JW have the view that there is only one group God can use. They are of the view that God cannot use two groups or organization at a time.

They teach that any who want to worship God acceptably must join them, since they see themselves as that one true religion. There decision hangs on some scriptures, one of which is Eph 4:4,5

"One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Some witnesses will point to the fact that this place mentions " one" for each of the items, one body, one faith, one baptism, one lord etc. That is true, but are we to understand this to mean that there has to be only one Church or one christian institution? No, any more than saying that there must be one baptism, nor one Lord nor even one body. There are more than one type of baptism, Jesus is not the only Lord, we have fleshly bodies, spiritual bodies etc.

One body refers to the body of Christ. In that body are different gifts, ministries, and different personalities.

The JWs feel that faith in that Eph 4 refers to one organization. The faith there is a form of worship based on faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. It doesn't mean one organization. Any true christian organization based on ransom sacrifice of Jesus is in that one faith, one body. The head or the Governing Authority in this body is Christ.

But has God not used only one channel all through the centuries? When God used the Israelites, did He use another channel?

We should first, ask, what does the JW mean by channel? In their mind, what they mean is one organization ruled by few elders in the Headquarters. They will point to people God used like the Israelites. They see them as the only ones God used at the time before the christian congregation came on board. Any who wanted to worship Jehovah, as they say, will go through the Israelites.

This view is understandable since God called the Israelites His special people. He gave them the laws, priesthood, leaders. In fact they were God's house.

However, that never meant that worship of God was only acceptable only if it went through Israel. Why?

The worship of God has been through a set up altar. This method of worship is open for any who wish to worship God. This is equally true even when the God appointed priests were available.

Cain and Abel individually made altars where they sacrificed to the same God. Both Noah and Abraham had theirs as well. As family heads, they were like Priests to their own families.

Melchizedek was the first communal priest the bible mentioned. He was a priest and a king of Salem. Obviously, there must have been people serving God in Salem where he officiated. But that didn't mean that Abraham can no longer serve God through the altar if he wants to.

What about the time of the Israelites? Did all that stop? No. The Governing Body will have you think so. But many seem to forget that job and the community he lived in worshiped God. That community was contemporaneous to the Israelites. How do we know that the community worshiped God?

Job 31 verses 26-28 Job stated that if he has ever worshiped the sun or moon, that such error would be punished by the judges.

This shows that the community was God fearing. Yet the Israelites were also worshiping the SAME God where they were.

It is true that Israel's way of worshiping the same God was quite different. They had the tabernacle, priestly class, festive seasons etc, but that didn't make other worship unacceptable. The Uz community can't replicate the system of worship in Israel without God approving it. Even Melchizedek mode of operation in the Salem community won't be the same in Israel. We also know that Naaman would also have had his own little way in which he worshiped God after Elijah gave him a go ahead order. (2kings 5:19) Even Elijah himself has an altar he worshiped God in Israel (1kings 19:10) while those in Judah did their's at the temple in Jerusalem.

Coming to the first century. While Jesus had his disciples who follow his directions, John had his with slight differences in their practices. In fact after the wrongly believed Governing body in Jerusalem was established, Apolos who knew nothing about the so called Governing body was aglowed with the spirit as he preached. Meaning that he and others who worshiped God have His Spirit even though they know nothing about the "Giverning body" in jerusalem. (To see that there were no Governing Body in Jerusalem, see https://www.nairaland.com/7926922/ministry-jws-part-5-governing)

The Ethiopian Eunuch who traveled back to his land would also have slightly different way he would be worshiping his God there as a Christian. We wouldn't assume he would follow exactly what is at 1cor 14.

Jehovah's witnesses would say there is just one faith. Yes, one faith based on the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. That's the meaning, but what about one body? Why aren't they mentioning that? We know that this one body refers to Anointed Christians, not the other sheep of JWs. There is actually one body of anointed Christians, but the witnesses don't Believe that. What about one hope? Which is heavenly hope. The witnesses say no, there is two hopes. I plead that you witnesses start studying the bible for yourselves. This worship monopoly you're living in is not healthy.

True christians doesn't see themselves as an organization with one Governing body. They see themselves as a body of Christ with Christ as the head of that Body. That is the unifying factor, Christ, not Governing body.

Sand2022:
JW have the view that there is only one group God can use. They are of the view that God cannot use two groups or organization at a time.

They teach that any who want to worship God acceptably must join them, since they see themselves as that one true religion. There decision hangs on some scriptures, one of which is Eph 4:4,5

"One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Some witnesses will point to the fact that this place mentions " one" for each of the items, one body, one faith, one baptism, one lord etc. That is true, but are we to understand this to mean that there has to be only one Church or one christian institution? No, any more than saying that there must be one baptism, nor one Lord nor even one body. There are more than one type of baptism, Jesus is not the only Lord, we have fleshly bodies, spiritual bodies etc.

One body refers to the body of Christ. In that body are different gifts, ministries, and different personalities.

The JWs feel that faith in that Eph 4 refers to one organization. The faith there is a form of worship based on faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. It doesn't mean one organization. Any true christian organization based on ransom sacrifice of Jesus is in that one faith, one body. The head or the Governing Authority in this body is Christ.

