Where's Jesus This Month?

I've previously pondered on the Jehovah's Witness practise of preaching a different gospel.
The September 'Kingdom Ministry' once again emphasises this.

• misguide religious zeal
• suffering in silence
• prayer
• marital betrayal

No Jesus as crucified Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Why not?

"The Governing Body Do Not Elevate Themselves"

Mike Felker has been challenged on his blog via this post. In particular Jehovah's Witness apologist Henrik has stated the following in defence of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses;

We are being Reborn when we are taking stand for Jehovah and getting baptised.
The GB [note: Governing Body] has NOT elevated themselves to and high authority, they has the same value as everyone else. For example: If they of some reason should tell us all to gather for a mass suicide, NO ONE with good faith would show up. The Bible clearly says that we have to study and test all that we are being tought with his own word THE BIBLE. And if we canot find evidence to do such a thing we cant do it.

Henrik, you say the Governing Body have not elevated themselves, yet they have written the following in the Study Edition of the Sept 2010 Watchtower (available from here (link to jw.org site));

"In this time of the end, Christ has committed “all his belongings”—all the earthly interests of the Kingdom to his “faithful and discreet slave” and its representative Governing Body, a group of anointed Christian men. (Matt. 24:45-47) The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ." [emphasis added]

So, you as a Jehovah's Witness are following the Governing Body who are, by proxy, Jesus Christ. That's what the paragraph is saying. In black and white.

Isn't that elevating themselves above the rest of the Witnesses, likening themselves to Jesus Christ?

Here's another;

"Similarly today, a Governing Body composed of spirit-anointed Christians contributes to the unity of the worldwide congregation. The Governing Body publishes spiritually encouraging literature in many languages. This spiritual food is based on God’s Word. Thus, what is taught is not from men but from Jehovah.—Isa. 54:1" [emphasis added]

What do we make of this one? Whenever a new Watchtower magazine comes out, you've to view what the Governing Body have written in at as coming from the mouth of God himself. Mistakes and all. Isn't that elevating themselves?

And lastly, from the same magazine;

"We cannot hope to acquire a good relationship with Jehovah if we ignore those whom Jesus has appointed to care for his belongings. Without the assistance of “the faithful and discreet slave,” we would neither understand the full import of what we read in God’s Word nor know how to apply it. (Matt. 24:45-47)" [emphasis added]

So, when Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us and lead us into all truth, actually Jehovah's Witnesses need the "faithful and discreet slave", who we know are represented by the Governing Body. And when the Bible tells us that we're reconciled to God through Christ alone, the Governing Body have decided that, actually, you need them too.

Look how important the Governing Body are making themselves; without them you can't understand the Bible. Without them you can't have a relationship with God.

Isn't that elevating themselves?

With respect and compassion, I'd ask you to reconsider your statement that the Governing Body do not elevate themselves. In the above quotes we've seen them putting themselves on the same level as;
- the Father in heaven
- the Son, Jesus Christ
- the Holy Spirit

Henrik, you say you've to study and test what you're being taught. I'd urge to do follow your own advice and get back to me on these quotes; do they stand up to Biblical scrutiny or are the Governing Body putting themselves in the place of God?

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Do You Own a Dictionary?

generation |ˌjenəˈrā sh ən|

noun

1 all of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively : one of his generation's finest songwriters.

• the average period, generally considered to be about thirty years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children of their own.

• a set of members of a family regarded as a single step or stage in descent : [as adj., in combination ] a third-generation Canadian.

• a single stage in the development of a type of product : a new generation of rear-engined sports cars

I have a dictionary built into my computer. Technology is wonderful. But even for those who don't have this function, dictionaries are available in every library and school. When the word "generation" is consulted in the dictionary, it renders several definitions such as those outlined above. It's made fairly clear to us that the word "generation" in the English language means, when applied to a group of people,  all of the people born and living at about the same time.

In simple terms, a generation of people would be all of those born around the years 1970-1975, for example. They become a generation, and as they grow up and get married and have children of their own, a new generation is born.

