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| Do Jehovah's Witnesses Really Have 'The Truth'? |
| Written by Mark Hunter |
| Saturday, 04 April 2009 09:19 |
Some Jehovah’s Witnesses would argue that even if their organisation, The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, is wrong they would rather be part of it than be anywhere else. In other words, even if the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society is teaching errors and falsehoods, some would rather prescribe to these errors and falsehoods than be anywhere else. The reason the Jehovah’s Witness would state for feeling such a way is that they believe their organisation is ‘the truth’.
However, is this a spiritually responsible stance to take? Does such a viewpoint have any basis within Christianity? The most obvious place to start would be with God’s Word. Jesus Christ, “the Word made flesh”, stated in John 17:17 “Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth.” Jesus didn’t mince his words. There is no doubt from this that God’s word is truth. What should be of interest for any Jehovah’s Witness meditating on this portion of inspired scripture is that Jesus uses the phrase “the truth”. Of course, Jehovah’s Witnesses apply the term “the truth” to their organisation and it’s doctrines. If Jesus had meant that an organisation or group of people or set of doctrines and beliefs were truth, surely he would have stated such. But he didn’t. He said God’s word was truth. The context of Jesus’ words show that Jesus was praying on the night before his death. Other than the ‘model prayer’ this is the only recorded prayer of ‘the Word become flesh’ recorded in scripture, therefore it’s a very important passage of the Bible. Jesus wanted his followers to understand what he himself discerned to be truth, namely God’s word. What would the truth accomplish? Would it teach errors or falsehoods? No, of course not, it’s the truth. Would the truth insist that errors and falsehoods be believed for fear of being cut off from family or friends? No, that would be ridiculous, the truth is the truth; it’s never wrong and it never, ever changes. Rather, the truth would sanctify. The truth would set apart, would consecrate and make holy the followers of Christ. The truth would be without sin or error. If it had sin, mistakes, error or falsehoods it would not be able to sanctify and Jesus would be a liar. It’s that serious. What else did God’s Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, have to say about truth? “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 Again, we see the use of the words ‘the truth’, this time Jesus is applying them to himself. Again, there’s no mention of a group of men or women on earth, there’s no mention of a set of doctrines or ‘unique beliefs’, there’s no mention of an organisation or a “faithful and discreet slave” class. It’s very simple; Jesus is the truth. Would the teachings of Jesus ever change? Would they ever contain error or falsehoods? Of course not, he was the truth and all of his utterances were truth. We have to cross reference John 14:6 to John 17:17; Jesus is God’s Word and God’s Word is truth. So, if a Jehovah’s Witness was to say that the organisation they obey and follow is as close to the truth as possible, would they in turn concede that the organisation teaches errors and falsehoods and asserts that all Jehovah’s Witnesses need to unquestioningly believe and teach via their public ministry such errors? Any honest-hearted Witness would surely admit that the Watch Tower Society teaches errors. For example, for decades Jehovah’s Witness were taught, believed and preached that the generation who saw the events of 1914 would not pass away before Armageddon occurred. Now that teaching has changed. But that doesn’t alter the fact that for all those decades Jehovah’s Witnesses were being taught errors and falsehoods. No, the ‘Creator’s promise’ did not come true, as per the Awakes! masthead during the 1970s through to the 1990s stated. And was it an error or a falsehood that caused the Watch Tower Society to decree that organ transplants were tantamount to cannibalism? Well, the Society eventually overturned such a teaching, so it couldn’t have been truth. And if it wasn’t truth, it must have been an error or a falsehood. And it wasn’t truth it couldn’t have sanctified those who choose to adhere to it. These two errors alone mean that the Watch Tower Society cannot be ‘the truth’. 2 Cor 6: For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? 15Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Be´li·al? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? What fellowship do errors and falsehoods have with truth? If Jesus is the truth and God’s word is the truth, anything apart or asides from them that contains falsehoods cannot, by definition, be the truth. Remember, truth never changes. It never needs to be altered. And it can stand up to any questioning, scrutiny, examination or testing. The truth fears nothing; it is the truth. If you’re a Jehovah’s Witness and you’re reading this, perhaps you feel angered or upset or confused or maybe even belligerently opposed to what you’ve read. If so, please consider what the publications of the Watch Tower Society have to say about seeking truth; “When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning? Mankind’s Search for God To help us to have a clearer understanding of other religions, their teachings, and their historical background, the Watch Tower Society released around the world during the 1990 “Pure Language” Conventions a new publication entitled Mankind’s Search for God. Equipped with this instrument, we will be better able to preach to people of the non-Christian world as well as to those of Christendom. Hits: 1866 Trackback(0)
