Correcting a miscitation from my interaction with the JW

I finally got around to listening to the INTERACTION I had with the JW from the other day and was overall pleased with how it went.  I won't go into reviewing or offering much critique in this post as I would like the viewers to decide for themselves (at least for now anyway).

But I did notice a blunder I made at about 41:30 where I attempted a paraphrase of the following quote:

*** w57 5/1 p. 284 par. 14 Trust Your Proved, Faithful Brothers ***

Showing respect for Jehovah’s organization really resolves itself down to our attitude toward God’s visible channel and the trust that we place in our proved, faithful brothers. If we have become thoroughly convinced that this is Jehovah’s organization, that he is guiding and directing his people, then we shall not be unsettled by anything that happens. If something comes up that we do not understand we will wait patiently until it is made thoroughly clear to us. If we feel sure something is wrong we will ‘keep the commandment’ of our Father and take whatever theocratic steps are open to us and then wait on Jehovah. We will not ‘forsake our mother’s teaching’ by immediately beginning to criticize and find fault. We will realize that Jehovah knows what is going on in his organization, and if he is willing to permit it, who are we to insist it should be different? If we really have faith, we will know that if it is wrong he will straighten it out eventually, and we are far safer inside his organization even with these minor difficulties than we would be on the outside where only chaos and destruction await us.

What I paraphrased went something as follows: "If we come to believe that something the Watchtower teaches is false, then we should just believe what they say anyway."  Of course, the part in bold contradicts this and is consistent with what my JW friend said whereby one should keep quite about it and let Jehovah straighten it out.  While I think that there are still some significant theological and psychological disagreements that I have with the above, I didn't represent it accurately.

However, i'm kicking myself now because there is a quote that appears to be consistent with what I paraphrased that I wish I would have used:

*** w52 2/1 pp. 79-80 pars. 11-12 Jehovah’s Theocratic Organization Today ***

We must show our understanding in these matters, appreciating our relationship to the visible theocratic organization, remembering the fate of those like Korah and Achan and Saul and Uzziah and others who forgot the theocratic order. Are we assigned as individuals to bring forth the food for the spiritual table? No? Then let us not try to take over the slave’s duties. We should eat and digest and assimilate what is set before us, without shying away from parts of the food because it may not suit the fancy of our mental taste. The truths we are to publish are the ones provided through the discreet-slave organization, not some personal opinions contrary to what the slave has provided as timely food. Jehovah and Christ direct and correct the slave as needed, not we as individuals. If we do not see a point at first we should keep trying to grasp it, rather than opposing and rejecting it and presumptuously taking the position that we are more likely to be right than the discreet slave. We should meekly go along with the Lord’s theocratic organization and wait for further clarification, rather than balk at the first mention of a thought unpalatable to us and proceed to quibble and mouth our criticisms and opinions as though they were worth more than the slave’s provision of spiritual food. Theocratic ones will appreciate the Lord’s visible organization and not be so foolish as to pit against Jehovah’s channel their own human reasoning and sentiment and personal feelings. 

12 Now some may ask, Should we accept as from the Lord and true the food provided through the discreet slave, or should we withhold acceptance until we have proved it for ourselves? If we have gained our present understanding of the Bible by feeding at the table set by the slave, if we have been thereby freed from false doctrines and built up in the clean and undefiled worship of God and given a new world hope, we should have some confidence in the slave’s provisions. After being nourished to our present spiritual strength and maturity, do we suddenly become smarter than our former provider and forsake the enlightening guidance of the organization that mothered us? “Forsake not the law of thy mother.” (Prov. 6:20-23) And if the heavenly Father would not give a stone or serpent or scorpion to a child who asked for bread or fish or an egg from him, are we to take the spiritual food he provides through the slave into our hands as if we were going to be bruised by a stone or bitten by a serpent or stung by a scorpion? (Matt. 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13, NW) Are we to be doubtful and suspicious about each new provision? “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. In fact, let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from Jehovah.” (Jas. 1:6, 7, NW) Even the Beroeans first received Paul’s preaching “with the greatest readiness of mind”, and then went to “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so”. (Acts 17:11, NW) This was the first real contact the Beroeans had with Paul’s preaching, yet they received it readily and then studied the Scriptural support for themselves. How much more readily we can receive the slave’s provisions with confidence, since, unlike the Beroeans, we have much past experience with the precious provisions from the slave. After receiving these food supplies we prove their Scripturalness for ourselves to make the message our own, in a spirit of meekness and trustfulness and not combativeness.