Consider, however, the definition the Governing Body give to the word "generation" in the April 15th 2010 Watchtower magazine;

How, then, are we to
understand Jesus’ words about “this generation”?
He evidently meant that the lives of the anointed
who were on hand when the sign began to become
evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of other
anointed ones who would see the start of the great
tribulation. 

 Perhaps it's not the Governing Body that's confused about the definition of "generation", but rather Jesus himself. After all, in this paragraph, the Governing Body tells readers of the Watchtower that Jesus "evidently meant" something completely different to how "generation" is actually defined and understood. In this case, when Jesus said "generation" he "evidently meant" groups of people living several decades apart who lives "overlap".

One has to wonder how gullible Jehovah's Witnesses are that they will willingly consume this "spiritual food" when it flies so fast and loose with the truth.

My question for Jehovah's Witnesses is this; do you own a dictionary?

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Born Again?

Jehovah's Witnesses oftentimes, in my personal experience, exude an air of haughty disdain for any Christian who professes to be "born again", sometimes using the term "born-agains" as a pejorative. This is, however, the accepted practice of Jehovah's Witnesses, as taught by the Governing Body*.

The term "born again" is Biblical and comes from the mouth of Jesus Christ himself. Therefore, as Christians we accept what he has to say on the idea of being born again as he alone speaks truth.

John 3:3 In answer Jesus said to him: “Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3: 7 Do not marvel because I told you, YOU people must be born again. [emphasis added]

 Jehovah's Witnesses hope to, one day, live on a paradise earth, ruled over by God's Kingdom (Revelation 21:1-4). However, Jesus says that if anyone wants to even see the kingdom of God, they must be born again. As Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only the 144,000 as described in Revelation are born again, only around 10,000 Jehovah's Witnesses currently alive can lay any claim to being part of - or seeing - the kingdom of God.

My question for Jehovah's Witnesses is this, why, when Jesus says you must be born again to even see the kingdom of God, do you believe that you don't need to be? 


* The Governing Body, through it's publishing channel the Watch Tower Society, encourages and endorses the use of name-calling. For example, terms like "apostate", "irregular", "weak", "so-called Christians" are used to classify certain people into groups according to their position to the Governing Body and its teachings.

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: How Much?

Jehovah's Witnesses are a works-based faith group, whereby they believe they need to perform certain works in a certain way and with a certain level of faithfulness in order to receive justification and, ultimately, salvation*. They believe that they can earn God's favour and grace and that somehow it's up to them to "keep themselves in God's love"**.

The Bible, teaches, however, that it's faith in Jesus that rewards us with salvation, as it's Jesus's righteous work at Calvary that is the only work that saves. This is a gift from God and cannot be earned.

So, my question for Jehovah's Witnesses is, how much of your salvation is dependent on you, and how much on Jesus's righteousness? 5% you 95% Jesus? 23% you 77% Jesus?

*by salvation I mean that they won't be destroyed at Armageddon.
** the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses have condensed their guide to living correctly as a Christian into a book called "Keep Yourself in God's Love". This book contains rules that Jehovah's Witnesses follow regarding extra-Biblical matters such as masturbation and blood fractions.

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Who Lied?

The Governing Body uttered the following, as printed in the Watchtower magazine;

"Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave."" Watchtower 2001 Aug 1 p.14 

When the truth, as revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the "faithful and discreet" slave turns out to actually be false, Jehovah's Witnesses have a problem. Either Jehovah lied, and the Bible says he can't. Or Jesus lied, and the Bible calls him "the truth". Or the "faithful and discreet slave" lied.

So, my question for Jehovah's Witnesses is, when the Governing Body no longer believes something they previously taught as truth revealed by Jehovah God, through Jesus, who lied?

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Honour?

John 5:22 For the Father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the judging to the Son,23 in order that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.


Jesus here claims that he's to be honoured, just as the Father is honoured. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the name of the Father is Jehovah. So, Jesus is claiming that he has to be honoured in the same way that Jehovah is honoured.


Considering Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus to be a created thing, Michael the Archangel, considering the Governing Body teaches them that Jesus was just a "good man" (a great man, admittedly), considering that Jesus will be mentioned 5 or 6 times fewer per Watchtower magazine as Jehovah, considering statements like the following (to be found in the August 2008 Watchtower magazine, page 17, paragraph 4:

Jehovah and “the faithful and discreet slave” deeply appreciate all their past and present contributions to the Kingdom work. (Matt 24:45)

Considering all of that, and more, my question for Jehovah's Witnesses is, how exactly do you honour Jesus, just as you honour the Father? 

