QUESTIONS FOR BANE, SCHOLAR, AND ALL OTHER JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES:
Since Bane and Scholar are currently claiming to represent the Jehovah's Witnesses on this website, I have put together a list of about 35 Questions for them.
BANE, SCHOLAR, JW'S: I would love to hear your answers and explanations to these questions. You don't have to answer all of them at once. I would be happy to see your answers to ANY of these questions.
Remember, the Inspired Apostle Peter gave this direction in the Holy Scriptures: "Always [be] ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you, but doing so together with a mild temper and deep respect." (1st Peter 3:15)
Also, this thread would be a GREAT PLACE for everyone else to add your questions you have for BANE or SCHOLAR, or any other Jehovah's Witnesses, to see if we can get any answers.
The Questions Begin Here:
1:) You talk alot about "Apostates" and you have referred to people on this website as "Apostates." Can you explain WHAT an "Apostate" is, and HOW you are able to judge whether or not someone is an "Apostate"?
2:) Also, isn't it true that the Watchtower Publications forbid Jehovah's Witnesses from speaking to "Apostates" or reading their writings? If that is true, then aren't you disobeying the Governing Body by being on this website? (See the two Watchtower articles quoted at the bottom of this list)
3:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that today's Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is the sole channel of communication between God and mankind?
4:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that Daniel's prophecy about King Nebuchadnezzar's 7 years of insanity has a secondary meaning, and why we should believe that this secondary meaning is pointing toward Jesus becoming King in 1914? How do you get to the date 1914 C.E. using only the Bible?
5:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that there are two separate classes of Christians, one class that will live forever on earth, and the other class that will live forever in heaven?
6:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that Jesus is the same person as Michael the Archangel?
7:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that the number 144,000 in Revelation is a literal number, while all of the other details about the 144,000 are symbolic, and most other numbers in Revelation are symbolic?
8:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that the Jehovah's Witnesses were chosen as God's only people on earth in 1919? (What were they teaching in 1919 that would have made God choose them over all the other religions?)
9:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that the Book of Revelation was predicting certain JW Assembly Talks given in the early 20th Century?
10:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why we should believe that the "other sheep" spoken of by Jesus were not simply Gentile believers who would eventually join the Jewish believers?
11:) The Bible simply says "ABSTAIN FROM BLOOD". Can you explain, using only the Bible, why it is acceptable to receive all kinds of different blood fractions? How can someone accept blood fractions and still be "abstaining from blood"?
12:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why it is wrong to vote in a political election, but it is a good thing to pay taxes?
13:) Can you explain, using only the Bible, why it is wrong to join the Military (in a non-combative position), while Jesus commanded us to carry a soldier's weapons for two miles?
14:) Can you explain why we should believe that Christ's parable of the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" was predicting a "class" of anointed Christians who would give orders to all other Christians, instead of simply teaching that faithful Christians will be rewarded by Christ when He returns?
15:) Can you explain what Jesus meant when He said "This Generation will not pass away until all these things occur?" (Matthew 24:34)
16:) Can you explain what the Apostle Thomas meant when he called Jesus "The God of me"? (John 20:28, Kingdom Interlinear Translation)
17:) How many Gods do you serve, One or Two? (John 1:1 in the New World Translation says that there are TWO Gods).
18:) Why do YOU personally believe that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is God's channel of communication today?
19:) Can you explain HOW the Governing Body receives communication from God today? And how do they know when they receive something from God?
20:) Are you aware that the "Revelation -- Its Grand CLimax At Hand!" book teaches that Christians should PRAY to Jesus (Page 319), sing songs of praise TO Jesus (Chapter 15), and that Jesus is the ALPHA and OMEGA (Page 319)? Do Jehovah's Witnesses actually sing TO Jesus or pray TO Jesus?
21:) Can you explain what John 5:23 is teaching?
22:) Are Christians saved by Undeserved Kindness through Faith, or do Christians have to perform "good works" (field service, meetings, etc.) in order to be saved? (What did Paul teach at Romans 4:4-8, Romans 11:6, and Ephesians 2:8-9?)
23:) Can you explain what "Theocratic Warfare Strategy" is, and when would Jehovah's Witnesses use this strategy?
24:) Can you explain why the New World Translation inserts the name "JEHOVAH" 237 times in the Christian-Greek Scriptures where it is NOT FOUND in ANY Greek Manuscripts that exist?
