1....they sanctify God's name (Jehovah) by making it known to others
  2....they preach from door to door
  3....they respect the bible by living in accord with its teachings and do not allow immorality, smoking, or alcohol
        abuse among members
  4....they are "no part of the world." This means that they do not participate in politics, nationalism, or celebrate
        holidays or birthdays
  5....they have love among themselves and do not engage in warfare killing fellow Christians in other nations
  6....God is using the Watchtower Society as his 'channel of communication.' Like the 12 Apostles of the 1st
       century, Jehovah's Witnesses have the Governing Body to direct them although these men do not rely on  human wisdom in making
       decisions, but rather rely on the power of holy spirit
  7...they have been blessed with a large publishing empire that has grown phenomenally and is now distributing millions of pieces of literature
        in over 200 nations on this globe

Point 1

     Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion because they sanctify God's name (Jehovah) by making it
     known to others.

     ANSWER

     They have only used the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" since 1931. Previous to that time, they were known as "Bible  Students" and mainly referred to God as "Lord." The reason for the change in their name was as a result of jealousy on the part of the Watchtower Society's second president 'Judge' Rutherford. After the schism of 1918/1919 various groups were  formed (including Rutherford's, although he craftily took possession of all the Society's property and magazine names by  having the Society's board of directors, the true successor's of Charles Taze Russell, overthrown). All these groups went by the appellation "Bible Students." Rutherford could not tolerate being identified with those who refused to submit to his tyranny, therefore he seized a term that applied only to Jews at Isaiah 43:10 and appropriated it for his followers. To justify this change he claimed to have received one of his many flashes "of light" foisting Proverbs 4:18 "the light gets brighter and  brighter" on his followers who were either too ignorant to understand the true meaning of that passage or too loyal to Rutherford to care.

     The use of a special word as a way to identify with a particular deity is an ancient pagan practice dating back millennia. A  word in itself has no more power than any of the mantras or mystical sayings of the eastern religions. The word "Jehovah"  carries with it no unusual or mystical significance. This can be seen in the fact that the Tetragrammaton does not even appear once in any of the New Testament manuscripts that exist today. The fact that the secret translation committee of the New World Translation (actually, Fred Franz, George Gangas, Nathan Knorr, and a few other Governing Body members) inserted this word over 200 times in their 'version' of the New Testament does not lend legitimacy to their claim because such a fraudulent translation has no historical or manuscript basis. This is an invention of the Watchtower Society.

     The word "Jehovah" is a linguistic error. It is the result of a mistransliteration of the word "Yahweh" (that is, "the eternally existing one") combined with the surrogate form used by the ancient Hebrews "Adonai", or Lord. Concerned that they might  misuse the name of God and thus inadvertently violate the Third Commandment they took the precautionary measure of copying the four consonants for the Divine Name (YHWH) in the text where it appeared but included the vowels of the word for "Lord" which they would speak in place of it.

     The New World Translation is inconsistent in this regard. For example, in the Old Testament, the Society's secretive  'Translation Committee' chose to translate the word "Adonai" (Lord) as "Jehovah" in every case it references God (conf.,  Isaiah 9:8). However, the committee chose not to do this in the New Testament for the Greek rendering of Lord, "Kurios"  because doing so would prove Jesus is God. As a result, Jehovah's Witnesses are stuck with 2 'firsts' and 2 'lasts' as well as 2 'alphas' and 'omegas'! (compare Revelation 1:8 with 22:12-16 and Isaiah 48:12 with Revelation 1:17).

     More amazingly Jehovah's Witnesses state that "Jehovah" is most familiar to everyone so that's why they use this  "Anglicized" rendering. Yet they do not "Anglicize" Daniel, Zephaniah, Isaiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel, and a host of other  Hebrew names. The Jews revered the Name so much that they used a surrogate form meaning the same thing so as to avert the slightest possibility of profaning it whereas Jehovah's Witnesses actually use a DIFFERENT name altogether despite the  Watchtower's own admission that "Yahweh" is most likely the more correct form! In effect, they have told God "look, we  know what your name really is but we're changing it because the corrupt rendering is more popular." This is not sanctifying  theName … is profanity against Almighty God.