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Equal?

Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that Jesus, the Son, is not co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. The Governing Body get this teaching from Arianism, a Christian heresy. They do not get this teaching from the Bible (see Psalm 90:2, Hebrews 9:14 and Revelation 22:13).

However, the Watch Tower Society publish doctrine from the Governing Body that suggests that Jehovah's Witnesses are to believe that Jesus is equal with someone.

"Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and "the faithful and discreet slave."" Watchtower 2001 Aug 1 p.14 

What is this text suggesting? The Jesus and the "faithful and discreet slave" are used by Jehovah God to reveal truth.*

Therefore, my question for Jehovah's Witnesses; why is it when the Bible describes Jesus as the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth, the possessor of the "name above every name", the one to whom every knee in heaven and earth will bend, and the one who became our sin so that we can have his righteousness, does the Governing Body put itself in an equal position with Him?


* This truth is subject to change.

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: How Many Gods?

As a Christian I'm a monotheist, that is, I believe in only one, true God. The word "true" means that I view all other gods as "not true", or false. Therefore, any God other than the Christian God is a false god. I take this position due to the Bible's consistent teaching, from Old to New Testament, that there is only one, true God.

Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that Jehovah alone is God. He is Almighty God. But the Bible says that Jesus is God*.

My question for Jehovah's Witnesses: why are you polytheists?

*Isaiah 9: 6 For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

John 20:28 In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.” [Spoken by Thomas, without correction, to Jesus. 'Ho theos' = "the God", something the Governing Body teaches is never said about Jesus. Yet there it is, in black and white.]

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Al´pha and the O·me´ga,” says Jehovah God, “the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.” [note: "Jehovah" is not in the original Greek, but rather 'kyrious',or Lord. The context clearly shows this is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. As is the case in dozens of examples, God's inspired word has been altered by the Governing Body to support their Christ-dishonouring doctrines.]

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Evidence?

The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, who represent the disparate group referred to as "the faithful and discreet slave", state that they alone speak for God on earth. They claim that the organisation they use to publish their doctrines, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, Incorporated, a US-based publishing corporation, was chosen by Jesus Christ himself, in or around 1919, to represent God's Kingdom's interests here on earth, and to supply Christians with the only God-approved literature and teaching on the planet.

My question for Jehovah's Witnesses is this; in light of the extraordinary claim cited above, where is the extraordinary evidence?

Updated to address StandFirm's accusation;

StandFirm said...

Strawman. Please prove your point by quoting from our publications.

Which part of my statement is the strawman?

- 1919

- chosen by Jesus

- only God-approved literature

I'll have a go at establishing each claim via your publications and then I'll re-ask the question;

"The historical facts show that 1919 was the year when the remnant on earth of the 144,000 Kingdom heirs began to be freed from Great Babylon. In that year the message of God's established kingdom began to be preached from house to house and publicly by Jehovah's Christian witnesses in a fearless way. This preaching of the Kingdom as established in 1914 was in fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24:14: 'This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations." (Babylon the Great Has Fallen!, 1963, p. 515.) [emphasis added]

"TIME OF INSPECTION BY THE SLAVE'S MASTER

Without a question of doubt, it was a real time for inspection of the Master's "slave" class. All the facts of the case argue that the Master came for the work of inspection at the time. Such a thing was to be expected according to the prophecy of Malachi 3:1-5. Of course, the sectarian churches of Christendom had made a wartime record for themselves, an open record that had a heavy bearing on their claim to be disciples and slaves of Jesus Christ. Could they, by even their latest record down till 1919, prove that they themselves were the composite "faithful and discreet slave" class of the heavenly Lord and Master, Jesus Christ? He as Judge would indicate what his findings were by the way he thereafter dealt with the hundreds of religious sects of Christendom." (God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached, 1973, p. 349.)[emphasis added]