But has God not used only one channel all through the centuries? When God used the Israelites, did He use another channel?

We should first, ask, what does the JW mean by channel? In their mind, what they mean is one organization ruled by few elders in the Headquarters. They will point to people God used like the Israelites. They see them as the only ones God used at the time before the christian congregation came on board. Any who wanted to worship Jehovah, as they say, will go through the Israelites.

This view is understandable since God called the Israelites His special people. He gave them the laws, priesthood, leaders. In fact they were God's house.

However, that never meant that worship of God was only acceptable only if it went through Israel. Why?

The worship of God has been through a set up altar. This method of worship is open for any who wish to worship God. This is equally true even when the God appointed priests were available.

Cain and Abel individually made altars where they sacrificed to the same God. Both Noah and Abraham had theirs as well. As family heads, they were like Priests to their own families.

Melchizedek was the first communal priest the bible mentioned. He was a priest and a king of Salem. Obviously, there must have been people serving God in Salem where he officiated. But that didn't mean that Abraham can no longer serve God through the altar if he wants to.

What about the time of the Israelites? Did all that stop? No. The Governing Body will have you think so. But many seem to forget that job and the community he lived in worshiped God. That community was contemporaneous to the Israelites. How do we know that the community worshiped God?

Job 31 verses 26-28 Job stated that if he has ever worshiped the sun or moon, that such error would be punished by the judges.

This shows that the community was God fearing. Yet the Israelites were also worshiping the SAME God where they were.

It is true that Israel's way of worshiping the same God was quite different. They had the tabernacle, priestly class, festive seasons etc, but that didn't make other worship unacceptable. The Uz community can't replicate the system of worship in Israel without God approving it. Even Melchizedek mode of operation in the Salem community won't be the same in Israel. We also know that Naaman would also have had his own little way in which he worshiped God after Elijah gave him a go ahead order. (2kings 5:19) Even Elijah himself has an altar he worshiped God in Israel (1kings 19:10) while those in Judah did their's at the temple in Jerusalem.

Coming to the first century. While Jesus had his disciples who follow his directions, John had his with slight differences in their practices. In fact after the wrongly believed Governing body in Jerusalem was established, Apolos who knew nothing about the so called Governing body was aglowed with the spirit as he preached. Meaning that he and others who worshiped God have His Spirit even though they know nothing about the "Giverning body" in jerusalem. (To see that there were no Governing Body in Jerusalem, see https://www.nairaland.com/7926922/ministry-jws-part-5-governing)

The Ethiopian Eunuch who traveled back to his land would also have slightly different way he would be worshiping his God there as a Christian. We wouldn't assume he would follow exactly what is at 1cor 14.

Jehovah's witnesses would say there is just one faith. Yes, one faith based on the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. That's the meaning, but what about one body? Why aren't they mentioning that? We know that this one body refers to Anointed Christians, not the other sheep of JWs. There is actually one body of anointed Christians, but the witnesses don't Believe that. What about one hope? Which is heavenly hope. The witnesses say no, there is two hopes. I plead that you witnesses start studying the bible for yourselves. This worship monopoly you're living in is not healthy.

True christians doesn't see themselves as an organization with one Governing body. They see themselves as a body of Christ with Christ as the head of that Body. That is the unifying factor, Christ, not Governing body.

So are you saying that God is using all groups of churches today with their contradictory teachings?

Michael547:

So are you saying that God is using all group of churches today with their contradictory teachings?

YES nah!

Michael547:

So are you saying that God is using all groups of churches today with their contradictory teachings?

Contradictory doctrine in itself is not a major issue. God knows we can't all agree on everything. Something's are basic.

Sand2022:

God knows we can't all agree on everything.

So there's no need arguing over difference in beliefs since we all know the basic as doing what is good and abstaining from what is evil all religionists agreed on this as BASICS!

MaxInDHouse:


So there's no need arguing over difference in beliefs since we all know the basic as doing what is good and abstaining from what is evil all religionists agreed on this as BASICS!

In differences of opinion, one opinion is correct while one is wrong. Both can't be right. Arguing to prove to another might not be wrong in itself, but we should not go to the extent of saying so and so will not make the kingdom because of that belief. Only God knows why so and so doesn't accept that truth.

Eg Paul taught that the law is out of the way, while the brothers in Jerusalem were observing the law and teaching others to observe it. Differences of opinion. One was right, one was wrong, but all are in the Lord. If you sincerely don't know you're wrong, it is very likely that God will overlook it. Unless if you're deliberately lying to yourself. Why say so?

Job is the example. He was wrong, and he defended his wrong conclusions. God knew he didnt do so deliberately. So, if God sees that if he corrects you, you will accept it, then he can accept you even though He sees you're in error. He knows we all can't all get it right. I mean, we're not Him.

Sand2022:

In differences of opinion, one opinion is correct while one is wrong. Both can't be right. Arguing to prove to another might not be wrong in itself, but we should not go to the extent of saying so and so will not make the kingdom because of that belief. Only God knows why so and so doesn't accept that truth.

So people from all religions will make the kingdom since only God knows therefore there is no reason preaching that a form of belief or doctrine is wrong!