About Janko Expertise I am a qualified minister of Jehovah`s Witnesses and fully capable of answering any or all questions on our faith as well as others too, and the correct understanding of the Bible,which is God`s Word.
Experience My experience with our faith is quite substantial and was introduced to it in the 1960's as a child.
Question My, my, where to begin. The answer was about what I figured it would be...the usual ad-hominem type approach where you attack the questioner because you cannot answer the question they have asked you.
First of all, I never said a word about "once saved, always saved", so I am not sure where you got that from.
Secondly, yes I do worship the true God Jehovah, which is the God of the Bible. And I also assure you that, as a Christian, I have true love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Since you don't know me, or the other people you respond to, I don't know how you can make judgements as to whether or not they have love in their hearts, or whether they use Jehovah's name when they pray.
You stated..."This site is for people who want to learn the truth about Jehovah and not to get into long disputed debates about who is right or wrong."
Oh yes, my asking you for ONE Scripture in support of your statements is a sure sign that I am looking for a long disputed debate. How unreasonable of me to expect you to back up your statements with God's Word.
O.k., let's try this ONCE more...This is a "yes" or "no" question...
Do you, or do you not, have just ONE SCRIPTURE showing that God is using the Watchtower Organization, or that indicates an Organization is necessary for us to be saved, in addition to simple faith in the blood of Jesus Christ?
Since you repeat this over and over to nearly everyone who writes you, I simply want to know if you can support it with the Bible. If the answer is "YES", then please provide the reference/references. If the answer is "no", then why do you believe it?
Derrick
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Followup To
Question -
Hello Janko. For the past week or so, I have been reading your answers to various questions that have been sent to you. It seems you have been having a bad week, and I am sorry about that. But I want to say that, for someone who claims in his profile to be a “qualified minister fully capable of answering any or all questions on our faith”, your answers and the spirit in which they are written are anything but “expert”.
You have made the following statements in various posts...
“I answer to my God and Father Jehovah and not to a bunch of simple-minded people who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground,pardon the pun”
I believe that, as a person who volunteers his time on this board to ANSWER people’s questions, you are supposed to provide answers to people who both agree and disagree with your religion. That is what I do...I take questions from JWs, as well as Christians, or anyone else who writes.
You said...”“if you are not a servant of Jehovah you are an opposer,and the Bible says in Psalms 139:20,21,22,23 "Do I not hate those who are
intensely hating you.And do I not feel a loathing for those revolting against you? With a complete hatred I do hate them.They have become to me real enemies."
I am sorry that you twist Psalm 139:20-23 to try and justify calling people “stupid, fool, etc.” A simple reading of this passage shows that it is dealing with people who hate Jehovah God. Disagreeing with the Watchtower Society, and not accepting their “gospel” is not an indication that someone hates Jehovah. In fact, I didn’t get the impression that any of these people whom you called these names, actually hate Jehovah. They simply don’t agree with the Watchtower. I am afraid there is a Scripture in the New Testament that describes how you are SUPPOSED to act towards those who might not agree with you, but write you with an honest question...
2 Timothy 2:24-26- “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle UNTO ALL MEN, apt to teach, PATIENT, IN MEEKNESS instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
You claim to be a true servant of God, Janko? You really believe that these people who write you are separated from God? Then this verse shows how you are supposed to act, and I don’t think calling them “stupid fools” is what Paul had in mind here.
You write...”“Well you can dance your way to someone else to get the answers your looking for,but as far as myself and the other seven million of us who worship the only true God,Jehovah, you got your answer,so live with it or not...No more ignorant questions such as these directed at God's organization because it is blasphemous to do so,and also an unforgiveable sin,a sin against the Holy Spirit that
directs all the operations throughout the organization.”
What, so now it is the unforgivable sin to question the Organization? Can you provide some Scripture for this, Janko? You did not give one to the last person who asked you for it.
