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This material is part of a Field Guide profile on the Jehovah's Witnesses. Click here to go to the main page of the JW profile.
Suggestions for dealing with friends or family members who are, or are on their way to becoming, affiliated with the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Those who have family or friends involved in the JWs are often very concerned about their loved one's welfare if they are enmeshed in the JW organization. Such involvement usually puts a great strain on the relationship, as the JW becomes more and more involved in JW activities and pulls further and further away from fellowship with any "unbelievers." The temptation is great to try to pry them loose. But please note the following observations before attempting such a project.
Arguing doctrine with a dedicated Jehovah’s Witness is usually a losing battle. By the time they are seriously committed to the organization, they have pat answers for almost any biblical issue you can bring up. And the organization’s "reasoning" methods are so convoluted that normal logic doesn’t apply.
One of the doctrines that they inculcate very early in any convert is absolute, unquestioning loyalty to the organizational leadership, unquestioning agreement with its teachings, and unquestioning obedience to its policies. This makes it even more difficult to discuss any Biblical matter. Just as a Roman Catholic may defer to the Pope, the Witness will defer to their Headquarters leadership whenever they are confused about a Bible passage.
Many, many Jehovah’s Witnesses have left that organization… or been kicked out… in recent years, as there has been considerable internal turmoil at the top of the leadership. These conditions then trickled down to the more local leadership, and then to the average lay Witness. In most cases, these people did not start down the path to exiting the group because of doctrinal questions, but rather because they began to have doubts about some of the horrible fruit of some of the policies of the group.
A few years ago, it was very difficult for a doubting Witness to get any support from others, as there is a system of spying within the organization. Any doubts expressed, even to a close personal friend in the congregation, would usually be reported to the local leadership, and could result in suspension or expulsion. Because the dedicated Witness believes that the organization has the only path to salvation, the idea of disfellowshipment can be terrifying. Thus even if they were beginning to have serious doubts about some matters, most Witnesses would put them out of their minds out of fear of retribution. With the advent of the Internet, this situation has changed somewhat. There are, around the world, a number of groups of former Witnesses dedicated specifically to helping people get free from the organization. They have websites and anonymous discussion forums, where "doubters" can go to get accurate information and help in sorting through their questions.
It is helpful for family and friends to know at least a bit about the history and doctrines and policies of the group so that they can know what they are up against if they wish to intervene in any way with their loved one’s choice to be involved with the Witnesses. The only effective practical method I have seen for having any chance of affecting the dedication of someone involved in the Witness organization is to very gently nurture any areas of even slight doubt that the Witness may express. Not by addressing them head-on, but by carefully and casually encouraging the person to talk about them.
Keeping the lines of communication open with a friend or relative who has begun studying with the Witnesses or who has joined the group is difficult. The policies of the group encourage estrangement from family and non-Witness friends and immersing oneself in an endless round of meetings and door-to-door witnessing. The really dedicated Witness can spend almost all free time involved in these activities. Therefore it is vital to see that every opportunity of interaction with the Witness is as positive and supportive and loving as possible. Mocking their beliefs, arguing about doctrine, or complaining about the fact that they have little time for friends and family any more will only lead them to concluding that they are being "persecuted for righteousness’ sake."
Love is, in the end, the only answer for this situation. Love the Witness unconditionally, express that love openly. And don’t be drawn into hostile discussions that go nowhere and only end up convincing them in their own mind that you don’t love Jehovah God and you don’t love them.
Useful documentation
The following material documents one of the reasons many Witnesses eventually left the organization. They came to see that it did not have the evidence necessary to back up its claims to be God’s mouthpiece on earth. I am not suggesting that you give this article to your loved one unsolicited by him or her at this point in time. I am quite sure that would only alienate them. If a Witness has doubts already, and is open to input, this sort of information can be devastating to their faith in the organization. But to the Witness who is new and enthusiastic in their faith, it would just be tossed aside as lies without even being read. Witnesses are warned against ever reading "dissident literature", and ordered to not even look at it.
I would suggest instead that you read it over, and file it someplace where you can find it if you are ever given an opportunity in the future to use it. And then pray that God give you the wisdom to know when and how to use this and any other information that you may acquire about the Witnesses. And that He give you the patience and peace of mind to keep the doors of your heart and home open to your loved one. In spite of this painful choice they are making.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society:
Jehovah’s Witnesses … Or False Witnesses?
