Examining Jehovah's Witnesses

[for_his_glory]

(Continue)
Marking
If a member is guilty of breaking a minor rule such as associating with a worldly person (one who is not a Jehovah's Witness) that individual could be marked. This means that other Jehovah's witnesses may only speak to them at the Kingdom Hall (the name Jehovah's Witnesses use for their churches). Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to associate with a marked individual in a social setting.

Blood
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to accept blood transfusions for themselves or their children, believing that this is the same as eating blood and is forbidden by the Bible. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have died because of this restriction the Watchtower Society has placed upon its followers. In the past the Watchtower Society has forbidden its followers to get vaccinations or accept organ transplants, many people died needlessly before the Watchtower Society changed its rules and allowed these procedures. They still hold fast to the prohibition of receiving blood transfusions. See the web site "New Light on Blood"

Nationalism
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to salute the flag of any nation, recite the pledge of allegiance, stand for or sing the national anthem, run for public office, vote, or serve in the armed forces.

Holidays
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to celebrate Christmas, birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving, or any other holidays, claiming they all have pagan roots.
Associates
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to associate with non-Witnesses including family. Exceptions are made if the non-Witness family member is living in the same household.
Trinity
They do not believe in the Trinity. Instead, they follow a strict monotheism, in which: Jehovah is the Supreme Being. Jesus is the Son of God, a created being. Christ is believed to have originally existed in a pre-human state as the Archangel Michael. He later took human form as a man like any other person, except that he was sinless at birth and remained so throughout his earthly life. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. They believe that after the crucifixion, Christ died and was resurrected as an invisible, non-material, glorious, spirit creature. They believe that Jesus appeared on earth after his resurrection in a special body that Jehovah created for him.
The Holy Spirit they believe, is not a separate entity, but is simply a force: the method by which God interacts with the world.
Man's Soul
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that a person is the soul the Bible speaks of, and when a person dies nothing lives on, the person is dead and is conscious of nothing. When the time comes for God to resurrect them from the dead He will create a new body for them from His memory.
Hell
They totally deny the existence of the traditional Christian view of Hell. Satan is regarded as having created the concept of Hellfire in order to turn people against God. They believe that hell is the "common grave of mankind" where people go when they die. They are not conscious there. Unbelievers simply cease to exist at death. Believers remain in death until the resurrection.
144,000
The Heavenly Kingdom took effect in 1914 with the invisible enthronement of Christ as King. A little flock or Anointed Class of about 135,300 people currently occupies it. All were selected after Christ's ascension into heaven at Pentecost (33 AD) and during subsequent centuries. The selection of the full complement of 144,000 was completed in 1935. Some 8,700 are still living on earth. They will spend eternity as spirit creatures in heaven with God and Christ and will rule over the other Jehovah’s Witnesses who remain on earth. Those spending eternity on earth are what Jehovah’s Witnesses call the Great Crowd or Other Sheep.
Salvation (Grace vs. Works)
Salvation requires that one accept Bible doctrines as interpreted by the Governing Body, be baptized as a Jehovah's Witness and follow the program of works as laid out by the Governing Body.
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that they believe in the grace of God and that one does not earn salvation by their works. While they give lip service to God’s grace, their actions indicate differently. Consider the policy of making a disfellowshipped person earn their way back into the congregation. Remember you must be a Jehovah’s Witness "in good standing" to survive the end times, and to remain in good standing you must follow the rules and works set out by the Watchtower Organization. If someone breaks a rule, the elders decide whether that person is repentant or not, if they decide they are not repentant they are disfellowshipped. A disfellowshipped witness will not survive the time of the end. Think about it, they are deciding who deserves God’s grace and who does not.
Wherever you find the word grace in most Bibles you will find the term "undeserved kindness" in their Bible. While this may or may not be an acceptable translation of the original Greek word, it gives them a great deal of latitude in their teaching. In the December, 1993 issue of The Kingdom Ministry (a publication for members only) in an article titled "Sow Bountifully but With Discernment" the Watchtower Organization printed this thought "We want to give deserving ones the opportunity to learn of Jehovah’s undeserved kindness and the Kingdom hope". This brings to mind some serious questions: How can anyone deserve God's undeserved kindness if it's undeserved? And just what methods would mortal man use to discern who deserves God's undeserved kindness and who does not, are not God's thoughts higher than man's? This statement really shows the attitude of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society—not all people deserve God’s grace and it is the job of Jehovah's Witnesses to discern who does and who does not. Jehovah's Witnesses constantly boast that they alone are "preaching the good news of the kingdom in all the inhabited earth". Are they preaching in all the inhabited earth or just to the ones they deem deserving?

