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Friendly Version - opens in separate window *** Article first posted 1 July 2005 ***
This is the second article catching up on a
number of interesting points raised in recent Watchtower publications.
MY FRIEND JEHOVAH
On p.16 of The Watchtower, 15 September, 2003, speaking of Abraham
being called the friend of God, the writer states,
"Our incessant prayers help us have a close
relationship with Jehovah."
This struck me as the line that the Society often takes; it is the outward
things that bring us close to God. Is this statement they make true?
Will my praying, alone, bring me close to Jehovah?
I think the Biblical teaching is very clear - Jehovah will not regard
us as a friend just because we ask Him for things. Being called a friend
came out of the Covenant that God made with Him. Romans 4 seeks to explain
this to us. It was not the works that made Abraham God's friend but
that he understood what it meant to be, "justified by faith". This is
something that no man can do whatever group they join; how many doors
they call on; or how many prayers they pray.
First, God pronounces as righteous through the finished work of Jesus
Christ and then we work out our salvation from there. Seeking to work
out our salvation, without knowing our justification may mean we will
do many good works but it will not mean that we have a relationship
with Jehovah.
Once again the works of the organisation are put forward as a means
of having a relationship with God and the blood of Jesus Christ is sidelined,
except for a few of the 144,000 left on earth.
HANDLING THE WORD
Pages 8-12 of The Watchtower, 15 November, 2003 carried an article
entitled, "Handling God's Word Aright". The basis, explained in the
opening paragraphs, is that we need the right tools and know how to
use them. From here they make a number of points about the examples
we have in Scripture and how we need to be rooted in God's Word. We
will look at each point made under their main paragraph headings.
"Paul - A Zealous Kingdom Publisher" -
pp.8-9.
Some of the points made here are good. Like Paul, we need to make effective
use of God's Word.
"Like Paul, we can glorify our work as ministers
by making frequent and effective use of the Word of God. In all features
of our field ministry, our goal should be to share something from the
Scriptures with as many people as possible. How can we do this with
persuasion? Consider three important ways: (1) Direct attention to God's
Word in a way that creates respect for it. (2) Tactfully explain and
apply what the Bible says. (3) Reason from the Scriptures in a way that
is convincing." - p.9.
Three excellent points which we certainly should follow; unfortunately
it does not end there.
"Present-day Kingdom proclaimers have tools
that were not available to Paul during his ministry. These include books,
magazines, brochures, handbills, tracts, and audio and video recordings.
In the past century, testimony cards, phonographs, sound cars, and radio
broadcasts were also used. Of course, our best tool is the Bible, and
we need to make good and proper use of this indispensable tool." - p.9.
Well, at least we end up with the thought that the Bible is best, but
the writers must remind us of the literature which we should use too.
"Our Ministry Must Be Rooted in God's
Word" - p.9.
Again, much to be commended, and buried in this paragraph a very interesting
sentence,
"Timothy was not to permit his personal
views to shape his teaching." - p.10.
But isn't this just where the Watchtower Society has fallen down? They
should be commended for wanting to reach every house with the "gospel
message" but if it is not the true one, but one shaped by the personal
views of the Society leaders, it will not be fulfilling Jehovah's will
- they admit that themselves.
"Our Conduct Must be Good" - p.10.
Amen, our lives must show the truth of what we are preaching.
"God's Word Has Transforming Power" -
p.11.
Once again, Amen! Power to change a sinner into a justified Christian;
power to make alive those who are dead in trespasses and sins; power
to bring any person to the place of being born again of God's Holy Spirit.
But are these the testimonies that are shown under this heading? No,
instead we read:
"For example, Kingdom proclaimers from Phnom
Penh, Cambodia, preached in the province of Kompong Chain twice a month.
After hearing others of the clergy speak against Jehovah's Witnesses,
a local pastor arranged to meet with the Witnesses the next time they
visited the province. She barraged them with questions about the celebrating
of holidays and listened closely as they reasoned with her from the
Scriptures. Then she exclaimed: 'I know now that what my fellow pastors
said about you is not true! They claimed that you don't use the Bible,
but this morning that's all you have used!' This woman continued her
Bible discussions with the Witnesses and did not allow threats of removal
as pastor to stop her. She mentioned her Scriptural discussions to a
friend, who then began to study the Bible with the Witnesses. The friend
became so enthusiastic about what she was learning that at one of the
services at the church she attends, she was moved to say, 'Come, study
the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses!' Soon thereafter, the former pastor
and others also began studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses."