Also, I think the question was directed at YOU, not the Organization. I don’t think this person asked for your Watchtower “copy and paste” articles. I got the impression they wanted an answer from you. Is telling them to “dance their way to someone else” REALLY an indication that you are “fully capable of answering all questions” about the JW faith?
You wrote...”“I know everything there is to know about the truth and all about our organization and I don't need you to rehash old news to me you stupid fool.Don't bother me with your problems with us,take it to people who think like you and want to hear it.”
I can just sense the humility in this statement. If you know “everything there is to know about the truth”, then why can you not answer direct and honest questions when asked? When a person has to resort to calling people names and attacking their character, that is a sure sign that the person has no answer for the questioner, and is backed into a corner. Otherwise, why act like that?
After reading your answers, I have reached the conclusion that if someone were to take your “copy and paste” articles away from you, then you would be completely helpless in an intelligent Bible discussion. The doctrines you refer to as pagan and false, can easily be defended with the Word of God.
And I must tell you that, as far as “knowing everything there is to know about the truth”, JESUS CHRIST is the “TRUTH” (John 14:6). Do you know Him as your personal Savior?
These are simply my observations, and some thoughts I wanted to share with you. Now here is my question...
You said...”“This is the point I keep trying to get accross to everyone.God is not partial,and he will not care if you claim to be a nice person and live a clean life,He wants people who love and worship in spirit and truth,these are the ones who be saved.”
You have also stated many similar variations of this comment. Things like...”We are the only true people of God on earth. We don’t teach the Trinity, Hellfire, celebrate birthdays, etc. We are the only ones who will survive Armageddon, etc.”
Janko, do you know WHY you can’t seem to get this point across to people? Because you cannot provide any SCRIPTURE to support it! These statements are NOT facts, just because you assert them to be facts.
So, here is my question for you, and I will make it easy...Can you provide JUST ONE Scripture in the Bible, which supports your view that Jehovah God is operating through the Watchtower Society, and that to question this Society is to commit unforgivable sin?
I don’t want an article, I want ONE SCRIPTURE. If what you are saying is true, and if you know everything there is to know about the truth, then this should be a piece of cake.
Take care, and I will be anxiously awaiting your answer.
Derrick H.
Answer -
Yes I use the articles because they cite all the Scriptures needed to answer their questions and it is up to them to read them or not.The problem is they still disagree no matter what.Like yourself you believe the lie and just because you think that jeus is your personal savior is a foolish statement indeed that many as yourself make the same claim,once saved always saved.I already mentioned that if Jehovah God is not who you worship in spirit and truth there is no hope in the end and you can cry to Jesus all you want,Lord,Lord!We are the only organization that worships the only true God and make his Most Holy name known around the world,not you or your false religion and your look-alike denominations.You as many others in these false religions do not love your neighbors because you will kill one of them if you are odered to do so by your government in war,and you will even pray that your side will win np matter what the cost.You celebrate all those pagan holidays that make you a part of the world that Jesus clearly made known that we are no part of the world as he is.I'm sorry that Satan has blinded your mind to the truth,but the Scriptures say that God lets people like you go on beliveing the lie.This site is for people who want to learn the truth about Jehovah and not to get into long disputed debates about who is right or wrong.Jesus said that you will know who his true disciples would be if they have love among themselves,which we do and you do not.You along with all of Christendom as you are called are already condemned in God's eyes and just as in Noah's days you people are just like the non worshippers of Jehovah back then,which I am sure there were beautiful nice people that go destroyed anyhow because God is not partial if you are a child,old man,virgin woman,he wants true servants who whole-
heartedly worship him with pure worship.If you don'r like my answers I give to people like you,go tell people in your religion about it,but not to me or our organization.
Answer The answer is yes if you use correct Bible principles in applying the Scriptures.If you don't mind there are plenty of Scriptures that back up God's organization if they are used in the right context and this article cites all the necessary verses that will help you to understand:
Keep Safe as Part of God’s Organization
“The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.”—PROVERBS 18:10.
