JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES AND THEIR DIFFERENT GOOD NEWS There is but one good news or gospel taught in the New Testament. Concerning that good news the apostle Paul wrote: "if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond what we declared to you as good news, let him be accursed. As we have said above, I also now say again, Whoever it is that is declaring to you as good news something beyond what you accepted, let him be accursed."(Galatians 1:8, 9 New World Translation.) Jehovah’s Witnesses have certainly gone far beyond the good news taught by Jesus and his apostles. Defending the biblical good news is every Christian’s responsibility and privilege. To assist you in doing that in relation to Jehovah’s Witnesses is the purpose of this tract. The Witnesses have corrupted God’s good news in two ways: (1) they limit those declared righteous (justification by faith) by God who have put faith in Jesus Christ’s ransom sacrifice to a mere 144,000 and (2) they have created a different good news that the Scriptures do not teach and prevents millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses from embracing the genuine good news. Realistically, one should not expect to dramatically change a Witnesses’ thinking on this salvation issue, but a seed may be planted that could later grow in his heart and mind. Apart from that possibility, we should want to share the Bible good news with everyone not presently enjoying the precious free gift of reconciliation with God as that gift is presented in Scripture. UNDERSTANDING THE WITNESS VIEWPOINT Talking with the Witnesses on a Bible topic is difficult, at best, because most people do not understand their basic doctrines. One needs to know something of the Witnesses’ perspective in order to effectively engage them in a productive discussion. And, we might add, the believer with only a superficial understanding of Scripture will have a difficult time with the well-trained Jehovah’s Witness. The Witnesses are taught that there are two distinct classes of Christians in their organization. These two classes of Christians do not share a common relationship with God through Christ, nor do they share a common hope. Yet, according to their view, each group is fully Christian and fully acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. At the outset, it must be pointed out that this contradicts a basic Christian tenet, namely, that Christians are "called in the one hope to which you were called." (Eph. 4:4 NW) All Christians share a common hope of future spiritual life.–1 Cor. 15 Witnesses teach that from the days of Jesus to the end of the world there will only be 144,000 born-again Christians. These are said to have a heavenly hope and will reign with Christ as kings and priests in his kingdom. The second class is an unlimited number who are given an earthly hope of life. These millions believe that the world will soon end and they will pass alive into an earthly paradise created by Christ’s reign. There are only a few thousand Witnesses who claim to be one of the 144,000. In 1994 there were 8,617 who professed this claim. Only these few are allowed to take communion. Only they can claim to be sons of God and part of Abraham’s seed. Only they are said to be declared righteous. Only they are truly "born again." The remaining 4.7 million Witnesses (as of 1995), are said to have an earthly hope of life. They cannot take communion, cannot claim to be sons of God or the seed of Abraham. They cannot claim Jesus Christ as their mediator between themselves and God because they are told they are not in the new covenant. They have not experienced the new birth and cannot claim to be holy. The Witness who calls on you will be in this latter group. How did this strange doctrinal concept get its birth? To understand this it is necessary to briefly review their history. Their religion was born in the latter part of the 19th century as an offspring of the Adventist movement. Charles T. Russell, the founder of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, taught that two different classes of Christians were identified in chapter seven of Revelation. The 144,000 mentioned there was the literal number of those making up the Israel of God—the body of Christ, according to Russell. These would reign with Christ as kings and priests and receive the gift of immortality in heaven. The "great multitude" mentioned in this same chapter was said to be another heavenly class of Christians who do not measure up to being one Jehovah’s Witnesses And Their Different Good News Page 2 of the elite 144,000. This latter group had a hope of heaven but would not reign with Christ as kings and priests. Nor would they have immortality as do the 144,000. Russell’s teaching on this matter was linked to his many prophetic time feature speculations. Russell taught that the "time of the end" mentioned in Daniel (8:17) began in 1799 and would conclude with the end of the world in 1914. The last 40 years of this period (1874-1914) marked what he called the "harvest period" of approved Christians and an adverse judgment period against nominal Christianity. According to him, Christ Jesus returned invisibly in October, 1874 to begin these judgment proceedings. The execution of this judgment would be climaxed in 1914 when the whole world would be destroyed. He taught that the dead in Christ were resurrected in 1878. Russell also taught that the opportunity to become one of the elite 144,000 