Comments (4)
  written by Elijah Returns , June 17, 2009 They most definately do not have the truth as they perceive it to be. Thry definately have a zeal for Gods word, but not according to accurate knowledge And they pin all of their false hopes on 1914. If Christ did indeed become king in 1914, then what happend to Armageddon? If Satan did really get booted out in 1914, then he has outstayed his welcome of 42 months? and the generation seeing these things, well, they would be an average age of 126-136 years of age now, and the 1914 date is almost 100 years old. They also say the 144000 rose to christ in 1919, then were sealed in 1935, but how could that possibly be? Its like getting a prize before actually competing for it, and surely as the bible says, the sealing would come first, and then they rise-but they only do rise at sound of the last trumet, at the conclusion of all things? The bible says they are sealed before the time of the end begins, and we are not in that period yet, possibly not even at time of opening of the first seal, this seeing the arrival of christ as a ruler amidst his enemies as one of the 4 horsemen, during a time of war, famine, food shortage, natural disaster, hunger..which culminates in this systems collapse 3.5 years later, which also sees satans ousting from heaven. But, eveb before all of this, we must see, as prophesied by Paul, Apostasy coming first....we certainly do see that as false teachings take hold and generated by thos that claim to be in a covenant relationship with Jehovah and his christ. Yes, they still hold on to teachings of Bileam, Nicolaus which all stem from the syangogue of Satan, and as Christ said in Matt 23, even by crossing land and sea in making people disciples of their teachings, they actually make them a subject twice as much as anybody else for gehenna, as they are doing these things in Gods name. These are just a few of the teachings of the bible which they have misapplied to suit their own ends...such as the recent one to gain inheritances, and to deny disfellowshiped people their parents inheritances, and only to use the parable because they are losing bums on seats as well as money. As the bible says..woe to them that are wring out such edicts, rising early to do it to prevent the lowly one from seeing justice(Isaiah 10:1-3 32:7 59:13-15 Ezkeiel 34). They also use what they call flashes of light to cover up for false misapplied interpretations, so as to maintain control over their flocks, which by the way are dwindling in number as more and more wake up to what is actually going on. report abuse
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 written by A believer in God, and Jesus- God's Son. , November 05, 2009 This web site shouts to me that you seem to be a very bitter and unhappy person, as you seem to base much of your time trying to "disprove" the bible- why don't you simply try and continue with your life? If you have decided that this religion is not for you, then why not cherry pick another one? Afterall, there are a number of different religions out there, all proclaiming to be the real one. I must admit though, that the one thing that I do give the witnesses, is that they are well presented, they seem polite and decent, unlike others who don't seem to represent any part of their religions. I have not seen any other religions where the people represent their God so decently. Which ever religion you choose Mark, just let it bring YOU peace, and contentment, so that you can get on with your life and stop putting down someone else's beliefs. If a person is content in what they belive, and trully feels that they have found the way, then let them have that peace. We all need that in this crazy world. And whether you believe Armageddon is coming, or is a far fetched fantasy - that is up to you, some will live for that day, and wait for it; whilst others will view life as a gift from God, and will live it - it would be rude not to, wouldn't it? God is bigger and vaster and infinitely more intelligent than we could ever imagine, he knows what s in store for us, he nows we are imperfect, let him decide if we are good or bad, or if there is a grey area where we can say we are a mixture of both! We will all make mistakes, that is due to our 1st ansestors.Jesus knows that, as well as God,so it is not as straight forward as do wrong and you won't make it. It's the way you live your life that counts. Jesus even said that even with faith the size of a mustard seed one could do anything. Have faith. Just live your life and stop slating others who are just gettin g on with theirs. Thank you. report abuse
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 written by mjhunter , November 05, 2009 To A believer in God, and Jesus- God's Son; I wonder if you yourself are a Jehovah's Witness. Let's assume you are. If so, it's quite disturbing that you choose to encourage me to get on with my life and "stop putting down someone else's beliefs". You seem to forget that the Watch Tower Society sole reason for being is to knock on doors, telling people everything what's wrong with their religion, and how Jehovah's Witnesses alone have the "truth". However, if you aren't a Witness then I'll assume you're speaking from a position of ignorance as to the Watchtower's history of castigating and demonising every single other religious group on the planet. Either way, quite where you come off as describing me as very bitter and unhappy is puzzling. Like me, though, you are entitled to your opinion. report abuse
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 written by Dan Kirby , February 24, 2010 My comments are based on observation, they live a robotic way of life, CONTROLLED, manipulated. Is this freedom? report abuse
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