to all people.””
Morris seems to take great delight in this imagery. At the 6:30 mark, he really gets down to business:
“And frankly, for friends of Jehovah God, how reassuring that they’re finally going to be gone, all these despicable enemies that have just reproached Jehovah’s name, destroyed, never, ever to live again. Now it’s not that we rejoice in someone’s death, but when it comes to God’s enemies…finally…they’re out of the way. Especially these despicable apostates who at one point had dedicated their life to God and then they join forces with Satan the Devil, the chief apostate of all time.
Then he concludes with this visual memory aid.
“But the wicked will perish, the enemies of Jehovah will vanish like glorious pastures”, particularly, “they will vanish like smoke”. So, I thought this would be a nice memory aid to help this verse stay in the mind. Here’s what Jehovah is promising. That’s Jehovah’s enemies. They’re going to vanish like smoke.”
The problem with Morris’ reasoning here, is the same one the pervades the entirety of Watchtower publications. Eisegesis. They have an idea, find a verse that if taken a certain way seems to support their idea, and then off they go ignoring the context.
But we won’t ignore the context. Rather than restrict ourselves to Isaiah 66:24, the very last verse of the very last chapter of the book of Isaiah, we’ll read the context and learn who he’s referring to.
I’m going to read from the New Living Translation because it is easier to understand than the more stilted rendering given this passage by the New World Translation, but feel free to follow along in the NWT if you prefer it. (There is just one small change I've made. I've replaced "LORD" with "Jehovah" not only for accuracy, but for added emphasis since we are addressing ideas put forward by Jehovah's Witnesses.)
“This is what Jehovah says:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Could you build me a temple as good as that?
Could you build me such a resting place?
My hands have made both heaven and earth;
they and everything in them are mine.
I, Jehovah, have spoken!”” (Isaiah 66:1, 2a)
Here Jehovah starts off with a sobering warning. Isaiah was writing to self-satisfied Jews thinking they were at peace with God because they had built him a great temple and made sacrifices and were righteous keepers of the law code.
But it is not temples and sacrifices that please God. What he is pleased with is explained in the rest of verse two:
“These are the ones I look on with favor:
“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2b)
“Humble and contrite hearts”, not proud and haughty ones. And trembling at his word indicates a willingness to submit to him and a fear of displeasing him.
Now in contrast, he speaks of others who are not of this sort.
“But those who choose their own ways—
delighting in their detestable sins—
will not have their offerings accepted.
When such people sacrifice a bull,
it is no more acceptable than a human sacrifice.
When they sacrifice a lamb,
it’s as though they had sacrificed a dog!
When they bring an offering of grain,
they might as well offer the blood of a pig.
When they burn frankincense,
it’s as if they had blessed an idol.”
(Isaiah 66:3)
It’s pretty clear how Jehovah feels when the proud and haughty make sacrifices to him. Remember, he’s speaking to the nation of Israel, what Jehovah’s Witnesses like to call, Jehovah’s earthly organization before Christ.
But he doesn’t consider these members of his organization as his friends. No, they are his enemies. He says:
“I will send them great trouble—
all the things they feared.
For when I called, they did not answer.
When I spoke, they did not listen.
They deliberately sinned before my very eyes
and chose to do what they know I despise.”
(Isaiah 66:4)
So, when Anthony Morris quoted the last verse of this chapter that speaks of these ones being killed, their bodies consumed by worms and fire, did he realize it wasn’t talking about outsiders, people who had been expelled from the congregation of Israel. It was talking about the fat cats, sitting pretty, thinking they were at peace with God. To them, Isaiah was the apostate. This is eminently clear by what the very next verse, verse 5, tells us.
“Hear this message from Jehovah,
all you who tremble at his words:
“Your own people hate you
and throw you out for being loyal to my name.
‘Let Jehovah be honored!’ they scoff.
‘Be joyful in him!’
But they will be put to shame.
What is all the commotion in the city?
What is that terrible noise from the Temple?
It is the voice of Jehovah
taking vengeance against his enemies.”
