No doubt the hardest working cultists are the JW's. WOW, can they work!! But hey, if you promote that you are saved through your works then people will work.
Let's look at what this hellish religion believes.
- There is one God in one person, Make Sure of All Things, p 188.
- There is no Trinity, Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386.
- The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 406-407.
- The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force, The Watchtower, June 1, 1952, p. 24.
- Jehovah's first creation was his 'only-begotten Son'. . . was used by Jehovah in creating all other things", Aid to Bible Understanding, pp. 390-391.
- Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The Watchtower, May 15, 1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.
- Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 306.
- Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body, Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4.
- Jesus was raised "not a human creature, but a spirit." Let God be True, p. 276.
- Jesus was born again, The Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1954, p. 682.
- Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 89-90.
- Jesus began his invisible rule over the earth in 1914, The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300.
- There is no Trinity, Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386.
- The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 406-407.
- The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force, The Watchtower, June 1, 1952, p. 24.
- Jehovah's first creation was his 'only-begotten Son'. . . was used by Jehovah in creating all other things", Aid to Bible Understanding, pp. 390-391.
- Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The Watchtower, May 15, 1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.
- Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 306.
- Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body, Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4.
- Jesus was raised "not a human creature, but a spirit." Let God be True, p. 276.
- Jesus was born again, The Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1954, p. 682.
- Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 89-90.
- Jesus began his invisible rule over the earth in 1914, The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300.
- Jesus' ransom sacrifice did not include Adam, Let God be True, p. 119.
- Their church is the self-proclaimed prophet of God, The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p. 197.
- They claim to be the only channel of God's truth, The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 19.
- Only their church members will be saved, The Watchtower, Feb, 15, 1979, p. 30.
- Good works are necessary for salvation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 150, 152.
- The soul ceases to exist after death, Let God be True, p. 59, 60, 67.
- There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished, Let God be True, p. 79, 80.
- Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to heaven, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121.
- Only the 144,000 Jehovah's Witness are born again. Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 76.; Watchtower 11/15/54, p. 681.
- Blood transfusions are a sin, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 72-73.
- The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 90-92.
- Salvation is by faith and what you do, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 150,152.
- It is possible to lose your salvation, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 358-359.
- The universe is billions of years old, Your will Be Done on Earth, p. 43.
- Each of the 6 creative days of God in Genesis 1, was 7000 years long. Therefore, Man was created toward the end of 42,000 years of earth's preparation, Let God be True, p. 168.
- Their church is the self-proclaimed prophet of God, The Watchtower, April 1, 1972, p. 197.
- They claim to be the only channel of God's truth, The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981, p. 19.
- Only their church members will be saved, The Watchtower, Feb, 15, 1979, p. 30.
- Good works are necessary for salvation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 150, 152.
- The soul ceases to exist after death, Let God be True, p. 59, 60, 67.
- There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished, Let God be True, p. 79, 80.
- Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to heaven, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121.
- Only the 144,000 Jehovah's Witness are born again. Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 76.; Watchtower 11/15/54, p. 681.
- Blood transfusions are a sin, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 72-73.
- The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 90-92.
- Salvation is by faith and what you do, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 150,152.
- It is possible to lose your salvation, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 358-359.
- The universe is billions of years old, Your will Be Done on Earth, p. 43.
- Each of the 6 creative days of God in Genesis 1, was 7000 years long. Therefore, Man was created toward the end of 42,000 years of earth's preparation, Let God be True, p. 168.
- Satan was entrusted with the obligation and charged with the duty of overseeing the creation of the earth, Children, p 55
In the end the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society is the god of the JW's. Whatever the Watchtower prints it is absolute truth and cannot be questioned.
In the end the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society is the god of the JW's. Whatever the Watchtower prints it is absolute truth and cannot be questioned.
When you study with the Jehovah's Witness, you agree to attend five meetings a week where you are taught from Watchtower literature. You cannot be baptized until you have studied their material for at least six months and have answered numerous questions before a panel of elders. Men are not supposed have long hair or wear beards and women are to dress in modest apparel. They refuse to vote, salute the flag, sing the "Star Spangled Banner, celebrate birthdays or Christmas, won't take blood transfusions, and they can't join the armed forces. A schedule of door-to-door canvassing is required where you distribute the Watchtower literature, acquire donations, and forward all monies to the headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. If you ever leave the Jehovah's Witness organization, you are considered an apostate and are to be shunned.
Here is a little interesting side-note. The JW's bible (small "b" because their bible does not deserve a "B") is the New World Translation. They have done their best to remove references that would give any idea that Jesus is God in the flesh. I have learned over the years that they did not do a good enough job removing all occurances. If a JW comes to your door have them bring out their bible and go over these verses with them in this order:
-Ask them in Rev. 1.8 who the Alpha and the Omega is. They will say God.
-Then ask them to turn to Rev. 21.5-7. Ask them again who is the Alpha and the Omega. They will say God.
-Then ask them to turn to Rev. 22.13. Ask them again who is the Alpha and the Omega. They will say God.
-Lastly, ask them to turn to Rev. 1.17-18. Ask them who the First and the Last is in v. 17. They should say God. Then ask them who is this in v. 18 who died. Only Jesus, God in the flesh died and rose again.
