Sakody:


You will need to do more research. Think about this. If you are selling many Kingdom halls, assembly halls , please where did the JWs in those halls disappear to? If you really need more Kingdom halls to accommodate a growing number of JWs, you will not sell the Kingdom halls. Think Think Think. I know why I am telling you to think. Because your mind will open for the first time if you want it to.

Let me give you an example. Your religion is registered as a charity or NGO. Google this to know more. Each congregation is a registered Charity. I bumped into some information about congregations In the U.K. This site is all about Charities in the U.K of which Jehovah's Witnesses congregations are mentioned. As a Charity,you are required to send reports of your activities to the Charity Commission which shows reports on charity activities in the U.K. The report says that over 1,200 congregations/charities were merged to be One within a few months. Do you know what that means? It means only one congregation was left standing after merging all of them together. This also means that 1119 or less than that number of Kingdom halls are for sale since 3 Congregations can use one Kingdom hall.

You can't find this type of info in your jworg. Never! Because Watchtower doesn't want you to. Simple. They determine what you can see and what you cannot see. Unless you choose to see it yourself.So, where does all the money made from the sale of the Kingdom halls go to? Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Your Religion is a Real Estate business as well. All these info I am saying, you can find when you Google. Your organisation is a Billionaire Company. The main intention of your founder Charles Taze Russell of starting Watchtower Corporation was for it to be a Business only and not a religion. They have Corporations for different purposes including International Bible Students Association which is the one responsible for their Real Estate in the UK and help organise Jehovah's Witnesses as a whole. They have many Investments in many popular big companies of the world. Just Google.

Eyinju112:
As far as I'm concerned, this new development isn't a stumbling block for we Jehovah's witnesses.

Anyone who left the organization because of beards was never ready to become a Jehovah's witnesses.

Emusan:


Of course the gods in Warwick know it won't be a stumbling block for most of you because you'll swallow it.

But think about those who have been affected by the rule in the past. Those who have been disfellowshipped or shunned.

To you it's a development but have you asked yourself, is that how God works? God's plan is always plain not back and forth.



So what of people Watchtower disfellowshipped because of beards?

Will your organisation apologize to them and call them back?

These are the issues you people take for granted thinking it's not a serious one.

If Watchtower can disfellowship people for wearing beards, now that beards is allowed, don't you think Watchtower has become a stumbling block to those disfellowship?

In case you want to deny anyone was disfellowshipped for wearing beards.

Below is the evidence

Eyinju112:
Like I said and will still say, if anyone left the organization because he wants to keep beards that means he was never meant to be there in the first hand. If he can't abide with not keeping beards which is the simplest of all our doctrine, then he is not worthy or fit to be a Jehovah's witnesses.

Eyinju112:

Like I said and will still say, if anyone left the organization because he wants to keep beards that means he was never meant to be there in the first hand. If he can't abide with not keeping beards which is the simplest of all our doctrine, then he is not worthy or fit to be a Jehovah's witnesses.

Emusan:


You still didn't get it!

What of those your organisation force out because of simple beard?

They didn't want to leave they just love it but the organisation is against it.

Now, the organisation says nothing is wrong with keeping beard but WHAT OF THOSE WHO WERE FORCED OUT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE OR ALREADY AFFECTED BY THIS RULE?

Which means those people were actually right for keeping beard yet the organisation through carnal mind of flesh chased these people out for worshipping their God.

How do you want God to feel about it?

Eyinju112:

As far as I'm concerned, this new development isn't a stumbling block for we Jehovah's witnesses. Anyone who left the organization because of beards was never ready to become a Jehovah's witnesses.

Also, I'm not surprised we Jehovah's witnesses are decreasing, the world is full of immortality and anyone who loves immorality can never be a Jehovah's witnesses. We're content with whatever we have, we put Jehovah first before riches but then many people want to get rich at all cost. There are lot of things that we Jehovah's witnesses don't condone and we won't condone anyone who choose that part. So therefore we must surely decrease in numbers. I'm glad we're decreasing as it builds my confidence that I'm truly in the true organization that worship God. Read mattew 7 vs 14. "Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it". Bearing this in mind builds my faith in Jehovah and his organization.
Shallom

Eyinju112:


You still don't get the answer?
What is love? Unconditional right?
What are the things you do for love?
Everything right?
If truly they love the organization and they want to serve Jehovah with his people, letting go of common beards shouldn't be a problem.

I'll give you an analogy from a true life experience.
My friend friend was dating a young lady, the lady chews gum on a steady, I mean she likes gum a lot, so unfortunately armed robbers came to their apartment robbed them off their money and then raped his girlfriend right to his face.
Because of what people would say he can't walk away from the relationship so he embraced the lady but as times goes on little things started to piss him off, everything was annoying to him in the house, so one day the lady was chewing gum as usual, the guy walked in and then said, I hate the fact that you chew gum all the time infact I'm no longer interested again. That was how he sent her packing oooo lol.