(Isaiah 66:5, 6)
Because of this work I do, I am in personal contact with hundreds of men and women who have remained loyal to Jehovah and Jesus, loyal to the name of God, which means upholding the honor of the God of truth. These are the ones Morris would gleefully see go up in smoke because in his view they are “despicable apostates”. These ones have become hated by their own people. They were Jehovah’s Witnesses, but now Jehovah’s Witnesses hate them. They have been thrown out of the Organization, disfellowshipped because they remained loyal to God rather than being loyal to the men of the Governing Body. These tremble at God’s words, fearing far more to displease him than to displease mere men, like Anthony Morris III.
Men like Anthony Morris love to play the projection game. They project their own attitude onto others. They claim that the apostates have abandoned their family and friends. I have yet to meet one of these so-called apostates who refuses to talk with or associate with his family or his former friends. It is Jehovah’s Witnesses who have hated them and excluded them, just as Isaiah foretold.
“And frankly, for friends of Jehovah God, how reassuring that they’re finally going to be gone, all these despicable enemies…especially these despicable apostates who at one point had dedicated their life to God and then they joined forces with Satan the Devil the Chief apostate of all time.”
What is to become of these despicable apostates according to Anthony Morris? After reading Isaiah 66:24 he turns to Mark 9:47, 48. Let’s listen to what he has to say:
“What makes this even more of an impact is the fact that Christ Jesus likely had this verse in mind when he said these well known words—well known to Jehovah’s Witnesses, anyway—in Mark chapter 9…find Mark chapter 9…and this is a very clear warning for all who want to stay friends of Jehovah God. Notice verse 47 and 48. “And if your eye makes you stumble, throw it away. It is better for you to enter one-eyed into the Kingdom of God than to be thrown with two eyes into Gehenna, where the maggot does not die and the fire is not put out.””
“Of course, Christendom will twist these inspired thoughts of our Master, Christ Jesus, but it’s very clear, and you notice the cross reference scripture at the end of verse 48 is Isaiah 66:24. Now this point, “what the fire did not consume, the maggots would.”
“I don’t know if you know much about maggots, but…you see a whole bunch of them…it’s just not a pleasant sight.”
“But what a fitting picture, the final end of all of God’s enemies. Sobering, yet something we look forward to. However, the apostates and the enemies of Jehovah would say, well that’s gruesome; that’s despicable. You teach your people these things? No, God teaches his people these things. This is what He’s foretelling, and frankly, for friends of Jehovah’s God, how reassuring that they’re finally all going to be gone, all these despicable enemies.”
Why does he link Isaiah 66:24 with Mark 9:47, 48? He wants to show that these despicable apostates that he hates so much will die eternally in Gehenna, a place from which there is no resurrection. However, Anthony Morris III has overlooked another link, one that hits dangerously close to home.
Let’s read Matthew 5:22:
“. . .However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna.” (Matthew 5:22)
Now just to explain what Jesus means, he is not saying that the mere expression in Greek translated here as “despicable fool!” is all that needs to be uttered for one to be condemned to eternal death. Jesus himself uses the Greek expression on one or two occasions when speaking to the Pharisees. Rather, what he means here is that this expression stems from a heart filled with hatred, willing to judge and condemn one’s brother. Jesus has the right to judge; indeed, God appoints him to judge the world. But you and I and Anthony Morris…not so much.
Of course, Anthony Morris doesn’t say “despicable fools” but “despicable apostates”. Does that get him off the hook?
I’d like to look at another verse now in Psalm 35:16 which reads “Among the apostate mockers for a cake”. I know that sounds like gibberish, but remember that Fred Franz was no Hebrew scholar when he did the translation. However, the footnote clarifies the meaning. It reads: “ungodly buffoons”.
So, a “apostate mocker for a cake” is a “godless buffoon” or a “godless fool”; one who goes apostate from God is indeed a fool. “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)
“Despicable fool” or “despicable apostate”—scripturally, it is all the same thing. Anthony Morris III should take a long, hard look in the mirror before calling anyone a despicable anything.
What do we learn from all this? Two things as I see it:
First, we need not fear the words of men who have declared themselves to be friends of God but haven’t checked with Jehovah to see if he feels the same about them. We need not be concerned when they call us names like “despicable fool” or “despicable apostate” and shun us as Isaiah 66:5 says they would all the while proclaiming they are honoring Jehovah.
Jehovah favours those who are humble and contrite in heart, and who tremble at his word.
