Jehovah’s Witnesses: Christian or Cult, Part II

I’m picking up where I left off last week on Jehovah’s Witnesses:  Christian or Cult, Part I with three additional examinations as to why the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization is a cult.

As with last week, I’ll continue to dissect the Watchtower Society’s booklet, What Does the Bible Really Teach? and help you to understand that what the Bible teaches really isn’t in this Watchtower guide.

Strike Four:  Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe Water Baptism is a Requirement for a Relationship with God

Chapter eighteen, page 175 of the Watchtower booklet says this:  “Water baptism is a requirement for all who want to have a relationship with Jehovah God.”

This is as far from the truth as the east is from the west.

While we are commanded by Jesus to be baptized, it is not a requirement for a relationship with God or for salvation.  Titus 3:5-7 is very clear:  “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

So how do you have a relationship with God?  The Bible says that you only need to believe in Jesus to become a child of God.  John 1:12 says this:  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…”  Believing in Jesus is a great first step in having a relationship with God.  But there’s also praying and reading God’s word.  You speak to God through prayer, and Jesus taught us how we should pray in Matthew 6:7-13, and God will speak to you through His word.  Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  The Bible provides guidance.  The Holy Spirit, once it indwells in you, can give you wisdom and understanding as you read it.

Strike Five:  Jehovah’s Witnesses Deny the Trinity

The translation committee I mentioned last week that wrote the New World Translation for the Jehovah’s Witnesses completely changed the meaning of the Gospel of John.  Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that John 1:1 states, in part (and this is from page 202 of their booklet), “…the Word was a god,” and they signify that Jesus was simply in a “high position among Jehovah’s creatures…”  (What Does the Bible Really Teach?, p. 202)  Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus and God are one.  Their material quotes other translations of the Bible, none of which I’ve ever even heard of, and try to blame the error on various translations from the original Greek.  However, they never bother to discuss John 10:30 where Jesus simply says, “I and the Father are one.”

Strike Six:  Only 144,000 go to Heaven

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have twisted scripture in their New World Translation to make it say whatever they want you to believe as part of their cult.  In their booklet, when discussing the topic of communion (which they call “the Lord’s evening meal”), it reads, “Humans can thus become clean in God’s eyes and can enter into the new covenant with Jehovah.  This covenant, or contract, makes it possible for 144,000 faithful Christians to go to heaven.”  The only place in the real scripture that mentions 144,000 people is in the book of Revelation, where 144,000 Jewish (Revelation 7:4-8) virgins (Revelation 14:1-4) are sealed.  So unless the Jehovah’s Witnesses are from the twelve tribes of Israel and are virgins, they’re not the sealed 144,000  mentioned in Revelation.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t have an exclusive contract with God.  John 3:16 says it very plainly:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  Romans 10:13 is also very clear that salvation isn’t limited by number:  “…’Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”  2 Peter 3:9 elaborates on this even further: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  God wants everyone to come to repentance.

Next week, I’ll wrap up this series on the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Pakistan Christians Attacked by Muslims

A Pakistani Christian family was attacked outside their apartment by a group of Muslims after their 32-year-old son was falsely accused of blasphemy, according to Compass Direct News.  The accused, Shumail Aleem, was accused of profaning the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

[Link:www.assistnews.net]

Egyptians Arrest Christian for Praying

On October 24th, Egyptian State Security a Christian in the village of Deir Samalout, Samalout, Minia province, for praying without a license. The 37-year-old man, identified as Maurice Salama Sharkawy, had invited a pastor over to pray for his sick father, who had suffered a stroke. Egyptian security forces broke into his house during the prayers, handcuffed him and arrested him. He was held in prison for two days before being released on “compassionate grounds.” He was accused on conducting “religious rites without a license.”

[Link:www.assistnews.net]

67-Year-Old Threatened over Gay Pride Complaint

The limits of protection surrounding those that flaunt their sexual deviancy grows larger every day.  A sixty seven-year-old grandmother in Norwich, U.K., claims she was harassed and threatened by police during an interrogation after she mailed a letter to her local council complaining about a Gay Pride parade.  Pauline Howe sent the letter after she says she was subjected to sexually explicit verbal attacks as she handed out flyers with her Christian group at the Gay Pride parade.

[Link:www.lifesitenews.com]

Pakistani Christian Awaits Fate

Asia Bibi, a Christian in Pakistan accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed, recently stood before a judge in Sheikhupura. She is being charged under the Pakistani Criminal Code 295-C, which says, “Use of derogatory remarks, etc; in respect of the Holy Prophet. Whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation, or by any imputation, innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.” All this because Bibi was accused of allegedly saying, “Jesus is alive. Mohammed is dead.” Those are two very true sentences.

http://www.persecutionblog.com/2009/10/crackdown-on-christianity-ramping-up.html

The Wise Have Become Fools

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote on one of the virtues of living a holy life by exercising belief by faith and not by man. In the post, I explained how new scientific discoveries occur on an on-going basis and, often, the new discoveries overwrite the previous scientific discovery used as an explanation for certain events. While I do find science fascinating and, as I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I find astronomy particularly interesting. But as one who believes in the infallible word of God, I know that the Christian Bible is absolute truth. The events described in the Bible are true; any attempt to cast a shadow of doubt on their origins is purely deception.

How many scientific “truths” have you heard or learned over your lifetime? The Big Bang created the universe, right? How about the evolution of all species from a primordial soup? What about the demise of the dinosaurs? Weren’t they killed by an impact of extraterrestrial origins off the Yucatan Peninsula?

You could soon be unlearning that one.

