THE 11 DISFELLOWSHIPPING OFFENSES 4: IDOLATRY (EIDŌLOLATRĒS)

—REVIEW—

It is most important to keep in mind that the disfellowshipping offenses that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians chapters 5 and 6 are expressed as substantives and not as verbs. Verbs show what people do while nouns show what people are. This means that Christians should not be disfellowshipped because of their actions but because of their personality.

Being an eidōlolatrēs (an idolater) means that a person has decided to worship idols and continue to do that. All the other definitions of an eidōlolatrēs that have been invented by the members of the Governing Body have no basis in the Bible. They are a part of the Talmud-like laws and rules made by the Governing Body.

 

Paul discusses disfellowshipping offenses in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10:

⁹ What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom.

We note that the disfellowshipping offenses are nouns and not verbs. Verbs show what persons do while nouns show what people are. All the disfellowshipping offenses are agent nouns (nomen agentis), and Victionary defines “agent noun” in the following way:

(grammar) A noun that denotes an agent (human or nonhuman) that performs the action denoted by the verb from which the noun is derived, such as “rider” derived from “to ride, or  “cutter” derived from “to cut”.

Some agent nouns are: “creator, counselor, dancer, gambler, jailer, preacher, swindler, teacher, editor,” and these show the occupation or the characteristics of the persons. Greek agent nouns are alieus (“fisherman”) that comes from the verb alieuō (“to fish”) and hiereus (“priest”) that comes from the verb hierateuō (“to serve as a priest”).

In order to illustrate the meaning of the agent nouns that are disfellowshipping offenses, I use pornē, which is the feminine form of pornos. All the Greek-English lexicons show that this word refers to a prostitute, a woman who has unlawful sexual intercourse as her occupation. This is confirmed in 1. Corinthians 6:15, where NWT13 translates pornē as “prostitute.” In a similar way, a pornos is not a man who has unlawful sexual intercourse one, two, or five times. But a pornos is a person whose life is centered around having unlawful sexual intercourse, a person who is permeated by these actions.

A kleptēs is not a person who has been stealing one, two, or five times. But John 12:6 says that Judas was a thief because “he used to steal money put in it [the contribution box].” A methysos is not a person who has been drunk one, two, or five times, but a methysos is a person who practices drunkenness, a drunkard.

The word that I am focusing on in this study is eidōlolatrēs.

Under the heading “Apostasy,” the book “Shepherd The flock Of God” 12.39 (7) says regarding idolatry:

Idolatry: 1 Cor. 6:9, 10: 10:14) Idolatry includes the use of images, including pictures, in false religious worship.

These words represent a derailment, and I quote three scriptures showing that idolatry is worship of idols and not other things:  1. Thessalonians 1:9 (above), Acts 15:29 (middle), and 1 John 5:21 (below):

⁹ For they themselves keep reporting about the way we first entered in among YOU and how YOU turned to God from [YOUR] idols to slave for a living and true God.

²⁹ to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!”

²¹ Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

First Thessalonians 1:9 shows that many Christians worshipped idols. But they turned away from worshipping these idols. One way of worshipping idols was to have a part in sacrifices made to idols. The passage does not specify these sacrifices, and they could include meat or any other item that was sacrificed. In the first century CE, there were idols everywhere, so falling back to idol worship was a possibility. The apostle John, therefore, admonished his readers to be aware of this possibility. The focus is in concrete idols and the worship of these and not on other actions.

A person can only be classified as an eidōlolatrēs if he or she has decided to worship idols and if his or her life is centered around worshipping idols.

However, because the members of the Governing Body have invented so many laws and rules, and the elders have been taught to look for any deviation from the mentioned laws and rules, there may be situations where the elders without any biblical reason, accuse someone of false religious worship and idolatry.

THE CHRISTIAN CONSCIENCE AND SACRIFICES TO IDOLS

I have stressed that a Christian can only be said to be an eidōlolatrēs if he has decided to worship idols or take part in sacrifices offered to idols. Any other definition of idolatry invented by the members of the Governing Body contradicts the Holy Scriptures. However, the members of the Governing Body have, in many instances, overruled the consciences of individual Witnesses, and this is also the case in connection with idolatry.