- p.12
Has the "transforming power" of the Scriptures changed the woman on
the inside? No, she now studies the Bible with a different group - all
is outward! This example is followed by another one,
"The power of God's Word is also illustrated
in the case of Paulina, a woman in Ghana. A full-time Kingdom proclaimer
held a Bible study with her in the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting
Life. Paulina was involved in a polygamous marriage and saw the need
to make changes, but her husband and all her relatives violently opposed
her. Her grandfather, a high-court judge and a church elder, tried to
dissuade her by resorting to a misapplication of Matthew 19:4-6. The
judge sounded authoritative, but Paulina quickly realized that this
was similar to Satan's twisting of the Scriptures when he tempted Jesus
Christ. (Matthew 4:5-7) She recalled Jesus' clear statement on marriage,
to the effect that God created humans male and female, not male and
females, and that the two, not the three, were to become one flesh.
She stuck to her decision and was finally granted the customary divorce
from the polygamous marriage. Soon, she was a happy baptized Kingdom
proclaimer." - p.12.
Here there was a change but again it is all to do with outward things.
She came out of a polygamous marriage; nothing is said about a change
of heart, or love for His Word or being led by the Holy Spirit into
all truth.
This fact that we are dealing with - outward change, not an inward change
of heart - is clearly shown by the final paragraph, which states,
"God's written Word is indeed a powerful
tool for our use in helping others to make changes in their lives in
order to draw close to Jehovah." - p.12.
Please note the order - we make the changes, so that we can draw close
to Jehovah. This is putting the proverbial cart before the horse and
indeed will get us nowhere. We need a changing relationship with Christ
in order for God's living word to work in our lives.
Finally, we are encourage to read the next article, entitled, "Help
Others to Accept the Kingdom Message" so that we can be,
"…developing our abilities as convincing
teachers."
This article goes on to show that the Watchtower Society teaches apologetics
from their point of view. They talk about the need to use "logical
reasoning, sound argument, and earnest entreaty…" - p.14.
They then use an interesting illustration,
"Be sure that your statement is based squarely
on God's Word and not on personal opinion. Also, use corroborative evidence
to back up your heartfelt Scriptural statements. (Proverbs 16:23) If
you point out that obedient mankind will enjoy life in a paradise earth,
for instance, back that statement up with a Scriptural reference, such
as Luke 23:43 or Isaiah 65:21-25. How can you corroborate your Scriptural
point? You may use examples from your listener's experience. You might
remind him of the simple and cost-free pleasures derived from the beauty
of a sunset, the sweet smell of a flower, the savory taste of a fruit,
or the joy of watching a mother bird feed her young. Help him to see
that such pleasures are evidence that the Creator wants us to enjoy
life on earth.-Ecclesiastes 3:11, 12."
So here is an example of Watchtower apologetics - could you give a reasoned
defence?
They are telling you that if you are part of obedient mankind you will
live in paradise on earth and they first of all back this up with the
Scripture, Luke 23:43, which in their New World Translation will say,
"And he said to him: 'Truly I tell you
today, You will be with me in Paradise.'"
So on the day that Jesus died He told the thief that decided to be obedient,
you will be with me in paradise. This sounds convincing? To those without
any Biblical knowledge it might be, but let's look at it closely. We
will not worry about the 'movable comma' for now; we will simply ask
is the "Paradise" that Jesus referred to here the "paradise earth" that
the Witness says we are going to?
For anyone that knows anything about Watchtower Theology, we can see
immediately that this presentation will not prove the point; in fact
it will do just the opposite. Simply, Jesus will not be in paradise
earth and so when He says, "you will be with Me" it is obvious that
this cannot refer to the earth paradise! This is not part of Scripture
that convinces us we will have life on earth. Indeed it really shows
that all those who are obedient and serve Christ will be with Him.
Next they use Isaiah 65:21-25,
"And they will certainly build houses
and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat
[their] fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy;
they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days
of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands
my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing,
nor will they bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offspring
made up of the blessed ones of Jehovah, and their descendants with them.
And it will actually occur that before they call out I myself shall
answer; while they are yet speaking, I myself shall hear. 'The wolf
and the lamb themselves will feed as one, and the lion will eat straw
just like the bull; and as for the serpent, his food will be dust. They
will do no harm nor cause any ruin in all my holy mountain,' Jehovah
has said." - NWT.
The Scripture starts 'and they'. Is this 'they' obedient mankind? And,
more to the point, where is this 'they'? Interestingly, the setting
of these verses is found in verse 17,
""For here I am creating new heavens
and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither
will they come up into the heart."
The context is not about just earth, but God's whole new creation. When
we look at the verses in Revelation 21 which are talking about the same
event as Isaiah, we see that heaven and earth are rolled into one. There
is no separation between heaven and earth; sin that divided God's realm
from man's realm is dealt with and God is dwelling with all His people.
Once again, we do not find that this refers to a group of men and women
living on earth, separate from a few others living with God in heaven.
It shows us indeed that God has a glorious future for all His people.
We discover that the apologetics that the Watchtower teaches is not
based upon God's Word but upon the 'personal teachings' of those who
run the Society.
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