 

[for_his_glory]

(continue)
Jesus crucified on a stake not a cross
They reject the traditional symbol of Christianity, the cross, as being of pagan origin. They translate the Greek word from the Christian Scriptures "stauros" as "torture stake", and believe that Jesus was crucified on a single upright wooden stake with no crossbeam. They view the cross as an Idol and wearing or displaying one is considered idol worship.

The New World Translation is a translation of the KJV Bible written and published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. It is used and distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses.
The New World Translation that the Watch Tower Society rewrote in KJV form compared to the Holy Bible - KJV
I present this to you as I have been working on this for quite awhile today after downloading the NWT to compare the scriptures. I pray this will open your eyes to the deceit of the Watch Tower Society and their teachings about Jesus.

NWT Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep; and God’s active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters.
KJV Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(Cross reference to John 1:1-2, 14)

NWT John 1:1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was a god.
KJV John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(Notice NWT says “a god” also read John 1:14 as the word became flesh)

NWT 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.

KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(Notice both versions call Jesus the mighty God, everlasting Father)

NWT John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
KJV John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
(Both versions say Jesus and the Father are one as being part of the full Godhead)

NWT Romans 9:5 to whom the forefathers belong and from whom the Christ sprang according to the flesh: God, who is over all, be blessed forever.
KJV Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
(It's the flesh in whom we call Christ Jesus as being fully man and fully God)

NWT Colossians 2:9 because it is in him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily.
KJV Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
(All the fullness of the Godhead as all being the Spirit of God as being divine nature that is God)

NWT Philippians 2:5 5 Keep this mental attitude in YOU that was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although he was existing in God’s form, l gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. 7 No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men. 8 More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake.

KJV Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Notice the crucifixion as NWT says stake and KJV says cross. JW's reject the traditional symbol of Christianity, the cross, as being of pagan origin. They translate the Greek word from the Christian Scriptures "stauros" as "torture stake", and believe that Jesus was crucified on a single upright wooden stake with no crossbeam. They view the cross as an Idol and wearing or displaying one is considered idol worship.)

NWT 1John 5:7 For there are three witness bearers, 8 the spirit and the water and the blood, and the three are in agreement.
KJV 1John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
(Notice the difference between the NWT says three are in agreement as, KJV says these three agree in one. The three are all a part of the Godhead that is in Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:9. NWT Colossians 2:9 uses the words "divine quality dwells bodily and the KJV uses the words "the fullness of the Godhead bodily".)

NWT Rev 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says Jehovah God, “the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.”
KJV Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
(Both are using "the Almighty" as both being God)

 

[Beetow]

.
The old testament predicted that Christ (a.k.a. Messiah) would be promoted to a
high position.

● Isa 52:13 . . Look! My servant will act with insight. He will be in high station and
will certainly be elevated and exalted very much.

The extent of Messiah's elevation and exaltation wasn't fully appreciated until the
new testament wherein it says:

"When he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake. For this very reason also
God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above
every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in
heaven and those on earth and those under the ground." (Phlp 2:8-10)

Well; in my opinion "the name" that's above every other name is Jehovah, a.k.a.
Yahweh. (Deut 6:4-5)

If so then Jesus has the God-given right to identify himself as Jehovah, and to be
given obeisance as Jehovah. Refusal to give Jesus the proper reverence due God's
name is very disrespectful.

FAQ: But doesn't Phlp 2:8-10 contradict Isa 42:8 where it says: "I am Jehovah.
That is my name; and to no one else shall I give My own glory"

REPLY: I think it best to understand that verse as saying God won't allow Himself to
be supplanted by a competing deity. I really don't think its saying He wouldn't
willingly share His name and/or His glory with His one and only paternal
descendant, i.e. the son that God loves and admires more than all other creatures:
either underground, above ground, or up in the sky.

