Experiences
Greg Stafford
In an article on his Elihu Books web site Greg Stafford writes:
Come now the Christian Witnesses of Jah. Who are we? We are Jehovah’s Witnesses! We are Jehovah’s Witnesses who reject traditions of men that invalidate the Word of Jah Jehovah (Isaiah 12:2; Matthew 15:6). It is our desire to serve Jesus Christ and to worship his God and Father “with spirit and truth” (John 4:24). True, this is the stated intent of many religious groups, though few of them give prominence to the name of God, to the name of “Jah.” But Christian Witnesses of Jah are born out of an intense desire to
worship Jah and to serve his Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, without teaching “commands of men as doctrines” (Matthew 15:9).
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For several years now, and in particular since July, 2006, when I wrote an article entitled, “Worth Another Look” (IN MEDIO, July 1, 2006), I have given a considerable and what I believe is a sufficient amount of time looking back again within the religious domain of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and its associated agencies. This I did because I believed, as I still do, that there is much there that can be built upon, that Jah can use, in answering those who taunt him and who deny his name and the name of his Son (Proverbs 30:4; Psalm 74:10). But there is also much within that domain that is unacceptable, that can be shown to be erroneous and without justification. However, while that Society is more than willing to speak about and to highlight what is right within it, it does not appear willing at all to openly discuss things that might be wrong,
things that might be bringing reproach upon Jehovah’s name and the name of his Son. That is not acceptable. That is not the way of Jesus Christ.—Matthew 18:15-17.
The wrongs I speak of are not just “minor” misinterpretations of certain prophecies that can work themselves out over time. What I am referring to are serious misrepresentations of Jah’s commands and of the teachings of Jesus Christ as found in the New Testament, commands and teachings that are fundamental to Christian faith. These errors are not just harmless preferences for social behavior, but they are often fatal positions that have no basis in Scripture and in some cases no basis even in science or in medicine, though they claim to be so based. When a group has some, even many things right but at the same time also has wrongs that it tolerates or refuses to correct in spite of evidence that is provided to it that reasonably shows certain teachings are wrong, and when those false teachings are hurting people’s faith, destroying families, and even causing loss of life, then Christians, Witnesses of Jah, have no business remaining part of that group unless it is to help correct such wrongs. And when it is clear that such wrongs are not or will not be corrected, then for the sake of Jah and Jesus Christ Christians must reject those who tolerate such things. That is why I am not a Trinitarian. That is why I reject Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. That is why I reject witchcraft and magic. That is why I do not worship Allah. That is why I will no longer associate myself with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. It is why I am a Christian Witness of Jah.
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I have sent letters, I have written articles and books, and I have made myself available in a number of ways and to a wide variety of people who support the Watchtower Society as God’s appointed servant body, and yet the things I believe are wrong continue. In fact, they are encouraged. They are tolerated. Therefore, I can no longer work with that Society or its associated agencies in Jehovah’s and in Jesus’ names, unless they “bear witness concerning [my] wrong” (John 18:23) or repent of their false teachings (Revelation 2:16).
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So, who is the Christian? Who is the Witness of Jah? Ultimately, Jah and Jesus will decide such things. For now each of us must individually consider the reasons, evaluate the beliefs, and then decide what is true, or most likely true, based not on fear of men but on love for truth. But there will be no group of men in control of all or most all of what the Christian Witnesses of Jah believe. There will no more be a rigid, inflexible, or in any manner unnecessary structure of worship to which others will be required to conform. There will be no schedule of meetings, no defined pattern of service, or enforced style of dress and grooming other than what we can appreciate through clear biblical teachings and principles. Christians with God’s spirit will know when to meet, they will know how to preach, and we will know what we should wear when we come together or when we reach out to the world with glory to Jah and Jesus in view (1 Timothy 2:9-11).
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– Source: Christian Witnesses of Jah , Greg Stafford, In Medio, Vol. 2, Issue 8, Oct. 2007
Greg Stafford
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlitW375oPw 00:22:18