GENEROSITY AND LOVE INSTEAD OF STICKING TO RIGHTS

I quote the words of Paul in Romans 14:1-21 where we see the difference between Christian rights and Christian generosity and love:

¹ Welcome the [man] having weaknesses in [his] faith, but not to make decisions on inward questionings. ² One [man] has faith to eat everything, but the [man] who is weak eats vegetables. ³ Let the one eating not look down on the one not eating, and let the one not eating not judge the one eating, for God has welcomed that one. ⁴ Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand.

⁵ One [man] judges one day as above another; another [man] judges one day as all others; let each [man] be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who observes the day observes it to Jehovah. Also, he who eats, eats to Jehovah, for he gives thanks to God; and he who does not eat does not eat to Jehovah, and yet gives thanks to God. ⁷ None of us, in fact, lives with regard to himself only, and no one dies with regard to himself only; ⁸ for both if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. Therefore both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah. ⁹ For to this end Christ died and came to life again, that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.

¹⁰ But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; ¹¹ for it is written: “‘As I live,’ says Jehovah, ‘to me every knee will bend down, and every tongue will make open acknowledgment to God.’” ¹² So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God.

¹³ Therefore let us not be judging one another any longer, but rather make this YOUR decision, not to put before a brother a stumbling block or a cause for tripping. ¹⁴ I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is defiled in itself; only where a man considers something to be defiled, to him it is defiled. ¹⁵ For if because of food your brother is being grieved, you are no longer walking in accord with love. Do not by your food ruin that one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Do not, therefore, let the good YOU people do be spoken of with injury to YOU. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but [means] righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit. ¹⁸ For he who in this regard slaves for Christ is acceptable to God and has approval with men.

¹⁹ So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that are upbuilding to one another. ²⁰ Stop tearing down the work of God just for the sake of food. True, all things are clean, but it is injurious to the man who with an occasion for stumbling eats. ²¹ It is well not to eat flesh or to drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles. ²² The faith that you have, have it in accord with yourself in the sight of God. Happy is the man that does not put himself on judgment by what he approves. ²³ But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] out of faith. Indeed, everything that is not out of faith is sin.

The issue here is not sacrifices to idols but food in general. Some Christians would not eat particular kinds of food, while others had no objections to this food. Paul says in verse 14 that no food “is defiled in itself.” But if someone views it as defiled, it is defiled for him.

One important point is that if a brother abstains from some kind of food, that is his right. If another brother eats this food, that is his right. No one has the right to judge a brother as to whether he eats some food or not (verses 4 and 6).

After Paul has shown that each brother has the right to make his own decision without being judged by others, he turns his attention away from rights to generosity and love. Even if a brother has the right to make a certain decision, he may refrain from using his right “for peace and the things that are upbuilding to one another” (verse 21).

Then Paul shows how far generosity and love must go, as we see in verse 21: “It is well not to eat flesh or to drink wine or do anything over which your brother stumbles.” Not only should a brother refrain from using his right in order to contribute to something good for the brotherhood. But if using his right Could cause a brother to stumble, he should also refrain from using his right.

I am sad to say that the members of the Governing Body are grossly violating the words of Paul. In addition to the 11 disfellowshipping offenses mentioned in the Christian Greek Scriptures, they have invented 37 other disfellowshipping offenses that have no basis in the Bible. They have also connected a number of actions with the 11 biblical and the 37 nonbiblical disfellowshipping offenses.

This means thar the number of disfellowshipping actions that the members of the Governing Body have invented, contrary to the text of the Bible, is more than one hundred.

This means that contrary to the words of Paul, the members of the Governing Body have overruled the consciences of individual Witnesses. In situations where each Witness have the right to make his or her decision, the members of the Governing Body have made binding decisions over the heads of the Witnesses. And they are judging all Witnesses who do not follow their decision in each case, often disfellowshipping them.

Also, in connection with idolatry and offerings to idols, each Witness has the right to makehis or her decision contrary to the decisions of the members of the Governing Body.

GENEROSITY AND LOVE IN CONNECTION WITH OFFERINGS TO IDOLS

At the meeting of the apostles and the elders in 49 CE, the decisions were made with the help of the holy spirit that Christians had to abstain from blood, fornication, strangled animals, and things offered to idols. Several years later, this decision was reiterated, as we read in Acts 21:25:

²⁵ As for the believers from among the nations, we have sent out, rendering our decision that they should keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols as well as from blood and what is strangled and from fornication.”

In the year 55, six years after the meeting of the apostles in 49 CE, Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, and this letter discusses the issue of sacrifices to idols, and the decisions from the meeting were still valid, as we see in 10:14:

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry.

