Question for JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES from a former JW, why do JW insist its so vitale we call God, Jehovah...?

Question

Hello, I am a former Jehovah's Witness,no, I was not dissfellowshipped but I have not attended meetings in over 10 years and I just no longer consider myself to be apart of the congregation although almost all my family is still apart of them. Im not asking this to be condesending but it is something that always bothered me and still bothers me to this day...why does the Watchtower society INSIST that it is vitale to call God by his name Jehovah? Ive always wondered this. I know how many times Jehovah appears in the Bible and it is indeed God's name but did He insist we call him that? To me it is dissrespectful in a way...I dont call my own dad by his first name or my teacher by her first name. God is my Father in Heaven, dont you think he would be ok with me calling him Father or Lord? Why didnt Jesus say to pray using the name Jehovah? He said pray to our Father who is in Heaven...HALLOWED by thy name. Please if you have a sincere answer I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

achtug...I appreciate you taking the time to reply however Im not trying to be arrogant in ANY way...This is simply something Ive struggled with for yrs and I simply wanted an answer

Achtug...I know this is pointless trying to say what Im about to say but through my Years and years of research and praying Ive found out that the JW Bible that I studied with for years is not translated like it should be...It was translated by a few men who had absolutely NO education in Hebrew except for one and he only had a year or two. In the original Hebrew Bible and text for the New Testament,the name Jehovah does not appear where the JW bible put it. There are two different uses in the Hebrew bible for the word Lord..one for Jesus and one for Jehovah...both of which are distinctively different and where the original translation for Lord meaning Jesus was used, the JW have instead used the translation for the Lord meaning Jehovah. They have in fact used the the Lord's name over 200 times in the New Testament where it NEVER appeared in the original Hebrew text. Im not making it up, it is a clear as day to investigate and easily compared if you study the original Hebrew text.

Tik...Im sorry but you are mistake, In the original text of the New Testament I know that Jehovah does appear HOWEVER, there are places in the New Testament that Were absolutely meant to be translated to mean Jesus...not Jehovah. It is a fact...It was not misstranslated by the aurthors of the Bible...It happened over 200 times. That is not the only example of the misstranslations of the aurthors of the JW Bible. They also added many words and took away many words only to make it say what it needed to teach what they wanted it to teach...This is not something in my head...Im sorry but Ive sruggled with it for years and Ive begged and prayed and prayed and Ive studied and studied the history and the Bible and I dont think that God would lead me in the wrong direction

Answer 1

We also call Him, God.
J's W's / WTBTS
are not the 1's insisting we use His name,
it's in His Own Word.
God Himself provided it for us, to use.
Do you remember what the Lord Jesus,
told Peter* as he was sent to the house of Cornelius?
* or was it Paul


Me, personally, (as when I pray)
I use His name, I call Him my God,
my Lord, my heavenly Father
(I have no other; on earth*),and other
such titles of respect and endearment.

* notice my screen name?
Bambi's Father is Jah----Jehovah

Answer 2

Yes, I find it very disturbing. But I also understand that the majority of the time that people join cults it is because they have been disillusioned and disappointed so many times before that they aren't sure what the Truth is anymore. It's a natural then for any "Joe" who doesn't feel loved to jump in when someone comes along at a critical time in his life and apparently has all the answers to Joe's questions. It's known as "love-bombing." Most cults will start by agreeing that life is a big bad world out there and things are all messed up. And then declare they have all the answers and it all seems to make so much sense. But only as long as you associate with those fellow "believers." Once the right questions are considered, things can start to unravel.

Answer 3

Psalm 83:18 - I find Jehovah listed in the King James' version of the Bible. This has been the case for as long as I have remembered. I know that this has been something that can only be described as a part of my bible reading occasions. I personally have accepted the various names allocated to the Lord because I know that they are respectful. To this day, I still don't understand what is the underlying reason that folk in the Jehovah's Witness contingent believe that ONLY their way and naming of the Lord as "Jehovah" is the correct title for the Lord. This is something that I have been confused about for all my life. Peace and God Bless.

