Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / NewStats: 3,153,842 members, 7,820,932 topics. Date: Wednesday, 08 May 2024 at 03:47 AM |
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Religion / Core Jehovah's Witnesses Teachings You Need To Know (753 Views)
8 false Teachings by Churches And The Biblical Truths Concerning them. / If Your Fellowship Holds These Teachings, Then It's Time You Moved On / Man Shoots At Jehovah Witnesses For Visiting (2) (3) (4)
Core Jehovah's Witnesses Teachings You Need To Know by Yooguyz: 4:51pm On Sep 01, 2013 |
"It is important to understand that in most Bible-based cults, although the member is aggressively taught doctrine, it is not the doctrine that holds him in the group. It is the sense that the group is God's true people, a feeling cultivated by techniques of mind control. Thus, to engage the cult member in a Biblical argument or discussion is often futile." Stephen Hassan Releasing the Bonds p.145 A Witness will commonly claim that they alone have the truth because they alone understand Bible doctrine correctly, and hence only they worship Jehovah. The end product of such reasoning is that they solely are worthy of salvation. However, as the above quote from Steven Hassan identifies, it is not the doctrine that holds the members in the religion, but rather more fundamental underlying concepts. This can be seen from the fact that when key doctrines changed over the decades the majority of members remained part of the group. Furthermore, almost none of Watchtower doctrine or practices are unique. Similar religions can be found that share a majority of doctrine and moral standards preached by the Watchtower Society. This section covers core concepts that form the basis to why a Witness is a Witness. Arguing doctrine will rarely convince a Jehovah's Witness the religion is wrong whilst they hold to these concepts. There are a number of rhetorical fallacies within these beliefs that must be identified for any discussion with a Witness to be effective. Otherwise, a range of thought stopping responses arise, such as: The Governing Body are directed by Jehovah, and you must not question Jehovah God must be using an organization and there is none (that I know of) that is better than the Watchtower Society The Bible said mistakes would be clarified over time For this reason, the articles in this section should be pondered as a starting point prior to reading the rest of the site. This does however present a chicken or egg quandary; a person cannot fully comprehend the core concepts without an understanding of the history and doctrinal errors of the Watchtower Society, but cannot appreciate the full significance of the history and doctrine without identifying the flaws behind the core concepts. |
Re: Core Jehovah's Witnesses Teachings You Need To Know by Yooguyz: 4:54pm On Sep 01, 2013 |
Salvation only for Jehovah's Witnesses The Watchtower teaches that at Armageddon only Jehovah's Witnesses will survive and billions of people will be eternally destroyed. It is common for a Witness to claim that is not the case, but this article contains numerous Watchtower quotes making such statements. It then goes on to explain why such a teaching it not at all realistic. Directed by Holy Spirit The Governing Body claim to under Jehovah's direction by means of his holy spirit. The logical conclusion is that what they teach should be accurate; yet numerous changes show this is not the case. The Governing Body's defence is that they are actively directed by holy spirit - but not inspired. Strange, since in such context the definition of inspired is to be directed by holy spirit. This article brings clarification to the confusion. Light gets Brighter Previous errors should indicate that Watchtower doctrine is not being relayed from Jehovah, through the Slave class. However, the Governing Body dispel such a conclusion by saying historical errors in Watchtower doctrine were foretold by a phrase in Proverbs that the "light gets brighter". This is a highly successful concept in preventing a Witness questioning Watchtower teachings. This article shows how this Scripture is misapplied and also that Watchtower doctrine does not get brighter, but changes and flip-flops. Organization - Essential for Salvation? Organization is not a word that appears in the Bible, yet the Watchtower constantly refers to belonging to an organization as essential for a person's salvation; the Watchtower Organization. This article shows that for the majority of Bible history, there was no organization to belong to, and when there was, servants of God regularly operated outside of or against God's Organization. Faithful & Discreet Slave The defining concept to being a Jehovah's Witness is not worship of Jehovah, but rather following the "faithful and discreet slave". Though defined as Anointed Christians, in practice the Governing Body represents the Slave class. No satisfactory evidence exists to show God actively directs the Watchtower Governing Body, but by drawing on the parable of the Slave, Watchtower leaders demand all- encompassing power over their followers, with tragic consequences. |
