Q 1: Where does the Bible say God's name is Jehovah?
In all probability, the Bible that you have does not have the name Jehovah in it, anywhere. Whereas, some early English translations, like the so-called King James Version, used the name in a least a few places, more recent ones have dropped the Name entirely. It used to be too, that the preface of many Bible translations usually carried a forward of some kind explaining why they didn’t use the Name in all the places where the YHWH was found in the original language, but, now, even that explanation has been left off modern editions. The reason most Bible translators don’t use God’s personal name is because they don’t think that it’s important. By the way, the early Hebrews thought the name was very important. Many of the Israelites named their children names that incorporated the divine name in some form. For example, the name Elijah literally means: “My God is Jehovah.” Jah is the shortened form of the Name and it is used in 4 places in the Bible. The common name Jesus literally means----Jehovah is Salvation. The popular name John literally means----Jehovah is Gracious. So, at one time the sacred name of God was very highly regarded by the Jews. Also, we know from Bible names like Jehoash and Jehoram, and Jehosaphat, that the first two syllables in the YHWH were JE & HO. So, the argument that no one knows the correct vowels that should be inserted in the YHWH abbreviation is simply not true. We know that God’s name had 3 syllables, not 2 as in Yahweh. By the way, there was no “J” in Hebrew, so the “Y” is translated as “J” and “W” as “V.”
Years ago someone asked Billy Graham who Jehovah was, and he responded that Jehovah was the tribal god of the Hebrews. Yet, the King James Bible that Mr. Graham used at the time says at Psalms 83:18 that “Jehovah is the Most High over all the earth.” Clearly, scholars and clergymen have a deeply ingrained bias against that name. Jehovah’s Witnesses, on the other hand, are just what the name of our religion implies; we endeavor to honor God’s name and help others to do so too.
Q 2: What's an apostate?
Simply put, an apostate is one who abandons their faith in God. Some religions might use terms like heretic or infidel to describe the phenomenon. In the context of Jehovah’s Witnesses, though, strictly speaking, an apostate is one who is not content to merely leave his own faith behind; the apostate generally actively speaks against his former faith in order to draw others away too, and poison the minds of those who might otherwise have an interest in the truth.
Q 3: What is the "Evil slave Vs Good slave"?
At Matthew 24:45-51 Jesus talked about those two slaves. We can get some idea of who they represent if we consider closely what Jesus said the two slaves would be doing. First, note that Jesus said that the slave would be in charge of feeding God’s other slaves called the domestics. So, the slave has an assignment from his master and he will be judged by his master as to whether he faithfully carries out his duties. The fact that the slave is appointed over God’s household indicates that this slave has authority as one in charge. God’s household is all those who are anointed by God to eventually rule with Christ in heaven in the kingdom of God. But, while they are still on earth they are under the authority of this slave whom the master puts in charge of his affairs. Notice too, that Jesus spoke of this slave in answer to a question the apostles posed about when Jesus was going to return and when the world was going to end and the new one begin. So in fulfillment of the illustration, the faithful slave would exist during the last days of this system and would be involved in directing God’s ministers as they go about their assignment of preaching about the good news of Jehovah’s kingdom. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the symbolic faithful slave that Jesus spoke about is the voice behind the Watchtower.
The evil slave is likewise given an assignment but he fails to carry it out. Instead he adopts the faithless attitude, described in the prophecy as saying: “My master is delaying.” The evil slave is also characterized by the fact that he beats his fellow slave. The way this plays out in reality can be seen in the fact that some prominent members among Jehovah’s Witnesses have been very vocal in criticizing the Watchtower and the former fellow Witnesses, primarily because they think Jesus is not going to return during this period. As far as Jehovah’s Witnesses are concerned then, each Witness is under the influence of either the faithful slave or the evil slave. Those under the influence of the evil slave are apostate Jehovah’s Witnesses and they take up the issues of the evil slave.
Q 4: Why would any one want to be a Slave?
In the modern world we generally think of a slave in terms of some poor unfortunate person in shackles, however, in Bible lingo a slave is merely a servant. The primary meaning of minister is that of a slave or servant. In the Bible the angels are called public servants who minister to those who are going to inherit salvation. Jesus is in fact spoken of as one who took the form of a slave when he left his divine habitation and became a human. As a police officer the Bible describes you as a public servant, or a slave. That’s because you have certain duties and obligations much like a house servant or slave in Bible times.
Q 5: Why not give a child blood to save their lives? Can this be proven in the Bible also?
