Bible Student Ministries: Apologetics

Bible Student Ministries

APOLOGETICS

"In your hearts consecrate Christ as Lord, being always ready to make your defense to any one who asks from you a reason for the hope which you cherish." 2 Peter 3:15 [Weymouth]

________________________________________________

A Reply to the Sermon:
"DOCTRINES"

________________________________________________

We were just made privy to a sermon delivered in 2005 by a brother, titled "Doctrines."* Some parts of the sermon we believe are misleading, the speaker not being totally honest with his audience. We will quote the speakers words and give our response:

"Brother Woodworth spent many years [at Bethel]. He went there to work with Brother Russell ... in 1907. He lived through all that. He lived through the times when the trials came through, at the time Brother Russell died. He experienced it all ... [he] helped us each day of our lives to cherish the Truth."

We will give this brother the benefit of doubt that he confused the date, for there was no Bethel in 1907. Brother Russell moved to Brooklyn Bethel in 1909. That being said, we wonder how someone "who worked with Brother Russell" and "lived through the times when the trials came through" and "experienced it all" during those difficult and tumultous times between 1917-1919, when the new administration wrested control of the Society, dismissing a majority of the Board of Directors, and then proceeded to enact an inquisition, purging all those who would dare be faithful to the Pastor and the Harvest Message, and return to Bethel in 1923 (four years later, after the purging) to work side by side with is new administration, while the majority of those who worked side by side with the Pastor either left on their own or were kicked out?

What would prompt such a person to return to Bethel, when at this time, it no longer represented the Harvest Message"? Not only return, but to work side by side with this new administration for yet another five years. When just about every facet of Truth had been discarded, when the Society had promoted itself as God's visible organization on earth, a third babylon.

Now we are glad that Br. Woodworth left when he did, for by his ministry, he was able to reunite the "old guard" of Bible Students. Of course he did not leave on his own but was told to leave, as he violated 'Bethel rule of association, that is fellowshipping with those who left the IBSA. One wonder how many more years would he have stayed. We cannot judge the brother, yet one still wonders.

"For the past year and a half at the DAWN home we have been studying the doctrines as outlined by Br. Russell. At the New York class we have been studying the 4th volume. There's been some false information going around the country that the DAWN doesn't believe in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th volumes. That is a false statement. We print the volumes, we ship them out each day. Be careful what you say. You know why? The Lord hears, and sees, be careful."

It should be noted that "studying the volumes" and "accepting the volumes" does not necessarily mean that one is in harmony with them. There are many brethren who study the volumes in their class studies who reject some or most of the thoughts contained within their pages.

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th volumes deal mainly in chronology and prophecy, both of which the DAWN as a publishing house reject as presented by the Pastor. This can readily be seen by their booklet "Oh the Blessedness" and articles that have appeared in THE DAWN magazine. The claim that "printing the volumes" is proof that they are in harmony with the volumes is ridiculous. The Watchtower Society printed the volumes until 1927, long after they rejected them. In fact even after taking the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" they distributed the volumes throughout the 1930s and 40s. In fact, the Volumes were still available for purchasing in the Watchtower Costlist as late as 1976. Truth is, the volumes were a moneymaker. In their case, instead of destroying what they considered to be "old light" they decided to make money and offer them to the public, then return on these individuals and offer them contradicting new light. The DAWN print and offer the volumes, but their secular writings often contradict the chronological and prophetic writings that are contained in Volumes 2, 3 and 4.

"... We print the volumes, we send them out each day. Be careful what you say. You know why? The Lord hears, and he sees. Be careful ... be very careful"

It should be noted that "studying the volumes" and "accepting the volumes" are very distinct. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th volumes deal mainly in chronology and prophecy, both of which the DAWN as a publishing house reject as presented by the Pastor. This can readily be seen by their booklet "Oh the Blessedness" and articles that have appeared in THE DAWN magazine. The claim that "printing the volumes" is proof that they are in harmony with the volumes is ridiculous. The Watchtower Society printed the volumes until 1927, long after they rejected them. In fact even after taking the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" they distributed the volumes throughout the 1930s and 40s. In fact, the Volumes were still available for purchasing in the Watchtower Costlist as late as the 1970s. Truth is, the volumes were a moneymaker. In their case, instead of destroying what they considered to be "old light" they decided to make money and offer them to the public, then return on these individuals and offer them contradicting new light. The DAWN print and offer the volumes, but their secular writings often contradict the chronological and prophetic writings that are contained in Volumes 2, 3 and 4.