● John 3:35 . .The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.

● John 5:22-23 . . For the Father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the
judging to the Son, 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.
_

 

[jasonc]

Being raised in the hall.i was told that tract society was the 144000 that set doctrine

 

[Beetow]

i was told that tract society was the 144000 that set doctrine

There's a bit of a disclaimer associated with the JW hierarchy that says:

"The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal
matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index
includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural
understanding since 1870. Of course, Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would
produce perfect spiritual food." Watchtower-Study Edition, Feb 2017, pararaph12, under the heading;
Who is leading God's People today?

The Society's hierarchy claims to be neither inspired nor infallible, yet requires its
followers to comply with them as their connection to God.

"That faithful slave is the channel through which Jesus is feeding his true followers
in this time of the end. It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual
health and our relationship with God depend on this channel." (Jul 15, 2013 Watchtower,
p.20)

"We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval." (Jul 15,
2011 Watchtower, Simplified English Edition, p.24)

"[A mature christian] does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor
private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. 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." (Aug 01, 2001 Watchtower, p.14)
_

 

[jasonc]

There's a bit of a disclaimer associated with the JW hierarchy that says:

"The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal
matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index
includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural
understanding since 1870. Of course, Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would
produce perfect spiritual food." Watchtower-Study Edition, Feb 2017, pararaph12, under the heading;
Who is leading God's People today?

The Society's hierarchy claims to be neither inspired nor infallible, yet requires its
followers to comply with them as their connection to God.

"That faithful slave is the channel through which Jesus is feeding his true followers
in this time of the end. It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual
health and our relationship with God depend on this channel." (Jul 15, 2013 Watchtower,
p.20)

"We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval." (Jul 15,
2011 Watchtower, Simplified English Edition, p.24)

"[A mature christian] does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor
private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. 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." (Aug 01, 2001 Watchtower, p.14)
_

That was in the 80s.

 

[Beetow]

.
● 1Cor 15:45 . . It is even so written: "The first man Adam became a living soul."
The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Attempts have been made to apply that verse to Adam's origin and Christ's
resurrection, but I really think we should apply it to both their origins.

In other words, Adam was born into this world as a man whose existence was
dependent upon a source of life not his own, i.e. Adam wasn't self-existent.

In contrast, the Word was born into this world as a man independent of a source of
life not his own, i.e. he was, and still is, self-existent.

● John 1:3-4 . . All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not
even one thing came into existence. What has come into existence by means of him
was life

Also:

● 1Cor 15:47 . . .The first man is out of the earth and made of dust; the second
man is out of heaven.

In other words: Jesus is not only an earthen being but also an heavenly being.

● John 3:13 . . . No man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from
heaven; the Son of man.

● John 6:38 . . I have come down from heaven

According to John 5:26 and 1John 1:1-4, the Word is an everlasting life which,
according to Gen 21:33 and Rom 16:26, is an indestructible category of life that's
impervious to death. So the Word didn't go out of existence when he came into the
world as an organic being; which means of course that the Word became an organic
being and a spirit being simultaneously at the moment of Jesus' conception.

The Word's binary existence is a hang-up for some folks due to their sincere belief
that it's impossible for the Word to exist as a human being and a spirit being
simultaneously. But the evidence is difficult to refute.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
FAQ: Why does the Watchtower Society's Bible translate the second Greek word
theós per John 1:1 as a deity in lower case instead of upper case?

REPLY: The Watchtower Society's translation is based upon one of their own rules
of Greek grammar, to wit:

When theós is modified by the definite article "ho" the Society translates theós in
upper case, viz: in the Society's theological thinking; ho theós pertains to the one
true God, while theós alone is somewhat flexible; for example John 1:18 and John
20:17 where the Society translates theós in upper case though it be not modified
by ho.

However, according to Dr. Archibald T. Robertson's "Grammar Of The Greek New
Testament", page 767: in regards to nouns in the predicate; the article is not
essential to speech. In other words: when theόs is in the predicate, ho can be
either used, or not used, without making any real difference.