Re: Core Jehovah's Witnesses Teachings You Need To Know by Yooguyz: 5:06pm On Sep 01, 2013 |
The Watchtower Society teaches that since Jehovah's Witnesses alone have God's backing and are the only ones that worship the true God, shortly they alone will survive Armageddon. "Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the "great crowd," as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil." Watchtower 1989 Sep 1 p.19 "Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." Watchtower 1983 Feb 15 p.12 "Is it presumptuous of Jehovah's Witnesses to point out that they alone have God's backing? Actually, no more so than when the Israelites in Egypt claimed to have God's backing in spite of the Egyptians' belief, or when the first-century Christians claimed to have God's backing to the exclusion of Jewish religionists." Watchtower 2001 Jun 1 p.16 "During the final period of the ancient world that perished in the Flood, Noah was a faithful preacher of righteousness. (2 Peter 2:5) In these last days of the present system of things, Jehovahs people are making known Gods righteous standards and are declaring good news about the possibility of surviving into the new world. (2 Peter 3:9-13) Just as Noah and his God-fearing family were preserved in the ark, survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovahs universal organization ." Watchtower 2006 May 15 p.22 "Are You Prepared for Survival?" The Watchtower goes as far as to state that there are billions in line for destruction. "There are billions of people who do not know Jehovah. Many of them in ignorance practice things that God's Word shows to be wicked. If they persist in this course, they will be among those who perish during the great tribulation." Watchtower 1993 Oct 1 p.19 The billions slaughtered at Armageddon loose any hope of a resurrection; theirs is said to be an everlasting destruction. "Yes, the destruction of the gross sinners in those cities was eternal, as will be the destruction of the wicked at the end of the present system of things." Watchtower 1990 Apr 15 p.20 "The majority of people living today will probably be alive when Armageddon breaks out, and there are no resurrection hopes for those that are destroyed then." Kingdom Ministry 1968 Mar p.4 Rarely does the Watchtower make such audacious statements; rather the destruction of non-witnesses is conveyed (with unwavering regularity) by means of a number of more subtle concepts. The quotes that follow identify the preposterous claim that following the Bible is not enough for salvation, neither are belief in Jesus Ransom or living a moral life. Only submission to Jehovah's Watchtower Organization results in life. All Christians are considered members of Christendom and in line for destruction. It needs to be noted that some individual Witnesses have internalised that salvation is not the exclusive domain of Jehovah's Witnesses. My father, a circuit overseer, was one of these. Others salve their conscience and sense of justice by saying that many will flock to God's Organization just before the end. The following quotes show that the Watchtower does not support such ideas, but distinctly teaches only its followers will be saved. Quotes and Watchtower Reasoning Association with Jehovah's Organization Association with Jehovah's organization - the Watchtower Society - is presented as essential for salvation. "If we stop actively supporting Jehovah's work, then we start following Satan. There is no middle ground." Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.18 "But Jehovah's servants already belong to the only organization that will survive the end of this wicked system of things." Watchtower 2007 Dec 15 p.14 "But if we were to draw away from Jehovah's organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation and true joy." Watchtower 1993 Sep 15 p.22 "Only Christian witnesses of Jehovah who successfully pass this test will survive and come forth like fire-refined gold for God's use in his precious new order." Watchtower 1985 Mar 1 p.14 "And while now the witness yet includes the invitation to come to Jehovahs organization for salvation , the time no doubt will come when the message takes on a harder tone, like a "great war cry."" Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.21 "But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his "faithful and discreet slave", made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do ." Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.27 "This great crowd is part of the only truly united multinational organization on earth today. They do not cry out that they owe salvation to the holy spirit, for they are not servants of a trinitarian god. In some 200 geographical territories around the earth, they are at one in calling upon the name of Jehovah as they speak the one pure language of truth. (Zephaniah 3:9) Properly, they publicly acknowledge that their salvation comes from Jehovah, the God of salvation, through Jesus Christ, His Chief Agent of salvation.