A new study conducted by Sankar Chatterjee of Texas Tech University and a team of researchers may have determined that an impact to the Yucatan Peninsula wasn’t what killed the dinosaurs after all. A mysterious basin found off the coast of India could be the impact site for a projectile that really killed the dinosaurs. The basin, which may be the largest known crater on Earth, is suspected of being created by the impact of an object about 25 miles in diameter. By comparison, the impact site off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is thought to have been created by something a little smaller, perhaps between 5 and 6.2 miles wide.

The Bible tells us that the wisdom of this world is foolish before God.

1 Corinthians 1:18-19 says, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’”  1 Corinthians 3:18-19 reads, “Let no man deceive himself.  If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolish before God.”  1 Corinthians 3:20 reads, “…’The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.’”

As Christians, we know the Bible is true because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). There is nothing new under the sun, and there aren’t revised editions of God’s word being published periodically that rewrite the foundations of the Christian faith. For science, “truth” is only as good as the evidence on which it is based. Once a better, and more widely-accepted theory comes along, it replaces the old “truth” with new “truth,” until the new “truth” becomes obsolete by another new “truth.”

I have the only book of truth I need that’s the same yesterday, today and forever: God’s word.

Congress Extends Homosexual Hate-Crimes BIll

The United States Congress has passed an updated hate-crimes bill that includes protections for crimes committed against homosexuals and has given it to President Barack Obama for signatory approval. The bill was changed, however, at the urging of Republicans to provide provisions for religious leaders who now cannot be prosecuted on the basis of “his or her speech, beliefs, or association.” However, some conservative Christian groups feel this is not enough, and this bill could be used to “marginalize anyone whose faith is at odds with homosexuality,“ according to Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=735468

Christian Pastor in India Beaten by Hindu Extremists

Most of us here in America have it pretty easy when it comes to being a Christian, but there are some across the globe that are going through devastating persecutions not too far different from Paul as recorded in the book of Acts. A Christian pastor in Madhya Pradesh, India, was beaten unconscious and had part of his ear chewed off by a group of Hindu extremists. Pastor Paasu Ninama said that the six attackers lured him in a house with the offer of water after returning home from his Sunday service. Once inside, the men violently attacked him with wood until he was unconscious then one of the men bit off part of his ear.

http://www.persecutionblog.com/2009/10/pastor-violently-attacked-.html

Toronto Lands 2014 “World Pride” Event

Toronto, Canada, has landed the World Pride event, a pro-homosexual festival, in 2014. Mark Singh, chairman of the Toronto World Pride committee remarked, “the advent of a festival like this is an opportunity to highlight the acceptance of the queer community by Canadians.” This is the fourth scheduled World Pride event, but only one has actually taken place – in Rome in 2000. A scheduled event in Jerusalem in 2006 was cancelled after uproar from Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders. A London-based event is scheduled for 2012 just prior to the olympics. Regardless of its location, the event further demonstrates the depravity of a segment of the world’s population as they go after their own fleshly lusts rather than believing in the unchangeable word of God.

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/oct/09101905.html

Name-It, Claim-It: A Dangerous Doctrine Exposed

I’ve witnessed the teachings of false doctrines on blogs and on Twitter recently and I just shake my head at the ignorance of some who are led around by wolves in sheep’s clothing.  One of the more recent heretical philosophies I’ve encountered is something called, “Name It, Claim It,” also known as “Word of Faith” and the “Prosperity Gospel.”  I’m here to tell you today that whoever believes in that garbage is being deceived.

I’m not going to mince any words in this week’s article because too many Christians have fallen victim to shake-downs perpetrated by those who want you to believe they’re faith-filled followers of Jesus.  They’re the preachers that ask for a “seed faith” offering to bring about an increase in one’s personal wealth.  They’re the church leaders that ask for money to perform healings and, when the healings don’t occur, blame your lack of faith for God’s decision to not grant the request.  This is an unbiblical teaching that could cause the foundations of the faiths of many to be shaken.  Read my words:  there’s nothing you can do to get God to do your will.

Jesus had a very clear message about false prophets and those who bear bad fruit.  In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”  There are many in this world today that seem to be Godly men – until you examine their doctrine.  Any so-called preacher that is telling you that God wants to make you wealthy and prosperous in this life or that God can heal your afflictions for a small donation is deceiving you.  They are wolves masquerading as Christian leaders and some lead very, very large and popular ministries.

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus told us how we should pray (verse 10 excerpted here):  “Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  We are to pray that God’s will is done on earth.  And because we do not know how to pray as we have been taught, Romans 8:26-27 tells us the Holy Spirit intercedes for us:  “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  In other words, even though Jesus taught us how we should pray, we don’t get it right.  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with what are described by Paul in his letter to the Romans as “groanings too deep for words,” according to the will of God.  The Holy Spirit follows the outline of prayer described in Matthew 6:9-13 and seeks the will of God.

So why won’t God do your will?  Isaiah 55:8-9 gives us an insight into the mind of God:  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  I believe what the Lord said here in Isaiah is very simple:  God, who created the universe and everything in it, knows better than you or me.  He sees the big picture and has exponentially more knowledge of a situation that humans can’t even begin to grasp.  But a quick read over in Romans 9:15-17 tells us exactly when God’s will is done:  “For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.’”  God will do His will when He wants and only if it glorifies Him.

Does this mean we shouldn’t pray?  Absolutely not.  In fact, in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians in chapter 5, verse 16, we’re told the following:  “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  Does God answer prayers?  Yes, even the ones you don’t know how to pray.  Are all prayers answered?  I believe so, but not always with the result you expect at the time you expect.  Does God heal the sick after receiving prayers about that person?  Sometimes.  Does God also allow the sick to remain ill and even die?  Sometimes.  Remember, God has mercy on whom He has mercy.  But in the end, it’s all about His glory and not ours.  And there’s no amount of money you can send to a preacher on television to get God to take favor with your situation.  All you can do is pray that His will is done in your request and in your life.

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