“Can I join your religion?” - 3/6/22 email in response to worldwide letter

On 3/6/22, I received an email in response to a person who was a recipient of the worldwide letter sent to JW’s (See 9/8/2021 blog post).  For some context, the email to me is referencing the penultimate paragraph in the 9/2021 letter as follows:

“Jesus’ load is light and his life-giving waters are free - all who desire may join this remnant in worshiping in “Spirit and truth,” with no money donations asked for or accepted, and no membership with a physical religious idol organization required for salvation (Hos.10:13; Isa.1:16; Zech.1:3; John 4:23,24; 14:6; 3:16; Matt.11:28-30; 1 John 5:3; John 4:14; Isa.55:1; Rev.21:6; Acts 26:18; John 1:5; 2 Cor.4:3).”

3/6/22 email to me:

Email subject titled:  Effortless religion.

“Can I join your religion? No effort or money required. Straight to heaven- just believe (or say you do) Sounds like my thing. I've worked hard enough in my life- 40 years as a nurse- and certainly behaved myself as an upstanding person. So I figure an easy religion is what I need. Can I sign up?” - Y.

My response:

Thank you for reaching out in email.  First, I can imagine how hard you have worked as a nurse.  I recognize that is not an easy job, and respect the stamina you maintained for 40 years as a nurse, especially considering the recent pandemic and stressful working conditions you have been under over the past several years.  You also mention that you have “behaved…as an upstanding person,” and on those merits, “figure an easy religion” is what you “need.”  You asked two questions, “Can I join your religion?” And “Can I sign up?”   Essentially, you would like an “easy,” and according to your email subject line, “effortless religion.”  

I can understand how you might feel, that you’ve “worked hard enough” in your life. In addition to being a nurse, much effort is added in serving Watchtower…donating money to financially support the living expenses and the compound of the top leaders, monies they also use to acquire property holdings around the world.  Not to mention the effort expended to remain in “good standing” as a JW, attending religious meetings twice a week, participating in meetings, engaging in “field service.”  Plus, keeping a record of your “time” spent in “service,” and then reporting that time to the WT organization…”Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey…?” (Rom.6:16).  

Is there a “religion” Jesus wants you to serve?  A religion he has chosen among all the organized religions in existence?

The religion of the Jewish system of things that Jesus, as a Jew was born into, revolved around the temple, and the ceremonial observances and way of life that included certain dietary restrictions (Lev.7:23-25; 17:12; Num.28; Num.29:39; 1 Chron.29:1-9,16; Heb.9:1,10).  Imagine living then and hearing that this entire form of worship, carried out by generations, was to change, a tradition of worship that would no longer be required.  But this is exactly what would occur. Notice what Jesus said when speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well.

“7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4).

Jesus became the mediator of a new covenant, sacrificing himself, and thus by his life sacrifice, “he took away the sins of many” (Matt.20:28; Heb.9:14,15,23,28). The first covenant and its entire religious tradition of worship - one of a physical nature - was made obsolete to now worship in spirit and truth (Heb.9:1,9,10,11-14; John 4:24).  Did Jesus command his followers to create with human hands another physical religious form of worship? No! (Rom.3:20-27; Acts 7:48; 17:24). If we are commanded to worship in “spirit and truth,” we are to have faith in Jesus’ words and commands - he is the truth, he is the way, he is the life - and everything he speaks comes from the Father (John 14:1,6; 12:49,50; 7:16). “Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26).  Do you see from scripture that believing in Jesus one “never dies”? Jesus is the “living bread,” he is truth and his teachings when consumed sustain a person’s life eternally (John 14:6; 6:51). “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18).

The message contained in the content of my letter you received was not directing you to a replacement physical religion. I have nothing for you to sign up and join. What I can offer is Jesus’ truthful words that can deepen your personal relationship with God and Jesus, but you must read the scriptures for they are Jesus’ words (John 1:1,14; Heb.1:2; Luke 8:10).  Sharing Jesus’ truths is part of the spiritual priesthood duties, a spiritual priesthood comprised of both male and female and who are “living stones” of the spiritual temple, Jesus’ congregation, in which he is head, and in which God dwells (John 15:4-6; 1 Pet.2:4-6; 1 Cor.3:9,16,17; 6:19; 12:17; Eph.2:19-22; Gal.3:26-28; Col.1:18). The spiritual priesthood carry out daily sacrifice duties, no longer physical sacrifices, but rather through Jesus, the spiritual priesthood shares Jesus’ truthful words with others…an offering of daily sacrifices of the lips (Heb.13:15,16; Psalm 119:108; 49:14). We do not serve God in the manner in which we choose, but humbly accept the form of worship Jesus said his Father was looking for (John 4:23,24: 2 Cor.6:16). Jesus offers life, salvation, and it is a gift of God, so then put faith in Jesus, he did not ask you to serve human leaders or an idol religious organization claiming to represent Him (Jer.17:5; Psalm 146:3; John 3:16,18; 2 Cor.5:7; Eph.2:7-9; John 14:1,7; 1 Cor.10:14; 1 John 5:21; 2 Cor.6:16).