SHORTLY before he died, Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father in behalf of his followers. With loving concern, he said: “I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. I request you, not to take them out of the world, but to watch over them because of the wicked one.” (John 17:14, 15) Jesus knew that the world would be a dangerous place for Christians. It would show its hatred of them by lying about them and persecuting them. (Matthew 5:11, 12; 10:16, 17) It would also be a source of corruption.—2 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:15, 16.
2 The world that would hate Christians is made up of those who are alienated from God and who are under the control of Satan. (1 John 5:19) This world is far bigger than the Christian congregation, and Satan himself is far more powerful than any human. Hence, the world’s hatred is a real threat. Where can Jesus’ followers find spiritual safety? A statement in the December 1, 1922, issue of The Watchtower suggested the answer: “We are now in the evil day. The fight is on between Satan’s organization and God’s organization. It is a desperate fight.” In this conflict, God’s organization is a place of spiritual safety. The word “organization” does not appear in the Bible, and back in the 1920’s, “God’s organization” was a new expression. What, then, is this organization? And how may we find protection in it?
Jehovah’s Organization
3 An organization is “an organized body,” according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary. With that in mind, we understand that because the apostles organized first-century Christians into local congregations under the oversight of a governing body in Jerusalem, it is proper to speak of that “association of brothers” as an organization. (1 Peter 2:17) Jehovah’s Witnesses today have a similar organizational structure. The unity of the first-century body was strengthened by “gifts in men,” such as “shepherds and teachers.” Some of these traveled from congregation to congregation, while others were elders in local congregations. (Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12; Acts 20:28) Similar “gifts” strengthen the unity of Jehovah’s Witnesses today.
4 The November 1, 1922, issue of The Watchtower said about the word “organization”: “An organization is an association of persons for the purpose of carrying out a formed design.” The Watchtower went on to explain that to call Jehovah’s Witnesses an organization did not make them “a sect in the sense that that term is used, but it means merely that the Bible Students [Jehovah’s Witnesses] are endeavoring to carry out God’s purposes and doing it as the Lord does everything, in an orderly manner.” (1 Corinthians 14:33) The apostle Paul showed that Christians in his day likewise acted in an orderly fashion. He compared the anointed Christian fellowship to the human body, which has many parts, each fulfilling its assigned role so that the body can function properly. (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) That is an excellent illustration of an organization! Why were Christians organized? To serve “God’s purposes,” to do Jehovah’s will.
5 The Bible foretold that true Christians today would be united, brought together into one “land” as one “nation,” where they would be “shining as illuminators in the world.” (Isaiah 66:8; Philippians 2:15) This organized “nation” now numbers more than five and a half million. (Isaiah 60:8-10, 22) However, that is not the full extent of God’s organization. Angels are also involved.
6 There are many instances of angels working together with God’s human servants. (Genesis 28:12; Daniel 10:12-14; 12:1; Hebrews 1:13, 14; Revelation 14:14-16) Fittingly, then, the May 15, 1925, issue of The Watchtower said: “All holy angels are a part of God’s organization.” Additionally, it said: “At the head of God’s organization, possessing all power and authority, [is] the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Matthew 28:18) Hence, in its broadest sense, God’s organization is made up of all those in heaven and on earth who work together to do God’s will. (See box.) What a wonderful privilege it is to be a part of this! And what a joy to look forward to the time when all living creatures, heavenly and earthly, will be organized to praise Jehovah God in unity! (Revelation 5:13, 14) What, though, is the protection that God’s organization supplies today?
Protected in God’s Organization—How?
7 God’s organization can help to guard us against Satan and his wiles. (Ephesians 6:11) Satan pressures, persecutes, and tempts Jehovah’s worshipers with just one goal in mind: to draw them away from ‘the way in which they should walk.’ (Isaiah 48:17; compare Matthew 4:1-11.) We can never completely avoid those attacks in this system of things. However, our close relationship with God and his organization strengthens and protects us and thus helps us to stay in “the way.” As a result, we do not lose out with regard to our hope.
