Bridge of Reason

  In last week’s Watch Tower Wednesday on the Facebook Page we saw i n the Reasoning book, p 328, the question 'How can a person know which religion is right?' They suggest a series of tests, beginning with: '(1) On what are its teachings based? Are they from God, or are they largely from men? (2 Tim. 3:16; Mark 7:7) Ask, for example: Where does the Bible teach that God is a Trinity? Where does it say that the human soul is immortal? '(2) Consider whether it is making known the name of God. Jesus said in prayer to God: “I have made your name manifest to the men you gave me out of the world.” (John 17:6) He declared: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Matt. 4:10) Has your religion taught you that ‘it is Jehovah you must worship’? Have you come to know the Person identified by that name—his purposes, his activities, his qualities—so that you feel you can confidently draw close to him?' Do they hav...

  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 ...

  Under the heading RELIGION in Reasoning From the Scriptures, p.326, the Watch Tower asks, Is belonging to an organised religion necessary? They write: 'Most religious organizations have produced bad fruitage. It is not the fact that groups are organized that is bad. But many have promoted forms of worship that are based on false teachings and are largely ritualistic instead of providing genuine spiritual guidance; they have been misused to control the lives of people for selfish objectives; they have been overly concerned with money collections and ornate houses of worship instead of spiritual values; their members are often hypocritical. Obviously no one who loves righteousness would want to belong to such an organization. But true religion is a refreshing contrast to all of that. Nevertheless, to fulfill the Bible’s requirements, it must be organized.' Quoting 1 Corinthians 1:10 they say: “ Now I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you ...

Last time we started looking at the Watch Tower teaching on kingdom and government. We are still in the Reasoning book, p.226 where they explain kingdom: 'The Kingdom of God is the expression of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty toward his creatures, or the means used by him to express that sovereignty. This term is used particularly to designate the manifestation of God’s sovereignty through the royal government headed by his Son, Jesus Christ. “Kingdom” may refer to the rulership of the one anointed as King or to the earthly realm ruled by that heavenly government.' They justify their use of 'government' using Isaiah 9 - 'To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder...of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.' Isaiah 9:6,7 They say rulership was given to Jesus (Dan.7:13,14), that by his blood, 'You bought persons for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and y...

  In the Reasoning Book, p.76, the Watch Tower write: 'Being born again involves being baptized in water (“born from water”) and begotten by God’s spirit (“born from . . . spirit”), thus becoming a son of God with the prospect of sharing in the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5) Jesus had this experience, as do the 144,000 who are heirs with him of the heavenly Kingdom. 'Why is it necessary for any Christians to be “born again”? God has purposed to associate a limited number of faithful humans with Jesus Christ in the heavenly Kingdom. Luke 12:32: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.” Rev. 14:1-3: “I saw, and, look! the Lamb [Jesus Christ] standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand . . . who have been bought from the earth.” (See pages 166, 167, under the heading “Heaven.”) Did Jesus Need to be Baptised? It is interesting that they are ambiguous in how they state their case; ‘Jesus had thi...