If you ask Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) today do they worship Jesus Christ, they will say 'no'.
Christians are amazed at the news of this missing dimension in the Jehovah's Witness (JW) practice. BUT, it is perfectly consistent with JW basic beliefs about Jesus Christ Himself.
Let us then investigate their basic beliefs about Him.
Firstly, they say, 'Jesus was/is a creation of Jehovah God [Yahweh]', the first 'direct' and only creation of Jehovah. Hence, Jesus did not always exist but, for JWs, came into existence as a 'spirit-being' existing as Michael, the Archangel before his Father sent him to earth!
Orthodox Christians find this type of notion strange to say the least. For them the Son of God is co-eternal with the Father and was in the words of the Nicene Creed, 'begotten not made'. Historically considered, their teaching is known as Arianism.
Secondly, JWs say, that Jesus while on earth was fully human (but not divine) with a flesh-and-blood body. He lived a perfect life, died on a 'stake' and rose as a 'spirit-being' with God removing his physical body from the sepulchre!
Thirdly according to the JWs, the Son was taken back into heaven as a 'spirit-being' once again to become the Archangel Michael.
None of this outline is acceptable to orthodox Christians.
The question of the identity of Jesus is one of the decisive questions which separates Christians from non-Christians. So, understanding Jesus to be a mere creature is not a small matter.
However, the clear implication of the JWs' belief about Jesus is that because he is just a creature he ought not to be worshipped.
Logically, we could set it out like this:
No one ought to worship which is creaturely or is a creature. Jesus is a creature
Therefore, Jesus should not be worshipped.
The mystery is why the JWs worshipped Jesus up to 1954!
Historically, Charles T. Russell the forerunner of the Jehovah's Witnesses definitely advocated worship and prayer to be directed to Jesus. So did the next leader, 'Judge' Rutherford continuing Russell's example. After Rutherford's death in 1945, the JWs continued to worship Jesus (see http://jehovah.net.au/worshipjesus.html) but in 1954 their doctrine and practice changed dramatically.
Significantly, at the same time as the JWs released their own translation of the Bible, this long-standing worship practice was stopped. This translation revealed -so it was said- that different Greek words for 'worship' made it clear that their version did not require that worship was given to Jesus Christ. Hence, they dropped the practice.
The JWs have a simple answer for this change (and it is one the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Watchtower) organisation uses frequently when forced to change its teaching). The Watchtower coolly stated that it had received 'new light on the matter' and all JWs meekly fall in line.
In speaking about the Watchtower organisation we have mentioned one of the cardinal issues why it remains difficult to convince JW visitors to our house front doors that their beliefs are unbiblical.
Even if we have all the best arguments in the world the ordinary JW already knows what the Bible says because God's Organisation has already told him! And, he is sold out to the Organisation and trusts the Organisation for his deliverance from the wrath to be poured out at Armageddon!
Hence, our testimonies to what God through Christ has done in our lives may be one of the best things to voice with JWs.
Should either one of the two visitors have any doubts about the Organisation and its high-handed ways, then a true, sincere testimony may be used of God to bring about new life in the person.
Christians are amazed at the news of this missing dimension in the Jehovah's Witness (JW) practice. BUT, it is perfectly consistent with JW basic beliefs about Jesus Christ Himself.
Let us then investigate their basic beliefs about Him.
Firstly, they say, 'Jesus was/is a creation of Jehovah God [Yahweh]', the first 'direct' and only creation of Jehovah. Hence, Jesus did not always exist but, for JWs, came into existence as a 'spirit-being' existing as Michael, the Archangel before his Father sent him to earth!
Orthodox Christians find this type of notion strange to say the least. For them the Son of God is co-eternal with the Father and was in the words of the Nicene Creed, 'begotten not made'. Historically considered, their teaching is known as Arianism.
Secondly, JWs say, that Jesus while on earth was fully human (but not divine) with a flesh-and-blood body. He lived a perfect life, died on a 'stake' and rose as a 'spirit-being' with God removing his physical body from the sepulchre!
Thirdly according to the JWs, the Son was taken back into heaven as a 'spirit-being' once again to become the Archangel Michael.
None of this outline is acceptable to orthodox Christians.
The question of the identity of Jesus is one of the decisive questions which separates Christians from non-Christians. So, understanding Jesus to be a mere creature is not a small matter.
However, the clear implication of the JWs' belief about Jesus is that because he is just a creature he ought not to be worshipped.
Logically, we could set it out like this:
No one ought to worship which is creaturely or is a creature. Jesus is a creature
Therefore, Jesus should not be worshipped.
The mystery is why the JWs worshipped Jesus up to 1954!
Historically, Charles T. Russell the forerunner of the Jehovah's Witnesses definitely advocated worship and prayer to be directed to Jesus. So did the next leader, 'Judge' Rutherford continuing Russell's example. After Rutherford's death in 1945, the JWs continued to worship Jesus (see http://jehovah.net.au/worshipjesus.html) but in 1954 their doctrine and practice changed dramatically.
Significantly, at the same time as the JWs released their own translation of the Bible, this long-standing worship practice was stopped. This translation revealed -so it was said- that different Greek words for 'worship' made it clear that their version did not require that worship was given to Jesus Christ. Hence, they dropped the practice.
The JWs have a simple answer for this change (and it is one the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (Watchtower) organisation uses frequently when forced to change its teaching). The Watchtower coolly stated that it had received 'new light on the matter' and all JWs meekly fall in line.
In speaking about the Watchtower organisation we have mentioned one of the cardinal issues why it remains difficult to convince JW visitors to our house front doors that their beliefs are unbiblical.
Even if we have all the best arguments in the world the ordinary JW already knows what the Bible says because God's Organisation has already told him! And, he is sold out to the Organisation and trusts the Organisation for his deliverance from the wrath to be poured out at Armageddon!
Hence, our testimonies to what God through Christ has done in our lives may be one of the best things to voice with JWs.
Should either one of the two visitors have any doubts about the Organisation and its high-handed ways, then a true, sincere testimony may be used of God to bring about new life in the person.
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