Its difficult not to underline nearly every sentence in this quotation because I think this well illustrates the point I was trying to make.  If a JW comes to question the correctness of something the WT teaches, what is he expected to do as a faithful JW? Hold silently to what he firmly believes as true?  No.  Instead, this one should "have some confidence in the slave's provisions," because we are not, "more likely to be right than the discreet slave."  Therefore, "we should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization and wait for further clarification."

Unless i'm missing something, the faithful JW is expected to go along with what the WT teaches, even if it questionable or something we feel is incorrect.  After all, they're smarter than us, right?

Watchtower issue: to join or not to join an organization?

*** w53 3/1 p. 143 par. 12 Integrity Leads to Life ***

We must seek to be genuine Christians in every sense of the word. Does that mean we have to join a church organization in Christendom? Ask yourself now, Did Christ Jesus, who set our example and told us to follow his example to gain life, join any church organization in his day? No, God does not require us to do that; but he requires us to worship him, to preach the good news of the Kingdom, to be Christians, to follow the example Jesus set, living in unalterable devotion to Jehovah God; to praise God and respect his supremacy, to resist all efforts to turn us from decency and to endure in faith. We have the Bible to show us the right way. Certainly it is not necessary for a person to become a member of a church to gain everlasting life.—John 3:16-18; 17:3.

But this is just talking about joining a "church" right?  Certainly, to be a true Christian one must join the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, right?

Consider the April 22, 1957 Awake! magazine (published by the Watchtower) on p. 12:

This would seem to be consistent with the 1953 Watchtower quoted above.  But what about one's dedication to the organization?

*** bh chap. 18 p. 183 par. 24 Baptism and Your Relationship With God ***

Remember, too, that you have made a dedication to Jehovah God himself, not to a work, a cause, other humans, or an organization. Your dedication and baptism are the beginning of a very close friendship with God—an intimate relationship with him.—Psalm 25:14.

But when one becomes one of Jehovah's Witnesses, where must his dedication and loyalty be?

*** w65 7/1 p. 412 Faithful and Loyal to God’s Organization ***

Jehovah God being The loyal One, it is but fitting that he should require loyalty of us. (Rev. 15:4) However, we cannot be loyal to God without being loyal to his visible earthly organization, the “faithful and discreet slave,” and the local Christian congregation which represents that “slave.”

If one isn't loyal to the Governing Body, then one isn't being loyal to God.  And just in case this isn't clear, the Governing Body teaches that one's loyalty to them must be absolute and unquestionable.

*** w10 9/15 p. 23 par. 8 “Your Leader Is One, the Christ” ***

The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ.

There you have it.  If you aren't following the Governing Body, you aren't following Christ.  Would anyone agree that there appears to be some dissonance between the quotes above?  Perhaps some bait-and-switch for those newly "joining" the organization?

(ht: Marvin Shilmer)

Interview with Greg Stafford

Greg Stafford is a Jehovah's Witness who is no longer associated with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  He has written SEVERAL BOOKS which both defend and criticize particular elements of the Watchtower Society.  The fact that Stafford is so critical of the organization, yet holds to many of its core doctrines, make him quite an interesting and unique apologist.

Recently, Stafford was interviewed by the SIX SCREENS OF THE WATCHTOWER TELENETWORK with regards to his stance on many issues.  Regardless of what you think of Stafford, if you are interested in Jehovah's Witnesses, you should find this interview interesting.  And yes, you'll hear his arguments against the Trinity and other doctrines held by "Christendom."  But you'll also hear his criticisms against the Watchtower Society and why he left.  On that end, any faithful JW in association with the Watchtower will be obliged to view him as an apostate and treated accordingly.  But I do hope that those same JW's will give this interview a chance and perhaps learn something new.

The interview was very disorganized and distracting, as it was held in a conference call format with many honing in to ask questions.  The interview starts at about 20 minutes in, but the full mp3 file is almost 6 hours long.  I haven't gotten through the whole thing, but I doubt Stafford was on the whole time.

If anyone has any thoughts, i'd be very interested in hearing them.  You can download or listen to the mp3 HERE.

Governing Body self-promotion in the May 15, 2011 Watchtower Study Edition

I'm always wondering why the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses; those 7 men residing in Brooklyn, NY, seem to keen on reminding their followers who is really in charge. To those who are not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, consider what it would be like if your pastor reminded all in the congregation that they are to submit to his counsel and exhortations. But to make this more comparative to Jehovah's Witnesses, consider if your pastor did this every other Sunday. What would your congregation think of such a person?