So then; a translator's decision whether to capitalize the second theόs in John 1:1
or not to capitalize it, is entirely arbitrary rather than dictated by a strict academic
rule of Greek grammar.

Of course the Society prefers that the Word be a lower case deity because that
spelling is agreeable with their version of his status; whereas most conventional
Christians prefer the upper case because that spelling is agreeable with their
version of the Word's status; whereas according to Robertson, either spelling is
acceptable.

For that reason I do not recommend arguing with JWs over spellings in John 1:1
seeing as how the grammatical ground they stand on is just as solid as the
conventional ground.

However; the very fact that the JWs recognize the Word as a god at all is
problematic because there is no middle classification of deities in the Bible between
true gods and false gods; just as there is no middle between fools and wise, nor
good and evil, nor righteous and unrighteous. So then, if the Word isn't a true
deity, then he is by default a false deity. For example:

● Ps 82:1-6 . . God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the
gods-- and said: You are gods.

Now the thing is: a true deity is immortal. But the deities in that Psalm were on
track do lose their lives as creatures.

● Ps 82:7 . . But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Ergo: the deities in Psalm 82 are not true deities, i.e. they are figureheads. In other
words; the Psalm evaluates the mighty as divine beings though of course in reality
they aren't just as Adam and his wife liked of think of themselves as deities but of
course weren't. (Gen 3:5 & Gen 3:22)

Jesus applied that Psalm to himself at John 10:33-36 except that he went a step
further by applying additional words from the sixth verse that go like this:

"And all of you are sons of the Most High"

So Jesus' claim to be God's son in John 10:36 wasn't out of the ordinary because it
was a claim that his opponents themselves should've been claiming too; and had
they been noblemen about it instead of hostile, would've accepted him as a fellow
son of God.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
● John 20:24-28 . . But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called The Twin, was
not with them when Jesus came. Consequently the other disciples would say to
him: We have seen the Lord! But he said to them: Unless I see in his hands the
print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand
into his side, I will certainly not believe.

. .Well, eight days later his disciples were again indoors, and Thomas with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and he stood in their midst and said:
May you have peace. Next he said to Thomas: Put your finger here, and see my
hands, and take your hand and stick it in to my side, and stop being unbelieving
but become believing. In answer Thomas said to him: My Lord and my God!

FAQ: Why does the Watchtower Society's Bible capitalize "God" in John 20:28 when
that spelling contradicts their opposition to Jesus' divinity?

REPLY: It is a Watchtower Society rule of thumb that capitalization is required when
the Greek word theós is modified by the article ho.

However, I don't recommend making an issue of capitalization in this particular
incident because skilled JWs can easily dodge that bullet. They can easily dodge the
injuries too.

Instead, focus the attention upon Thomas' possessive pronoun because he not only
addressed Jesus as a deity; but also addressed him as "my" deity. In point of fact,
the Society's Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures ©1969
renders Thomas' statement like this:

"The Lord of me and the God of me."

Now if Thomas was a Jew; then his association with Jehovah was governed by the
covenant that Moses' people entered into with God per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy. The very first of the covenant's commandments forbids Jews to
have more than one deity; and by saying nothing to Thomas about addressing
someone other than Jehovah as his deity, Jesus would've been in violation right
along with Thomas because the Jews' covenant required him to protest.

● Lev 19:17 . .You should by all means reprove your associate, that you may not
bear sin along with him.

Now, the million-dollar question is: If Jesus was Thomas' deity, and if Jesus
permitted himself to be addressed as Thomas' deity; then why isn't Jesus the
Watchtower Society's deity?

NOTE: I've heard it suggested that Thomas' reaction "My lord and my God" was an
expletive somewhat similar to the modern expression OMG. Well, if so then I think
there was grounds for Jesus to scold Thomas for profanity because the covenant's
commandments forbid Jews to speak of God in an offhanded manner. But Jesus
said nothing about it.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
● John 20:17 . . Be on your way to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending
to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.

FAQ: If Jesus is God, as conventional Christians claim, then how is he speaking of
my God? Are there two Gods-- one a junior and the other his senior?

