Examining Watchtower Teachings - -Worship that God Approves # 15

“What does the Bible Really Teach?” (according to Jehovah’s Witnesses) 
Worship that God Approves -- #15

The book says;
“Are all religions pleasing to God?
How can we identify the true religion?
Who are God’s true worshippers on earth today?”
Jehovah wants us to be happy, benefiting from his loving direction. There are many religions claiming to worship God and teach the truth about him.
If you trying to identify counterfeit money, it would be better to learn about real money. Thus, “when we learn how to identify the true religion, we can recognise those religions that are false”.
“It is important that we worship Jehovah in the way that he approves….. It is not even enough just to claim to be a Christian…..we must learn what God requires of us and do it. …Like counterfeit money, false religion has no real value. Even worse, such religion is actually harmful”.
“Jesus said that the true religion would be evident in the lives of those who practise it…..by their beliefs and their conduct”
Now we are given six features which “identify those who practise true religion”.
God’s servants base their teachings on the Bible. 
“Jesus often said, “it is written”. Then he would quote a scripture. Similarly, God‘s people today do not teach their own ideas”
Those who practise the true religion worship only Jehovah and make his name known 
“ True worshippers today teach others about God’s name”
God’s people show genuine, unselfish love for one another.
“Godly love overcomes racial, social and national barriers and draws people together in an unbreakable bond of true brotherhood. Members of false religions…..kill one another because of national or ethnic differences. True Christians do not take up weapons….true Christians unselfishly use their time, energy and resources to help and encourage one another and “work what is good toward all“”.
True Christians accept Jesus Christ as God’s means of salvation.
Jesus is God’s appointed king and the ransom “and God requires that we obey Jesus and apply his teachings if we want everlasting life”
True worshippers are no part of the world.
“Jesus’ true followers are subjects of his heavenly kingdom and thus maintain strict neutrality in the world’s political affairs” but “Jehovah’s worshippers do not interfere with what others choose to do..…While God‘s true worshippers are neutral regarding politics, they are law-abiding….. Because God’s word commands them to be “in subjection to the governmental superior authorities””.
Jesus’ true followers preach that God’s kingdom is mankind’s only hope.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not look to human rulers to solve mankind’s problems.

“Of all the religious groups on earth, which one meets all these requirements? The facts clearly show that it is Jehovah’s Witnesses”
Asking “What will You do?”, the book says it is not enough simply to believe in God. We must separate ourselves from false religions which are all part of “Babylon the Great”. Trinities of Gods were common in Babylon, as was the belief in life after death, so Christian teachings are criticised. Babylon the Great will soon be destroyed by God.
“As a result of your decision to quit practising false religion, some may choose to stop associating with you…. By serving Jehovah with his people, however, you will gain far more than you could ever lose…. You will become part of a large, worldwide family of millions of true Christians”
In the new, paradise world, there will be only one religion. The student is invited to “take the necessary steps to come into association with true worshippers right now”.

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If we are trying to identify counterfeit money, certainly it would be useful to know about real money. But we need to be taught by some reliable institution e.g. the Bank of England. So, what makes the Watchtower qualified to teach us anything about true religion or anything else? Even the Bank was around long before the Watchtower!
If I wanted to convince you that a certain religion is true, I could make an arbitrary list; e.g. we must wear uncut hair, carry a comb, wear a bracelet, carry a sword and wear shorts. Those are the hallmarks of being a Sikh. Or Buddhist monks might say we should renounce material possessions, take a vow of poverty and wear an orange robe. 
Jehovah’s Witnesses have picked six “trademarks” which virtually no other religious group follows. I wonder why?
The book is spot on right, when it says that false religion is harmful. Many former Witnesses can testify to how harmful the Watchtower religion is, especially when one tries to leave its crazy, ever-changing teachings, which are, indeed, false.

Basing teachings on the Bible.
The Watchtower likes to use the Bible to support its counterfeit teachings. As I’ve said before, there is a verse in the Bible to prove just about anything you want, if one reads it out of context. In the past, slavery, crusades, racism, the bad treatment of women by men and torture of anyone disagreeing with the Church have all been justified by texts in the Bible. So yes, it may “be written”, but “Is that actually what the person said?”, is the question you might ask. Familiarity with the context and the whole Bible will help you decide.
The teachings of the Christian Church have been established for two thousand years and it may come as a surprise to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who rely on the Watchtower publications for their education, that the essential teachings of Christianity are firmly based in scripture. Learned and devout men spent years in deciding what should be included in the Bible canon and counsels and assemblies debated what the approved teachings should be, based on scripture.
Jehovah’s name
Only a religion with the name “Jehovah” in its brand, could come up with this as a criterion for “the true religion”. If you have been reading the Bible, as I recommended, you may have come across Acts 1:8 which makes it clear that the name of Jesus should be preached, for he is our Saviour. A reading of the New Testament in a “proper Bible” should make this abundantly clear. It is only because the Watchtower has falsified the “Word of God” that “the name” of Jehovah appears 237 times in their version of the New Testament. Read the Bible and you will see that it is Jesus’ name that is preached by the apostles.
Showing love
On this one point, Jehovah’s Witnesses, as a group, may justify themselves, but it’s not quite so simple. In times of disaster, Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to send aid to other countries, but it is to their own followers first, second and third. Although they are a registered charity in U.K., their charitable donations extend only to other Witnesses. I have seen several years of British Watchtower branch accounts and I saw how their money is shuffled around between various Watchtower departments.
Collectively, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not participate in war and they will try to convince you that they suffered as badly as the Jews in Germany for refusing war service, but in fact, only about 200 Jehovah’s Witnesses were actually killed under the Nazis although many hundreds spent time in camps or, more typically, prison 
As a group, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not participate even in “the just war” (and Christians have agonised over this question for centuries). They will not even perform National Service in times of peace. I personally knew adult JW men as a child, who had gone to prison in U.K. for declining their two years’ service. 
If a Witness goes to his National Service, he will be deemed to have “disassociated himself”. Notice that, since the government has the right to have armed forces, the Watchtower does not disfellowship an individual for joining the Forces, otherwise their prohibition would bring them into conflict with the Law. Either way, a person is expelled, so it’s not really “a question of individual conscience” and it is a falsehood to state that “Jehovah’s worshippers do not interfere in what others choose to do“.
While many Christians participated in the two World Wars (and many gave their lives for our freedom, lest we forget), other Christians took an individual, conscientious stand. Most of them went to prison, while others chose to perform humanitarian service as ambulance drivers or stretcher-bearers (always a target for soldiers on the other side!). Personally, I have great admiration for those Conscientious Objectors who served in Bomb Disposal. Putting oneself voluntarily, in harm’s way, for the saving of the lives of others, truly is a Christian act.
But if everyone did not go to war, how wonderful the world would be! But it would not be the real world. There are always some people that insist on getting their own way by force. Therefore, it is necessary to oppose them and the State has Biblical authority to “carry the sword” of punishment.
We might ask Jehovah’s Witnesses what they would suggest as an alternative to war. Of course, they will say, “God’s Kingdom, coming “soon””. Well, that’s a lot of use! How long have we been waiting for this promised, magical event at Armageddon, ushering in the “paradise earth”? Meanwhile, what would be the state of our world if people did not oppose fascism, communism, terrorism, invasion, religious fanaticism? And what have Jehovah’s Witnesses done? Nothing!
Finally on this, notice that the great love of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their God does not extend to all humanity, for “soon”, their nasty war-god will massacre about 7 billion people to give them their paradise earth.
Accepting Jesus Christ for salvation
Yes, accepting Jesus Christ is essential for salvation according to the Bible, the favourite religious book of Western nations. But what about other religions in other lands? It is an accident of birth which gives most of us our religion. True Christians (and I don’t mean Jehovah’s Witnesses, who like using that phrase as code for themselves) will sometimes tell you that people will gain salvation only by “accepting Jesus”. 
The Witnesses meanwhile, put all their faith “in Jehovah”. If you ever hear a Jehovah’s Witness prayer, all the requests are made “to Jehovah”. Jesus Christ is simply the postage stamp at the end of what is usually an infomercial - “through Jesus Christ. Amen”.
Jesus commanded his followers to preach the good news in all the inhabited earth and people of all nations have come to Christ. Whether God is so unjust as to kill everyone who does not worship Him or His Son, you will have to decide for yourself, but the OT God doesn’t have a very good record.
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to be the foremost preachers of God’s Kingdom as they distribute Watchtower publications. But what’s the point in preaching a fake gospel? And who is distributing Bibles worldwide to get the pure message across in many languages? The "worldly" Bible Societies.
No part of the world
“War is nothing more than the continuation of politics by other means” (Clausewitz)
If that is so, then it seems prudent to keep talking to avoid bloodshed. Most wars start when communication breaks down. 
Personally, I vote in General Elections, not because I have faith in politicians. To the contrary! But politics is our only temporary hope for peace and security in this world. To hope for any other immediate solution is fantasy, so once again, Jehovah’s Witnesses cop out and don’t take part, letting everyone do their imperfect best to make this world a better place, while standing on the sidelines carping and criticising and benefiting from their governments’ administrations.

