The Watchtower readily applies and Colossians 2 to Christendom — arguing that Catholic and Protestant churches have overstepped God's commandments with traditions like the Trinity, the cross, Christmas, and Easter — but never turns the same critique inward. The organisation's own extra-biblical policies (beard bans enforced for sixty years then quietly lifted, dress and grooming codes, entertainment restrictions, dating and courtship protocols, monthly field-service hour quotas, a ban on blood transfusions covering the main components until 2026 and whole blood still, the two-witness rule applied to child abuse) are presented as 'Jehovah's arrangement' rather than as traditions of men. Policies shift with organisational convenience and are then retroactively framed as 'new light.'
Why This Matters
Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees in applies precisely to the Watchtower's own practice: 'you have made void the word of God on account of your tradition.' Paul's warning in — 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch' — has the 'appearance of wisdom' but 'no value against fleshly indulgence.' , which the NWT renders 'Do not go beyond the things that are written,' indicts the Watchtower directly: its detailed prophetic timelines, organisational commands, and required interpretations are not in Scripture. The question to ask is not 'is this a biblical principle?' but 'does the Bible actually say this?' — the same test the Watchtower demands of every other church.
Watchtower Sources
Shepherd the Flock of God (elders' manual), passim
The Watchtower, 1 Nov 2016 — 'Do You Appreciate Spiritual Food?'
Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, ch. 3–5
jw.org FAQ — 'Grooming and Appearance'
Also Known As
traditions of menWatchtower rulesextra-biblical rulesgoing beyond what is writtendo not go beyond the things written1 Corinthians 4:6Matthew 15:3Colossians 2:20beard bandress code JWgrooming rulesfield service hoursreport time JWJehovah's arrangementnew lightPharisees and Watchtowercommandments of men