“Where two or three are gathered together”

The question many dare not ask

1. There is a question many believers carry in their hearts but never dare to speak aloud: “Do I have to be part of an organization to worship God in the right way?” It’s an uncomfortable question. Whoever asks it is often looked at with suspicion, as if the very fact of asking meant having weak faith, a rebellious heart, or an apostate attitude. Yet it is a legitimate question. Indeed, it is a question the Scriptures themselves invite us to ask.

2.For many Jehovah’s Witnesses, the answer was given from the very first Bible study: “Yes, God has an organization on earth and you must be part of it to be saved.” This conviction is so deeply rooted that questioning the organization equals, in many minds, questioning God himself. But is it really so? Are the organization and God the same thing? And above all: what does the Bible say?

3.In this article we will examine the Scriptures honestly and without preconceptions. Not to destroy anyone’s faith, but to strengthen it — freeing it from what men have added and bringing it back to the foundation on which it should rest: the Word of God. As the apostle Paul exhorts us: “Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

What the publications teach

4.The publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses teach clearly and repeatedly that salvation is tied to belonging to the organization. The Watchtower of November 15, 1994, declared: “Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.” Let’s reflect on these words: according to this statement, reading the Bible alone is not enough. An intermediary is needed. An organization is needed.

5. The Watchtower of July 15, 2011 was even more explicit: “Without the help of the ‘faithful and discreet slave,’ we would not be able to fully understand what we read in God’s Word.” In practice, the Bible — according to these publications — is not sufficient on its own. It needs an official interpreter. But is this idea biblical? Let’s examine what the Scriptures actually say.

6. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Notice: Paul says the Scripture renders the man of God fully competent and completely equipped. Not “partially.” Not “provided he also has the publications of an organization.” Fully. Completely. If the Bible is sufficient to make a Christian completely equipped, what need is there for an intermediary?

The Samaritan’s question

7.One of the most revealing episodes on this subject is found in John 4. A Samaritan woman meets Jesus at Jacob’s well. The Samaritans and the Jews had a centuries-long conflict over where it was correct to worship God: the Jews said in Jerusalem, the Samaritans said on Mount Gerizim. Two religious organizations, two sacred places, two claims of legitimacy.

8. The woman asked Jesus exactly the question many of us ask today: “Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where people must worship” (John 4:20). In other words: “Which is the right place? Which is the right organization?”

9.Jesus’ answer should have closed the debate forever: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. [...] Indeed, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him” (John 4:21, 23).

10.Jesus did not answer: “The right place is Jerusalem” or “The right place is Mount Gerizim.” He didn’t even say: “The right place will be a Kingdom Hall” or “The right place will be the organization I will set up.” He said the exact opposite: the wheredoesn’t matter. The howmatters. The structure doesn’t matter. Spirit and truth matter.

11.The Greek word for “spirit” is πνευ̂μα (pneuma), which indicates the inner life force, the disposition of the heart. The word for “truth” is αλ́ηθεια (aletheia), which does not simply mean “correct information,” but authentic reality, transparency, integrity. Jesus was saying that true worship does not depend on the place, the building or the organization. It depends on the heart and on truth.

12.This principle is revolutionary. If true worship is “with spirit and truth,” then no human group can claim a monopoly on acceptable worship. No organization can say: “Only through us can you reach God.” Because Jesus has just said that God is not looking for an organization — he is looking for a heart.

“Gifts in men”

13.At this point someone might object: “But the Bible speaks of elders, overseers, shepherds. Doesn’t this prove that a structured organization is needed?” Let’s examine what the Scriptures actually say. In Ephesians 4:8,11 Paul wrote: “When he ascended on high he carried away captives; he gave gifts in men. And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers.”

14. Yes, Jesus gave the Christian congregation men with leadership roles. But what kind of leadership? What was the model? To understand it, we must examine what the Scriptures say about the nature of these roles, not the structure men have built around them.

15. In Acts 20:28, Paul said to the elders of Ephesus: “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God.” Notice: “elders” and “overseers” are used interchangeably. They are not two different hierarchical levels. They are the same role. In the Greek text, πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros, “elder”) and επ́ισκοπος (episkopos, “overseer”) refer to the same people. There is no multi-level hierarchy in the New Testament.

16.And what was their task? “To shepherd the flock.” The Greek verb is ποιμάινειν (poimainein), which means to feed, to protect, to care for. Not “to command.” Not “to control.” Not “to set rules.” A shepherd feeds the sheep. He does not own them.

17. Peter confirmed this principle in 1 Peter 5:2-3: “Shepherd the flock of God under your care, serving as overseers, not under compulsion, but willingly before God; not for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; not lording it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock.” “Not lording it over.” The Greek word is κατακυριεύοντες (katakurieuontes) — “to dominate, to exercise lordship, to take possession.” Peter is explicitly forbidding elders from behaving as masters of the flock.

18. And Jesus himself established the principle unequivocally. In Luke 22:25-26 he said: “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those having authority over them are called Benefactors. You, though, are not to be that way. But let the one who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the one taking the lead as the one ministering.”

19. And in Matthew 23:8-10 he was even more direct: “But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ.” “All of you are brothers.” There is no ruling class and a ruled class. There is no “governing body” and a flock that must obey without asking questions. You are all brothers.

20. Yes, the Scriptures provide for roles of service in the congregation. But these roles are of service, not of dominion. They are functional, not hierarchical. A biblical elder is a mature brother who feeds, encourages and protects — not an official who imposes rules, convenes tribunals, and decides who is worthy of God’s approval. The difference between the biblical model and what many organizations have built is enormous.