So, is there “a true religion”? I’m not sure any more and I’m not sure if I’d be part of one. But what I think is very important, is faith, individual faith, rather than going along with an organisation. 
All of Jesus’ appeals in the Bible are made to individuals, to you and I. It is people who love to make clubs, groups and societies and these quickly take on a life of their own as they grow, until the organisation entity, the “Id”, itself rules the people.
Finally, notice how the carrot is again offered at the end of Chapter 15 and the warning again, that you will be persecuted by associates if you change your viewpoints or beliefs.

Examining Watchtower Teachings - How to Make Your Family Life Happy # 14

“What Does the Bible Really Teach?” (according to Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Chapter 14 - “How to Make Your Family Life Happy”

The book says;
Jehovah wants our families to be happy, so the Bible tells us how. 
God created the first two humans. This is not a myth. “for Jesus shows that what Genesis says about the start of family life is true”. We can contribute to family happiness by imitating Jehovah and his loving relationship with his Son. 
Husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the congregation, giving himself up for it. A wife is “the weaker vessel” and “yearns for tender affection from her husband“, so a husband should be forgiving, considerate and caring - “a successful marriage is the union of two good forgivers”
A family is an organisation and it needs a head. That head is the husband. A wife should display a calm, mild spirit and “demonstrate godly subjection, even under trying circumstances“. This applies even if the husband is not a Jehovah’s Witness. A wife may offer opinions, but should follow the man’s final decision. Scriptures are quoted, mostly from Paul’s letters. 
Husbands and wives should be sexually faithful and considerate of the spouse’s needs. 
When difficulties arise in a marriage, separation may be permitted, but divorce is only available in cases of sexual immorality. 
Jesus set a perfect example for parents in his love for children. “Children need parents who will protect them from people who seek to harm them, such as sexual predators….. As a parent, you need to be alert to the Devil‘s attempts to harm your little ones”.
Children need discipline. It should be appropriate and never administered in anger. Children should obey their parents even though it may be difficult, just as “Jesus always obeyed his heavenly father”. Children are open to temptation and peer pressure, so it is vital “that they do not keep company with wrongdoers!” Again, Paul’s words provide supporting scriptures.
Even now, we can enjoy happy family life before the wonderful paradise comes, if husbands preside over their families in a fine manner and wives are in subjection to their headship, while children are obedient. “None in the family are perfect…. So be humble, asking one another for forgiveness. Truly, the Bible contains a wealth of valuable counsel and instruction regarding family life”. 

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Broadly, I agree with some of the above because I believe a loving marriage is the best way to raise children. Every child deserves a loving mother and father. The purpose of marriage is to legitimise and recognise children, for inheritance rights.
As I have said before, the fact that Jesus knew the stories, does not mean they actually occurred, as written, so we are back to “the Bible is true because it says so itself”.
I agree that it is important for one member of the family to take a lead. I’m thinking of ships steering in a channel and captains here, but even the captain, who has overall authority, takes the advice of a river pilot. He ignores it at his peril.
However, marriage and society have changed somewhat since the 1st century and appropriate adaptations have to made for today‘s society, regarding the relationship of husband and wife. 
In the case of marriage difficulties, the Watchtower organisation discourages separation, except in cases of domestic violence. If there is incompatibility between the two people - and Jehovah’s Witnesses do not approve of couples living together beforehand, “without the benefit of marriage”, so there is no trial period - they may separate. 
They may divorce legally, according to the law of their country, but they will be forbidden to remarry by Watchtower elders, so long as they remain Jehovah’s Witnesses. Only the death of the former spouse or adultery by the spouse would be grounds for remarriage. In this case, "adultery" would include the remarriage of the former spouse, since that is "unscriptural".
Disobeying the elders on this would incur a Judicial Committee and they would be expelled (even though the marriage is recognised in Law) with the consequence being shunning by all their Witness associates.
I am not a fan of divorce, but I accept that it is sometimes necessary, even desirable, if two people have grown apart. To make a lifetime promise at say, 18, is quite a commitment, especially when one considers that the person you are today, is probably not recognisable to the child you were in youth. But, like marriage, I do not think divorce should be "undertaken lightly".
Children indeed, require discipline. In the past, that discipline was administered corporally by angry and embarrassed parents in many Kingdom Halls, when their young children would not sit quietly or still, during a boring, two hours meeting.
Children also need protection because there are thousands of sexual predators within Jehovah’s Witnesses. Am I exaggerating? No; in the recent Australian Royal Commission investigation into Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Watchtower admitted to at least 1000 cases of sexual abuse within that country alone. Worse, is the fact that these were often not pursued because of their “two witnesses” rule and when the matter was established (rarely) the elders investigating actively hid the matter from the police and appropriate authorities, following the direction of their Watchtower branch offices. 
Recently, there have been a number of successful civil cases brought against the Watchtower, resulting in huge compensation payments to the victims who suffered years of abuse, sometimes perpetrated by Jehovah’s Witness males (and fathers) holding positions of authority within their organisation. 
Once again, don't take my word for it. Do your research - Google is available!

