Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings -- #19 -- Remain in God’s Love

Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings - #19
Chapter 19 -- Remain in God’s Love
The book says;
“We are living in stormy times. World conditions are going from bad to worse”. 
God is our refuge like a shelter from a storm.
We need to appreciate how God has shown love for us. “Think of some of the Bible teachings you have learned with the aid of this book”. 
Jehovah has given this earth to us, told us his name and allowed “Jesus to suffer and die for us” giving “us hope for a wonderful future”. Jehovah’s “Messianic Kingdom…. will soon bring an end to all suffering and will make the earth a paradise”.
“God had given us guidance on how to live” and “the gift of prayer”..... Love for God is much more than a feeling“. It is only a start. We must  observe his commandments and show our love for Jehovah by our actions. “What, then, are Jehovah’s commandments that we need to observe?”
We must never stop learning about Jehovah. It is like stoking a fire so that it does not go out. Otherwise, our love will cool off. Prayer is also important. “We need to speak to Jehovah as a child would talk to a beloved father“, with respect.  “Personal Bible study and prayer” are “private”, but we also must preach publicly, for this “increases your own faith….. Staying busy in such work helps you to remain in God‘s love….. The kingdom preaching work is urgent” because “the great day of Jehovah is near! It is near and it is approaching very quickly!”
We must attend meetings to strengthen the “love and friendship in the congregation…… Do not expect perfection from your fellow believers…. All are at different stages of spiritual growth .... Build close friendships with those who love Jehovah intensely”.
“Jehovah rewards his faithful servants with life,,…. The real life is something we hope to attain in the future, yes, when we are perfect”
We will enjoy future benefits and life if we serve God in the approved way and “have the hope of enjoying the real life“.

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My response:
Until the 1960s, Jehovah’s Witnesses conducted “Bible” studies with interested people over several, even many, years. At a time when people still believed the Bible, it was a friendly, weekly, social call. After a few years of such contact, the Witness would suggest that the interested person might like to attend a meeting or convention and gradually, after perhaps ten years, the student would finally be at the stage where you are now, after 19 weeks.
This change came about thanks to an ingenious marketing plan, in which I was a willing participant, in the late 60s. It was decided that, “due to the urgency of the times before 1975”, those studying should have only about 6 months to make up their minds about joining Jehovah’s Witnesses. Then the Bible study would be stopped, so that another worthy person might have the opportunity to gain eternal life “soon”. 
During just a few years, millions of books were sold (“The Truth that Leads to Eternal Life” - a best seller noted in the Guinness Book of Records) and millions of “Bible” studies were conducted, using that book, which had a similar outline to the one you are studying now. Worldwide, the Witnesses increased from 500,000 in the mid- 60s, to 3 millions by 1975.

Your life is becoming more and more involved with the Watchtower congregation and your friends and "family" are now Witnesses, rather than relatives.
You are told to keep reading and hearing and talking about the religion’s message. Continual repetition is a mind-control technique to reinforce teachings. You are also told to “stay busy in such work”.
Notice the repeated use and emphasis on the future tense in the promises offered. Have you noticed also how this “Christian” religion makes repeated reference to the Old Testament, written nearly 3,000 years ago, usually quoting isolated verses from ancient prophets and applying them to today?
Although there is an attempt to downplay the idea of “reward”, the fact is, eternal life is dependent on our works for ““Jehovah” or, to be more accurate, “Jehovah’s organisation”, the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society publishing company.

I would be sincerely disappointed if you have come this far and are still pondering whether to join this cult.
No-one ever joins a cult. People are drawn into them gradually, as you have been and it is only when we try to leave, later, that we discover we were in a cult, when sanctions and threats are made against us when we leave. 
I have already told you how you would be shunned by all those “friends” and your Witness relatives if you leave. You would find that the friendship is entirely dependent on your holding the same religious opinions as them. There are many, many examples and experiences of shunned former Witnesses  for your perusal, on-line.

What is the alternative? 
Well, belief is something that you have to choose and decide upon yourself, but if you are attracted to Christianity, try it! 
Read the Bible. The basic message is not difficult to understand, especially if you read the “message for today“, the New Testament.
Visit Christian churches of different denominations for a few weeks. Listen to their sermons. Observe the people. 
But use the same caution in assessing other groups, as you should have done before studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses. 