The guy isn't just seeing her chewing gum and he liked it like that, same as those ex jw aren't just knowing that Jehovah's witnesses don't keep beards and yet they were in the organization. But because they raped that girl and he's looking for a means to let her go, he made her chewing gum the problem to let her go, same way this people wanted their beards to be the reason they were disfelloshipped.

Now many of this brothers were born in Jehovah's organization, they loved the organization while growing, during teenage they know clearly they need to shave their beards, they were handling talks on the platforms but at a point they stopped loving the organization due to one reason or the other which is best known to them, they don't want to walk away so they don't hurt their families, so they start misbehaving knowing clearly well that Jehovah's organization don't condone some certain act or misbehaviors, they come up with silly and stupid act, because clearly they know what will become of them if they go against our way. The bible stated it in Gal 5vs 9 you can read that yourself. "We do well to remember that disfellowshipping is Jehovah’s arrangement and that it benefits the congregation and may benefit the wrongdoer. If an unrepentant wrongdoer were permitted to remain in the congregation, he could be a corrupting influence. So when we disfellowship this people, they leave the organization, and then many become rebellious 😁😁😁.


And another is if you are learning the bible with Jehovah's witnesses and because you don't want to shave your beards that simply means you're not ready to be one of them.

Love is unconditional, and because you love our organization will prompt you to become one of Jehovah's witnesses and if you're having a cold feet because of beards that means you are not ready to become a jw.

MaobiCarl:

When the Org was increasing and multiply.. From 6 million to 8 million it was a sign that it is the true organisation, "large army of witnesses" it was like a prophecy coming true. Now membership is decreasing instead of the reverse it surprisingly means is the true organisation too..
Well the point is this, once you blindly see something as truth or the way.. Nothing can change your mind even negative signs will be a good sign for you.
Rest my dear.

MaobiCarl:

When the Org was increasing and multiply.. From 6 million to 8 million it was a sign that it is the true organisation, "large army of witnesses" it was like a prophecy coming true. Now membership is decreasing instead of the reverse it surprisingly means is the true organisation too..
Well the point is this, once you blindly see something as truth or the way.. Nothing can change your mind even negative signs will be a good sign for you.
Rest my dear.

MaobiCarl:

When the Org was increasing and multiply.. From 6 million to 8 million it was a sign that it is the true organisation, "large army of witnesses" it was like a prophecy coming true. Now membership is decreasing instead of the reverse it surprisingly means is the true organisation too..
Well the point is this, once you blindly see something as truth or the way.. Nothing can change your mind even negative signs will be a good sign for you.
Rest my dear.

Aemmyjah:


You go explain tire
No evidence
😂
Show where there's an decrease

Besides, the total statistics is coming up soon
You go see am yet you won't update your false comments
We are already having record numbers of baptismal candidates
Record numbers at the meetings
Record number of attendance at Memorial

All these, when they announce it, wailers will say na lie cos it pains them
If it it something they like, they blow trumpet 🎺

Aemmyjah:


You go explain tire
No evidence
😂
Show where there's an decrease

Besides, the total statistics is coming up soon
You go see am yet you won't update your false comments
We are already having record numbers of baptismal candidates
Record numbers at the meetings
Record number of attendance at Memorial

All these, when they announce it, wailers will say na lie cos it pains them
If it it something they like, they blow trumpet 🎺

Eyinju112:



Lol, even if we decrease, we don't care😁😁😁

MaxInDHouse:


Many will surely get tired of the race {Matthew 23:12} but the faithful will continue without let up! Hebrews 10:38-39

MaxInDHouse:


Increase and decrease in number of attendees or soldiers preaching zealously and teaching industriously throughout the earth?

Ọmọ Jesus said due to increase in lawlessness the love of many will grow cold {Matthew 24:12} do you think he was talking about those going to worship centers to warm benches?
He was referring to active preachers doing the work he assigned.
He went on to add:
"But the one who has endured to the end will be saved" Matthew 23:13
Which means many will first join in doing the work but as times goes on many will take their leave but in all of these the job will be done before the destruction of evildoers! Matthew 24:14
So if you're thinking about the increase and decrease try to also meditate on how the work is going on because the work has already reached the places where some decided to turn back it's not compulsory they're saved it's the places where the work hasn't reach that matters to Jehovah.

That's why He said:

“But my righteous one will live by reason of faith,” and “if he shrinks back, I have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38

Those leaving do you know any preaching and teaching organized group they joined later?