- Psalm 3:8; Hebrews 2:10. Modern technology has helped to make the loud voice of the united great crowd sound even louder. No other religious group on earth has need of publishing Bible study aids in more than 200 languages, since no other group is interested in reaching all peoples of earth with one united message." Revelation pp.122-123 "They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovahs organization is essential to their salvation." Kingdom Ministry 1990 Nov p.1 "Direct Interest Progressively on Bible Studies: The primary purpose of a Bible study is to teach the truth of God's Word. It should also build in the student an appreciation for Jehovahs organization and make him aware of the vital need to become part of it. ... The weekly Bible study should include instruction that will help students appreciate the organization and take advantage of provisions for their salvation. Take a few minutes each week to relate or describe something about the organization and how it functions. You can find helpful talking points in the November 1, 1984, Watchtower. The brochures Jehovahs Witnesses in the Twentieth Century and Jehovahs Witnesses Unitedly Doing God's Will Worldwide discuss major facets of the organization and how they may benefit us. Arranging for Bible students to view the video Jehovah's WitnessesThe Organization Behind the Name will let them see for themselves what it is accomplishing." Kingdom Ministry 1993 Apr p.3 To be considered part of that Organization requires reporting as an active publisher for the Watchtower Society. "As this spiritual warfare advanced, those serving with Jehovah's organization were refreshed by continuing flashes of Bible understanding, and their numbers grew until, in 1938, as many as 50,769 reported Kingdom service during an international testimony period." Watchtower 1984 Jan 1 p.11 "Those who will form the nucleus of the "new earth", a new earthly society of rightly disposed people, are being gathered during these last days. They are already nearly seven million strong, in at least 235 lands and in some 100,000 congregations. These millions have been learning the righteous and just ways of Jehovah, and as a result, worldwide they enjoy a unity that is cemented by Christian love. Their unity is the most pronounced and enduring in the history of the world, a unity exceeding anything experienced by Satan's subjects." Watchtower 2007 Aug 15 p.26 "Moreover, the attendance at the Memorial of Jesus Christs death last year indicates that some ten million people who are not Witnesses of Jehovah were sufficiently interested in the good news to attend this important commemoration." Kingdom Ministry 2008 Feb p.6 Children Children are considered to share in the sins of their parents, so babies will die at Armageddon if their parents are considered unworthy of salvation. "What will happen to young children at Armageddon? The Bible does not directly answer that question, and we are not the judges. However, the Bible does show that God views the young children of true Christians as "holy." (1 Cor. 7:14) It also reveals that in times past when God destroyed the wicked he likewise destroyed their little ones ." Reasoning from the Scriptures pp.47-48 "Children are affected by the course of their parents, and parents are warned that their iniquity is visited on their offspring unto the third and fourth generation. (Ex. 20:5, 6) Parents are commanded to instruct their children in God's way, and if in these last days parents refuse to heed the divine instruction and warning they bring destruction upon themselves and their small children at Armageddon . (Deut. 6:6, 7; Eph. 6:4) According to justice God can leave such children dead , for, as Ezekiel showed, all die in their iniquity." Watchtower 1950 Nov 15 p.463 Questions From Readers "By all the evidences this system of things is hastening to its final confrontation with the God of justice at Armageddon. Parents and children who fail to gain the "mark on their foreheads," that is, an adequate appreciation of God's moral standard, are sure to suffer. Parents will be held accountable for their children, and children will suffer for the failure of their parents." Watchtower 1968 Feb 1 pp.83-84 |
Re: Core Jehovah's Witnesses Teachings You Need To Know by henrychubayo: 9:07pm On Sep 02, 2013 |
You are an apostate. Be-careful, cause you may be sinning against the holy spirit. |
Re: Core Jehovah's Witnesses Teachings You Need To Know by Yooguys: 11:27pm On Sep 03, 2013 |