Always be wary of a religion which claims to have "special knowledge" or insight that others don't have. 
Avoid churches which criticise other Christian denominations, instead of getting on with being Christians themselves. 
Be cautious about "religion" and "organisation". Organisations start with wonderful intentions, but soon take over people. Christianity is about faith and a relationship with Jesus Christ, not men.

One day, you will realise you feel comfortable in one particular church and you won’t feel the need to continue your search. Later, you may decide to move on to another church or denomination. That is a natural progression in your Christian life. All the mainstream Christian churches have one thing in common - they accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour and follow the Bible, with only minor variations in procedure.

Further Reading: 
Twisted Scriptures -- Mary Alice Chrnalogar

Examining Watchtower Basic Teachings -- Take Your Stand for True Worship #16

Examining Watchtower Basic Teachings
Take Your Stand for True Worship  
Chapter 16
The book says;
False religion is compared with a contaminated water supply. The student is encouraged to “get out of Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion”.
Images and traces of false worship, such as shrines to ancestors or religious pictures, should be removed from our homes. They should be destroyed because they are detestable to Jehovah.
The pagan origins of Christmas are discussed and the student is shown in the Bible, that only two pagans celebrated birthday, so these activities are forbidden to “true worshipers”.
Although Jehovah wants us to have good relations with our relatives, we must take a stand against false worship even if it offends them. “Do origins really matter? Yes!” An illustration is given; would we eat “candy that we found “lying in the gutter? Of course not! …. Holidays may seem sweet, but they have been picked up from unclean places”.
Next follows a discussion of “what to do about holiday activities” and accepting Christmas gifts from work colleagues. As for your family members, you should “avoid any actions that would make you a participant in the holiday” while being “reasonable” and keeping a “good conscience”.
Our children need not be neglected. The best gifts we can give them are our “time and loving attention”. Taking a stand for true worship also requires our attendance at “Christian meetings" and preaching the message of Jehovah’s Witnesses .
Page 163 (English language edition) shows three photos of a young boy, dressed in a suit, being encouraged by his parents at meetings and going door-to door, promoting Watchtower literature.. One picture shows him receiving presents with his sister - “practising true worship brings happiness”.

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My response:





In case you hadn’t noticed, the final strands of your normal life before your indoctrination by Jehovah’s Witnesses, are finally being stripped away.
It’s true that Christmas has pagan origins and many of the commercial customs come much later, from the Victorian era. Personally, I don’t celebrate Christmas and I don’t think it's just because I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness. Like many Christians, I detest the secularism of the season, which has been hijacked for commercial purposes. Many Christians believe that the incarnation of Jesus Christ is so important to humanity, that it should be observed, but modestly, by attendance at church and with moderate gift giving.
As for birthdays, I suspect that the Watchtower simply does not want its members diverted from giving attention to the Watchtower organisation, who want your money and devotion. Can you imagine how much time would be devoted to birthday parties in a congregation of 90 people? 
Another point is the passing of time. If we observe annual celebrations, we may be more likely to notice the passing of time and the fact that Armageddon and the promised "new world soon" has not arrived. I didn't have children, so the first time I really noticed the passing of real time was when a ten year insurance policy matured, then another, five years later.
The fact that two pagans are mentioned as celebrating their birthdays is simply a way to identify the actual date or time of the events recorded, just as Luke mentions several events to pinpoint the time of the birth of Jesus. Also, notice in the story of Joseph, that a good event happens on Pharaoh’s birthday - the release and pardon of a prisoner. 
The curious thing is this; on the actual day of birth of a new child, Jehovah’s Witnesses rejoice over that birth, like any other parents, but forever afterwards, they pretend it doesn’t matter. 
This avoiding of celebrations, and the hurting of our families which ensues, is behaviour contrary to our natural compassion and social instincts.
Finally, regular attendance at meetings is now filling your life and what leisure time is left, is given to preaching the Watchtower message. One hallmark of cults is that they like to keep people busy, so that they do not have time for themselves or to think.
As for the child in the photos, I am reminded of my own childhood experiences, which you can hear about on my Youtube videos, by searching under Witness Aid.