ended in 1881. The door of opportunity to become a part of the body of Christ was forever closed in that year, according to him. After 1881, the only hope of heavenly life available was to become part of the "great multitude" mentioned in Revelation, chapter seven. The outworking of history gave the lie to Mr. Russell’s different good news and his imaginative time feature speculations. Yet, the religious corporation he founded continued to hold to his errors until 1928, when a new set of time speculations were created to replace those discredited earlier. In 1935 Russell’s successor, Joseph Rutherford, changed the Witnesses’ view regarding Revelation, chapter seven. At a convention in Washington, D.C. that year, Rutherford asserted that the "great multitude" identified not a heavenly scene, but an early one. Now it began to be taught that the "great multitude" were those Christians who would pass through the great tribulation and live on the earth forever. While Russell had closed the door to being one of the 144,000 in 1881, Rutherford opened the door until 1935, when it was again asserted that the "higher calling" was now ended. It was now time (in 1935), to begin gathering in the "great multitude" who were destined to survive the end of the world which was just ahead and continue living on earth in a paradise made possible by the reign of Jesus Christ and the 144,000. Like Russell, Rutherford tied this new teaching to new prophetic speculations. In 1928 it was decided that the "last days" hadn’t started in 1799 and Christ hadn’t returned invisibly in October 1874 to begin judgment proceedings against his professed followers as Russell had taught. No, Christ returned (invisibly) in October 1914. This new time frame bought Rutherford another generation of time for the Watchtower movement regarding their different good news and their speculations about the end of the world. For nearly 40 years Russell emphatically taught that the world would end in 1914. Now that year became the starting date for a new round of speculations and false hopes. What had once been the end of the last days, now became the beginning date for a new round of prophetic speculations regarding the "time of the end."—an easy thing to do on paper. For decades the Watchtower Society has taught (and Jehovah’s Witnesses have preached), that the world would end within the generation of those people who were alive and witnessed the events of 1914. For many years each issue of their Awake! magazine declared: "this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away." —bottom, page 4 of each issue. Notice that they said this was the "Creator’s promise"—not theirs! Now that the 1914 generation has passed away they are beginning to reinvent their "last days" teachings once again. Beginning with the November 8, 1995 issue of Awake! they no longer speak of "the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world before the generation that saw the events of 1914 passes away." As of November 8, 1995 that declaration has been changed to read: "Most important, this magazine builds confidence in the Creator’s promise of a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things." By removing any reference to 1914 they (editorially) cut themselves free from their long-held generation of 1914 prediction. The sad truth is that the Watchtower Society never learns and never repents of its errors. When one false Jehovah’s Witnesses And Their Different Good News Page 3 prediction fails they simply invent a new one. While they may modify their different good news from time to time they never reject it. Out of their own mouth they are clearly identified as false prophets. (Deut. 18:20-22). The enormous harm done by false predictions that discredit God and Christ and cast the Bible in repute is compounded by their destructive gospel that denies reconciliation with God through faith. In what way do they do this? THE DIFFERENT GOOD NEWS As previously explained, only about 8,000 Witnesses claim to be in the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ. The other group, while claiming to be Christians and led by God’s spirit, deny they are sons of God. This denies what Paul said under inspiration: "All who are led by God’s spirit, these are God’s sons."—Romans 8:14 NW. When confronted with Paul’s teaching that all those led by God’s spirit are sons of God, they will say that God leads them in a different way. However, the apostle is contrasting being led by God’s spirit as opposed to being led by the sinful flesh. One either obeys the sinful flesh or one obeys the spirit of God. He wrote: "For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those in accord with the spirit on the things of the spirit. For the minding of the flesh means death, but the minding of the spirit means life and peace; because the minding of the flesh means enmity with God, for it is not under subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God. However, you are in harmony not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this one does not belong to him." (Rom. 8:5-9 NW) It is in this context that the apostle says that those who are led by God’s spirit are all his sons. In other words, we are led by the sinful flesh or we are led by God’s spirit. And there is but one way to be led by God’s spirit and that is to resist being led by the sinful flesh. God’s spirit leads everyone in the same way—in righteous attitude and conduct. That Jehovah’s Witnesses have to come up with an