Also, another note. The next time you have one come to your door, offer him/her a gospel tract or some Christian literature. A good JW WILL NOT take your literature because it is false to them. Then you tell them you will not take their literature if they will not take yours.
8 comments:
You have an extensive list of so-called false teachings. The only problem is that all the ones you say are false are actually true. My experience is that, as with most things like this, it's personal. You simply do not like Jehovah's Witnesses. Let's call a spade a spade.
"The only problem is that all the ones you say are false are actually true."
Anonymous, this is a brilliant comment!!
By the way, how can all of the belief systems that I have mentioned be true?
I guess if I were wearing holy underwear, not believing in Hell, fasting on October 31, and selling indulgences I might understand.
You still have not addressed the issue. You simply don't like Jehovah's Witnesses. There is little need attempting to discuss your points if you already have a "I don't like Jehovah's Witnesses" agenda. By the way, sarcasm seldom proves the veracity of ones point. A more level headed approach might allow for intelligent discussion. Of course, that is too easy and you will likely respond to this with more venom.
You have still failed to address my point. Are you bias against Jehovah's Witnesses in general? If so, then of course your argument is slanted by your agenda. By the way, rarely does sarcasm, especially from one claiming to be a pastor, add weight to the veracity of one's views.
anonymous,
I will answer your question.
I have absolutely nothing against JW's on a personal level. I know them to be very moral people who are extremely committed to their belief system. I happen to know a gentleman near me who is a JW who I have a conversation with everytime I see him. He is a kind fellow.
You have yet to answer this statement...
"The only problem is that all the ones you say are false are actually true."
This is logically and Scripturally impossible.
Lastly, as a pastor I will write what I wish as long as it:
1. Does not bring dishonor to God
2. Does not bring dishonor to the people of God
3. Does nothing to harm my testimony of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
"I guess if I were wearing holy underwear, not believing in Hell, fasting on October 31, and selling indulgences I might understand."
-holy underwear-Mormon
-not believing in Hell-JW
-fasting-a reference to Islam's tenets
-October 31-Halloween
-selling indulgences-Catholicism
DT
Well I do appreciate your "kindler, gentler" approach. You have many questions that would take hours to address with the back and forth of the internet world. All of your issues can be intelligently addressed, using your Bible, whatever the version with a qualified Jehovah's Witness. Indeed, the exchange need not be argumentative. Rather a look into the Bible as the final dterminer of what is true and what is false. By the way, let me issue one of the long-standing so-called false prophecies of Jehovah's Witnesses to look out for in the near future. An examination of the Bible indicates that very soon the political powers spearheaded by the United Nations will ban all religion around the world. Sounds incredible and as far as I know, no other religious organization shares that view. My point is this - If you do see that come to pass, then I would quickly take a harder look at Jehovah's Witnesses. Lastly, there is a series of questions that Solomon asks at Proverbs 30:4. I invite you to answer them. Do have a good day and that I mean sincerely.
I did want to mention that many of your excerpts from Jehovah's Witness publications are from books written 75 years ago or more. Over time we have changed some of our viewpoints, which is the course of humility. As a sidebar I would mention that the foundation of our Bible-based beliefs have not changed but some minor viewpoints, in some cases, have. Personally I prefer that over religions that doggedly refuse to change a viewpoint when clearly shown that it is inaccurate.
Often what I find, because I speak to many people in our Biblical sanctioned house-to-house work, is that religiously-oriented people, in all good intention, will take a scripture such as John 1:1 and say that it proves that Jesus and God are the same. From face value it does appear that way. The problem is they will then ignore five other scriptures that indicate differently. One can not have their cake and eat it too. We can not pick and choose the scriptures that appeal to us because they support our point and ignore the others that do not. Bottom line - the Bible is totally harmonious; therefore, if something seems to contradict something else, then obviously the problem is not with the Bible's harmony. The problem must be that somewhere along the line we are not seeing things properly. Our task would be to get to the bottom of what seems to be the contradiction rather than simply extracting a single scripture that supports your viewpoint and ignoring five others that do not.
This searching of the scriptures is what we all need to do.
Some thoughts - not an argument - simply another point of view.
This is an interesting thread with good points on both sides. I personally do not have anything against JWs as I am married to one....other than the fact that they truly believe that they are the chosen ones ("in the truth") and that you cannot "know" the truth outside of the JW Organization.
Is the Creator of everything really that small that we need to "join" a man-made organization in order to be one of His children??? What about the book of life? What about the fact that salvation is a gift that cannot be earned?
I agree whole-heartedly with the statement made that we (Christians) cannot pick and choose what parts of the Bible we want to believe. It is either the Word of God or it isn't. There really is no middle ground here.
As for the Organization, I have done much studying with a few different elders, a PO and on my own. I have uncovered more than a few problems with the religion that nobody within the religion wants to address due to the difficult nature of my straight-forward questions.
How can that be of God or "YHWH" to be precise? Doesn't He know all? If the Organization is directly led by the Holy Spirit, how can it have been wrong so many times in the past 100 years?
We, as Christians, have to keep our eyes open, stay open to God's truth (not man's) and be prepared for what is to come because I think we can all agree that we are in the "last times" dictated by John in the book of Revelation.
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