REPLY: The Word is in the unique position of being able to speak for himself as the
flesh per John 1:14, and as the creator per John 1:1-3, i.e. Jesus was, and still is,
the ultimate theophany in that Jehovah's human forms in the Old Testament had no
genealogy, whereas the Word's human form does; all the way back to Adam, viz:
the label "son of man" when applied to the Word's flesh isn't a figure of speech,
rather, it's an actual description

FAQ: You're saying the Word exists as a spirit being and a physical being-- a
creator and a creature --simultaneously?

REPLY: Yes.

REACTION: That isn't biblical; it's fantasy!

REPLY: There's a hierarchy in the divine relationship just as there is a hierarchy in
human relationships. Though all members of a human family are equally human,
they are not all equal in rank and privilege-- parents are superior and children are
subordinate.

The Watchtower Society calls Jesus "the only-begotten son from a Father" (John
1:14). However; the Society dare not accept the son as the Father's paternal
progeny because the ramifications would force them to revise their theology.

The Society also refers to the son as "the only-begotten god" (John 1:18). Well; If
the one true God were to beget a deity, wouldn't that deity be just as much the one
true deity as its father? Does the Watchtower Society really expect us to believe the
one true deity begot a fake replica of Himself?

For simplicity's sake; it helps to think of the one true God as a species; viz: if
indeed the one true God were to reproduce and beget a child, He would beget a
child of like species; i.e. the one true God would beget a one true God, i.e. more of
Himself, because that's the only kind of offspring that the one true God could
possibly reproduce; just as when a true human being begets a child, they beget a
child of like species i.e. they beget a true human being like themselves because
that's the only kind of offspring that a true human being can reproduce.

Now, we can volley back and forth with JWs, countering each other's verses with
more verses-- verse upon verse --but I can just about guarantee that us and they
will both be chasing our tails and getting nowhere until they agree to approach the
Son's relationship to his Father from a biological perspective; which is a perspective
that just about anybody with even a cursory knowledge of the birds and the bees
can understand with ease.

FAQ: How can the one true God be two of Himself out there when even Jesus
plainly declared there is only one true God? (John 17:3)

REPLY: The Bible also declares that there is only one Man. (Acts 17:26)

God created Man in two persons, viz: male and female. But the two persons were
not created as two Mans: they were just the one, i.e. Eve was the flip side of the
same coin. In other words: there is only one Man though the one Man is a binary
creature and can be spoken of with a plural pronoun. (Gen 1:27, Gen 5:2)

After God created Adam, he then proceeded to construct Eve with material taken
from Adam's body rather than create her from the soil as before. That way, Eve
retained Adam's humanness rather than be given a unique humanness of her own,
viz: Eve was in Adam, and he in her.

In a similar manner-- though no doubt quite a bit more complex --God's son is in
God, and God is in His son. i.e. the Son extends the Father just as Eve extended
Adam. In point of fact, several verses in the new testament verify that the Son is
God's direct descendant, i.e. the Son is a being consisting of God similar in manner
to how Eve was a being consisting of Adam. (Luke 1:35, John 1:14, John 1:18,
John 3:16, John 3:18, Heb 11:17, 1John 4:9)
_

 

[Beetow]

.
FAQ: Doesn't John 1:11-13 & John 3:3-8 indicate that true born-again Christians
are God's progeny?

REPLY: Were born-again Christians God's progeny they would be just as much a
deity as Himself. However, the birth spoken of isn't an act of reproduction, rather,
it's an act of regeneration.

● Eph 2:10 . . . For we are a product of his work and were created in union with
Christ Jesus

● Eph 4:24 . . Put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will
in true righteousness

● Col 3:10 . . Clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate
knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it.

After undergoing the Spirit birth spoken of by John 3:3-8, the new creations are
placed in God's home via the process of adoption.

● Gal 4:4-5 . . But when the full limit of the time arrived, God sent forth His son,
who came to be out of a woman and who came to be under law, that he might
release by purchase those under law, that we, in turn, might receive the adoption
as sons.

