It turned out to be an informal judicial hearing. I was questioned (in Gloria’s presence) for an hour or two about whether I had any “doubts.” The only specific subject about which I was questioned was whether I believed the Watchtower Society to be Jehovah’s organization. I replied that I believed that God had worked through Jehovah’s Witnesses, but was unwilling to limit him to working through them exclusively. He is God, after all, I said, and he can do whatever he wants. The meeting ended with no action taken. Although we had been fairly active with the congregation for over two and a half years, few, if any, had any idea that we had doubts. However, within a couple of days, many had heard that we were “doubters”…
Yes, I agree with the "turning away" this ex-JW took. This ex-JW concluded that he was unwilling to limit him [Jehovah God] to working through them [the Watchtower organization] exclusively. He is God, after all, I said, and he can do whatever he wants.
[Insert our own particular denomination or local church in the above...and if we conclude that God only works thru that denomination in an exclusive salvific way, then I would say we've thereby substituted a church for Jesus Christ, Son of God, as being "The Way" (John 14:6)]
From the bio:: Using my concordance and Bible dictionary, I began to carefully search the Scriptures for evidence as to whether or not God had ever used any organization as an official instrument to communicate with or direct humans. I concluded that he did not, and published my research in an article entitled “Does God Work Through an Organization?” It was eventually translated into several languages and saw fairly wide circulation among exiting Witnesses, particularly after the Internet came into wide use.
Similar to the above, this is an emphasis on an organization instead of organism, which it sounds like he recognized. The Body of Christ is the latter--not merely some "organization" based in either Rome or Salt Lake City. (It's "based" in heaven!)
Actually Scripture tells us that the Church is the final authority of Christianity. (Matthew 18:17).
Similar to the above, this is an emphasis on an organization instead of organism, which it sounds like he recognized. The Body of Christ is the latter--not merely some "organization" based in either Rome or Salt Lake City.
The Church was never intended to be a loose conglomerate of believers but a structured organization. Scripture clearly established "offices" and a "hierarchy" among Christians. The offices of "bishop, priest (presbyter) and deacon" are mentioned in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1,8; Titus 1:7 ). This is organization. Also, according to Scripture, Christ wanted us to be one (John 17:22-23). We are all as a Church to be of one mind and to think the same (Philippians 2:2; Romans 15:5). There is only to be one "faith" (Ephesians 4:3-6), not many. For the Church is Christ's Body and Christ only had one Body, not many.