Links to My Youtube Channel

https://youtu.be/xYCgZZpcyy0


https://youtu.be/myyJ2ndYQL8


https://youtu.be/RY6OqWkra7g

Or Search; Witness Aid UK

Suggested Reading List for Jehovah's Witnesses Exiting JW.org

if you left the Watchtower religion without being deprogrammed, you may continue to suffer psychological trauma for many years afterwards. It is essential that you cleanse your mind of its false doctrines, so that you can look to the future without fear of impending destruction by a vindictive God, at “Armageddon, soon”. If you are unable to function in the normal world, there is a very strong probability that you will return to the familiar ground of the Watchtower "family".
The following books will show you that you made the correct decision to exit JW.org, which is most certainly not “the truth”, despite its claims. Incidentally, if you are still using "Watchtower talk" like that phrase above, you are reinforcing its belief in your mind!

The following are not extensive reviews. If you go to an online bookstore, you will find Customer Reviews. Used books are available at reasonable prices. Most of the following are in British public libraries too.

Crisis of Conscience
and
In Search of Christian Freedom 
Raymond Franz

Nephew of Fred, the 4th Watchtower president, Raymond Franz served on the Governing Body for about 9 years and reveals some scandalous events in Watchtower policy during the early 90s. Now considered a standard textbook among former JWs.
His second book is a review of major Watchtower teachings compared to the Bible.

Apocalypse Delayed
and
Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Third Reich
Jim Penton

Jim Penton was an academic historian at Toronto University. He gives a very fair (and far too generous) analysis of Watchtower history. 
The second book details the Witnesses’ experiences in Germany and discusses the notorious letter sent to Hitler by Rutherford, the 2nd Watchtower president. Penton looks at the extent of “persecution” of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who want you to believe their "spin" that they were right in the middle of the Holocaust with 6 million Jews. In fact, only about 200 Witnesses were actually executed by the Nazis.

The Gentile Times Revisited
and
The Sign of the Last Days - When?
Carl Olaf Jonsson

The first of these is the material that Jonsson sent to Brooklyn in the late 60s, inviting the Governing Body to examine and use his research to publish a revision of the Watchtower teaching under its own banner. Instead, they disfellowshiped him
The book looks at Babylonian history relating to Jerusalem’s fall and its importance to the Watchtower’s 1914 date. I found it pretty dry reading, but it is useful.
The second book looks at Matthew 24 and compares it with world history, showing why the events of the 20th Century were of no special significance, contrary to Watchtower claims.

Twisted Scriptures
Mary Alice Chrnalogar

This examines religions, including Christian groups, which sometimes misuse scriptural authority to control people. It is not only the Jehovah’s Witness religion which seeks to control people although they are among the worst. 
If you become a Christian, be on guard against people who say, “God told me to tell you…….” or “God wants me to…....” Funnily enough, God never seems to tell Christians to give away all their money and live in a cold climate where they will be in danger of their lives by persecution. I wonder why?

The Bible - a Biography 
and
A History of God 
Karen Armstrong

This woman knows more about the Bible, God and religion than all the “men in Brooklyn” collectively. You will be surprised when you discover who actually wrote the Pentateuch and the multiple accounts of Genesis and Isaiah, and where and when, as well as the gathering of the books for the Bible canon.
The other book details the finding of God by Jews, Christians and Muslims throughout history. I recommend any book on religion by Armstrong.

The God of Philosophy
Roy Jackson

Any introduction to philosophy or religion is worth reading, to start you thinking about miracles, the existence of God, the problem of evil and life after death.

"A Very Short Introduction to..........."
Various authors and various titles/themes

These booklets, written by experts and academics, cover many subjects from science, the Bible, theology, history, the Arts - every subject that you can list. A good way to find key facts or to stimulate further reading.