There were many temples and shrines in Corinth. The Asclepion in Corinth was a temple for worship and a place for the healing of diseases. It included dining rooms, bathing facilities, dormitories, and other structures. There were also other temples in Corinth, such as the temple of Demeter and Kore, the temple of Aphrodite, as well as other shrines.  The article, “Why not idol meat?” written by Ben Whiterington III says:

In a city like Roman Corinth, the general public might be invited to come to the temple and dine on meat from a sacrifice honoring some god whose festival was being celebrated. But this was exceptional. And even then the well-to-do got the bulk of the benefit of such public dispensations of food.

Another kind of exception was an invitation to dine with a social superior, or to partake of a meal because one belonged to a trade association or burial society that would host a dinner in the precincts of a temple and provide a meal of meat sacrificed in the temple.

The Asklepion in Corinth, instead of one large eating room, had three rooms with seven couches each, reflecting the desire for an intimate setting for conversation, a vital part of these meals.⁵ Couches and similar rooms have also been found in the excavation of the Temple of Demeter and Kore on the lower slopes of the Acro-Corinth (the mountain that towers over Corinth), although there is some debate as to whether this evidence pertains to the Roman period or comes from an earlier time.

Both Roman and Greek sources indicate that various temple precincts were in effect the public restaurants of the day. We actually have the form of invitations preserved in Greek papyri: “Chaeremon requests your company at dinner at the table of the lord Sarapis in the Sarapeum tomorrow, the 15th, at 9 o’clock.” Or again: “Apollonius requests you to dine at the table of the lord Sarapis on the occasion of the coming of age of his brothers in the temple of Thoeris.”⁷ This created a dilemma for Jews and some early Christians invited to dinners held in the precincts of a pagan temple. [1]

In the temples, animals were offered to the gods, and people who worshipped the gods ate parts of the offerings of the meat. However, a great part of the animals was not eaten as sacrifices, and some of this meat was later served in the public restaurants in the temples, and other parts of the meat were sold at the market the next day. The meat that was served in the restaurants and sold at the market was not sacrificed to idols. But parts of the animals from which the meat was taken had been such sacrifices. So, the question was whether Christians could eat meat from animals that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul settles the issue in 10:24-27:

²⁴ Let each one keep seeking, not his own [advantage], but that of the other person. ²⁵ Everything that is sold in a meat market keep eating, making no inquiry on account of YOUR conscience; ²⁶ for “to Jehovah belong the earth and that which fills it.” ²⁷ If anyone of the unbelievers invites YOU and YOU wish to go, proceed to eat everything that is set before YOU, making no inquiry on account of YOUR conscience.

There was nothing wrong with the meat of the animals that were sacrificed to idols. What was wrong for Christians was the action of eating the meat as a sacrifice to an idol. Therefore, the words of Paul are logical. But he added something that is important in verse 28 in chapter 10:

²⁸ But if anyone should say to YOU: “This is something offered in sacrifice,” do not eat on account of the one that disclosed it and on account of conscience.

These words stress the same points that Paul addressed in Romans chapter 14, namely, generosity and love versus rights. Paul shows that the Christians had the right to eat the meat. But the conscience of the one who said that the meat was “offered in sacrifice” led him believe that because a part of the animal had been offered in sacrifice, the leftover meat was also a sacrifice to an idol. In 8:7-11, Paul discusses this issue in detail:

⁷ Nevertheless, there is not this knowledge in all persons; but some, being accustomed until now to the idol, eat food as something sacrificed to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸ But food will not commend us to God; if we do not eat, we do not fall short, and, if we eat, we have no credit to ourselves. ⁹ But keep watching that this authority of YOURS does not somehow become a stumbling block to those who are weak. ¹⁰ For if anyone should see you, the one having knowledge, reclining at a meal in an idol temple, will not the conscience of that one who is weak be built up to the point of eating foods offered to idols?  ¹¹ Really, by your knowledge, the man that is weak is being ruined, [your] brother for whose sake Christ died. ¹² But when YOU people thus sin against YOUR brothers and wound their conscience that is weak, YOU are sinning against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat flesh at all, that I may not make my brother stumble.

Paul’s point is that if a brother with a weak conscience acts in a negative way to a brother who eats meat at a temple restaurant or in the home of someone, then a Christian should not exercise his right to eat. As Paul says in verse 13: “Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat flesh at all, that I may not make my brother stumble.”