explanation that sets aside a clear teaching of Scripture demonstrates how destructive such sectarian teachings can be. Further, holding to such a view raises serious questions as to the validity of their claim as Christians. Being reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ is essential for salvation. As the apostle Paul said: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by ransom [paid] by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23,24 NW) Being declared righteous results in reconciliation with God. Sinful man, by nature, is alienated from his Creator but by means of faith in Christ Jesus’ human sacrifice he has his sins forgiven and this results in reconciliation with God. "For if, when we were enemies, we became reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, now that we have become reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."—Romans 5:10 NW. The context in which the apostle Paul sets forth the above is in a letter addressed to "all those who are in Rome as God’s beloved ones, called to be holy ones." (Romans 1:7) From the Witness standpoint this means that he is speaking only to those who make up spiritual Israel—the 144,000—they are the only holy ones. The letter of Romans (along with his other letters) were all written to those making up a part of spiritual Israel—the household of faith. By what authority can anyone take these promises and apply them to another group who are told they are no part of the group Paul is addressing? An illustration may help here. You receive a beautiful, personal letter from your father confirming his love for you and explaining in great detail what he has done and will yet do to guarantee a rich inheritance for you as his beloved child. The letter is so delightful that you share its contents with a close friend. Your friend reads this letter and shares in your joy but understands the letter is not addressed to him. All the love and good things promised are addressed only to you. Your friend will not benefit. He is not your father’s son. That, in essence, is the situation with millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses. On one hand they are told that they are excluded from being a part of the Israel of God—the Christian congregation—but promises addressed to the Israel of God are taken out of context and applied to them in a convoluted, manmade system of religious interpretation. Jehovah’s Witnesses And Their Different Good News Page 4 An example can be given to illustrate how they do this. The book, Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, published by the Watchtower Society in 1995, says the following under a subheading: CHRIST’S RANSOM AND YOU, "Consider three ways in which Christ’s ransom sacrifice benefits you even now. First, it brings forgiveness of sins. Through faith in the shed blood of Jesus, we have ‘the release by ransom,’ yes, ‘The forgiveness of our trespasses.’ (Ephesians 1:7)"—page 68. The reader is the "you" in this application of Ephesians 1:7. But the "we" to whom Paul was writing were "the holy ones who are [in Ephesus] and faithful ones in union with Christ Jesus," according to Ephesians 1:1. Such ones were part of the Israel of God which the WT Society says is limited to 144,000. To apply the promise of the forgiveness of sins to a group Paul is not addressing is to go beyond the biblical good news. The Watchtower Society tells the Witnesses that they are excluded from being "holy ones" because they are not part of the 144,000. Then they take a promise given to the 144,000 and say it applies to them as well at the same time they are telling them that other gifts and promises in the same letter do not apply to them! Witnesses are told (at least 99% of them) that Jesus is not their mediator. (1 Tim. 2:5) Their Bible Dictionary: Insight on the Scriptures (1988), under the heading: Those for Whom Christ is Mediator, says: "The apostle Paul declares that there is ‘one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all’—for both Jews and Gentiles. (1 Ti 2:5,6) He mediates the new covenant between God and those taken into the new covenant, the congregation of spiritual Israel. (Heb 8:10- 13; 12:24; Eph 5:25-27) Christ became Mediator in order that the ones called ‘might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance’ (Heb 9:15); he assists, not the angels, but ‘Abraham’s seed.’ (Heb 2:16) He assists those who are to be brought into the new covenant to be ‘adopted’ into Jehovah’s household of spiritual sons; these eventually will be in heaven as Christ’s brothers, becoming a part with him of the seed of Abraham. (Ro 8:15-17, 23-25; Ga 3:29) He has transmitted to them the promised holy spirit, with which spirit they are sealed and are given a token of what is to come, their heavenly inheritance. (2Co 5:5; Eph 1:13,14) The total number of those who are finally and permanently sealed is revealed in Revelation 7:4-8 as 144,000."—Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 2, page 362. The quotation above officially excludes millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses from reconciliation with God. They are told that Jesus is their high priest, however, even though they are not in the new covenant. However, Hebrews, the only letter in the New Testament that explains Jesus’ Melchizedekian priesthood, limits it to those in the new covenant. "For he is really not assisting angels at all, but he is assisting Abraham’s seed. Consequently he was obliged to become like his ‘brothers’ in all respects, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, in order to offer propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people."