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Jehovah’s WitnessesThe WatchtowerBible and Tract SocietyDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University1

Do we really know them?History -- where did they come from? Doctrines -- what they believe Practices -- how they live Presence in world today When you encounter them . . . December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University2

Charles Taze Russell 18521916 Bounced from Presbyterian toCongregational churches Ended up contemptuous of all Age 17 -- Heard convincingargument that hell did not exist 1870 -- at age 18 organizedBible classDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University3

The Russell era Captivated by Adventist preaching on Christ’sSecond Coming 1876 -- joined staff of Adventist publication“Herald of the Morning” December 16, 2020That group said Christ had returned invisibly in1874 and would take believers to heaven in 1878Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University4

Charles Taze Russell1879 Took control of Barbour’spublication, renamed it“Watchtower” Married Began feeling hewas the 7thmessengerof RevelationDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University5

Movement gets underway 1884 -- IncorporatedZion’s Watchtower TractSociety 1893 -- First majorconvention in Chicago 360 in attendance70 baptismsDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University6

1914? 1894 -- Watchtower set 1914 as thereturn of Christ and beginning ofmillennium 1914 came and went . . . remains keydate for Jehovah’s Witnesses“The Creator’s promise of a peacefuland secure new world before thegeneration that saw the events of 1914passes away” -- Awake! October, 1995December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University7

Pyramidologymeasurements of Egyptian Great Pyramid used to calculatedates 1909 Wife divorced himmoved headquartersfrom Pittsburgh toBrooklyn1916 Died during train tripBuried near thispyramid structureDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University8

“Judge” Rutherford 1869-1942 A power vacuum ensuedwith Russell’s death By quasi-legalmaneuvering, this lawyeredged out competition andtook over the organizationin 1917December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University9

Judge Rutherford 1869-1942 First visited by WatchTower representatives inhis Missouri law offices in1894 Baptized as a BibleStudent in 1906 When he took over,several groups splinteredoffDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University10

Rutherford continues dating game1918 -- Watchtower setsChrist’s return for 1925“Millions Now Living Will NeverDie” -- article became book titletwo years laterWorldwide anarchy waspredicted to occur in 1920December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University11

Expansion in Rutherford era 1919 -- began Awake! 1920’s, 30’s -- Extensiveuse of radio andphonograph records 1933 -- over 400 radiostations were carrying hisBible lecturesDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University12

Steady revision of doctrineand structure 1931 -- New name:Jehovah’s Witnesses Under Rutherford,membership grew from10,000 in 1916 to 100,000in 1942December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University13

Beth-Sarim Palatial San Diego home builtby RutherfordTo be deeded to Abraham,Isaac, Jacob and David whenthey returned to earthRutherford planned to beburied hereAfter his death, quietly soldBeth-Shan 79 acres purchased in 1939;also deeded to “princes”Had bomb shelterDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University14

Personality era endsWith Rutherford’s death, the era of charismatic,flamboyant leadership ended.Power now vested in the governing council.December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University15

JW Bible translation “New World” Bible translation appeared in 1950 Only one member of translation committee knewanything about the original languages of the BibleKnorr had two years of Greek What is the “New World Translation?” An authentic translation? No.Systematic re-writing of Scripture in support ofdoctrinal positions. Yes.December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University16

1975 -- a new date 1966 book hinted that 1975 would see a newperiod in human history. August 1968 Watchtower set 1975 as year forArmageddon December 16, 2020For JW’s, period of growth leading up to 1975, thenstagnation when the year came and wentHoward Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University17

Doctrines - Beliefs Eschatology (end times)Soteriology (salvation)Pneumatolgy (doctrine of Holy Spirit)Christology (beliefs about Jesus Christ)December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University18

AuthorityWatchtower Society claims to speak for Jehovahas His sole “channel of communication” on theearthDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University19

Beliefs: ApocalypticFocused on end timesWaiting for paradise onearth after battle ofArmageddonDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University20

Future Paradise on earth Only 144,000 “anointed”will go to heavenHell does not exist; evilpeople will simply beannihilatedDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University21

Salvation People God approves will receive eternal lifehere on earth You may be saved, depending on yourfaithfulness and obedience“Just as a proper secular education is necessary to fit aperson for a place in everyday society, so a properBible education is necessary to equip one for enteringthe society that will survive to live in the Paradiseearth.” -- from Jehovah’s Witnesses web siteDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University22

