How is this explained to you within the organization? How do you answer people who ask why God wouldnt give correct information the first time? The bible says the Lord doesnt change and His word is solid. How do you rectify new light? I am really looking for serious answers only, please and thank you :)
2007-12-16 07:13:36 · 8 answers · asked by Loosid 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many languages, including English, Hebrew, and Greek, use the term "light" as a rather common metaphor for "understanding". Despite what anti-Witnesses pretend, Jehovah's Witnesses do not have some special meaning for the expression "new light", but merely use the term as most secular dictionaries define it (as a synonym for "new understanding").
Jehovah's Witnesses certainly do admit when their understanding is wrong, and they certainly do embrace the teaching that seems best supported by Scripture. Would the questioner recommend otherwise? But consider...
More than a century ago, Jehovah's Witnesses recognized the bible truths that hell is not hot, that the soul is not immortal, that God has a personal name, that Jesus is not Jehovah, that most humans will be resurrected as humans, and that God's Messianic Kingdom will restore paradise to earth and end the suffering of humankind.
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
Amazingly, those ideas remain tightly and uniquely identified with Jehovah's Witnesses. Some enlightening regarding details has emerged in 130 years, but it is a silly exaggeration to pretend that significant teachings (such as those mentioned above) have been "reversed".
It seems relevant to note that the critics of Jesus could have remarked that he advocated cannibalism, then retreated from that advocacy, then later advocated cannibalism again.
(John 6:51-56) I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and, for a fact, the bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.” 52 Therefore the Jews began contending with one another, saying: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Accordingly Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Unless YOU eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, YOU have no life in yourselves. 54 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me. . .
(Matthew 26:26-28) [Jesus] said: “Take, eat. This means my body.” Also, he took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: “Drink out of it, all of you; for this means my ‘blood
In any event, it seems rather obvious that ongoing bible research, as well as occasional advances in archeology and etymology, would result in refinements of one's understanding. That was true for Jesus' apostles and other early Christians, and it is true today.
In the first century CE, certain ideas took DECADES to resolve, even among men and women who walked with Christ Jesus. Even in the presence of Jesus, the idea of 'eating flesh and blood' stumbled some disciples (not outsiders, but disciples) who were unwilling to wait for the now-obvious answer (Jesus was simply speaking metaphorically).
After Jesus' impalement, sincere disciples were confused about whether Christianity should involve only Jews, or maybe only Jews and Samaritans, or maybe only these and circumcised Gentiles. There was confusion about using tongues within the congregation, about tolerating sin and "Jezebel", about when Jesus would "return", and about when Armageddon would arrive. Much of this confusion was quite public; even though the apostle Peter enjoyed tremendous privileges and direct communication from heaven, Peter seems to have been the source of an incorrect teaching "out among the brothers" that was perhaps not resolved until the apostle John wrote his Gospel more than 60 years later!
(John 6:61-68) Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said to them: “Does this stumble you? ...he went on to say: “This is why I have said to you, No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” Owing to this many of his disciples went off to the things behind and would no longer walk with [Jesus].
(Acts 18:25-26) [Apollos] had been orally instructed in the way of Jehovah and, as he was aglow with the spirit, he went speaking and teaching with correctness the things about Jesus... When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him into their company and expounded the way of God more correctly to him.
(John 21:21-23) Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what will this man do [that is, the apostle John]?” Jesus said to him: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.” In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that [the apostle John] would not die. However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?”
Does the bible support the idea that full knowledge would be instantly understood by everyone? No. Instead, the bible contains such reasonable ideas as these:
(1 Corinthians 13:12) For at present we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror, but then it will be face to face. At present I know partially, but then I shall know accurately even as I am accurately known.
(Daniel 8:16,17;12:4,9) [The voice] proceeded to call out and say: “Gabriel, make that one there understand the thing seen.” ..And he proceeded to say to me: “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.” ...“And as for you, O Daniel, make secret the words and seal up the book, until the time of the end. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant.” ...And he went on to say: “Go, Daniel, because the words are made secret and sealed up until the time of the end.