The second thing we learn is that we must not follow the example set by Anthony Morris and the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses who endorse this video. We are not to hate our enemies. In fact, Matthew 5:43-48 starts off by telling us that we must “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” and ends off by saying that only in this way can we perfect our love.
Therefore, we must not judge our brothers as apostates, since judging is left up to Jesus Christ. Judging a doctrine or an organization as false is okay, because neither has a soul; but let’s leave the judging of our fellow man to Jesus, alright? We would never want to have an attitude so brazen that it would allow us to do this:
“So I thought this would be a nice memory aid so this verse stays in the mind. Here’s what Jehovah’s promising. That’s Jehovah’s enemies. They’re going to vanish like smoke.”
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Comment by Jack on 2020-10-13 20:37:51
If I could speak directly to Br. Morris I would say:
Brother, let it go.
You are stressing over what cannot be fixed. You will not get those you call apostates to stop and you will not be able to stop the bleed in the Organization.
Only Jehovah can fix these problems.
Trust in God as you have all your life, brother.
Let it go, brother, let it go.
Jehovah knows. Be at peace.
JackReply by Jack on 2020-10-21 14:23:57
To the negative: Morris is a fellow Christian- wrong, hypocritical, strong headed, self-aggrandizing and a liar.
Christ forgave Peter who though personally knowing him, denied him.
Is there then any Christian we cannot reach out to with brotherly love? No.
We must love our enemies.Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2020-10-21 16:37:56
Yes, indeed. We should pray for our enemies. However, we must be careful not to throw our pearls before swine. Peter was contrite and repentant. We should forgive those who repent, but if someone is unrepentant, then forgiving them merely enables them.
Reply by Jack on 2020-10-21 16:52:03
(Matthew 5:44) . . .However, I say to YOU: Continue to love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU;
Nothing there about repentance.Reply by Jack on 2020-10-21 16:54:02
We are obligated to forgive our enemies as God has forgiven us.
Reply by Jack on 2020-10-21 17:16:58
"Yes, indeed. We should pray for our enemies. However, we must be careful not to throw our pearls before swine"
(Matthew 7:6) 6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, neither throw YOUR pearls before swine, that they may never trample them under their feet and turn around and rip YOU open.
Too late brother. Been there done that.
I do though forgive as Christ did.
Jack
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2020-10-21 17:23:47
Nothing there about forgiveness either. I can love Tony Morris and pray for Tony Morris, but I can't forgive him if he isn't repentant.
You will notice the caveat in this passage:
“. . .Even if he sins seven times a day against you and he comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”” (Luke 17:4)
You are right in saying that we are obligated to forgive our enemies as God has forgiven us, but the illustration Jesus gave at Matthew 18:23-35 indicates that the forgiveness is granted in the face of repentance.
God will not forgive everyone and neither will Jesus, but they are willing to forgive if one repents. Jesus forgave the sinner nailed next to him, but the other man got no such forgiveness.Reply by Jack on 2020-10-21 17:49:55
There are JWs and other Christians in prison for their faith. Should they wait for their captors to "repent" or for the governmental authorities to "repent" before they in their hearts forgive?
(Mark 11:25) 25 And when you stand praying, forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in the heavens may also forgive you your trespasses. . .Reply by Jack on 2020-10-21 18:01:02
There are circumstances where someone has suffered a horrific crime committed against themselves or their children. No one should force a "forgiveness" upon them. That is between them and their God.
Reply by Meleti Vivlon on 2020-10-21 20:33:18
Yes. They can still express love for those oppressing them, because love and forgiveness are two different things.
Comment by Chet on 2020-10-14 00:25:09
This video has disturbed a lot of people. I think that they went a bit too far, with this “memory aid”. The smirk, the chuckle, the laughter (was it a laugh track?) are sickening. There is something very, very wrong with these people, these leaders that would take pleasure in the annihilation of others. This is a sub-rosa attitude that I have seen in some JWs. Thankfully not all JWs are like this, but I have met some that are all but vicious in their feelings about persons outside the Organization.
Ray Franz spoke about Witnesses being “captives of a concept”. The concept that somehow Jehovah’s Witnesses are in a unique, favored relationship with God does imprison members, keeping them in bondage to this organization, but it has potential to be much more pernicious than that.
