The suggested answers provided to all questions below are based on and in harmony with the views of the original Watchtower Bible and Tract Society when under the guidance of Pastor Charles Taze Russell. Comments will often include a link to Pastor Russell’s own explanation. However, in any case, we leave your conclusions to your own personal study, prayer, conscience and the influence of the Holy Spirit.
- Who are the Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have created this website?
- Why have the Friends of Jehovah’s Witnesses set up this site? What is your purpose?
- Should we really want to be on earth rather than heaven? Does the Bible give us that option?
- Are the Great Crowd the same as all the people in Paradise Earth?
- What is the role of the Great Crowd on Paradise Earth?
- Is the Great Crowd to be in heaven or on earth?
- Who are the “other sheep” of John 10:16?
- What happens to Anointed who do not make the 144,000
- As the Path Shines Brighter, does the Truth Change?
- Why does God Permit Evil and Human Suffering?
- What is the future mission of the Anointed for which they are now being prepared?
- Will Present Unbelievers Serve and Worship Jehovah on Paradise Earth?
- Will Everyone Be Resurrected from the Dead?
- Have People Received Final Judgment for the Past 6,000 or will they have an Opportunity for Judgment and Restitution on Paradise Earth?
- Will the wicked get an opportunity to repent in Paradise earth?
- Who will occupy the land of Israel in Paradise earth?
- Who does Jehovah make the New Covenant with?
- What prophecies regarding Israel’s regathering have already been or are being fulfilled?
- Additional questions are considered here
Hello Maria and WELCOME,
Believe or not your question is one of the most difficult ones to answer. If we tried for instance to explain why witnesses do not celebrate birthdays. Birthdays are mentioned in the bible twice and someone lost there life on each occasion.
Gen. 40:20 Pharaoh’s birthday and the chief of the bakers was executed.
Matt 14:9-11 Herod’s birthday and John the baptist was beheaded.
According to the “governing body”, we should listen to the leanings of Jehovah that these scriptures proves he is against celebration of birthdays.
They fail to realize, they miss the point, it was about Joseph and how he went through many trials to prepare him for the work ahead of being a prime minister that would preserve Israel in a time of famine and ultimately Jesus lineage was intake.
HE WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS.
Concerning John, He was a “lesser one in the kingdom”, because we have the report of his death before Christ paid the ransom.
He was not talking about birthdays.
So you see if I try to explain why Witnesses do not celebrate holidays, I will sound ridiculous.
Romans 14th chapter however would stop me from celebrating holidays now, because all of my relatives are Witnesses and I WILL NOT PUT A STUMBLING BLOCK BEFORE MY BROTHER.
The governing body teaches that because we are different in everything from everyone else, that proves we are God’s people. So it is more about being different than about the reality of the possible enslavement and expense of holidays and commercial greed etc.
I personally do not endorse or condemn what others do in regard to celebration of holidays. Gal.4:8-10 is speaking of the law code, but since I never celebrated holidays I apply it to me. The official website of the witnesses, or a witness coming to your door, either would be able to give you a little booklet that explains their position on Holidays.
I sincerely hope I helped in some way to answer your question. I was a witness for 61yrs and that is my view on the subject. Again WELCOME!
Thank you, In Christ
¿ Porqué los testigos de Jehová no festejan las fiestas patrías ?
Translated: Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses not celebrate the holidays in their country?
On point number 4, Bro. Peter, I’ve got to respond. I don’t think that because Eve was deceived, that that implies that women are more easily deceived than men. Obviously, she was, but I don’t see how that verse could force a generality.
That said, however, I’d like to give the woman’s perspective on why she shouldn’t teach in the Church. The Lord set up the hierarchy of God over Christ over man and man over woman for the order and structure in the Church. What a forum for discipline and humility! We are privileged to be living examples of the relationship between Christ and the Church. As women, we adopt and maintain a submissive character and demeanor in order to demonstrate the submissiveness of the Church to her Bridegroom. By daily living this example, all are blessed. Certainly the woman is blessed because she has the opportunity to remind herself constantly of the beauty of the Bridegroom’s watchcare over the 144,000 of the Little Flock. The brothers are blessed because they must learn to lead as Christ did, with great humility and gentleness.