—Heb. 2:16,17 NW. Ask the next Witness who calls on you who mediates his prayers? If he says Jesus Christ, ask him if he is in the new covenant? If he doesn’t claim to be in the new covenant what covenant relationship is he in? Does he view himself as a son of God? If he is not a son, how can he speak of Jehovah God as his Father? Is he led by God’s spirit? If so, how can he deny being a sons of God when the apostle Paul said "For all who are led by God’s spirit, these are sons of God."—Romans 8:14 NW. published by CHRISTIAN RESPONDENT, INC. Route 2, Box 932 Aitkin, MN 56431 ------------------------------ http://www.watchtowerdocuments.com/advocacy/dangerous-to-associate-with-jehovahs-witnesses.html Speech: Why It Is Dangerous To Associate With Jehovah's Witnesses Knock, knock. "Hello, I'm stopping by briefly to share with you some good news. Many people feel under pressure because of the stressful times in which we live. Do you think God intended that we live this way? So many people are depressed. I bet you know somebody who is. I have this excellent magazine that discusses Help for Sufferers of Depression." Sound familiar? In this audience are people who have done the knocking and given a similar message to the person who opened the door. Or some of you have heard such a message from Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs). Certainly, the message doesn't sound dangerous. Why be afraid of JWs? They don't handle snakes, rip your heart out, or make you drink poisoned Kool Aid. They won't ask you to be a suicide bomber either. For the most part, Witnesses look and act okay. They frown on wild parties; illegal drugs and guns. They don't steal, kill, smoke cigarettes or marijuana, and cursing is frowned upon. They have less health problems—no lung cancer from smoking, no AIDS. The Witnesses call themselves a brotherhood and claim good association with like-minded people who obey God's word. And they remove law-breakers or sinners from their midst. All in all, they sound like pretty good associates. So how can associating with them be dangerous? _Do I Have the Right to Make Such an Accusation? First of all, what right do I have to examine this religion, to call it dangerous? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 asserts the right of human beings to hold any faith or none; Ok, I held to Jehovah's Witnesses faith for most of my life; I had that right. Now, I ascribe to no religious affiliation and I have that right. OK, let's look at that Declaration further: It says human beings have the right to change religions. Well, I did that too. I was born into a Catholic family and changed to Jehovah's Witnesses when I was 14. Now, here's my favorite: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states each of us have the right to enjoy freedom of expression, which by any open-minded definition includes my freedom to agree or disagree with the tenets of any religion. When I was part of JWs Writing Department during the time I lived and worked at the world headquarters of JWs in New York for over ten years, I prepared an article about the U. S. Bill of Rights. It appeared in the December 8, 1991 Awake! magazine and tens of millions of copies were distributed by JWs. The article discussed what exactly the Bill of Rights was; why it was needed, and what liberties it helped to preserve in the United States. My efforts writing the article turned out to be a labor of love as I saw that JWs were definers of freedom by testing the principles of religious freedom in the U.S Supreme Court. I was proud of JWs struggle in the highest courts of the land for the freedom to exercise the courage of their conviction. "From 1919 through 1988, petitions and appeals in a total of 138 cases involving JWs were made to the U. S. Supreme Court. The decisions were favorable to JWs in 47 of the cases that the Court considered." In their short history, JWs challenged any law or ordinance that interfered with their religious activities, and through their litigation, helped set in place insulation for religious organizations from lawsuits. They had the lawful right to preach in unorthodox places using unorthodox methods. They won for themselves and all other religious groups, constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and worship. This amounted to almost complete protection under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution free exercise clause. That certainly is something to be pleased about. What I'm going to say now will sound quite harsh, but my close association with this group gives me authority to say this: After having successfully defended and legally established their right to practice their religion however they saw fit, this once oppressed group went from being the oppressed to being the oppressor. They silence freedom of speech. They silence dissent. How? By using fear as the weapon! The fear of excommunication or disfellowshipping with its severe life-altering sanction, that of shunning by the whole community of JWs including relatives such as parents and adult children. Actually, my life as a JW was pleasant. Of course, there were ups and downs because whenever there are so many people interacting together as there are in this group and then at their world headquarters where there were 4,000 people, there's bound to be some