Expert: Michael O`Flaherty (Expert=8663) - 7/21/2006

Question
My family has been in the JW's for many years, and I have stepped away from it, but I believe that the thoughts, and most of what they teach is pretty basic, as such, I understand that you are saying that god spoke of the trinity, yes he did but never did he sit and say worship the trinity, in fact i believe that it was moses whom he told in the commandments that you are not worship false gods, and that you are to worship only to him. Therefore in every bible in every religion there are things that are changed, ie thats my problem with organised religion, not one whole bible no matter where you go will ever say the same thing, example, the bible in baptist, and catholic churches says that Gods name is Yaway( spelling?) translation from hebrew is JEHOVAH and that we are to call out his name, then why in all religions other than JW's is it that you never use gods name? I believe that organised religion will only give you what they want you to know, however the basic fundamentals of JW's is purity, and goodness of heart, how is that so wrong? I have been on the internet doing research for work, about scientology, JW's and such, isnt it funny that JW's and scientologists are labeled as CULTS but catholics, and baptist, and presb. and lutherns are not, why is that, catholics excommunicate, as do pres. and lutherns and that is what made the JW in the list with cults, is that not odd? I believe that the people have a problem with JW's because they do not have a problem giving vivid examples from the bible, any bible to show that they have mostly accurate information, and no one wants to be bugged at home by JW that is the national joke, get off it, I mean the bible no matter where you go does say that you are supossed to offer a way to god, through his light all will be saved ( i believe this is the basic teaching in every bible) so why is it sooooooo odd the JW would walk around and offer worship and knowledge of god, is that not what this country was founded on? FREEDOM of SPEECH, and FREEDOM of RELIGION, and furthermore, i believe should you become a baptised member of a church and suddenly you are bad mouthing it you should become excommunicated, why would they want to associate with you? Thank you  

Answer
Looks like you never got to read this message, so I am resending it...

Hi Nataie!

Where to begin? Perhaps it would be better for me to address some of your points. Feel free to ask again if I don’t cover everything.

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You said: “yes he did but never did he sit and say worship the trinity”

I am surprised you would say this because the JWs teach that the Trinity is fiction and that Jesus is the created angel Michael. Regardless, the Bible does not mention the Trinity, but it is easy enough to see in the Bible. For example, you can ask a simple question: who raised Jesus from the dead?

If you say that God raised Jesus from the dead, you would be right.

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

If you say that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus, you would be right:

Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

If you say that Jesus raised his own body from the dead, you would be right:

JN 2:18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." 20 The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

An additional point here is that JWs believe that Jesus’ physical body was NOT raised from the dead, but it was instead dissolved into some gaseous form to “serve as a memorial to God.” Something like that.

Regarding worship of the Trinity, Jesus was worshipped as God:
   
JN 20:28 Thomas said to him [Jesus], "My Lord and my God!"

LK 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

MT 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

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You said: “that’s my problem with organized religion”

I agree; I have the same problem with organized religions such as JWs or denominations like Catholicism. They tend to be a top-down organization. When the top gets corrupt; the body gets corrupt.

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You said: “…JEHOVAH and that we are to call out his name, then why in all religions other than JW's is it that you never use gods name???????”

Jews were afaid to speak God’s personal name, and besides, there is no way to know for certain what God’s name was. In the Hebrew language, there are no vowels, and most certainly, there is no letter ‘J’. The JWs are using the Latin version which is incorrect.

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You said: “…however the basic fundamentals of JW's is purity, and goodness of heart, how is that so wrong?

There is nothing wrong with that. However, the problem with the Watchtower religion is that they do not believe that Jesus is God, and they have changed key verses in their own bible to fit that viewpoint (John 1:1, John 8:58, etc.) That is why they are considered a cult. They have also killed many woman and children with their refusal to allow members to receive life-saving treatments such as blood transfusions.

Jesus was clear that you have to believe in him and who he said he is:

JN 8:23 But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

So who did Jesus claim to be?

JN 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Compare this verse with Exodus 3:

EX 3:13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, `What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.' "

Here are some more:

JN 10:25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." 31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" 33 "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

John 5:18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God

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You said: “I mean the bible no matter where you go does say that you are supossed to offer a way to god, through his light all will be saved ( i believe this is the basic teaching in every bible)”

JWs believe that the way through God is through the church (Watchtower.) Born-again Christians believe the only way to God is by Jesus:

JN 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

JN 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

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God wrote His Word for everyone, not just a few select individuals to feed to the larger crowd. He wants a direct relationship with you through Jesus. Good people don’t go to heaven. Saved people do. If you are still a JW, then realize that they do not believe Jesus is God. As Thomas states, Jesus should be your Lord and your God!

If there is anything else I can do for you, please let me know. God bless you!

In Jesus Name!
Michael
www.oflaherty.com/mo.htm