25:) Can you explain why four Blood Fractions are FORBIDDEN (Plasma, Red Cells, White Cells, and Platelets) while ALL OTHER Fractions are acceptable (such as Hemoglobin)?
26:) Can you explain why it is wrong to celebrate birthdays while it is acceptable to celebrate wedding anniversaries?
27:) Is it okay to sell Kingdom Halls to other Churches of Babylon the Great, since the Jehovah's Witnesses would be providing a False Religion with a Building where they can practice their False Religion? If this is okay, what are the Scriptural reasons for this being okay?
28:) Is it okay to buy Church Buildings from other Churches of Babylon the Great, since the Jehovah's Witnesses would be providing a False Religion with tens of thousands of dollars which they can use to promote their False Religion? If this is okay, what are the Scriptural reasons for this being okay?
29:) Are individual Jehovah's Witnesses allowed to donate to, or purchase items directly from, or sell items directly to, the Red Cross, the Boy Scouts, YMCA, the Salvation Army, or the Catholic Church?
30:) Are individual Jehovah's Witnesses allowed to do construction work, janitorial work, or yard work for a Church that is part of Babylon the Great? How is that any different from selling a Kingdom Hall to Babylon the Great?
31:) If a Jehovah's Witness woman does not scream and/or fight off the attacker while being raped (even if he has a gun or knife), is the woman guilty of fornication or adultery (if she is married)? Can the woman be Disfellowshipped for not screaming while being raped? Does this rule apply to children?
32:) Will some people from Sodom and Gomorroh be resurrected, or not?
33:) If Jesus was NOT resurrected in His human body, but only as a "spirit creature," then can you explain why Jesus told His disciples that He was NOT A SPIRIT? (Luke 24:39)
34:) Is Jesus Christ the MEDIATOR for all Christians, or ONLY for the 144,000?
35:) Can you explain what the Jehovah's Witnesses Policy on Child Abuse is and how it works?
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Here are two Watchtower Articles which FORBID Jehovah's Witnesses from reading Apostate writings, speaking to Apostates, or associating with Apostates:
The Watchtower, March 15th, 1986, Pages 12-15:
Have No Dealings With Apostates
7 Now, what will you do if you are confronted with apostate teaching—subtle reasonings—claiming that what you believe as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not the truth? For example, what will you do if you receive a letter or some literature, open it, and see right away that it is from an apostate? Will curiosity cause you to read it, just to see what he has to say? You may even reason: ‘It won’t affect me; I’m too strong in the truth. And, besides, if we have the truth, we have nothing to fear. The truth will stand the test.’ In thinking this way, some have fed their minds upon apostate reasoning and have fallen prey to serious questioning and doubt. (Compare James 1:5-8.) So remember the warning at 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.”
8 With loving help from caring brothers, some having doubts sown by apostates have recovered after a period of spiritual turmoil and trauma. But this pain could have been avoided. At Proverbs 11:9 we are told: “By his mouth the one who is an apostate brings his fellowman to ruin, but by knowledge are the righteous rescued.” Jude told fellow Christians to “continue showing mercy to some that have doubts; save them by snatching them out of the fire.” (Jude 22, 23) Paul advised the overseer Timothy to instruct “with mildness those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come back to their proper senses out from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him for the will of that one.”—2 Timothy 2:25, 26.
9 Tragically, others have gone into complete darkness, even going back to Christendom’s erroneous teachings. The apostle Peter wrote about the tragic outcome for some who first walked in the truth but then turned aside. He said: “Certainly if, after having escaped from the defilements of the world by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they get involved again with these very things and are overcome, the final conditions have become worse for them than the first.” Peter said they are like the dog that returns to its vomit and the bathed sow that turns back to wallowing in the mire.—2 Peter 2:20-22.
10 When a fellow human tells us, ‘Do not read this’ or, ‘Do not listen to that,’ we may be tempted to ignore his advice. But remember, in this case Jehovah is the One who tells us in his Word what to do. And what does he say about apostates? “Avoid them” (Romans 16:17, 18); “quit mixing in company with” them (1 Corinthians 5:11); and “never receive [them] into your homes or say a greeting to [them]” (2 John 9, 10). These are emphatic words, clear directions. If, out of curiosity, we were to read the literature of a known apostate, would that not be the same as inviting this enemy of true worship right into our home to sit down with us and relate his apostate ideas?