It is important not to misunderstand the words “For if anyone should see you, the one having knowledge, reclining at a meal in an idol temple” in verse 10. This does not mean that the Christian was participating in sacrificing to idols and, in that connection, had a meal in the idol temple. But this refers to having a meal in a restaurant in the idol temple. This is the right of the Christian, but he should refrain from this right if this action would make a brother stumble.

This point is important in connection with the disfellowshipping procedures invented by the members of the Governing Body. It shows that it is possible for Christians to view ethical issues differently without the threat of disfellowshipping for someone who disagrees with the consciences of the members of the Governing Body. And it shows that the members of the Governing Body have no right to overrule the consciences of individual Witnesses.

At this juncture, I repeat the basic truth of this study:

Being an eidōlolatrēs (an idolater) means that a person has decided to worship idols and continue to do that. All the other definitions of an eidōlolatrēs that have been invented by the members of the Governing Body have no basis in the Bible. They are a part of Talmud-like laws and rules made by the Governing Body.

The discussion above has shown that Christians may have different viewpoints regarding ethical issues. And the words of Paul that I have discussed above, show that different viewpoints must be respected by all, including the members of the Governing Body. However, I will now discuss three situations where the consciences of the members of the Governing Body may overrule the consciences of individual Witnesses

[1]. https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/why-not-idol-meat/. Whiterington refers to N. Bookides and J. E. Fischer, “The Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore on Acro-Corinth,” Hesperia41 (1972), pp. 283–331; N. Bookides and R. S. Stroud, Demeter and Persephone in Ancient Corinth(Princeton: ASCSA, 1987); C. Roebuck, Corinth XIV: The Asklepion and Lerna (Princeton: American School of Classical Studies at Athens [ASCSA], 1951); M. Lang, Cure and Cult in Ancient Corinth: A Guide to the Asklepion (Princeton: ASCSA, 1977).

IS THE CHRISTMAS TREE AN IDOL?

The Shepherd book 12:39 (7) says: “Idolatry includes the use of images, including pictures, in false religious worship.”  The Watchtower of May 15, 1972, page 295, had the article “Ornamental or Idolatrous Representations — Which? I quote the whole article:

PERSONS desiring divine approval need to know whether certain representations are idolatrous or simply decorative, ornamental. One who cannot discern just what constitutes an idol would have difficulty in heeding the Bible’s commands: “Flee from idolatry.” “Guard yourselves from idols.” (1 Cor. 10:14; 1 John 5:21) This could be disastrous for the individual concerned. Why? Because idolaters are specifically named among those who will not inherit God‘s kingdom.​—1 Cor. 6:9, 10.

 What, then, makes something an idolatrous representation? Is a statue, picture, or the like, an idol because the creature or thing represented was at one time an object of worship? Can something be an idol in one part of the world but merely serve ornamental or decorative purposes in another part of the world? What should guide a Christian in determining whether he should get rid of certain items because of their idolatrous association?

The Holy Scriptures make it plain that not all pictures, statues and other representations are idols. Whether an object is an idol or not primarily depends on how it is viewed. This might be illustrated by ancient representations of bulls.

In the courtyard of the temple built by Solomon stood the “molten sea.” This large vessel rested upon the figures of twelve bulls. These representations thus served both a utilitarian and an ornamental purpose. But they were never worshiped. Supporting as they did a vessel that normally held around 11,600 gallons of water, the bulls were a fitting symbol of strength or power. (1 Ki. 7:26) They called attention to the truth enunciated at Psalm 62:11: “Strength belongs to God.”

On the other hand, the golden calves set up by King Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel were idols. They received actual worship in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Even though the claim was made that the golden calves represented Jehovah, this did not make the relative worship given to them acceptable. (1 Ki. 12:28; 14:7-9) Declared Jehovah through his prophet Isaiah: “I am Jehovah. That is my name; and to no one else shall I give my own glory, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isa. 42:8) By making the golden calves (evidently young bulls) and using them in worship, the Israelites made themselves guilty of exchanging God’s glory for something that misrepresented him. How insulting it was to the supreme Sovereign of the universe to be represented as a bull, “an eater of vegetation”!​—Ps. 106:20.

The fact that the bull was an object of worship in the Northern Kingdom of Israel did not make the bulls at Solomon’s temple idols. Similarly, the fact that various creatures, plants and heavenly bodies​—all part of God’s creative works—​have been and still are being given veneration would not in itself make them unacceptable for decorative or ornamental purposes. Many things that were at one time worshiped by the ancients have lost their idolatrous significance and are generally regarded as being merely ornamental.