friction. But all in all, I was a happy Witness. The major reason for that was because "ignorance was bliss." _JWs Became the Oppressors. Witnesses hear and read a great deal about the positives of being a Witness at their meetings and literature. The leadership makes sure they don't forget how fortunate they are to have the "Truth" that no other religion has. Since I have been guaranteed the most important of the freedoms JWs fought so hard for, freedom of expression, I'll acquaint you with the harmful side of this organization and why I say they are now the oppressors. Taking advantage of a Bible Study with JWs can be tempting to those who are curious to see what's in the Bible, information they believe might answer life's questions. Well, what folks are not aware of is that associating with them by accepting a home Bible Study could lead to losing family and friends or maybe even their life. I should know—I was a zealous Witness for 43 years. At the end of that association, I lost most of my family and all of my friends. Sometimes when someone loses family, they take their life. Further, thousands of JWs lose their lives every year by adhering to one particular teaching of JWs. _Belief Causes Harm. If I were to stop a number of people on the street and ask each one, "What do you know about JWs?" the reply would unfailingly be —"They don't take blood transfusions." This has been done. The public knows refusing a needed blood transfusion can cause death or disability and that's why JWs makes the news, especially if refusing blood involves a child. Witnesses primarily object to receiving blood transfusions on religious grounds - they believe that blood is sacred according to some ancient Bible texts which actually were talking about eating or drinking blood. Witnesses are also quick to highlight possible medical problems associated with transfusion. The Witness attitude is, "If I lose my life for God it's worth it. If I die now by obeying God's law, in the future it means I'll be resurrected and live in a perfect new world. However, it's not likely I would die if I don't take blood transfusions because in the past early transfusions were whole blood, but modern medical practice primarily uses only components or ‘fractions' of the blood. And now we can have most blood components so there shouldn't be a problem. Fractions are safe. Blood transfusions can transmit HIV or other diseases." Is that really so? Literally, thousands of Witnesses die each year when there is need for whole blood or some blood components that JWs don't approve of. Witnesses are being misled into a false sense of security. In case of massive bleeding, by not accepting blood, Witnesses can and do die, and, conversely, by accepting certain blood clotting products, Witnesses can and do die. For instance, there's a clotting fraction that's given to those with hemophilia which Witnesses are now allowed to receive in cases of massive bleeding. However, studies are showing that this clotting product, when given to healthy people, can and is causing heart attacks and strokes. Witnesses also assume they can't get HIV if they take fractions. Fractions are blood and if a transfusion can transmit HIV, so can blood components which most often are made from many donations of blood that have been pooled and more difficult to test; however, the risk of contracting HIV from a blood transfusion is extremely low nowadays, something JWs are not informed of. Although these so-called components or "fractions" are made from blood, Witness leaders tell followers that each fraction is a "minute" part of blood so it's okay. The truth is that all of these "minute" fractions would equal a whole unit of blood if added together! Jehovah's Witnesses are not told this fact. In brief, Jehovah's Witnesses' blood fraction policy is akin to not allowing a slice of pizza to be eaten. But it's okay to eat the cheese, crust, tomato, salami, etc. separately. _Flip-Flops and Misrepresentation. Most Witnesses don't know that from 1934 to 1945, the organization allowed blood transfusions. Then in 1945, the procedure was banned, and in 1961 its followers were told they would be excommunicated for taking a blood transfusion. Hemophiliac treatments went through a similar flip-flop in the 1970s. Likewise, a treatment called hemodilution was sinful in 1972, but allowed in 1983. The procedure entails the removal of blood from the patient immediately before an operation and simultaneous replacement with appropriate volume of special fluids. The removed blood is then re-infused after the procedure is completed. Only through reading the Witnesses' old literature, published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, you can see that the only constant in the blood policy is change. Many died following a blood policy that later changed. And the blood ban is still changing. One thing I found out when I researched this subject is that taking blood in the veins is in no way comparable to eating or drinking blood and simply put, it is drinking or eating animal blood that the Old Testament prohibited. If you were starving to death and put blood in your veins, you would still starve to death. It just doesn't make sense to die for being obedient to a law that is not applicable to receiving a blood transfusion. Witnesses are thoroughly misinformed about their religion's blood policy. Adults should have the right to make a decision regarding medical care, but not based on misrepresentation and coercion, but