Such is not far from the truth when it comes to the Governing Body. Why do these men so regularly promote their authority? Is it because their followers are regularly out of line? Are Jehovah's Witnesses regularly questioning whether these men are who they claim to be (i.e. chosen by Christ in 1919)? Anyone who has spent much time with JW's should know that most JW's have absolute unquestionable submission to the Governing Body. Therefore, it seems odd that they need to stress these points as much as they do.

Consider the recent statements made in the MAY 15, 2011 WATCHTOWER STUDY EDITION:

We do well to examine how we respond to timely Scriptural counsel presented in our Bible-based publications. By studying the Scriptures and attending congregation meetings, we are reminded of the sayings of Christ. (2 Pet. 3:1, 2) We show our heartfelt appreciation for this supply of spiritual food by regularly partaking of it. What, though, should be our reaction if certain counsel is repeated occasionally? For example, God’s Word counsels Christians to marry “only in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:39) For over a century, this subject has periodically been discussed in The Watchtower. Christ’s brothers surely demonstrate their loving concern for our spiritual welfare by publishing articles on this and other inspired counsel. Paying attention to these reminders is one way to show that we are following our perfect Leader, Jesus Christ. (p. 27, par. 1)

It is interesting that the Watchtower mentions the "occasional" repetition of various topics. This may be in answer to those who wonder why the Governing Body needs to so regularly remind their followers who are in charge. The answer is: "out of concern." But what is the Governing Body so concerned with? Are they concerned with the spiritual well being of followers of Christ, or whether followers of Christ will be followers of them with absolute unquestionable submission?

The last question in the paragraph is indirectly one of the key elements of control the Governing Body has on their followers: if you don't accept their "reminders," you are not a true follower of Christ. This is a restatement of one of the most controlling and self-promoting statements ever made by the Governing Body:

***w10 9/15 p. 23 ‘Your leader is one, the Christ’***

The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ.

There is little more that can be said to stress the type of submission one is to have towards the Governing Body, even when offering "refinements" on teachings that are no longer held:

“The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established,” states Proverbs 4:18. Yes, Jesus’ leadership is progressive, not stagnant. Another way to cooperate with Christ’s “brothers” is to have a positive attitude toward any refinements in our understanding of Scriptural truths as published by “the faithful and discreet slave.”—Matt. 24:45. (p. 27 par. 2)

Though Proverbs 4:18 has nothing to do with doctrine or Bible teachings, the JW is obligated to accept the interpretation of the Governing Body without question. But what happens when a teaching is abandoned in favor of a new teaching? For instance, when organ transplants were once forbidden, how many faithful JW's risked their health for the Watchtower? When the teaching was abandoned, did the Watchtower offer an apology? According to the above quote, none would be needed. Why? Because JW's are to have a "positive attitude" towards these refinements, even if loved ones were needlessly lost in the process.

But what if the Governing Body is clearly teaching something that you know to be false and unbiblical?

*** w57 5/1 p. 284 par. 14 Trust Your Proved, Faithful Brothers ***

Showing respect for Jehovah’s organization really resolves itself down to our attitude toward God’s visible channel and the trust that we place in our proved, faithful brothers. If we have become thoroughly convinced that this is Jehovah’s organization, that he is guiding and directing his people, then we shall not be unsettled by anything that happens. If something comes up that we do not understand we will wait patiently until it is made thoroughly clear to us. If we feel sure something is wrong we will ‘keep the commandment’ of our Father and take whatever theocratic steps are open to us and then wait on Jehovah. We will not ‘forsake our mother’s teaching’ by immediately beginning to criticize and find fault. We will realize that Jehovah knows what is going on in his organization, and if he is willing to permit it, who are we to insist it should be different? If we really have faith, we will know that if it is wrong he will straighten it out eventually, and we are far safer inside his organization even with these minor difficulties than we would be on the outside where only chaos and destruction await us.

