Putting Faith In/Attributing Salvation To An Organization???

[Ground Zero]

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Putting "Faith In" Or Attributing "Salvation To" An Organization --
Is It Scriptural???
(Revelation 7:10; 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-12)

See Full-Color Blog Complete With Pictures & Illustrations covering this very topic: https://www.yorww.com/loyal.html

Also, See A Full-Color Blog Complete With Pictures & Illustrations covering this very same topic ... here: https://yorww.com/WTSisaGOD.htm

Hi all,

... I was just wondering ...

I remember back when I very active among the Jehovah's Witnesses, the WTBTS had a thing they used to press upon their followers called "directing attention to the organization." This was to be done in field service, at the end of the bible study, for about ten minues or so. You were supposed to bring some brochure or literature that spoke of the organization, or you could talk about meeting times, topics at the meetings, etc. Maybe some of you remember this "added" procedure.

Well, back then I used to wonder, 'why are they telling us to do this?'

Anyway, the idea never caught on with me. I just could'nt get into the hang of it for some reason. Which leads me to this question,

Should Jehovah's Witnesses proudly "put faith in" and/or shamelessly tell the world they attribute actual "salvation" to their organization? Isn't that something they (Jehovah's Witnesses) should be ashamed of even saying openly to the public?

Here are a couple of examples:

The cover of the March 1st, 1979 Watchtower magazine boldly proclaims,

“Put Faith in a Victorious Organization!”

Then too, the accompanying article repeatedly drives home the theme of having faith in the organization by saying:

“Faith in Jehovah’s theocratic organization... Did the remnant of spiritual Israelites and their theocratic companions, the ‘great crowd’ of Christ’s ‘other sheep,’ have such victorious faith? Yes!... Witnesses have kept their faith in Jehovah’s organization.” (p 18)

The article poses the question, “Is there any cause for us to lose faith in Jehovah’s visible organization...?” The answer is given, “Absolutely Not!... Our unwavering faith will be rewarded with victory and the crown of life.”

Did you get that?

The Watchtower Society teaches that Faith in the Organization will be rewarded with eternal life!

The same was stated in the November 15th, 1981 Watchtower magazine, p 21, where it says,

“Come to Jehovah’s Organization for Salvation”

That's right. We can get "Salvation" not from Jehovah God...not from Jesus Christ, but from Jehovah's Organization!!! (Please compare Rev. 7:10)

Did you know this???

And of course, it is clear from the literature of the WTBTS, that when they say “Jehovah’s organization” they mean the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Brooklyn, NY. Under the Watchtower Society's insidious indoctrination, faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ becomes faith in the Watchtower Organization. (Please contrast John 14:1 to what the Watchtower Teaches on this point.)

Doesn't this mean, Jehovah's Witnesses are wickedly advocating "putting faith in" the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization and worse, shamelessly attributing actual "Salvation" to the Jehovah's Witnesses Organization? (And, they seem to be proud and very happy to tell you all about this. They even give it a special name: "directing attention to the organization")

Is that who Revelation 7:10 says we "owe salvation" to?

How do Jehovah's Witnesses justify such a stand? Doesn't this whole "worship-the-organization" type of attitude they (WTBTS) push, strike you as blatantly wicked?

Ground Zero

[WiseButPoorOldMan (Ecclesiastes 9:13-16)]

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Why Do We Accept Their [Watchtower Society's] Word Over God's?
(Revelation 7:10; 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-12)

Question: Should We Put "Complete Faith In" Or "Attribute Salvation To" ... An Organization???

"Co-Pilot's" Short answer: No — the Bible never tells Christians to “put faith in” an organization or to "attribute salvation" to one. Scripture consistently teaches that salvation belongs to God and the Lamb alone, not to any human institution.

Below is a clear, structured breakdown using the sources retrieved and the claims you raised.

1. What The Watchtower Society Has Taught The Jehovah’s Witnesses (Over The Years) About “Faith In The Organization”

The following examples provided below are accurate. Watchtower publications on many occasions have explicitly stated:

“Put faith in a victorious organization.” — Watchtower, March 1st, 1979

“Come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation.” — Watchtower, Nov. 15th, 1981

These statements show that the organization has historically tied salvation to membership and loyalty to the Watchtower Society.

The same source documents that the Watchtower teaches:

Only Jehovah’s Witnesses are in “Jehovah’s organization.”

Association with this organization is essential for salvation.

The Governing Body is the only channel through which Christ directs Christians today.

This is why many former Jehovah's Witnesses describe the doctrine as "organizational salvation."

2. What the Bible Actually Says About Salvation

The Bible’s teaching is radically different:

Salvation belongs to God and the Lamb — not an organization.

