[From ws15/08 p. 9 for Sep. 28 – Oct. 4]
A number of years ago while out in the door-to-door ministry I came upon a woman, a staunch Catholic, who was utterly convinced that God had miraculously saved her from dying of breast cancer. There was no way I could have convinced her otherwise, nor did I even attempt to do so.
This is an example of anecdotal evidence. We’ve all heard it. People are convinced of divine intervention because something went their way. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Often, there is no way of knowing for sure. Thus, anyone who thinks clearly and critically rejects anecdotal evidence. In reality, it is not evidence at all. It has the probative value of a fairy tale.
This week’s Watchtower opens with several anecdotes intended to “prove” Jehovah’s love for us. Jehovah’s Witnesses will read these accounts and see them as further “proof” that Jehovah is blessing the organization. However, I can assure you that if I were to have read these same accounts to one of my JW brethren prefacing the reading by saying, “Look what I came across in this month’s Catholic Digest,” I would have received a look of derision worthy of Sheldon Cooper.
I am not suggesting that there is no proof of Jehovah’s love. Our Father’s love is enduring. That is beyond dispute. I am also not suggesting that he does not exercise his love as it pleases him and upon whom it pleases him. However, the love he shows on individuals should never be taken as an ipso facto endorsement of any organizational entity.
We should never fall prey to the thinking that we as an organization are doing well, because certain faithful ones in our midst are doing well; that we are blessed by God, because they are blessed by God. The fact is that often men and women of faith do well in spite of us, not because of us.
Appreciate the Privilege of Prayer
In paragraph 10 we encounter an example of JW doublespeak:
“A loving father takes time to listen to his children when they want to talk to him. He wants to know their concerns and anxieties because he cares about what is in their heart. Our heavenly Father, Jehovah, listens to us when we approach him through the precious privilege of prayer.” – par. 10 [Boldface added]
The problem here is that for years, the publications have been telling us that Jehovah is not our heavenly Father!
“These with earthly prospects are declared righteous and enjoy peace with God even now, not as sons, but as ‘friends of God,’ as was Abraham.” (w87 3/15 p. 15 par. 17)
“Although Jehovah has declared his anointed ones righteous as sons and the other sheep righteous as friends on the basis of Christ’s ransom sacrifice…” (w12 7/15 p. 28 par. 7)
The Organization wishes to have it both ways. They want the 8 million Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world to understand they are not God’s children, while simultaneously holding the contradictory thought that they can still call Jehovah their Father. They would have us believe that he is our Father in some kind of special way. However, the Bible speaks of no “special sense”, no secondary category of fatherhood. Scripturally speaking, God becomes the father of all those who exercise faith in the name of his son Jesus Christ. All such ones can therefore proclaim themselves as God’s children, because Jesus has given them that authority. (John 1:12)
If Jesus has given us such authority, what man or group of men would dare to take it from us?
Paragraph 11 compounds the doublespeak by stating:
“We can approach Jehovah in prayer at any time. He has placed no restrictions on us. He is our Friend who is always ready to give us a hearing ear.” – par. 11
So he goes from Father to friend in one short paragraph.
The Christian Scriptures never refer to Jehovah God as our friend. The only mention of Him as a friend is found at James 2:23 where Abraham is mentioned. No Christian – no child of God – is referred to in the Christian Scriptures as Jehovah’s friend. A man can have many friends, but he only has one true father. As Christians, we become children of God and can rightly and legally refer to him as our Father. The love a father has for a child is different from the love one friend has for another. If Jehovah had wanted us to think of him as our friend rather than our Father, Jesus would surely have said so; the Christian writers would certainly have been inspired to write that down.
Since the Christian Greek Scriptures do not use this term as a designator of a Christian’s relationship with God, why do we so often use it in the publications of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society? The answer is because it helps to shore up the false doctrine that there are two categories of Christian, one that is granted inheritance as sons, and another that is denied that inheritance.
This exclusivity is expressed in paragraph 14:
A few feel Jehovah’s enduring love in a very special way. (John 1:12, 13; 3:5-7) Having been anointed by holy spirit, they have become “God’s children.” (Rom. 8:15, 16) Paul described anointed Christians as having been ‘raised up and seated together in the heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus.’ (Eph. 2:6) [Boldface added]
The vast majority (99.9%) of Jehovah’s Witnesses who read this will immediately understand that they are excluded from the ones Paul describes. But, pray tell, where in all of Scripture does Paul describe – does any Bible writer describe – the other group of Christians? If God’s Children are referred to repeatedly, where then do we find mention of God’s Friends? The plain truth is that there is nothing in all of the Christian Scriptures that describes this special secondary class of Christian.