Well the truth is they become unproductive which will surely lead to their condemnation! Matthew 25:28

We are not the type that shrinks back to destruction! Hebrews 10:39

Aemmyjah:

Pls tell that guy that having several monikers including a female one will not add a teaspoon of peace to his life

Aemmyjah:


In total, we did not decrease but in some lands including Nigeria, there was marked decrease.
All the same, let's wait till they bring in complete year reports
The same people that are wailing on why we report our numbers cos it is not significant are mentioning decrease?

MaxInDHouse:

It depends on the choice you make among God's people. To marry the first thing you have to consider is a person whose relationship with Jehovah is unbreakable then you can be 100% certain that you're marrying a friend of Jehovah who will not like to bring reproach on Jehovah's name.
But if you just marry anyone simply because they attend our meetings then get ready for a failed marriage.

sacajawea:

Another dark hearted fool on this thread.
They would not be disfellowshipped quite alright, but you will be hated.
You will not be allowed to do anything there, you will not be considered a member, obviously gossiped, hated ostracized very Openly to mention a few
This is very common knowledge.
You are allowed to do absolutely nothing!
A lot of you here are commenting very crazily and sickly

AbuTwins:


So we just have to accept it like that without the background?

Alright see below!

Are you serious at all? Isn't it stupid of you to justify wrongdoing with another supposed wrongdoing? Very faulty way to defend your prophet.

Eyinju112:
You still don't get the answer?
What is love? Unconditional right?
What are the things you do for love?
Everything right?
If truly they love the organization and they want to serve Jehovah with his people, letting go of common beards shouldn't be a problem.

I'll give you an analogy from a true life experience.
My friend friend was dating a young lady, the lady chews gum on a steady, I mean she likes gum a lot, so unfortunately armed robbers came to their apartment robbed them off their money and then raped his girlfriend right to his face.
Because of what people would say he can't walk away from the relationship so he embraced the lady but as times goes on little things started to piss him off, everything was annoying to him in the house, so one day the lady was chewing gum as usual, the guy walked in and then said, I hate the fact that you chew gum all the time infact I'm no longer interested again. That was how he sent her packing oooo lol.

The guy isn't just seeing her chewing gum and he liked it like that, same as those ex jw aren't just knowing that Jehovah's witnesses don't keep beards and yet they were in the organization. But because they raped that girl and he's looking for a means to let her go, he made her chewing gum the problem to let her go, same way this people wanted their beards to be the reason they were disfelloshipped.

Now many of this brothers were born in Jehovah's organization, they loved the organization while growing, during teenage they know clearly they need to shave their beards, they were handling talks on the platforms but at a point they stopped loving the organization due to one reason or the other which is best known to them, they don't want to walk away so they don't hurt their families, so they start misbehaving knowing clearly well that Jehovah's organization don't condone some certain act or misbehaviors, they come up with silly and stupid act, because clearly they know what will become of them if they go against our way. The bible stated it in Gal 5vs 9 you can read that yourself. "We do well to remember that disfellowshipping is Jehovah’s arrangement and that it benefits the congregation and may benefit the wrongdoer. If an unrepentant wrongdoer were permitted to remain in the congregation, he could be a corrupting influence. So when we disfellowship this people, they leave the organization, and then many become rebellious 😁😁😁.

And another is if you are learning the bible with Jehovah's witnesses and you don't want to shave your beards that simply means you're not ready to be one of them.

Love is unconditional, and because you love our organization will prompt you to become one of Jehovah's witnesses without beards, and if you're having a cold feet because of beards that means you are not ready to become a jw

rottennaija:


Don't spin it into a hate speech. It's an acknowledgement of realities about a false organization parading as truth.

TheArrowhead:


You're an obvious apostate. Change your wways and return to the true God.

Emusan:


So funny how you're mixing everything up.

This isn't about LOVE but relationship with GOD.

Using God's name or His word to lie to people in other to put them in cage is what is at stake here.

If Watchtower didn't put beard as something against GOD many people won't take it seriously as well as WATCHTOWER ITSELF.

So your explanation here is out of it.



Your analogy is not matched here.

Watchtower makes it looks like having beared is against Jehovah but the people who rejected that knows it's not BIBLICAL and doesn't need to be followed.

They love Jehovah and want to serve Him without any confused or man made doctrines.

So if you want to give rule do it in your own understanding not by attaching it to God, with that people will know the rule(s) is just your own opinion.

But the moment you make it looks like it's from God because people love God, they'll try to conform with it and the next moment they discovered it's not from God they will start to revolt against it.



The question is, does God forbid wearing beards?

If No! why must Watchtower makes it looks like God forbid it?