Some may feel that this is speaking of those who have haughty attitudes towards the teachings of the Governing Body. But such is not the case. The faithful JW is to have unquestionable acceptance of anything that is put in print by the Watchtower. If they choose not to, they are rejecting or questioning God Himself:

*** w57 6/15 p. 370 par. 7 Overseers of Jehovah’s People ***

Yes, particularly since 1919 has it been true that he has appointed the collective body of the anointed remnant over all the visible interests of the Kingdom. The “slave” then became responsible not only for ministering to the needs of the anointed body members but also for taking on the responsibility of preaching the good news of the established Kingdom to people of all nations. (Matt. 24:14) Such is true not by their determination of it, but because God himself has so directed. “God has set the members in the body, each one of them, just as he pleased,” is the way it is pictured in 1 Corinthians 12:18 (NW). It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision.

*** w59 5/1 p. 269 pars. 6-7 Attain Completeness in the New World Society ***

7 To hold to the headship of Christ, it is therefore necessary to obey the organization that he is personally directing. Doing what the organization says is to do what he says. Resisting the organization is to resist him

Therefore, one is not to just have a "positive attitude" towards the Governing Body and what they teach; they are to have absolute unquestionable acceptance of even those teachings they know to be false. To resist these teachings is to resist God (yes, even if they are false teachings).

I hope all Jehovah's Witnesses reading this will consider who their allegiance is really to: God or men? Biblically, the only one we should have absolute unquestionable devotion to is Jesus Christ Himself; not seven men in Brooklyn, NY. After all, Scripture never says of a Governing Body,

“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.”
(Colossians 2:3–4)

***UPDATE***

Mark wrote an excellent article (far better than mine) on the same topic that can be found HERE

Review of the September 15, 2010 Watchtower Study Edition

This issue of the Watchtower study edition may prove to contain some of the most authoritative and controlling statements ever made by the organization.  If there is ever an issue that you'll want to get your hands on, this would be the one.  Because this is a "members only" magazine, it may be difficult to obtain.  Fortunately, you can download a PDF of the full issue HERE.  To anyone who is unfamiliar in how to witness to JW's, this would be a great place to start.  When a JW comes to your door, have this issue handy and point out the things that I talk about in this blog.  And remember, the key is to get them to think for themselves.  That is, ask more questions and make less statements!

 Jesus Christ proved to be the primary part of Abraham’s “seed.” Anointed Christians form the secondary part of that foretold “seed.” They have been commissioned to “declare abroad the excellencies of the one that called [them] out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (Gal. 3:7-9, 14, 16, 26- 29; 1 Pet. 2:9) We cannot hope to acquire a good relationship with Jehovah if we ignore those whom Jesus has appointed to care for his belongings. Without the assistance of “the faithful and discreet slave,” we would neither understand the full import of what we read in God’s Word nor know how to apply it. (Matt. 24:45-47) By putting into practice the things we are learning from the Scriptures, we can secure ourselves God’s blessing. (p. 8 paragraph 7)

 The first flaw to be noted is the faulty assumption that there is a second class of Jehovah's Witnesses called "The Anointed."  According to Watchtower theology (as opposed to the Bible), the "anointed" represent a literal group of 144,000 who will rule in reign with Christ in heaven while the rest live on paradise earth.  Apparently, these JW's are an elitist group who, conveniently, are able to understand the Scriptures apart from a higher authority of men (unlike the rank-and-file).  That is, is it not interesting that non-anointed JW's must have guidance from the "faithful slave" in order to understand what the Bible says, whereas the anointed don't require this?  What do the anointed have that the rank-and-file don't?  Wouldn't their logic require that the anointed have leaders above them so that they can understand the Scriptures?

1. Do any of the cited Scriptures prove that Christians need this elitist group to understand Scripture?
2. Can I understand Romans 5:1 simply by reading it?  What knowledge would the anointed provide that I couldn't gain by careful Bible study of this verse?
3. If the anointed are wrong in their interpretation, how can I know?

Like Jacob, we do not know all the details of the outworking of Jehovah’s purpose. Yet, by studying God’s Word, we perceive a general outline of what to expect concerning “Jehovah’s day.” (2 Pet. 3:10, 17) (p. 9 paragraph 11)

Of course, it is one thing to claim "Bible study," but another to actually do it.  Rarely, if ever, will you see a picture of a JW doing Bible study using the Bible alone.  The reason being, the Watchtower knows that the following will occur:

*** w81 8/15 pp. 28-29 par. 14 Serving Jehovah “Shoulder to Shoulder” ***

They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago.

This is truly an amazing statement and a complete lack of confidence on the Watchtower's part.  If you believe your doctrine to be biblical, then why not encourage more Bible study as opposed to Watchtower literature study?  

