Word was a god which in essence, makes the jws guilty of the same polytheism of which they accuse trinitarians. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made john 1. Even the jehovahs witnesses, in their own, backhanded way, recognize this. Bad translations of the jehovah s witness bible, the new. Jehovahs witness, member of a millennialist denomination that developed within the larger 19thcentury adventist movement in the united states and has since spread worldwide. Shepherd the flock of god 2019 confidential handbook. Stepbystep questions for jehovahs witnesses 4jehovah. Shepherd the flock of god watchtower online library.
Shepherd the flock of god handbook the organisation also instructs. Showing concern for the flock of god watchtower online. This period will conclude with judgment day, the 1,000 year reign of christ with the 144,000 anointed resurrected people who are chosen by god. In january of 2019, elders in the congregations of jehovahs witnesses were issued a new version of their confidential handbook, shepherd the flock of god. The jehovahs witnesses are an outgrowth of the international bible students association, which was founded in 1872 in pittsburgh by charles taze russell history. The god of the jehovahs witnesses catholic answers. They are not to be viewed by anyone but themselves. Jehovahs witnesses are directed by the governing body of jehovahs. The attributes or characteristics of god belong to the father, the son, and the holy spirit. The 11 beliefs you should know about jehovah s witnesses. Jehovahs witnesses 10 things to know about their beliefs. Jehovahs witnesses shepherd the flock of god download this publication here. And i would say, but look at the next two verses which say, he was in the beginning with god.
You get a type of works based religion with the jehovahs witnesses that i think undermines the gospel. The united states district court for the southern district of new york has published, as part of court proceedings, a copy of the newly revised secret jehovah s witnesses elders manual shepherd the flock of god. Personally, i am delighted that so many jehovahs witnesses have come to know the truth of scripture through this book. Secret elders book in 2010, a new elders book shepherd the flock of god was released.
Shepherd the flock of god a good shepherd will strive to imitate jehovah and his son as shepherds by loving the sheep in the following areas. Various individuals, courts and the media around the world have raised concerns about the. Jehovahs witnesses focus on god the father, so their name is taken from the tetragrammaton, written as yhwh or jhvh and articulated either as yahweh or jehovah. Shepherd the flock of god secret jehovahs witnesses. We worship the one true and almighty god, the creator, whose name is jehovah. Since the early history of jehovahs witnesses, it is believed that only a little flock or 144000 humans are chosen by god to go to heaven. Rather, these undershepherds treat the flock tenderly and protectively, thus following the counsel and pattern furnished by the fine shepherd.
Eight unbiblical teachings of the jehovahs witnesses. Jehovah s witnesses believe that salvation requires faith in christ, association with god s organization i. Shepherding the flock of god watchtower online library. Others among gods servants worldwide also are thankful for the continuing support and care they receive from those who shepherd the flock of god. Then shall we know, if we follow on in the path of obedience to know the lord hosea 6. Since 1976 all doctrinal decisions have been made by the governing body of jehovahs witnesses, a group of elders at the.
Let all gods angels do obeisance to him, referring to the son. Jws use the name jehovah only for god in order to distinguish between god and jesus christ, while failing to recognize that jesus is the fulfillment of jehovah in isaiah 40. Jw elders book shepherd the flock of god explains judicial committee and disfellowship procedures in 2010, a new elders book shepherd the flock of god was released. The group was originally called the watch tower society because founder charles taze russell published a magazine called zions watch tower and herald of christ s presence. A good shepherd will strive to imitate jehovah and his son as shepherds by loving the sheep in the following areas. These anointed ones who go to heaven, believe they will rule over a paradise earth in god s kingdom as long as they are faithful to god s slave, the governing body of jehovahs witnesses. Jehovahs witnesses believe that all scripture is inspired of god and beneficial. Watchtower bible and tract society of new york, inc pdf. Us district court publishes copy of secret jehovahs. Russells adventist background and study of the bible led him to conclude, among other things, that the second coming of christ would occur in 1914, that hellfire did not exist, and god was not a trinity. Jehovah is the true god of the bible, the creator of all things. Cults jehovahs witnesses what do jehovahs witnesses believe about the holy spirit.
The governing body of jehovah s witnesses have authorised today the release of a 274 page fully revised and updated 2019 pdf version of their secret elders book shepherd the flock of god. The manual pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock tells local elders how to conduct closeddoor trials and other actions controlling the personal lives of jehovahs witnesses. God is only truly known in the soul as we yield ourselves to him, submit to his authority, and regulate all the details of our lives by his holy precepts and commandments. Individuals demonstrate their allegiance to jehovah by obeying the faithful and discreet slave matthew 24.
Not only have they added to the perfect law of god, but they also judge jehovahs witnesses harshly based on doctrines jesus did not teach. I asked jehovah s witnesses if they believe jesus was a god. Elliott this is the fourth in a series of articles about the doctrines and practices of the watchtower bible and tract society. Secret elders book leak 2019 version shepherd the flock. As jehovahs witnesses, we strive to adhere to the form of christianity that jesus taught and that his apostles practiced. The jehovahs witnesses emphasize the use of jehovah to the extent that any other name or title for god is viewed as borderline idolatry or outright heresy. Jehovahs witnesses is a millenarian restorationist christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream christianity. They consider the use of gods name vital for proper worship. Jehovahs witnesses shepherd the flock of god youtube. The response of the jehovahs witnesses and watchtower bible and.
A new secret publication for elders only was released in 2010. Submission to the joint select committee on oversight of the. The words of god are likewise attributed to all three persons. In fact, jehovahs witnesses believe that jesus was just a physical manifestation of michael the archangel. Over 20 years experience reaching jehovahs witnesses of all levels. Higher education is spiritually dangerous when it comes to education, not all religions are created equal.