by making an informed choice. _Coercion—What Coercion? Often JW visitors, including JW elders who represent JWs Hospital Liaison Committee, visit the patient's room and lurk outside in the hallways in an attempt to make sure there is no blood going into the room. Did you know that JWs are encouraged to report on other JWs who break a medical doctrine such as the ban on blood? JWs will do this to attain status with both Jehovah and with peers. They will tattle-tail even if it breaks medical or legal confidentiality laws. If a Witness accepts a blood transfusion, the policy of JWs now is not to directly disfellowship by announcement at the Kingdom Hall. Here's the policy statement found in Watch Tower literature. "If a baptized member of the faith willfully and without regret accepts blood transfusions, he indicates by his own actions that he no longer wishes to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. The individual revokes his own membership by his own actions, rather than the congregation initiating this step." This represents a procedural change instituted in April 2000 in which the congregation no longer initiates the action to revoke membership in such cases. However, the end result is the same; the individual is no longer viewed as one of JWs because he no longer accepts and follows a core tenet of the faith. The word disfellowship is not used, but the results are the same: To not be viewed as one of JWs means you will be shunned by all those you love who are Witnesses because this group will disfellowship anyone who questions the teachings of the organization or who stops worshipping the Witness way, or joins another church. Then the label "apostate" becomes attached to the former Witnesses reputation. As a side note, I didn't know that vaccinations were forbidden up until 1952, when Witness leaders reversed course. I became a JW in 1954 and no one told me about a ban on vaccinations. Now, virtually all JWs will accept a vaccination, and many are unaware that it could be derived from blood. Organ transplants were favorable in the 1930s through the early 1960s, then demonized as cannibalistic in the late 1960s, only to be re-allowed in the 1980s. I was a JW when organ transplants were considered cannibalistic only to be re-allowed later. Why did I not question this? Because becoming a JW at age 14, when it was difficult to obtain information about the group, I had no idea how to critically evaluate anything, much less this organization's tenets. And, as time moved on, I knew that to think outside of the Witness mindset, I would be thinking independently, something that was a negative. _JWs Can Not Change Religion. Remember that July 2009 Awake! I showed you before? Well notice these words on page 29: "No one should be forced to worship in a way that he finds unacceptable or be made to choose between his beliefs and his family." This statement is extraordinary because that's not the way it is in the Witness organization. Members that no longer believe are forced to stay in the group otherwise they will lose family and friends. JWs strictly shun the disfellowshipped and those who disassociate themselves. Also, JWs can be disfellowshipped for not following the shunning rules. _More Danger. There are other reasons beside the blood ban that makes it dangerous to associate with JWs: The neutrality of JWs in time of war can lead to imprisonment or death Refusal to salute the flag can lead to ostracism and bullying. Non-observance of any holidays, religious or national: outcast & boredom Being a martyr is not psychologically healthy Higher education is a no, no. Young JWs clean houses, wash windows, etc. waiting for Armageddon. They suffer from poverty, disappointment, depression, and low self-esteem. Yes, there are many reasons that it is dangerous to associate with JWs. However, if none of what I just said concerns you because you believe that JWs do what they do to please God and not themselves, keep listening. _Failure of Witness Message of Doom. Jehovah's Witnesses are discouraged from doing extensive personal research into their modern-day history. Such action can cause a Witness to be labeled "apostate" and then be shunned. Right now the Witnesses are getting press coverage because their world-wide conventions are announcing that soon the "end of the world" will take place. Do you know how long they have been saying this? The founder was C. T. Russell who began to publish Zion's Watch Tower in 1879. He was a date-setter and looked to 1914 when the end of the present world as he knew it would happen. He said that Christ had returned invisibly in 1874. Russell died in 1916 and his successor, Joseph F. Rutherford, changed the doctrine and taught that Christ returned in 1914. Instead of the end of the world happening then, he said it was the "beginning of the time of the end." The group pointed to 1925 as the end when "millions now living will never die" after Armageddon, of course. Then the date for the end was 1975 which they now deny they ever pointed to. Here's flip-flop examples: * 1889: "In the coming 26 years, (1914) all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved." Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. II, (1889) 1908: "The battle of the great day of God Almighty which will end in AD 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present ruler ship is already commenced." 1914: "The present great war in Europe is the beginning of the Armageddon of the Scriptures." 