Do you think putting faith in Jesus is effortless or easy?  Jesus did not say it would be easy, but perseverance and effort is needed to have patient endurance, maintain faith, doing good to others amidst scoffers and ridiculers, and being shunned by your friends and family for sharing the weightlessness of putting faith in Jesus (Luke 21:19; Rom.1:16,17,21-25; Mat.11:28-30; 1 John 5:3; 2 Pet.3:3; Jude 1:17,18). This is to be expected as Jesus said, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt.10:22; Luke 21:17).

Please, my friend, let me know if you have any further questions.

“Return to Jehovah”? Text from mother

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I received a text from my mother a few days ago (2/28/2022). She informed me that she is no longer associating with me because I “oppose the truth.”  She said, “I will welcome you back when/if you return to Jehovah.”

“Return to Jehovah” by supporting the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?  My mother is a devout Jehovah’s Witness [JW]. Her text is communicating: She will speak to me again if I return to Watchtower [WT].”  Essentially, Watchtower equates to God. After a JW facility is built, they give a public prayer dedicating the building to God.  There is no doubt they associate their Kingdom Halls [KH] and other buildings and real estate, with God and His blessing. Are God and Jesus directing the anointed leaders of Watchtower?  

We must examine God’s Word to see whether God considers WT, His house of worship (John 1:1,14; Rev.19:13). 

When Jesus was in the flesh, at the time near the Jewish Passover, he went up to Jerusalem (John 2:13). When in Jerusalem, Jesus was greatly upset finding in the temple courts, commerce and bankers trading monies, currency exchanging (Matt.21:12; John 2:14,15). After Jesus demonstrated strong rebuke over such activities, the Jews challenged him, asking Jesus for a sign to prove his authority (John 2:18). Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). Demonstrating their lack of spiritual perception, the hearers scoffed at the impossibility of Jerusalem being destroyed and rebuilt in three literal days as it took 46 literal years to build (John 2:20). Even Jesus’ disciples with him at that time did not recognize Jesus was referring to the “temple of his body,” and even after Jesus was raised from the dead, they only associated this with his duration spent in physical death (John 2:21,22). On another occasion, Jesus approached a Samaritan woman who also viewed his words in a fleshly way. Jesus said that he is the source of “living water” that is the “gift of God” which he gives to those who ask, and that imparts everlasting life (John 4:10,14). The woman could not discern Jesus was not describing spiritual water. Jesus further told the Samaritan woman, “a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the worship in truth and spirit, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24). Jesus was explaining to her that worshiping the Father “in truth and Spirit” is now unrelated to a physical temple (John 4:21). 

The Jewish system of things was centered around physical service, burnt sacrifices, a constant feature in the temple (2 Kings 21:4; Matt.24:15; Dan.12:11). For many Jews, it was difficult to comprehend that their traditional physical system of worship was no longer required. You may think, as so many JW’s express, “God has always had an organization”…so of course he would maintain a physical place of worship to Him in “Spirit and truth.” But is that what Jesus was teaching his disciples?  Was he communicating His Father’s wishes to organize and build, just in a different location, a physical religious center for worship that would serve as a central hub, similar to the temple located in Jerusalem with their religious leaders? (Mark 11:27; 12:38-40; Luke 20:1,45-47; 21:23). Read carefully:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”…”and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he might become the one who is first in all things;” (Col.1:15,17,18). “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Rev.1:5). “And you have an anointing from the holy one; all of you have knowledge. I write you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie originates with the truth” (1 John 2:20,21). “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me: (John 14:6). “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will Raise it again in three days. But the temple he had spoken of was his body” (John 2:19,21). “Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it” (1 Cor.12:27). “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many” (1 Cor.12:12-14). “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (1 Pet.2:5,6). “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6).  “ but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the myriad of angels, and to the General assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect,” (Heb.12:22,23).  “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph.2:19-22). “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Cor.3:16). “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Rom.8:9). “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, (1 Cor.6:19). “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor.10:14). 