"There would, however, be a further application of Joel 2:28-32. Indeed, this prophecy has had remarkable fulfillment since September 1919. At that time a memorable convention of Jehovah's people was held in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A. God's spirit was clearly manifest, and his anointed servants were stimulated to embark on the global witnessing campaign that extends into the present day." (Watchtower, May 1, 1992, p. 13.)[emphasis added]

"Particularly in 1919 and 1922 were there modern outpourings of Jehovah's spirit, especially in connection with the two conventions of Jehovah's dedicated people at Cedar Point, Ohio." (Watchtower, June 1, 1981, p. 30.)[emphasis added]

"But Jehovah raised them up by his spirit and word of truth. Shortly thereafter, at their 1922 convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, they loyally determined to advertise the King and Kingdom. Jehovah has been guiding them since then, so that his name and kingdom have become known worldwide." (Watchtower, December 15, 1980, p. 19.) [emphasis added]

"Since Jehovah God and Jesus Christ completely trust the faithful and discreet slave, should we not do the same?" Watchtower 2009 Feb 15 p.27 [emphasis added]

In case there is any doubt that the Governing Body speaks on behalf of the "faithful and discreet slave";

"Similarly, today a limited number of anointed men have the responsibility of representing the slave class. They make up the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses." Watchtower June 15 2009 Page 24 [emphasis added]

And in case there's any doubt that the Governing Body using the Watch Tower Society to publish "spiritual food" on behalf of the "faithful and discreet slave" class;

"When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of “the faithful and discreet slave” at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. (Matt. 24:45; 1 Cor. 2:13) The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. (Acts 15:6) What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all." Watchtower 2010 July 15 pp.22,23 [emphasis added]

My question for Jehovah's Witnesses is this; in light of the extraordinary claim[s] cited above, where is the extraordinary evidence?

Question for Jehovah's Witnesses: Salvation by Which Name?

Jehovah's Witnesses bear witness to the name Jehovah, one of the names the God of the Hebrews identified himself by. While Christians bear the name of Christ, and witness exclusively to Jesus, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the world needs to learn and use the name Jehovah. To what end is not entirely clear when considering the history of the early believers in Jesus and his name.

The Bible suggests that the name Jesus is above every name. I'll quote from the New World Translation, the version of the Bible authorised by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, and the version used almost exclusively by the Witnesses at their meetings and in their ministry (note: some Witness apologists would claim that the Witnesses are free to use any other translation of the Bible. However, in practise, this rarely, if ever happens. If a Jehovah's Witness were to preach in the Kingdom Hall exclusively from, say, the NIV or the ESV (my personal choice of Bible translation) they would find themselves "counselled" by the elders);

Philippians 2: 9 For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every [other] name, 10 so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground [emphasis added]


The NWT adds the word [other] to the inspired text to suggest that the name Jesus is not above all names. But reading the text without the NWT's additional word renders a different meaning. The context in v10 shows that it's in the name of JESUS that every knee should bend (or "render worship"). Where? On earth and in heaven.


These verses are devastating to Jehovah's Witness doctrine and put into question the choice of name chosen for the sect by the Organisation's second president "Judge" Rutherford.


So, my question for Jehovah's Witnesses is, in whose name are we saved?

"God is Not Jesus."

Correct. But Jesus is God.

The Watch Tower Society has spilled a lot of ink 'proving' to Jehovah's Witnesses that Jesus is, in no way, shape or form, God. As a result, some Witnesses make statements such as "God is not Jesus". But this is not a rebuttal of the Trinity. As Christians, we agree; God is not Jesus. But Jesus is God.

The rejection of Jesus as God stems back to the 3rd and 4th centuries and the Arian heresy. A read through of the assertions of this controversy will likely inform the reader as to where the Watch Tower Society (through the teachings and deductions of Charles Russell) get their ideas.

A proof text used by Jehovah's Witnesses to affirm their view that Jesus Christ, Son of God, is a created being (Michael the Archangel), is Colossians 1:15

" He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;"

They emphasis the use of the term "firstborn" and conclude that this can and does mean that Jesus was created, the firstborn of Jehovah's creation.