1918: "Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the apostle in Hebrews chapter 11, to the condition of human perfection." 1922: "The date 1925 is even more distinctly indicated by the Scriptures than 1914. 1923: "Our thought is, that 1925 is definitely settled by the Scriptures. As to Noah, the Christian now has much more upon which to base its faith than Noah had upon which to base his faith in a coming deluge." 1925: "The year 1925 is here. With great expectation Christians have looked forward to this year" 1925: "It is to be expected that Satan will try to inject into the minds of the consecrated the thought that 1925 should see the end to the work" 1926: "Some anticipated that the work would end in 1925, but the Lord did not say so." 1931: "There was a measure of disappointment on the part of Jehovah's faithful ones on earth concerning the years 1914, 1918, and 1925 which disappointment lasted for a time; and they also learned to quit fixing dates." 1968: "Why are you looking forward to 1975?" From what I just read, it's obvious that the Witness organization is not honest in its presentation of the "truth." BTW, JWs are told what to believe on nearly everything—music, TV, movies. JWs are discouraged from reading the Bible without their own literature explaining it. Doubt and criticism regarding any doctrine taught by the Witnesses is seen as "ploy" that Satan uses to lead them into apostasy. _JWs Are a Cult. After hearing all of this, would you consider JWs a cult? Cults are everywhere. Good religious intentions can slide easily into taking away God-given freedoms. Then a cult is born. What is the definition of a cult? Some newer and accepted religions like JWs, Mormons, Scientology are being called cults by some. The difference between a cult and a religion is not easy to define. Who fits the accepted criteria? I read the following on the Internet, information that I didn't have when I was an active JW: A cult is a group of people who share a common belief. A cult, as it is commonly understood, is a highly rigid and usually strictly enforced total belief system. Almost always it is led by an authoritarian leader who tolerates no dissent. Any teaching which does not respect human life fully cannot be consistent with belief in a God who created human life in His image. When I was a JW I would have categorically denied that I was part of a cult because I didn't know what really constituted one. I thought that cults demanded that their members wear strange clothes, different hair styles; lived in communes and are stupid and gullible and don't believe Christian beliefs; that they had one charismatic leader. I thought it was simple to leave a cult anytime you wanted to. Those were the standard definitions of cults back then and I said, "No," that's not me" as I went out in the door-to-door ministry to convert people to the "truth." My husband and I converted over 80 people. I thought people joined cults, but they don't. Actually cults recruit people and I was participating in a recruiting work when I went door-to-door. Yikes, I was dumb-founded when I realized that after I left JWs. Yes, I was a recruiter and didn't realize it. I appeared self-confident and sincere, just the way the lady was who converted me. She seemed knowledgeable. She was so happy and really displayed a ‘genuine' interest in me, a kid. She was non-threatening and invited me to have a free Bible study. Guess what? I followed in her footsteps and behaved the same way with people I met. I was showered with love and attention by JWs; I did the same thing to those interested in the Witness message. And sincere people are impressed with the Witnesses' devotion, sense of community, and ‘one-of-a-kind' message of hope and change. _Some Questions to see if JWs Fit the Criteria of a Cult. Is the leadership considered the supreme authority, a self-appointed authority, an individual or body of men who claim to have a special mission in life? Yes, the Governing Body (GB) - now 9 men, call themselves "The Faithful Slave" or other special terms. These special terms were used in a lecture by one of the GB about ninety-six times in thirty-five minutes instructing the audience to have faith in them. That's nearly three times a minute. Does the organization have double standards? Are members encouraged to be honest and confess all to the leaders but at the same time encouraged to deceive and manipulate outsiders? Yes. It's called Theocratic Warfare and can include lying. Does the organization have two purposes: recruit new members without regard for bettering the lives of their members? Yes. Members are told to wait until the new world when life will get better. Does the group make social contributions? No, only unless it fits in with some sort of agenda. It just prints and distributes literature that JWs donate money for. Is the leadership offering the only viable system for change that will solve life's problems, denouncing all other systems? Yes. Do the leaders expect absolute obedience? Yes. Does the organization expect you to jeopardize your family relationships or isolate you from society in some way? Yes. So it appears that JWs fit the definition of a cult. So be wary, if you believe in God, are lonely, insecure, idealistic, recently divorced, widowed, elderly or new to town you are at risk. Or are young and going through identity crisis or maybe a college student having trouble finding direction or friends, you are at risk if you accept a Bible Study with a JW not