However, the Christian has to be careful that he does not begin to look upon any object as being something more than it actually is. This aspect was well expressed by Jehovah’s faithful servant Job: “If I used to see the light when it would flash forth, or the precious moon walking along, and my heart began to be enticed in secrecy and my hand proceeded to kiss my mouth, that too would be an error for attention by the justices, for I should have denied the true God above.”​—Job 31:26-28.

Accordingly, if a Christian felt that the presence of a certain picture or object could stir up worshipful feelings because of its ancient idolatrous association, he would want to get rid of it. This could include personal ornaments, jewelry and the like. And, of course, he would not want to keep things that presently have a supposed sacred significance or that are specifically designed for use in false religious rituals. That would be true even if the items in question no longer had any religious significance to him. Like Christians in ancient Ephesus, he would destroy appendages of false worship, regardless of how expensive they may have been, so that no one else could misuse them.​—Acts 19:19.

This is an instructive article, and the conclusions are balanced:

• Whether an object is an idol or not primarily depends on how it is viewed.
• Something may be an idol in one part of the world while serving merely an ornamental or decorative purpose in another part of the world.

It is clear that most of the statues, figures, and pictures in the homes of families in the Western world are not idols, but have a decorative purpose. It is, of course, different in some countries in Asia where statues and figures are objects of worship as well as in religions where statues and pictures of saints play a part in their worship.

On the background of the article from the Watchtower of Mat 15 1972, I ask: Is the Christmas tree an idol? I think that most Jehovah’s Witnesses would say Yes. But let us consider some details regarding the Christmas tree.

The ancient Egyptians celebrated the winter solstice by filling their homes with green palm rushes to honor the god Ra. The Romans had their Saturnalia feast at winter solstice, and they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. The origin of the present Christmas tree tradition may link back to the custom of the Germans in the 16th century of decorating their homes with fir trees. The catalyst of the worldwide acceptance of the Christmas tree is ascribed to Queen Victoria of England, who in 1846 was sketched together with her husband Albert and their children around a Christmas tree.[1]

Today, Christmas is celebrated all over the world, both in countries that are called Christian and in non-Christian countries. One example of the latter is Japan:

Christmas has only been widely celebrated in Japan for the last few decades. It’s still not seen as a religious holiday or celebration as there aren’t many Christians in Japan. Now several customs that came to Japan from the USA such as sending and receiving Christmas Cards and Presents are popular.

In Japan, Christmas in known as more of a time to spread happiness rather than a religious celebration. Christmas Eve is often celebrated more than Christmas Day. Christmas Eve is thought of as a romantic day, in which couples spend together and exchange presents. In many ways it resembles Valentine’s Day celebrations in the UK and the USA. Young couples like to go for walks to look at the Christmas lights and have a romantic meal in a restaurant – booking a table on Christmas Eve can be very difficult as it’s so popular![2]

What do we find if we apply the two principles from The Watchtower article that is quoted above? Many persons both in Japan and in Norway do not view the Christmas tree as a religious symbol. In their view, the tree is connected with the Christmas festival when families and others come together to have a good time. Whether a thing is an idol or not “depends on how it is viewed,” according to the article, and because the tree is not viewed as an idol by many people in many countries, it is not categorically an idol.

The article also shows that a figure or a picture can be an idol in one part of the world but not in another part. This can also apply within the same country. Some persons in Norway view the tree as a religious symbol. For example, when the family walks around the tree singing songs in praise to it, such as the carol “Thou Green and Glittering tree, Good Day!,” the tree is being treated or viewed as an idol.[3]

In The Watchtower of September 15, 1951, the question was raised as to whether a Christian could sell Christmas trees, Christmas cards, and Christmas gifts. And the answer was that each Witness had to decide this on the basis of his or her conscience. The leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses would not give any advice as to what kind of work was acceptable for a Christian and which was not acceptable.

There have been many articles in the Watchtower literature rightly showing the bad sides of Christmas customs.   There have also been articles in the Watchtower literature depicting the Christmas tree as idols, as well as giving advice to Christian wives with unbelieving husbands how to avoid Christmas trees and Christmas food at home and when the husbands have decided to visit relatives at Christmas time. But what has been lacking in the articles is that the Christmas tree is not necessarily an idol, and if a Christian wife does not view the tree as an idol, there is no reason why she would not accompany her husband to a Christmas party with a Christmas three.

