Category: Watchtower Signature Issues (page 9 of 12)

Must We Call God “Jehovah” in Order to Have Intimacy with Him?

TetragrammatonThe Watchtower insists that we must use the name “Jehovah” in order to have an intimate relationship with God.

It states: “In replacing God’s name with titles, Bible translators make a serious mistake. They make God seem remote and impersonal, whereas the Bible urges humans to cultivate ‘intimacy with Jehovah.’ (Psalms 25:14) Think of an intimate friend of yours. How close would you really be if you never learned your friend’s name? Similarly, when people are kept in ignorance about God’s name, Jehovah, how can they become truly close to God?”[i]

Here’s how to answer them. Continue reading

Did Jesus Call God “Jehovah” in Public?

Jesus Confronting PhariseesThe Watchtower argues as follows:

Jesus declared in prayer to his Father: “I have made your name known… and will make it known.” (John 17:26) Jesus would undoubtedly have pronounced God’s name on numerous occasions when he read, quoted, or explained portions of the Hebrew Scriptures containing that important name. Jesus would thus have used God’s name just as freely as all the prophets did before him. If any Jews were already avoiding the use of God’s name during the time of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus would certainly not have followed their tradition. He strongly criticized the religious leaders when he said to them: “You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition.—Matthew 15:6.”[1]

Let’s come up with some soundbite responses. Continue reading

Must We Pray to Jehovah by Name?

Praying HandsJehovah’s Witnesses stress the importance of knowing and using the divine name, “Jehovah.”

They will tell you that Jesus believed the name “Jehovah” was of critical importance, and therefore we should also. The Watchtower asks, “How important is God’s name? Consider the model prayer that Jesus Christ gave. It begins this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.’ (Matthew 6:9) Later, Jesus prayed to God: ‘Father, glorify your name.’ In response, God spoke from heaven, saying: ‘I both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ (John 12:28) Clearly, God’s name is of the utmost importance.”[1] 

Witnesses may also claim that God’s name “was clearly of crucial importance to him [Jesus] since he mentioned it repeatedly in his own prayers.”[2] 

Here is a good soundbite response: “Could you please show me one passage where Jesus begins one of his prayers by saying by addressing God as ‘Jehovah.’” Continue reading

Section 4: Discussing Watchtower Signature Issues

Kindle book coverLast time, I gave you brief descriptions of what’s in each of the four chapters of Section 3 of my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses: Approaching Bible Discussions in Unexpected Ways.

Now I’d like to give you a preview of Section 4. This section focuses on Watchtower signature issues—that is, issues that Witnesses believe set them apart from the false religions of Christendom. They often initiate discussions of these matters in order to try to persuade us that the Watchtower religion is the only true Christianity.

Here are short summaries of what each of those chapters includes. Continue reading

Discussing Paid Clergy

ClergymanThe Watchtower asks, “What group is noted for having no paid clergy, all of its members being preachers?”[1] 

It sets itself apart from the church of Christendom this way: “Some religious leaders do preach for money…  In contrast, the Witnesses have no paid clergy, and often their Bible literature is offered without price to sincere seekers of truth…”[2] 

Usually, I avoid discussions on this topic because it’s not a salvation issue. However, sometimes we need to address it. Continue reading

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