AboutRobert Jones Expertise Answers on what Jehovah's Witnesses believe and how the beliefs effect relationships with non-Jehovah's Witnesses. How congregations are structured. How elders make decisions. How the organization is run.
I try not to post replies as to what "I" believe. That is not the purpose of this site, in my opinion. Please let the following serve as a general statement of belief for any who are interested. I was raised as a JW and spent 32 years actively promoting the religion, the last 13 years as an elder. I was never "irregular" or "inactive" as the labels go. I have not attended a meeting since October 2000. The last time I was in a Kingdom Hall was at my daughter's wedding in 2001. I saw much "new light" flash forth from the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" from 1968 to 2000, which I embraced and promoted.
I do not believe that any one people (the Jews for example) were selected by God to receive a message or blessing that made them special. I believe that sort of thinking to be same sort of delusion that leads to C. T. Russell type religions where the belief is some version of "We are special, God chose us and therefore not you." I am long past preaching anything or trying to convince anyone of anything. I consider spirituality to be a very personal effort that each person must discover for themselves. I do not believe the Bible to be an inspired book any more so than any other preserved ancient writings such as the Koran and Buddhist writings. I do believe that all these writings contain some universal spiritual truths that stand the test of time. I am amazed where these writings compliment each other about the human condition and the higher, or better, way of existence that is possible for those who allow themselves to become enlightened. I see the Jesus person of the Bible as a great teacher of the enlightened way of living. But I also see these writings as influenced by the culture and history of the people from which they come.
Experience Active Jehovah's Witness for 32 years. Congregation elder 13 years. Pioneer work, Congregation Secretary, Watchtower Study Conductor.
Education/Credentials Degree in Computer Programming. Not applicable here.
Question "Hello brother!
First of all thank you for taking time to answer questions on your faith. I
appreciate the time you take to provide a resource for people trying to
understand your faith.
So my question is on communion. I am not a JW but studied with some for 6
months. Some of what i learned seemed to make sense, but the thing i never
understood was why ALL JW's don't partake in the Lord's Evening Meal. I
know that once a year you all attend a service for the Lord's Supper, but no
one actually eats of the bread or drinks of the cup that is passed UNLESS that
person feels they are part of the spirit anointed 144,000. But why not?
1)In Luke 22:19, Jesus told his disciples regarding Communion to "do this in
remembrance of Me".
2)Also in 1st Corinthians 11:17-26, if you read the passage Paul is correcting
the Corinthians on their conduct at the Lords Evening Meal. Their
congregation would all come together for Communion, but some wouldn't be
able to partake because there were some who would eat and
drink the elements in excess, not leaving enough for those at the end. Paul
encouraged them to eat at their homes if they were hungry so that when it
was time to celebrate the Lord's Evening Meal, ALL would be able to partake.
Now either this ENTIRE congregation was part of the 144,000, or Paul was
indeed telling us that ALL believers should eat the bread and drink of the
cup.
3)Finally, again in 1st Corinthians, 10:16-17 Paul mentions the elements of
Communion and says that although "we are many, we are one bread and one
body, and WE ALL PARTAKE of that one bread".
I'm sure you are familiar with these portions of scripture and probably have
been presented with these verses accompanied by the same questions I'm
asking! But nonetheless i still would like to hear what you have to say on this
issue.
Do you eat of the bread and drink of the cup when it is passed to you?
If you do not, why don't you?
I look forward to hearing your response as i have never heard from a JW the
reasoning based on scripture for this. GOD bless you brother!"
Answer Hi John,
You raise some interesting questions on why most Jehovah's Witnesses do not partake of the bread and wine at the memorial of Christ's death. (Jehovah's Witnesses do not use the term communion. It's more semantical distinction than anything else. It is still eating the bread and drinking the wine, no matter the term used.)
"once a year you all attend a service for the Lord's Supper, but no one actually eats of the bread or drinks of the cup that is passed UNLESS that person feels they are part of the spirit anointed 144,000. But why not?"
When a person is first witnessed to by one of Jehovah's Witnesses they are told about a paradise earth that all mankind are to enjoy and how wonderful that will be. If the person continues with the discussions, called Bible studies as you once had, they are eventually taught that the "144,000 anointed ones" have already been chosen and that the hope for heavenly life is generally closed and that the hope for those who accept the truth at this late date is the paradise earth, not heaven. If this person continues and becomes one of Jehovah's Witnesses, they do so with the newly-taught hope of life on earth. Furthermore, they are taught that the New Testament verses, such as Luke 22, 1 Corinthians 10 and 11 that you mention, are written to the anointed ones, not to those with the earthly hope. So the new JW views the verses as not applying directly to themselves, only to the anointed remnant. Similarly, where Jesus says unless you partake you have no share in me, this is taught as applying to the anointed, not to those who will inherit life on earth.
So, whether a JW is to partake, is not based on the person's faith in Christ's sacrifice, but based on the destination where the person believes their reward will be. If the reward is to be on earth, as almost all JWs now believe, then they do not partake, no matter how devoted or faithful a life they have lived. If their belief is that they are among the rare 144,000 since the beginning of Christianity, then they partake, to the amazement of other Jehovah's Witnesses.
I tried to answer "why" in plain laymen's terms rather getting into a lengthy scriptural point-counterpoint discussion. I hope this is helpful in understanding why most Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they should not partake.
Robert Jones