Let the reader be the judge.
This material does not challenge the sincerity of the individuals who consider themselves to be Jehovah’s Witnesses.
This material does not debate the validity of the theology of the Watchtower Society.
This material does not argue about interpretation of Bible passages.
It rather merely shares specific documentation from their own writings regarding the claim of the Watchtower leadership to being the sole representatives of the Almighty Creator on earth.
If you are considering studying with or perhaps even becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses under the authority of the Watchtower Society, you need to have answers first to the questions posed by this documentation.
PLEASE NOTE: All of the quotations in this material are directly from the publications of Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, or of his recognized successors in the leadership of that organization. All of these quotations come from actual digital or hardcopy photocopies of original WBTS documents, which are available in many places on the Internet, eliminating any question that they have been altered by researchers over the years.
From the 4/1/72 issue of the Watchtower magazine:
IDENTIFYING THE PROPHET--- … So, does Jehovah have a prophet to help them, to warn them of dangers and to declare things to come? 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.
So, does Jehovah have a prophet…?
This is an excellent question. Let’s see what that record shows!
(Colored highlighting has been added to some sentences and phrases in this material to call attention to the most significant points.)
From The Time Is At Hand, pp. 76, 77, 98,99,101 (published 1889)
In this chapter we present the Bible evidence proving that the full end of the times of the Gentiles, i.e., the full end of their lease of dominion, will be reached in A.D. 1914; and that that date will be the farthest limit of the rule of imperfect men. And be it observed that if this is shown to be a fact firmly established by the Scriptures, it will prove:--Firstly, That at that date the Kingdom of God, for which our Lord taught us to pray, saying, "Thy Kingdom come," will have obtained full, universal control, and that it will be "set up," or firmly established in the earth.
… Thirdly, It will prove that some time before the end of A.D. 1914 the last member of the divinely recognized Church of Christ, the "royal priesthood," "the body of Christ," will be glorified with the Head; because every member is to reign with Christ, being a joint-heir with him of the Kingdom, and it cannot be fully "set up" without every member.
Fourthly, It will prove that from that time forward Jerusalem shall no longer be trodden down of the Gentiles, but shall arise from the dust of divine disfavor, to honor; because the "Times of the Gentiles" will be fulfilled or completed.
… True, it is expecting great things to claim, as we do, that within the coming twenty-six years all present governments will be overthrown and dissolved; but we are living in a special and peculiar time, the "Day of Jehovah," in which matters culminate quickly; and it is written, "A short work will the Lord make upon the earth." …
… In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God will be accomplished by the end of A.D. 1914.
… Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up o fhte Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the "battle of the great day of God Almighty" (Rev. 16:14), which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership, is already commenced.
From The Finished Mystery, pp. 258, 485, 542 (published 1917)
Even the republics will disappear by the fall of 1920. … Every kingdom of earth will pass away, will be swallowed up in anarchy.
… Also, in the year 1918, when God destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions, it shall be that any that escape shall come to the work of Pastor Russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of "Christianity."
… Not one vestige of it [Christendom] shall survive the ravages of world-wide all-embracing anarchy, in the fall of 1920.
From Millions Now Living Will Never Die, pp. 88-90 (published 1920)
Seventy jubilees of fifty years each would be a total of 3500 years. That period of time beginning 1575 before A.D. 1 of necessity would end in the fall of the years 1925, at which time the type ends and the great antitype must begin.
… since other scriptures fix the fact that there will be a resurrection of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and other faithful ones of old, and that these will have the first favor, we may expect 1925 to witness the return of these faithful men of Israel from the condition of death, being resurrected and fully restored to humanity and made the visible, legal representatives of the new order of things on earth.
… As we have heretofore stated, the great jubilee cycle is due to begin in 1925. At that time the earthly phase of the kingdom shall be recognized. … Therefore we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faithful prophets of old, particularly those named by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter 11, to the condition of human perfection.
From The Way to Paradise, p. 224 (published 1925)
We should, therefore, expect shortly after 1925 to see the awakening of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec, Job, Moses, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, and others mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.
