Going to speak to my parents about the 'Truth"

by ThomasCovenant 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  ThomasCovenant

  Hi

  I am going to approach my parents (Dad an elder) later this summer with my true feelings about the WT society.

  I have the CD rom and a lot of Society books (plus of course the off limits wonders of Google) but I happen to have just one bound volume of the Watchtower 1953. It's a real gem!

  I intend to bring this book to my meeting with them as they won't be able to say it's apostate. I'm then going to introduce my own collection of quotes that I have compiled and printed from the CD rom which is like a mini printed version of the old Quotes website.

  Anyway the following quotes are ones that I will point out to my parents when I get the chance. The first two quotes are on facing pages of the magazine so are easy to show someone the point I'm trying to get across.

  Watchtower 1953 February 15th pages 124 and 125

  35

  What does all this mean? Jesus’ words, at the conclusion of telling his disciples of all these things, give us the answer. He says: "Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur." (Matt. 24:34, NW) He meant what he said. The generation that began to see these things in 1914 will witness the final accumulated judgments of Jehovah God, though some individuals who are part of this generation may die before the end of this world’s system of things takes place

  40 Those living at this time and who take advantage of this arrangement have wonderful prospects ahead of them; yes, a blessed lot indeed. So work for it. Study God’s Word. Fill your mind with the truths about God’s kingdom. In the world today, what is of any value? On the other hand, try to visualize a new world free from all sin, wickedness and death. This new world offers you everything. It is worth grasping, for it is what the heavenly kingdom of God is now proceeding to accomplish. Do not cast all the evidence aside. Be cautious, sensible. You have heard the testimony from God’s Word, the Bible. It costs nothing but a little time on your part to investigate thoughtfully, carefully. Whether you are a Catholic or a Protestant, a Jew, or whatever you are, study God’s Word, learn of his purposes. Why rely upon men any longer? They have proved false respecting their views about God’s kingdom. Why cling to old, worn-out, false doctrines offered by the world and its religious leaders? Use your mind that God has given you and, in the light of his Word, determine for yourself what is right and what is wrong

  Then another from Watchtower 1953 March1st page 143

  12

  So the task is not easy. But we can do it if we first learn what God’s Word says, learn what is in that book and learn which way to take and then seek to do it. We must seek to be genuine Christians in every sense of the word. Does that mean we have to join a church organization in Christendom? Ask yourself now, Did Christ Jesus, who set our example and told us to follow his example to gain life, join any church organization in his day? No, God does not require us to do that; but he requires us to worship him, to preach the good news of the Kingdom, to be Christians, to follow the example Jesus set, living in unalterable devotion to Jehovah God; to praise God and respect his supremacy, to resist all efforts to turn us from decency and to endure in faith. We have the Bible to show us the right way. Certainly it is not necessary for a person to become a member of a church to gain everlasting life

  Watchtower 1953 February 15th page 113

  JEHOVAH God has created man with a mind to think with. He can use this mind to reason. He can consider opinions of others and can determine for himself what is right and wrong. This means that he can progress by learning, as well as discard old, worn-out conclusions, proved to be erroneous. However, many refuse to utilize their mind and rather permit others to think for them. When new ideas are advanced they are at first, and in many instances always, rejected. Early in the fourteenth century (A. D.) the people lived in great ignorance as compared with our present day. They depended upon their professors and theologians, who in turn relied upon the published discoveries of men who lived prior to their time, many of which discoveries were foundationless. When some new ideas were presented, the theologians of the day rejected them.

  3 Strange as it seems, we are living in a similar condition today. Many people do not use their minds, but rather let others think for them. When sound reasoning is presented that disproves a popular conception or what someone has taught them, they refuse it. They live and die, still clinging to what is false.

  I am hoping these quotes and others that I have bookmarked in this one bound volume will be the opener for me to discuss the lie of the WT.

  I hope these quotes are of interest to others

  Thanks

  Thomas Covenant
• 

  Mrs Smith

  Wow!! I wish I had a copy of the 1953 volume. All the best for your meeting let us know how it goes.
• 

  dedpoet

  Good luck with that Thomas..

  Of course, he will probably say that 1953 volume, particularly the part about the
  generation of 1914, is "old light", and the "truth" is progressive etc, but it might make
  him think.

  dedpoet
• 

  yaddayadda

  Some great quotes there. Good luck with that dude but don't go too hard on your olds.
• 

  PrimateDave

  Hi Thomas,
  
  For what it is worth, I can't blame you for wanting to share what you know with your parents. I'm in a similar situation. My parents were in the "Truth" since before I was born. Yes, that is my real age in my profile.
  