THE LIGHT GETS BRIGHTER Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be the only group to have truth revealed to them by Jehovah. In this case, why do they require ongoing changes in doctrine? Does truth really change? A key premise of this site is that constant changes in doctrine and failed predictions are a clear indication that Jehovah does not direct the Watchtower Society. For the external observer this is the logical conclusion, yet for one of Jehovah's Witnesses it barely raises a grimace. How can this be? Because changes and failures are immediately dismissed in the mind of a Jehovah's Witness by the thought stopping concept: "The Bible tells us the light would get brighter". Addressing the flawed logic of this claim is required to render the information contained within this site effective. The main justification from the Watchtower for changed doctrine is Proverbs 4:18. ““The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established,” states Proverbs 4:18. Yes, Jesus’ leadership is progressive, not stagnant. Another way to cooperate with Christ’s “brothers” is to have a positive attitude toward any refinements in our understanding of Scriptural truths as published by “the faithful and discreet slave.”” Watchtower 2011 May 15 p.27 “Regarding progressive spiritual enlightenment, Proverbs 4:18 has proved true. It says: “The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” How thankful we are for the progressive spiritual enlightenment we have experienced!” Watchtower 2001 Jan 15 p.18 “IT IS proof of divine wisdom that, in keeping with Proverbs 4:18, the revealing of spiritual truths has taken place gradually by means of flashes of light. In the preceding article, we saw how this text was fulfilled in apostolic times. If the large body of Scriptural truth had been revealed all at once, it would have been both blinding and confusing—much like the effect of coming out of a dark cave into brilliant sunlight. Moreover, gradually revealed truth strengthens the faith of Christians in a continuous way. It makes ever brighter their hope and ever clearer the pathway they are to tread.” Watchtower 1995 May 15 p.15 The Watchtower interprets the word "light" in Proverbs 4 as referring to Watchtower "doctrinal" understanding, yet this is simply done as justification for prior error. Aspects to consider are: What is the intended meaning of Proverbs 4:18? Is Watchtower doctrine getting brighter or changing? Would Jehovah direct a religion to promote falsehood? Proverbs 4:18 For thousands of years, people have understood Proverbs chapter 4 to be discussing behaviour, as is easily identifiable when reading the entire chapter in context. The verses surrounding 18 state: "… the wicked do not sleep unless they do badness. … The way of the wicked ones is like the gloom; they have not known at what they keep stumbling … listen to the discipline of a father … keep my commandments … safeguard your heart." Christian writers explain: "What is clear from Proverbs is that the reader can choose to either seek wisdom or live a life of folly. (Prov 4:14-19)" (thisischurch.com/ christianinfo/proverbs.htm 25 Mar 2005) Proverbs 4:18 was not intended to be prophetic indication that God gradually reveals truth to the Watchtower Society. Rather than extract a sentence, when taken in entirety the context of Proverbs chapter 4 is a comparison of behaviour between good and bad people, not the dispensing of doctrinal truth through an organization. From the outset, it can be seen that using this Scripture to discuss doctrinal errors and changes is without basis. Brighter or Changed Proverbs 4 identifies that righteous people fare better than the wicked, and not prophetic of the Watchtower Society. However, let us entertain the idea that within this passage there is the prophetic foreshadowing that God progressively reveals truth to his people during the time of the end. This concept cannot apply to Watchtower history, as Watchtower doctrine has not refined but changed. Consider whether the following change is really a matter of doctrinal light getting lighter: Imagine being the Witness parent of a child that needed a kidney transplant in 1970. Although the Awake! 1949 Dec 22 had described transplants as "wonders of modern surgery", in 1967 God revealed that transplants were wrong in his eyes. The Watchtower 1967 Nov 15 pp.702-704 stated that being now "enlightened by God's word" God's people understood that transplants are against divine principles and cannibalistic. The parents must sincerely have believed they were putting Jehovah first when watching their child die, refusing them the opportunity of possible survival through a transplant. How would that parent feel on reading the Watchtower 1980 Mar 15 p.31 - "There is no Biblical command pointedly forbidding the taking in of other human tissue. It is a matter for personal decision. " The enlightenment of 1967 had proved to be dark, harmful and in need of later correction, a regressive doctrine that resulted in the unnecessary death of members. When a doctrine changes and then reverts back to the original position this is not evidence of light getting brighter, it is evidence of a lack of Holy Spirit directing the Governing Body. |
(1) (Reply)
A Full Unbiased Critique Of The 144,000 Doctrine / Christians And The Doctrine Of Transubstantiation / What Car Does Your Pastor Use?
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 67 |