Examining Watchtower basic Teachings # 13 -- A Godly View of Life

"What does the Bible Really Teach?” (according to Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Chapter 13
A Godly view of Life
The book says;
Life is a gift from God the creator. He provides food and water to sustain us. “To enjoy life to the full, we need to learn God’s laws and obey them”.
God values human life. He punished Cain when he murdered his brother and gave laws to Israel about respecting life. We should respect our own lives by avoiding harmful practices like smoking tobacco or taking drugs. It is important to be safety conscious too. We should keep our homes and cars in safe condition and avoid dangerous, thrill-seeking sports.
“The life of an unborn child….is precious to Jehovah”, so “abortion is wrong“.
Killing animals for food or clothing is fine, but not for sport.
We must show respect for blood by not eating it. Texts are quoted from Genesis and Leviticus. Christians must “abstain from blood” according to Acts 15. “Does the command to abstain from blood include blood transfusions? Yes”. An illustration is given about alcohol. If a doctor told you to abstain, would you inject alcohol into your veins? 
If a Christian is injured, alternative forms of treatment may be used “to preserve God’s precious gift of life”. If you took a blood transfusion “just to stay alive a little longer in this system of things”, you “would be in danger of losing everlasting life”.
The only proper use of blood is in sacrifice to Jehovah. The Mosaic Law, with its sacrifices, “pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ….. Jesus gave his human life for us by letting his blood be shed as a sacrifice”. 
Appreciation for life should “motivate us to tell others about the opportunity to gain everlasting life. Godly concern for the lives of fellow humans will move us to do this with eagerness and zeal ”. 

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My response:

In this chapter, the expression "true Christians" is used. This is Watchtower code for "Jehovah's Witnesses". They are trying to set themselves apart, suggesting to their followers that they alone, in all the world, are the only "true" Christians. Whether they are Christians at all, is a question for another time.
Respect for life is important to any thinking person, whether religious or not, but again, it is not always a simple matter. Philosophers from Aristotle to Peter Singer, have written whole books on the sanctity of life, including animal life.
Many people who oppose abortion make an exception in the case of rape, particularly of minors. They reason that the early embryo stage of cell development is not a viable human life. Thus, they would permit cessation of the pregnancy in cases of rape, without feeling that they are disrespecting life. There is a huge difference between “abortion on demand” for reasons of convenience and cases of rape. It is not a simple matter.
While some religions have great respect for animal life, to the extent that their adherents are vegans, followers of the Bible have no such dilemmas. Killing animals is justified by God and that is very convenient for us. Unfortunately, this has led to factory farming on a grand scale, particularly in America, where animals are kept in unnatural, filthy conditions, barely within the law, to satisfy the appetites of carnivore humans. Should our “respect for life” not extend to these?
God gave dietary laws regarding the treatment of blood in the Old Testament. It was to be poured on the ground when an animal was slaughtered. Eating blood was forbidden, but this command cannot possibly be logically extrapolated to include blood transfusions. It is, quite simply, a ridiculous notion, dreamed up by an ignorant Watchtower leader in the 1960s. The illustration about injecting alcohol, is even more stupid.
When we eat blood, it travels into a closed system (the gut) and is digested into amino acids, since it is mostly protein. Every time we eat meat, we are consuming molecules of blood which are in the interstitial tissues. Some meats are more bloody than others, so it is impossible to be a carnivore and not eat blood. But the Watchtower argues that this is fine, so long as animals are slaughtered and blood is poured out (not kept for sausages etc).
When blood of the correct type is transfused into us, it mixes with our own blood, becoming part of our total body fluid in the vascular system. Water balance in the body is vital. Excess fluid is filtered from the blood as it flows through the kidneys and expelled in the urinary system. This journey through the arteries and veins can never be compared with “eating blood”, except by someone who has dismally failed High School Biology.
The Watchtower likes to quote Acts 15:28-29 - “abstain from blood”. “Abstain” means avoid completely, they say, so the OT laws are repeated, in effect, to Christians. Once again, if you are still thinking and questioning, you should be reading whole chapters of the Bible now when the Watchtower quotes isolated verses. Read the whole chapter of Acts 15 now. 
It tells us that, in the early Christian congregation, there were Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). A question arose from Judea about male circumcision, which practice, the Jews followed from the Law. The Jews said that “proper Christians” should be circumcised like them. The Gentiles objected, so several men went to Jerusalem, to the apostles, to sort this out. After some debate and under the influence of the Holy Spirit, James wrote a letter to all Christians, “to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood” (Acts 15:20) And why? Because Moses “is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath”. Jews still attending the synagogue were hearing the Mosaic Law read out every week, including its dietary prohibitions. So, for the sake of the consciences of the Jewish Christians who, all their lives had avoided blood, fornication, things strangled and idolatry, James instructed the Gentiles to have respect for the Jews’ sensitive viewpoint. It is as simple as that. 
If you need further confirmation, read all of Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10. Here, Paul writes to settle disputes about what it is right to eat. Why? Because, for the first time, Jews and Gentiles are mixing socially and in the congregation. They are sitting down together to eat, but with the Jewish Christian mind affected by following the Law all their lives. The Gentiles sit at table eating what they have always eaten - everything and anything - blood, food bought in pagan temples and animals which have not been bled. The Jewish Christians are appalled, but Paul, says, “It’s alright. Eat what you like. Nothing is unclean now, BUT you Gentiles, be considerate of the feelings of your Jewish brothers and you Jews, stop being too sensitive about what others eat.”
Once again, a plain reading of the Bible shows us the truth. It is impossible to find anything in scripture about blood transfusions, unless you read Watchtower publications to “help you understand”. This sick, perverted, man-made rule brings death to its followers. 
The fact is, blood transfusions save lives repeatedly, but the Watchtower leadership has taught Jehovah’s Witnesses to argue with doctors on matters about which they are not at all qualified. All sorts of “alternative treatments” have been suggested, but none of them, without exception, is so effective as blood because blood IS blood and that is what the vascular system requires, to transport oxygen to the cells.
Over the years since the 1960s, when this deadly policy was introduced, the Watchtower has repeatedly adjusted its stance on “the blood issue”. Originally, blood transfusion was simply forbidden, but in the intervening years, they have made allowances which permit Jehovah’s Witnesses to accept certain blood fractions. Don’t ask me what they are! They have changed so often, that Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves don’t know. Doctors are even more confused because they can see how stupid it is to forbid one part of blood while accepting another and still declaring, “We do not take blood!”.
One thing is certain; Jehovah's Witnesses are allowed to take fractions of blood with the blessing of their leadership in Brooklyn. But where do these fractions come from? The answer is simple. Donated blood. And are Jehovah's Witnesses numbered among blood donors? No. Donation of blood by a Witness would lead to a "judicial" committee and expulsion from the religion. So, while Witnesses do not mind taking blood according to their crazy, hair-splitting rules, they will not give blood, so that others may benefit. The Bible's admonition that "there is more happiness in giving than in receiving" is turned upon its head by the Watchtower. In recent years, the Watchtower has introduced Hospital Liaison Committees. These are elders (always men) who will “assist” Witnesses in hospital, advising them on what treatments are acceptable for Jehovah’s Witnesses. A more cynical person might think they are there to keep an eye on weak Witnesses who might quietly follow their doctor’s advice……
As a result of this blood policy, tens of thousands of Witnesses have died in the last 50 years, while millions of others have lived in fear for themselves and their loved ones as necessary operations or childbirth approached. Others have avoided having essential surgery, knowing that blood transfusion would be an essential part of treatment. 
There is a famous case in Scots Law  (Rex v. Blaue 1975) in which a young, female Jehovah’s Witness was stabbed in the chest. She refused a blood transfusion and died four hours later. The case is interesting because the assailant appealed, saying that the woman’s religious belief caused her death, but Lord Lawton, in his wisdom, rejected the Appeal. It was the stab wound that caused death. The important principle is “that those who use violence on other people must take their victims as they find them. This in our judgement means the whole man, not just the physical man”.  But again, this woman would have lived had she accepted a blood transfusion.
This policy on blood is only accepted by most Jehovah’s Witnesses because they know that there is a fair chance they will never have to face it. But when an emergency arises, they have to put all human compassion for their wives, husbands or children aside and follow this stupid Watchtower law. 
In view of the foregoing evidence, which I hope you have checked for yourself, does it seem to you that the Watchtower organisation shows “respect for life”? And why has your Witness teacher waited until now to reveal this difficult and controversial teaching?
Finally, the chapter ends with encouragement to go preaching with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Gradually, the student is being drawn into a time-consuming routine, attending meetings and giving up leisure time to promote the Watchtower message. 