  My mother has been a pioneer on and off, and she seems to always be conducting "Bible" studies. My father is an elder in their congregation. He is a good man. I can imagine how they felt last August (2006) when I emailed them that I no longer wanted to be a Witness. I was baptized back in '83, btw. But, I still wanted to keep in touch with them if at all possible.
  
  The point is, I didn't want to argue with them about the "Truth" because i felt that it would hurt them even more. Since I love my parents, I didn't want to try to win arguments against them. Does anyone ever really win an argument? I gave them a reading list that pretty much explains how I came to my conclusion. They were just the titles of books that I had read and a few links to articles on the internet. I said that, as far as religion goes, unless they read from my list and ask me specific questions about it, we had nothing to discuss. I politely accepted their offer to continue receiving the Society's literature from them. The result is that I get to talk with them on the phone a few times a month and there are no bad feelings.
  
  Discussions are fine, but only when both sides are well informed can they lead to understanding. If you approach your parents on this cold, you will probably not reach an understanding with them. They may get confused and upset. They will most assuredly go on the defensive. Now, if I put on my Witness suit and tie for a moment to address the 1953 Watchtower volume quotes you posted, here is what I would say (corresponding to your highlighted text):
  
  1. The Society came out with new understanding with regards to the "generation" teaching. God's servants throughout history have been awaiting the end of this old world. We are so close to the end now. We can see the fulfillment of Bible prophecy right before our eyes. How can we give up now just as we are reaching the finish line, so to speak? Satan will try anything to get us to leave Jehovah, even using our own family against us. (They might see you as being used by Satan to get them to turn away from Jehovah.)
  
  2. We trust in Jehovah God, not in men. We know what is right and wrong from the Bible. (Remember, they don't see the FDS like we do.)
  
  3. Jehovah's people have gotten out of Babylon the Great. They no longer go to the Churches of Christendom. Everlasting life is a gift from God. The spiritual food we receive from His Spirit Directed Organization gives us the knowledge we need to gain God's approval. (Remember, the Kingdom Hall is not seen by Witnesses as a church.)
  
  4. Using one's mind for personal study and meditation on God's Word builds in us an appreciation for God and his purposes. In contrast, filling our minds with the filth of this world leads to God's disapproval and ultimately death. Son, if you are having doubts, wouldn't it be better to talk to the elders about it. Pray to Jehovah about it. Read the Bible. Read the magazines and books. Study for the meetings. Be at all the meetings and go out in field service regularly. Stay away from bad associations and avoid the "wisdom" of Satan's world. (Ick. I feel like I need to wipe off my keyboard after typing all this crap!)
  
  Hope this helps. It won't be easy. Tell them straight up you don't want to be a Witness. Don't give them any reason to hope that you will be coming back. If you present specific arguments, they may assume that they can win you back by proving those arguments wrong. As you can imagine, nobody wins. Best of luck. Think carefully about what you do.
  
  Dave
• 

  nvrgnbk

  Good luck with that.

  I was a 4th generation JW.

  That makes my son 5th gen.

  My folks are deeply entrenched.

  Nothing seems to penetrate the cult shell.

  I hope it goes better for you with yours.

  I am preparing to say goodbye to mine.
• 

  dawg

  Primate,

  YOu are a smart man and much of what you said is true, so I'm sorry that I have to disagree with some of it.... You ask, does anyone ever win an argument? How many people convert to something as wrong as the WT; aren't the witnesses proof that bad arguments can win over converts? We outside the crap they call the "truth" know the real deal about these people; how they are making the claim to have God's spirit guiding them into all sorts of foolish predictions and false doctrines; when we all know there's not one iota of evidence they have God directing their work. This isn't the problem though is it? The problem lies in the fact that they are destroying famlies and friendships with a dogma that they can't be questioned, that doing so makes one "apostate" and therefore the worst sort of person. A simple question here should suffice.... where in the Bible does it say that any man hasn't the right to question the authority of other men? WHere in the bible does it say that you shouldn't assoicate with a man that questions other men's authority? Nowhere does the Bible make such a statement... so, they've created a group of slaves... this must be destroyed and no war can be won without firing a few shots (metaphorically of course); doing nothing and fading is a cop out in my mind; if more of us were to stand up it may take years but we could win the day. Surly the WT will make more stupid comments that will cause doubts if we standup now and say they're idiots. I've done that recently and it actually works if you do it in a kind way and stick to the facts. Try it you'll like it!
• 

  Lady Liberty

  Dear Thomas,

  We are anxious to see they're reply. Thank you for posting your findings. They will be hard pressed to answer them! Last night my Dad gave me a copy of some information I believe he found here on JWD. Just in case you missed it like I did, I will copy what he gave me and give to you. You may have it in your arsenal already, but if not, boy is it a good one to have. It is about the "good news" being a different message today that the JWs alone preach rather then the message Jesus gave for us to preach. I found it MOST interesting!!

