AboutDerrick Holland Expertise I was raised in the religion known as Jehovah`s Witnesses for 13 years. Since becoming a born-again Christian, I have researched extensively this religion, especially their doctrines and their history. I can answer questions about their doctrines from the perspective of Biblical Christianity.
Experience 23 years of Biblical research into the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, and how they differ from the teachings of the Watchtower.
“On occasion opposers will question the various teachings that Jehovah’s people hold in common… They will declare that all one needs to do is to read the Bible. But Christendom has been reading the Bible for centuries.”
The Watchtower, March 1, 1983, p 25
“They say that it is sufficient to read the bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,’ they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom’s clergy were teaching 100 years ago…”
The Watchtower, August 15, 1981, pp 28-29
“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the Scripture studies aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years—if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness.”
The Watchtower, September 15, 1910, p 298
“We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave’ organization.”
The Watchtower, February 15, 1981, p 19
“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.”
The Watchtower, December 1, 1981, p 27
The Point being made here is that not only will a life time of diligent Bible study Never lead to the teachings of the Watchtower, but worse than that, as little as two years of studying the Bible exclusively Will lead to the teachings of Christendom! Regardless of how well steeped we are in the Truth of the Watchtower teachings, merely by reading the Bible as our only source of Spiritual guidance, all of that crumbles and we will revert to the teachings of Christendom.
"A God-fearing man named Charles Taze Russell separated himself from mainstream theology and began publishing this very journal - The Watch Tower."
The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1991 p.7
"Since 1879 the Watch Tower magazine has been used by this collective group to dispense spiritual food regularly to those of this "little flock" of true Christians."
The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967 p. 590
"We should be deeply appreciative of all the fine spiritual food that "the faithful and discrete slave" class has been providing through The Watchtower, now for ninety-four years."
The Watchtower, Aug. 1, 1973 p. 460
“The Kingdom witnessing of Jehovah's Witnesses since 1914 has been something far different from what Christendom's missionaries have published both before and since 1914 . . . What Jehovah's Witnesses have preached world wide since 1918 is something unique, something that has distinguished these as being the "last days" of the political, social, judicial, militarized system of things.
The Watchtower, 1 October 1980, p. 28.
It is disturbing to think that reading the Bible exclusively leads to apostasy, and that the Watchtower was not dispensing spiritual food until 1879. The consequence being that for nearly two millennia humanity has been compromised to partial knowledge, inadequate teaching, insufficient information, misdirection, confusion, and contrary doctrine by relying on nothing more than the Bible as a guide. In short, the previous generations were not competent or equipped to spread the Gospel because there was no ‘organization’ to disseminate Truth.
1,800 years of no ‘Scriptural guidance’ is a hard pill to swallow. (Most all of my ancestors lived and died during this time)
What could Charles Taze Russell and the other Bible Students have been studying in the last decades of the 19th century? For that matter, what were any serious seekers of the Truth studying prior to this time?
They could not have been studying the Bible – experience shows that that would have led them to the doctrines of Christendom.
They could not have been receiving Scriptural guidance from the Watchtower. It was Russell himself who started publishing it in 1879. If there had been a faithful and discreet slave organization or a channel of communication, it had not been feeding its flock. There is no history of its teachings in those 18 centuries prior to the first publishing of the Watchtower, the uniquely different JW message not being preached until the 20th century.
That being said;
“All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.
Can the Scriptures, the Inspired Word of God which He has faithfully preserved throughout the generations, LACK ANYTHING that would PREVENT the man of God from being FULLY competent and COMPLETELY equipped to do the greatest “good work”, spreading the Gospel? Obviously not.
If spiritual matters could be understood by merely reading the words on the page, then anyone and everyone who picks up a Bible to read it would have a clear understanding of all spiritual things. The fact that apostates claim the Bible as the basis of their religion proves that that cannot be the case. The problem cannot lie in the words on the page, which are inspired of God, but in the ability (or inability) to understand what God meant by those words.
Q: How can anyone know the mind of God in order to know spiritual things?
Scott
Answer Excellent, Scott! Very well put together, and very logical questions that you have asked. It shows the complete fallacy of this Organization setting themselves up as the only true mouthpiece for Jehovah God. I couldn't help but notice that in one of the other answers you received to this question, it was loaded with words like "opposer" and great judgment was pronounced on all who fail to see the Watchtower Society as speaking for God. Also, it was merely asserted that the Watchtower does speak for God, but unfortunately, no Scriptural evidence was given for this conclusion. Basically...."Believe it because I say so, or else!"
You know, a Scripture that you mentioned in your question deserves a very close look. I am referring to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, but I would like to also include verse 15 if I may, and make a few comments......
2 Timothy 3:15-17- "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.
(Paul tells Timothy that he has known the "holy Scriptures" from a child, and then states that THE SCRIPTURES are able to make thee wise unto salvation. In other words, Timothy would find all he needed to be saved IN THE SCRIPTURES. Watch out for any group that tries to add other requirements that cannot be found in the Bible. But since Paul told Timothy that the Scriptures were sufficient to save him, how does that compare with the quotes you mentioned above which say the Scriptures are NOT enough?)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
(Well, the Scriptures are "profitable" for knowing correct doctrine, correcting us where we sin and fail, and telling us ALL we need to be righteous. But again, we have been informed that reading the Bible alone leads to the doctrines of Christendom. Hmmm, maybe those particular doctrines are correct then? We are also told that reading the Bible alone leads one into darkness within 2 years. Kind of makes you wonder how the Scriptures could be "profitable" then, since the Watchtower publications didn't even exist when this passage was penned by Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.)
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
(Well, here we go again. Why would Paul say that the Scriptures make a man of God "perfect" (complete) and "thoroughly furnished" with all he needs to do good works and be righteous, if in fact, he actually needed MUCH more....namely, publications that didn't even exist yet?)
Let me throw in another passage as well, found in James 1:21.........
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
Well, either the Word of God is sufficient, or it isn't. Either it alone can save us, or it can't. The passage goes on in verse 22 and on, to talk about the importance of being, not just a hearer of the Word, but a DOER. But how is this possible, if it cannot be properly understood without God's channel? What a predicament!
And Scott, if I may borrow once again a quote you listed, but one that I have always felt was one of the most pathetically amazing statements I have ever read coming from a man who obviously thought quite highly of his own writings. I am referring to this comment, from Mr. Russell regarding his "Studies In The Scriptures" series.........
"“Furthermore, not only do we find that people cannot see the divine plan in studying the Bible by itself, but we see, also, that if anyone lays the Scripture studies aside, even after he has used them, after he has become familiar with them, after he has read them for ten years—if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness.”
Amazing! That's all I can say. I guess a person would be better off never having read a page of the Scriptures, which we have already been told give us all we need to be righteous and to be saved. That is, unless they have the writings of Mr. Russell, to keep the Bible from leading them into those apostate doctrines.
Thanks for sending this, Scott. Very well put together, and very thought provoking.