Point 2

     Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion because they preach from door to door.

     ANSWER

     Various Christian denominations also preach from door to door, while others have found door to door witnessing to be  ineffective in gaining converts and focus instead on street witnessing. The majority of householders are at work during the  week and many others will not open their doors to strangers. It has been calculated that it takes over 3,000 hours of door  to  door proselytizing to gain one JW convert -- and a good portion of these statistics are the result of children of Jehovah's Witnesses being baptized! Truly, the scripture that the Pharisees 'traverse land and sea in order to make one single convert'  comes glaringly into play here. (Matt. 23:15)

     Yet, there is NO biblical mandate for the kind of door to door preaching work done by Jehovah's Witnesses. Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs to preach to his fellow Jews in Judea to announce that the Kingdom of God was imminent in the form of the Messiah who was now among them. It was the Messiah, Jesus, whom the disciples were announcing to the Jews. In fact, they were specifically instructed NOT to go from house to house or from village to village! They were to go into welcoming  homes and instruct the householders about the Messiah and to stay several days. This kind of preaching activity  has been  accomplished. There was a purpose for it in Jesus' day and this kind of preaching has served its purpose. In any event,  Jehovah's Witnesses simply do not follow Jesus' instructions as he has outlined at all despite the fact that there is no  need for that kind of preaching today.

     Jehovah's Witnesses try to use the Apostles' practice of "preaching from house to house" as a basis for their hawking the  Watchtower message from door to door, but looking at the context reveals that the JWs premise is totally in error. Acts 20:20  states: "while I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly  and from  house to house." Here Paul is speaking NOT to unwary householders but to the "older men of the congregation." (Acts 20:17)  Paul's "house to house" teaching (not preaching) means house churches, that is, assembly of  Christian believers who gathered to be taught by Paul. This verse has NOTHING to do with so called 'door-to-door preaching activity'. Nor does Acts 5:42 where the Apostles went to synagogues and from house-church to house-church to TEACH assembled ones. In no  instance can we find any apostolic activity that remotely resembles the activity performed by Jehovah's Witnesses today.

     In sum, Jehovah's Witnesses activity of door-to-door preaching as a required sign of the "true religion" is purely an  invention   of the Watchtower Society and is NOT a biblically mandated required work. Many groups, like the Mormons, engage in this activity and Jehovah's Witnesses will never say that the Mormons have the true faith because of this activity. Also, scripture proves that the kind of house to house activity directed by Jesus is totally different and even contrary that performed by the Jehovah's Witnesses. The activity performed by the Apostles isn't even the same kind of activity performed by the Jehovah's Witnesses in the first place! The gospel Paul preached of Christ's death and resurrection is different from the "gospel" preached by the Jehovah's Witnesses that in 1914 Christ returned but is invisible and is using a group of men in Brooklyn New York to direct his affairs.

Point 3

     Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion because they respect the bible by living in accord with its  teachings and do not  allow immorality, smoking, or alcohol abuse among members.

     ANSWER

     Most Christian communions also respect the bible by living in accord with its teachings. Certain denominations do not allow  members to consume alcoholic beverages at all. And discipline is administered in love by these Christian communions for those who do engage in immorality or some other weakness of the flesh. However, the Jehovah's Witnesses ban on smoking  is only recent (1974) and they never disfellowshipped individuals for smoking before this time since the beginning when they were founded by Charles Taze Russell in 1879. It's difficult to believe that it would take "Jehovah" nearly 100 years to alert the Governing Body that smoking wasn't a good thing. Most Jehovah's Witnesses don't realize that their  second president 'Judge'  Joseph F. Rutherford smoked cigars. They also don't realize that the 'Judge' was a notorious alcoholic who ordered the Canadian branch of the Watchtower organization to smuggle liquor across the border during the     Prohibition of the 1920s. So outraged was he that the flow of liquor to Bethel stopped that he wrote a scathing article  denouncing the government's Prohibition action as Satanically inspired.  Not only was he not disfellowshipped or even  reprimanded for engaging in such drug abuse, Jehovah's Witnesses sincerely believe that the cigar-chomping, booze-guzzling Judge' is now in heaven awaiting  to co-rule over Jehovah's Witnesses in a paradise earth.

