The Watchtower has claimed to have been “chosen by God” for over one hundred years. This is accepted without question by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who also claim to “only believe what’s in the Bible.” If you ask them, “Where can this be found in the Bible?” you will be met with answers like, “Are you an apostate?” or “Are you interested in learning or are you only here to argue?” or a long host of similar questions. The Watchtower organization so heavily discouraged questions that Jehovah’s Witnesses instinctively know better than to ask them. What happens if they do? The elders may haul them into the back room and “counsel them.” Think of it as a verbal spanking with a warning never to do it again. It could go so far as disfellowshipping, throwing someone out of the organization, and shunning them. This, to a Jehovah’s Witness, is a death sentence. They view it as a punishment from God because God chose the Watchtower organization; therefore, anything it does to you is equivalent to God punishing you. It is this thinking that holds Jehovah’s Witnesses captive to the Watchtower organization. Until they realize the Watchtower organization is not chosen by God, they remain prisoners, or as Don Cameron titled it in his book, Captives to a Concept[1].
Most people know that the truth does not change. If it does, it was never the truth to begin with. But this concept is profound to a Jehovah’s Witness. The thought turns their world upside down. The Watchtower teachings constantly change, ever revolving, and going so far as to contradict God’s Word and even contradicting itself. But every parent knows if their child is in trouble and tells you a story, and that story changes, then their child is lying. This is not something new or novel. In a court of law, the same rule applies. Judges and lawyers know the person telling the truth does not change their story. When the story changes, they are lying. Simple right? But the Watchtower claims “new light” or new understanding, based on an erroneous interpretation of Proverbs 4:18:
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” English Standard Version
King Solomon is explaining to his son the path of those who walk in what is right, referring to what is right in the sight of God[1]. As we continue to draw close to God and study God’s Word, we grow in our understanding, and the Holy Spirit guides and convicts us, and our behavior becomes more Christ-like over time. But just as truth never contradicts itself, so too, God never contradicts Himself. Even Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the International Bible Students, later renamed Jehovah’s Witnesses, understood this and stated,
“If we were following a man, undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another, and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now;… But with God, there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. “New Light” never extinguishes older “light” but adds to it…”[2] Zion’s Watch Tower 1881 Feb pp.3,188
So, the Watchtower recently introduced a change in its teachings, which contradicts its former teachings. Now, beards are allowed among Jehovah’s Witnesses. You might think this is no big deal, however for over one hundred years beards were heavily frowned upon among Jehovah’s Witnesses. If a man wore one, he was not allowed any privileges. He was not permitted to be on the platform to give talks. He could not serve as an elder or ministerial servant. He could not pioneer. He could not handle microphones or serve at the literature counter. All of his so-called privileges were taken away.
Sadly, instead of them waking up to the false teaching prohibiting beards, Jehovah’s Witnesses are acting like little children given a new privilege. They are giddy with happiness, busy growing their beards, and thankful that Mommy Watchtower has allowed them grown men to grow one!! It has not dawned on them that this restriction was never from Jehovah, to begin with.
Sadly, Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to say they “only follow the Bible” and continue to think the governing body was chosen by God. But if we share with them that their former restriction was never from God, and they have been obedient to men all along, perhaps the light will come on, and they will start to question the Watchtower teachings.
[1] https://www.calvarychapeljonesboro.org/proverb-a-day/the-dawn-and-brightness-of-the-right-path-proverbs-418-19
[2] https://jwfacts.com/watchtower/light-gets-brighter.php
[1] https://www.amazon.com/Captives-Concept-Anatomy-Illusion-Cameron/dp/1411622103
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