Really beautiful Watchtower article about truth

Anders Andersen

This is the singlemost best Watchtower article I have ever read.

It almost brought tears to my eyes (please note the almost ;-))

"WHAT IS TRUTH?"
This question is one which every sincere Christian should ask and seek to answer. We should learn to love and value truth for its own sake; to respect and honor it by owning and acknowledging it wherever we find it and by whomsoever presented. A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God. Perhaps no class of people are more apt to overlook this fact than the Christian. How often do they in controversy overlook and ignore truth presented by their opponents. This is particularly the case when arguing with an infidel. They feel at perfect liberty to dispute everything he says on religious subjects. This is not the correct principle. Many infidels are honest— as anxious to speak and believe the truth as are Christians— and if in converse with them we ignore truths which they may advance, we not only fail to convince them of our truths, but put an end to all hope of reaching them; for our failure to admit the evident truth which they advance begets in them contempt for the one who is not honest enough to admit one truth because he does not see how it can be reconciled to another. Accept truth wherever you find it, no matter what it contradicts, and rely for ability to afterwards harmonize it with others upon "The Spirit of truth, which shall guide you into all truth," as Jesus promised.
Truth, like a modest little flower in the wilderness of life, is surrounded and almost choked by the luxuriant growth of the weeds of error. If you would find it you must be ever on the lookout. If you would see its beauty you must brush aside the weeds of error and the brambles of bigotry. If you would possess it you must stoop to get it. Be not content with one flower of truth. Had one been sufficient there would have been no more. Gather ever, seek for more. Weave them together as a garland —"Bind them on thee as a bride doeth." "Bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man." Prov. 3:3.
C. T. R.
Zion's Watch Tower, July 1879

If only more Witnesses would be really looking for truth, instead of instantly rejecting everything that is not written in JW literature....

If only the WTBS would treat 'infidels' as C.T. Russell wrote: engage in conversation with them, and really listen. Accept facts and truth, regardless of the source.

PDF scan of the original issue

Full (searchable) text of this WT on archive.org

sir82

Well, its kind of hard to do what the article says, if you redefine "truth" and "lying" to serve your own interests, as the WTS does.

Oubliette

Nice. You'll never get a current JW to read that and follow it to its logical conclusion.

JWs do accept truth wherever they find it. It's just that for them "truth" means whatever the WTS says. So if an apostate/infidel were to preach to them the doctrine of the watchtower, they'd recognize it as truth and embrace it.

jhine

My thoughts as well sir82 . I wonder what Russell would think about the rather " fluid " approach to truth currently practised by the org. Is he spinning in his pyramid ?

Jan

jonza

Is he spinning in his pyramid LOL

Watchtower-Free

Finkelstein

If people were to be wholeheartedly interested in the truth they wouldn't be anywhere near the Watchtower Corporation or read its publications.

The WTS's lies and false truths were designated and upheld as truth above false religion, the only problem with this organization is that in pointing out other Christian based religions as being false, this organization accumulated and propagated quite a bit of its own false teachings according to the bible's reference and guidance.

The WTS indulged itself in promoting and selling a tainted commercialized version of the Gospel in its literature proliferation agenda.

ttdtt

Anders, GOOD ONE!

Reminds me of this:)

At this the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die.+ 5 For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.”+

-

Jehovah God then said: “Here the man has become like one of us in knowing good and bad.+ Now in order that he may not put his hand out and take fruit also from the tree of life+and eat and live forever,*—” 23 With that Jehovah God expelled him from the garden of Eʹden

So who told the lie?

berrygerry

July 1879, Presumably, then the first edition of Watchtower.

All downhill from there.