How does the Watchtower maintain such tight control over the lives of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide?
It convinces them that Jesus gave them that authority in 1919.
It treats Jesus’ statements in Matthew 24:45-47, not as a parable about the importance of faithfulness, but as a prophecy about the Watchtower organization.
Let’s look at that passage. Continue reading
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses simultaneously adopts two contradictory personas—one to establish its right to demand constant obedience and trust from all Jehovah’s Witnesses and the other to defend itself against criticism when it is proven to be wrong about something.
Persona #1: The “faithful and discreet slave” of Matthew 24:45—chosen by Jehovah and Jesus to be the sole dispenser of spiritual truth in these latter days.
Persona #2: Humble Christian brothers who do not claim to be inspired, infallible, or perfect.
Let’s look first at Persona #1. Continue reading
There are three significant barriers to Jehovah’s Witnesses coming to Jesus. Here’s how to address them. Continue reading
While I was in the midst of my “home Bible study,” I also attended some Watchtower study sessions at the local Kingdom Hall. What was studied wasn’t the Bible itself but articles from The Watchtower magazine. Like the study book, they consisted of Watchtower teachings with brief scripture quotations or citations references interspersed as if they taught and emphasized exactly what The Watchtower was saying. (p. 21) Continue reading
Click image to access this “Bible Teach” chapter on the Watchtower’s website
What is baptism all about?
“Bible Teach,” Chapter 18, paragraph 23 (p. 182) states that baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit… means that a baptism candidate recognizes the authority of Jehovah God and of Jesus Christ. He also recognizes the function and activity of God’s holy spirit, or active force.”
This provides a good opportunity to use The Holy Spirit is God Approach from my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses: Approaching Bible Discussions in Unexpected Ways, especially pp. 193 and 197 regarding the “name” shared by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Continue reading
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