Did Jesus Really Die on a Cross?

From the website of Jehovah's Witnesses. Notice how two questions are asked;

• did Jesus really die on a cross?
• should Christians use the cross as an object of veneration?

Look at that picture. Imagine you're an "honest-hearted one" and you've visited the Watch Tower's website for more information. Your heart is breaking and you're burdened down with guilt about your sin and separation from your Father in heaven. The first thing you see on the website is a picture of the cross. But does the article address Christ's death to atone for your sins and the wonderful freedom he bought for you through his death, how his righteousness is imputed to you, making you right with God and giving you the rights of a child of the King?

No.

The article is all about whether Jesus really died on the cross. Once again, the Watch Tower Society chooses to preach a different gospel and steers people away from Jesus and his crucifixion [1] [2] [3].

Why do the Governing Body object to the cross? They try to claim Jesus did not die on a cross, but rather an upright stake. They make the assertion that the cross is a pagan phallic symbol*, which it probably was at one point**. 

But does the cross being pagan and phallic mean that Jesus wasn't executed by the Romans on one? Let's imagine that history is as ambiguous as the Governing Body claim and that Jesus did not die on a cross. What would that prove?

Well, that leads us into the second question.

Should Christians use the cross as an object of veneration? Absolutely not. Flee from the use of idols, the Bible says. I've been attending churches for almost two years and I've never seen the cross venerated or idolised or used in worship. I've seen people get a bit emotional when they meditate on what happened on the cross, ie. Jesus dying in agony for our sins. But that doesn't equate to veneration.

The point is, the Governing Body loves to create these little straw men arguments; did Jesus really die on a cross? But what does it matter! They pour out gallons of ink to argue that he died on a stake, but completely miss the point; he died for our sins! The method of execution is secondary, why get so hung up on it (no pun intended)? Jesus could have been shot with a rifle. The same end purpose would have been achieved; his punishment for the forgiveness of our sins. I would love to see the Watchtower magazine spend as much time and effort on that topic as they do on trying to debunk the cross as Jesus' means of execution.

But then, Jehovah's Witnesses need reasons to prove to themselves that they are the true religion. 'Judge' Rutherford carefully created a siege mentality among the Witnesses, making them more and more 'different' from Christendom. After all, when Jesus allegedly chose the Watch Tower Society in 1919 they used the cross on the cover of their main Bible-teaching publication. He clearly didn't have problem with it 91 years ago. The cross is one way that JWs believe they are superior from Christians; they reject that Jesus died on a cross and reject veneration of the cross.

Just because, though, Catholics use the cross in worship does not mean that Christians do so. And it also doesn't mean that Christ didn't really die on one.

Jehovah's Witnesses, please start directing attention to Jesus Christ alone, and not your unique beliefs.

* what is an upright stake if not phallic? And as for pagan, research the sacrificial poles that the Ba'al worshippers used. Both pagan and phallic.

** the Watchtower's double-standard kicks in here; the cross was perhaps once viewed as pagan and phallic, but is that the case these days? What about wedding rings, pinatas, etc?

Light Getting Brighter? Jehovah's Witnesses and the Worship of Jesus

StandFirm claims that Christianity has moved into darkness in the 2000 or so years since Christ's ascended to heaven. Christ himself claimed that he'd be with Christians until the end of the age and Revelation describes him as walking among the churches on earth, having all authority on heaven and on earth. You'd think Jesus would be able to prevent his people falling into spiritual darkness. However, StandFirm, as a Jehovah's Witness, adheres to the Watch Tower Society's view that apostasy spread like gangrene throughout Christianity from the death of the last Apostle until the late 1800s when young entrepreneur Charles T Russell started reading Adventist literature, and under the tutelage of Nathan Barbour, began printing the Watchtower magazine.

At this time, light began to shine again in Christianity, according to the Watch Tower Society's version of it's history, and God's approval settled on Russell, leading him to proclaim such "good news" as Christ's invisible return with Kingdom power in 1874 and Armageddon's outbreak in 1914 and that God is known as Jehovah. Russell formed the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and throughout the years produced a number of articles that advocated the worship of Jesus Christ as Lord and King. For example;

"Question. The fact that our Lord received worship is claimed by some to be an evidence that while on earth he was God the Father disguised in a body of flesh and not really a man. Was he really worshiped, or is the translation faulty? Answer. Yes, we believe our Lord Jesus while on earth was really worshiped, and properly so. … It was proper for our Lord to receive worship in view of his having been the only begotten of the Father and his agent in the creation of all things, including man." Zion's Watch Tower 1898 July 15 p.216 [emphasis, of course, added]

 And another;

"It seems clear that His Divinity was retained in humanity because He repeatedly spoke of Himself as having come down from heaven, and because He, though passing through trial and sorrow as a man, was yet possessed of the authority and exercised the prerogatives of a God. He was the object of unreproved worship even when a babe, by the wise men who came to see the new-born King. Matt. 2:2-11. Even the angels delighted to do Him honor. "When He bringeth the first-begotten into the world, He saith, "And let all the angels of God worship Him." Heb. 1:6. He never reproved any one for acts of worship offered to Himself, but when Cornelius offered such service to Peter--the leading apostle-- "he took him up, saying, stand up; I myself also am a man." .... Had Christ not been more than a man the same reason would have prevented from receiving worship...." Zion's Watch Tower 1880 Oct pp.2,3 [emphasis, of course, added]

