February
2006
But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to
give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness
and reverence - 1 Peter 3:15
The Watch Tower Equel
or Greater Than the Bible!
I'm (Jerry) filling in for Peter once again to
help give him more time for some much needed rest.
The Jehovah's Witnesses believe they belong to"God's
Organization" which is directed and controlled by Jehovah God
Himself. God illuminates the Watchtower Society through the governing
body which pass God's truths to the membership primarily through
the Watchtower and Awake! magazines and various other books and
publications.
Since the Organization is God's mouthpiece, witnesses
are expected to receive these instructions without question. They
claim the Bible predicts the Watch Tower's authority in Matthew
24:45:
"Who really is the faithful and
discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to
give them their food at the proper time?" (New World
Translation)
The question we might ask then, what does the
Watch Tower say about itself? Encouraging diligent Bible study should
be their main theme as well as instructing believers to embrace
the truths they find and rejecting any error contrary to Word.
Although witnesses may agree that this is what
they do, the Watch Tower claim that the instructions from the Society
is at least equal to the Bible and in reality is "superior"
to the Bible.
The following is just a small sampling of what
the official position of the Watch Tower is taken directly from
published works of the organization:
"It is not sufficient to possess a Bible
and study it, or join in with some religious body that believes
in open Bible study. No matter how hard and seriously and prayerfully
we study, we cannot get the true understanding apart from the organization
and the spirit." (Watchtower, Aug 15, 1952 p.501)
From page 21 of the November 15th 1992 Watchtower,
an illustration is given illustrating the importance of the organization
and the control they have over the witnesses:
"...a long time Witness of Jehovah said,
"If one thing has been most important to me, it has been the
matter of keeping close to Jehovah's visible organization. My early
experience taught me how unsound it is to rely on human reasoning.
Once my mind had been resolved on that point, I determined to stay
by the faithful organization. How else can one get Jehovah's favor
and blessing?" There is nowhere else to go for divine favor
and life eternal."
This can only mean it is unsafe to rely on human
reasoning but perfectly safe to trust the organization. In other
words, if you attempt to use human reasoning apart from the organization,
your conclusions will be unsound or in error. Furthermore, the favor
of God and eternal life is only in the organization.
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top-
The Watch Tower further claims that zealous Bible
study alone will not help you make progress along the road of life:
"Unless we are in touch with this channel
of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the
road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do."
(Watchtower, 1981-12-1, page 27)
Unbelievably, the Watch Tower considers Jehovah
God as Father, and the organization as "mother":
"The world is full of Bibles, which Book
contains the commandments of God. Why, then, do the people not know
which way to go? .... But God has not arranged for that Word to
speak independently or to shine forth life-giving truths by itself.
His Word says: "Light is sown for the righteous." (Ps.
97:11) It is through his organization that God provides this light
that the proverb says is the teaching or law of the mother. If we
are to walk in the light of truth we must recognize not only Jehovah
God as our Father but his organization as our mother."
(Watchtower, 1957, May 1, p. 274)
The Watch Tower not only claims to be the only
source for truth, but demands that followers place complete confidence
in the organization and not harbor "private ideas" or
think contrary to what they are told:
"A mature Christian must be in
unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and
knowledge are concerned. He 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." (Watchtower, 2001, August 1,
p.14)
Perhaps one of the most reveling claims of the
Watch Tower are several questions asked the potential convert just
previous to baptism:
"On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to
Jehovah to do his will?" (Watchtower, June 1, 1985
p 30)
The individual must answers "yes," understanding
this to mean that he is dedicated to Jehovah God through his organization.
The second question is:
"Do you understand that your dedication and
baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association
with God's spirit-directed organization? ...Having answered yes
to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to
undergo Christian baptism." (Watchtower, June 1,
1985 p 30)
This absolute obedience to an organization is
nowhere taught or even alluded to in the Holy Bible. This stranglehold
that an organization has over the minds and actions of a person
are certainly trademarks of a cult.
Jesus gave a similar example of those who would
search the scriptures which bear record of Him and yet deny what
they teach and look for something else:
Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that
in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness
of me; and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life" John
5:39-40
The Bible is clear that it is breathed by God
and is sufficient for salvation.
(Ps 119:105) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
(2 Tim 3:13-17)And that from a child thou hast
known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The Holy Bible is clear that the things written
within its pages point to Jesus for "life" not to an organization:
"These are written, that ye may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye
may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
Newsletter
Published Monthy
E-mail: challenge.min@cox.net
web site: www.challengemin.org
Direct all correspondence to:
Challenge Ministries
P.O. Box 20195
El Cajon, Calif. 92021
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Thank You.
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