● Eph 1:5 . . . He foreordained us to the adoption through Jesus Christ as sons
to Himself,

Now; the pot of gold is that adopted kids have just as much right to an inheritance
as kids born in the home; and they have a right to be known by their adoptive
father's name, plus: the right to a place in his genealogy. In other words, born
again Christians have every right to be known as God's kin, and as intimate
members of His family circle: not because of their Spirit birth, rather, because of
their adoption.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
● John 3:5 . . I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is
born of water and the Spirit.

The water that Jesus spoke of isn't the ordinary stuff commonly used for bathing,
laundering, cooking, irrigating, and/or religious rites, rituals, and ceremonies. It's a
supernatural kind of water and specifically intended as a beverage, i.e. it's for
drinking, so to speak.

● John 4:10 . . If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink,
you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.

● John 4:14 . .Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I
shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

As it turns out: the Spirit is the source of the water about which Jesus spoke.

● John 7:37-39 . . Jesus stood and cried out, saying: If any man is thirsty, let him
come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture said: "From his
innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." But this he spoke of the Spirit,
whom those who believed in him were to receive.

● 1Cor 12:13 . .We were all given the one Spirit to drink.

One day I asked an experienced Jehovah's Witness at my job if he was born of the
Spirit. He answered no; and added that he didn't expect to undergo the Spirit birth
in either this life or the next because his hope is a kingdom on Earth rather than up
in Heaven.

The JW was somehow unaware that Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus wasn't
relative to a kingdom above, rather; to a kingdom below.

● John 3:12 . . . If I have told you earthly things and yet you do not believe, how
will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

It's both tragic and ironic that the Watchtower Society's rank and file missionaries
go worldwide advertising a kingdom that they themselves will never be allowed to
enter-- not because they didn't work hard enough to deserve it, but simply because
they were led to believe themselves exempt from the Spirit birth, and of course
deprived of the living water too.

● John 3:7 . . You should not be surprised at my saying you must be born again.

In other words: the Spirit-birth requirement isn't optional, rather; it's a must, i.e.
mandatory.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
● 1John 4:1 . . Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression, but test the
inspired expressions to see whether they originate with God, because many false
prophets have gone forth into the world.

The Greek word translated "false prophets" roughly defines a supposedly inspired
speaker who's actually on the wrong side of the aisle, viz: an imposter.

Jesus said that false prophets are known by their fruits (Matt 7:15-20). For
example: the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society's predictions regarding
Armageddon and Christ's return have been incorrect every time. Seventh Day
Adventism's performance hasn't been any better.

When a religion's predictions fail, then prudence requires that we assume its
theology is highly suspect no matter how reasonable and/or logical it sounds.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
Many of the Jehovah's Witnesses going door-to-door throughout the world are
honestly, and sincerely, wanting to enter the kingdom of God on Earth; which is
why I'm convinced that conventional Christians really ought to know something
about "hope" as it's depicted in the new testament before engaging JWs in a
conversation about the kingdom.

● 1Pet 3:15 . . Always be ready to make a defense before everyone that demands
of you a reason for the hope in you,

The new testament Greek word for "hope" in Peter's instructions is elpídos which
means to anticipate (usually with pleasure) and to expect with confidence. Note the
elements of anticipation, expectation, and confidence.

In other words: elpídos hope is a know-so hope rather than a cross your fingers
hope.

So, unless someone knows for proof-positive, beyond even the slightest glimmer of
sensible doubt, that they have a passport to the kingdom of God locked in and
irrevocable, then of course it is impossible for them to comply with Peter's
instructions seeing as they would not yet have the kind of hope about which he
wrote.

● Rom 12:12 . . Rejoice in the hope.

When people are praying for the best, while in the back of their mind dreading the
worst, they have absolutely no cause for rejoicing; but they do have plenty of cause
to fear the unknown.

Elpídos hope is one of the three primary components of Christianity (1Cor 13:13)
It's also a calling. (Eph 4:4)

When people are lacking Peter's hope, then we may safely assume (1) God has not
yet called them, (2) they have spurned His call and/or (3) they're not on His list of
candidates for kingdom citizenship.
_

 

[Who Me]

Talking to J Ws is a matter of tactics, just like taking to any non Christian.
If you have the time invite them In and let th3m do their set talk.
This relaxes them, they're in the warm and are talking to a non JW fulfilling their target.
It's tactics don't get side tract one wants to talk to them and to sow a seed that with prayer will make them think.
2Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Is one of a number of verses to bring up, to discuss for a bit, before letting them divert one to somewhere topic.

