"Hail, Almighty Organization"
Norman Hovland
When investigating the Watchtower literature the picture of an organization-worshipping cult emerges pretty strong. The Watchtower magazine never let any opportunity to promote the "Organization" slip through their fingers. Let us take a look at some of the statements made in the Watchtower. First of all it is of great importance to hammer in the "authority" of the "Organization". Anybody who has gone to the Theocratic Obedience school are familiar with these. To resist the Almighty Watchtower "Organization" is to resist JESUS!:
7 To hold to the headship of Christ, it is therefore necessary to obey the organization that he is personally directing. Doing what the organization says is to do what he says. Resisting the organization is to resist him. [The Watchtower, May 1, 1959, p. 269]
When the "Organization" speaks it is in reality Jehovah who speaks:
When our heavenly Father, Jehovah God, speaks, whether through his Word, the Bible, or through his earthly organization, it is all the more important for us to listen and obey, thus proving that we are obedient worshipers who do not ignore the loving reminder: "Did you hear me?" [The Watchtower, April 1, 1988, p. 31]
All other organizations will "take advantage of you":
30 The flock of God keep together. They do not stray from the New World society. In the old-world organization there are snares and pitfalls. The dangers are everywhere. Men and organizations will take advantage of you, and you will have no protection. Keep inside God's organization. [The Watchtower, March 15, 1958, p. 189]
Obedience to the "Organization" is what counts:
So be obedient. Do Jehovah's work in Jehovah's way. It is the way Jehovah has marked out through his organization. That alone counts! [The Watchtower, April 15, 1956, p. 243]
The "Organization" is everything according to "one brother":
19 As the body needs food, care, and direction, we need the spiritual provisions that God gives us through his Word, spirit, and organization. To benefit from these provisions, we must be part of Jehovah's earthly family. After many years in God's service, one brother wrote: "I am so thankful that I have lived in the knowledge of Jehovah's purposes from those early days just prior to 1914 when all was not so clear ... to this day when the truth shines like the noonday sun. If one thing has been most important to me, it has been the matter of keeping close to Jehovah's visible organization. My early experience taught me how unsound it is to rely on human reasoning. Once my mind had been resolved on that point, I determined to stay by the faithful organization. How else can one get Jehovah's favor and blessing?" [The Watchtower, July 15, 1996, p. 20]
9 After many years of service to Jehovah, one brother said: "If one thing has been most important to me, it has been the matter of keeping close to Jehovah's visible organization. My early experience taught me how unsound it is to rely on human reasoning. Once my mind had been resolved on that point, I determined to stay by the faithful organization. How else can one get Jehovah's favor and blessing?" Do you similarly cherish your privilege of serving Jehovah with his joyful people? (Psalm 100:2) If so, you will let nothing draw you away from God's organization or destroy your relationship with the One whose arm saves all who love him. [The Watchtower, October 1, 1991, p. 10]
The "Organization" is our savior:
But if we were to draw away from Jehovah's organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation and true joy. [The Watchtower, September 15, 1993, p. 22]
This is done in the form of Bible literature and instruction on how to gain salvation. Today, Jehovah is speeding up the gathering of sheeplike ones into his expanding organization, [The Watchtower, January 15, 1992, p. 17]
12 To ensure their salvation, Noah and his family needed to exercise faith. This meant following instructions and the leadings of God's holy spirit. During the great tribulation, it will be just as imperative that we follow the leadings of the holy spirit and obey Jehovah's instructions through his organization. [The Watchtower, September 15, 1991, p. 17]
And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovah's organization for salvation, the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone, like a "great war cry". [The Watchtower, November 15, 1981, p. 21]
19 The four angels will not always 'hold tight' the four winds of the earth. We can be happy that they have done so up until this hour, and that it will result in salvation for millions of mankind. But time is fast running out. We need to keep alive, alert, constantly moving forward with God's organization on the earth. [The Watchtower, October 1, 1978, p. 13]
28 Are you willing to 'gird yourself with lowliness of mind,' to "put on the apron of humility"? Are you willing to accept Jehovah's way for salvation? In this twentieth century we have an example of humility, of lowliness of mind, that is found world wide. It is in the organization of Jehovah's witnesses. Why not read on and see how they have humbly conformed to Jehovah's way for salvation? [The Watchtower, July 1, 1974, p. 407]
This signifies that the provision of salvation is closely connected with Jehovah's organization. A remnant of the spiritual priestly class is still on earth today, forming the nucleus of the congregation of Jehovah's people. We cannot ignore the role the visible congregation of Jehovah's witnesses plays in this provision of salvation. [The Watchtower, August 15, 1967, p. 499]
So the visible congregation of God's people has something to do with the provision of salvation today. Indeed, it has an important place in that provision. Every congregation forms a small part of God's people. We cannot remain outside the organization of God's people, separated from it, if we want to have Jehovah's protection. [The Watchtower, August 15, 1967, p. 499]
If we want to assure our everlasting salvation, we must stay within the bounds of Jehovah God's loving provision associated with his visible organization, presided over by his High Priest. [The Watchtower, August 15, 1967, p. 503]
To understand the Bible for their salvation they had to have it explained through God's organization. [The Watchtower, November 15, 1961, p. 692]
Why this tremendous influx into Jehovah's witnesses' organization? It is because people are finding salvation. [The Watchtower, January 1, 1959, pp. 19-23.]