So pour your heart into every assign- ment. Always look to Jehovah for success. (Mark 11:23, 24) As you do, be assured that “everyone seeking finds.” (Matt. 7:8) Spirit- anointed ones will be blessed with “the crown of life” in the heavens. (Jas. 1:12) Christ’s “other sheep,” who are striving to receive a blessing for themselves by means of Abraham’s seed, will delight to hear Him say: “Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world.” (John 10:16; Matt. 25:34) Yes, “those being blessed by [God] will themselves possess the earth, . . . and they will reside forever upon it.”—Ps. 37:22, 29. (p. 11 paragraph 18) 

Matthew 25:34 is a big problem for the Watchtower's two-class salvation system.  The reason being, according to the Watchtower (as opposed to the Bible), the "anointed" 144,000 are the only ones who are born again, and thus the only ones who will see the kingdom (John 3:3).  But here, the Watchtower is claiming that most JW's will "inherit the kingdom," but will not go to heaven.  The following questions may help a JW to see the faulty reasoning of the Watchtower:

1. Will you see the Kingdom of God?
2. What does it mean to inherit something? (Maybe do a Bible study on the word)  If "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom" (1 Cor. 15:50), then how can those living on earth inherit the kingdom?
3. If you inherit the kingdom of God, will you then see the kingdom of God?
4. According to John 3:3, what must happen before you can see the kingdom?

First-century Christians enjoyed unity because they all received encouragement from the same source. They recognized that Jesus was teaching and directing the congregation through a governing body, composed of the apostles and older men in Je- rusalem. These devoted men based their decisions on God’s Word and had traveling overseers communicate their instructions to the congregations in many lands. Concerning some such overseers, the Bible says: “As they traveled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Je- rusalem.”—Acts 15:6, 19-22; 16:4. (p. 13 paragraph 7)

A careful reading of the book of Acts will paint a very different picture than that of the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses, whereby a small group of men dogmatically declare anything and everything that the seven million JW's worldwide will believe and practice; from how they dress, to how often they will attend meetings, and to what each and every JW should believe on practically any issue.  Do we find this type of activity in the book of Acts?  Or did the "governing body" meet when there were serious problems arising in the church?  Furthermore, was the governing body in the first century distributing man-made "bible literature," or the Word of God itself? More of this is discussed HERE.

Similarly today, a Governing Body composed of spirit-anointed Christians contributes to the unity of the worldwide con- gregation. The Governing Body publishes spiritually encouraging literature in many languages. This spiritual food is based on God’s Word. Thus, what is taught is not from men but from Jehovah.—Isa. 54:13. (p. 13 paragraph 8)

First, where does Isaiah 54:13 or its context even hint at a group of men who, thousands of years later, will have the capacity to utter words "not from men?" Its amazing how such statements can be made without Scriptural support!  


Does the Watchtower teach what is from men or what is from Jehovah?  If you are a Christian, imagine your pastor this sunday saying, "What is preached behind this pulpit is not from men, but from God himself!"  Any semi-discerning Christian would run for the hills.  This is simply a statement made to control the minds of JW's.  Anyone who is remotely familiar with Watchtower history knows full well that they have taught falsehoods (and continue to do so!).  

1. Has the Watchtower always taught what is from Jehovah?
2. When the Watchtower was promoting satanic practices, like pyramidology, were they teaching what was from men, or Jehovah?
3. With this mindset, how could anyone know when the Watchtower is teaching something false, since any JW will admit they "make mistakes?"

CHRISTENDOM’S churches have human leaders, such as the pope of Rome, the patriarchs and metropolitans of the EasternOrthodox churches, and the heads of other religions. Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize no human as their leader. They are not disciples or followers of any man. (p. 21 paragraph 1)

Jehovah's Witnesses have no human leaders but yet they are required to believe anything and everything that men (a.k.a. the governing body) tell them?  It is truly amazing to make such a claim when the reality is, if a Jehovah's Witness wants to know the truth about something, they can't go to the Bible first.  Why?  Because according to the earlier quote, they can't understand the Bible!  That is, they must go to what the "faithful slave" says about the Bible.  