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Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings #12 - "Living in a Way that Pleases God"

"What Does the Bible Really Teach?" (according to Jehovah's Witnesses)
Chapter 12 
Living in a Way that Pleases God.
The book says;
Jehovah chooses friends, just as humans do, looking for compatibility. Jehovah’s friends listen to his voice, obey him and please him. In return, God looks after his friends.
Satan challenged our motives for serving God, saying that we do so for selfish reasons. The story of Job is related in the book (see the OT Bible book for the full story - Job). We too, have an opportunity to show that we will serve God through thick and thin.
Satan uses all kinds of methods to turn us away from God. “Satan’s influence may be seen when friends, relatives or others oppose your efforts to study the Bible and apply what you learn….. Satan “keeps disguising himself as an angel of light“ (2 Corinthians 11:14)”.
We can answer Satan’s challenge by obeying Jehovah’s commandments listed in the box (p.122 English language version) which says;
”Shun what Jehovah hates: manslaughter, sexual immorality, spiritism, idolatry, drunkenness, stealing, lying, greed, violence, improper speech, misuse of blood, refusal to provide for one’s family participation in wars or political controversies of this world and use of tobacco or so-called recreational drugs”. 
“Some practices listed might not seem so bad”, but to follow them is the way to happiness and pleasing God, who does not ask more of us than we can reasonably do.
It’s not enough to hate what God hates. We must love what God loves too. Jehovah’s friends display “the fruitage of the spirit” (Galatians 5:22, 23)
“Strengthen your love for Jehovah” by reading the Bible. 
Pleasing God takes effort, like stripping off an old personality and donning a new one, but if we do so, we will give an answer to Satan’s challenge.

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My response:

The Old Testament tells us about God’s many friends. In the New Testament, friendship and love of Jesus Christ is emphasised.  
Like many accounts, the poetic story of Job is very useful in laying out the universal conflict between God and Satan or Good and Evil.
Notice again, how the Watchtower teachers want you to react to your loved ones’ response to your Bible study with Jehovah’s Witnesses and the behavioural changes you make in your life  
How fascinating that the Watchtower teachers quote 2 Corinthians 11:14 only partially! I have told you repeatedly to check your sources, including what I say to you. 
Look now, at the context (verses 12-15) and you will see that Paul is talking about false teachers who, like Satan, turn themselves into “ministers of righteousness”! 
There is quite a list of commandments on p122. If you exercise your “free will” and do not obey all of these, you will be expelled from the congregation and shunned by all Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Witnesses believe they are the most moral people on this planet. When one of their members is caught breaking any of these rules, they will be expelled “to keep the congregation clean” unless they repent and change their ways. The fact is, worldwide, tens of thousands of Witnesses are expelled each year, mostly for sexual sins, so they can hardly claim to be more moral than any other population.
There is another, much more serious problem though; all Witness crime is dealt with “in-house”. Congregation elders are instructed to phone the local Watchtower branch office for legal advice in cases of crimes such as child molestation. The legal department does not advise them to call Police unless local laws insist on this. 
Recently, the Australian Royal Commission uncovered over 1,000 cases among Jehovah's Witnesses in that country alone, in which child molesters had not been reported to the authorities. Most of these were allowed to remain as Jehovah’s Witnesses, in contact with children, because they had “shown repentance“.  This covering over of serious crime to avoid “bringing shame on Jehovah’s name” is common in Witness congregations worldwide and the 1,000 cases in Australia are but the tip of an iceberg.  
Compare the long list of rules in the book with Jesus’ two simple commands to Christians; “Love God and love your neighbour”. In these, the whole law is fulfilled. Jesus was telling us to avoid legalism and the rules that weighed down followers of the Jewish system, so why does the Watchtower leadership keep putting heavy burdens on the shoulders of Jehovah’s Witnesses, like the Pharisees in Jesus' day?
Christians desire to follow Christ and please him, so they are moved by conscience and love, to avoid practices harmful to themselves and others.
The “fruitage of the Spirit” is seen in those who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, so despite human imperfection, those nine virtues are displayed in the lives of Christians. (Galatians 5:19-26). However, Jehovah’s Witnesses think they have to “work on” these, making an earnest effort to “be good”. They don’t know the Holy Spirit or have Him dwelling in them, as Jesus promised would happen 
“Being good” is all about “answering Satan’s challenge” which is very commendable, but it makes a lot of Jehovah’s Witnesses paranoid. They are constantly anxious about “displeasing Jehovah”. Contrast this with what Jesus Christ requires of us.