However, if other Christians heard that a fellow Christian had a Christmas tree or attended a Christmas party with a Christmas tree, that may cause stumbling. According to the advice of Paul, a Christian would, in this situation, show generosity and love and refrain from anything that may cause stumbling.

[1]. https://www.zmescience.com/science/history-science/origin-christmas-tree-pagan/.

[2]. https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/japan.shtml.

[3]. https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/thou_green_and_glittering_tree.htm.

SALUTING THE FLAG AS A DISFELLOWSHIPPING OFFENSE

Most people in the nations of the world have no objection to saluting the flag in their native country. But in this respect, Jehovah’s Witnesses are different.

THE REASONS WHY JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES DO NOT SALUTE THE FLAG

Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses not salute the flag?  In their literature, two reasons are given, 1) Saluting the flag is an act of worship and idolatry, and 2) It is the same as pledging allegiance to an earthly authority.

Awake! of October 22, 1987, page 26, says:

Jehovah’s Witnesses have always been law-abiding citizens who intend no disrespect by their refusal to salute the flag of any country. The Witnesses believe that their paramount duty and allegiance belong to their God and Maker, Jehovah. (Luke 4:8) To pledge total allegiance to any earthly authority would be to put worldly interests before spiritual interests. (Acts 5:29) Despite this sincere motive, the Witnesses’ refusal to salute the flag has often been misunderstood and used as a basis for persecution.

The Watchtower of September 14, 2022, page 21, says:

At times, saluting a national flag becomes a popular expression of patriotic feelings. But flags often bear representations of things in the heavens, such as stars, as well as things on the earth. God expressed his view of bowing down to such objects when he commanded his people: “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion.”​—Exodus 20:4, 5.

The book “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” (2014), page 212 says:

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that bowing down to a flag or saluting it, often in conjunction with an anthem, is a religious act that ascribes salvation, not to God, but to the State or to its leaders. (Isaiah 43:11;1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21).

The online article “Why Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Respectfully abstain From Participating in Nationalistic Ceremonies?” says (Quoted 31.7.2024):

God alone deserves our worship. The Bible says: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Luke 4:8) Pledges of allegiance and national anthems often contain wording that promises devotion to a country above all else. So Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot in good conscience participate in such ceremonies.

Jehovah’s Witnesses likewise feel that saluting the flag amounts to an act of worship, or idolatry, which the Bible prohibits. (1 Corinthians 10:14) Some secular sources acknowledge that national flags are, in effect, religious symbols. “Nationalism’s chief symbol of faith and central object of worship is the flag,” wrote historian Carlton J. H. Hayes. Regarding early Christians, author Daniel P. Mannix observed: “Christians refused to . . . sacrifice to the [Roman] emperor’s genius—roughly equivalent today to refusing to salute the flag.”

Jehovah’s do not salute the flag because: 1)    It pledges total allegiance to an earthly authority. 2)    It ascribes salvation to the state and not to God. 3)     It is a religious act — an act of worship.

SALUTING THE FLAG IS NOT AN ACT OF WORSHIP

The Watchtower of September 15, 2002, page 21, mentions that the Israelites had different standards (flag or banner) for their tribes, that there were representations of cherubs in the Tabernacle. But these were not worshipped. It also mentions the snake of copper that the people could look to in order to get healed when they were bitten by snakes. But this copper snake was not worshipped.

In connection with figures today and worship, The Watchtower of May 15, 1972, page 295, had an interesting article, which I have quoted above. Below are some main points:

The Holy Scriptures make it plain that not all pictures, statues and other representations are idols. Whether an object is an idol or not primarily depends on how it is viewed…

Similarly, the fact that various creatures, plants and heavenly bodies​—all part of God’s creative works—​have been and still are being given veneration would not in itself make them unacceptable for decorative or ornamental purposes. Many things that were at one time worshiped by the ancients have lost their idolatrous significance and are generally regarded as being merely ornamental.

One important conclusion of the article is that “Whether an object is an idol or not primarily depends on how it is viewed.” It is difficult to dispute this conclusion. How, then, is saluting the flag viewed?

