Is the Watchtower Society 'wishy-washy'?

WE SHOULD NOT BE WISHY-WASHY

"It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that
our understanding of the major doctrines of the Scriptures was in error, and
after that, to go back to the very doctrines that, by years of study, we had
thoroughly determined to be in error, Christians cannot be vacillating -
‘wishy-washy’ - about such fundamental teachings. What confidence can one
put in the sincerity or judgement of such persons?" - The Watchtower, 15 May
1976, p.298.

This is the Watchtower’s own statement on what it means to be wishy-washy. This is very revealing when we consider the following statements. Each one shows a change and then a reverse to a specific doctrine. Wishy-washy or what?

THE POWERS

Evil as these Gentile governments have been, they were permitted or
‘ordained of God’ for a wise purpose (Rom 13:1). - Studies in the Scriptures,
Vol.3, 1886, p.250.

. . . the Scriptural exposition of Romans chapter 13. It showed
that Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, rather than the wordly rulers and governors
are ‘The Higher Powers’ . . . - The Truth Shall Make You Free, 1943,
p.199.

So the ‘superior authorities’ have their setting logically in the world
outside the congregation. - The Watchtower, 15 November 1962, p.683.

THE SOWER

Jesus Christ, with his prophetic foresight, could foreknow the outcome for
the symbolic mustard grain that he planted in the first century. - The
Watchtower, 1 October 1975, p.600.

In the parable, the ‘man’ that sowed the mustard grain pictures the ‘wicked
one,’ Satan the Devil. - Man’s Salvation out of World Distress at Hand, 1975,
p.208.

Which is correct . . . Jesus is to be considered as the planter referred to
in this parable. - Our Kingdom Ministry, November 1975, p.4.

THE LEAVEN

Leaven represents corruption throughout the Scriptures: in every other
instance . . . it is represented as evil and impurity, something that is
defiling . . . Jesus refers to leaven as a corruption . . . - Zion’s Watch Tower
Reprints, 15 May 1900, p.2635.

The leaven of righteousness of this God-approved nucleus . . . (Matt
13:33). - The Watchtower, 1 April 1962, p.204.

Accordingly, the parable of the leaven . . . is on the negative side . . .
leaven . . . is used throughout scripture in an unfavorable sense . . . - The
Watchtower, 1 October 1975, pp.592, 603.

HEAVEN OR EARTH?

But while we still urge justified believers . . . we cannot hold out as a
hope, the heavenly prize. We point such to . . . future earthly blessings.
- Zion’s Watch Tower Reprints, July 1882, p.377.

Though both companies will be spiritual beings . . . the ‘great company’
will be companions of the Bride . . . there will be a very great difference in
the degrees of glory. - Zion’s Watch Tower Reprints, March 1883,
p.458

Do those of the ‘great crowd’ . . . also go to heaven? . . .
Great Crowd, earthly hope. - Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.167,
441.

INFLUENCE OF THE DEAD

Hence our dear Pastor, now in glory, is without doubt, manifesting a keen
interest in the harvest work, and is permitted by the Lord to exercise some
strong influence thereupon. - The Watch Tower Reprints, 1 November 1917,
p.6161.

No one of the temple company will be foolish as to conclude
that some brother (or brethren) at one time amongst them, and who has died and
gone to heaven, is now instructing the saints on earth and directing them as to
their work. - Jehovah, 1934, p.191.

It is fitting, then, that one of the 24 elders, representing anointed ones already in heaven, should stir John’s thinking . . . that elder could locate the answer and give it to John. This suggests that resurrected ones of the 24-elder group may be
involved in the communicating of divine truths today. - Revelation Its Grand
Climax At Hand, 1988, p.125.

Mormon Christians? Whats in a Name?

The Mormon Church, disturbed by the continuing identifying of polygamus sects in the news with the name Mormon, recently issued a press statement aimed at "clarifying" issues. It is interesting to note that if you substitute the name "Christian" where they use the name "Mormon" it makes a very good argument for us against the claims of the Mormon Church. The full press release is reproduced below in italics with each paragraph rewritten in ordinary text to present it from a Christian perspective. SALT LAKE CITY 10 July 2008 On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attent...

The Times of the Gentiles - by Dawn Partington

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that “the times of the gentiles” is a time period of 2,520 years, beginning in 607BC and ending in AD1914. According to their doctrine, Jesus was enthroned as King in AD1914 when the “gentile times” ended. 1. Only one verse in scripture mentions “the times of the gentiles”: 'They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.' Luke 21:24 NIV. The Jehovah's Witness organisation has linked this one verse with other prophetic passages to calculate the supposed length of these “gentile times”, notably a time period which began hundreds of years before the incarnation and ended over 1900 years after it. 2. Simple examination of the text of Luke 21 reveals what Jesus was referring to when he used the phrase “the times of the gentiles”. Let's look at the passage together and distil this into four points which you may...

How Will Jehovah Forgive Us

The June 2022 Watchtower Article 24 titled “ Jehovah—The Greatest Forgiver ” attempts to paint a picture of Jehovah as a wise, just, and knowledgeable judge – which, of course He is. However, it also shows Him as a judge who has a number of requirements before He will forgive. The article quotes numerous Old Testament scriptures showing that Jehovah will forgive our transgressions and agrees that this forgiveness is made possible through Jesus dying for our sins, though it doesn’t mention the covenant this sacrifice generated. As Christians we would understand that Jesus’ sacrifice, the shedding of His blood, pays for our sins so that a just God can be merciful and forgive them; the price for those sins has already been paid (1 Cor 6 v 20, Heb 9 v 22). In contrast, the Watchtower article talks of there being other requirements for Jehovah’s forgiveness. It states that, before Jehovah will decide to offer forgiveness, “ He needs to be able to consider...

Mike Tea said…

A very good example of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. We ignore the past at our peril in many areas of life but this is simply embarrassing.

I was especially interested in the last example concerning those who are "now in glory" somehow watching over and directing the work on earth. Isn't this dangerously close to the RC doctrine of praying to the saints?

8 March 2008 at 11:22

Anonymous said…

hey there, just wanted to let you know that your wishy washy page reference is wrong, it is not on pg 293, but on page 298, hopefully you can update that for the sake of being accurate to any nay sayers

13 November 2015 at 21:29

Thanks for letting us know about the error in the page number. It is now corrected.

23 November 2015 at 17:27

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