Disparaging the Love of God
This article is intended to extol God’s great love for us, but ultimately it does the opposite. Our teachings bring reproach by disparaging God’s love.
“For the vast majority of mankind who exercise faith in the ransom, the way is open to be Jehovah’s friends with the prospect of being adopted as children of God and living forever in the promised earthly Paradise. Thus, by means of the ransom, Jehovah shows his love for the world of mankind. (John 3:16) If we hope to live forever on earth and we continue to serve Jehovah faithfully, we can be assured that he will make life pleasant for us in the new world. How fitting it is that we view the ransom as the greatest evidence of God’s enduring love for us!” – par. 15
This paragraph encapsulates the core teaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses that all humankind has before it the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. At the end of 1000 years, these ones – if they remain faithful – can attain to perfection and finally become children of God. This is put forward as evidence of God’s love. It is, in fact, quite the opposite.
Let’s say that I knock on your door and tell you that if you put faith in Jesus Christ and obey his commandments, you can live forever on earth in the New World. What happens if you don’t put faith in Jesus Christ and don’t obey his commandments? Obviously, you would not get to live in the New World. If I go to your door to offer you a hope for your salvation and you reject it, then I would naturally not expect you to get the realization of that hope in any case. If that were so, if all are going to get the prize, then why would I even bothering knocking on doors?
Therefore, Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that everyone who doesn’t respond to their preaching is going to die for all time at Armageddon.
Does that seem like the action of a loving God? Would a loving God make your eternal salvation dependent on whether or not you accept The Watchtower and Awake! magazine when strangers come to your door? And what about the Muslims and Hindus who have never heard a Jehovah’s Witness before? What about the hundreds of millions of children on earth today who couldn’t read a Watchtower if the wind blew it to their feet?
All of these and more are condemned to die eternally at Armageddon because they didn’t respond to “God’s message of love” as preached by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
God’s love is not at fault. Our teaching is at fault. Jehovah sent his son to make an offer to anyone who would respond; an offer to rule with him in the kingdom of the heavens, therein to serve as both king and priest for the healing of the nations. Those who don’t accept this hope, naturally don’t get to enjoy it. But the hope he offered isn’t a take-it-or-die offer. He was simply inviting us to enjoy a wonderful opportunity. Should we turn it down, then we simply do not get it. What remains?
What remains is the second part of what Paul spoke of at Acts 24:15 – the resurrection of the unrighteous.
The purpose of Jesus’ preaching was not the salvation of mankind at Armageddon. The purpose was to find those who would form an administration by which all mankind throughout the ages could be saved during the Judgment Day lasting 1000 years. That is the true evidence of God’s love and that is truly all-encompassing love. Love that is completely fair and just.
Under his Messianic rule, Jesus will level the playing field for all by freeing resurrected humans from oppression, slavery, physical and mental impairment, and ignorance. During the thousand year reign of Christ, all mankind will have an equal opportunity to know and accept him as their Savior. That is the true extent of God’s love, not that which is painted in The Watchtower magazine in support of a failing doctrine.
I really agree with this understanding of the offer held out by Jesus now. I am from the Bible students and Christopher posted your link on the Facebook page friends of Jehovah witnesses.
He has been telling us about you. I was a witness for 62 years myself and came to many of the conclusions you have. I just walked away. I will take today to cover your site and read more. Thank you. Jacqueline
Thank you Jacqueline and welcome. I do appreciate Chris’ support.