11 Let us illustrate matters in this way: Suppose your teenage son received some pornographic material in the mail. What would you do? If he was inclined to read it out of curiosity, would you say: ‘Yes, son, go ahead and read it. It won’t hurt you. From infancy we’ve taught you that immorality is bad. Besides, you need to know what’s going on in the world in order to see that it’s truly bad’? Would you reason that way? Absolutely not! Rather, you would surely point out the dangers of reading pornographic literature and would require that it be destroyed. Why? Because no matter how strong a person may be in the truth, if he feeds his mind on the perverted ideas found in such literature, his mind and heart will be affected. A lingering wrong desire planted in the recesses of the heart can eventually create a perverted sexual appetite. The result? James says that when wrong desire becomes fertile, it gives birth to sin, and sin leads to death. (James 1:15) So why start the chain reaction?
12 Well, if we would act so decisively to protect our children from exposure to pornography, should we not expect that our loving heavenly Father would similarly warn us and protect us from spiritual fornication, including apostasy? He says, Keep away from it!
13 But suppose we are preaching the good news and people raise questions or objections similar to those raised by opposers? Of course, if a person is not sincere and merely wishes to argue, usually it is best to excuse ourselves and go to the next door. But if someone sincerely asks about certain claims of apostates, what can be done? First, we can ask what, exactly, has caused the concern. It may be only one or two points. Then we can stick to these and answer from the Scriptures, from the Society’s publications, and from what we truthfully know about the subject. We need not conclude that we have to read a book or a pamphlet that is filled with slander and half-truths in order to refute the false claims and teachings of opposers.
Confidence in Jehovah
14 As we go forward, building faith and keeping busy in Kingdom service, we can confidently put our trust in Jehovah, knowing that, as our loving heavenly Father, he wants the very best for us. God teaches us; he warns us. He does this through his Word and by means of clear direction provided by his visible organization. If we were to ask a loving parent for bread and fish, he would not give us a stone or a serpent. Neither will God fool us or deceive us. (Matthew 7:7-11) Yet, God will not completely shield us from temptations or even deceptive lies and devilish propaganda. He says of himself: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk.” (Isaiah 48:17) Yes, Jehovah ‘teaches us to benefit ourselves.’ He tells us to keep separate from apostates and their teaching, and this for our own protection. It means our life.
15 The apostle Paul warned fellow Christian elders: “From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:30) If we keep listening to subtle arguments and specious reasoning, “twisted things” can sound as though they were straight. The longer Eve looked at the forbidden fruit and listened to the twisted reasoning of the Devil, the more she was convinced that he was right. Paul warned: “Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) The apostle also indicated that “by smooth talk and complimentary speech [apostates] seduce the hearts of guileless ones.” (Romans 16:17, 18; compare 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.) Of course, the fact that a few are drawn away by that kind of propaganda does not mean that we have to follow them. Nevertheless, we need to be continually alert.
16 The Devil’s tactics have not changed since Eden. He uses subtle questioning and an appeal to self-interest. Peter wrote: “There will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects . . . Also, with covetousness they will exploit you with counterfeit words.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) Something counterfeit is designed to look or sound genuine. At 2 Timothy 2:14-19, Paul stressed the importance of using Jehovah’s Word to set matters straight but warned of the need to avoid apostates, whose ‘empty speeches violate what is holy,’ for, said he, “their word will spread like gangrene.”
17 A fitting analogy indeed! Like gangrene, apostate reasoning is nothing but quick-spreading spiritual death. And since the members of the congregation are like one body, there is a danger that others may be infected. If the one spreading apostate teachings cannot be restored to spiritual health by loving but firm application of the balm of God’s Word, amputation of this member (disfellowshipping) may be the only alternative for the protection of other members of the body. (Compare Titus 1:10, 11.) Do not be infected by deadly gangrene of a spiritual kind! Keep in good spiritual health by avoiding the contamination of apostate thinking. Heed the sound advice at 2 Peter 3:17, 18: “You, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on your guard that you may not be led away with them by the error of the law-defying people and fall from your own steadfastness. No, but go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
18 But how can we protect ourselves from apostasy? How can we keep our hearts from being receptive to apostate reasoning?
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Watchtower, July 1st, 1994, Page 12:
"it would be a dangerous thing to allow our curiosity to move us to feed on such writings or to listen to their abusive speech! While we might not think it a risk for us personally, the hazard remains. Why? For one thing, some of the apostate literature presents falsehoods by means of “smooth talk” and “counterfeit words.” (Romans 16:17, 18; 2 Peter 2:3) What would you expect from the table of demons?"
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