A Time to Speak (print version)

As all of Jehovah's Witnesses are aware, over the years the Watchtower has taken great pride in exposing Christendom's political meddling, hypocrisy and doctrinal error. Conversely, the organization has always boasted about our own political neutrality and spiritual purity.

As an example, in the Man's Salvation book, page 339, it says: "The 138 members of the United Nations organization know that Jehovah's Christian witnesses are no part of Christendom…They know that Jehovah's witnesses have not messed themselves up with the dirty politics of this world and have not tried to ride the symbolic scarlet-colored "wild beast" having seven heads and ten horns."

Of course, that book was published way back in 1975. That was a long time ago. In more recent years, Jehovah's Christian witnesses have "messed themselves up with the dirty politics of this world," in that, the Watchtower has entered into a worldly alliance with the United Nations organization.

Tragically, after decades of pouring out derision on Christendom's political involvement, the Watchtower was seduced into imitating Babylon the Great by yoking itself to the United Nations as a submissive NGO. As such, the Watchtower carried out its contractual obligation by subtly informing its readership about the United Nations' activities. (See these essays for more detail on the extent of the Watchtower's involvement as an NGO 1 2)

Some of Jehovah's Witnesses might dismiss the NGO affair as of little significance; however, the February 15th, 1967, issue of the Watchtower asked this question: "But how does Jehovah God view the rise of nationalism and of the supranational United Nations, which has gained such ardent praise from the religious leaders of this twentieth century?"

The unsettling question to ponder now is how does Jehovah view Jehovah's Witnesses in light of the evidence that the United Nations has also "gained much ardent praise" from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society? (For an online sampling of the sort of slick, theocratically-packaged, propaganda the Watchtower has produced for the UN, click here)

Another question is this: What was the Watchtower's reaction when the tables were turned and she was exposed by the media as a whoring hypocrite?

Incredibly, despite the fact that most of Jehovah's Witnesses still have no knowledge of the full extent of the affair, the Watchtower denied that there was anything secretive about their NGO status. Yet, to this day the Watchtower has not had the decency to inform Jehovah's Witnesses directly that the organization was ever recognized by the United Nations as an NGO. Instead, an official memo was sent out to all the branch offices telling them that "opposers" were stirring up trouble; that the only reason the Watchtower applied for NGO status was so that it could access UN library facilities.

But, a thorough investigation of that claim proves that the Watchtower is lying. (See mailbag or commentary on Watchtower's response.) According to the head librarian's office at the UN headquarters, qualified researchers were allowed to use the facilities before 9-11. Contrary to their claim, it was not necessary for the Watchtower to become an NGO to access UN library facilities. The UN itself has stated that the Watchtower willingly met the requirements of an NGO. And, of course, the Watchtower and Awake magazines contain abundant evidence that the Society was earnestly engaged in educating Jehovah's Witnesses and the reading public about the United Nations and their many agencies and programs.

You may have heard it said by the brothers before that 'no one is above counsel.' That's a nice thought; but is it really true? Sadly, apparently not.

For instance, if a lowly publisher or even a local elder were to join a political party, or something of that nature, it would be considered an overt act of self-disassociation from Jehovah's Witnesses. But, evidently, high ranking men at Bethel can steer the entire organization into outright apostasy; acting as if they were not even accountable to Jehovah God—let alone men. So far their presumptions have proved true.

They have succeeded in duping millions of Jehovah's Witnesses into distributing UN propaganda over the past decade; they have lied to the UN; they have lied to the media; they have lied to the dozens of inquiring branch offices; and then they wrap themselves up in Elijah's mantle of righteousness and pretend 'opposers' are making up lies about the Watchtower. Bethel is shamelessly exploiting the deeply-ingrained "organizational loyalty" among Jehovah's Witnesses to shield themselves from having to account for their disloyalty.

But, no doubt if more of Jehovah's Witnesses in responsible positions were fully aware of the facts, there might be some action taken against the Watchtower's brazen hypocrisy—at least a greater awareness of it. Perhaps, then the "certain men" who imagine that they are above counsel might at least come under more scrutiny by their peers.

Consider the relevancy of what the July 15th, 1992, Watchtower had to say on the subject of Christendom's hypocrisy: "Then, too, as Jesus showed his hatred for lawlessness by exposing hypocritical religionists, so today Jehovah's Witnesses are showing their hatred for all hypocritical religious lawlessness. How? By distributing Bible literature that lays bare Babylon the Great for what she really is, a religious harlot. If we truly hate lawless religious hypocrisy, we will be forthright in exposing Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. We will do so for the sake of honest-hearted people whom she has blinded and held in spiritual bondage."

