Posts Tagged ‘art’
Organ Light
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
Jehovah’s Witnesses: What will “New Light” bring changes to tomorrow?
Since the Watchtower organization has changed its teachings so many times on major issues like organ transplantation, the definition of “generation”, the year of Armageddon, etc, etc, and simply calls these changes “New Light”, how can you be sure they won’t some day change their teachings on blood transfusions and refer to the change as “New Light” also?
Greetings,
First, we could well ask you the same question: Since your religion has changed its teachings so many times on major issues like warfare, being the only true religion, women in the pulpit, homosexuality, racial superiority, predestination, literal hellfire, Michael being the archangel, vaccinations, women having souls, and etc. how do you know it will not change its teachings on the Trinity or Christ’s ransom?!!!
Further, your question misrepresents and over exaggerates the changes in our beliefs. Any recent or future changes have very little effect on our doctrines and will most likely be changes in understanding minor facets of prophecy. For example, the change to the definition of “generation” changed nothing major. We are still in the last days, 1914 is still a marked year and whether we live to Armageddon or die before its arrival we still will remain awake and active.
It is true that Witnesses have at times changed their beliefs. But of course even the Apostles had to change their beliefs regarding their understandings of end-times (Lk.19:11; 24:21; Ac.1:6). They had to correct themselves, just as JW’s have. Criticisms regarding Witnesses changing their understanding of prophecies would also condemn the Apostles as lacking God’s direction! Obviously there is something wrong with such criticisms.
Such criticisms are also hypocritical because they somehow miss telling others that EVERY religion has changed it’s beliefs and practices over the same time period!
It wasn’t too long ago that Protestants and Catholics taught that black people were cursed, that slavery was “Christian,” and that racial intermarriage was condemned by the Bible. And up until the early 19th century virtually all religions taught that *they* were the only true religion. Look at how churches in recent years have changed their doctrine regarding women in the pulpit, and how many of them have actually changed the words of their Bible versions to be “gender neutral” in order to support these changes.
Premillennialism was declared a heresy by Protestants but was reintroduced in the 19th century, and is now the most popular belief about end times among conservative Protestants. The rapture first surfaced in the 19th century.
Notice the unbiased quote by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance on their Web page:
“On each of these issues, at one point the church had near unanimity of opinion and then, over time and painfully, changed its mind to almost the exact opposite view.” –Jack Rogers
“Many denominations pride themselves in maintaining “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” unchanged to the present day. In spite of this, major changes in beliefs and practices have occurred over the past two centuries….Christian denominations have extensively modified or even reversed their teachings on a wide variety of social topics …They have also altered their teachings on such theological matters as salvation, the afterlife, Hell, end of the world, etc. If the general public realized how extensively faith groups have changed and even reversed their teachings over time, they might develop a different understanding…”
Those who criticize Witnesses would like to keep us ignorant of the fact that at about the same time Witnesses were correcting their beliefs regarding hell and the soul, other churches were denying that women had souls and preaching against anesthesia during childbirth.
Witnesses regularly study our history, but, do other religions willingly tell you about the stupid things their predecessors believed?
Most religions have now admitted such past beliefs were false, so is it fair of me to go back fifty to a hundred years to their religion’s roots and point out everything that was wrong, especially if it has commendably corrected it’s understandings? No, although a effective debate tactic, it would be unreasonable and a logical fallacy.
Having to correct misinterpretations is not proof that a religion is not God’s organization, or that an individual is not a Christian. A failure to correct false doctrine or actions when presented with solid evidence would be! After all, the Apostles had Jesus right there teaching them and yet found it difficult to see accurately, especially about “end time” prophecies! So would it be any surprise that true Christians would make mistakes in understanding prophecy? If this negated their claim to true Christianity then we must also question the apostles themselves! Again, a stubborn refusal to correct beliefs would deny the claim of being God’s people.
Scriptures say true worshipers could be identified in at least three main ways: Truth (Jn.4:23; 17:17), Love, and Fruitage (Mt.7:16ff). Conversely, by this we can also identify the false.
What are the fruits of most religion’s doctrine? Do they participate in war, killing their fellow Christians at the command of nations? Most do. Is this the fruitage of *true* Christianity? Would Christ or the apostles do this?
I have examined almost every religion and I have not seen another one whose members “practice what they preach,” or even unitedly agree on what they should preach. I chose mine because it sticks to ONLY what the Bible teaches and gives absolute proof of being Christian.
Yours,
BAR-ANERGES
EDIT:
Lioness, You are mistaken. Witnesses have ALWAYS been able to decide for themselves whether they will accept a blood transfusion. However, accepting blood, committing fornication or bowing down to idols will always be a denial of being a true Christian.
The Official statement by the WTS has plainly said: “There is no doctrinal change on the use of blood.” The agreement was simply that it was a personal choice to accept or refuse blood which has ALWAYS been true. However, the choice to willingly accept a blood transfusion is a choice to no longer be a Witness. The Scriptural law is to “remove” from spiritual fellowship anyone who rejects Christianity. While we have at times changed *how* this is done, the end result is the same. The prohibition on blood use is a Scriptural fact and will never be changed for Christians.
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