The aim is give them something to think about that isn't confrontational.
Arguing about the NWT, or about the trinity etc only gets there backs up and they hide behind their faith.
Talking about the indweling Spirit, about the knowledge/hope one has of a place in heaven, are all alien to the JW and if they start thinking, reading what even the NWT says they might find Jesus.

Don't forget to pray regularly for them.

 

[Beetow]

.
● John 14:16-17 . . I will request the Father and he will give you another helper to
be with you forever, the spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive, because
it neither beholds it nor knows it. You know it, because it remains with you and is in
you.

● John 14:26 . .The helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name,
that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told
you.

Rank and file JWs are taught to believe that they obtain boldness in speaking the
word of God, and zealousness in engaging in the work of witnessing, from "having"
the holy spirit. (pg 382, Reasoning From The Scriptures)

However; when speaking of "having" the holy spirit, the JWs mean that it is
alongside them rather than inside them. Only a special guild of 144,000 JWs are
believed to actually have the spirit inside them. The special guild are known as the
anointed class; a label taken from 1John 2:27.

The non-anointed class-- a.k.a. the great crowd, a.k.a. the hewers of wood and
haulers of water --are in a very serious condition. Here's why:

● Rom 8:9 . .You are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God's
spirit truly dwells in you.

Seeing as how God's spirit does not truly dwell "in" John Que and Jane Doe JWs,
then they are, by default, in harmony with the flesh. That only makes things worse.

● Rom 8:5-8 . . For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the
things of the flesh, but those in accord with the spirit on the things of the spirit. For
the minding of the flesh means death, but the minding of the spirit means life and
peace; because the minding of the flesh means enmity with God, for it is not under
subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. So those who are in harmony
with the flesh cannot please God.

The non-anointed class' situation is just too ironic for words. They displease God,
and He displeases them; yet they go door-to-door sincerely believing themselves
Jehovah's friends and allies.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
So-called Replacement Theology is just another name for identity theft. Take for
example the Watchtower Society's interpretation of Rev 7:1-8 wherein is listed a
specific number of Hebrews taken from every tribe of the sons of Israel.

The Society claims that those aren't biological sons of Israel; but rather "spiritual"
sons-- referring of course to the Society's elite cadre of 144,000 Witnesses who
have supposedly undergone a spirit birth per Christ's instructions at John 3:3-12; &
the anointing per 1John 2:26-27.

The Society's claim is premised upon its observation that there never was a tribe of
Joseph; when in reality Joseph is listed as both a son and a tribe (Gen 49:2-28 &
Ezek 48:31-34). So that portion of the Society's reasoning is clearly a false
premise.

The Society's claim is also premised upon its observation that Ephraim and Dan are
missing from the list of tribes at Rev 7:4-8. However, what the Society's
theologians have somehow overlooked in the Old Testament is that it doesn't
matter whose names are chosen to represent the twelve tribes of Israel just so long
as there are twelve names. Are there twelve in Rev 7:4-8? Yes. Well then that's
good enough. I realize that makes no sense but then the Lord's apostles were still
referred to as "the twelve" even with Judas out of the picture. So that premise in
the Society's reasoning is spurious too.

The Society's claim is also premised upon its reasoning that Levi isn't a valid tribe
based upon the fact that the Levites are exempt from warfare. However, Levi is
clearly listed as both a son and a tribe (Gen 49:2-28 & Ezek 48:31-34) which is a
good many years after Num 1:1-54. So that premise is bogus too.

The Watchtower Society not wanting the 144,000 to be biological Hebrews is one
thing; but I would just like to know from whence Charles T. Russell's and Joseph F.
Rutherford's followers got the idea that their people constitute the 144,000. That's
a pretty serious claim. How do they validate it? I don't know; but I can just about
guarantee that their explanation is an outlandish stretch of the imagination
consisting of humanistic reasoning, rationalizing, spiritualizing, clever sophistry, and
semantic double-speak.