Those desiring salvation must make for God's organization, and find entrance into it and remain there permanently. [The Watchtower, October 1, 1952, p. 603]
It would make the organization odious in the eyes of sincere people and would prevent these offended ones from coming to the organization and being saved. [The Watchtower, April 15, 1951, p. 240]
There must yet be many hundreds, yes thousands, of persons of good will who will want to come into Jehovah's organization, the unwalled city around which Jehovah, like a burning fire, has thrown his protection. The Singapore publishers are thankful to be in it and to have the privilege of helping others to find their way into it by God's undeserved kindness for their eternal salvation. [The Watchtower, July 15, 1951, p. 431]
Jehovah's servants plant the message of truth in the hearts of men of good will, studying the Bible with the people who desire to learn, and this produces fruit after cultivation. (Matt. 13:23) Thus these gain words of salvation and seek refuge and life through Jehovah's organization. [The Watchtower, September 1, 1951, p. 535]
The ark which this Greater Noah constructs consists of a new system of things, a new divine arrangement which affords us protection and preserves us for eternal salvation. The congregation, the theocratic organization which he builds, must live within this new system of things and must think, speak and work in harmony with it. This ark or theocratic structure is the laughingstock of the world, because it is built according to God's instructions and for his purpose. It is different! The world has seen nothing like it and does not understand it. [The Watchtower, November 15, 1951, p. 681]
The ark of salvation that we enter is not a literal ark but is God's organization [The Watchtower, June 1, 1950, p. 176]
1 Bible students need to get acquainted with the organization of the "one flock" Jesus spoke about at John 10:16. They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah's organization is essential to their salvation. (Rev. 7:9, 10, 15) Therefore, we should start directing our Bible students to the organization as soon as a Bible study is established. [Our Kingdom Ministry, November 1990, p. 1]
Can Jehovah's Witnesses today take part in this obviously "modern version of idolatry" and actually "imputing of salvation to a person or an organization"?
16 As Christians, we face up to similar challenges today. We cannot take part in any modern version of idolatry -- be it worshipful gestures toward an image or symbol or the imputing of salvation to a person or an organization. [The Watchtower, November 1, 1990, p. 26]
Now we all know the answer to that, don't we? Jehovah's Witnesses most certainly can and they really do impute salvation to an organization. The Almighty Watchtower "Organization"!
The Watchtower "Organization" has also provided an excellent and highly illuminating example of what the next Watchtower statement describes:
The Bible gives us a striking example of this. It emphasizes the point that, even though sincere, an individual or even an entire organization can fall far short of exclusive devotion to God. [The Watchtower, April 15, 1972, p. 250]
After having investigated the history of the Watchtower Society, we can all see the wisdom of this next quote:
No man, regardless of how prominent he may be and with what power he may be invested, religious or political, no nation of this world and no international organization can provide true security and salvation for mankind. [The Watchtower, August 15, 1967, p. 494]
How true! What a waste of time, resources and effort it has been for the millions of people who have fallen prey for the Watchtower's international "Organization" of con men, who have devoted their entire lives slaving away for something they all thought was their "salvation".
What a tragedy!