The Bible 
Yes, I am recommending the Bible, even though you may think you have had more than enough of it! I am sure that the majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses have never read the whole Bible right through. I know I hadn’t, after 25 adult years as a Witness. On leaving Watchtower, I read it in about 6 weeks and continued reading the NT again, 7 or 8 times.
If you care to leave a brief comment telling me if you honestly read it from start to finish, while you were a Witness, it would be interesting.
If you are saying, “I am sure I must have read it all” or "I think I read it all", then you have NOT read it! Reading selected citations in Watchtower publications is not “reading the Bible”. So, give it a fair trial. 
If you find the OT boring, I suggest you start with the NT and intersperse OT books between, keeping a careful note so that you do not cheat.
And by the way - don't read the Really Not Well Translated Version. 
Get yourself a proper Bible!
Who knows? You may become a Christian. Or an atheist!

Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings - Baptism and Your Relationship with God -- #18

Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings
Chapter 18 -- Baptism and Your Relationship with God 
The book says;
“What steps do you need to take to qualify for baptism?” 
The account of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 is given.
A brief review of things learned from the teaching book is given. It is assumed that the student will be attending meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses and that s/he has begun to “develop a personal relationship with Jehovah God”. 
Public water baptism is a requirement for anyone wanting such a relationship, but one needs to qualify.
Knowledge is necessary and this can be gained by regular attendance at meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. You must know and accept their basic teachings. 
Faith is also important. It motivates you to express your knowledge about God to others, by preaching. 
One needs to qualify to be accepted as an unbaptised proclaimer of the Watchtower message. This is done by meeting with two elders in the congregation who will assess if the student is leading a suitable lifestyle free from “sexual immorality, drunkenness and drug abuse”.
Repentance and conversion are necessary steps toward baptism. Then a dedication to Jehovah God must be made. This is compared to marriage.
Dedication is a “promise to give (God) your exclusive devotion forever….without …..setting any limits in worshiping him”. “We disown ourselves” and give our “complete obedience to God. Before you can get baptised, then, doing Jehovah God‘s will must be your main purpose in life”
We should not be afraid to make a dedication although it means being accountable to God. God will help you if you do your best, since you are not perfect.
When, after prayer, you have dedicated yourself to Jehovah God, you will meet with “some elders….. to review questions that cover the Bible’s basic teachings. If these elders agree that you qualify, they will tell  you that you can get baptised at the next opportunity”, usually at an annual convention. There will be a short public talk and you will be asked to declare that you agree with two simple questions, then you will proceed to a pool and be totally immersed under water. 
“You have made a dedication to Jehovah God himself, not to a work, a cause, other humans, or an organisation”.
“Baptism symbolises dying to one’s former way of life and becoming alive to do God’s will. (it)….does not guarantee salvation“. It is “only a beginning“

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Baptism is a sacrament in the Christian church also, except one does not have to “qualify”. Jesus Christ said “whoever believes in me has eternal life”. Qualifications are unnecessary. Only faith in Jesus is required.
Superficially, the Watchtower baptism appears to be a Christian act, but there are subtle differences. 
The two questions which were asked when I was baptised into Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1970, related to an expression of faith in God and Jesus Christ, but about 20 years later, these questions were quietly changed to make baptism a dedication to Jehovah God as he reveals things through his organisation (the Watchtower Governing Body). 
So, while the teaching book says that baptism is not about dedication to people or an organisation, in practice, “Jehovah God” and “his organisation” are synonymous in the minds of Jehovah’s Witnesses. 
A newly baptised student may think s/he has a “personal relationship with Jehovah”, but many Witnesses now realise that the organisation has taken over and has become a god itself. "Jehovah's organisation" constantly changes its doctrines and policies. When Witnesses eventually find out the truth about this publishing empire, they find, to their cost, that the organisation holds their friends and families hostage if they try to leave. Exiting this religion means being forever shunned by all one’s Witness friends and family.
I sincerely hope that you have not made it this far into your Watchtower indoctrination and that you are most definitely not contemplating baptism. Indeed, I would be extremely disappointed if the evidence I have given you already is insufficient to persuade you against committing your life to this cult

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Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings -- Drawing Close to God in Prayer # 17