Further reading: 
Look at any Introductory book on Ethics by Peter Singer or Julian Baggini

Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings #11 - Why Does God Allow Suffering?

"What Does the Bible Really Teach?" (according to Jehovah's Witnesses)
Chapter 11
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
The book says;
“Why?” is a popular question in times of war and disaster. “If Jehovah God is all-powerful, loving, wise and just, why is the  world so full of hatred and injustice?” It’s alright to ask that question because faithful Bible writers did so too.
Some religious leaders say it is God’s will for wickedness to occur, but “the Bible says, “It is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, for the Almighty to do wrong!” (Job 34:10)”.
Satan, not God, is the ruler of this world. “That is one reason why there is so much suffering”. then too, humans are imperfect and “struggle for dominance”, bringing “wars, oppression and suffering”. Thirdly, there is chance occurrence, being “in the wrong place at the wrong time”. 
While it is comforting to know Jehovah does not cause suffering, we have to ask “Why does Jehovah allow all this suffering? If he is the Almighty, he has the power to stop it“. It is all about God‘s “right to rule”, his sovereignty, which was challenged in Eden. 
We are given an illustration of a “clever, but rebellious student” who questions his teacher. Instead of throwing out the rebel from his class, the teacher allows him to demonstrate how he would solve the problem. When he fails, the teacher will be vindicated.
But “Why so long?” is asked. God has permitted Satan to rule for thousands of years of human history and has not helped him by preventing evil, as it might make Satan’s way look good. Jehovah will undo all the harm that has ever been done. Indeed, “we can be glad that he has not acted sooner, for his patience has given us the opportunity to learn the truth and to serve him”.
Jehovah has given us a “precious gift” which explains why he did not make Adam incapable of sinning; “humans were created with free will” and not as robots, or like animals, acting on instinct. “We are glad to have the freedom to make choices about what kind of person to become, what course of life to pursue, what friendships to form and so on”. Jehovah does not want “service under compulsion…. Satan, Adam annd Eve made the worst possible use of free will. They rejected Jehovah God. “What will you do?… you can join the millions who have taken a stand on Jehovah‘s side

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My response:

Here again, are the age-old questions, “Why evil?” and “Why would an omnipotent, loving God not act?” The Watchtower’s answer is simplistic and selfish. It may be true that thousands of years of human history is but an instant in God’s eyes, but for many people, much of that time is spent in 70 year periods of misery, subject to random acts of nature and cruelty by other humans. The fact is, an omniscient God could have prevented it all. Perhaps all wrongs will be righted in the end and the past will seem like a bad dream, but this answer to the problem of evil is just a little too convenient.
Again, “the Bible says” a lot of things and it is not difficult to find a verse to support almost any hypothesis.
Only selfish people who are glad to have the opportunity to “join the club, just in time to save themselves” would have created such a self-centred God with weak excuses.
As for the Watchtower concept of "free will", it is conditional. Since the Watchtower likes human illustrations, what about this one? Which one of your children would you take with you on a lifeboat, leaving the others behind? That is a free will choice, is it not? Sure, you are free to take any one, but you can see the consequences. 

Similarly, if we do not choose to join the Watchtower religion, we will die. But it goes further - if, at some time in the future, you use your free will and it takes you contrary to “the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses“, you will be disfellowshipped and cut off. 
Also, if like millions of former Jehovah’s Witnesses, you realise that the Watchtower religion is false and has misled you and that there is no Armageddon and no paradise earth “soon”, will you be able to exercise your "precious gift of free will", to leave? Yes, but the consequence is emotional, spiritual, social and psychological death because every Jehovah’s Witness in the world, including your close family, will shun you forever after. Is that “free will”?

Further Reading:  The God of Philosophy -- Roy Jackson
Or any other introductory book on the philosophy of religion

Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings #10 - Spirit Creatures - How They Affect us.

"What Does the Bible Really Teach?" (according to Jehovah's Witnesses)
Chapter 10
Spirit Creatures - How They Affect Us
The book says;
We should want to get to know God’s family. It is made up of millions of angels. They were created by Jesus long before humans.
Angels have always had an interest in humans and God used them to help people like Lot, Daniel and Peter. Although they do not appear today, “God’s powerful angels still protect his people, especially from anything spiritually harmful”. Like the Devil, some angels were rebels. They came down to earth as humans, to take wives. At the Flood, these angels left their bodies behind and returned to heaven, taking sides with Satan.
The demons use spiritism to mislead people. One form of spiritism is divination. This includes tarot cards, astrology, palmistry, omens, signs, dreams and inquiring of the dead through spirit mediums. Spirits speak through the medium, pretending to be a dead relative.
If we wish to break free from spiritism, we need to follow the example of early Christians who burned their expensive magic books. “That includes books, magazines, movies, posters and music recordings that encourage the practice of spiritism” as well as “amulets or other items worn for protection against evil”. We need to put on spiritual armour to protect ourselves. One item is “the large shield of faith” which we can strengthen by daily Bible study. We can pray for Jehovah’s protection too. “Of course, we need to use Jehovah ‘s name in our prayers”.

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If good spirits exist, then there is no reason why bad spirits also may exist, but we have to take the Bible’s word for it. Again, it’s a question of faith.
I have already pointed out the Watchtower leaders’ falsifying of scripture, here repeated from  Colossians. Jesus made ALL things, not “all other things”.
God’s angels probably do protect his people, but “his people” are Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, not disciples of the false Christ of the Watchtower.
Indeed, it is wise to separate ourselves from the black arts and spiritism, but it’s important not go crazy, throwing out all your jewellery or heavy metal CDs and posters just because someone disapproves (and I’m talking about overbearing Christians here too). Think about it carefully and use good judgement. If you love God and the ways of peace, you will naturally be inclined to turn away from nasty, aggressive entertainment.
As for the future, you do not need to be anxious or consult horoscopes to tell you how to live your life. People who consult astrologers do so in fear and uncertainty, but Christians have a secure future in Christ. We shouldn’t be afraid of demons because Christ holds his followers in his own hands, protecting them from evil.
There is another spirit deserving mention: the Holy Spirit. Contrary, to Watchtower teaching, the Holy Spirit is a person and not “an active force, like electricity”. While the Watchtower leaders accept that a spirit like Satan is a person who may communicate with humans, they deny the Holy Spirit, who has the same attributes as other spirits. We read of the Holy Spirit sending people, talking to them, advising them, influencing them and protecting them.
This denial by the Watchtower is because the Holy Spirit is a third aspect of God in the Christian teaching of the Trinity.

