Brilliant. Your story is well told.
Golden points:
- If Jehovah was the only true God 'in the beginning', was Jesus a false god 'in the beginning'?
JW response to Jesus as a god:
Insight Vol 2, page 54
The Word?s preeminent position among God?s creatures as the Firstborn, the one through whom God created all things, and as God?s Spokesman, gives real basis for his being called "a god" or mighty one. The Messianic prophecy at Isaiah 9:6 foretold that he would be called "Mighty God," though not the Almighty God, and that he would be the "Eternal Father" of all those privileged to live as his subjects. The zeal of his own Father, "Jehovah of armies," would accomplish this. (Isa 9:7) Certainly if God?s Adversary, Satan the Devil, is called a "god" (2Co 4:4) because of his dominance over men and demons (1Jo 5:19; Lu 11:14-18), then with far greater reason and propriety is God?s firstborn Son called "a god," "the only-begotten god" as the most reliable manuscripts of John 1:18 call him.
This actually proves JWs are polytheists. Although they say they believe in only one "true" God, their doctrine teaches Jesus and Satan are also legitimate gods
- Jesus said [DFed] should be treated as a tax collector and a man of the nations. How did Jesus treat tax collectors and men of the nations?
JW response to Jesus with tax collectors, men of the nations:
Watchtower 1999
10/15pp.18-19 "YouMayGainYourBrother" 5
Strictly speaking, what Jesus advised relates to more serious matters. Jesus said: "If your brother commits a sin." In a broad sense, "a sin" can be any mistake or failing. (Job 2:10; Proverbs 21:4; James 4:17) However, the context suggests that the sin Jesus meant must have been serious. It was sufficiently grave that it could lead to the wrongdoer?s being viewed "as a man of the nations and as a tax collector."Read the scripture yourself and decide if the "context" means a "serious sin":
(Matthew 18:15-17) 15 "Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector.
...paragraph 12 Jesus outlined a second step: "If he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established."
13
He said to take "one or two more." He did not say that after taking the first step, you are free to discuss the problem with many others, to contact a traveling overseer, or to write to brothers about the problem. Convinced as you may be about the wrong, it has not really been fully established. You would not want to spread negative information that could turn out to be slander on your part. (Proverbs 16:28; 18:8) But Jesus did say to take along one or two others. Why? And who could they be?Get ready for more spin...
14 You are trying to gain your brother by convincing him that a sin has been committed and by moving him to repent so as to be at peace with you and with God. To that end, the ideal situation would be if the "one or two" were witnesses to the wrong. Perhaps they were present when it occurred, or they have valid information about what was done (or not done) in a business matter. If such witnesses are not available, those you bring may have experience in the field at issue and therefore be able to establish whether what occurred was truly a wrong. Moreover, should it later be needed, they could be witnesses to what was said, confirming the facts presented and effort made. (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6) So they are not simply neutral parties, referees; yet, their being present is to help gain your brother and theirs.
So the "witnesses" are those who observed the sin? Where is that said? Isn't Jesus saying take others along to be witnesses of your dispute, after the fact?
...paragraph 16 If step two fails to settle the matter, congregation overseers are definitely involved in the third step. "If he does not listen to [the one or two], speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector." What does this entail?
17
We do not understand it as a directive to bring up the sin or wrong at a regular or special meeting of the whole congregation. We can determine the appropriate procedure from God?s Word. See what was to be done in ancient Israel in a case of rebellion, gluttony, and drunkenness: "In case a man happens to have a son who is stubborn and rebellious, he not listening to the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and they have corrected him but he will not listen to them, his father and his mother must also take hold of him and bringhimouttotheoldermen of his city and to the gate of his place, and they must say to theoldermen of his city, ?This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he is not listening to our voice, being a glutton and a drunkard.? Then all the men of his city must pelt him with stones."?Deuteronomy 21:18-21. 18
The man?s sins were not heard and judged by the whole nation nor by all of his own tribe. Rather, the recognized "older men" dealt with it as representatives of the congregation. (Compare Deuteronomy 19:16, 17 about a case handled by ?the priests and the judges who were acting in those days.?) Similarly today, when it is necessary to take the third step, the elders, who represent the congregation, handle the matter. Their goal is the same, to gain the Christian brother if at all possible. They reflect this by showing fairness, not prejudging the case or being partial.Even if you accept ancient Israel's procedure, the person was heard at the gate, in public. If found guilty "then all the men of the city" would stone the person--that's right--all in public. Does that match JW's private judicial committees and undisclosed DFings? Not at all.
- Were you born in the Last Days? Then, obviously parents didn't love their children, and children didn't love their parents when you were young.
JW response to these horrible last days (in 1967!):
Watchtower 19679/1p.518ChristianConductintheFaceofViolenceIs the violence we now experience going to decrease or increase in the days ahead? Bible prophecy guarantees: "Wicked men . . . will advance from bad to worse." (2 Tim. 3:13) Also, it says: "The inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons." (1 Tim. 4:1) And Jesus Christ foretold: "Because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off."?Matt. 24:12.
Violence will thus continue to grow for a little while longer, until these "last days" come to their completion. Then God will bring all violence, and those responsible for it, to their finish.
Without a doubt, "the world is passing away and so is its desire." (1 John 2:17) In one orgy of violence after another, it speeds to its near end at God?s own hand. Yet, God?s Word also promises that "he that does the will of God remains forever." Thus, the comforting promise of surviving the end of this violence-filled system is held out to honest-hearted persons everywhere who do God?s will.
The late sixties. Most JWs today are of the baby-boomer age--1967 was the time of their coming of age, what they now compare 2006 to when saying modern times are worse! The "good ol' days" always seem to be a couple decades past--no matter when you live. \
- How can Jehovah's Witnesses claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus when they aren't even allowed to talk to him, much less worship him?
JW response to personal relationship with Jesus:
NOT MUCH! You will only find references to a personal relationship with Jehovah through Jesus as a mediator. This is the only reference I could find in recent publication that even mentions a relationship with Jesus:
Watchtower 1995
8/15p.19"MyYokeIsKindlyandMyLoadIsLight"And, above all, how is our personal relationship with Jehovah God and his Son, Jesus Christ?
But there is a catch, JWs with an earthly hope do not believe Jesus is their Mediator. That is reserved for the 144,000 "anointed" only.
Watchtower 1991
2/15p.17"YouWereBoughtWithaPrice"Hence, the ransom sacrifice is fundamental to the new covenant, of which Jesus is the Mediator. Paul wrote: "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all?this is what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times." (1 Timothy 2:5, 6) Those words especially apply to the 144,000, with whom the new covenant is made.