Also by means of holy spirit, Christ gave “gifts in men,” some “as shepherds and teachers” in the congregation. (Eph. 4:8, 11) The apostle Paul urged Christian overseers: “Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God.” (Acts 20:28) When the Christian congregation began, all these overseers were spirit-anointed men. The apostles and the elders of the Jerusalem congregation acted as a governing body. Christ used this instrument to lead the entire group of his anointed “brothers” on earth. (Heb. 2:11; Acts 16:4, 5) In this time of the end, Christ has committed “all his belongings”—all the earthly interests of the Kingdom—to his “faithful and discreet slave” and its representative Governing Body, a group of anointed Christian men. (Matt. 24:45-47) The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ. (p. 23 paragraph 8)

This is complete and utter blasphemy.  For any man to say, "By following me, you are following Christ" is just about as anti-Christ as one could get.  There is no statement anywhere in the Bible which would even hint at the fact that Christians are to follow their leaders as if they were Christ!  

1. If your leaders, the governing body, teach something that is false; does that mean that Jesus Christ is teaching something that is false?
2. What Scriptures can you provide which suggests that true Christians should follow their leaders as if they are following Christ?

Still, Christ found these same faithful anointed Christians doing their utmost to provide timely spiritual food for the house- hold of faith. From 1879 onward, through thick and thin, they had been publishing Biblical truths about God’s Kingdom in the pages of this magazine. Jesus had prophesied that “on arriving” to inspect his domestics during “the conclusion of the system of things,” he would find a slave providing them “food at the proper time.” He would pronounce that slave happy and would “appoint him over all his belongings” on earth. (Matt. 24:3, 45-47) As Head of the Christian congregation, Christ has used this “faithful and discreet slave” to administer His Kingdom interests on earth. He has provided direction for the anointed “domestics” and their “other sheep” companions by means of a Governing Body.—John 10:16. (p. 26 paragraph 4)

The Watchtower is shooting themselves in the foot like never before.  Are they forgetting about their history and what they were teaching before 1919; the year that they were supposedly selected by Jesus Christ Himself?  Was it a "Bible truth" that in 1914 the end would come?  Was it a "Bible truth" that organ transplants were forbidden?  Was it a "Bible truth" that pyramids are a testimony to Jehovah?  But an even larger problem arises: there will be no room for "that was then, this is now" excuses by Jehovah's Witnesses who are quick to dismiss their history.  

In our day, as reigning King invested with “all authority . . . in heaven and on the earth,” Christ our Leader exercises active headship over the congregations worldwide and their overseers. (Matt. 28:18; Col. 1:18) (p. 27 paragraph 8)

The Watchtower teaches that Jesus was not king and was not ruling and reigning until 1914.  But yet, Matt. 28:18 and Col. 1:18 are used to substantiate Christ's rulership.  But notice the time tense that is used with regards to Matthew 28:18:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”(Matthew 28:18) 

Would this not indicate that Christ had "all authority" at the time in which he was making the statement?  If so, then how can the Watchtower use this text in support of Christ supposedly being enthroned 2,000 years later?

“When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.” (Matt. 25:31-33) This refers to Christ’s coming as Judge to separate people of “all the nations” into two categories: “the sheep,” those who will have actively supported his spiritual brothers (anointed Christians on earth) and “the goats,” those “who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thess. 1:7, 8) The sheep, described as “righteous ones,” will receive “everlasting life” on earth, but the goats “will depart into everlasting cutting-off,” or destruction.—Matt. 25:34, 40, 41, 45, 46. (p. 29 paragraph 15)

Talk about importing your theology into the text!  Is there anything in the text whereby the "sheep" are a separate group of Christians from the "anointed?"  But then again, this is not a problem for Jehovah's Witnesses, as they are not capable of understanding the text on its own anyway.  This needs to be pointed out regularly.  Whenever a JW man-handles a text in this way, you need to point out that their ultimate authority is not the Bible, but the governing body.  

1. Where in the text is there a differentiation between "the sheep" and the "anointed?"
2. According to the text, what two types of people are there?
3. Where in the text does it speak of "supporting anointed Christians?"

I want to stress again how important it is to be prepared to "give a defense" (1 Peter 3:15) when you are confronted by a Jehovah's Witness.  Though you may feel ill-equipped in not knowing what JW's to believe, this issue is the perfect one to have handy.  Get your highlighter out and mark up the relevant portions.  And when a JW knocks on your door, ask them, "Would you mind going through an issue of the Watchtower with me?  I have some questions that I would like to ask you about it."  Even though you may be ignorant about their theology, you can still ask questions and get the thinking process started.  And once this begins, you'll have the perfect opportunity to present the gospel.  

I pray that this review was helpful for you all, JW and non-JW alike!

