AFTER I wrote here on TCW about a court case where a Jehovah’s Witness successfully sued a Spanish hospital for giving her a blood transfusion against her beliefs, I had an email from Mark Gratrix of the Witnesses’ Public Information Department inviting me to lunch at their UK headquarters in Chelmsford, Essex.
Many of us have conceptions, or maybe misconceptions, about the Witnesses, namely that they are against blood transfusions, that they go knocking on people’s doors and believe that Armageddon, or the dreadful day of Judgment, is nigh. How much is true?
I accepted the invitation and in a spirit of inquiry travelled on the Elizabeth Line to Shenfield, where I was met by Mark and his wife Melissa in a gleaming grey Volvo. But nothing prepared me for their impressive headquarters, a newly-built, eco-friendly 82-acre site where about 350 Witnesses live and work. I was ushered into their huge dining hall and partook of a delicious lunch of salmon, brown rice and salad. ‘Do you have a lovely lunch like this every day?’ I asked enviously. Yes, they said.
A noticeable thing was that all the men were dressed in suits, ties and white shirts and wore polished shoes rather than clapped-out trainers. At a time when so many men are scruffier than ever, this formal attire was pleasant to behold. The women were neatly turned out as well, and everything was super-clean and efficient yet not remotely ostentatious. I was told that the place was built and is maintained entirely by volunteers.
An obvious initial question I had was: ‘Where does the money come from to run this estate?’ The answer: voluntary donations. ‘We never ask for money,’ Mark said, ‘but in all Kingdom Halls where we hold our services there is a discreet box where anonymous donations can be made. We Witnesses who live and work here are not paid as such, but all our needs are met. We trust to God, and somehow the books are balanced. We encourage visitors and offer guided tours, with no charges made. Our literature comes free of charge as well.’
There was a happy atmosphere, and all the Witnesses I met were friendly and welcoming. Most are married, but there are no children living on the site. If any of the staff want to start a family, they have to leave the campus. It’s not that they are against children, and they are certainly anti-abortion, but the HQ is strictly an adults-only space.
As to their beliefs, they adhere strictly to every word of the Bible, believing that both the Old and New Testaments are the revealed word of God, and at the heart of every Witness’s understanding is the injunction not to ingest blood or blood products. This holds even if somebody’s life might depend on a blood transfusion. This procedure not been invented in Biblical times, but the rule, laid down in Acts Chapter 15, verses 28 and 29, stands. ‘We understand that this comes from God,’ said Gary McGuinness, director of Hospital Information Services, ‘and we all carry a “No Blood” card which we hope will be respected by doctors and nurses if a Witness is admitted to hospital. Increasingly, medical procedures can be carried out bloodlessly and many Witnesses have had organ transplants, for instance.’
Gary emphasised that this comes from a religious and not a medical perspective but is a deeply held core belief. ‘If somebody is unable to give consent, such as a small child, the courts will step in and may overrule the parents. The only issue here is if the child’s life is at stake,’ he said. ‘The command also applies to autologous transfusions, where the patient’s own blood is stored for future use.’
When it comes to other procedures, such as vaccination, consent must always be informed and freely given. Witnesses would never agree to a medical intervention made under duress.
They follow a traditional Christian way of life where close Bible study is of prime importance. In marriage, absolute fidelity is expected and there is no such thing as ‘living in sin’. Contraception is allowed. The only grounds for divorce are infidelity and domestic violence but both, I am assured, are very rare for Witnesses. They do not baptise babies or children, taking the view that the individual must be adult enough to make a personal choice.
They don’t celebrate birthdays or Christmas, believing that these festivities have pagan origins. ‘There is nothing wrong with giving an unbirthday gift,’ said Mark Gratrix, ‘but we don’t observe birthdays as such. This does mean, though, that some of us forget how old we are,’ he laughed. ‘Some Witnesses celebrate their wedding anniversary, but we would regard it wrong to have a lavish wedding. Ours is a modest, balanced way of life with everything in moderation. We don’t smoke or take recreational drugs, but we do enjoy a glass of wine, regarding wine as a gift from God. Nor would we engage in dangerous sports or anything that would put life in danger. This is all based on scriptural values and shows our appreciation for the gift of life.’
There is, however, a large sports hall at their Chelmsford complex, as keeping fit and healthy is integral to their way of life. Mark said that their organisation is not hierarchical and that there is absolute equality between men and women, and all races. Interracial marriages are common among Witnesses.
Perhaps their most controversial belief is that we are living in end times, that the world has become extremely wicked and that before long, God will intervene so that we may start again with all sin wiped out. This is known as the Battle of Armageddon and it is prophesied in the Book of Revelation. ‘What was said in the Bible is coming true,’ Gary McGuinness said. ‘There will be a conclusion of the old system and God-given transformation will happen, where Jesus will reign on earth for a thousand years.’
Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot put an exact date on when this will take place, but they believe that the time is very near. And I think that those of us who are awake, or who have been forcibly jolted awake by the events of the past five years, would agree that the present times are more wicked and venal than any other era in history, and are ruled by overweening greed and lust for power and control rather than Christian virtues.
Whether or not the world ends as prophesied, surely it is time to bring back some of the simpler, purer, Christian values which the Witnesses espouse and which have largely been lost sight of in our secular, Godless age. There are around 10million Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide and it is perhaps significant that their numbers are growing, especially among the young.
And yes, they do still go knocking on doors!
Liz’s new book, My Covid Diary, is now available.