This is the real issue, you can close your eyes to this abnormality of Watchtower but the truth is, put the blame appropriately not on people who discovered the deceit of that rule.

At this moment, it's evident that those people who rejected the rule are vindicated today.

So, if you're the one how will you feel today?

And all these happened because you must follow the instructions of your GB blindly.



This isn't about love.

This is about relationship with God.

Do you even know how God feels about this situation right now?

Do you know the impact of this on Watchtower?

Do you think those who were disfellowshipped because of this issue won't speak out the more?

Do you know how many disfellowshipped members groan in pains now because they got disfellowshipped for something they know it's true but condemned because of ordinary man made rule?

Well, you can keep defending GB but don't forget it's beard to it can be another rule tomorrow.

highoctane:
I am at present 36 years strong and forth going as one of Jehovah's witnesses.

I came from a family that bore the first Catholic priest in our community.
One of my uncles have one of the largest Pentecostal church in Port Harcourt raving in early 80s but have fazed out.
My maternal uncles re pastors of Assembly of God.

Two of my maternal uncles served in the military, one was a military attache in Denmark, one have retired. They never sported beards.

I grew up seeing clean shaved men on and on including my Late Dad though not one of Jehovah's witnesses stayed clean shaved till age of 80. I grew among clean shaved men.
Let me forget these narratives.
They re bags of refuse.

I became one of Jehovah's witnesses when I noticed clear hypocritical attitudes in many religions from new age to orthodox churches, my parents, my uncles especially those who ought to serve as spiritual and family heads.

What ever one may call Jehovah's witnesses, Jesus was called worst still he was not deterred.

Read this conversation between Jesus Christ and his homies. Open your Bible and read John chapter 8:48-52 " In answer the Jews said to him: “Are we not right in saying, ‘You are a Sa·marʹi·tan and have a demon’?” 49 Jesus answered: “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 But I am not seeking glory for myself; there is One who is seeking and judging. 51 M youost truly I say to you, if anyone observes my word, he will never see death at all.” 52 The Jews said to him: “Now we do know that you have a demon. Abraham died, also the prophets, but you say, ‘If anyone observes my word, he will never taste death at all.’

Those who are saying they re harassed, so on and so forth because of sporting beard , come back to Jehovah the preserver of your soul.

Kemistri3:


"So after many decades of demonising, ostracising and sometimes DISFELLOWSHIPPING male members who opt to wear or keep their God given natural beards"

This is literally how the OP started his article


You're the dark-hearted fool here


Not disfellowshipped? But "will not be considered a member"?

Dude, what nonsense are waffling from ignorance?😂😂🤡

MaobiCarl:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-T5ix4smik?si=qIQeaoqFi3Nib844

So after many decades of demonising, ostracising and sometimes disfellowshiping male members who opt to wear or keep their God given natural beards. The leaders of the Jehovah's Witnesses sect has approved responsible male brothers to wear and keep beards if they choose in a recent update aired on jw broadcast dated December 15,2023.

On this update nos 8 they've agreed that is non scriptural to instruct Christians on how to look outwardly uniformly. They now accept that spirituality is the basis of Christianity not outward appearances or trying to appear or sound different from other competing religious organisations .

There's high and mixed emotions amongst the members now. Many are disappointed while few who has been scorned by elders and congregation leaders for trying to leave there beards to grow may be the only ones excited.

But personally they( Governing Body) needs to apologise to there members for trying to make them look like a cult. Cus is only a cult that that enforce a dress pattern or grooming for members from varying cultures and backgrounds all around the world

Source :https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/global/2023-Governing-Body-Update-8/

Sand2022:


That's commendable. The religion is too controlling. In the name of unity, they want to regulate even how you make love with your wife. The issue of beard generated controversy for years in the west, but all the opposers of this now changed doctrine were discriminated, viewed as disorderly, and were never given church work. Just beard. Religious leaders are really going too far. In some cases, they approved beard in one location, and disallowed it in another.

All these while the GB was wrong.

They seem to have poor bible scholars over there or that the bible scholars are doing great work, but the leadership doesn't often listen to their advise. Because this issue is no-brainer if you ask me.

However, I don't think they disfellowship for this. But they just don't see you as a JW in most areas eg , Nigeria. You can't occupy any office in most JW congregation. In some areas, if you claim you're a witness, they will first check if you have a beard. If you do, they just conclude you're not. Cos you have mark of the beast.lol

But we need to commend them for such change. Atleast they changed.

Well there are cases of disfellowship of brothers wearing beards. Assume you're approached by elder's and you act irresponsibly to the extent of questioning the governing body's policy on beards.. Your case will turn to a disfellowship case... How you react to the judiciary panel will determines the verdict