Of course, with any honest exegesis, taking the context into account is essential. So,

"16 because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. 17Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist, 18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he might become the one who is first in all things; 19 because [God] saw good for all fullness to dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile again to himself all [other] things by making peace through the blood [he shed] on the torture stake, no matter whether they are the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens." 

For those unfamiliar with the [square brackets] here used in the text of the Watch Tower Society published New World Translation, these indicate words that have been inserted into the original language of the text (in this case Greek) by the committee who translated the NWT. As a side note, the Watch Tower Society has refused to name the Hebrew and Greek scholars who made up the NWT translation committee. Other translations such as the NIV and ESV take great care to name the translators used. This is done so that readers of their translation can evaluate whether these ones were qualified to accurately translate from the original languages into English. However, some have speculated as to the identity of the committee.*

In the above cited text from the NWT you will notice 5 instances of [square brackets] each containing the word [other]. Simply put, the anonymous NWT translation committee decided that the original Greek text need the word [other] added 5 times to these verses in order for English readers of the Bible to understand what God actually meant. (Readers wishing to verify whether the NWT accurately delivers the meaning from the original text should use a Greek Interlinear.)

When the above text is read without the inserted words, it takes on a completely different meaning; we see that Jesus created all things in heaven and on earth and he has authority over all things. If Jesus created all things, that means he existed prior to creation. If through and by Jesus all things were created, he himself cannot be a creating thing/being. I'll emphasis that; if Jesus is created, he must be part of creation. There is no room for that belief in the above text. And that's why the unnamed NWT translation committee saw fit to add their own meaning to God's inspired word.

Going back to Colossians 1:15, what is the reader to make of Jesus being described as "the firstborn of all creation"?

The Bible Knowledge Commentary has this to say;

He is the Firstborn over all Creation. Though it is grammatically possible to translate this as “Firstborn in Creation,” the context makes this impossible for five reasons: (1) The whole point of the passage (and the book) is to show Christ’s superiority over all things. (2) Other statements about Christ in this passage (such as Creator of all [1:16], upholder of Creation [v. 17], etc.) clearly indicate His priority and superiority over Creation. (3) The “Firstborn” cannot be part of Creation if He created “all things.” One cannot create himself. (Jehovah’s Witnesses wrongly add the word “other” six times in this passage in their New World Translation. Thus they suggest that Christ created all other things after He was created! But the word “other” is not in the Gr.) (4) The “Firstborn” received worship of all the angels (Heb. 1:6), but creatures should not be worshiped (Ex. 20:4-5). (5) The Greek word for “Firstborn” is prōtotokos. If Christ were the “first-created,” the Greek word would have been prōtoktisis.

“Firstborn” denotes two things of Christ: He preceded the whole Creation, and He is Sovereign over all Creation. In the Old Testament a firstborn child had not only priority of birth but also the dignity and superiority that went with it (cf. Ex. 13:2-15; Deut. 21:17). When Jesus declared Himself “the First” (ho prōtos; Rev. 1:17), He used a word that means “absolutely first.” “Firstborn” also implies sovereignty. The description “firstborn” was not a fairly common Old Testament designation of the Messiah-God. “I will also appoint Him My Firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth” (Ps. 89:27). While this regal psalm refers to David, it also designates the Messiah, as seen in Revelation 1:5, where Christ is called “the Firstborn from the dead (cf. Col. 1:18) and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.” So “Firstborn” implies both Christ’s priority to all Creation (in time) and His sovereignty over all Creation (in rank).

How can Jesus be Michael the Archangel? How can Jesus be a created thing when he receives worship in heaven (Heb 1:6)? How can Jesus be a created thing, lower than God, when Thomas called Jesus "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28)?

These are questions any honest Jehovah's Witness does well to answer, rather than trying to prove that God is not Jesus.

* Walter Martin, Kingdom of the Cults, Expanded Anniversary Edition, October 1997, Bethany House Publishers, p. 123. "While the members of the [NWT] committee have never been identified officially by the Watchtower, many Witnesses who worked at the headquarters during the translation period were fully aware of who the members were. They included Nathan H. Knorr (president of the Society at the time), Frederick W. Franz (who later succeeded Knorr as president), Albert D. Schroeder, George Gangas, and Milton Henschel (currently the president)."