The Nazis convinced many that the German people that they were part of a greater cause, and were successful in convincing a surprising proportion of ordinary citizens to put aside their empathy and allow a travesty to take place. Most of the people had no evil intent, but they were conditioned to accept something inhuman because they felt that it was for a greater cause.
This video clip betrays a very toxic attitude, and I don’t believe it to be confined to just Anthony Morris. But this incident has already been copied and widely distributed. It’s one thing to make such a comment at a District Convention which is of interest to only a relative handful of people, but this is a video that can be seen worldwide. Anthony Morris, and the entire Organization, are prisoners of these videos. The Organization has recently decreed that all older literature should be destroyed. Many Witnesses are complying, but there are plenty of people that still have hard copies. How about videos such as these? Anthony Morris’ memory aid will be replayed for many years to come. The nature of search engines means that people searching for information about Jehovah’s Witnesses are fairly likely to see this video. I can’t help but wonder how many prospective JWs will see that video and be given pause.
By their definition, I am an apostate. However, there’s a twist to this, because an apostate means one that has changed their beliefs and my beliefs have changed very little. I believe in the God of the Bible as a Unitary God, I believe He sent His Son to earth to instruct us and to bring salvation. I live the moral standards of the Bible and have not changed since my days of active participation in the JWs.
Now, how about the Organization? Their teachings have varied and even at times conflicted with earlier teachings. They have imposed opinions which have affected the lives of members in serious ways, then reversed these teachings. While draft age males in Mexico were allowed to pay bribes and pose as having served in the National Guard, while JW men in the US were expected to go to prison, and in Malawi, Witnesses were literally killed for not buying a simple party membership card which signified nothing, considering that it was a single party country.
if apostasy is changing one’s beliefs, then what would that say about the Watchtower, which has changed its beliefs constantly, without regard for the effect this could have on the lives of individual Witnesses. Who really is changing?
The current JWs are barely recognizable in comparison to what they were 50 years ago. For one thing, back in those days, they were not given to begging for money and a “planned giving desk” to facilitate leaving one’s legacy to the Watchtower would have been unthinkable. How about professionally produced videos featuring choirs and elaborate sets and costumes. That is far different from simple magazines printed on inexpensive paper with only one color for illustrations and black print. Witnesses were bordering on plain worship when I was a child, meeting in plain buildings, no choirs, just a piano player and a simple songbook. Congregations operated on a shoestring back then with accounts reports that would be co sidereal pocket change in today’s dollars. We had a phone which could receive, but not place calls, because that saved money.
When I began to actively participate in the JWs, I saw them as a group that believed along the same lines as I did, so our journeys were down the same path. I’m still on that path and the Watchtower has changed their path. According to their thinking, this somehow makes me an apostate, but just who has changed their beliefs? By twisting the meaning of Proverbs, they have written themselves a blank check to change their minds about anything and credit it to “new light”. Now they are saying that anyone that refuses to follow their crooked path will be dissipated like smoke.
Mr. Morris, if there is any common sense left in you after your years with the Witnesses, please, repent publicly what you said, beg the forgiveness of God and of those whom you offended and resolve not to make such a statement again.
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-10-14 04:40:25
Mr Morris III, for I find it hard to call you my brother, I am not judging you, but I would remind you of Jesus words at Matthew 7:2 "With the judgement you are judging, you will be judged".
Mattthew 24 tells us what will happen to the slave who beats his fellow slaves and removing them from the organisation does not solve the problem.
Be very careful what you call those who are only concerned to worship God in truth (John 4:24).Reply by Jack on 2020-10-14 10:46:23
I agree. That video steps out of the bounds of decency toward everyone who has left.
I would point out, though, that a literal war has been waging against the Governing Body, their history and teaching. A war online that, while Eric has been among the better participants in so far as being decent and Christian, many others have not.
Filthy name calling, ridicule, calling Jehovah names, misusing His name, ridiculing the Bible and Christ. This is the online world of many who have left but not all.
This war (decades long) coupled with the pandemic and other stresses on the Organization is becoming increasingly heavy on the those attempting to keep things together and going.
I think the video is a revealing measure of the stress going on at headquarters. Stress Morris is personally feeling and angry about. They are attempting to carry millions of brothers through the pandemic and are doing a good job of it but that in itself is a heavy burden.