When I put the question, “What is the real meaning of saluting the flag” on the Internet (31.7.2024), I got the following answer from Google:

It simply reminds us of our duty to our country and our fellow citizens. The salute is an action that shows respect for the flag and our country. If you are wearing a hat, you would stand, place your hat over your left shoulder so that your right hand is over your heart, face the flag and recite the pledge.[1]

    In connection with saluting the Australian flag, I found the following meaning:

The salute itself has become a symbol of respect and remembrance.[2]

In connection with saluting the flag of the United States of America, I found the following meaning:

Saluting the Red, White and Blue is testimony of sincere patriotism, loyalty, love for our country and respect for American ideals. The Stars and Stripes symbolizes the freedoms, equality, justice and humanity which our forefathers defined as the essence of American democracy. The Flag of the United States symbolizes the sacrifices made by millions of Americans to keep our way of life secure. There are two ways to properly salute the U.S. Flag. They are hand-to-head and hand-to-heart.

The view of the members of the Governing Body that saluting the flag is an act of worship where salvation is ascribed to the state and not to God, is an extreme position that you will find almost nowhere in the human population. This is an excellent example of a Governing-Body trained conscience because it is expected that the consciences of individual Witnesses are adjusted every time the members of the Governing Body make a new decision.

SALUTING THE FLAG IS AN EXPRESSION OF A PERSON’S ALLEGIANCE TO HIS OR HER COUNTRY

The first point of three giving the reason why Jehovah’s Witnesses will not salute the flag, was: “It pledges total allegiance to an earthly authority.” If we remove the adjective “total,” this point is correct. The quotations above said:

The salute is an action that shows respect for the flag and our country.

The salute itself has become a symbol of respect and remembrance.

Saluting the Red, White and Blue is testimony of sincere patriotism, loyalty, love for our country and respect for American ideals.

There is no mention of worship or salvation. But the view in which almost all people in the world would agree, is that saluting the flag symbolizes respect and loyalty to his or her country.  The view expressed by the members of the governing Body is extreme and in some quotations used in the Watchtower literature used to justify the refusal to salute the flag, the words “nationalism” and “patriotism” are used without distinguishing between them. Vocabulary.com gives the following definition:

Nationalism is the belief that your own country is better than all others. Sometimes nationalism makes people not want to work with other countries to solve shared problems. It is important not to confuse nationalism with patriotism. Patriotism is a healthy pride in your country that brings about feelings of loyalty and a desire to help other citizens. Nationalism is the belief that your country is superior, without question or doubt. In some cases, nationalism can inspire people to break free of a foreign oppressor, as in the American Revolution, but nationalism can also lead a country to cut itself off from the rest of the world.

Based on the definitions, we see that patriotism is a natural feeling associated with the act of saluting the flag. But nationalism is a more extreme feeling that naturally is not associated with the saluting of the flag.

The conclusion is that the members of the Governing Body have ascribed meanings to the flags of the nations in which almost no other persons in the world would agree. And they demand that individual Witnesses must accept their view at the threat of disfellowshipping.  There is no good reason to conclude that the flag of a nation is an idol or a religious symbol, and that saluting the flag is idol worship.

But because of the advice of Paul, most servants of Jehovah would not salute the flag, to prevent that they are causing some of their believers to stumble.

[1]. https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+real+meaning+of+saluting+the+flag%3F&sca_esv=0638464d073c0798&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C5CHFA_enNO983NO983&sxsrf=ADLYWIL5T33-r115xfGhw0XY9y-mWwo1ww%3A1722403629231&ei=LcupZpLpDfe8wPAPgceQ-AM&ved=0ahUKEwjSs-vDxdCHAxV3HhAIHYEjBD8Q4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=what+is+the+real+meaning+of+saluting+the+flag%3F&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiLndoYXQgaXMgdGhlIHJlYWwgbWVhbmluZyBvZiBzYWx1dGluZyB0aGUgZmxhZz8yBRAhGKABMgUQIRifBTIFECEYnwVIvFZQsQtYyERwAXgBkAEAmAFroAHmDqoBBDI4LjG4AQPIAQD4AQGYAh6gArgPwgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR8ICCBAAGIAEGMsBwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgYQABgNGB7CAggQABgWGAoYHsICCBAAGBYYHhgPwgIEECEYFcICBxAhGKABGAqYAwCIBgGQBgaSBwQyOS4xoAe8nwE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

[2] https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/commemoration/symbols/salute.

CONTACT WITH RELIGIOUS PICTURES AT RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES

Catholics use images and pictures of Mary and different saints when they pray to God. The followers of Jesus “worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23), and even though the Catholics deny that they worship Mary or the saints—they only use them as mediators—the acts of veneration that are bestowed on these by Catholics must be viewed as idolatry. A Witness who has decided to follow a similar course and refuses to change his course deserves to be disfellowshipped.