knowing you are associating with a group that is dangerous to your future happiness. JWs look just like everybody else, and probably better than everybody else because it's important to impress and attract people. One lady consented to a Bible Study with me because she was a hair stylist and she said I looked and dressed well and didn't look like a religious fanatic. They might not have just one single charismatic leader but they do have a body of men acting as one that govern the group. _The Witness Viewpoint. The Witnesses are convinced that ethically and morally, their leaders are, for the most part, and the members too, exemplary, above everyone else in the world. Most JWs believe there is little abuse/crime/dishonesty in their organization, even when presented with evidence that indicates otherwise. Abuse of woman and children by many devious Witness men are a fact, yet most Witnesses refuse to believe it. To leave the organization is to fall into darkness and that's why Witnesses will ask, "Where will we go to if we leave the organization?" The prevailing attitude fostered by Witness literature is that the whole world is evil and must be destroyed…soon. Witnesses appear to be happy, successful, at peace, and united. It's all a show though. They are typically depressed, lonely, have low self-esteem, are overly dependent on the organization, frustrated and confused. The reason for that topic in the Awake! magazine I showed you in the beginning of this lecture is because so many Witnesses suffer from depression. In many congregations, it is estimated that as many as half the women are taking anti-depressive medication. Why is that? Because they believe they have no value, except to serve God through his organization. They only feel valuable when conforming to what the role model is as portrayed in Witness literature. Witnesses feel guilty that they don't do enough for the "work," as it is called. Witnesses are on a perpetual treadmill, trying to run faster and faster to gain approval. That's why I call it a "performance religion." In reality, organizational status and reputation is the most important thing to a JW. They say announcing God's purpose is the most important thing, but it actually is secondary. _Critics Suffer. After a lifetime of service to an organization that we foolishly thought was God-directed, my husband and I exited the religion. I left in 1998 and he in 2002. I was excommunicated (disfellowshipped) in 2002 by JWs a few weeks before I appeared on NBC's popular Dateline U.S. news program for "causing divisions" and this was before I had actually caused any divisions. The purpose of my disfellowshipping was so JWs, who saw or heard about the program, would not believe what I said, in that they are told disfellowshipped people are unrepentant sinners and not to be trusted or believed. However, I was disfellowshipped because of exposing the religion's defective child sexual abuse policies which protected pedophiles rather than children, and not for committing some secret sin. My husband, a long-time elder, was disfellowshipped in July 2002, for siding with me. Along with disfellowshipping comes shunning, and so we are shunned by our family, which includes our son and our nine-year old grandson who we haven't seen in nearly seven years, and also thousands of friends. What attracts people to this religion? There are many reasons, but for most people, it is fear of what they do not have the power to control, so they elect to escape into mystical solutions such as offered by JWs. And fear is what keeps multitudes of members in after they discover the deception. JWs do not have freedom of speech. If any Witness asks questions about the fraudulent and harmful policies of this group, they are disfellowshipped and shunned; consequently, this breaks up families. Tens of thousands of people want out of this group, but can't get out because they don't want to lose their families. Accordingly, they stay in and do what they are told because of the fear of shunning. _In Conclusion. You're on the right track by coming here tonight to find out why it is dangerous to associate with JWs. Maybe this does not apply to you, but I like this clever remark of Will Rogers: "Even if you're on the right track you'll get run over if you just sit there." Many JWs suspect that something isn't right with their religion, but they just stay with it waiting and waiting for something to happen. Rather than continue to wait for the end of the world and have their hopes dashed to pieces when it doesn't come in their lifetime, they should do what JWs are taught not to do—hitch a ride with a world that is continuing to move on to make life better for all of society in the here and now. Life is too short to waste on JWs fantasies and dreams. If we love our neighbor as ourselves, we will help humanity, not hope for destruction of everybody not a JW. And if you want to help JWs when one calls at your door, mention what you have heard here tonight. Yes, it's difficult to get out of a cult. If you do, you lose your closest relationships, your cherished beliefs, and your whole way of life goes up in flames. More often than not, you end up with nothing. However, if you choose to associate with JWs by becoming one of them, despite the dangers that you heard here tonight, understand when you do, you will give up your freedom of speech, freedom of choice, your family and friends, the community you belong to and perhaps even your life. That choice is yours.