But this video is over the top, I agree.
Morris is my brother in so far as we worship the same God, Jehovah the God of Abraham, and put our faith in Christ's blood. But we differ on just how best to accomplish our service to God and Christ. What was Christ's aim? to keep discipline or teach? to write rules or put in the hearts of men the love of God and neighbor?
This has been the struggle Christianity has had since Christ died.Reply by Jack on 2020-10-14 14:19:22
I commend the Governing Body, headquarters, and elders around the world who have worked hard to continue the meetings and conventions virtually.
Christians need association, they need encouragement, they need to feel fed. The Watchtower is not the only religion holding Zoom/YouTube meetings during this pandemic but they are to be commended nonetheless.
Ironically, from what I have seen both in the Watchtower and other Christian churches that have tried to keep their members tied together in congregational meetings; there is an increase of brotherly love, concern and extended reaching out trying to assist all in the congregation.
This is also true in the secular community. An increased awareness of others and their needs.
This pandemic has exposed peoples love for one another. Given them opportunity to express love of neighbor even to risking their health and lives.
But if 2020 can be marked by this explosion of love of neighbor it is also marked by an explosion of social and racial anger against the order of things and the very fabric of the United States. As well as uncertainty in political arenas around the world where no one can foretell what state actors such as China or Russia two powerful nations involved in religious and political suppression will do . The E.U. is split for the better or worse. Lockdowns have harmed many especially the elderly and the poor. The U.S. is embroiled in a warring political and media divide such as we have not seen in our lifetimes. What happens in the U.S. affects the world. Is this a unique time?
Now some would say: this is nothing new, World War II was also a time where the world did not know how it would turn out the world was at war, the world today is not at war.
True. But today we have what the world did not have in times past. We have the ability to communicate as never before. Masses of people can communicate and move their own society toward good or bad.
The Internet moves the world today. Social media drives people today. Governments are predicable they act for their own benefit that's it. Unlike governments the masses of people today driven by social media, the internet, are being influenced by individuals and causes that use emotion and self-interest to force change that is not always for their own benefit.
This is only the beginning it will not end with an election the stage is set for the "sea" to continue rising. It will continue rising because it is being fed by the internet with information, knowledge, both true and false.
(Luke 21:25, 26) 25 “Also, there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out because of the roaring of the sea and [its] agitation, 26 while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. . .
(Dan 12:4) But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (ASV)
We are nearing the events that will lead to the Great Tribulation.
Comment by lazarus on 2020-10-14 18:34:15
Thanks Eric, good points all round and great conclusion to love our enemies. It’s all to easy to allow the enemy to get under our skin.
Tony Morris should start his day off with a good cappuccino and keep away from the booze. Kidding. Playing with matches is dangerous. What sort of example is he setting for young ones? The organisation is back into fear mongering. Yes even Name Calling or labelling ex-members who tell the truth as maggots, grubs.
What crossed my mind was that any members who are awake but still in, that message of Tony Morris was loud and clear to that particular audience.
And why would anyone within want to listen to grubs, maggots who left God!! Can you imagine. So it’s damage control as typical MO of JW’s leadership. You know I came into the organisation back in the 1980’s by fear mongering message being it was the final part of the last days that was 30 years ago. If I didn’t join, I could be “manure” as one brother put it. And when your in, it’s fear monger talk that controls you or keeps you in. Tough love they call it.
Nothing has changed folks.
Thanks again Eric, God bless you brother.
Aussie Frank.Reply by Chet on 2020-10-15 13:36:00
"typical MO of JW’s leadership"
That says a mouthful. The MO of the Jehovah's Witnesses has been marked, stained, by the implication that they, this relatively tiny group, are the only ones to be spared destruction at Armageddon. What folly! Even if it were true, it would be foolhardy to say as much and to imply that one's group is uniquely favored by God. The judging takes place far above the human realm. One's status as a Christian is, ultimately determined by Jesus. If Jesus judges one fit to be considered a disciple, that is all that counts, but if one attempts to impose their own criteria upon this matter, then they are really attempting to support the King whom Jehovah Himself has appointed.
This implication has been part of my life since early childhood. I "knew" that the neighbor kids would be destroyed at Armageddon and their parents as well. It always troubled me that there were some very nice, very decent people among these "worldly" persons, but I was always reassured that Jehovah would gather them into the flock if they were really good.