Examining Basic Watchtower Teachings
Chapter 17 -- Drawing Close to God in Prayer
The book says;
“If we want Jehovah to listen to our prayers…. we must pray to him in the way he approves…. It is vital for us to know what the Scriptures say on this subject, for prayer helps us draw closer to Jehovah”
We should pray because Jehovah invites us to do so and it strengthens our relationship with him, but there are requirements.
We must have faith and show it by “the way we live every day”. We must pray “with humility and sincerity” because “he is God Almighty”. We must act in harmony with our prayers, being careful to avoid temptation.
We should never pray to Jesus, but only to Jehovah.
Special postures are unnecessary. We may pray for anything “that is in harmony with God’s will”, including personal concerns. “It is proper for us to ask for holy spirit, for it will help us to do what is right. We can also ask for guidance in making wise decisions, for strength in coping with difficulties” and on behalf of other people.
We should pray about Jehovah first, following “the model prayer” given by Jesus. Prayers my be of any length, but should not be showy displays of piety.before others. We should pray often, constantly and we should say “Amen” at the end because it shows we agree with the prayer.
Jehovah answers our prayers through his angels, by the holy spirit and through his Word, the Bible and “Christian publications, such as this book”. 
Sometimes it may appear that God delays, but “Jehovah answers prayers according to  his will and in due time…. Often, he allows us to “keep on seeking, asking and knocking“”. This shows God our perseverance and genuine faith.

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I am not the best person to ask about prayer. I do believe, as a Christian, that prayer is essential, but as a cynic, I simply have doubts about the efficacy of many prayers.
Perhaps you’ve heard the joke; If a man talks to himself when no-one is there, he is mad, but if he talks to an invisible person, it’s prayer.
I recall the heartfelt prayer by Clint Eastwood’s character in “Million Dollar Baby”. He plays a boxing trainer who trains a talented female boxer. He is also a Roman Catholic with doubts about his faith. He often pesters his local priest with questions of faith. We see him pray earnestly one evening before sleeping and he basically says, “God, you know everything I’m going to say, so what’s the point of me wasting our time telling you it all? But do whatever you’re going to do. Amen”! Later, this man is faced with a daunting ethical dilemma, which is the point of this Oscar winning movie. 
I also had a very bad experience with prayer when I was just 17. As a result of my belief that “Jehovah” had answered the prayer, my whole life was ruined because I was thereafter sucked into the Watchtower cult. I’ll shortly be telling that story in a Youtube video.
I think the best way to see the effectiveness of prayer is to keep a prayer log or diary, as some Christians do. Each time you pray, write down what you prayed for and see what happens and how long it takes to happen. Write the result in an opposite column. But there is a problem here; we have to be honest and consistent in our results. 
For example, I’ve heard of Christians praying for say, a car, to help them in their ministry. Now, they don’t ask for a specific, like a  Porsche or a Ferrari, which would be a big call on God. At the same time, they tell others of their need. A few weeks later, someone comes along with an old car and gives it to them or offers it at a bargain price. So, is that an answer to a prayer? Did God have a hand in that?
Then there are the people who survive disasters, after praying to God and they give thanks to him. But what about all the people who didn’t survive? Were they not praying? Or was it simply not God’s will that they should survive?
A month ago, I made a request on Facebook, asking for someone to loan me a keyboard. I didn't pray about it. Within a week, someone responded. They agreed to loan me a keyboard for six months, without obligation, as I had requested. 
I have only two serious criticisms about the Watchtower book; firstly, the “”Christian publication like this book” is put on a par with the Bible, but, as you should know by now, Watchtower publications are not “God’s Word”.
My second cause for concern is about the prohibition on praying to Jesus Christ. Jesus actually tells his followers, “Whatever you pray for in my name, I will give you”, So our prayers should be directed to Jesus. His name is not simply a postage stamp to get through to God in a Watchtower “infomercial” with a quick “Amen” afterwards.
Jehovah’s Witness prayers are often used to tell people listening, what they need to know and more especially, what they ought to be doing to “please Jehovah”. Such manipulative prayers are used to publicly warn or scold someone who is not following strict Watchtower procedure. You can see an example of this in my article “Comfort for the Bereaved” when the Witness conducting my mother’s funeral had something to admonish me about before the assembled mourners.

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