Answer 4

It's interesting that you say all of your family members are in the truth and you at one time associated with the congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.....I find it hard to believe that you don't know why the name Jehovah is used. hmmm!

Let me ask you a question please. Why is it that most religions of christendom call God's son Jesus by his first name? If it's disrespectful to address Jehovah by His name, wouldn't it also be the same with Jesus?

We ALL have names right? Would you want to be referred to as "hey you" or 'girl' or boy or whatever? I don't think so....we all have names for a reason. Even the angels in heaven have names.

I love the name Jehovah, it is unique and powerful and there is none other like it.

Answer 5

Hi Sally,

In the original Hebrew text, the name appears nearly 7,000 times. Its use throughout the Scriptures far outnumbers that of any of the titles, such as "Sovereign Lord" or "God," applied to Him.

At some point a superstitious idea arose among the Jews that it was wrong even to pronounce the divine name. Evidently, in the centuries following the death of Jesus and his apostles, the original text became altered and the name then became absent from the extant manuscripts of the Christian Greek Scriptures (New Testament). Evidently, later copyists kept to following the tradition of eliminating the distinctive name of God by replacing it with Ky´ri·os and The·os´ ("LORD" and "GOD").

So actually, in the days of Jesus and his disciples the divine name WAS in copies of the Scriptures, both in Hebrew manuscripts AND in Greek manuscripts. Reasonably, Jesus and his disciples DID use the divine name in speech and in writing. Just one example: Jesus’ own name means "Jehovah Is Salvation."

But unfortunately, because of the superstitions and traditions (things which Jesus condemned -Mt. 15:1-9) concerning the Divine Name, God's name was generally removed from the texts altogether.

As for the assertion that WBTS "INSISTS" that it is "VITAL" to always call God by His name, I am not aware that for us to call Him "God" instead of "Jehovah" once in a while would restrict us from eternal salvation.

However, Jesus and Jehovah noted often that His name is to be regarded as Holy ("Hallowed" as you quoted) and this surely wouldn't mean for it to be withheld from usage or omitted from His Word the Bible.

Answer 6

I think it's very important since this is the personal name of God. There are many so called god's, but Jehovah is the real God. He says his name thousands of times in the Bible. It's obviously been revealed for us to use it.

Answer 7

Abba is an Aramaic term for “father.” There is nothing wrong calling him father since he is. It just happens that it is not his personal name.

Rom 10:13 - For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”

Answer 8

Judging by your reponses you have your mind made up.
Those of us who love our God,-which God - Jehovah God,that's who,don't particulary care if His name appeared 7000 times or 6200 times!
For goodnes sake!The point is Jehovah God wanted his name know.Jesus Christ wanted his fathers name known.He himself used it and taught his followers to use it also.If Jehovah didnt want his name known or used,dont you think as Almighty God and Creator of All things he could do or would do something about it!!!
If your conscious bothers you - good.Wake up to yourself and pray to Jehovah for forgiveness while you still have time.

Answer 9

I look at it this way, I know this is a simple example but bear with me:

My husband and I got invited to his friends wedding. Although they knew my name and they only put " and guest" after his name. That made me feel really put down and very insignificant. So I figure that I call my friends by their name so I would want to call God by his name, Jehovah if I want a close relationship with him too.

Does it make you uncomfortable to use God's name? If so, why do you feel that way?

This is meant in a sincere manner. :)

Answer 10

It is vital.
God gave it to us to use, not to hide or obsure it.
It sets Witnesses of Jehovah apart from Christendom.
You can call God, by other titles as well,
as long as you address ur prayers to HIM, alone!

This is an edited version.
In my own zealousness--
turned to anger, I said some
mean things to some1.
This is the same,
just No mean words.
It would Not b pleasing
to the God, my God,
whom I worship.