Holy Spirit Denial of trinity Claim trinity comes from ancientmythology“a complicated, freakish-looking,three-headed God” -- Let God Be TrueHoly Spirit is an active forcelike electricity or fireDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University23

Core issue: Christology As fascinating as all the date setting and shifting is . . .As fascinating as the issues of blood transfusions andsaluting the flag may be . . .The core of our disagreement with ourJehovah’s Witness friends centers on JesusChristDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University24

Latter day Arians Arianism -- a 4th century heresy denyingdeity of Christ, saying Jesus was the firstthing God created To JW’s, Jesus Christ is Archangel Michael At Jesus’ death, God disposed of Jesus’physical body. Because Jesus was raised a spirit creature,God had to “materialize” a fleshly body forhimDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University25

Practices -- how they live No drugs; alcohol in moderationSexual purityLimited social environment Pervasive us/them mentalityEveryone else is of the devilHeavy controlNot allowed to read literature critical of JW’s Children discouraged from higher learningRespect government but do not participate inelectionsDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University26

Community life Congregations Attendance expected at weekly “book studies” (canbe in homes)Full congregations meet in “Kingdom Halls”Ministers serve without payDisfellowshipping -- kicking people out of the familyCommunion or Lord’s Supper Observed annually on date of Jesus’ deathNisan 14 -- March/April Only 144,000 elite may take the elements In 1999 the “partakers” worldwide were 8,755December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University27

Iconoclastic“overthrowing traditional or popular ideas” No celebrating ChristmasNo celebrating EasterNo celebrating birthdaysNo celebrating Mother’sDay No saluting of the nationalflag No blood transfusionsDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University28

Iconoclastic“overthrowing traditional or popular ideas”Jehovah’s Witnessessay Jesus died on astake rather than ona crossDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University29

Presence in world today 800,000 in USA5 million “publishers”worldwide300, 000 baptisms annually100,000 net increase 90,000 “congregations”worldwideDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University30

Global publishing operation 15 million publicationseach week Brooklyn factory buildingbought in 1927Several expansions3,000 now work thereDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University31

Recruitment / Evangelism Door-to-door house calls 740 house calls needed to recruit one newmemberDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University32

7 Step Process Literature put in prospect’s hands“Back calling” or follow upProspect starts actual “book study”Attendance at Kingdom Hall meetingsAttendance at worship servicesActive tract distributionBaptismDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University33

When we encounter themDo we slam that door? Do we just politely close it? If we let them in . . . should we try to prove them wrong?December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University34

When we encounter themRemember . . . They believe they are the only “true religion” JW’s are used to attacks and persecutionUsing logic to prove them wrong accomplishes littleCriticism will likely encounter a stone wallHow do we overcome that “true religion” idea?December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University35

Overcoming “true religion” syndrome Shy away from “setting them straight” Ask disarming questions See yourself as a sower of seeds, not aharvesterDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University36

Question possibilities. . . not to provoke a fight Have true Christians always existed somewhereover the last 2,000 years? Are the marks of real Christians exclusive to theWatchtower or are they shared by other groups? Does the Watchtower believe all other Christiangroups are completely false?December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University37

Questions on the Bible Was the Bible written to all people? Can someone who had a Bible and no otherliterature understand it and become all that Godwanted him or her to be? The Mormons claim that one must study theirbooks in order to get an accurate knowledge ofScriptures. What do you think of that?December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University38

Key question on Christ Can you come to Christ as your mediator?December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University39

Be friendly and neighborly Don’t focus on winning argumentsDon’t defend yourself or your beliefsWin trustDon’t try to back people into a cornerAllow them to “save face”December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University40

Use of Scripture Get your Bible Read aloud every text they mention Look carefully with them at the context (thesurrounding verses and chapters) in a verseappearsDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University41

Be sensitive to whom youare speaking. . .Someone made in God’s image forwhom Christ died A human being with whom you havemuch in common December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University42

Stay in touch with the One inwhose presence you arehaving the discussion. . .Your greatest advantage is prayerBe constant in prayer as you talk withthemDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University43

Maintain with discipline . . . your position and role December 16, 2020Humility and loveMake your conversation “heart to heart”rather than “head to head”Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University44

A bit of poetry . . .He drew a circle that shut me out.Heretic, rebel; a thing to flout.But love and I had the wit to win.We drew a circle that took him in.-- Edwin MarkhamDecember 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University45

Jehovah’s WitnessesThe WatchtowerBible and Tract Society(end)December 16, 2020Howard Culbertson, Southern Nazarene University46