The Unforgivable Sin

expatbrit

One of those phrases that JW's always seem to (amusingly) lower their voices when saying is "the unforgivable sin". This is defined as, I believe, grieving the holy spirit.

When I was a witness, it was generally assumed that Adolf Hitler had committed the unforgivable sin. Presumably because he wasn't taken in with the WT's brown-nosing of the Nazis. He therefore would not get a resurrection.

It was generally accepted amongst the JW's I knew that apostates (lowered voice to sibilant whisper again) also were guilty of the unforgivable sin, and were beyond redemption. I don't believe the WT ever had the guts to come out and say it outright, but I may be wrong.

So, two questions:

1) was that the understanding you had when you were a witness?

2) did the WT in fact make any definite statements as to what would be an unforgivable sin? I don't recall any.

Expatbrit

larc

When I was in, my understanding was that the unforgivable sin was cursing God. In my opinion now, God would forgive that too, but that is just me.

rem

I never really understood what grieving the holy spirit meant. Was I the only one? It seemed to me that everyone else seemed to understand what it meant (or at least they acted like they did), but it was never really explained to me in a way in which I completely understood it. I couldn't figure out why that particular sin was so bad, either. It all seemed a little mysterious and hokey to me when I was a dub.

rem

"We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking." - Mark Twain

Mum

The unforgivable sin is sinning against the holy spirit, not grieving the holy spirit. However, I cannot cite scriptural references right now.

I was told when I first became a JW about someone who was an ex-JW and had written an "apostate" book. I was told by an elder in our congregation that this person / author had committed the unforgivable sin, had sinned against the holy spirit, and could never be accepted back into the organization (as if he would want to be accepted back!).

The subject came up another time. In 1969 at a large assembly there was a drama about a bunch of JW weirdos, a wife named Clara whose husband left her, a kid named Buzz Sawyer (like the comic strip character) who robbed a gas station, and a girl who got really p***ed off at the whole bunch and walked away from the "truth."

The latter character / girl (whose stage name I can't recall) actually uttered the words "me, a mere woman?" in a very sarcastic tone. It was stated at a meeting that this character / girl had committed the unforgivable sin.

When I looked at the scriptures about the unforgivable sin, it appeared to be talking about a sociopath, or someone who does not care that what he or she does is wrong or "sinful" or hurtful to him/herself or others, i.e., "unrepentant," with no desire to change.

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

Bang

I don't know the JW view, but my own is that there are various ways in which one may put themselves outside the realm of forgiveness. Someone can achieve this by various methods including defiance (impenitence) and assuming forgiveness ahead of sin (presumption), and despair which is a self-pride, saying that He won't forgive (i.e. He's only like me or not even that), or despair of others by maintaining that He's actually a nastyass bastard that doesn't forgive people like them (a scary beast, not even as kind as me).

Everthing, murder and whatever men say will be forgiven, but in sinning against the Holy Spirit one closes themself off in a state of refusal to accept, and thereby in the continual danger of perishing - no more in that state of grace whereby their failings are forgiven. The way is against Him and not simply against Christ as one may understand He is, but against what is understood to be Good.

Basically, it is within our capability to refuse God as we know Him, but then again if anyone be "in Him", he is a "new creation", the old is gone. It is spirit that matters, not the flesh.

Bang

blondie

In the end, the Bible says that no human can judge whether they themselves or anyone else has committed the unforgivable sin, only God can or by delegation, Jesus. Humans would have to be able to read hearts to do that and that humans cannot do.

garybuss

Wish we could start a debate on the nature of sin.

Sigh . . . .

ashitaka

Watching Barney the Purple Dinosaur was evil...truly.

Seriously, I think the criteria you mentioned seemed just about what I was taught as well. But, also, that 'Jehovah was the judge'.

Ashi

ozziepost

Expat,

One good turn deserves.......

Cheers,
Ozzie

"It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
Anonymous

Had Enough

Mornin' Expat:

Good topic. You asked if the WT made any definite statements about the "unforgivable sin"

I found this one in the 1992 Watchtower Sept.15:
(I bolded some points in the paragraphs)

*** w92 9/15 9-10 Jehovah Forgives in a Large Way ***

Some Sins Unforgivable

5 Some sins are unforgivable. Jesus Christ said: “Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matthew 12:31) So, then, blasphemy against God’s holy spirit, or active force, will not be forgiven.The apostle Paul alluded to such sin when he wrote: “It is impossible as regards those who have once for all been enlightened, . . . but who have fallen away, to revive them again to repentance, because they impale the Son of God afresh for themselves and expose him to public shame.”—Hebrews 6:4-6.

6 Only God knows if a person has committed the unforgivable sin. However, Paul shed light on this matter when he wrote: “If we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment.” (Hebrews 10:26, 27) A willful person acts deliberately, or is “obstinately and often perversely self-willed.” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary) Anyone willfully and obstinately continuing to practice sin after he knows the truth is not forgiven. Hence, it is not so much the sin itself as it is the heart condition, the degree of willfulness involved, that affects whether the sin is forgivable or not.

On the other hand, what is likely the case when an erring Christian is deeply disturbed about his wrongdoing? His great concern probably indicates that he has not, in fact, committed an unforgivable sin.

Their Sins Were Unforgivable

7 Certain Jewish religious leaders who opposed Jesus did commit willful, and thus unforgivable, sin. Though they saw God’s holy spirit at work through Jesus as he did good and performed miracles, those clerics ascribed his power to Beelzebub, or Satan the Devil. They sinned with their eyes wide open to the undeniable operation of God’s spirit. Thus, they committed unforgivable sin, for Jesus said: “Whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come.”—Matthew 12:22-32.

8 The sin of Judas Iscariot also was unforgivable. His betrayal of Jesus was the willful, deliberate culmination of a course of hypocrisy and dishonesty. For instance, when Judas saw Mary anoint Jesus with costly oil, he asked: “Why was it this perfumed oil was not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor people?” The apostle John added: “[Judas] said this, though, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box and used to carry off the monies put in it.” Soon thereafter, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (John 12:1-6; Matthew 26:6-16) True, Judas felt remorse and committed suicide. (Matthew 27:1-5) But he was not forgiven, since his deliberate, persistently selfish course and his treacherous act reflected his sin against the holy spirit. How appropriate that Jesus should call Judas “the son of destruction”!—John 17:12; Mark 3:29; 14:21.
__________________________________________________________________

This pretty much summed it up I guess.

Anyone willfully and obstinately continuing to practice sin after he knows the truth is not forgiven. Hence, it is not so much the sin itself as it is the heart condition, the degree of willfulness involved, that affects whether the sin is forgivable or not.

And yet the first paragraph said there is an unforgivable sin ... blaspheming against the holy spirit. So what if someone was truly repentant after that? According to the above quote, its not the sin, but the heart condition or degree of remorse that counts. And they say Judas Iscariot was remorseful after his sin to the point of not being able to live with himself, but they say it was not forgiven of him....so I guess there are some sins in the WTS eyes that are totally unforgivable. They seem to be, as usual, purposely vague in their explanation.

Had Enough

btw....love the new pic....much better I think!

The Unforgivable Sin

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