FOLLOWING THE RECENT CHANGES announced by the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses (ie. beards, ties and jackets, slacks, and saying “hello” to disfellowshipped ones who attend their meetings), here are my predictions for what they will be changing next:
1. They will conflate 1 Corinthians 5:11 with 2 Thessalonians 3:14,15 and refer to “brothers” who are “sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortion” as “disorderly” and “marked”. Note, they will still refer to these ones as “brothers”. They will no longer announce that “so-and-so is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses”, but something more akin to “a matter involving so-and-so has been handled by the elders”. A week or two later, a local needs talk will be given concerning the conduct the person was involved in, but not mentioning any names. The direction will be to “stop keeping company” (1 Corinthians 5:11) or “stop associating” (2 Thessalonians 3:14) with such a person, acknowledging that the Greek word for these two expressions is the same (συναναμίγνυσθαι). This word refers to mixing ingredients in a bowl and is analogous to close social contact. They will appeal to 1 Corinthians 15:33, “bad associations spoil useful habits”, explaining that while you might be polite to such a person, saying “hello” and engaging in small talk in or outside the Kingdom Hall, one should not socialise with them. Admonishing the “brother” will be reserved for elders. Effectively, what used to be referred to as “disfellowshipping” will become “marking”. The term “shunning” will be avoided in these situations to avoid legal repercussions.
2. Second John verses 9 to 11 will be applied to persons who choose to disassociate themselves, ie. ones who “do not remain in the teaching of the Christ”. The term “apostate” will be applied to anyone who disassociates, acknowledging that the word means “to stand away from”, “desert”, “abandon”, or “rebel”. This will particularly be applied to those who actively speak out against the teachings and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The congregation will be instructed to have absolutely no dealings with disassociated “apostate” ones, not even “say[ing] a greeting” to them. Apostates will be vilified more than ever. The term “shunning” will be reserved for these ones.
3. If some in the congregation ignore the above instructions and have social contact with those deemed “marked”, they will not be sanctioned. They will rely on the “rebuke given by the majority” to shame the marked person into compliance. (2 Corinthians 2:6) Those who associate with marked “brothers” will be viewed as “not exemplary” and denied privileges. This will become the main method of controlling individuals in the congregation.
4. In the case of a person known to greet an “apostate”, they will be counselled by the elders. If they persist in greeting apostates they will be marked. If they have social contact with an apostate, they will be deemed apostate themselves.
5. They will remove all outdated information from JW.org and Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY, especially anything relating to disfellowshipping and shunning. Then they will appeal Norway’s decision to deny them State subsidies through the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Watch Tower will most likely win based on the above changes.
6. The position of pioneer will be terminated.
7. Titus chapter 2 verses 3 to 5 will be used to create a new class of “exemplary” ones in the congregation, namely, “older women”. Like “older men” (ie. elders) these will be judged on their “spiritual” qualifications according to scripture. If qualified, they will be assigned certain privileges in the congregation, but this will exclude teaching and shepherding which will be reserved for elders.
8. Congregation appointments for men and women will become the “carrot on the stick” to control the behaviour of individuals. Platform assignments will be reserved for elders, ministerial servants, and older women. When on the platform, they will wear suits and dresses to differentiate them from those in the general congregation. Thus, the “exemplary” ones will be showcased as being something others should attain to.
9. Birthdays, which for most people in the world have no religious significance, will become a matter of conscience.
10. Whether to accept a blood transfusion will become a matter of conscience. It will continue to be stressed that Acts 15:28 instructs Christians to “abstain… from blood”, but it will be left up to individuals to decide whether this applies to transfusions or not. If a person eats or drinks blood they will be “marked”.
11. In time, all Kingdom Halls will be sold off, printing will be discontinued, and everything will be moved online. JW Broadcasting will become the sole medium by which individual JWs receive their “spiritual food”, congregating together as families and small groups, capitalising on the “bunker mentality” in preparation for the Great Tribulation. (Matthew 24:45) To tune in to JW Broadcasting you will be required to pay a subscription fee. If someone is unable to afford the subscription fee, those financially able will be exhorted to pay, using 2 Corinthians 8:14 as support for this “equalising”.
I predict these changes will take place over the next two to three years. While I don’t place much stock on the Bible these days, I do think the above changes would bring things more in line with Scripture. Having said that, the whole thing is still man-made. Jehovah’s Witnesses will still be a cult that controls people. It will still meet much of the B.I.T.E. Model criteria, and it will never be “the truth”.