The members of the Church are also told to submit one to another (1 Pet. 5:5). I think this must be very much more difficult for men who must learn to submit to all, yet lead when so elected.
Thanks for the opportunity to share.
Great questions. Everyone is welcome to contribute their answers. Let me start.
First of all you said “scripturally speaking.” This is getting us off to a great start because you want answers from the Bible. I hope I succeed in doing this, but that is for you to judge.
1. Can a Christian drink Alcohol
The Bible tells us not to associate with a drunkard (1 Cor 5:11) and that drunkards won’t inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:10). But the Bible permits us to drink wine as long as we don’t get drunk. Jesus drank wine and was falsely accused of being a drunkard (Luke 7:34). He drank wine at the last supper (Mark 14:23). As a matter of fact, Jesus’ first miracle was to turn water into wine (John 4:46). The Apostle Paul advised Timothy to drink wine for his stomach’s sake. (1 Tim 5:23). There’s more scriptures we could look at, but hopefully this is sufficient to answer your question.
2. Can a Christian marry more than one wife
Not legally according to the law, but what about according to the Scriptures?
In Matt 19:5, Jesus quoted Jehovah’s original intent from Genesis saying, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Then Jesus continued in verse 6 saying “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” So according to Jesus, Jehovah’s original intent in marriage was that one man and one woman be joined together as one flesh. In the new testament, we do not see examples of a Christian man marrying more than one wife. The Apostle Paul instructed that elders and deacons should be the husband of only one wife (1 Tim 3:2,12).
So we feel that the best advice and highest ideal of one husband, one wife and common children produced from that one union.
Why then do we have examples of polygamy (more than one wife) in the Old Testament? First notice that many of these types of marriages turned into soap operas in terms of the jealousy and fighting that resulted as in the competition between Sarah and Hagar or between Leah and Rachael. But that being said, notice that Jehovah never endorsed Polygamy, however he did permit it.
Why did Jehovah permit Polygamy? In Biblical times, a woman could not go out on her own and earn a living. In order to avoid a meager life, she had to depend on the financial resources of a husband. It seems to me that Jehovah might have permitted polygamy so that more woman would have better options for living a decent life under the care, protection and wealth of a husband of means. I don’t have a direct scriptural statement on this, but this reasoning makes the most sense to me.
3. Are Women among the 144,000 chosen and anointed Christians
There is no scripture in the Bible that excludes women from the 144,000. All new creatures in Christ Jesus (male and female) are running in the same race for the same prize (144,000) – 1 Cor 9:24. Women labored with the Apostle Paul in the Gospel (Phil 4:3), just like men. In Gal 3:28, Paul says, “…there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
4. Is the ordination of women as church leaders, shepherding both male and feamale adherents a biblical practice
This is a very controversial topic, so I do not expect everyone to agree with my comments, and I will keep them brief. In the Old Testament you have the example of Deborah being a prophetess and a judge. However in the New Testament, there is no example of a woman holding the office of Elder, Pastor or Shepherd of the flock. All the Apostles, Elders, Pastors, etc. were men.
We read in 1Ti 2:11-3:1 – “11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.” (NAS95)
The point of this passage is that in the context of teaching the Church, women are not to be the teachers, but are to receive instruction. This does not mean that a women cannot comment in a Bible study, testimony meeting or other group discussion activity. Women are only not permitted to speak in the Church if they are not wearing a head covering – 1 Cor 11:5 – otherwise they should not speak. The head covering is a sign of acknowledging the authority of the messenger (Pastor) 1 Cor 11:10.
Paul’s point in 1 Tim 2:14 about the women being “deceived” is his teaching that a woman might be more likely to be emotionally swayed, which on average would make a man better suited to be an objective spiritual leader.
5. Can a Christian bow the knees to man in worship?
No. I hope these scriptures will help.
Mt 4:8-10 – “8 Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”” (NAS95)
Mt 23:1-11 – “1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8 “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” (NAS95)
No sentiments, Scripturally speaking:
1. Can a Christian drink Alcohol
2. Can a Christian marry more than one wife
3. Are Women among the 144,000 chosen and anointed christians
4. Is the ordination of women as church leaders, shepherding both male and feamale adherents a biblical practice
5. Can a christian bow the knees to man in worship