I have recently, for teaching purposes, been drawing on the familiar Reasoning From the Scriptures book. The idea is a simple one, not especially novel, and other groups have something similar. The title comes from Acts 17:2,3, 'According to Paul's custom he went inside to them, and...he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.'
The thinking is they follow the example of Jesus and his apostles. 'In answer to questions, Jesus quoted scriptures and at times used appropriate illustrations...' So, a sort of doorstep systematic theology then. They go on:
'Instead of providing a broad, general coverage of each subject, Reasoning From the Scriptures focuses primary attention on questions that are currently being asked by many people.'
Note those words, ’currently being asked by many people.’ I have stepped back and taken an overview of the book, from A to W (notably, there is no Z for Zion) and asked myself, have they achieved what they set out to do? What does this book actually do, and does it do what you might expect it to do? Are people really asking these questions?
Bible Translations
Following the Principal Subjects page (of which later) there is a list of Bible Translations Referred to in This Book. Some titles are familiar enough, such as the American Standard Bible, the Jerusalem Bible, the KJV of course, and naturally their own New World Translation.
Other translations they list are the The Simple English Bible, which is based on a vocabulary of 1200 words, and is for English learners, several single translator Bibles, always be wary of these, Weymouth’s New Testament translated by a schoolteacher and Baptist layman, and a translation from the Vulgate by Monsignor Ronald Knox, the English theologian, priest and crime writer. For more on the translations they appeal to see this Reachout article.
Are there problems here? Of course, and to the trained eye they jump off the page. However, put yourself in the place of the average person at the door, or the typical Jehovah’s Witness, who is never going to look further than the list, and consider how impressive this list can seem. A lot of research seems to have gone into this book. What we see as obscure, unhelpful translations, others will see a deep dig to find the safest and most accurate translation of the truth. Material Christendom is, no doubt, hiding from people. Always bear this in mind and understand and be ready to explain the value of good translations.
Questions People Ask?
Remember, this book is designed to address ‘questions many people ask.’ Of course, there are some questions that might be regarded as typical, questions about suffering, the state of the world, evolution. However, how many people are going to ask about the Antichrist, apostasy, Babylon the Great, purgatory, the last days, or even the Trinity?
Antichrist, we are told, ‘includes individuals, organisations, and nations that falsely claim to represent Christ or that improperly ascribe to themselves the role of Messiah.’
Apostasy, we are told, includes those who ‘claim to believe the Bible but reject Jehovah’s organisation.’ NB All cuts base their claims on a story of apostasy.
Babylon the Great, we are informed, is, ‘The world empire of false religion…’ NB appealing to an instinctive prejudice against ‘organised religion.’
Purgatory, ‘According to the teaching of the [Roman Catholic] Church, the state, place, or condition in the next world…’ NB The Roman Church, the favourite whipping boy of the Watch Tower.
The Last Days ‘the concluding time period leading to the divinely appointed execution that marks the end of a system of things.’ (Do, please, ask us about it)
Trinity, ‘The central doctrine of religions of Christendom...not a Bible teaching.’ NB It’s a central doctrine, but is it the central doctrine?
These are not, ‘questions that are currently being asked by many people.' This is a list of issues Jehovah’s Witnesses want to argue about. These are issues on which they have issues with the churches. If you were going to put together a list of issues on which people have pressing questions this would not be it. Try it for yourself, put together a list, ask some Christian friends, it might be a good exercise for a home group one evening.
Citizen Theologians
Doors are not usually answered by citizen theologians, they are answered by folk with more practical questions on their mind than ‘how do I make sense of the Trinity?’ or ‘Who is the Antichrist?’ They don’t sit up late wondering if Jesus died on a cross or a stake.
The nearest most people get to theological issues is when they wonder what life is all about. Is there any purpose, or do we just live and die and that’s the end, is there any meaning to my existence; existential questions that occur to everybody.
The good news is the Bible can answer those questions. The bad news is the Watch Tower is too distracted by the fights they wish to bring to your door to offer meaningful answers. The worse news is, day by day ordinary people on their doorsteps are deceived into taking up these so many meaningless battles when there are such great issues that affect their lives.
For instance, the shape of the cross isn’t the issue, what Christ did on the cross is. What happens after death isn’t the issue, who you trust with what happens after death is. Calculating the Last Days isn’t the issue, having your lamps charged with oil and your wicks trimmed is.
People say Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘know their Bible’; they don’t. They know the Reasoning Book, they know the latest Watch Tower publication, they know the latest ‘truth’ come down from the Governing Body. I wonder how they avoid wondering about the old truths that aren’t true any more.
They don’t know their Bibles, but if you do...just imagine.
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