How sad that it has come down to this, but using the Watchtower's own reasoning, does not our Christ-like hatred for lawlessness demand that there be an exposure of the "hypocritical religionists" who are now running the Watchtower?

Surely, as the article quoted above says: "If we truly hate lawless religious hypocrisy, we will be forthright in exposing" the Watchtower's hypocrisy; just as we have exposed Christendom's hypocrisy in our traditional ministry.

Over the past year-and-a-half that e-watchman has been online, many readers have expressed their support for the site's efforts. Others have offered their own insights into the scriptures and links to articles of interest. Some of you have shared e-watchman with others who are troubled over these and other issues. A few have even generously offered monetary support to help defray the considerable cost for the upkeep of this site. Although e-watchman does not accept contributions, all such expressions of your support and encouragement are truly appreciated.

Now, though, e-watchman is asking for your support and assistance.

An invitation is being extended to all who would like to participate, to join e-watchman in a letter writing campaign directed specifically to the Watchtower Society's 101 branch offices around the world. No doubt there are many fine, devoted, God-fearing, truth-loving brothers who staff those many branches, and some of them might be persuaded by reason to look into this matter more deeply. After all, the Watchtower lied directly to the branch overseers in telling them that there was nothing to the NGO story. They are the most immediate victims of the Watchtower's deception. Certainly, no one appreciates being lied to, especially by someone we trust. So, the branch overseers in particular are entitled to know the truth of the matter and the depth of Bethel's hypocrisy.

Although English is nearly a universal language today, and no doubt many branch overseers read English, it might be good for them to receive letters in both their native tongue and English. To that end, e-watchman would especially appreciate the help of those who are bilingual and who can either compose or translate a letter into other languages—especially Spanish, as there are several branches in Latin America. As a contribution to this effort, perhaps some of you would even be willing to pay to have a letter professionally translated into some of the more obscure native languages the branches serve—such as Ukrainian, Slovakian, or some African dialect. (It is the opinion of e-watchman that current software which offers to translate text, documents and web pages is very limited and not appropriate for formal translation, since it lacks the various nuances needed for such correspondence.)

If anyone wants to share in this work, please choose which branch, or branches, you would like to contact. E-mail e-watchman a brief note about which branch(es) and what language you have selected. It is best to contact the branch that serves the country that you live in, but it is not necessary. Here is a link to a directory with the mailing addresses of all the Watchtower's branches world-wide.

As for the letter itself, it is important to be brief and to the point and to use your own words. Also, be respectful and not overly condemnatory. If you have official company letter-head you may wish to use that. You may or may not tell them your congregation—that's up to you. Simply point out that the facts show that the Watchtower was not being truthful with them. Remind them of the tremendous reproach this has brought upon the name of Jehovah—especially among UN officials and staff who are aware of the situation. Some of you may wish to copy a portion of the UN's email response that clearly states the Watchtower willingly met the criteria for NGOs.

If any of you have any suggestions or questions, please send an email or post them in the Guest Book for all to read. e-watchman will also continue to answer questions and address other issues as they come up in the weekly Mailbag section.

To maximize the impact of this effort, it is important to coordinate our efforts and carry out a blitz campaign in a short period of time. It is suggested that we compose and polish our letters over the next week to ten days and then send them out on the last week of February—or the first week of March.

Realistically, though, we should not delude ourselves into supposing the Watchtower would ever willingly humble itself and tell the truth; not without the almighty hand of Jehovah coming upon them, anyway. But, as was the case with the wayward House of Israel in Ezekiel's day, the important thing is that the truth be told; after that, it is up to them. The principle is the same as when God instructed his watchman Ezekiel: "You must speak to them and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said,' regardless of whether they hear or they refrain."

Please call to mind, that a relative handful of Jewish priests and kings were responsible for bringing the whole nation under God's judgment. Similarly, as patterns go, the Watchtower's hypocrisy and spiritual adultery has brought all of Jehovah's Witnesses into a precarious standing before Jehovah. Therefore, this matter should be of serious concern to all fearers of Jehovah.

As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, there is an appointed time to speak and a time to keep quiet. In view of all the foregoing, it seems that the appointed time has come to speak—or in this case, write!

Thank you in advance for your input and support.