2007-12-21 07:24:45 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jehovah's Witnesses use many corporate and legal entities, a few of which have names similar to "Watchtower Society". Among nearly seven million active Jehovah's Witnesses, there are only a few thousand who are branch volunteers who might be understood to be "inside" one of these legal and corporate entities.
The overwhelming majority of adherents of the religion known as "the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" have no ongoing connection with any of the many legal and corporate entities used by their religion. It is ignorant to pretend that they do, and reflects a pattern of disdain unworthy of an intelligent discussion of religion and religious life.
Setting aside that matter, it seems rather obvious that the bible itself describes the account of a Christian who performed rewarding Christian work even before he began associating with those who had a 'more correct' understanding of bible truth. Of course, such a Christian must correct himself when the evidence indicates he should. Like Priscilla and Aquila, Jehovah's Witnesses invite well-intentioned Christians to consider what the bible actually teaches.
...(Acts 18:24-26) Now a certain [ethnic] Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, arrived in Ephesus; and he was well versed in the Scriptures. This man 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... And this man started to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him into their company and expounded the way of God more correctly to him.
Incidentally, it seems noteworthy that even an inexperienced Christian such as Apollos recognized the need to preach publicly. Jehovah's Witnesses are please to be so closely associated with the door to door ministry established by Christ, and recognize that such a global ministry requires organization to be fully accomplished.
...(Matthew 10:7,11,14) As you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ ...Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving... Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet.
...(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations
...(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/who.htm
2007-12-21 23:59:10 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, only a very few of us work at one of the many Watchtower branches around the world. As they exist mainly for the printing of books and magazines anyway, they are only a small bit of the Jehovah's Witnesses. While being a printer is a noble endeavor, it is not that kind of noble.
What the Bible does say is for salvation, one must be joined with others doing God's Will as shown in the Bible. This involves acquiring ACCURATE knowledge and understanding, speaking in agreement, and preaching and teaching the truth of God's Kingdom as a literal government. Only through that government can the problems of the planet be solved.
That it must be done over the entire earth (Matt. 24:14) shows it is not an individual work but one for an entire organization. It is the preaching work that Jehovah's Witnesses are involved in getting our direction from the Bible, not any earthly man or men. People come and go. Only the Bible has lasted and will last at least until we are into the "new" earth or cleansed earth under God's Kingdom rule.
Jesus compared his people to sheep. Being shepherds most of those listening knew sheep to be as difficult as any person at times. But, sheep knew who their master was and responded only to his voice in flocks, not individually. So it could rightfully be said there was an organized group of followers, united in their efforts to accomplish the goals of the Fine Shepherd, Christ.
2007-12-21 07:49:08 · answer #2 · answered by grnlow 7 · 6⤊ 2⤋
When the flood swept the earth,who was saved?
It was Noah and his family.
Why?
Because they were the only ones who listened to and obeyed Jehovah God.
What ancient people was protected from enemy nations and fed and looked after?
What ancient people were saved from Pharoah and his army?
It was the ancient nation of Israel.
Why?
Because they were the only ones who listened and obeyed Jehovah God.
Who survived the destruction of Jerusalem in 70CE?
Those who listened and obeyed Jehovah God.
Can you see the pattern??
To have any hope of salvation,you need to take in accurate Bible knowledge and exercise faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice.
Jehovahs Witnesses are the only organisation that have Jehovahs Holy Spirit operating on them.They have the truth of God's Holy Word and unselfishly and willingly go out and share it with others before the end of this system comes.
2007-12-22 02:49:04 · answer #3 · answered by lillie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the last few months I have been studying with JWs. I have heard nothing positive about them or their religion and wanted to see for myself what it is all about. I am delighted with the woman I study with, as she is an amazing person with the patience and understanding that I require. I am not happy with the teachings, however. It seems sad to me, that they are so different from others. So no, I don't think the watchtower is the way to be saved. It is merely a tool used to keep the illusion in the meetings.
I wasn't exposed to religion during my growing up years, and have been trying to find the truth. I am studying so many different religions, and have come to believe that JWs are not the ones for me. I am having trouble accepting that The Watchtower and Awake! readings are your salvation Heaven. It took me close to three months to realize I was never that lost to join this religion after all. With the help of this site, along with a few people, I am on my way to learning the real truths about the Bible, Jesus, and God. I try every day to learn as much as I can, as to make up for lost time. I am truly grateful for this. Mostly, I now know and truly believe that salvation through Jesus Christ is my guarantee to Heaven. God Bless.
