FOOD FOR THINKING JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
Jesus made a true statement in #Joh 8:32 when he said, "You will know the truth, and the truth
shall set you free." (NWT) Jesus said those words to the Jews who believed
on him, but also in the hearing of the Scribes and Pharisees who wanted to kill
him. The question then arises, how were those Jews who believed on him to be
made free? Free from what? As they said, they were not in bondage to anyone.
But we ask, were they really free?
It seems quite clear that Jesus was
referring to the traditions and teachings of the Pharisees. As he pointed out
in the 23rd chapter of Matthew (#Mt 23), though
they claimed to sit in Moses’ seat, they did not follow the teachings of Moses,
but bound up heavy loads on men. Claiming to sit in Moses’ seat, and that
Abraham was their father, they took the position that they were the successors
of Moses and Abraham by Jehovah’s arrangement. Therefore, whatever
interpretation they put upon the law was to be accepted as though from God.
That position and attitude has prevailed
these many years even to this day. It was shortly after the Apostles passed
from the scene that the Catholic Church came into existence. They took that
same position: that now they were the channel by which the great God Jehovah
was dealing with his people. They claimed that Peter was the first Pope, that
from that time all Popes were successors to Peter, and whatever the Catholic
Church was to bind on earth was to be bound in heaven. If one were to sin
against or disagree with them on spiritual matters, that one was considered
sinning against God. Many Protestant churches have made similar claims. Today
we have yet another organization making the same claim, i.e., that they are the
channel by which Jehovah God is now dealing with his people. That channel is
what this organization likes to call "the faithful and discreet slave
class" who in turn use the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society to publish
what it likes to call "the truth" or "newly revealed truth from
Jehovah God.ö
That the Watchtower Society takes the
position that it is used by Jehovah, by and through this "faithful and
discreet slave class" is well documented in its publications. It says this
class is in fullfillment of Matt. 24:45-47, and that Jehovah God is now using
them to disseminate Bible truths by and through the Watchtower Bible & Tract
Society and by the use of the Watchtower magazine.
(See The Watchtower, May 1, 1993, pages
16, 17 par. 6-8.) The Watchtower of September 1, 1991 on pages 18, 19,
paragraph 15, under the heading "Jehovah and Christ-Foremost
Communicators," endeavors to relate the "Society" with Jehovah’s
channel of communication. They claim that this line of communication started
with Abel down through the Apostles and then to our day culminating with the
"Society." (Watchtower December 1, 1991, page 10). Even stronger words
are used in The Watchtower of October 15, 1985, pages 30, 31,"questions
From Readers", where it compares the Society to being Jehovah’s wife,
making the organization the mother to all its adherents. Stronger yet, is a
statement made in The Watchtower, 1965, page 351, in answer to a "Question
from readers" which asks the question, "How can it be said that God’s
visible organization was made strictly Theocratic structure by 1938? In
summary, their answer is that by 1932 ‘the Watchtower Society began to be
controlled by God or was God ruled, and by 1938 was fully God ruled or fully
Theocratic. By their own claim, all scriptural explanation comes from Jehovah
God and is published in the Watchtower. Now if this be true, then there will be
no contradiction or changing of explanation from one Watchtower to another.
Stated another way, what was published as truth since 1938 must still be truth
today. (#Mal 3:6) With this thought in mind, let us go on
to see if the facts support their contention. Is the Watchtower Society
(Channel) indeed as unchanging as the God it claims to represent?
In the book entitled "Jehovah’s
Witnesses in the Divine Purpose," written in dialogue fashion, on page 14,
mention is made that for the first time, in 1929, the Watchtower made known to
their people the true meaning of #Ro 13:1-7;
namely that Paul in this scripture was not referring to the governments of this
world, but was referring to Jehovah God and Christ Jesus. This thought is
reiterated in the June 15, 1955 Watchtower on pages 367-8 , in an article
entitled; "Part 12: An Era of Prophesied Happiness Begins." There it
states; "Timely was the new light of truth on the subject of the
"higher powers" published in The Watchtower for June 1 and June 15,
1929, showing clearly that Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are the true
"superior authorities" that must be obeyed. (#Ro 13:1, NW)" Again note what was written in The Watchtower,
1962, page 683, par. 7, discussing this same subject. "Paul is telling
God’s holy ones how to conduct themselves among men outside the Christian
congregation, ‘all men’ including even an enemy who does evil to Christians,
hence an individual found outside the congregation,’ then, right afterwards,
Paul not inspasses on to his discussion of the ‘Superior Authorities’ and thus
has his sights focused on, not what is inside the congregation, but what is
outside it. So the ‘Superior Authorities’ have their setting logically in the
world outside the congregation ...*" Note the asterisk at the end of the
quote, which refers to a footnote at the bottom of the page.
That footnote refers to "The Divine
Plan of the Ages", a book written in 1886 by the founder of the Watchtower
Bible & Tract Society, Charles Taze Russell. The reference is to page 266
which gives in effect the same explanation now given by the Watchtower of 1962
on Rom. 13:1-7. If the "Channel" became cleansed in and after 1919,
and was completely cleansed by 1938, and as stated in the Watchtower 1959, page
601, the elective Elders before that time were not mature or theocratic, why
does that channel now go back to the explanation given in 1886? What happened
to that "Channel" from 1919 or 1938 to 1962? Had it been tuned to the
wrong station?