That a Witness should start to use images and pictures while he was praying to God would be exceptional. But if he or she insisted on continuing to do that, that would clearly constitute acts of idolatry. But could there be situations that are not so clear-cut? Please consider the following example:

A brother works for a big company, and he is the overseer of a department where older workers with health problems are placed. One of these dies, and because the brother is the overseer, his duty is to be present in the church where a priest will officiate at the funeral. After his sermon, the priest asks those present to stand up. He points above the alter to a big picture of Jesus on the cross, and he says. “Out of respect for Jesus and his sacrifice and in respect of the (dead person), let us bow our heads in silence for two minutes.” The Witness follows these directions of the priest. At the end of the ceremony, the priest asks those present to stand up and receive his blessing in the name of the trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy spirit. The brother again follows the directions of the priest.

Two elders are informed about the situation and they speak to the brother, telling him that his actions are tantamount to idolatry. The brother disagrees and says that both because of his position as overseer of the department, and because he personally knew the deceased person, he viewed it as his duty to attend the funeral. He did not bow his head in veneration of the statue of Jesus on the altar or the big picture of him behind the altar but only out of respect for his dead colleague.

The elders do not accept this explanation, and they strongly admonish the brother not to do the same again. But the brother says that he expects more of his colleagues to die in the future, and he feels it is his duty to attend their funerals as well. The elders believe they have the right to overrule the conscience of a brother  in such matters. And so, when the brother repeats his actions at the funeral of another of his colleagues, a judicial committee is formed, and he is disfellowshipped because of “idolatry”.

Could this situation that I have described really happen? That is absolutely possible. Many elders are extremists, and they will react to the slightest brush with another religion on the part of a Witness. The following example happened in a congregation in Arizona in the US: A brother was a medical doctor, and he started to work for a big company. This company published a paper for its employees, and the editor of this paper happened to be a former priest. The doctor wrote an article in the paper with some medical suggestions. The elders got wind of this article, and they decided that the doctor would lose his position as an elder because his article appeared in the paper where a former priest was the editor. In addition, some elders wanted to form a judicial committee to consider disfellowshipping the doctor.

What I have described may sound like a crazy situation. But it did happen, and it was told to me by an eyewitness. Most bodies of elders are not as extreme as the body of elders in this congregation. But some are that extreme.  And the brother who attended the church service would probably have been disfellowshipped if he had been a member of that Arizona congregation.

I have never heard of anyone being disfellowshipped because of idolatry. But I have witnessed several extreme decisions made by judicial committees, based on the wording in the Shepherd book, that have led to disfellowshipping. While the example from the congregation in Arizona is extreme, I have seen examples that are not very far from this example in craziness.

Gry Nygård told the elders in the Ski congregation in Norway that she was sexually assaulted while she was sleeping. In spite of her own words and that there were no eyewitnesses, she was disfellowshipped because the elders accused her of porneia. This is also a crazy situation contrary to the biblical demand of two or three eyewitnesses.[1]

[1]. See the artikles:  “Disfellowshipping of Gry Nygård — A violation of Bible principles, part I” and Part II.

Part of the problem is that the elders have not been adequately educated in handling judicial cases. All they have is the mentioned book for elders, and we cannot learn how to treat fellow Witnesses in a balanced way in connection with wrongdoing by reading a book.

At the end of this study, one time more, I state the only reason why a person can be disfellowshipped because of idolatry:

Being an eidōlolatrēs (an idolater) means that a person has decided to worship idols and continue to do that. All the other definitions of an eidōlolatrēs that have been invented by the members of the Governing Body have no basis in the Bible. They are a part of Talmud-like laws and rules made by the Governing Body.

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that contrary to the view of the members of the Governing Body that they have the right to overrule the consciences of individual Witnesses, Paul shows that each Christian must make the decision as to what idolatry is. And in several situations, the decisions of the members of the Governing Body do not have a sound biblical foundation.

Paul shows that while Christians have the right to act in a certain way, they will, in several situations, refrain from their right because of generosity and love. This will prevent weak Christians from stumbling and will uphold the unity in the Christian congregations

For a thorough discussion of the difference between the actions of a person and the characteristics of the person, between what a person does and what he is, see the article “The nature of the disfellowshipping offenses in 1 Corinthians chapters 5 and 6.”