From The New World, p. 104 (published 1942)
… hence those faithful men of old may be expected back from the dead any day now.
… In this expectation the house at San Diego, California, which house has been much publicized with malicious intent by the religious enemy, was built, in 1930, and named "Beth Sarim", meaning "House of the Princes." It is now held in trust for the occupancy of those princes on their return. The most recent facts show that the religionists of this doomed world are gnashing their teeth because of the testimony which that "House of the Princes" bears to the new world. To those religionists and their allies the return of those faithful men of old to rule with judgment over the people shall not bring any pleasure.
From The Time is at Hand, p. 2 (published 1889)
The Bible chronology herein presented shows that the six great 1000 year days beginning at Adam are now ended, and that the great 7th Day, the 1000 years of Christ's reign, began in 1873.
Compare this to the title of a chart from the 10/8/68 edition of Awake magazine--the title of the chart is
6,000 YEARS OF HUMAN HISTORY ENDING IN 1975
From Kingdom Ministry, March, 1968
In view of the short period of time left, we want to do this as often as circumstances permit. Just think, brothers, there are only abut ninety months left before 6,000 years of man's existence on earth is completed.
From Kingdom Ministry, May, 1974
Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world's end.--1 John 2:17.
From: AWAKE! magazine 10/8/68
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 He was using and guiding them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The excerpts from Watchtower Society publications reproduced in this material have included many specific dates for the fulfillment of prophecies. This was not just an isolated incident or two of over-enthusiasm, but appears clearly to be a pattern that repeated itself over a period of almost 100 years, and continued through a series of changes in leadership of the organization. If an individual is attempting to evaluate the claims of the Watchtower Society to be the only "Spokesman" of the Eternal Creator on earth today, such a pattern of failed prophetic pronouncements must be taken into consideration. This is true especially since it is an established fact that many Witnesses at various critical periods throughout the past 100 years have made irrevocable life decisions based on absolute trust in the statements of their leadership. Such decisions included not marrying or bearing children, or not pursuing higher education, when the leadership said that the "end" was so near that young people would be wise to forgo such plans. There are senior citizens in the world today who have no grandchildren specifically because they put off childbearing until it was too late, under pressure from Watchtower prophetic teachings.
Of course each such individual had free will, and must accept some responsibility for in fact submitting to such pressure from the Watchtower leadership. However, the faithful Witness also believes that there is no salvation outside the fellowship of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is an established fact that loyalty to the central headquarters leadership (as an institution, not just to individual leaders) has always been a prerequisite for fellowship with any local body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Such loyalty has always included support of the statements made in Watchtower Society publications. Open disagreement with such statements (even in private conversations with other Witnesses, and not in any public setting) may constitute grounds for disfellowshipment from the group. This is not merely revoking membership, but includes a direct or implied order that all other Witnesses, including family members of the one disfellowshipped, shun the offending person. So there is obviously a strong element of fear of such consequences in those who may have private doubts about Watchtower teachings.
Yet the fact remains that the teachings quoted in this document were clearly false. A person who has been committed for some time to the organization may feel strongly pressured to excuse such mistakes when he learns of them if he is already convinced that the Watchtower Society is, indeed, God’s Spokesman. But new prospective members need to evaluate the claims of the Society. And by the criteria of their own words, as shown in the quote above from the AWAKE! magazine, the organization that taught the false predictions quoted here are "... Missing...the evidence that He was using and guiding them."
It is thus perfectly valid to ask those who claim to be true Witnesses for Jehovah, and who (rightly) label other groups that have given failed prophecies as false prophets—
How do you justify the Society’s many failed prophecies? And, in light of so many failed prophecies, why should anyone view the Society as having special spiritual preeminence and special inspiration from Jehovah God in their current teachings?
Pam Dewey
2005
Unless otherwise noted, all original material on this Field Guide website
is © 2001-2006 by Pam Dewey.Careful effort has been made to give credit as clearly as possible to any specific material quoted or ideas extensively adapted from any one resource. Corrections and clarifications regarding citations for any source material are welcome, and will be promptly added to any sections which are found to be inadequately documented as to source.
Pam Dewey
Pam Dewey
Pam Dewey