The name jehovah the significance of jehovah i am and jehovah used interchangeably. He first created michael the archangel through whom he created all other things, including the universe, the earth, adam and eve, etc. Jehovahs witnesses deny the physical resurrection of jesus from the dead. Rejoice in the knowledge of jehovah the watchtower, 712001. The heartbroken father chose to obey gods law, and two days later his baby died. Feeding the sheep leading the sheep protecting the sheep 1. According to jehovahs witness theology, god is a single person, not a trinity, who does not know all things and is not everywhere.
The beliefs of jehovahs witnesses are based on the bible teachings of charles taze russellfounder of the bible student movementand successive presidents of the watch tower society, joseph franklin rutherford, and nathan homer knorr. Many jehovah witnesses celebrate birthdays as did jehovah when his son jesus christ was born. Jehovahs witnesses are taught that this is against gods law, and the penalty for not obeying this rule is removal from the organization and isolation from all friends and family members who are witnesses. Jehovahs witnesses is a millenarian restorationist christian denomination with nontrinitarian. The jehovahs witnesses consider themselves to be christians because they believe they are serving the true and living god. Others among god s servants worldwide also are thankful for the continuing support and care they receive from those who shepherd the flock of god. A large portion of the book is devoted to the procedure for judicial committees and disfellowshipping. If the watchtower is dishonest about its history, what does this say about its claim to represent god.
All the sheep are to be gathered together, and jehovah god has commanded his people to bring them from the north and the south and the east and the. View or download handbooks, manuals and textbooks used by elders of jehovahs witnesses. The handbook shepherd the flock of god deals with the structure, organization, and rules of the jehovah s witnesses. View or download shepherd the flock of god and older handbooks, manuals and textbooks used by elders of jehovahs witnesses. Knowing that the flock belongs to jehovah, who purchased it with the blood of his son, exemplary older men do not lord it over those who are gods inheritance.
The watchtower society maintains that the lords resurrection was purely spiritual and only appeared as physical. Witnesses believe that a little flock of 144,000 selected humans go to heaven. Facsimile extract from page 3 of the elders manual shepherd the flock of god 2012. These documents are meant to be kept secret by the elders. Jehovahs witnesses have become biblical christians as a result of the book. Although jehovah god is the she pherd and overseer of our souls, he has appoin. May people know that you, whose name is jehovah, you alone are the most high over all the earth. Commencing in 2018, various legal corporations under the direction of the governing body of jehovah s witnesses commenced a campaign of. The group now known as the jehovahs witnesses was founded in 1879 by charles taze russell, a pennsylvania businessman. Attributes of god california state university, northridge.
This is another radical departure from historic christian teaching. Flock of god, you are protected from harm, because your faithful shepherds on earth must render an account to jehovah god and christ jesus on your behalf. Witnesses hold a number of traditional christian views but also many that are unique to them. Jehovahs witnesses handling of child sex abuse wikipedia. Jehovah s witness christians have distinct beliefs about the end times, as well. The bbc reports that witnesses believe the end times began in 1914. Below are some excerpts of this updated version with my commentary.
Jehovahs witnesses teach that jesus is a created, angelic being, inferior to god the father. How we put on and keep on the new personality the watchtower study, 82017. The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8. Jehovah is god s unique name as revealed in the bible. Yet, they deny the trinity, the deity of christ, the personhood of the holy spirit, jesus physical resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith. Only elders are allowed to be in possession of this document. In january of 2019, elders in the congregations of jehovah s witnesses were issued a new version of their confidential handbook, shepherd the flock of god. Read our christian conversations with jehovahs witnesses book powerful tools for reaching your jehovahs witness loved ones include complete photocopied documentation from rare watchtower publications and official sources. Jesus christ is gods agent, through whom sinful humans can be reconciled to god. The holy spirit is the name of gods active force in the world. These 5 facts revolve around the watchtower, knights tempar, freemasonry, subliminal images messages, the new world translation of the holy scriptures, the new world order, charles taze russell. The 8 biggest shocks from the elders secret handbook by alexandra james on december 26, 20 elders in the congregations of jehovah s witnesses are provided with a book of instructions on how to handle certain matters within the congregation, especially judicial matters, meaning sins that may warrant their counsel. With all of that said, it is not crucial to the christian faith for the proper pronunciation of yhwh to be known. Within minutes of the highly controlled release of the shepherd book it has been leaked onto the internet.
In a few cases, jehovahs witnesses have composed a generalized, nonspecific horrible. Jehovahs witnesses deny the deity, personality, and masculinity of the holy spirit. The 8 biggest shocks from the elders secret handbook. Shepherd the flock of god royal commission into institutional. Second annual report by jehovahs witnesses in response to the royal. The book mentions consulting other publications but says nothing about consulting the. Many witnesses give their children toys, presents etc on dec.
The jehovah s witness version in the new world translation says, in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was a god. Christian congregation of jehovahs witnesses in the netherlands, to. Cults jehovahs witnesses what do jehovahs witnesses. For the purposes of the jehovahs witness organisations internal disciplinary process, in its. Jehovahs witnesses australian government response to the. When jehovahs witnesses knock at your door desiring god. Among the rules enforced through the manual are forced shunning of family members who leave the sect and the requirement that witnesses refuse blood. Jehovah god did not leave his son dead in the grave, but raised him to life on the third. Like many cults, they think they are the only true church on earth. But this is problematic since it would imply polytheism. The witnesses want you to think the angels do obeisance to the sole archangel, but they know this isnt what the verse really says.
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