“Salvation we owe to our God … and to the Lamb.” — Revelation 7:10

Jesus commands faith in Himself, not in an institution.

“You believe in God; believe also in me.” — John 14:1

The Bible never mentions a human organization as a requirement for salvation.

Even the Watchtower’s own online library acknowledges that salvation requires:

personal faith

personal obedience

personal relationship with God

personal study of Scripture

—not membership in a specific institution.

3. Why This Is a Problem for Jehovah’s Witnesses

The Watchtower’s claim that salvation requires loyalty to the organization contradicts:

Revelation 7:10

John 14:1

Acts 4:12 (“there is no salvation in anyone else”)

Ephesians 2:8–9 (“by grace you have been saved… not from yourselves”)

The contradiction becomes sharper when compared with the Watchtower’s own statements that:

Jehovah did not use a visible organization for most of human history.

The Watchtower cannot identify any “organization” God used between the apostles and the 1800s.

Russell did not join any pre‑existing “organization of God.”

This raises the question:

If God required an organization for salvation, where was it for 1800 years?

4. Theological and Ethical Concerns

The doctrine of “organizational salvation” creates several problems:

1. It replaces Christ with an institution.

Faith shifts from Jesus → to the Governing Body.

2. It creates fear‑based loyalty.

Members believe leaving the organization = losing salvation.

3. It contradicts the Bible’s teaching on grace.

Salvation becomes conditional on organizational obedience.

4. It elevates human leaders to a divine role.

The Governing Body becomes the mediator between God and humans — a role the Bible assigns only to Christ.

5. So Is It Scriptural to Attribute Salvation to an Organization?

No.

There is no biblical basis for:

putting faith in an organization,

obeying an organization for salvation,

or believing God works exclusively through a modern institution.

The Bible teaches salvation comes from:

God

through Christ

by grace

through faith — not through membership in a corporation.

See: w67 12/1 pp. 707-711 -- What Is Needed for Salvation?

Yes — the December 1st, 1967 Watchtower article “What Is Needed for Salvation?” confirms that Jehovah’s Witnesses were taught that salvation requires works, organizational loyalty, and obedience to the Watchtower system, not simply faith in Christ. Below is a clear, structured breakdown based on the material retrieved from the Watchtower Online Library.


See link to the December 1st, 1967 Watchtower magazine article "What Is Needed For Salvation" ... here: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/196 ... opilot.com

What the 1967 Watchtower Actually Taught

(Watchtower, December 1st, 1967 — “What Is Needed for Salvation?”)

The article lays out a multi‑step formula for salvation that includes:

1. “Strenuous endeavor” is required

The article says there is “no easy road to salvation” and that one must “exert yourself vigorously.” [Luke 13:24 -- NWT]

This places salvation on the basis of human effort, not grace.

2. Bible study is the “first essential”

The article states that “taking in knowledge” is the first step toward salvation.

This is tied to Watchtower literature and study programs.

3. Salvation is tied to obedience to organizational requirements

The article emphasizes:

meeting attendance

field service

loyalty to the organization

avoiding “complacency”

following theocratic direction

This reflects the Watchtower’s long‑standing teaching that salvation is conditional on obedience to the organization.

What the Article Does Not Say:

The 1967 article never says:

salvation is by grace

salvation is through Christ alone

salvation is a gift

salvation is independent of organizational membership

Instead, it frames salvation as:

a process

requiring effort

requiring organizational loyalty

requiring Watchtower‑defined works

This is consistent with later Watchtower statements such as:

“Put faith in a victorious organization.” (1979)

“Come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation.” (1981)

How This Contradicts Scripture:

The Bible teaches:

Salvation belongs to God and the Lamb — not an organization.

“Salvation we owe to our God … and to the Lamb.” — Revelation 7:10

Faith is to be placed in Christ — not an institution.

“You believe in God; believe also in me.” — John 14:1

Salvation is a gift, not earned by works.

“By grace you have been saved … not from your own works.” — Ephesians 2:8–9

The 1967 Watchtower article directly conflicts with these teachings by making salvation:

effort‑based

knowledge‑based

organization‑dependent

Why This Matters

The 1967 article is part of a pattern in Watchtower doctrine:

Watchtower Teaching Biblical Teaching

Salvation requires “vigorous exertion.” Salvation is a gift of "grace" [NWT: "undeserved kindness"].

Salvation requires loyalty to the organization. Salvation belongs to God and the Lamb alone.

Salvation requires meeting and field service performance. Salvation is through Christ, not works.

Faith must be placed in “Jehovah’s organization.” Faith must be placed in Christ.

The contrast is stark.

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