Bridge of Reason

    The Watch Tower Society believes that only Jehovah is God therefore only he is entitled to receive worship. Any other worship is wrong. The Society states: ‘ Most Hebrew and Greek words that can denote worship can also be applied to acts other than worship. However, the context determines in what way the respective words are to be understood.’ - Insight on the Scriptures, vol.2, 1988, p.1211 However, the Society's conclusions are decided in advance. They decide Jesus isn’t God the Son and allow that conclusion to colour every text that mentions Jesus being worshipped. This is not the way to do an open-minded Bible study. History The above position on worship has not always been held by the Society. Today a Jehovah’s Witness must not worship Jesus, but in 1916 they were told that many would worship even Charles Russell: ‘ Charles Taze Russell thou hast, by the Lord, been crowned a king and through the everlasting ages thy name shall be known amongst the people, and thy ...

  For Jehovah’s Witnesses Easter is a special time of year. It affords them the opportunity to point out to just about everyone that we’re getting just about everything wrong...again. The cross is pagan; sacraments are out of order; once-a-week, once-a-month? Pshaw! Local bakery bread? Not on their table; grape juice? Not in their cups. All who believe invited? Well yes, but just to look on. Friday 15th April 2022 saw us invited once again to observe a special commemoration. Did you go? The JW website carried the invitation, explaining: ‘ Once each year, Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorate the death of Jesus just as he commanded when he said: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19.’ My wife and I, many years ago, attended one such occasion and it seemed to me the strangest non-event I have ever seen. There was a solemn atmosphere of anticipation, everyone had dressed up especially for the occasion , a prepared talk was delivered, and a ceremony took place in which n...

  la conversion den san Pablo - Murillo When Jesus said ‘go into all the world and preach the good news’ (Mark.16:15) lets be honest, perhaps he didn’t know some of the people we would encounter. Let’s face it, there are some we are simply reluctant to speak to for fear, sometimes, of mortal peril. Then there are those we would rather not be associated with because of their reputation. Given a choice, which of us would eagerly witness to the woman of Samaria (John 4), or to Saul the persecutor (Acts 9)? Jesus witnessed to both in a surprising way and with amazing results. When we consider these two conversations we see lessons for us in the way God works. The first lesson is that God is no respecter of persons and doesn’t judge things as we do. Who would have gone to that much trouble to speak to a Samaritan woman, someone who denies the authority of Jerusalem, believes only the Pentateuch, and rejects the temple of the Jews down south? Effectively, she is a member of a Jewish...

  Who is Leading God's People Today? Are They Faithful and Wise? In this online article the Watch Tower's Governing Body attempts to lay out its credentials as the 'faithful and discreet slave' (NWT)of Mt.24:45. ‘ Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?’ (NWT 2013 ed.) ‘ Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time?’ (ESV) The Standard The dominating theme of Matthew 24 is the return of Jesus Christ. When the disciples asked him, ‘ when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?’ (v.3) Jesus talked about signs, he didn’t talk about dates. The task of the Christian believer is watchfulness, because, ‘concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but th e Father only.’ (v.38) His return will be sudd...

  The Watch Tower seems fixated on the task of denying the deity of Christ. Their website is crowded with articles on the question, and Jehovah's Witnesses seem well rehearsed in arguing their case. How can Jesus be Jehovah: I f he is 'the firstborn of all creation' (Col.1:15, it refers to Christ’s rights as a Son pr ō totokos, his supreme status, not to his origin as a created being ) I f he is simply acting as an agent of Jehovah (John 12:49, This reflects the relationship of Father and Son within the Godhead, equal but with different roles, not the inferiority of the Son ) I f, in the end, Jesus hands over the kingdom to the Father (1 Cor.15:24, see John 12:49 above. This is a functional subordination between equals ) Where does the Bible ever say that Jesus is God? How would you begin to handle this question and demonstrate Jesus' true nature? The Watchtower Magisterium The first thing to understand is the Bible is not the authority in a Jehovah’s...