Hello everyone It is lovely to really think about, really chew, on the work and activity of Jehovah. When you think about an act, there are so many facets to it. There is not only the activity itself, but the care and thought, how it was done and the care there, the reasoning, and that Jehovah has done this, in a way that is best, in a way that brings results that please, in a way of love. Is there any way we can go some way to imitate Him and follow His teaching and His example? All we have… Read more »
Hi Brenda, Your point about love, made me think of Galatians 5:22-26 where love is described as a spiritual fruit – the love of God is produced in us by the work His spirit. We know there is to be a second resurrection after the 1000 years, but scripture tells us that there will be people living on the earth during the millennium, who under the care and rulership of Jesus Christ and the saints/elect will have the opportunity that you describe in your comment. Isaiah 65:20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a… Read more »
Also the one about leaving the organisation to stay or go is the choice of the individual concerned i think for who are we to sit and judge the servant of another . I dont think god recognises any so called religion any way apart from those in his son . I think what really matters is that we strive to put on the christs personality and be like him . We can do this by gaining accurate knowledge of the scriptures and with the help of holy spirit . Thats probably something thats available to all professed christians .… Read more »
Just thinking about this idea of using individual experiences to give an impression that god is blessing an organisation . That it just doesnt hold water the fact is that the scriptures show that a christian may very well under go some really unpleasant experiences we are called to a life just like the pattern of christ . We fill up the sufferings of the christ paul said . Often the vey opposite is true its when we suffer for righteousness then we may have gods approval . Thats as an individual i dont think god blesses congregations
Ok, I set myself to read the article. The first 2 paragraphs do not say anything that stands out as proof of Gods enduring love. All described is what all people experience, struggle with but in general all continue and in one way or another are successful in what they do.. Same for pars 4 and 5. Actually nothing new, very superficial. One point. It refers to Eph. 5:1, which says we can imitate God like AS BELOVED CHILDREN… Par 7 is rather strange to read from people who have in various cases mispresented the words and verses in the… Read more »
What is true pure love, well we know it comes from our Almighty God and heavenly Father Yahweh/Jehovah, and his son and Our Lord and King Jesus, so what is the suppose love that the Organization is well just take a look at the GB Morris Video and tell me, if that is true Love. Look we all know that the Organization has more Holes in it then a boat full of holes ( very bad pun), but the thing is that almost every week goes by on Saturday/or Sunday talk where we get that all the other religions are… Read more »
Ah , the AGM. Ministry School and Service Meeting gone! Replaced with the very ‘Christendom’ sounding ‘Our christian life and ministry’. Different title, same hogwash. Reduced volume of mags- one mag per month, WT one month, Awake the following month and so on. More Bethel closures and some remaining Bethels will have some depts shut down. Major layoffs of Bethelites, told to go pioneering. But not Special pioneering as that costs them money Many if not all building projects put on hold. Seems finishing the Warwick compound is no 1 priority just in case the money runs out. But got… Read more »
very sorry for the typos. I do not know how to correct a post once accepted.
Thanks Meleti highlighting those points, I could never understand being gods friend, his dad(father) to anointed, and one day in 1000 yr plus, when your faithful at the final test will have that privilege also, but for now, no his not father in the fullest sense like the anointed, just doesn’t warm you up to God ,….question posed by anon, so why do we stick around, keep attending meetings, some don’t and some do, I wish not to speak for anyone else and please don’t be offended in what I write, but for me, simple we love Jehovah and our… Read more »
Hi AR, you said: There are those who by being obedient to God, as hard as it is, to continue going to the meetings, they are then able, using Gods word to tell us the truth, and to encourage others (Phil. 3:18,19) I do not see that being obedient to God is expressed by continuing going to the meetings (which ones? where?) and are those allow to speak freely and accurately during the meeting you meetings or are the obliged to speak the message of the ones who organized these meetings ?? This comment more to trigger thoughts rather then… Read more »
Yes Menrov, thanks for your thought, each to their own, there’s no worries with me, yes John also cautions everyone not to “believe every inspired expression, but test the inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.” (1 John 4:1) We can be absolutely certain that no “inspired expression of error” originates with God, or are taught by his holy spirit, although we are told that Jehovah permits it if that is what his people want. (2 Thess. 2:11,12; Rom. 1:18, 28-32) Paul’s counsel gets to the heart of… Read more »
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society under Russell taught that God is only calling the bride class or the 144,000. He is not calling the world of mankind. He is only calling those that he told Abraham would be his seed and through them “all the nations of the earth will be blessed”. That’s what the millennium is for but Rutherford decided to turn it into a fear of Armageddon and second death. Russell taught that everyone would have a chance on the millennium and that God is calling the bride class. We are to run the race for… Read more »
I have but one question for all readers of this forum who are still part of the WT organization. If you read the words above, including – “God’s love is not at fault. Our teaching is at fault” – and understand them, and appreciate the magnitude of what is at stake for being at fault regarding such a fundamental teaching, then why won’t you leave?