In the June 15th 1987 Watchtower on page
18 under the article entitled "Testing and Sifting in Modern Times",
the Society list certain years and the important significance of those year, it
states; "1962: The "superior authorities" of Romans 13:1 were
properly identified as being the secular governmental authorities, to whom
Christians are to be in relative subjection." And in the November 1, 1990
Watchtower on page 11, paragraph 4, in the article "The Christian’s View
of the Superior Authorities" notice what is written; "For some years,
until 1962, Jehovah’s Witnesses held that the superior authorities were Jehovah
God and Christ Jesus. However, in line with Proverbs 4:18, light increased, and
this view was adjusted, which may raise questions in the minds of some..Are we
now correct in saying that these authorities are the kings, presidents, prime
ministers, mayors, magistrates, and others who wield secular, political power
in the world and that we owe them subjection in a relative way?ö
As you can see all reference to the book
"The Divine Plan of the Ages" is omitted, in fact any reference to
the beliefs prior to 1929 are omitted. While many examples could be given of
their doubly changing explanation of scripture, one more should suffice. That
is their explanation of the resurrection of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. First,
let it be pointed out that sincere Bible students, who were once associated
with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, including C. T. Russell, believed
and taught that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will be resurrected during the
Millennium, and for that matter still do. Even J. F. Rutherford taught the
same. (See the first Watchtower, July 1879, page 8, and "Studies in the
Scriptures" by C. T. Russell, also the book Creation by J. F. Rutherford.)
Now then, reviewing the Watchtowers from 1952 to 1992, keep in mind that the
"Faithful and discreet slave class" who publish "The
Watchtower" is supposed to be the "Channel" used by Jehovah God.
"... Our previous consideration of #2Pe 2:5-9, has shown that those destroyed by God at Sodom and
Gomorrah are eternally cut off ..."( Watchtower, 1952, page 335, par. 8)
"... So those who die at Armageddon will pay the same penalty as the
people of Sodom did, that is, they will not have a "resurrection of
‘judgement’ during the 1,000 year judgment day, but they will stay dead forever
(Watchtower, 1955, page 200, par. 2, top of page) "Since the supreme judge
never makes a mistake, there is no need for him to take under review any
judgments that he has passed. His Judgments are final. That means the people that
perished in the flood of Noah’s day will never be resurrected to stand trial
again. ‘The same is true with the people of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as Adam
and Eve ..."( Watchtower, 1960, page 53, par. 4) Now note the complete
reversal of that position as published in the Watchtower of 1965, in an article
entitled "Who will be resurrected from the dead," page 137, quoting
from par. 15, "... Were those Sodomites worse than the rest of the
Canaanites? No; ... And Peter does not say that the Sodomites and Gomorreans
were destroyed everlastingly ..." Again, after quoting from Jesus’ words
at Matt. 10:15, it makes this statement, "... It would be necessary for
former inhabitants of that land to be present on the judgment day (Watchtower,
1965, page 479).
Now let us go see another reversal of that
position as published in the Watchtower of June 1, 1988 on page 30: "A
reexamination of #Mt 11:20-24, though, has brought into question
whether Jesus was there discussing eternal judgment and resurrection. His point
was how unresponsive the people in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were and
how unlikely it was that they would reform even in the Judgment Day. Saying
that it would be "more endurable" for Tyre/Sidon and Sodom/Gomorrah
"on Judgment Day" was a form of hyperbole (exaggeration to emphasize
a point) that Jesus need not have intended to be taken literally, any more than
other graphic hyperboles that he used. " In all our research, we can find
no admission that any misunderstanding or mistake was made in previous Watchtowers,
or previous "Truths" which were claimed to come from Jehovah since
1938, . implying that any wrong understanding came from a time before 1938. Yet
in regard to the above-mentioned examples (the Superior Authorities, and the
Sodomites) The Watchtower again endorses the old truths, rather than the
"New Light." We can only ask, was the God of the Watchtower Society
confused before 1988 or is he confused now? If the Watchtower Society is now
God ruled, is it the one described in #2Co 11: 12-15?
In view of the foregoing, one cannot help
but see a parallel between the Watchtower Society and the Catholic Church. Both
claim succession to previous channels instituted by God. Both claim the
exclusive right to interpret the Bible, both will disfellowship their own if
the right to dictate to their members is questioned. Both rule by fear, in the
case of the Catholic Church, it is fear of Hell fire or purgatory, in the case
of the Watchtower Society it is an everlasting cutting off, or second death.
There is one notable difference however.
While the Catholic Church held their people in bondage by ignorance of
scripture, the "Society" holds their people in bondage by expedient
misapplication of scripture. And if one wants to be in good standing "with
Jehovah" then one dare not question this so called "Channel."
The penalty is being disfellowshipped, or totally alienated from all other
members. Is this the Christian way? We think not. #Re 18:4
But where will you go? Jehovah knows when
even the sparrow falls; God’s arm is not shortened that it cannot save. The
Bible assures us of that. If reasonable doubts have been raised in your mind,
call now upon those true promises of Jehovah, and know that he is able to guide
you and set you free of such human fears. Your Bible has the same truthful
words and promises that other Bibles do. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in study
and Christian works. #2Ti 1:7
There are many "Free" Bible
student groups which do not bind and enslave members by regimentation and fear
tactics. Some of these date back to the days of Pastor Russell and are not
bound by creed fences, but are free to appreciate the truth. You will find
these groups happy to include you in their fellowship and witness activities,
and just as willing to allow you the freedom to go elsewhere if you choose. Why
not look up one of them today? You will find they speak the same language you
do. The address given below will bring all the information you will need.
Associated Bible Students or find us at
www.biblestudents.net P.O. Box 1644 Union, NJ 07830
Or E-mail us: BibleStudent@juno.com