Point 4

     Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion because they are "no part of the world." This means that they do not participate in politics, nationalism, or celebrate holidays or birthdays.

     ANSWER

     This is a not only a Watchtower misinterpretation of John 15:19 it is purely a unique invention of Watchtower doctrine. To be 'no part of the world' would mean to not go after those things which the world lusts after such as immoral sexual relationships, gathering riches, or engaging in drunken debaucheries. It has nothing to do with political involvement or  nationalism. Indeed, the Apostles were very nationalistic for it was the very essence of being Jewish. The New Testament actually advocates a  personal cooperation with politics (see 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:6). It's important to help those  into office that uphold biblical principles. By participating on a local level we ensure that our community is safe and clean for ourselves, our children, and our neighbors which can lend itself to further advancing the true Gospel.

     As far as holidays are concerned, it is true that most have their origins in paganism. It is also true that many other things we  do in life have their origin in pagan elements such as our calendar -- the names of the days of the week and the months of  the  year are named after pagan deities. Do we become so preoccupied with paganism under every rock that we cease making  appointments on certain dates because of a neurotic fear of paganism? The original meanings behind the calendar and holidays are long gone and are of no consequence today. They no longer have any effect on our daily lives. Symbols used in  today's world and artwork on stationery, wallpaper, etc. are often borrowed from pagan sources.

 Curiously, the Watchtower Society agrees with this! Note these statements from a 1976 Awake! article regarding the use of  symbols such as the heart, the swastika, the cross, and others:

 "What should be a Christian's attitude toward shapes and designs that have at some time or place been connected  with false religion? … So the Christian needs to be primarily concerned about what? Not what a certain symbol or design possibly meant thousands of years ago or how it might be thought of on the other side of the world, but what it  means now to most people where he lives. … With so many different designs having been used in false worship, if a person went to the trouble and took the time he might find an undesirable connection with almost every design he sees around him. But why do that? Would it not be needlessly upsetting? And is that the best use of one's time and attention?" -- Awake!, 12/22/76, pp. 12-15

 The Awake! article is emphasizing that, 1) Symbolism in itself is not necessarily wrong to use, even if once used by pagans in false worship, and 2) It is a waste of time and needlessly upsetting to concern ourselves with what something may have  meant in times past or even elsewhere on the earth in our day and age.

 The custom of the lighted Christmas tree originated with Martin Luther, someone even the Watchtower Society acknowledges was a great man of God. While walking in the moonlight and thanking God for sending his Son, he noticed in evergreen tree covered in Hoarfrost shining in the moonlight. He cut the tree down and brought it home where he decorated its branches with  lit candles to remind all that Christ is the light of the word and that the tree is symbolic not only of the tree Christ died on, but the "tree of life" referred to in Revelation. The attempt of Jehovah's Witnesses and other groups to link the Christmas tree with Jeremiah 10:2-4 is cleared up when read in context -- it speaks of the building of a     wooden statue that would be used as an object of worship and not a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree has never been worshiped and if someone was insane enough  to prostrate before one does not mean that it is an object of worship.

 If Jehovah's Witnesses are going to boast that their members do not celebrate holidays and birthdays because they have pagan roots, they had better not use the names of the days of the week or the months of the year in conversation, or when dating checks or letters. If they do, they are just as 'guilty' as those they condemn for celebrating birthdays and holidays are. Since God saw fit to have the angels sing and rejoice at the birth of Christ (Luke 2:13-14), and we are commanded to "honor the son even as we honor the father" (John 5:23) Christians make no apology to anyone for celebrating the birth of their Lord  and Savior on a most appropriate day. They have the backing from Scripture for the observance of special days they feel brings honor to God (Colossians 2:16-23; Romans 14:5).

Point 5

 Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion because they have love among themselves and do not  engage in warfare killing fellow Christians in other nations.