It's important for Jehovah's Witnesses and neutrals alike to note that such material was viewed as "spiritual food" at the "proper time" and contributed to the view among the Bible Students (as Jehovah's Witnesses were then known) that Russell was the "faithful and discreet slave" (Matt 24:45-47). We're led to believe that the content of the spiritual food produced by Russell in the pages of the Watchtower magazine, and other publications, was a contributing factor in Jesus Christ choosing the Watch Tower Society (or the "anointed" Witnesses who associate with this corporation) as the "faithful and discreet slave" class.

So, there was a time when Jehovah's Witnesses worshipped Jesus Christ, just as was the case in the 1st Century, as borne out by the inspired text of the New Testament (Matt 2:11, Matt 14:33, John 9:38).


Through time, the Witnesses adopted a legal charter that outlined the purpose of their organisation. The charter was updated in the 1940s and referenced again in the 1970s before being amended in 1999.

Included in this charter is the following;

To quote;

...and for public Christian worship of Almighty God and Christ Jesus...

Part of the darkness that StandFirm attests Christians have fallen into is the belief that Jesus should be worshipped. To quote;

StandFirm said...

Mark Hunter,

If the first-century Christians did not believe something then we should not believe it either on the basis of Acts 20:30, 1 Timothy 4:1, Matthew 13:24-30, etc.

I submit that what you've fallen for is not new light but actually old darkness. 

So, according to StandFirm, he believes that worshipping Jesus is tantamount to going after the teachings of demons. In other words, to worship Jesus Christ is actually twisted and demonic. Of course, he fails to provide scriptural direction that Acts 20:30, for example, pertains to worshipping Jesus.


But that isn't the point. The point is, the founder of the Watch Tower Society believed that Jesus is to be worshipped. For the first 70 or 80 years of its existence the Society taught, was indeed set up to promote, the worship of Jesus Christ. In fact, the publication "Reasoning from the Sciptures" states on page 214, subheading;
"Does the fact that worship is given to Jesus prove that he is God?"


This is puzzling. The "Reasoning" book is current Witness literature and should be considered "new" or "current light", and it states that it's a fact that Jesus is given worship. Is this Watch Tower publication advocating the twisted teachings of demons?


But none of this is really the point. The issue is the idea of the light getting brighter. StandFirm contests that to believe something other than the 1st Century Christians is to be in darkness. What's interesting about this is that the 1st Century Christians worshipped Jesus. Charles T Russell said we should worship Jesus. The legal charter of the Watch Tower Society said we should worship Jesus. The "Reasoning" book says it's a fact that Jesus is worshipped.


StandFirm contests we shouldn't believe things that weren't believed by the 1st C Christians. He includes the worship of Jesus with this, even though he doesn't have a scriptural leg to stand on. But his principle can, and should, be applied to the following;

• Christ's invisible return in 1914
• the appointment of the Watch Tower Society/anointed within that group as the "faithful and discreet slave" class in 1919
• the necessity of that organisation to mankind's salvation

So, who really is in the spiritual dark? Those who worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or those who trust in the son of earthling man to whom no salvation belongs?

Does Mankind Need to Trust the Messenger to Receive Salvation?

 Mike Felker once again has his finger on the Governing Body's pulse, as demonstrated by this critique of the September 15th Study Edition of the Watchtower. However, within the comments of his blog post, there was complete silence from the Jehovah's Witness apologists. Eventually one anonymous person gave some responses to Mike's post, but failed completely to address any of the inherent issues raised by Mike.

Then along comes Steven who had the the following to contribute (in part, address to my questions for Jehovah's Witnesses about how they deal with John 5:22,23), you can read his full comment here. The gist of his response (although I'd urge you to click through and read it) is that we need to trust, or place our confidence, in "the messenger" (which I assume is the Governing Body), even though the messenger is imperfect and makes mistakes.

This is my response to Steven.

"I believe the question has been asked and answered. You disagree. Do you really want to know the answer?"

I'm sorry, but I don't see any of my questions about Jehovah's Witnesses and John 5:22,23 answered. Perhaps you could direct me to them.

"If you really believe we are in the last days, it would be prudent to ensure that you are doing what is required by God. That is what’s really critical for all at this point."

I agree. Finding out what God requires is important, and the Bible doesn't make it complicated. All who confess Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that he was raised will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

"So, it is clear that the focus is not so much on the messenger but the message."

Interesting. What if the messenger keeps getting the message wrong? What if the messenger proclaims certain years as being important, such as 1874, 1878, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975 etc? What if those proclamation prove to be baseless? Should we keep paying attention to the message of this messenger?

Further to that, what if the messenger proclaims to understand what Jesus evidently meant when he used the word 'generation'? What if each one of the messengers claims of what Jesus "evidently" meant by 'generation' are thrown out. By the messenger.
How much stock would we be expected to place in this imperfect, uninspired messenger who keeps getting important parts of the message completely wrong?

