With the Measure You Are Measuring Out…

Rather than being judgmental or suspicious, if a fellow believer has been weakened by personal problems, our priority should be to provide spiritual assistance. If we pause to reflect on our brothers’ circumstances, we may see their seeming frailty in a different light. Think of sisters who have been enduring family opposition for years. Some may be of humble appearance and look fragile, yet do they not demonstrate outstanding faith and inner strength? When you see a single mother regularly coming to meetings with her child or children, are you not impressed by her faith and determination? And what of teenagers who stick to the truth despite the bad influences in school? In all modesty, we recognize that such ones, who may seem to be weaker, may be as “rich in faith” as those among us who have more favorable circumstances.

COMMENTARY

As Jesus warned, we will be judged by our own judgment  of others and with the measure that we use we will likewise be measured. And what is true for individuals is the same for an organization.

As Jehovah’s Witnesses well know, over the course of its existence the Watchtower has been highly critical of Christendom —not merely refuting their false doctrines, but publicizing their hypocrisy and worldliness, such as their deep political involvement, support for wars, their blatant idolatry, money-pandering and pedophilic clergy.

However, in recent years the leadership of the Watchtower have become hypocrites themselves. For example, becoming joined in a political partnership with the United Nations for 10 years; using various European NGOs to curry favor with the OSCE; promoting a subtle form of idolatry of the Organization; suppressing the plaintive cry of the many victims of child abuse; becoming involved with the gamblers of Wall Street and other forms of worldliness they condemn.

There are dire consequences for such brazen hypocrisy. According to the principle Christ spoke about, Ezekiel 7:27 confirms that God will judge his organization by its own judgment. “I will treat them according to their ways, and I will judge them as they have judged.”

While condemning Christendom to the fire, the Watchtower has exalted itself to heaven’s height. Like Israel of old, the Watchtower supposes it has Jehovah’s irreversible favor and protection. The Jews were certain that Jehovah would never destroy Jerusalem or Solomon’s temple located in the city on the hill. After all, Jehovah’s angel slew Sennacherib’s entire army when they attempted to lay siege to Jehovah’s city.

Jehovah’s Witnesses exhibit the same sense of false security —deluding themselves that God will always fight our battles and protect that which is touted as “Jehovah’s earthly organization.” As a reflection of their self-exultation, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been led to anticipate their being passive bystanders when God executes his judgment upon the iniquitous harlot of Babylon.

Instead, Jehovah’s anger will be directed against them. In context the cited verse above states: “‘I will turn my face away from them, and they will profane my concealed place, and robbers will enter it and profane it. Make the chain, for the land is full of bloodstained judgment and the city is full of violence. I will bring in the worst of the nations, and they will take possession of their houses, and I will put an end to the pride of the strong ones, and their sanctuaries will be profaned. When their anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none. There will come disaster upon disaster, and one report after another, and people will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will perish from a priest and advice from the elders. The king will go into mourning, and the chieftain will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble in terror. I will treat them according to their ways, and I will judge them as they have judged. And they will have to know that I am Jehovah.”’

The Watchtower has applied all of God’s adverse judgment to Christendom, including the very judgments in the seventh chapter of Ezekiel. For example, the book The Nations Shall Know That I Am Jehovah states:

Those shocking events of ancient history were prophetic and reflect the now not distant future. When Jehovah turns away his face from the hypocritical worshipers of Christendom, what can we expect, in the light of the past? The profanation, misuse and destruction of the things now rated as sacred by Christendom, even her most sacred things, be they the very heart and center of Christendom, such as Vatican City, or the palatial residences of the patriarchs of the various sister church systems, Greek Orthodox, Constantinopolitan, Armenian, Coptic, or palace of the Anglican archbishop. Nothing will be sacred to the looters!

But if Jehovah is to turn his face away “from the hypocritical worshippers or Christendom” that would mean that prior to his turning away in disgust that he looked upon them favorably. Of course, that is not at all what the Watchtower teaches.

According to the Watchtower the antitypical sanctuary relates to Christ’s congregation. That being true, the sanctuary that is prefigured by the temple that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed is not the many sects and denominations that come under the umbrella of Christendom, but rather the one organization upon which Jehovah has placed his name, but which has been profaned.

Yes, it is Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves who must come to know that he is Jehovah —that he is a God who will not give exemption from punishment; who will measure them with the measure that they have used to measure Christendom and bring into judgment those who profane his name by their hypocrisy.