the one who doubts to the point of becoming an apostate sets himself up as a judge. He thinks he knows better than his fellow Christians, better also than the “faithful and discreet slave,” through whom he has learned the best part, if not all that he knows about Jehovah God and his purposes. He develops a spirit of independence, and becomes “proud in heart . . . something detestable to Jehovah.” – https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980566#h=25
Some apostates even think they know better than God, as regards his ordering of events in the outworking of his purposes. Two other causes of apostasy are therefore ingratitude and presumption. – https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980566#h=25
So, then, should we listen to apostates, read their literature, or examine their Web sites on the Internet? If we love God and the truth, we will not do so. We should not allow apostates into our homes or even greet them, for such actions would make us ‘sharers in their wicked works.’ – https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2006046
| “[Apostates] may claim to serve God but reject his representatives [The Governing Body], his visible organization [Watchtower Society].” Apostasy, Reasoning From the Scriptures, p. 34 |
| “A person may go further and claim that the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses or other responsible brothers interfere with freedom of conscience and the individual’s “right” to interpret the Scriptures. But remember Joseph’s humble words: “Do not interpretations belong to God?”” “Beware of those who try to put forward their own contrary opinions. Also beware of those who want to throw off all restraints or who promise freedom, claiming that Jehovah’s Witnesses are slaves!” “While they are promising them freedom, they themselves are existing as slaves of corruption.” Allow No Place for the Devil! The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1986 |
| “if we would act so decisively to protect our children from exposure to pornography, should we not expect that our loving heavenly Father would similarly warn us and protect us from spiritual fornication, including apostasy? … Do you wisely destroy apostate material?” w86 3/15 pp. 10-15 ‘Do Not Be Quickly Shaken From Your Reason’ |
| “Apostates “quietly bring in” corruptive ideas. Like smugglers, they operate in a clandestine manner, subtly introducing apostate views. And just as a clever forger tries to pass phony documents, so apostates use “counterfeit words,” or false arguments, trying to pass their fabricated views as if they were true. They spread “deceptive teachings,” “twisting . . . the Scriptures” to fit their own ideas.” Watchtower Study Article: “Will You Heed Jehovah’s Clear Warnings?” w11 7/15 p. 15 |
| “apostates are “mentally diseased,” and they seek to infect others” Watchtower Study Article: “Will You Heed Jehovah’s Clear Warnings?” w11 7/15 p. 15 |
| Apostates “quietly” bring their ideas into the congregation, like criminals who secretly bring things into a country. Apostates use “counterfeit words.” This means that they say things that make their false ideas sound true, like criminals who make false documents look real. They try to get as many people as possible to believe their “deceptive teachings.” Will You Pay Attention to Jehovah’s Clear Warnings? The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom (Simplified)—2011 |
| “apostates are mentally diseased and that they use their teachings to make others think like them.” Will You Pay Attention to Jehovah’s Clear Warnings? The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom (Simplified)—2011 |
| “…apostates are like wolves that eat the sheep. Apostates want to destroy the faith of the members of the congregation and want them to leave the truth.” Will You Pay Attention to Jehovah’s Clear Warnings? The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom (Simplified)—2011 |
| “apostate literature presents falsehoods by means of “smooth talk” and “counterfeit words”“ Watchtower Study Article: “At Which Table Are You Feeding?” w94 7/1 pp. 8-13 |
| Apostates often seek to make others their followers… Such ones willfully abandoning the Christian congregation thereby become part of the antichrist.” Apostasy – Insight, Volume 1 |
| “Their [Apostates] twisted, poisonous reasoning can cause spiritual harm and can contaminate your faith like rapidly spreading gangrene.” Watchtower 2004 Feb 15 p.28 |
Directed to hate apostates
| “Our attitude toward apostates should be that of David, who declared: “Do I not hate those who are intensely hating you “” Watchtower Study Article: “Three Kinds of Hatred” w92 7/15 pp. 8-13 |
| “in order to hate what is bad a Christian must hate the person with whom the badness is inseparably linked“ Watchtower Study Article: “A Time and Place for Everything” w61 7/15 pp. 419-420 |
Threats and gaslighting of apostates
| After having yielded to such works of the flesh as “enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects,” apostates often fall victim to other fleshly works such as “drunken bouts,” “loose conduct” and “fornication.” Para 13 Remain “Solid in the Faith” The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1980 https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980566#h=28 |
| “As to the effects of a course of apostasy, one immediate result is a loss of joy. The apostate becomes hardened in his rebellious ways.” Para 12 Remain “Solid in the Faith” The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1980 https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980566#h=26 |
Cutting off and shunning of family and friends who become apostates
| “If the one spreading apostate teachings cannot be restored to spiritual health by loving but firm application of the balm of God’s Word, amputation of this member (disfellowshipping) may be the only alternative for the protection of other members of the body.” ‘Do Not Be Quickly Shaken From Your Reason’ |
| “With apostates earth wide being destroyed, what reason can one have for confidence of life in paradise to follow?” Kingdom Ministry September 1973 p.6 |
| “no loyal modern-day witness of Jehovah would greet a disfellowshipped or disassociated apostate” “there would be grave accountability before God if a believer extended hospitality to an apostate” The Watchtower: Reject Apostasy, Cling to the Truth! |
| “we can take action against apostates only to a certain extent, that is, consistent with both sets of laws. The law of the land and God’s law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates, even though they be members of our own flesh-and-blood family relationship.” The Watchtower: Questions From Readers |
| The apostate makes himself a decider of what is true and what is false, of what is “good and bad” in the way of spiritual food. He becomes presumptuous. Remain “Solid in the Faith” The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1980 https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980566?q=Remain+Solid+in+the+Faith&p=par#h=30 |
| the one who doubts to the point of becoming an apostate sets himself up as a judge. He thinks he knows better than his fellow Christians, better also than the “faithful and discreet slave He develops a spirit of independence, and becomes “proud in heart . . . something detestable… Some apostates even think they know better than God, as regards his ordering of events in the outworking of his purposes. Two other causes of apostasy are therefore ingratitude and presumption. Para 11 Remain “Solid in the Faith” The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom—1980 https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1980566#h=25 |