     ANSWER

 Jehovah's Witnesses in Mexico actually bribed army officials into signing a certificate stating that they were actively participating in the military or had fully completed their required military service (see point #6 below). Also, Jehovah's Witnesses are not unique in their stand against participating in the military. Mennonites, Seventh Day Adventists, Quakers, and the Worldwide Church of God just to name a few also take this same position. Christians who are against participation in  war often pose the question, "What would Jesus have done?" Jesus advocated his own lifestyle. He made no concessions for other lifestyles. Because of his mission it was not proper for him to be concerned with the affairs of government or secular  obligations. He never stated that participation in these two areas was wrong. Similarly, he also did not concern himself with having a place to sleep or what he would eat the next day. The lifestyle he advocated is not lived by many persons to be sure.

There are many who advocate that we follow part of Jesus' lifestyle only -- the part that's not too difficult. Jehovah's Witnesses, believing they are following Jesus' preaching lifestyle (see point #2 above), would smugly proclaim this as proof they are followers of Christ. However, far be it from them in giving up all material comfort and financial gain to follow in Jesus'  EXACT footsteps.

Jesus' standards are absolute. If you are reaching out for his lifestyle, then do not hypocritically teach the need to embrace part of it and reject the rest. If a Christian advocates participating in the military Jehovah's Witnesses should ask themselves if they are following Jesus' lifestyle to a "T" before smugly passing judgment. If they were to ever preach the true gospel, would they preach it continually for most of their waking hours? Would they allow themselves little rest and stay up till dawn in deep prayer? Would they forego marriage, a place to sleep, and a steady income relying solely on God for absolute sustenance? Before JWs smugly proclaim, "Christendom should do what Jesus did which proves they're not Christian" they should insure that they are applying ALL of what Jesus advocated and EVERY ASPECT of how he lived across the board with  no exception in their lives.

 There is justification in scripture for participating in the military:

Matthew 5:39 -- JWs usually point to Jesus' words where he says not to resist the one who is evil, but to him  who slaps you on the cheek, offer him your other cheek. This scripture is part of a larger sermon of Jesus'  where he also advocates giving EVERYTHING you have to those who ask it of you, doing favors for ANY (not  just other JWs) who ask you, and allowing yourself to suffer loss in lawsuits ANY others may bring against you. Does the JW accept such statements without qualification? Hardly.

 Matthew 8:5-10 -- Jesus did not tell the centurion solider to leave the military. He said he had not seen greater faith than the kind this military official had!

Luke 3:10-18 -- When people came to be baptized by John, they would ask him questions about whether they should make changes in their lives. When soldiers asked John "and what about us, what should we do?" John did not say, "you should leave the military." This would have been a perfect opportunity to tell these soldiers to  resign from the military! Instead, John counseled them to be content with their military jobs and salary and to "not take money from anyone by force."

 Acts 10:1-35 -- Cornelius, a centurion of the Roman army is described as a devout man who feared God and prayed continually. In verse 35 the apostle Peter implies that Cornelius is a doer of what is right. Cornelius becomes a believer and is baptized while still a military official. Peter did not tell Cornelius, "before we baptize you, you will have to resign the military." There is no mention in the New Testament of any solider being    admonished to leave his chosen profession as a requirement to become a Christian. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 7:24 the apostle Paul counsels that new converts should remain in the situation God called him to.

 Armed resistance is not proper in resolving spiritual issues, such as when one is being persecuted for his faith. Rather than suggesting that Christians cease resisting evil and give into its demands, Jesus redirected the nature of warfare for the believer. Paul states, "if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men." (Romans 12:18) If there is something we can do to ward off arguments or violence with others, then we are to seek this avenue. This does not mean, however, that we are to consistently allow evil people to use us or our loved ones or neighbors for their own ends (Proverbs  25:26). If we were aware of evil intentions on their part that will bring harm to others, we would not logically seek "peace" by  giving in to their demands. One doesn't turn over his child to a child molester just to seek "peace." If you are not part of the solution that you are part of the problem.

