Wednesday 11 November 2015

Questions for My Jehovah's Witness Friends

    
“We need to examine, not only what we personally believe, but also what is taught by any religious organization with which we may be associated. Are its teachings in full harmony with God’s Word, or are they based on the traditions of men? If we are lovers of the truth, there is nothing to fear from such an examination. It should be the sincere desire of every one of us to learn what God’s will is for us, and then do it” (The Truth that leads to Eternal Life, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society 1968, p. 13).

Please give honest and satisfactory answers to these questions . . .

1.  Do you agree with the statement above? Regardless of what you may have done in the past, are you now willing to question your current beliefs? If your answer is “no,” how can you unhypocritically expect others to do so?

2.  Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses use instrumental music in their worship to Jehovah? Do you agree that “the Law covenant was terminated at Pentecost, 33 C.E.” and that the “‘law of the Christ’ covers the whole course and scope of the Christian’s life and work”? (Aid to Bible Understanding, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society 1971, p. 1037). If you agree, why do Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the old Jewish practice and the innovation of Roman Catholics and Protestant Denominations of worshiping with musical instruments when such is not authorized in the New Testament? “Regardless of whom a group profess to worship, if they hold to doctrines of men instead of the inspired Word of God, their worship is in vain” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society 1985, p. 323).

3.  Do you support the following statement? “Beyond all doubt, the evidence points to 1914 as the year when the kingdom of God went into operation . . .” (The Truth that leads to Eternal Life, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society 1968, p. 93). If this is true, why did Jesus make the following statements while he was still on earth? “The appointed time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near” (Mark 1:15, New World Translation). “Truly I say to you, There are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the kingdom of God already come in power” (Mark 9:1, NWT). Telling the apostles things about the kingdom of God: “Do not withdraw from Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me . . . but you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you . . .” (Acts 1:1-8, NWT). Why does the kingdom appear to have been established shortly thereafter, in accordance with these scriptures? “He delivered us from the authority of the darkness and transplanted us into the kingdom of the Son of his love” (Colossians 1:13, NWT), i.e. “the kingdom of the Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5). “I John, your brother and a sharer with you in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in company with Jesus . . .” (Revelation 1:9, NWT).

4.  Wouldn’t it be contrary to Watchtower theology for you to refer to Jesus as “My Lord and my God”? (cf. Should You Believe in the Trinity?, Watchtower Bible & Tract Society 1989, p. 16). Why was it acceptable for Thomas to address Jesus as “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28-29, NWT)? If this was not a legitimate affirmation, why wasn’t Thomas charged with blasphemy or with using the name of the Lord God in vain (Exodus 20:7)? Note: The designations “Lord” and “God” are translated from the Greek words kurios and theos, and whenever these words are used together in the NT, they are equivalent to the Hebrew names YHWH [“Jehovah”] and Elohim [“God”] (Mark 12:29-30; Luke 1:68; 10:27; Acts 3:22) and always refer to the Supreme Deity (Acts 2:39; 4:24; 7:37).

5.  Do you agree with the following statement? “So the evidence points to the conclusion that the title ‘Alpha and Omega’ applies to Almighty God, the Father, not to the Son” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society 1985, p. 413). If so, how do you harmonize that conclusion with the following clear scriptural statements? “‘Look! I am coming quickly, and the reward I give is with me, to render to each one as his work is. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end . . . I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear witness to you people of these things for the congregations” (Revelation 22:12-13, 16, NWT; cf. 1:8, 17-18; Isaiah 44:6).

6.  Do you agree with the following statements? “Who is this prophet? . . . This ‘prophet’ was not one man, but a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah’s Christian witnesses” (The Watchtower, 1 April 1972, p. 197). “However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: ‘How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?’ when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it . . .” (Deuteronomy 18:20-22, NWT). 
     Now consider these Jehovah’s Witness prophecies: “there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to perfect humanity and made to visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth” (Millions Now Living Will Never Die 1920, p. 88); “The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914” (The Watchtower, 1 Sept. 1922, p. 262); “According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man’s creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E.” (Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God 1966, p. 29). 
     Do you honestly believe that Proverbs 4:18 gives justification for making false prophecies? “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” (1 John 4:1, NWT).

7. Would you like to learn more about the Bible and God's will for your life?

--Kevin L. Moore

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