Channel C²

Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR

Posted by OneRiver on Wed - Jul 16 - 10:13am:

RR

Let us please reason together on this issue. However, before I begin to comment on the subject of the existence of racism within the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I would like to point out that you seem to have managed to completely ignore the points I made as to the possible reasons behind the dis-fellowshiping of this brother, your friend Brother Ricketts. So for that reason I am again posting that comment so that you can tell me whether or not you think that my comments hold any degree of validity apart from your very “personal opinion” on the issue.

My comment at the end of the post was this:

[P.S. The fact that you know him and he told you or told someone who said to so and so the reason does not mean that really is the reason. That only means that he believes or would like you to believe that is the reason. And even if it was for something which took place 17 years ago as may be the case, there are other things to consider. Well, perhaps it was something which took place 17 years ago which if known then would have left the elders with no solution but to dis-fellowship him, and it only became known now. There is no “time limit” in the eyes of Jehovah on what someone did which is wrong as far as I know.]

Now with that said let me move forward. As I see it you made the very serious allegation that the [SOCIETY] the [Watchtower Bible and Tract Society] the [Governing Body] the [Faithful and Discreet Slave] if you will is in fact a bunch of racists just waiting for the opportunity to “get rid” of a “dedicated brother” because he is “To Black.” By the way you still did not tell me what it is to be “To Black” in your view.

Now let us get back on track. The Watchtower Bible and tract Society has perhaps managed to weld together a diverse group of humans from every Land, Nation and Island group throughout the world. I know of no other organization, religious or otherwise, who has ever in the history of mankind done such a thing. Just go to any large assembly and see the diversity joined together in unity. There is a reason for it which you already know but I will say it anyway for the sake of those who might read this who are not familiar with Jehovah’s people. [It is because we all worship the same God, Jehovah, the God who created all things and all people in his own image!]

If you believe that the Governing Body of the Watchtower Bible and tract Society is racists I cannot change your thinking on the matter. I write this only to defend those whom you defame with false charges. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society accepted and utilized the intelligence and talents of Black folk’s way before it became “politically correct” to do so among people in the business community. So I feel that your charge is baseless and wrongheaded.

Again I say that the purpose of the Society is to teach the word of God, as they perceive it to be, throughout the entire world. As if that is not already a daunting task, you would have me and others believe that they would do so with a racist agenda which discriminates against a very large portion of the world’s population? Without the hard work, intellect and talents of the Black, Latino, and Asian community the Society would be hard pressed to carry out its task. You speak of individuals who you have personal knowledge of. Well, let me give a little comment about personal knowledge. I know a brother, a bethelite, who is basically a computer genius. He is Asian and is very comfortable with his position in Bethel. He is not made to clean the toilets because of his race. He is not treated better or worse than others in Bethel. He is very happy with the “whole association of brothers” a term regularly used by the Society. So, why do they pound that term into our heads if they are racists? That question leads us to my next point which explores racism within the organization.

Every one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who came into, rather than being born into, the “truth” has been exposed to some degree more or less to the philosophy of the “Racist.” Even others born into a family which practiced the belief system of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been exposed to this cancer by unavoidable association with “The World.” All people are imperfect and subject to all sorts of wickedness. No single person alive is capable of not have some sort of prejudice.

So, has any individual Jehovah’s Witness ever shown prejudice or acted in a racist manner. Based on what I just said above one can only conclude the answer to be yes. Has a member of the Governing Body ever had a prejudice view of a matter? One can only conclude yes. By virtue of that do you condemn the entire organization to the fires of hell? A foolish act if you do. I am aware of actions which have reflected a spirit of prejudice. I am certain that I am guilty of such and I am grateful to Jesus Christ for what he did to amend that wrong in my life.

I have heard of an incident once which happened in the South many years ago in which an entire congregation was disbanded in effect due to the issue of racism. Yes it can happen within the organization as Satan perverts all things in this world. The fact is that it was addressed in a most serious way. The wrong was corrected and things were done by the Society to make it right. That is the purpose of the Circuit and District overseer’s among their many other responsibilities.

You state that you are in a mixed marriage with the resultant mixed children. Brother, so am I which makes a good point. Answer me this please, what organization do you know of that has so many mixed marriages? When it says to “marry only in the Lord” it does not say anything about race. I was married in a Kingdom Hall by an Elder of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I was not kept out or told to marry somewhere else because she was not white. I simply had to meet with several Elders to be certain that it was a good thing for us to marry, that we were committed to each other, and that only because we had requested an Elder perform the marriage in a Kingdom Hall. If we had not done that we would not even had to meet and talk about the seriousness of marriage. And that loving provision is only an attempt to avoid the pitfalls of an unhappy marriage.

You made this comment:

[One of the governing Body members at the time told him he was making a big mistake in marrying this sister. A sister he did not know, but apparently felt strongly about inter-racial marriages. The brother and sister married anyway. His career at bethel was over!]

This is a very generic comment. I have no idea what transpired or the time frame reference. I know nothing about the sister or why he was told by this member of the Governing Body that it was a big mistake. You imply that it was because it was due to his having strong feelings about interracial marriages. That might be true. Then again it might not be true. Even if it were true it goes back to the point I made above about human imperfection. What such an incident does not do is indicate that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and the Governing Body thereof is in any way, shape, or manner “Racist.”

Conclusion:

There is racism in every part of life including the religions of the world. In fact much of that racism is the result of false religion. It is the result of human imperfection. Jehovah’s Witnesses have to be especially aware of such a problem as they represent the true God, Jehovah and his Son the Lord Jesus Christ. The “Faithful and Discreet Slave” who takes the lead in the work needs to be especially careful to not allow any form of prejudice to infect it. The idea that someone was removed for being “To Black” is not a legitimate claim and represents only the “opinion” of one individual who may or may not be favorable to the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses and my have an agenda which is other than as it seems. To state that an action such as removing someone from a position of responsibility for being “To Black” is both offensive to all Jehovah’s Witnesses, a world wide brotherhood, and in addition is offensive to me personally and to the members of the Governing Body who are defamed by such flippant comments.

One River

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Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by OneRiver - Wed - Jul 16 - 10:13am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to OneRiver - Posted by RR - Wed - Jul 16 - 11:00pm

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to OneRiver - Posted by OneRiver - Thu - Jul 17 - 00:51am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by RR - Wed - Jul 16 - 10:59pm

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by OneRiver - Thu - Jul 17 - 01:55am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by RR - Thu - Jul 17 - 06:59am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by OneRiver - Thu - Jul 17 - 10:03am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by RR - Fri - Jul 18 - 9:24pm

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by RR - Fri - Jul 18 - 9:23pm

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by Bert - Wed - Jul 16 - 3:55pm

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by OneRiver - Thu - Jul 17 - 00:27am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by Bert - Thu - Jul 17 - 1:49pm

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by OneRiver - Thu - Jul 17 - 5:32pm

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by RR - Thu - Jul 17 - 07:03am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by OneRiver - Thu - Jul 17 - 08:50am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by RR - Thu - Jul 17 - 09:30am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by RR - Thu - Jul 17 - 09:26am

Re: Ernie Ricketts / A response to RR - Posted by OneRiver - Thu - Jul 17 - 10:17am