Bridge of Reason

  The Watch Tower Society teaches that before his incarnation, and after his resurrection to glory, Jesus is Michael the archangel. ‘ Michael, referred to by some religions as “Saint Michael,” is evidently a name given to Jesus before and after his life on eart h . Michael disputed with Satan after the death of Moses and helped an angel deliver God’s message to the prophet Daniel. (Daniel 10:13, 21; Jude 9) Michael lives up to the meaning of his name,—“Who Is Like God?”—by defending God’s rulership and fighting God’s enemies.—Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:7.’ - jw.org website However, this was not always the teaching. Indeed they have believed and taught the complete opposite: ‘ ...it is said (of Jesus), ‘Let all the angels of God worship him;’ (that must include Michael, the chief angel, hence Michael is not the Son of God) and the reason is, because he has ‘by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they.’’ - The Watchtower, Nov.1879, p.4 Watch Tower v Bible Teaching 1...

  Last week I asked, ‘Is Worshipping Jesus Wrong?’ We discovered the Watch Tower Society is inconsistent in its understanding of ‘worship’ as well as in its historical teaching and practice. In asking ‘Is Jesus God?’ we are looking at the magnificent description of Jesus in Paul’s letter to Colossae, a magnificence that is totally missed by Unitarian believers like Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Heresy Paul’s purpose in writing is to refute a heresy that has arisen among Colossian believers. The saints at Colossae appear to have come under the influence of a hybrid, Jewish/Pagan, philosophical system marked by: Ceremonialism : concerning food, drink, certain religious festivals and circumcision (2:16-17,23) Asceticism : ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’ (2:21) Angel worship (2:18) Secret knowledge (2:18) Human wisdom and tradition (2:4,8) The deprecation of Christ (2:8) Paul writes: ‘ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according...

  Watchtower Wednesday last week drew some really good answers and I will gratefully incorporate them into my answer to this question today. The Watch Tower Society answer is an emphatic 'Yes!' of course, using Daniel 10:13, 2 1 ; Daniel 12:1; Jude 9; and 1 Thessalonians 4:16 as evidence. After all, isn't it Michael who fights for the people of God (Daniel 12:1)? isn't Jesus described by Paul as 'coming with the voice of an archangel' (1 Thess.4:16)? Archangels It is always good to ask where in the Bible do we find the ‘reasoning’ presented to us by a Jehovah’s Witness. Nowhere does the Bible tell us the archangel Michael is Jesus...nowhere. Nowhere do the Bible writers present the convoluted and flawed reasoning of the Watch Tower on this and many other issues. Let’s be confident in what the Bible says, and what it doesn’t say. Michael is one of four archangels , angels of high rank. In Daniel 10:13 he is described as ‘one of the chief princes.’ ...

  I had cause t his week to think about Ouija boards. P remier Christian Radio contacted me and asked if I was aware they are readily available in pound shops , as well as regular retail outlets and the most popular online outlets. Am I surprised? Not really; shocked but not surprised. Ouija boards, or some form or another of them, have been found to have existed as far apart as ancient Greece and China, in the Roman Empire and across Africa. People’s endless fascination with the dead feeds this demand, and where there is demand for the abominable there the devil is, stoking and supplying it. The Unbeliever and the Ouija Many, in particular unbelievers, see the Ouija as, ‘a bit of harmless fun.’ Who can blame them, given toy companies like Hasbro sell them along with other board games. Back in the day, Waddington’s carried a now much sought after Ouija board under their brand. The Ouija board consists of a small glass and flat board that has the letters of the alphab...