NOTE: According to Rev 14:1-4, the 144,000 are supposed to all be males, and
none have ever slept with a woman. That, if true, would of course disqualify
married JWs and all the females among them too.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
POSIT: The holy spirit guided the translation of the Watchtower Society's Bible.

REPLY: Non-anointed JWs are living proof that the NWT is unreliable. Here's why.

According to 1Cor 2:12-15, folks who've received the spirit which comes from God
are enabled to comprehend, and to accept, the things of God. Well: it's believed by
JWs that only 144,000 anointed Witnesses have received the spirit of God; which
means that all other JWs are physical people rather than spiritual people.

● Rom 8:9 . .You are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God's
spirit truly dwells in you.

Seeing as how God's spirit does not truly dwell "in common JWs, then they are, by
default, in harmony with the flesh, and thus not in harmony with the manner in
which God prefers His word to be understood, viz: were the NWT really and truly a
spirit-guided translation, then non anointed JWs would ignore it.

So beware! Though a JW's beliefs might be honest beliefs, they just might also be
honestly wrong instead of right.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
● Matt 24:45-47 . .Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master
appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is
that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you: He will
appoint him over all his belongings.

The core of the Watchtower Society-- the Governing Body --sincerely believes itself
the faithful and discreet slave spoken of in that passage, i.e. believes that God
chose the leaders of the Watchtower Society as His sole distributor of truth to
mankind; thus explaining why John Que and Jane Doe Jehovah's Witnesses are
taught that they need to submit unquestioningly to the Governing Body in order to
associate with God, and for protection from doomsday, viz: the calamities depicted
in the book of Revelation.

"That faithful slave is the channel through which Jesus is feeding his true followers
in this time of the end. It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual
health and our relationship with God depend on this channel."
(Jul 15, 2013 Watchtower, p.20)

"We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval."
(Jul 15, 2011 Watchtower, Simplified English Edition, p.24)

"[A mature christian] does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor
private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. 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."
(Aug 01, 2001 Watchtower, p.14)

According to the above: rank and file JWs are being taught that it's essential to
comply with the Governing Body's teachings. However; at the same time they are
warned that the Body's teachings should not be assumed either inspired or
infallible.

"The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in
doctrinal matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watchtower Publications
Index includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our
Scriptural understanding since 1870. Of course, Jesus did not tell us that his faithful
slave would produce perfect spiritual food."
(Feb 2017 Watchtower Study Edition, ¶12, under the heading: Who is leading God's People today?)

Just imagine the degree of confusion and insecurity that would pervade the minds
of conventional Christians had the authors of the New Testament scriptures
attached a disclaimer to their writings similar to the above.

And there's this:

"Those who are convinced that The Watchtower is publishing the opinion or
expression of a man should not waste time in looking at it at all. Those who believe
that God uses the Watchtower as a means of communicating to his people, or of
calling attention to his prophecies, should study The Watchtower."
(Jan 01, 1942 Watchtower magazine, p.5)

In other words: the haulers of water and the hewers of wood-- John Que and Jane
Doe rank and file JW --are not only expected to know what's in Watchtower
magazines, but they're also required to accept the contents as God's providence in
spite of the Society's caveat that their teachings are neither inspired, infallible, nor
guaranteed free of error.
_

 

[Beetow]

.
Passages like Gen 9:3-4, Lev 7:26-27, Lev 17:10-14, and Acts 15:19-20 are
commonly utilized to support the personal conviction that medical blood
transfusions constitute consuming blood for food.

Rather than get into a running gun battle with folks over the interpretation of those
passages; I suggest another tact. And our purpose is not to win a debate; only to
offer a second opinion.

Jesus broke the letter of the sabbath law on a number of occasions, and when
doing so based his actions upon the principle that the spirit of the sabbath trumps
the letter of the sabbath because the spirit of the sabbath takes into consideration
the safety and welfare of human life. (cf. Matt 12:3-8)

For example; were we to see a pit bull attacking a small child on private property,
no sensible person would have us arrested for trespassing on their property with
the intent to protect the child because in that situation, the safety and welfare of
human life trumps the letter of the law.
_