The Watchtower Society Encourages Lying!
By B. J. Kotwall
Many Jehovah's Witnesses ( JWs) are unaware that the Watchtower Society (WTS)
encourages them to lie. According to the WTS to lie and deceive in the interest
of their religion is Scripturally approved. They call such lying :theocratic
war strategy".
Consider the following quotation:
A witness of Jehovah was going from house
to house in Eastern Germany when she met a violent opposer. Knowing at once
what to expect she changed her red blouse for a green one in the very next hallway.
No sooner had she appeared on the street than a Communist officer asked her
if she had seen a woman with a red blouse. No, she replied, and went on her
way. Did she tell a lie? No, she did not. She was not a liar. Rather, she was
using theocratic war strategy, hiding the truth by action and word for the sake
of the ministry. The Watchtower (WT) 1957 May 1 p. 285).
The JW lied to keep out of trouble and it was a human reaction. The WTS which
claims to be "God's organization" lauds her for acting properly.
Jesus did not congratulate Peter for his lie
in denying that he was a follower of Christ. Neither did Jesus urge his other
disciples to emulate Peter in order to protect their faith. In fact Jesus gave
such a look that Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61-62) But in the
above incidence there is no evidence of remorse on part of the woman JW for
behaving the way she did!
The book Qualified
to be Ministers (1955) says:
Jehovah's Witnesses are an organization
of truth. We should want to speak the truth and be absolutely accurate in every
detail at all times.
Was the JW woman above speaking "the truth...absolutely accurate in every
detail"? Certainly not.
The WTS informs its followers that they are
not "under obligation to divulge truthful information to people who are
not entitled to it" (Insight on
the Scriptures Vol.
2 p. 245) Also, "for the purpose
of protecting the interests of God's cause, it is proper to hide the truth from
God's enemies. ...This comes under the term 'war strategy.'" (WT 1960 June
1 p. 352)
The WTS automatically classes all who question
its teachings as "God's enemies" and all those outside the WTS as
being under the influence of the Devil. (Revelation
- It's Grand Climax at Hand! 1988 pp.
228, 234, 270, 271) The Devil's influence would of course extend to the courts
of law and the presiding judge. So in fact the WTS's reasoning provides JWs
with a carte blanche to lie to most of the world!
A 64-page booklet titled Preparing
for Child Custody Cases (PCCC) was
designed by the WTS for use by JWs and their attorneys involved in child custody
cases.
The book emphasises that the JW lifestyle is
beneficial to the child. It tells JWs that "there is no need to hide or
distort your religious beliefs." Similarly the WT advises that "Should
circumstances require a Christian to take the witness stand and swear to tell
the truth, then if he speaks at all, he must utter the truth." (1960 June1
p. 352)
However the actual tactics in PCCC are contrary. The children and their JW parents are
encouraged to deceive the court by telling lies and presenting a fake lifestyle,
fake ambitions, and fake goals!
Let's contrast some of the PCCC counsel to JWs on how to respond in court with what
the WTS says in other publications. This will demonstrate the dishonesty of
the WTS to the extent of encouraging perjury:
Many
try to portray the beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses as dogmatic
and restrictive...emphasise the fact that you have formed your beliefs and adopted
your practices after much study and reflection; your religion is not simply
a matter of rules imposed by the elders. You want to emphasize the fact that
you are a thinking...individual. (PCCC p. 3)
Contrast with:
Avoid independent thinking...questioning
the counsel provided by God's visible organization.(WT 1983 January 15 p. 22)
Fight against independent
thinking. (p. 27)
Be careful they (the children) don't get the impression
that they are in a demonstration at the circuit assembly, when they would show
that the first things in life are service and going to the Kingdom Hall. ...Be
careful they don't all say that they are going to be pioneers." (PCCC
p. 43)
Contrast with:
While school counselors will hold
out one kind of career, Christian parents can stress goals that will satisfy
the child's growing interest in serving Jehovah, such as pioneering... . (WT
1986 August 1 p. 29)
Instead of pursuing full-time secular job, thousands
have chosen to serve as full-time evangelizers (pioneers). Others serve as foreign
missionaries or at branch offices of the Watch Tower Society. (Awake!
1989 May 8 p. 12)
Plans can be trade, getting married and having children,
journalism, and all kinds of other things. (PCCC p. 42)
Contrast with:
Should
they marry now? No, is the answer supported by the Scriptures. There is no reasonable
injunction to bring children into the world before Armageddon, where we are
now. (WT
1938 November 1 pp. 323-324)
Many schools now have student counselors
who encourage one to pursue higher education after high school, to pursue a
career with a future in this system of things. Do not be influenced by them.
Do not let them 'brainwash' you with the Devil's propaganda to get ahead, to
make something of yourself in this world. This world has very little time left!...
.Make pioneer service, the full-time ministry, with the possibility of Bethel
or missionary service your goal. (WT 1969 March 15 p. 171)
In the past many have feared or
distrusted mental care professionals (psychologists and psychiatrists). There
is no basis or need for such preconceived fear or distrust. (PCCC
p. 53)
Contrast with:
... As a rule, for a Christian to
go to a worldly psychiatrist is an admission of defeat. It amounts to 'going
down to Egypt for help' - Isaiah 31:1. ...Also, more and more psychiatrists
are resorting to hypnosis which is a demonic form of worldly wisdom. (Awake!
1960 March 8 p. 27)
Show that you are a loving and caring parent who
wants the best medical care possible for your child. ...You do not want to give
the impression that your religion requires you to allow your child to die should
a medical emergency arise. (PCCC pp. 5, 55)
Contrast with:
(because of refusal
to allow blood transfusion) she would have a chance for the new earth. Stated
bluntly, better to die now maintaining integrity. (Awake!
1951 May 22 p. 5)
Another
case of integrity keeping was manifested in recent years when a thirteen-year-old
girl in Berlin was found to have leukaemia. The doctor explained that transfusions
of blood would make the girl more comfortable and stave off the progress of
the disease. The mother... refused to permit transfusions to be given. ...This
girl did die... . (WT 1971 September 1 p. 531)
We have seen that the WTS encourages JWs to lie. What many JWs do not know that
the WTS has repeatedly lied to and deceived them as well. The WTS has practiced
"theocratic war strategy" on the JWs themselves! This subject will
be treated another time.
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