There is nothing wrong with saying that Jehovah's enemies would be dissipated like smoke. That is valid and scriptural. But there is something terribly wrong with implying that judgment towards others. This begets a bunker mentality and the current lockdown plays right into that sort of thinking.
The Branch Davidians were a breakaway Adventist sect in Waco Texas. They were known to be a bit odd, but when a damaged package revealed that hand grenades were being shipped into their compound the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms became interested. The ensuing standoff is quite controversial and it is not my point to rehash that aspect of things, but I think that the Branch Davidians serve as a lesson in what a bunker mentality can lead to. I don't mean to imply that the JW leadership is stoking up on weaponry, but they definitely seem to be developing a siege mentality, attributing any resistance to Gog of Magog. This doesn't even agree with their own teaching, because if they were indeed the "Israel" that Gog of Magog attacks, the instant response would be God delivering His people. Well, if you are a long-time JW, it's axiomatic that you are accustomed to waiting for things to happen.
While I wish no ill to any individual among the JWs or the JW leadership, I feel strongly that collectively, this organization has stepped away from the direction of goodness. According to much of what I hear, there are a lot of people leaving and the Zoom meetings may well be the end of the Witnesses as we knew them. At this point in time, I doubt that they will ever be able to return to in-person meetings and have meaningful levels of attendance. People have experienced not going to meetings and the impact of virtual meetings conducted online is much less than the impact of in-person meetings. From the testimony of any number of ex JWs, being away from meetings for one reason or another, was frequently the first step in awakening.
I recently saw an ex-JW video set in the empty parking lot of a Kingdom Hall. The presenter made much of the fact that the Witnesses have made no efforts to resume in-person meetings, even though many other religions have done so. Viewing that video, the thought struck me that there may be no intention of ever returning to in-person meetings. The bunker/siege mentality of the JW leadership has been served a situation that plays directly into their paranoia. It's here! The culmination of all their predictions. Except that if it doesn't play out that way, they will be in an untenable situation. I would expect that only the most stalwart, true-believers will remain if the COVID situation passes and Armageddon doesn't happen.
In the movie, The Right Stuff, which is about the early days of the US Manned Space Program, there is a pivotal scene where a reporter asks rhetorically: "do you know what makes your planes go up?" The test pilots answer that the aerodynamics alone would be too much to explain to a lay-person, but then the reporter answers his own question in one word: funding. Funding is what is needed to develop aircraft, launch men into space, or to keep thousands of buildings maintained and in operation.
The Organization has sought to centralize ownership of the Kingdom Halls and now they are faced with a situation where these buildings are no longer usable as collection points for donations. Funding: funding is what keeps these buildings open. If the Watchtower is leveraged, and I suspect that they are highly leveraged, they stand to lose all of it. What breaks my heart is the fact that locally built meeting places will end up being lost, but they have sewn and will undoubtedly reap as they have sewn. The entire JW organization could end up dissipated ... like smoke.Reply by Chet on 2020-10-15 17:04:59
I didn’t mean to imply that by presuming to judge that one is “supporting the King”. I typed in usurping, but the auto correct feature decided what I wanted to say without notifying me of the change.
Comment by PierrotSud on 2021-04-04 11:06:26
I am really disgusted by this brother who has hatred and who quotes the last verse of Isaiah and seems to take great pleasure in it.
This brother claims to be a spokesman for Jehovah?
Is it the hatred and the pleasure of seeing people suffer that makes us known as Christians?
Unfortunately many of our Jehovah's witness brothers and sisters do not realize this.
I am very surprised by the behavior of brother Morris III, because his past should have helped him to show compassion and kindness to his fellow man.
His biography in the Watchtower of May 15, 2015, shows that when he was a soldier nurse in Vietnam, he was horrified by the many corpses, or remains of corpses that he saw.
Apparently, he did not remember this, with his comments toward those who reject the central college.
He used the verse from Isaiah where it says that worms eat corpses.
But in Vietnam, he must have seen the same thing. Would he have been complacent to see severely wounded soldiers, leaving them to die in excruciating pain?
Jehovah God sees all this and will not forget those who mistreat his flock.
Pierre