2007-12-21 08:11:11 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
short answer: no.
you have to have membership in the corporation,
well one or the other.
too many think that the watchtower is OUR organization.
no, it is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation. actually 3.
jehovahs witnesses, otoh, are a christian congregation. you may be a member of one if you wish. but you dont just join as you would most religions .
you must qualify, advise the public you are such, and maintain a high regard for jehovah's laws and regulations.
are you expected to be perfect? nope, or i sure would not make it.
you must maintain your morals, be physically clean, be decent and kind despite things people will say about you, about your religion, to you and to others to slander you.
very few qualify, even fewer can stay. we lose about 30,000 people per year who just do not measure up. they believe more in themselves than in gods word.
that is their choice. they do as they wish.
i do as god wishes, and i avoid those who refuse to obey voluntarily jehovahs rules & regs.
simple, huh!
gramps
2007-12-21 16:36:49 · answer #5 · answered by grandpa 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well... I used to study to be one and NO you do not have to. In all honesty... the Watchtower organization is know to JW as Gods Channel. Basically the Watchtower organization is how God talks to people. HEY... I am just being honest... this is what they really believe and I used to believe
2007-12-21 07:32:52 · answer #6 · answered by Follow-the-narrow-gate 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
lol the Watchtower Organization is not how God talks to JW's the bible is and if ppl would study it more they would know better. The watchtower is not how u get saved and anyone foolish to believe this is silly.
2007-12-21 07:52:52 · answer #7 · answered by Kitty Kat 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
That is basically what they believe. But, (the great equalizer) if you have never come to a full knowledge of THEIR teachings of the bible, then you might make it into the paradise God is turning the world into soon.
Saved is not the term they use. And they still leave final judgment up to Jehovah, after they have judged you.
2007-12-21 07:34:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Jesus doesn't say to be part of the watchtower to be saved. All watchtowerites are going to hell.
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Whose names is this? JESUS!
2007-12-21 08:41:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Saved from what? Certainly not hellfire because that doesn't exist (they say). But saved to survive Armageddon? Oh, yes. When Armageddon arrives (any year, decade or century now) only Jehovah's faithful witnesses will be left standing. Then, they tell us, nearly all dead humans will be resurrected to perfect bodies in a restored paradise earth (this from Achtung who answered a similar question asked by Jereme K on 10 December).
But here's the bit all faithful witnesses should be questioning, namely that the organisation says Christians can disqualify themselves from salvation. Excuse me? Isn't that a heresy? Didn't Jesus say that NO ONE would be lost whom he took unto himself?
Ah, but then I forgot that salvation is only for a mere 144,000. The remaining 99.9% of witnesses, the "great multitude", those who are not anointed, have absolutely no assurance of salvation. The book 'Jehovah' (1934) said "The great multitude... the Lord never took them into the covenant for the heavenly kingdom (page 246)." This was confirmed in 1966 in the book 'Life Everlasting', page 391 - "The great crowd will not be justified or decared righteous either now or then as the 144,000... have been justified while still in the flesh."
Another JW answer to my question 'Is it true that JW's who believe they are not going to heaven but have an earthly hope... have been told that they only have a measure of the Holy Spirit?' (2 October) said that "non-anointed witnesses do not need a mediator to gain God's blessing of everlasting life. Christ's kingdom will tutuor and gradually uplift mankind out of their sinful condition during the 1,000 year period. Even those who survive Armageddon are not declared righteous. The will... follow the program that leads them to human perfection. At the end of the 1,000 years Jehovah MAY judge redeemed mankind to be righteous." Wow! Never read that in my Bible over the last five decades. Where does it say that?
The witnesses will not tell you that only Jehovah's Witnesses will be saved. But then, you have to define what they mean by being saved because it certainly isn't what you or I believe it to be.
However, when you examine their literature you rapidly discover that they claim every religion except theirs is part of false religion, Babylon the Great, the Harlot of Revelation, who will soon be destroyed. Nothing ambiguous in their leaflet, 'The End Of False Religion Is Near!', distributed worldwide this time last year. If you want details, I will be happy to copy them out for you.
2007-12-21 08:23:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