  Sincerely,

  Lady Liberty

  First recall Galations 1:6-9

  6

  I marvel that YOU are being so quickly removed from the One who called YOU with Christ’s undeserved kindness over to another sort of good news. 7 But it is not another; only there are certain ones who are causing YOU trouble and wanting to pervert the good news about the Christ. 8However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to YOU as good news something beyond what we declared to YOU as good news, let him be accursed.9 As we have said above, I also now say again, Whoever it is that is declaring to YOU as good news something beyond what YOU accepted, let him be accursed.

  w88 1/1 p. 21 "The Good News Has To Be Preached First"

  8 In "the last days," the good news of the Kingdom involves more than it did when Jesus was on earth. Jesus preached that the Kingdom had drawn near, drawing attention to the fact that he was among the people as the Messiah and King. (2 Timothy 3:1; Matthew 4:17; Luke 17:21) The good news preached by the early Christians included the matter of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven, and it encouraged meek ones to put faith in the coming Kingdom. (Acts 2:22-24, 32; 3:19-21; 17:2, 3; 26:23; 28:23, 31) Now that we have reached "the conclusion of the system of things," the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom includes the striking message that the Kingdom is established in the heavens.—Revelation 11:15-18; 12:10.

  w67 12/15 p. 753

  What

  NowDistinguishestheGoodNewstoBePreached

  EVER since the end of the Gentile Times in 1914 something of very present importance has been added to the "good news of God" that Jesus Christ used to preach in the Middle East, preaching to as many cities as possible, just as he said on one occasion: "Also to other cities I must declare the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this I was sent forth." (Luke 4:43; 8:1; 16:16) After his death and resurrection and his glorification in heaven, his apostles and faithful disciples preached the good news of the coming kingdom of God. (Acts 20:24, 25; 28:30, 31) What vital thing has now been added to the good newsof the kingdom of God that Jesus Christ and his zealous apostles used to preach nineteen hundred years ago? This, namely, the birth of God’s Messianic kingdom in the heavens at the end of the Gentile Times in 1914. And after the ensuing war in the invisible heavens and the ouster of Satan the Devil and his demons from heaven and down to earth, this announcement was sounded forth, to be added to the good news, as stated in Revelation 12:9-12:

  2

  "Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God! . . . On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time."

  3

  What a joy-inspiring addition or enlargement to the good news now to be preached! Now has come the victorious kingdom of our God together with the authority of his Christ, his Messiah! As for Satan the Devil and his demons, they have only a short period of time until they are bound and imprisoned in the abyss after the "war of the great day of God the Almighty" at Armageddon. All this additional wonderful information has been true since the end of the "appointed times of the nations" in 1914, and particularly since World War I closed in the year 1918. Not before the "appointed times of the nations" ended in the fall of 1914 could the good news be preached of the newborn, established heavenly kingdom of God and of his Messiah. This, then, must be the good news that Jesus Christ in his prophecy said had to be preached first in all the nations. (Mark 13:10) This generation of human society that has seen and experienced the world events since the Gentile Times closed in 1914—this is the "generation" that will not pass away until all the things foretold have happened, including the preaching of the good news first in all nations.

  4 Jesus’ prophecy in Mark 13:10, "Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first," has not been undergoing fulfillment during the past nineteen centuries. It is only since the second decade of our twentieth century that this prophecy has been undergoing fulfillment. This began to be realized by the International Bible Students Association and the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society since the end of the second decade of our century. In the magazine issue of July 1, 1920, of TheWatchTowerandHeraldofChrist’sPresence the article was published entitled "Gospel of the Kingdom" and based on the theme text, "‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’—Matthew 24:14." In the last six paragraphs it said:

  5 "It will be noted he does not say the gospel that has been preached to the meek throughout the entire Gospel age shall be preached. What gospel then could he mean? The gospel means good news. The good news here is concerning the end of the old order of things and the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom. It means the dark night of sin and sorrow is passing away. It means that Satan’s empire is falling, never to rise again. It means the sun of righteousness is rising rapidly, its healing beams penetrating the darkness and driving back that which obscures the truth and bringing to the people that which will bless, comfort, strengthen and uplift them. . . .