The answer is that God forbids blood to be used to sustain life except in the individual whose blood it is. There are many places in the Bible where God tells us what his will is regarding life and blood. One place is in the 8th chapter of Genesis. After Noah’s flood Jehovah gave man permission to use animals for food but he strictly forbade eating the blood of an animal. God said that the blood was the very life or soul of the creature and that all life belongs to God. Jehovah further stated that human blood was particularly special to him because humans are made in God’s own image. That’s why God said that anyone shedding man’s blood would have to have his own blood taken from him. Centuries later when Christianity was developing, the issue came up whether new Gentile converts should obey the Jewish Law that God had given them through Moses, which also had very strict rules about not eating the blood of animals. The decision was that they didn’t have to, except they did have to retain certain features of the Law, one of which was stated that all Christians should “abstain from blood.” Of course blood transfusions didn’t exist then, but it is interesting that the apostles said to abstain from blood and not just ‘don’t eat blood.’ So, we understand that God’s declared special ownership of the life and blood of all creatures is absolute. Jesus once said: ‘He that loses his soul for my sake will find it, and he that seeks to save his soul will lose it.’ Jesus wasn’t of course urging us to be reckless with our lives. He was stating a principle that it is better to die because of conscience toward God, IF NECESSARY, rather than compromise our faith just to save our own necks, so-to-speak. In the book of Job the Devil argues that humans will disobey God if it means they can save their own lives. The blood transfusion issue has to be seen in that light. Of course, there are many blood alternatives that Jehovah’s Witnesses take, so it is very rare that any of our people die because of not taking transfusions. In the case of minor children, it is more of an emotional issue. But, the principle is the same because parents are responsible before God for the welfare of their children.
Q 6: Where does the rule not to talk with family members who left from the Jehovah's Witness come from?
That’s not exactly the way it is. Disfellowshipping does not dissolve all family ties. For example, a disfellowshipped husband still talks with his wife and so forth. Disfellowshipping though breaks a spiritual bond of brotherhood. The Bible lays down the principle that a little bit of yeast ferments a whole lot of dough. So the Bible says to remove corrupt individuals from our midst. Not physically of course; but, we withdraw friendship from those who don’t live by the rules God lays down for his household.
Being a cop, you can appreciate that the police have a fraternity within their ranks. You have a special bond with you fellow officers that others simply don’t have. There are certain things that are expected of you too by other cops, right? And if any cop breaks the rules and dishonors the badge it reflects badly on all policemen and women. Such a one, then, runs the risk of being ostracized by the entire police community. That’s the way it is in the Christian congregation too. We too have a fraternity, a brotherhood, God’s family is what we are, and if anyone dishonors the congregation by conduct unbecoming a minister of God, shunning, or disfellowshipping as we call it, is God’s means to deal with such ones.
Q 7: How can a person isolate themselves if you chose to knock on people’s doors outside your religion?
We don’t isolate ourselves. Jehovah’s Witnesses are very mush apart of the community. We go to schools and have jobs and interact within society on many levels. We just don’t wish to be apart of certain aspect of society for conscience sake. Jesus said that he was no part of the world and that his followers would also be no part of the world and yet Christ, while being no part of the world was also the light of the world. Christians are also called upon to be a light to the world while being no part of it. So that’s why we don’t support political movements and various popular religious customs and so forth.
Q 8: How can the Watchtower Society, control so many millions of people across the world from a headquarters in NY?
We recognize the Watchtower has having been given authority by God, as I explained in connection with the faithful slave. So, in reality, the Watchtower’s authority is really Jehovah’s authority as expressed through his word. We greatly respect God and Christ so we also naturally respect those whom we recognize as Christ’s slaves. Jesus said to his apostles, as he sent them out to represent him, that if people would have the inclination to listen to Jesus then they would also listen to the ones whom Jesus sends to them.
Q 9: How can you call the world evil? You live in the world wouldn't that also make you evil?
Jesus lived in the world and yet he wasn’t evil. Christian are called upon to follow Jesus’ example in putting God first in their lives and in loving their neighbor. So it is possible to be in the world and yet not really be promoting the same sort of corruption that characterizes society. The truth is that there are two different spiritual forces in the universe. There is Jehovah. And there’s the Devil. The Devil is really the main force in the world. That’s why there are always wars and various evils. We place ourselves under Jehovah’s influence by closely following his word and allowing his spirit to mold our thinking and personality. On the other hand, if we are alienated from Jehovah through ignorance, or willingly, we place ourselves under Satan’s influence by default, because he is the god of this world and his spirit predominates everything.
Q 10: What do you have against law enforcement? Don't we serve you also?
We don’t have anything against law enforcement. We have great respect for the law and for those who enforce it. However, as Christians, we feel that it is against the Bible’s law to use deadly force in a kill-or-be-killed scenario. So for that reason we don’t enter law enforcement as a profession. However, I personally know of a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses who are cops, but they work behind a desk and aren’t required to carry a firearm.
Q 11: Does God hate cops?
Of course not. In the 13th chapter of Romans the apostle Paul urged Christians to obey and honor such ones because they are God’s ministers in a sense, because of the valuable service that you perform.
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