  

Examining Watchtower Basic Teachings #7 --The Resurrection

What Does the Bible Really Teach? (according to Jehovah's Witnesses)
Chapter 7 -- The Resurrection
The book says this:
"Jehovah promises that the dead will live again". Several pages are spent on the account of Lazarus’ resurrection. (See John Chapter 11). This is just one of several occasions when Jesus raised humans from the dead. We can learn that the dead are really sleeping because none of them came back and spoke about an after-life. "The account of Lazarus also teaches us that the resurrection is a reality, not a mere myth" because there were eyewitnesses, among whom were Jesus’ enemies who would surely have denied his works, if untrue. The future resurrection is a fact because Jesus said so.
Jehovah knows the names of trillions of stars, so he can remember the details of everyone who has ever died and replicate them.
The "righteous and the unrighteous" will be raised into a paradise earth, free of crime, violence and the troubles of today. This "Judgement Day" will occur during one thousand years after Armageddon. Not everyone will be resurrected. Some people are eternally destroyed by God when they die because they were so bad. "Jehovah is the final judge".
There will be a resurrection to heaven too, but only for a select few. These will form a heavenly government with Jesus to reign over the paradise earth.

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The resurrection to heaven is a key teaching of Christianity. It is a question of faith because there is no proof, unless we accept what the Bible says. The Church teaches that all sinners who put faith in Jesus will be raised to heaven. Read the Bible accounts and decide for yourself if it is possible for God to do such a thing. (Read John 3:1-21 and John 11).
When we love someone and admire them, we want to be with them, wherever they are, as much as possible, so it is perfectly normal for those who love Jesus to want to be in heaven with him. What will we do there? I don’t know. No-one does, but if you think about the number of galaxies in this universe, there are endless possibilities. It is something very desirable, whichever way it turns out.
Another thing the Witnesses won’t readily tell you is this; among the people who will never be resurrected is you, if you do not progress to be a Jehovah’s Witness. This is because you will have "rejected Jehovah" after being fully informed.
Others who will gain no resurrection are the 7 billion people alive today, who will be annihilated by Jehovah at Armageddon, since they too, have been informed by the extensive preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses ("extensive" and "worldwide" is what they want people to believe). Finally, this writer will be eternally destroyed and everyone like him, who dares to question the "glorious ones" of the Watchtower leadership. But don’t worry about me because it isn’t going to happen.
As mentioned previously, there is the contradiction regarding the resurrection to heaven. According to Watchtower teaching, the dead are all unconscious or sleeping, their brains having ceased to function at death, but somehow this doesn’t apply to the 144,000 who will be "instantly resurrected to life in heaven", with or without brains.

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Examing Watchtower Basic Teachings #6 -- Where are the Dead?

Examining Watchtower Basic teachings #6 - Where are the Dead?

The book says many religions teach "that some part of us survives the death of the physical body….. Yet how can that be? Our senses, along with our thoughts, are all linked to the workings of our brain. Our memories, feelings and senses do not continue to work independently… We do not possess an immortal soul or spirit." Various scriptures are quoted describing death as sleep and the end of everything.
There is a picture of an extinguished candle on p59 with the caption, "Where did the flame go?"
God made mankind to live in a paradise earth, with the desire to live forever. All humans die because their first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned by disobeying God.
Again, we are asked to compare human parents’ hurt when their child disobeys, with the hurt caused to God.
"Knowing the truth about death is beneficial" because it frees us from worry about our dead relatives. Those who teach life after death "have been influenced by Satan" , especially those who teach eternal punishment in a fiery hell." Jehovah is a God of love and would never make people suffer in this way…. Satan wants us to believe that Jehovah tortures people in fire forever".
Ancestors should not be worshipped. Only Jehovah should be.
"When you realise people do not pass on to the spirit realm at death, the promise of everlasting life on earth takes on real meaning"

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The idea that we do not live after the brain is dead is consistent with the views of philosophy, but despite this, Christians believe that our soul or spirit continues to live. Just as there are many scriptures which can be quoted to say the dead are unconscious or sleeping, there are others which indicate that the dead continue to exist on a different plane. When resurrecting his friend Lazarus, Jesus said, "He who believes in me will never die at all" (John 11:17-29).
True, some Christians still believe in a literal, fiery hell and are so firm in their conviction, that they will threaten you with Hell if you don't believe them. Others, who are more moderate, believe that separation from God is punishment enough for the unrighteous.
The fact is, that through the centuries, the Roman Church in particular, made a lot of money from the fear they instilled in people about the after-life. This allowed them to charge hefty fees for "indulgences", a buy-out from purgatory and fiery pain. It's one of the things that brought about the Reformation, led by Martin Luther.
While the Watchtower teaches that the dead are unconscious or sleeping, this doesn’t apply to their 144,000 who will reign with Jesus Christ in heaven (according to their teaching). Their brains and bodily senses may cease to function at death, but they are raised instantaneously to life in heaven. Skip ahead a few pages to p74 (in the English language version) where it says, "So those few remaining ones of the 144,000 who die in our day are instantly resurrected to life in heaven". So, on one hand, "the dead are sleeping and unconscious" while on the other hand, the dead are "instantly raised to heaven". which is it?
As for God, he is again shown to be as fickle and weak as human parents, not unlike the gods of the Romans and Greeks. True, he would not torture people in burning fire forever, but if we are to take the OT literally, he can massacre humans and let them die a fiery death in Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis). Does this depiction of God seem real to you or does it sound more like a human invention?
As for the candle picture, what are we supposed to conclude when seeing this? Is the human spirit the equivalent of a chemical reaction between carbon and oxygen?
Finally, if we take away the Christian teaching of life in heaven with Christ, we are left only with the hope of life on earth or nothing, fitting in nicely with Watchtower teaching, so their followers gratefully accept this materialistic second option, not realising they are giving up eternal life in the presence of Jesus.

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Examining Watchtower Basic Teachings #9 - Are We in the "Last Days"?

What Does the Bible Really Teach? (according to Jehovah's Witnesses)
Are We in the "Last Days"?

The book says;

Jehovah knows the future and Jesus prophesied about it. Under the heading “A War in Heaven“, we learn that “Michael” is another name for Jesus. This Michael battled with the dragon [Satan] and threw him out of heaven, down to the earth, in 1914. That is why our world is so bad. We are then invited to “examine four features of the sign that Jesus said would mark the time in which we live”, when he spoke two thousand years ago. The Watchtower refers to Matthew Chapter 24. Read it now, in the Bible.