Hi Anonymous, Our rule here is that he who asks the first challenging question must be willing to answer first. So I would ask you two related questions: 1) Just prior to the destruction of Babylon the Great, God’s people are told to get out of her if they do not want to share with her in her sins and receive part of her plagues. (Re 18:4) How is it that God’s people are still in Babylon the Great right up to the very end? 2) The wheat is only distinguished from the weeds at the very end, at the… Read more »
We did. Then Rutherford sowed some bad seeds again. 75% got out of her in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has become Babylon. Many wheats are coming out. Just like the original church after the death of the apostles. They went into an apostasy. Then after Russell died another apostasy. There are many parallels between what happens with the early church and what happened with the WTS. Here is a discourse by a Bible Student who draws parallels between Babylon and WTS after the death of the apostles and Russell. Allen Springer – The Third… Read more »
So, just having listened to the talk – The Third Babylon – it seems clear the Organization has, like all other human organizations drifted away from the Real Truth. This shows up then the fundamental flaw with ALL human societies, so it beggars the question: Where do we go away to? Having been baptized a Witness in the early 60s, I was zealous for ‘the truth’. I pioneered I moved from UK to America and continued pioneering. I served at Brooklyn Bethel and afterwards served in a variety of capacities. I think in the 80s about the time Raymond Franz… Read more »
Christian: initially it is not where to go to but whom to go to, that being our Lord Jesus Christ, John 14:6, Acts 4:12. You need to believe in Christ (John 1:12) which means entrusting your life to him and becoming a child of God not just his friend, Knowing (Greek Ginosko) Christ(John 17:3) means more than knowing about him but also having an intimate personal relationship with him sustained through communicating with him (John 14:14 (“ask ME” in the Greek); 1 Corinthians :2; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10) and worshipping him as well as the Father (Revelation 5:11-14). If you “come”… Read more »
The millennium is a time of learning for those who have not become Christians. Why do you think there is a trail again at the end of the 1000 years? (Rev 20:3) The bible says that all will be resurrected (John 5:28,29) and that some would be judged for life and some to judgement. The word for judgment has been mistranslated to “damnation”. But what happens during judgement? “When your judgements come upon the earth the inhabitants will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). How can they learn righteousness in the resurrection if they have to learn righteousness now or suffer eternal… Read more »
And when things go wrong its an individual thing not an org thing, usually it is unseen circumstances befall us all.
Like this poor JW doing his field ministry. Won’t see this in the WT study.
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/out-control-dog-bites-man-10159291
Hello Meleti, I am always up for challenging questions. However, I am afraid that my answer will mostly amount to, “I don’t know”. 1. Revelation 18:4 says, “And I heard another voice out of heaven say: ‘Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.'” However, it is unclear that this statement is in fact “just prior to the destruction of Babylon the Great” as you put it. As anyone who has attempted to understand Revelation can attest to,… Read more »
Thank you for answering those questions, and your answer, “I don’t know”, mirrors mine. I too can see the possibility that there will be faithful Christians serving alongside those not chosen for the heavenly reward right up to the end. It brings to mind this scripture: “Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned.” (Mt 24:40, 41) The men are working in the same field, the women are grinding at the… Read more »
Just to think a little bit out of the scriptural box 🙂
What if Revelations was written before Jerusalem was destroyed and what if Babylon the Great actually meant Jerusalem, a place where also a lot of false religion took place as well as politics?
In line with the counsel to flee the city and go to the mountains, this could mean the same: flee BG or suffer what will happen.
Just a thought….
meleti, I’m still trying to work out the point you make at Matthew 24:40,41?
It’s called family. Some of us have young children, and they would not understand the whole family shunning thing. It’s difficult being a born in. Like the Royal Commision brought out, we are truly a captive organisation. Is that so difficult to comprehend?
For a Christian, there is no guarantee that we will not lose our children, or other family members (Matthew 10:34-37). If we are going to lose our children, then better to lose them for the right reasons. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children God’s Word. Do we really want the Society to teach our children, filling their minds with corrupt and false teachings, denying them an education and a normal life. We can only teach our children to be strong, if we are strong. Yes, the shunning is hard, and for some it can mean isolation… Read more »
You are making an assumption there, that leaving equates to following Christ. Each one bears his own load, and being a true Christian is shown by our works. You do not know my personal situation, and I will not tell it to you. But it might change your perspective. Neither do I know yours, nor would I judge you for it. I find Jesus at John 3:18-21 to be comforting.
Anonymous, You say “You are making an assumption there, that leaving equates to following Christ.” Many have decided to leave WT because they believe that in order to follow Christ that was the right thing for them to do. On the other hand there are those who for reasons known to themselves, they have decided to stay. Each of us has the right to make that choice, and I make no judgements – I leave that to Jesus Christ. Whatever and whenever you decide, I wish you well. I have no argument with you, and I am glad you find… Read more »
Why do people stay in a bad marriage or abusive relationship? It is so easy to just leave right? Everyone’s life circumstances are different