Just had a visit from the Jehovah's Witnesses this morning.
I have discovered that one of the best ways to witness to them is to undermine their confidence in the Watchtower organisation and then tell them your own testimony of how Jesus Christ has cleansed from sin and has given the assurance of a home in heaven.
There are many documented false prophecies found in the writings of the Watchtower organisation. Here are a few:
1. Charlas Taze Russell, their founder, taught that 1874 marked the date of the second coming of the Lord, this teaching was held until 1943.
2. The date of the close of that 'battle' [Armageddon] is definitely marked in Scripture as October 1914, The Watchtower, 15th January 1892.
3. In 1898 the year 1914 was announced as the end of the world as we know it: In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the time of the Gentiles, i.e. the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914, The time is at Hand 1898, pages 76-77.
...the battle of the great day of God Almighty' ( Revelation 16:14 ), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced, The Time Is at Hand, page 101, 1898.
3. Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews 11, to the condition of human perfection, Millions Now Living Will Never Die, page 89, 1918.
4. In 1924 Judge Rutherford stated that: 1914 was the beginning of the end, and set 1925 as the new date for the end of the world, The Watchtower, 15th July 1924.
5. The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year. Many have confidently expected that all members of the body of Christ will be changed to heavenly glory during this year. This may be accomplished. It may not be. In his own due time God will accomplish his purposes concerning his people. Christians should not be so deeply concerned about what may transpire this year, The Watchtower, 1st January 1925, page 3.
6. Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not state so. The difficulty was that the friends inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that when their imaginations burst asunder, they were inclined to throw away everything, The Watchtower, page 232, 1926.
7. There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1917, 1918, and 1925, which disappointment lasted for a time...and they also learned to quit fixing dates, Vindication, page 338, 1931.
8.… the evidence required, all of it, and it is overwhelming!’ that ‘the last days are here’ and Armageddon would take place in 1975, Awake! Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 8th October 1968.
9. The imminent events of 1975 were said to have been a major factor in influencing many couples to decide not to have children at this time, Awake! Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 8th November 1974 page 11.
All these statements have be set within the context of what they themselves have stated. In 1972 the Jehovah's Witness Watchtower claimed to be the prophet of God, The Watchtower, 1st April 1972, page 197.
Deuteronomy 18:22 counsels us what we are do with these types of prophets: If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.
5 comments:
I can assure you this is the wrong tactic, and for many reasons. I used to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I left because I could not understand how a loving God would limit me from having free association with anyone, regardless of creed or orientation. You can argue until the cows come home on prophecy violations and doctrinal discrepancies, but it is only by discussing quality of life issues that you can impart the truth to these kind albeit misguided persons. And by the way, they do believe that Jesus died for their sins and yours, and also believe that they are going to live forever on a paradise earh, so heaven really does not interest them much.
Perhaps you should examine why you have such a strong need to witness to others? I also know of a group of about six million people that have even a stronger need. They're called Jehovah's Witnesses.
Survivor
I said what I did due to reading up on the experience of others who have been converted to Christ out of the Jehovah's Witness organisation, the advice that people who work among Jehovah's Witnesses have given and my own experience from speaking to Jehovah's Witnesses when they visit my door. I am sure they are many people who would take a differing point of view. That is entirely up to them. All I was relating is my own view on the subject.
I have found it is extremely difficult to discuss any passage of Scripture with them because of their mindset that logs in to what they have been taught by the organisation or dismises what is said because it has come from an 'opposer'. I just seek to sow a seed of doubt about the dependence that Jehovah's Witnesses have in the Watchtower organisation. If it has got things wrong in the pass to this extent how could anyone depend upon it!
What exactly do you mean by 'quality of life' issues?
I am aware that the best outcome a Jehovah's Witness can hope for is to live on a renewed earth. By testifying to them I am seeking to show them that there is a much better hope than that.
I don't understand your last paragraph.