For the most part, Jehovah's Witnesses consider their publications (such as 'The Watchtower') to present the official understanding of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. A baptized Witness may choose for himself whether he accepts or does not accept any teaching, and may freely discuss the reasons he believes differently with any elder or by means of correspondence with any branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses. Beyond that, when a baptized Witness begins to advocate his own teachings, then he himself is choosing to distance himself from his former religion. Jehovah's Witnesses consider apostasy to be a serious sin such as could result in disfellowshipping from the congregation.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm
2007-12-19 07:43:55 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since "Creation" apparently believes kids should be given a set of encyclopedias and a diploma in Kindergarden, I will answer another way.
Jesus disciples when they were first together believed Jesus was talking about becoming king in Jerusalem and freeing Israel from Rome. They did not understand yet that his government was a heavenly one to rule over the entire earth, not just a small piece of it.
After Pentecost,33CE when the holy spirit was given them, they then understood what it meant.
Humans have to have a little time to get used to new concepts to understand them fully. That is why you must study and take a test before you are allowed to drive on the roads. Sometimes, some people do not appear to have learned very much from that study except enough to get past the tests, but there you go.
Sad to say but we JWs did not come out fully formed with the entire Bible committed to memory and a complete understanding of it. By the way, Are you saying you did???
The difference between us and most religions is when we learned something we were doing was not correct, we changed! Imagine that. We are still more concerned with becoming pleasing to Jehovah than holding on to beliefs our grandparents had as children.
2007-12-16 07:34:55 · answer #2 · answered by grnlow 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Good question with a simple answer.
When asked about certain things, Jesus told his apostles he had many other things to tell them but there wasn't time for it, nor could they understand it all.
With good reason. How could he tell them about our modern day conveniences and have them understand?
You can only tell a child so much and the child is overwhelmed. Such is the case with religion. How can a Pastor understand what is beyond his education.
The Watchtower Society has many intelligent people working on understanding the ways of the bible. Occasionally Jesus gives us a new meaning to reason out. Yes, it was there all along, but we didn't see it because he was waiting for an appropriate time.
Would you give keys to a 5 year old child, to drive a car? But give him 10 years and a brave instructor...........
I could go much further with this, but will rely on your intelligence. Agape!
A loyal servant of Jehovah.
2007-12-16 07:29:17 · answer #3 · answered by Wisdom 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Even in science, new information and knowledge is being understood all the time. Many of us grew up thinking that Pluto was a planet and new evidence has now proved otherwise. It's the same thing....it's something THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN - Pluto itself did not change, scientist's understanding did. It shows that anytime a deeper level of awareness about something is achieved, it's only logical to update our ways of thinking :-)
2007-12-16 07:28:28 · answer #4 · answered by Dana C 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
People in the past thought the earth was flat. Now they know it's round. Did the earth ever change shape?
People thought that adding fecal matter to a wound would cause it to heal. Now they know that's the worst medical advice you could get. Did the pathogenecity of bacteria change?
People thought that spinach was the best source of certain vitamins (remember Popeye?) Now they know that it is not. Did the chemical composition of vegetables change?
Understanding changes, not the truth.
2007-12-16 09:06:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Of course the "Lord doesn't change", but our UNDERSTANDING does.
What CHANGE made it acceptable to celebrate Christmas?
What Change made it acceptable to celebrate anything pagan?
The fact is, when someone is trying understand the Bible, their beliefs will change over time. The only reason for changes its to come to a accurate knowledge of the Bible.
2007-12-16 07:50:41 · answer #6 · answered by VMO 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Easy...while the information doesn't change, and the truth never changes, our UNDERSTANDING changes.
I guess the proper term may be not so much new light then, but maybe something along the line of the light getting brighter.
2007-12-16 07:22:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Gods word does not change, But he will give us new insight,
2007-12-16 07:24:42 · answer #8 · answered by Rev.Michelle 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