8 How does God’s organization provide this protection? First, we have the unfailing support of Jehovah’s spirit servants. When Jesus was under intense pressure, he was ministered to by an angel. (Luke 22:43) When under threat of death, Peter was miraculously saved by an angel. (Acts 12:6-11) While there are no such miracles today, Jehovah’s people are promised angelic support in their preaching activity. (Revelation 14:6, 7) They often have strength beyond what is normal when facing difficult situations. (2 Corinthians 4:7) Moreover, they are conscious that “the angel of Jehovah is camping all around those fearing him, and he rescues them.”—Psalm 34:7.
9 Jehovah’s visible organization is also a protection. How? At Proverbs 18:10, we read: “The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.” This does not imply that merely repeating God’s name provides protection. Rather, our taking refuge in God’s name signifies that we trust in Jehovah himself. (Psalm 20:1; 122:4) It means supporting his sovereignty, upholding his laws and principles, and having faith in his promises. (Psalm 8:1-9; Isaiah 50:10; Hebrews 11:6) It includes giving Jehovah exclusive devotion. Only those who worship Jehovah in this way can say with the psalmist: “In [Jehovah] our heart rejoices; for in his holy name we have put our trust.”—Psalm 33:21; 124:8.
10 Now all in God’s visible organization say with Micah: “We, for our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah our God to time indefinite, even forever.” (Micah 4:5) The modern-day organization is gathered around “the Israel of God,” which is called in the Bible “a people for his name.” (Galatians 6:16; Acts 15:14; Isaiah 43:6, 7; 1 Peter 2:17) Hence, to be part of Jehovah’s organization means to be part of a people who seek, and receive, protection in God’s name.
11 In addition, God’s visible organization is a community of faith, an association of fellow believers who build up and encourage one another. (Proverbs 13:20; Romans 1:12) It is a place where Christian shepherds care for the sheep, encourage the sick and depressed, and seek to restore those who have fallen. (Isaiah 32:1, 2; 1 Peter 5:2-4) “The faithful and discreet slave” provides “food at the proper time” through the organization. (Matthew 24:45) That “slave,” made up of anointed Christians, provides the very best of spiritually good things—accurate, Bible-based knowledge that can lead to everlasting life. (John 17:3) Thanks to guidance from the “slave,” Christians are helped to maintain high moral standards and to be “cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves” in the dangerous environment that surrounds them. (Matthew 10:16) And they are helped always to have “plenty to do in the work of the Lord,” which is in itself a powerful protection.—1 Corinthians 15:58.
Who Are Part of God’s Organization?
12 Since this protection is available to those who are part of God’s organization, whom does this include? Regarding the heavenly organization, there is no doubt as to the answer to this question. Satan and his angels are no longer in heaven. On the other hand, the faithful angels are still there “in general assembly.” The apostle John saw that during the last days, “the Lamb,” the cherubs (“the four living creatures”), and “many angels” would be in close proximity to God’s throne. With them would be the 24 elders—representing those anointed Christians who have already entered into their glorious heavenly inheritance. (Hebrews 12:22, 23; Revelation 5:6, 11; 12:7-12) All are clearly part of God’s organization. Among humans, though, things are not so simple.
13 Jesus said of some who would claim to follow him: “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:22, 23) If someone is a worker of lawlessness, he is certainly no part of God’s organization, no matter what he claims, and no matter where he goes to worship. Jesus also showed how to identify one who is part of God’s organization. He said: “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.”—Matthew 7:21.