Rev Brian McClung
I appreciate your post, Brian, and your feedback. Jehovah's Witnesses have stopped at my door numerous times as well in the past few years (I left the organization in 2002). I too have tried to lovingly and tacctfully sow a seed of doubt during their visits. Since I have the inside scoop due to being a former member, I know all of the hot buttons to press to incite friendly debate and promote open-minded thinking.
Here are some examples of what I mean by "quality of life" issues germane to Jehovah's Witnesses:
- No holiday or birthday celebrations
- No participation in flag salutes, voting, politics or war activities
- No blood transfusions
- Limiting higher education
- Strongly limiting contact with non-Jehovah’s Witness friends and family
- Shunning of former Jehovah’s Witnesses (this personally broke my heart when I left that organization)
- Forbidding critical thinking and disagreement
- Forbidding literature critical of the group
- Forbidding non-Jehovah’s Witness religious broadcasting and church attendance
- Mandatory door-to-door proselytizing
All this serves to control the adherents and isolate them from society in general. The only "society" they acknowledge is the Watchtower Society, unfortunately. The planet outside their society is referred to as "the world", and people in this world are called "worldly persons". Interesting choice of terms, I've always thought.
Nearly all Jehovah's Witnesses have no desire or compunction to be in heaven. Being restored to "perfection" on a restored "perfect" paradisaic earth is something that they have been taugh to value much more so than a heavenly calling. Only 144,000 have his "heavenly" calling, with about 136,000 already in heaven, leaving about 8,000 with the "heavenly hope" left on this earth currently. They view going to heaven as a "sad" privilege since you would be leaving behind your friends and family to be a co-ruler with Jesus Christ for a thousand years. Also, you would miss out on fleshly rewards here on earth.
To be perfectly honest, the "witnessing" to each other is a two-way street, meaning that Jehovah's Witnesses view Presbyterians and other faiths as screwed up as you and other Presbyterians (or Methodists, Episcopalians, Mormons, Baptists, etc.) view them.
It reminds me of a saying Jesus promulgated was fond of in Matthew chapter seven when he said that "by their fruits you will know them". I take an outside-in approach when evaluating systems of belief and worship, not an inside-out approach. What does their teachings do for them? How are they collectively and as individuals? How inclusive are they of other people? What is their faith's track record of goodness and consistency?
The fruit does not fall far from the tree.
Charles Taze Russell was never associated with, nor did he believe in, an authoritarian organization as the Jehovah's Witnesses. He was certainly not the founder of that which preached against.
Russell did make some earlier statements that would indicate that Armageddon would be over by 1914. However, he did not view his statements as prophecy, and stated such many times.
In 1904, however, evidently after some discussion with his colleagues, he came to the conclusion that 1914 would see the beginning, not the end of, the time of trouble. He stated that he did not know how long the time of trouble would last after 1914, but he did not believe that it would last long.
I have a collection of quotes from his works regarding 1914 at:
http://ctr.reslight.net/?p=40
Russell did not consider the end of the Gentile Times to be same thing as the "end of the world." Due to this misinterpretation of his writings by many, in the January, 1914, issue of Bible Students Monthly, Russell had the main article entitled "The End of the Word in 1914 - Not the View of Pastor Russell Nor of I.B.S.A."
Christian love,
Ronald
The Russellites visited me just an hour ago. I am glad of Alan Cairns "Dictionary of Theological terms" which showed me exactly what that false movement teaches. When I asked them did they believe in Christ's bodily ressurection, they denied it and said He rose spiritually. They rejected the deity of Christ, and that He is both fully God and fully man. They told me we do not have a "soul" and that Hell is just the grave. When I spoke about man being totally depraved and the other doctrines of grace, that is when they started to make for my gate. They also told me they would have liked to have been invited in to discuss things. In the end, I asked them if their teachings, and religion could guarantee me eternal life in heaven...to which they said no! I gave them the law and the gospel of free and sovereign grace and told them I would pray for them.
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