 In summary of the above, peace is not the only option for Christians. The aforementioned scriptures qualify our being peacemakers, because making peace in those situations would result in far greater evils! That is the main point. That is why a refusal to defend your own family from a sex criminal or a murderer can result in much greater evil than physically resisting such a person. Peace isn't always maintained by giving into deliberate evil. Is it really a manifestation of goodness to furnish no opposition to evil? Can we say that a truly good surgeon should do nothing to cut away cancerous tissue from his patient and simply allow him to go on suffering? Can we praise a police force that stands idly by and offers no resistance to the armed robber, the rapist, the arsonist, or any other criminal who preys on society? How could God be called good if he forbade his people to protect their families or neighbors from those who would otherwise cause harm?

Participation in the military does not preclude that all actions taken by the military are 'offensive'. Rather the opposite is more the case. Defensive action is needed to preserve liberty from those who would prefer to take it away and slaughter millions of innocent lives. It is therefore incumbent on a "good" God to include the right of self-defense as the prerogative of  his people. He would not be good at all if he were to turn the world over to the horrors of unbridled cruelty perpetrated by violent and loody criminals or unchecked aggression of invading armies.

There are Christians in many communions who are against participating in the military. Most Christian communions don't  insist that all members believe in just military action. Individual members are allowed to decide for themselves what to believe and do in this matter. As mentioned earlier, several groups are against military participation. However, Jesus will judge people, not according to which religious group they affiliate with, but by their individual lives. In that day Jesus will not turn to ach person and ask, "are you a Jehovah's Witness? If not you are automatically a goat!" In like manner each member  of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses as well as each Witness will be judged individually and not because they  were a part of the Watchtower organization.

Point 6

 Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion because God is using the Watchtower Society as his channel of communication. Like the 12 Apostles of the 1st century, Jehovah's Witnesses have the Governing Body to direct them although these men do not rely on human wisdom in making decisions, but rather rely on the power of holy spirit.

ANSWER

It has been proven that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses DOES rely on human 'wisdom' (or lack thereof in  many instances) when making decisions. The proof of this can be found in two books written by Raymond Franz who was formerly  a member of the Governing Body. These books, "Crisis of Conscience" (1982) and, "In Search of Christian  Freedom" (1991)  can be ordered through any bookstore -- Christian or otherwise -- or found through the local public  library system.

Anyone reading these two books will be shocked to discover how the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses actually operates. One notable example happened in Malawi, where JWs were forbidden by the Governing body to purchase a political party card costing twenty-five cents. This resulted in many JWs getting beaten, raped, killed, and their homes burned. Simultaneously, in Mexico, the Governing Body had full knowledge of JWs actually bribing army officials into signing a certificate stating that they were actively participating in the military or had fully completed their required military service. How  does such an action gibe with their heralding back and forth their "neutrality" in the military?

 Recently, the Governing Body has relaxed its prohibition of working for a military establishment. Again it can be asked, how does such an action maintain the JWs supposed military "neutrality"? More importantly, what does this say about the "holy spirit" upon whom (or 'which' in their case) they rely on for decision making? This, like the 'new light' on the generation of 1914 proves conclusively that the Holy Spirit (electricity or otherwise) is NOT working in the Governing Body's decision  making  process. The process whereupon they make decisions is based upon the confusion of these old men (and increasingly so as they further age).

Point 7

Jehovah's Witnesses are the true religion because they have been blessed with a large publishing empire that has grown phenomenally and is now distributing millions of pieces of literature in over 200 nations on this globe.

 ANSWER

This is not a mark of the "true religion." The fact that the Watchtower organization is producing millions of pieces of literature by their many printing factories does not prove that God is blessing such activities. The Mormons have over eight million members worldwide and distribute millions of copies of their literature in many languages at no charge. The Muslims have over one billion members and billions of pieces of their literature have also been distributed in many languages. Every Jehovah's Witness would readily agree that God is definitely not blessing or approving of the teachings, beliefs, or practices of the Mormons or the Muslims. Clearly, the amount of literature printed and distributed does not prove God is backing a particular religious organization.

Send mail to Joseph Stagnitto caesar@world.std.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 1993-1998 Jesus' Witnesses.  All rights reserved. Revised: May 27, 1998