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples build by human hands” (Acts 17:24). “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (2 Cor.6:16). “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” (Rom.8:5). “So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours” (1 Cor.3:21). “For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people” (Rom.16:18). “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen” (Rom.1:25). “They have lost connection with the head [Jesus; Col.1:15], from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow” (Col.2:19). 

Through the scriptures we clearly see that a physical religious organization cannot, nor ever will be selected by God and His son, Jesus, to represent Them or true worship. It is an abomination to create with human hands, a physical religious organization for worship to God, and an erroneous claim and outrageous lie to even insinuate “ returning” to Watchtower equates to and with serving, God (Isa.66:1,2).  

In the recent video on the annual meeting of JW’s, posted on their website, WT governing body member Samuel Herd spoke. During his talk, he tried to convince his audience that it is not possible for apostasy to occur among their organization. The reason? Well, he scanned the audience and noted that he didn’t see any Israelites sitting in the audience, nor anyone dressed like an ancient Israelite. That’s why. How ridiculous and foolish to be so cavalier as to liken the clothing one wears to the inability to repeat ancient Israel’s pattern of rebelliousness, apostasy (Psalm 78:8; 1 Sam.15:23; Exod.32:5,6,9; Deut.9:7,16; Ezek.20:8). Ancient Israel’s example of ignoring God’s decrees was recorded for us to avoid the danger of repeating their behavior, not their physical attire (1 Cor.10:6,11; 2 Tim.3:16,17). But the GB uses smoke and mirrors tactics to distract their listeners from what scripture shows…that they are the apostates.   

The unfaithful anointed leaders of Watchtower speak from their own minds, lie saying they speak for and about God, misleading many who without question believe their ever-changing, expiring rotten “fruit” (Matt.24:11,24; 7:15-20; Luke 6:26; Isa.9:16; Lam.2:14; Jer.14:14). The Spirit of God does not dwell in them because they have rebelled and apostatized from God and their head, Jesus. They themselves recognize they do not have God’s Spirit, and are forthright in the statement published in the February 2017 Watchtower, paragraph 12, which says, “The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction.” They are rebellious and apostatized from their head, Jesus, ignoring the spiritual temple arrangement, promoting a religious idol abomination, and do not teach from Spirit (Acts 7:48-51; 2 Thess.2:3; Isa.1:23; 30:1,9).

 “Watch out for false prophets,” because they come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ferocious wolves” (Matt.7:15). You will recognize a false prophet by their false predictions and their “bad fruit,” teachings that rot (Deut.18:20-22; Matt.7:16). All anointed, male and female, are to be “one in Christ Jesus” and as “trees,” are to produce healthful, “good fruit” by remaining firmly rooted, attached to Jesus, seeking him for living water - only then can they too be sources of living waters that provide truthful teachings (Matt.7:15-20; Psalm 1:1-6; 92:12-15; John 15:4-6; 17:3; 3:14-16,36).  As part of the “body” of Christ, each anointed is to look to their “head,” Jesus, and remain faithful to his him (Eph.5:23; 1:22,23; Col.1:18). Our thoughts must be captive to obey Christ, and we defend Jesus’ truth, and “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God,” exposing such “works of darkness” using the Word of God (2 Cor.10:5; Titus 1:9; Eph.5:11; Heb.4:12; Eph.6:17; 2 Tim.3:16; Isa.49:2). “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Cor.10:4). This is Armageddon. Now. A spiritual warfare, not a physical annihilation. A spiritual warfare using the “sword,” God’s Word, to demolish strongly held false teachings and the LIES spoken about Him (Jer.23:29; 5:14; Hos.6:5; Eph.6:17; Isa.49:2; Heb.4:12; Rev.1:16; 19:15; 17:14). 

Please carefully read the scriptures referenced to discern, not with physical eyes, but spiritual discernment, that the WT concept of Armageddon is no more true than avoiding apostasy by the clothes you wear. The egregious claim that Jesus and the Father are murderers and that Jesus would even ask his servants to murder is absolute blasphemy (John 18:36,37; Prov.12:22; John 3:16). The adversary the devil is the murderer and those who claim Jesus and the Father are murderers, are liars, just as their father (John 8:44; Rev.13:5-9,4; 1 John 4:1; 2 Pet.2:1-3; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Jer.23:16). 

“‘For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares the LORD” (Jer.29:23). 

 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!” (Ezekiel.13:3). 

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” - Jesus, Matt.11:28-30. 

many additional faith-strengthening testimonies by two anointed partners of mine can be found at the FB page:  JWs, "Come out of her, my people!" | Facebook. And:  WELCOME--MAIN PAGE: YHVH's Genuine Mountain (4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com)