Lovers of Truth series - No. 3
WATCHTOWER TEACHINGS

Many have misrepresented just what The Watchtower Society of Jehovah's Witnesses teach and believe.
Let me, as simply as possible, try to explain their beliefs. Only by knowing their beliefs can we begin to understand Jehovah's Witnesses themselves.

THEY BELIEVE THAT.....

  1. The 'Trinity' is a pagan concept.
  2. Jesus is not God, and is a created being.
  3. The Holy Spirit is not a person, but an invisible active force. (For a fuller explanation see "The Deity and Person of the Holy Spirit").
  4. Only 144,000 are going to heaven. The rest of mankind that earn God's favour will have life on this earth.
  5. Jesus was resurrected as a spirit, without a physical body. See "The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ."
  6. Jesus is only the mediator of 144,000, the only ones in the new covenant.
  7. Jehovah God has rejected the churches of Christendom, and today only uses The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society as His channel of communication.
  8. For anyone to please God they must accept this channel, and become associated with it, proving loyal and obedient to it.
  9. Scripture can only be understood by a 'faithful and discreet slave' class of people, those going to heaven. Therefore Watchtower followers must 'meekly' accept their findings, and go along with them without question.
  10. Any 'witnesses' that actively question the 'organization' are likely to be 'thrown out' of The Watchtower Society.
  11. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to converse or associate with ex-J.W's. Even family gatherings are restricted. For example, as happened to me, I was not allowed at my son's wedding or reception. All I did was to resign from an organization I'd joined.
  12. Jehovah's Witnesses should let The Watchtower influence every decision they ever make.
  13. The Bible was written almost exclusively for the special 144,000 heaven-bound class. Therefore much of it does not apply to the earth-bound majority.
  14. Only members of the heavenly class are 'born again.' (See relevant section of "The Gospel & the Kingdom of God").
  15. Man does not have an immortal soul.
  16. At death a person goes out of existence. But the memory, personality and characteristics of that person are retained in Jehovah's memory.
  17. The Watchtower does not teach the same type of resurrection as evangelical Christians. To them the body has gone out of existence completely. But if worthy, Jehovah will re-create a body, and put into it the memory, personality and characteristics of the person who died. Though they do not realize it, this is not a resurrection at all (resurrection means bringing back to life that which died). The Watchtower unknowingly teach reincarnation.
  18. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, birthdays or take part in any other national celebrations. Many individuals do remember their wedding anniversary.
  19. The Watchtower teaches that blood transfusions are wrong and against God's law.(See "The Blood Transfusion Issue"). They will accept blood substitutes. Surgeons have developed specialist ways of dealing with this problem, and today many skilfully carry out major surgical operations without using blood transfusions. Jehovah's Witnesses feel so strongly about this that they are prepared to die rather than submit to having a blood transfusion.
  20. Jehovah's Witnesses will visit doctors and hospitals, and accept almost every other kind of medical advice.
  21. Jehovah's Witnesses do not vote in elections.
  22. Jehovah's Witnesses are conscientious objectors, and will not join the armed forces.
  23. The Watchtower teaches that hell is simply mankind's common grave, and not a fiery place of eternal punishment for the wicked.
  24. Armageddon is God's world-wide war against wickedness, and not a battle localized around the plains of Megiddo.
  25. The Watchtower teaches that because they rejected Jesus, the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, but can only receive eternal life by becoming Christians.
  26. Jehovah's Witnesses reject the theory of evolution. They believe in God's direct creation. (In this they agree with both Bible Christians and scientific fact - See "Why I accept the Genesis Record").
  27. They claim each creative day was 7,000 years long.
  28. They hold to the Bible as God's inspired Word. However, they have produced a Bible that has been subtly changed to uphold their doctrines and beliefs. (See "The Watchtower Bible.")


JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG:

There are many associated beliefs that are too numerous to list, that are subject to change as The Watchtower receives 'new light.' The Watchtower are constantly refining their beliefs. This often means a change of belief, sometimes going back to a former belief. In other words, the only truth is 'present day' truth.
Then there are the teachings associated with main doctrines:

For example.....

All the above is only part of the list. It is regularly added to, and because The Watchtower claims to be God's only channel of communication, it must be obeyed.

TOTAL CONTROL.

The Watchtower assumes total control of Jehovah's Witnesses, who have been thoroughly convinced that God is only dealing with mankind today through their 'organization.' Sadly, Jehovah's Witnesses do not enjoy the freedom of thought and action that is taught in Scripture.
 

2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV) Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Galatians 5:4 (KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 2:21 (KJV) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

J.W's NOT SAVED.....

Because The Watchtower teaches that only the 144,000 heaven-bound ones are 'born again,' earth-bound Jehovah's Witnesses receive no teaching on the subject. They follow God by being associated with The Watchtower Society. Thus they live in fear of breaking the rules, displeasing the 'organization,' and being thrown out, and therefore dying at Armageddon. This belief is taken so far that Jehovah's Witnesses even feel guilty if they have a thought contrary to Watchtower teachings.

Jehovah's Witnesses are generally very moral, hardworking, sincere, zealous and dedicated people. They love their children and other family members (providing they haven't been 'thrown out' of, or have resigned from, the 'organization.'). There are exceptions to this. The love of some wives and husbands is greater than the demands of The Watchtower, and they remain close. While officially The Watchtower teaches that marriage is forever, they accept separation, if staying married results in physical, mental or spiritual danger. This is the way out for married J.W's if they want to separate.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES NEED HELP.
Christians, will you tell them about the real Jesus?
 
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 (KJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Finally...



Author: Bill Browning