Bridge of Reason

  In the Reasoning book, p.410 Jehovah's Witnesses cite several texts they say ‘proves’ Jesus is not God: 'The Father is greater than I' John 14:28 'The head of Christ is God' 1 Cor.11:3 '...then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one.' 1 Cor.15:27,28 Is Jesus, after all, not God but a creature? Is the Father alone God, and Jesus a created heavenly being sent to carry out God's will? The Father is Greater - John 14:28 As we consider Jesus’ words in John 14:28 we must take into account, in the same chapter, the gospels clear witness to the full deity of Jesus and his equality with the Father: ‘ Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’ (v9) ‘ Believe me that I am n the Father and the Father is in me.’ (v11) And earlier: 'I and the Father are One' - (10:30) All three members of the Trinity are fully God, equal in substance, separate in person. In th...

  In the Reasoning book p.407 the Watch Tower writes: 'Does the Bible agree with those who teach that the Father and the Son are not separate and distinct individuals? 'Matt. 26:39, RS: “Going a little farther he [Jesus Christ] fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.’” (If the Father and the Son were not distinct individuals, such a prayer would have been meaningless. Jesus would have been praying to himself, and his will would of necessity have been the Father’s will.) 'John 8:17, 18, RS: “[Jesus answered the Jewish Pharisees:] In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me.” (So, Jesus definitely spoke of himself as being an individual separate and distinct from the Father.)' Is this what we believe when it is clear from Scripture they are separate and distinct persons? Egregi...

In my last article, I shared about the furore that followed a talk given to youth by Mormon leader Brad Wilcox. What did he say that caused such an uproar and why did he have to publicly apologise? Having listened to his message, I don’t believe he said anything that wasn’t truly Mormon. The price for preaching the pure unadulterated LDS faith, was him being called to account. Why did this happen? Well, I believe it is because Mormonism has two faces – the private and the public.   Then Brad came along Brad Wilcox should have known that in sharing publicly what Mormons believe privately would get him into trouble. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have spent many years and lots of money, seeking to prove to the public that they are a benign and benevolent, Christian church. They had, in the main, been highly successful – then Brad came along! So, what were the private beliefs of the Mormon church that Brad make public? G is for Godhead As I mentioned in my f...

  In our last Watchtower Wednesday on the Facebook page we looked at the Watch Tower teaching on the Holy Spirit. The article we linked to on their website had the title What is the Holy Spirit? The Watch Tower Society deny the personhood of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Christian Trinity. They write: 'By referring to God’s spirit as his “hands,” “fingers,” or “breath,” the Bible shows that the holy spirit is not a person. (Exodus 15:8, 10) A craftsman’s hands cannot function independent of his mind and body; likewise, God’s holy spirit operates only as he directs it. (Luke 11:13) The Bible also compares God’s spirit to water and associates it with such things as faith and knowledge. These comparisons all point to the impersonal nature of the holy spirit—Isaiah 44:3; Acts 6:5; 2 Corinthians 6:6.' They also say, 'The Bible gives the names of Jehovah God and of his Son, Jesus Christ; yet, nowhere does it name the holy spirit. (Isaiah 42:8; Luke 1:31)' ...