Jehovah's Witnesses, how do you know your church is true?

Question

I mean, how do you really know if it's the right way or not?

Answer 1

Every thing I was taught came from God's Word.

Even the Moody Publicating Co. helped to prove JW's were correct.

When one of my co workers found out I was studying with JW's she gave me a booklet (from MPC)

It consisted of 4 columns.

1. What the bible teaches

2. What JW's teach

3. What Mormons teach

4th column was 'scripture references'

When I looked up the scriptures and read the context, I found the scriptures agreed with column 2
and not column 1.

I've alway wondered how many people just read the verse listed and not the context, and came away believing the half truth of column 1.

.

Answer 2

Repeatedly the Scriptures refer to the body of true Christian teachings as "the truth," and Christianity is spoken of as "the way of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15; 2 John 1; 2 Pet. 2:2) Because Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible, their faith in the Bible itself as God's Word gives them the conviction that what they have is indeed the truth.

So their position is not egotistical but demonstrates their confidence that the Bible is the right standard against which to measure one's religion. This does not give them a means to be self-centered but rather, they are eager to share their beliefs with others.

Answer 3

We live in an era when many people are content to give religion a relatively small corner of their lives. They may attend some religious services, but few do so regularly. Most people do not hold the view that all other religions are wrong and that theirs is right. They may simply feel that their religion is right for them.
But true followers of Jesus Christ strive to reflect the same qualities that Jesus manifested as a human. Jesus emphasized that God wants TRUE worship. This shows that there are forms of worship unacceptable to Jehovah. (John 4:23, 24, Matthew 7:21-23 )
Jehovah’s Witnesses base all their teachings on the Bible. It will be worth your while to investigate this matter in the light of the of the scriptures.

Instead of teaching “tradition” and “commands of men as doctrines,” true religion bases its doctrine on God’s Word, the Bible. (Matthew 15:6-9) Why? Because “all Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight.”—2 Timothy 3:16.

True worshippers are “no part of the world,” are not divided by race or culture, and display ‘love among themselves.’ (John 13:35; 17:16; Acts 10:34, 35) Rather than killing one another, they are willing to die for one another.—1 John 3:16.

True religion trains husbands to ‘love their wives as their own bodies,’ helps wives to develop ‘deep respect for their husbands,’ and teaches children to ‘be obedient to their parents.’ (Ephesians 5:28, 33; 6:1) In addition, those entrusted with positions of authority must have exemplary morals.—1 Timothy 3:1-10.

Additionally, we are assured by the teachings of the Bible that we have the truth. Ours is not a blind faith based on fanacies, but is solidly founded. "Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld". — Hebrews 11:1

Answer 4

Jehovah is “the God of truth.” (Ps 31:5)

Only Jehovah's witnesses give him exclusive devotion.

"Jehovah is the Almighty God, the only true God, and he rightfully exacts exclusive devotion." (Ex 20:5)

Answer 5

how does any person "know" that their religion is correct. All religions are based on faith and not evidence. The only way to find out is to wait until you die and even then you still won't be sure.

Answer 6

I've read their responses before along these lines, and they sound great on the surface. To the uninitiated, it's pure scripture, never mind their apologetics are filled with logical fallacies and outright error.

Answer 7

I was A Jw for over 20 years, and I was -sure-that I had the truth...In the back of my mind, it bothered me that we were not allowed to look at other religious material.....I remember as a young girl...My best friend would attend the Kingdom Hall with us...But....If I were to go to her church with her, I could be disfellowshipped....This use to bother me.
I mean If I had the one and only truth, and everything else was a Lie, they what harm could false religion do to my faith?


Well...I finally did look into other beliefs, and guess what...The Witnesses are not even close to the truth in their theology....You have to ask yourself: What other church FORBIDS..you even looking at the teachings of other theologies? If your religion forbids the study of other thoughts, I say RUN.....

http://towerwatch.com
http://watchman.org

Below are direct quotes from the NWT..asn the Watchtower society...see any hipocrecy?