  6 "It will be observed that in the order named this message must be delivered between the time of the great world war and the time of the ‘great tribulation’ mentioned by the Master in Matthew 24:21, 22. This message could not have been delivered prior to the beginning of the world war. Clearly, then, the Master intended for us to understand that a time would come when the church must declare to the world as a witness that the old order is ending and will shortly pass away forever. . . .

  7 "What a blessed privilege the church now has of being the ambassadors of the Lord’s kingdom and engaging in delivering the good news."—Pages 199, 200.

  8 Since the publishing of that new, up-to-date understanding of the prophetic words of Jesus Christ more and more evidence has piled up in the world events and conditions and in the experience of the International Bible Students to prove that God’s Messianic kingdom was indeed born in the heavens at the due time in 1914 and that "this good news of the kingdom"means the fresh, brand-new informationthat tells of God’s established kingdom. No news of the day could surpass that for real goodness. For this reason the whole world of mankind deserved to hear this good news, "this gospel of the kingdom." (Matt. 24:14, AV;NW) And according to Jesus Christ all the world of mankind has to hear it. "In all the nations the good news has to be preached," said he.—Mark 13:10.

  w81 5/1 pp. 17-18 If God Has an Organization, What Is It?

  3 Let the honest-hearted person compare the kind of preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom done by the religious systems of Christendom during all the centuries with that done by Jehovah’s Witnesses since the end of World War I in 1918.They are not one and the same kind.That of Jehovah’s Witnesses is really "gospel," or "good news," as of God’s heavenly kingdom that was established by the enthronement of his Son Jesus Christ at the end of the Gentile Times in 1914. (Luke 21:24) The worldwide witness given to this effect under the barrage of international persecution and opposition could have been given only by means of God’s all-conquering spirit. It was accomplished neither by the spirit of man nor by that of Satan the Devil. It was done with the help of God’s holy angels, as is indicated in Revelation 14:6, 7:

  (NOTE) This scripture says nothing about adding to the scriptural Good news about 1914. Compare Rev. 14:6,7

  6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, 7 saying in a loud voice: "FEAR God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters."
• 

  PrimateDave

  Hey dawg,
  
  Probably I had better clarify what I mean by argument. I don't mean discussion or debate. I mean talking at someone on the opposing side of an issue, trying to force them to see my point of view. We see that on this forum a lot. People argue about the existence of God or Creation. They go into arguments with their minds made up. They get on the defensive. It turns into a shouting match. Each side claims victory. Nobody wins. That used to happen in service, too, now that I think about it.
  
  The point of my post to Thomas is to show what I think could happen. Also, in my opinion his approach doesn't work. Quoting a wad of bland text and stating "that's why you're wrong" does not result in a fruitful discussion. Unfortunately, no one on this forum knows of a "magic bullet" that can get Witness friends and relatives to leave the Watchtower Book Club.
  
  But lots of people are leaving. Why is that? It's different for each individual. For me, it was the fact that the world as I see it just didn't match up with the world as the Society portrays it. It got to the point where I just had to know once and for all whether my doubts were true or not. I answered my questions for myself. And then I left.
  
  I told my family that I left because I didn't want to lie to them, pretending to be a Witness, acting as if I was doing something wrong and trying to hide it. By being honest with them, I showed them that I knew I was doing the right thing. I took the moral high ground from the start by letting them know that I was leaving even if it meant being shunned. I specifically told my sister that there was no need for me to argue my reasons with anyone, because the information is out there waiting to be read. In other words, I implied "do your own research, make up your own mind." It is now up to me to set a positive example, to be the kind brother and son who is there unconditionally.
  
  Charles, we both want the same thing, I think. But I want the Watchtower Society to hurt, not my family. For that reason, it is my goal to prove the WTS a liar by not acting the role of "angry apostate". I will be there for any member of my family who secretly has doubts and wants to know what to do about them. Just being out and honest in a kind way from the start may eventually bring some of them around.
  
  Dave
• 

  dawg

  I see Primate, you're just trying a different approach other than the socratic approach I take. I just ask them questions and let them answer it; like where in the Bible does it say that I don't have the right to question men? YOu're right, we both want the same things; there's probable a variety of ways to make that happen. Pragamatism is the best approach.