The four features discussed are war, food shortages, earthquakes and pestilences. For each of these, proofs are given and quotations from “one British historian”, “researchers say”, “one source states”, “one report says”. No precise references or bibliography is provided.

Under “People of the Last Days”, 2 Timothy 3;1-5 is offered as proof that “there are people everywhere who have bad traits. This shows that God will soon act” and an isolated verse from Psalms 92:7 is quoted.

Next, an isolated verse in Daniel is quoted and Matthew 24:14 which foretells a preaching of the good news of the kingdom in all the inhabited earth. This is applied to Jehovah’s Witnesses who are active “in over 230 lands and in hundreds of languages. Millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses zealously preach the good news” and “conduct free home Bible studies with millions of people”.

We are asked, “Since so many Bible prophecies are being fulfilled today, do you not agree that we are living in the last days? After the good news is preached to Jehovah‘s satisfaction, “the end“ is certain to come ”

The student is encouraged to keep studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses, to “associate regularly with others who do Jehovah’s will” “and make necessary changes in your life, so that you may enjoy Jehovah‘s favour.”

Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 21:34-36 are quoted to warn the student that the end will come suddenly, so one has to be on guard if one is to survive the coming destruction of “Satan’s system of things.”

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In the book’s appendix, the Watchtower teachers use “logic” to convince us that Michael the archangel is another name for Jesus, relegating him to an angel’s position, which is quite a step down from the creator mentioned in Colossians. Again, this requires skipping around the Bible, quoting isolated verses here and there. Read the Bible in context and decide for yourself.

It is accepted that the prophecies in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. This historical event occurred about 10-20 years after these gospels were written. However, only Jehovah’s Witnesses extrapolate Jesus’ prophecy about Jerusalem to the 20^th. Century.

If we allow for a moment, that Jesus was referring to our time, we need to examine the four features that the Watchtower uses for its argument. Were those events as bad as they say? Well again, by doing some research, you can look at world history, particularly regarding war and compare killing rates of the World Wars with previous worldwide wars such as the Napoleonic Wars, the American War of Independence, the American Civil War and so on.

As for pestilences and disaster, think about this; when did the world’s population first reach one billion? Why did it take so long? It is precisely because, throughout history, there have been millions of people slaughtered in wars, while millions of others have died of pestilence and disaster! Do your homework. Look at history.

The Watchtower leaders have a bad habit of quoting without references. Even worse, they make partial quotations and lazy students accept these without checking the context of the references. Quite often, the claims made by the Watchtower bear no relation to the actual point being made by scholars.

Their quoting of scholars is only exceeded by their random quoting of scripture. The Psalms were written about 4000 years ago and bear no relation to today’s events and Daniel too, was written in the same era.

As for the behaviour of people, it hasn’t changed much. Look at the plays of William Shakespeare or Sophocles and other Greeks and you will see the same themes of lust, jealousy, anger, love, hatred, murder, envy, being repeated again and again.

The Watchtower claims that only Jehovah’s Witnesses are preaching the good news of the kingdom. It is true that they are very active, but in recent years, they have been losing as many members as they gain in Western lands. Most of their growth is now internal, from their own offspring. The “millions of Bible studies” rarely come to fruition. A “Bible study” can be reported by the Witnesses and ended by the “interested person” after just a couple of visits. They certainly distribute a lot of books and hold the world record for publishing (see Guiness Book of Records), but the Bible still remains the most widely published book on earth and that distribution is done by Christian Bible Societies. So, who really is preaching God’s kingdom?

Notice another leading question about Bible prophecies being fulfilled.

By this stage, a student will be making the kind of dress and personality changes I describe in my article, “If You Study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses” and s/he may now be attending Watchtower meetings. The changes are fairly subtle and you may not be aware of them, but your family and friends will have noticed and they are concerned about you!


Further reading:
The Signs of the Last Days -- When? by Jonsson & Herbst

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Examining Watchtower Basic Teachings #8 - What is God's Kingdom?

What does the Bible Really Teach?

Chapter 8  What is God’s Kingdom?

The book says this;

Many people know that, in the Lord’s prayer, it says, “Let your Kingdom come”. What does that mean?

The kingdom is an everlasting, heavenly government ruled by Christ the King with 144,000 people resurrected from the earth as co-rulers. “Since the days of the apostles, God has been selecting faithful Christians…to complete the number”. This is “very loving” on God’s part because all these rulers have experienced the vicissitudes of life on earth, so they will have great sympathy for those on earth, over whom they rule.

When this kingdom began to rule, there was a war in heaven and the Devil and his angels were cast out. That was good news for heaven, but bad for the earth.

Human rulers have proved to be corrupt and incapable of bringing happiness to humankind, so God’s government will destroy all human governments soon at Armageddon. Then under its direction, earth will be turned into a peaceful paradise where people will live forever, if they prove faithful to God.

“The fulfilment of Bible prophecy shows that, in 1914, Christ became king and God’s heavenly kingdom began to rule. Hence, we are living in the “short period of time” that Satan has left. We can also say with certainty that soon God‘s kingdom will act to cause God‘s will to be done on earth”.

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My response:

Unfortunately, many attendees at churches have difficulty explaining what God’s kingdom is. It is only because Jehovah’s Witnesses put so much emphasis on it, that they appear to know so much about it and this impresses weak Christians and other uninformed people.

What the Watchtower teaches now about Bible prophecy and the kingdom being established in 1914, is nonsense. The early leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses (International Bible Students) taught that the heavenly kingdom was established in 1874, so they published a magazine called “The Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence” which is still in print today, as “The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom”. In 1916, the first Watchtower president, Charles T. Russell, wrote about the Great War saying “this, we believe, is the beginning of that great battle” (of Armageddon).

As you will know, if you have been doing independent research, the Watchtower has repeatedly changed its interpretation of scripture and has made numerous false predictions about the timing of Armageddon, to the great cost of their followers.

As for the date 1914, you will be surprised at the numerical convolutions required to arrive at that date. Originally, Russell arrived at his dates by using measurements from the Great Pyramid of Giza (I am not joking! Russell liked pyramids and is buried under one) and later, the Watchtower arrived at their date 1914, by plucking verses from Numbers, Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation, books written thousands of years apart and calculating 2520 years from the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 607 B.C. There is but one serious problem; those calculations were made after 1914, once they had seen the significance of that year in world history. Do you recall what I said about “prophecies” written after an event?

Christ’s kingdom is already here, in as much as Christ is ruling over his faithful followers individually. Christians believe the Holy Spirit is active today, guiding those who follow Christ. It is true that this world, alienated from God, is not perfect, but Christ rules in the hearts of those who love him and who try to do his will. Christians are ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom now, endeavouring to lead lives which reflect Christ‘s influence upon them. Christians believe that Christ will come again, but they don’t sit around waiting for it or fearing it. They get on with their lives, while still aware that he will come again at some unexpected time.