“We cannot condemn any brethren of any kind. It doesn’t matter what group they are and Brother Woodworth told us that many years ago.’ Whatever you do, never criticize any group or religion, the Truth itself will bring out the error’.

Hmmm …. Apparently the speaker is not aware of the DAWN booklet; “The Grace of Jehovah”, which is geared towards the Jehovah’s Witnesses, shares with them the plan of salvation and criticizes them for their doctrine against blood transfusions.

He may also not know that there was much criticism of the Watchtower Society and other groups by way of articles appearing in THE DAWN, and in special papers like WITNESS BULLETIN. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are after all a “group” and “religion.” What did “That Servant” have to say on the matter? He stated that we are to criticize institutions and not the individuals who belong to those institutions.

“You don’t have to tell them there’s no hell, You don’t have to tell them there’s no immortal soul, You don’t have to tell them there’s no trinity. The Truth itself will bring it out. And so we have to be very careful how we print things in THE DAWN magazine.”

Why???

“Because there are Catholics who read THE DAWN magazine. There’s protestants, there’s all kinds of religious groups that read it, and they use THE DAWN in their Bible classes and their Sunday schools in their churches. So you have to be very careful.”

Is this the same DAWN magazine that advertises the Studies in the Scriptures? Where volume 2, chapter 9 speaks of the Papacy as the man of sin? Volume 4 indentifies Babylon the Great as Papacy and her Protestant daughters, and tells of her destruction? Where volume 5 attacks the foundation stone of Orthodoxy, namely the doctrine of the Trinity?

Is this the same DAWN magazine that advertises such DAWN booklets as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Divine Healing, Spiritualism – its claims, The Truth About Hell, and When a Man Dies? There isn’t a booklet that the DAWN publishes that does not criticize some denominational belief system. Most Christians believe in the Trinity as being essential, they believe in hellfire and life after death. Perhaps we should not print anything for fear of insulting someone or group.

“If we’re to criticize the Catholic Church, you’re gonna lose your audience immediately”

So instead you cater to them? You tell them what a wonderful, godly man Pope John Paul II was so as to gain their approval? Why do we need the approval of men?

“And Brother Woodworth always told me, when you give a discourse at a funeral, you never, never tell them there’s no such thing as hellfire, or Trinity or immortal soul. You lose your audience immediately; they’re not going to listen to the rest of what you’re going to tell them about the resurrection.”

Again, why do we need the approval of men? Why not imitate our Lord or the Apostle Paul, who never shrunk back from telling the Truth, no matter how painful it would be to the one spoken too? Fact is the Truth hurts. However, if someone is searching for Truth, such a radical departure from nominal Christianity may and will catch their attention.

The speaker goes on to speak of false doctrines and states that the final test will not be how well we know the volumes and the Watchtowers. What hefails to realize is that were it not for the Volumes and the old Watch Towers, there would be no DAWN Publishers, there would be no way of knowing about the Plan of God, were it not for "That Servant" used by the Lord to reveal it to the Household of Faith.

He also mentions and gives experiences of the DAWN and its ministry, in regards to the many Jehovah's Witnesses who have been enlightened to The Divine Plan. They are to be commended for that work, however it should be noted that there are plenty of groups who are to be commended for the spreading of the "milk" of God's word, among them the Advent Christians, the Churches of God, Christadelphians, etc.

It should be noted that political correctness has no place in the Body of Christ. That should we aspire to be members of the Body of Christ, the more than overcomers, we need to stand up for the Truth and expose the errors, REGARDLESS of who promotes them. Many of the Apostle Pauls detractors were those who claimed to be "brethren." We are warned against "false brethren", and those who like to tickle the ears of others. Much of the warnings to the brethren are not against outside influences, but those satanic influences that come from within.

In these last days that we live in, we are to be on the alert, the adversary is swift and cunning, he mixes errors with Truth and if we are not careful we will fall prey to his devices.

We therefore urge the brethren to stand firm for the Harvest Message as espoused by "That Servant" and not lose sight, for though it seems to tarry, it will surely come .... wait for it!

___________

*NOTE: For those who wish to hear the sermon: Doctrines, we supply the link: DOCTRINES

__________________________