Where is the governing body?

For those who are unfamiliar with the ecclesiastical structure (i.e. church hierarchy) of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the top of the chain is not the apostles, for they do not believe that the apostolic office is for today (nor do I). Nor is it the elders of the local congregations. If its neither of these, who is running things? Who do the 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide submit to with regards to receiving biblical instruction, exhortation, and discipline (Heb. 13:17)? None other than ten men (according to the 2007 yearbook) who reside in Brooklyn, New York called the Governing Body. However, to say that the rank-and-file "submits" to the governing body is quite the understatement:

***w22 5/1 p. 132 The Gentile Times***

To be faithful means to be loyal. To be loyal to the Lord means to be obedient to the Lord. To abandon or repudiate the Lord’s chosen instrument means to abandon or repudiate the Lord himself, upon the principle that he who rejects the servant sent by the Master thereby rejects the Master.

***Qualified to be Ministers p. 156 Studying “The Watchtower”***

The first essential for study is the right condition of mind and heart, appreciating that Jehovah grants understanding only to the meek, and not to the stiff-necked. If we have love for Jehovah and for the organization of his people we shall not be suspicious, but shall, as the Bible says, 'believe all things,' all the things that The Watchtower brings out, inasmuch as it has been faithful in giving us a knowledge of God's purposes and guiding us in the way of peace, safety and truth from its inception to this present day.

The question is, where does the Bible speak of this "governing body" as well as the instruction that is offered by the above quotes? Most Jehovah's Witnesses will have us go to Acts 15 to establish their point:

“Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.”
(Acts 15:3–6)

Because I didn't want to take up too much space, I would hope that the reader will take the time to read the full account in Acts 15 to make sure i'm taking it in context (see Acts 17:11). Anyone familiar with the Watchtower's view of the governing body will quickly notice what Acts 15 is silent on: an ecclesiastical office. In other words, there is nothing in Acts 15 which prescribes an office to the church whereby all true Christians worldwide are to submit to their every whim: from how they groom themselves, to what will be studied each week in their meetings, to what all JW's are to believe on any doctrinal issue. That is, there is nothing in this text which would tell Christians today: "for all true Christians worldwide; you are to submit yourselves to a small group of men (who are neither deacons, elders, or apostles) in a centralized location by doing and believing everything they tell you."

Instead, we see that Paul and Barnabas were involved in a great dispute and sought to meet with other apostles and elders to discuss what to do. In other words, they met because they were encountering a critical problem in the church. Contrast this to the governing body. They meet not to discuss only crucial problems; they guide the lives of seven million Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide. Can anyone imagine a more prominent role in a religious organization than this? If not, then I have one simple question: why, in all of the instructions and qualifications for elders and deacons in the Christian Scriptures do we not find the same for the governing body? I simply cannot buy that such a prominent role was neglected in all of the Apostle Paul's letters. If such an ecclesiastical position really exists, then there is absolutely no question in my mind that such would have been clearly and explicitly spelled out in the Scriptures.

Some Thoughts on the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses part 2

Some thoughts on the governing body

Book Review: "Crisis of Conscience" by Raymond Franz

If you want a book that emphatically proves that the Watchtower is an unreliable organization, then this is your book. I can't imagine how any Jehovah's Witness can read this book and yet remain a member.

The author, Raymond Franz, was a Jehovah's Witness for most of his life as well as a governing body member. This is his story. He tells of how he became involved in full time service to the organization all the way up to his being disfellowshipped.

About half of the book is devoted to Franz's personal testimony and what he experienced as not only a full time staff member, but as a governing body member too. These are insights that very few men have chosen to reveal. This includes everything from the Society's scandelous cover-ups to the inner workings of the governing body.

What I found most valuable was Franz's allegations towards the Watchtower as a false prophet. Hundreds of pages were used to deal with the false prophecies of 1914 and 1975, as well as a few others.

Although the book is quite lengthy (over 400 pages), it is not a boring read. If you are interested in Jehovah's Witnesses, then you'll enjoy this book. Raymond Franz is a passionate writer and does everything he can to be fair. Very little is dealt with in regards to theology. In fact, Raymond Franz probably held and continues to hold to the core doctrines of the Watchtower. The entire thrust of the book is to stress the book's subtitle: "The struggle between loyalty to God and loyalty to one's religion." With this, i'll agree that Raymond Franz most certainly accomplished his purpose in writing this book.