As for the limited number of 144,000 going to heaven, you can do your own calculations. How many international stadiums would you need to accommodate that number of people? Not more than two. But how many Christians do you think have been on earth since Jesus died 2000 years ago? By all means, subtract the pseudo-Christians who did nasty things in the name of Christ, but you will still be left with quite a few. And you have to keep in mind that there are still about 12,000 “true Christians” (that’s code for “Jehovah’s Witnesses“) who take the bread and wine at the Watchtower’s annual Memorial meeting.

This smaller number itself is a joke. When I left the Watchtower religion in 1995, there were less than 9,000 of these “anointed ones”, so the number of this “remnant” has grown, when it should be declining by their natural deaths. The Watchtower gets around this by claiming that “not all Christians throughout the centuries have been faithful”. What do you think?

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Examining Watchtower Basic Teachings #5 - the Ransom

What Does the Bible Really Teach?
Chapter 5 - the Ransom, God’s Greatest Gift
The book says:
"The ransom is Jehovah’s means to deliver, or save, humankind from sin and death"
We have to return to Genesis to understand this. God made Adam in "His image" i.e. with his qualities. Adam had free will. He chose to disobey God, so all his offspring were condemned to death, but God came to our rescue, providing a ransom.
This would require a perfect human life, a sacrifice, but not just any life. God chose his own son. That is why Jesus came to the earth to live a human life and die for us. "He was whipped and nailed to the torture stake, suffering an agonising death….. Jesus proved that a perfect man possessing free will could keep perfect integrity to God no matter what the Devil did".
We enjoy blessings because of the ransom paid by Jesus. We can gain forgiveness for our sins but we must be truly repentant.
We can have a good conscience before God and the hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth, but we need to show our appreciation of the ransom.
"To begin with, get to know the great giver, Jehovah. A study of the Bible with the aid of this publication will help you to do that".
We need to "exercise faith in the Son…. Such faith is not shown by words alone. Works are necessary.
We should "attend the annual observance of the Lord’s evening meal" on Nisan 14 which is for all "true Christians".
"This priceless gift (the ransom) can benefit even those who have died".

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My response:

Yes, Adam had free will, but when he exercised it, he was punished for disobedience. Is that free will?
God choosing his own child as a sacrifice is considered by many Christians to be the ultimate expression of love, but when Canaanites did the same, God helped "his people" to massacre them, according to the OT.
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is one of the great subjects of Western Art. Make a Google Search for intense, poignant and even beautiful images rendered by the great artists, of this climactic event. Now look at p.52 (in the English language edition) of the book. Here we have an example of Watchtower realist art, reminiscent of Communist propaganda pictures. You will notice it is very different from all of the great crucifixion scenes.
The bearded, male figure is hanging on an upright pole. He has one large nail through his wrists which are directly above his head. The figure is not shown below the knees. There are some scratches on his torso, presumably from whiplashes on his back and a little blood on his head and arms. He is clothed in a loincloth.
If you have done your research, you will know that most criminals were crucified naked, but we can let that go, for the sake of American puritanical modesty (the Watchtower is indeed an American religion, despite their worldwide network).
As for the single nail through the wrists, this is contrary to what the Bible says and, let’s remember, this is the book which the Watchtower calls "God’s Word". Jehovah’s Witnesses are not alone here; some Christian groups say that Christ was nailed through his wrists because the weight of a man cannot be supported through nailed hands without tearing them. That may be so, but the Romans had other ingenious ways of inflicting maximum suffering on their victims. It is quite probable that the arms of the victim were tied to the cross, as well as nailed. Also, the feet were sometimes supported on a small ledge, so the full bodyweight would not be on the hands. 
Be wary of any religious group which adds to the Bible or claims to have "special knowledge" about such things. After Jesus was resurrected, one the disciples did not believe it. He wanted to see the risen Christ and examine his body for evidence. Look at John 20:24-29 and you will see that he saw the evidence of nails (plural) in Christ’s hands and a wound in his side.
You, the student, should ask yourself why the Witnesses want to deny this evidence which indicates that Jesus was actually hung on a cross.
There is another important point of Watchtower argument which must be addressed; the "torture stake". There is no doubt that the Greek word "stauros" is used in all the references to Jesus’ crucifixion and the fact is, a "stauros" is a pole. But does this mean that there was no cross? No; the "stauros" is probably the horizontal beam to which the hands were nailed. This beam was then attached to the upright pole or tree trunk situated in a permanent location, in this case, outside the city walls, at Golgotha.
In a later chapter, you will see that the Watchtower criticises respect for the cross. They say the cross is "pagan". Its veneration originated with worship of the god Tammuz. But you know what? The Romans were pagans! 
In any case, notice what the apostle Paul has to say about the cross in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. For Christians, the cross is a sign of victory over death and not a foolish thing. That is why many Christians wear crosses as jewellery.
Again, you, the student are encouraged to keep up the Bible study with Jehovah’s Witnesses "to show appreciation for the ransom".
Works are necessary also, they say, which makes salvation conditional. This again, is contrary to scripture. The NT clearly teaches that we are saved by grace ("undeserved kindness"). That means that salvation is given by God to those who have faith in the Son. It is a free gift which we could never possibly earn by good works.
As for the Memorial, commemorated every Nisan 14 (a Jewish calendar date close to the Christian Easter date) by Jehovah’s Witnesses, consider the following.
In the Christian church, people take communion (bread and wine) regularly, sometimes daily or weekly, because Jesus told us to do it often. In most denominations, all in attendance are invited to do so. This act of worship reminds us of Christ’s last meal and his death and resurrection.
The Witnesses go to great pains to get everything "just right" on the night. The Kingdom Hall is specially cleaned and usually decorated with Spring flowers. They have very special bread which is unleavened and very special wine which is pure, unfortified and red. These are passed around for everyone present, but nearly everyone passes on the plate and glass without taking the bread or wine. Why? Because the Watchtower teaches that only a very select few may partake of "the emblems". 
A Christian friend once said to me, "I cannot think of a better way to tell Jesus, "You’re not good enough for me". So, what do you, the student think? Is that showing appreciation for Christ’s body and blood?
If you are determined to continue your study with Jehovah’s Witnesses, you will find out shortly that in the Watchtower religion, there is a two class system for salvation. Worldwide, there are only a few thousand Witnesses who will go to heaven, so they take the bread and wine. Therefore, it is unlikely that in your congregation, you will ever see "the emblems" being taken. Indeed, people are actually told not to do so, unless they are "absolutely certain" that they have "the heavenly calling". However, as you keep studying the Bible, not the Watchtower, you will find that this destiny is available to everyone who follows Jesus.

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