Jesus’ criterion: not where, but how

21. If Jesus did not point to a specific organization as a requirement for true worship, what criterion did he establish to recognize his true disciples? The answer is in John 13:35: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”

22. The criterion is not membership in an organization. It is not the number of preaching hours. It is not attendance at meetings. It is not obedience to a governing body. The criterion is one alone: love. The Greek word used is αγ́απη (agape) — the love that gives itself without conditions, that does not keep score of wrongs, that excludes no one.

23. In Matthew 7:16, Jesus added a second criterion of recognition: “By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they?” He did not say: “You will recognize them by their doctrine” or “You will recognize them by their organization.” He said: “You will recognize them by their fruits.” Actions. Results. The way they treat people.

24. And what are these fruits? Paul listed them in Galatians 5:22-23: “The fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Notice the last phrase: “against such things there is no law.” No organization, no regulation, no judicial committee can oppose these fruits. If a person shows love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness and self-control — that person is producing the fruit of the spirit. And he doesn’t need a membership card to prove it.

25.Let’s now do an honest exercise. Let’s reread the list of Galatians 5:22-23 and ask ourselves: a system that practices shunning toward those who leave, that separates families, that discourages critical thinking, that punishes those who ask questions — is it producing these fruits? Or is it producing fruits of another kind? The tree is recognized by its fruits. Always.

“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold”

26. In John 10:16, Jesus spoke words that many organizations prefer not to analyze too deeply: “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those too I must bring in, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.”

27.The Greek word for “fold” is αυλ́η (aule), which indicates a courtyard, an enclosed yard. Jesus was telling the Jews of his time: “My sheep are not confined within your fold. I have sheep also outside.” And the final result is not that all the sheep enter into a single fold — but that they become one flock under one shepherd.

28. The flock is united by the shepherd, not by the fold. It is united by Christ, not by an organization. This principle is confirmed by Ephesians 4:4-6: “One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called in the one hope to which you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all persons, who is over all and through all and in all.”

29.Notice what unites Christians according to this passage: one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God. Not “one organization.” Not “one governing body.” Not “a set of human rules.” Christian unity is a spiritual unity, not an organizational one. It is a unity of faith and love, not of structure and control.

30.If Jesus has “other sheep” outside the fold we know, then who are we to say that God recognizes as his worshippers onlythose who belong to our group? Who are we to draw boundaries Jesus himself did not draw? The presumption of being the only true worshippers is a presumption that the Scriptures do not support — indeed, that Jesus has explicitly denied.

So we don’t need the congregation?

31.At this point it’s important to make a fundamental distinction. This article is not saying that fellowship with other believers is unimportant. The Bible itself encourages it. Hebrews 10:24-25 says: “And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.”

32. Yes, gathering is important. Encouraging one another is important. But notice what the verse says and what it doesn’tsay. It says: “incite to love and fine works” and “encouraging one another.” It doesn’t say: “submit to an organization.” It doesn’t say: “obey a governing body.” It doesn’t say: “attend a specific religious structure on pain of destruction.” The gathering of Hebrews 10:25 is a meeting of fraternal encouragement — not an institutional obligation.

33.And let’s come back to Jesus’ words that give the title to this article. Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.” Two or three. Not two hundred. Not two thousand. Not eight million. Two or three people gathered in the name of Christ are sufficient for Jesus to be present in their midst. No need for Kingdom Halls. No need for hierarchical structures. No need for monthly reports. Two or three sincere hearts are needed — and Christ is there.

34. The difference is between fellowship and institution. The Bible encourages fellowship: gathering freely with other believers to pray, study the Scriptures, encourage one another, show practical love. This is beautiful and necessary. But the Bible does not command membership in an institution that claims to be the only channel of God on earth, that imposes non-scriptural rules, and that punishes those who leave.

35. Jesus himself confirmed it in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Through me— not through an organization. The only mediator between God and men is Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Not a group of men in Warwick, New York. Not a committee that meets behind closed doors. Christ. Christ alone.

“Someone could object...”

36.Every honest analysis must engage with objections. Let’s examine the most common ones.

An invitation to personal study

37.If you have come this far, you have shown courage. You have read analyses that probably contradict what you have been taught for years. And I know it is not easy. But the path toward truth is never easy — yet it is always liberating.

38.I invite you to take your Bible — the NWT, the one you have at home — and to personally read the following passages. Not with the glasses of an organization. Not with a Watchtower article alongside. Just you and the Word of God:

• John 4:20-24 — True worship
• Matthew 18:20 — Where two or three are gathered
• John 13:35 — Jesus’ criterion
• John 10:16 — The other sheep
• Ephesians 4:4-6 — Christian unity
• Galatians 5:22-23 — The fruits of the spirit
• Matthew 23:8-10 — You are all brothers
• 1 Peter 5:2-3 — Don’t lord it over the flock
• Hebrews 10:24-25 — Encouraging one another
• John 14:6 — The way, the truth, and the life
• 1 Timothy 2:5 — One mediator
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — The Scripture is sufficient

39.Let these Scriptures speak for themselves. Don’t be afraid of what you will find. Truth does not fear examination. Only falsehood needs walls to protect itself.

40.Remember: I’m not asking you to leave your faith. I’m asking you to strengthen it. To build it on the rock of the Scriptures, not on the sand of human traditions. To worship God “with spirit and truth” — not with fear and conformity.

41.The Bible doesn’t ask you to find the true organization. It asks you to find the true God. And the true God doesn’t dwell in structures built by man — he dwells in the heart of those who seek him with sincerity. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst” (Matthew 18:20). Nothing else was needed then. Nothing else is needed today.

“The Bible doesn’t ask you to find the true organization. It asks you to find the true God. And the true God doesn’t dwell in structures built by man — he dwells in the heart of those who seek him with sincerity.”

With Christian love and sincere respect,
A Member of the Lovers of Truth
03/31/2026