"Who ever can accurately answers to these questions using God’s word is the one you should be putting your confidence. And make no mistake about it, they will be imperfect and make mistakes!!!!!"

This is a very telling statement and it's one that could only come from a person steeped in Watch Tower Society rhetoric, that somehow mankind needs to find an imperfect, uninspired group of people with a track record of making mistakes, and in some way place it's confidence in them for salvation.

However, if this was Jehovah's plan all along (i.e. rely entirely on a mistake-prone, imperfect, uninspired group of men using the Watch Tower Society as a publishing corporation) then why did he bother sending Jesus to an agonising death?

Further to that, your position of directing confidence towards a group of imperfect, flawed (i.e. getting the message, at times, completely wrong and have to totally reverse the content of the message several times, such as in the 'generation') men, is not supported in any way by scripture.

Yes, you can cite Old Testament/Old Covenant prophets. But Christians are told that God's law is written on our hearts.

Here's where, scripturally, you run into trouble with your position of having to trust imperfect men for salvation;

• Rom. 5:1, "therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
• Rom. 10:4, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."
• Gal. 2:21, I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
• Gal. 3:24, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith."
• Eph. 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. 9Not by works, lest any man should boast."

I really hope you'll see the need to get to know Jesus and simply trust him for your salvation. He alone is the way, the truth and the life. He alone is the way to salvation, dying for our sins so that we can be given his righteousness and be reconciled to God through him (2 Cor 5:18-21).

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Preach Christ?

Download PDF scan of the July 2010 Kingdom Ministry

Today the Christian Gospel message centres squarely and completely on the underserved crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the subsequent forgiveness of sins for those who believe and trust in his name, Lordship and resurrection.

This was the entirety of Paul's preaching, as borne out by such verses as 1 Cor 2:1,2

1 And so I, when I came to YOU, brothers, did not come with an extravagance of speech or of wisdom declaring the sacred secret of God to YOU. 2 For I decided not to know anything among YOU except Jesus Christ, and him impaled

Paul later wrote to the Galatian Christians, warming them that if anyone ever came preaching a different Gospel they (the one doing the preaching) were to be condemned;

Gal 1:8 However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to YOU as good news something beyond what we declared to YOU as good news, let him be accursed. 

Jehovah's Witnesses have no scriptural defence for their choosing to be identified as witnesses of Jehovah rather than witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:8). However, I wonder if they have any scriptural defence for not preaching Christ and his crucifixion?

For example, look at the excerpt from July's Kingdom Ministry. This is the section of the monthly bulletin that provides faithful Jehovah's Witnesses with the suggested presentations to use in their door-to-door preaching work. Let's overlook the peddling of literature encouraged by such presentations, but rather focus on the themes of their preaching;

• terminal illness
• women clergy
• nuclear war/ecological disaster
• Jehovah's Witnesses and their door-to-door work

From a purely Christian perspective, how closely do these topics resemble the Christian Gospel as preached by Paul? Remember, Paul choose to preach nothing but Christ and his crucifixion, beautifully summarising what Christ achieved, not for Jehovah but for those who believe and trust in Christ, when he willingly laid his life down;

2 Cor 5:21 The one who did not know sin he made to be sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness by means of him.

Wow! How amazingly simple but powerful; Christ became our sin so that by means of him we might become his righteousness! What an amazing message. No wonder it's called "good news".

Also, notice how few times Jesus Christ features as part of their initial presentation; no times!

So, can an active Jehovah's Witness explain to me, please, why they'd choose to knock on people's doors and endeavour to engage them on such topics listed above? Why choose these topics over simply preaching Christ and his crucifixion? If Jesus Christ is the name given to men by which they are to be saved, why don't you even mention him? (Acts 4:12, Acts 5:42)


If you're calling on people who are destined for eternal destruction because they are separate from God, and if the Bible is right in teaching that the separation can only be fixed through Jesus Christ, why wouldn't that be the first and only thing you'd want to speak to them about?


I wonder if the reason is more than the Witnesses' simple desire to unquestioningly obey the Governing Body's direction in all matters, including choice of preaching topic. I wonder if it runs deeper. Perhaps the 7 million Jehovah's Witnesses who choose to speak to the doomed about women in the clergy rather that going to the crux of the matter about Christ is because they know, deep down, that all of the promises, all of the assurances, all of the hope, all of the wonder things written about in the New Testament aren't actually available to them.

And that's the reality. Being able to exchange your sinfulness for Christ's righteousness is not open to you, Jehovah's Witness, unless you choose to trust in him alone and cry out to him for forgiveness and reconciliation. Yet, the Governing Body have misled you into believing that the body of Christ on earth is split into two classes and you don't have the right to receive every good thing promised to Christ's body because you belong to the wrong class. (See John 1:10-13, Romans 8:14-17)

"I am the way, the truth and the life," said Jesus Christ of Nazareth, "no one comes to the Father but by me." What a simple message of hope and love.

Why preach anything else?