“However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it.” Deut. 18:20-22





The bible strongly condemns false prophesying in God’s name. The Watchtower Society notes that predicting a date for the end of the world amounts to false prophesy if it does not come true.



Awake! 1968 October 8

"True, there have been those in times past who predicted an 'end to the world' even announcing a specific date. Yet nothing happened. The 'end did not come'. They were guilty of false prophesying. Why? What was missing? Missing from such people were God's truths and the evidence that He was using and guiding them."



It is ironic that the Society condemns other religions in such manner when it spent many decades actively predicting wrong ‘end of the world’ dates that did not occur, such as 1914 being the year for Armageddon.



Watchtower 1894 July 15

“But bear in mind that the end of 1914 is not the date for the beginning, but for the end of the time of trouble.



The Watchtower Society goes as far as to call itself the prophet of God, comparing themselves to the prophets of old. This is a significant assertion when compared to the accuracy of Watchtower doctrine and the predictions about future dates such as 1914 and 1925.



In 1972 the Watchtower described itself as “the modern-day “prophet,” the spirit-begotten, anointed ones who are the nucleus of Jehovah’s witnesses today.”



Watchtower 1972 April 1 p.197 'They Shall Know that a Prophet Was Among Them'

“So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come?



IDENTIFYING THE "PROPHET"



These questions can be answered in the affirmative. Who is this prophet? ... This "prophet" was not one man, but was a body of men and women. It was the small group of footstep followers of Jesus Christ, known at that time as International Bible Students. Today they are known as Jehovah's Christian witnesses. ... Of course, it is easy to say that this group acts as a "prophet" of God. It is another thing to prove it. The only way that this can be done is to review the record.”



Watchtower 1959 January 15 pp.39-41

“For an answer, people should listen to the plain preaching by the remnant prefigured by Jeremiah, for these preach to men the present-day fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecies.

8 Who made them a prophet to speak with the authority that they claim? Well, who made Jeremiah a prophet?”



Watchtower 1964 October 1 p.601 Pay Attention to Prophecy ***

“Those who do not read can hear, for God has on earth today a prophetlike organization, just as he did in the days of the early Christian congregation.”



Though still using the title of prophet since the 1980’s the Watchtower Society explains this to be in a different way to that of old; they do not make predictions, but rather just interpret biblical prophecies with Jehovah’s aid.



Awake 1986 June 8 p. 9 “Would That All Were Prophets!”

“All True Christians ARE Prophets

The New American Bible correctly states: “Prophet means ‘one who speaks for another,’ especially for God. It does not necessarily mean that he predicts the future!” … You will be interested to learn that God has on earth a people, all of whom are prophets, or witnesses for God. In fact, they are known throughout the world as Jehovah’s Witnesses.”



Regardless of what type of prophet a group claims to be the test of a true prophet was that their statements are correct and teachings in line with the Bible. No true prophet prophesied correctly only some of the time.



Deut. 18:20-22

"‘However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. And in case you should say in your heart: "How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?" When the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak..."



Deuteronomy makes it clear that any statement not coming true was not from Jehovah. This would apply to the inaccurate Watchtower predictions and interpretations made in regards to the dates 1874, 1914 and 1925. The Watchtower attempts to counter this argument by saying;



Reasoning from the Scriptures p. 136 par. 4 False Prophets

“Matters on which corrections of viewpoint have been needed have been relatively minor when compared with the vital Bible truths that they have discerned and publicized.”



However Deuteronomy did not make room for any error, either it came true or it was not from Jehovah. The events foretold to occur at upcoming dates were words that ‘did not occur’ and clearly were words that ‘Jehovah did not speak.’ Nor have they been minor changes. Listed in this book are false Watchtower prophesying about numerous dates, changes of significant doctrine and even promoting the use of pagan symbols and teachings.

Answer 8

You have to have faith