14 Hence, to be part of God’s organization—of which “the kingdom of the heavens” is the central part—one has to be doing God’s will. What is his will? Paul identified a vital aspect of it when he said: “[God’s] will is that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) If a person truly seeks to gain accurate knowledge from the Bible, to apply it in his life, and to disseminate it to “all sorts of men,” he is doing God’s will. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Romans 10:13-15) It is also God’s will that Jehovah’s sheep be fed and cared for. (John 21:15-17) Christian meetings play a vital part in this. A person who is free to attend such meetings but neglects to do so lacks appreciation for his place in God’s organization.—Hebrews 10:23-25.
Friendship With the World
15 Some 30 years after Jesus died, his half brother James identified some factors that can jeopardize one’s place in God’s organization. He wrote: “Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) An enemy of God is certainly no part of his organization. What, then, is friendship with the world? It has been explained as taking different forms, such as cultivating or becoming involved with bad associations. In addition, James focused on something very specific—wrong mental attitudes that lead to improper conduct.
16 At James 4:1-3, we read: “From what source are there wars and from what source are there fights among you? Are they not from this source, namely, from your cravings for sensual pleasure that carry on a conflict in your members? You desire, and yet you do not have. You go on murdering and coveting, and yet you are not able to obtain. You go on fighting and waging war. You do not have because of your not asking. You do ask, and yet you do not receive, because you are asking for a wrong purpose, that you may expend it upon your cravings for sensual pleasure.” It was after writing these words that James warned against friendship with the world.
17 Centuries after James died, false Christians waged war on and murdered one another in a literal sense. However, James was writing to first-century members of “the Israel of God,” prospective heavenly ‘priests and kings.’ (Revelation 20:6) They did not murder one another or kill one another in literal wars. So why did James speak of such things among Christians? Well, the apostle John called anyone hating his brother a manslayer. And Paul spoke of personality conflicts and feuds in the congregations as “fights” and “strife.” (Titus 3:9; 2 Timothy 2:14; 1 John 3:15-17) Along this same line, James apparently had in mind a failure to love fellow Christians. Among themselves, Christians were acting in a manner resembling the way those in the world often deal with one another.
18 Why did such things happen in Christian congregations? Because of wrong attitudes, such as covetousness and “cravings for sensual pleasure.” Pride, jealousy, and ambition can also rupture the loving Christian fellowship in a congregation. (James 3:6, 14) Such attitudes make one a friend of the world and, hence, an enemy of God. None who harbor attitudes like these can expect to remain a part of God’s organization.
19 Whom can we blame if we find wrong thinking taking root in our heart? Satan? To a degree, yes. He is “the ruler of the authority of the air” of this world, in which such attitudes are widespread. (Ephesians 2:1, 2; Titus 2:12) Usually, though, the roots of wrong thinking lie in our own imperfect flesh. After warning against friendship with the world, James wrote: “Does it seem to you that the scripture says to no purpose: ‘It is with a tendency to envy that the spirit which has taken up residence within us keeps longing’?” (James 4:5) All of us have an inborn tendency to do wrong. (Genesis 8:21; Romans 7:18-20) We can, though, combat that tendency if we admit our weaknesses and rely on Jehovah’s help to overcome them. James says: “The undeserved kindness which [God] gives is greater [than our inborn tendency to envy].” (James 4:6) Thanks to the help of God’s holy spirit and the support of faithful Christian brothers, and through the merit of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, faithful Christians are not conquered by the weaknesses of their flesh. (Romans 7:24, 25) They are safe in God’s organization, friends of God, not of the world.
20 The Bible promises: “Jehovah himself will give strength indeed to his people. Jehovah himself will bless his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11) If we are truly part of Jehovah’s modern-day “nation,” his visible organization, we will share in the strength that he gives and enjoy the peace with which he blesses his people. True, Satan’s world is much bigger than Jehovah’s visible organization, and Satan is much stronger than we are. But Jehovah is the Almighty. His active force is invincible. His mighty angels too are united with us in serving God. Thus, despite the hatred that we face, we can stand firm. Like Jesus, we can conquer the world.—John 16:33; 1 John 4:4. Janko
