Ping Pong Watchtower Style

Let me set the stage for this Ping Pong match which pits The Watchtower vs The Watchtower.

Nothing like quoting the WT to set the WT up for a really big fall. Humpty Dumpty comes to mind.

“A new light of truth can never contradict a former truth. 'New light' never extinguishes older 'light,' but adds to it. If you were lighting up a building containing seven gas jets you would not extinguish one every time you lighted another, but would add one light to another and they would be in harmony and thus give increase of light: So it is with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another” (Watchtower Reprints, February 1881, 188).

Reader’s Digest Version: New truth ADDS to older truth—it DOES NOT contradict it.

“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.” (Zion’s Watch Tower, February 1881, page 3)

Reader’s Digest Version: We are led by God, therefore, New truth NEVER CONTRADICTS older truth.

“It is a serious matter to represent God and Christ in one way, then find that our understanding of the major teachings and fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures was in error, and then after that, to go back to the very doctrines that, by years of study, we had thoroughly determined to be in error. Christians cannot be vacillating—“wishy-washy”—about such fundamental teachings. What confidence can one put in the sincerity or judgment of such persons?” (The Watchtower, May 15, 1976, page 298)

Reader’s Digest Version: If I study for years and believe A and not Z, then change my mind and believe Z not A, and then go back to believing A not Z, I am an idiot DO NOT follow me.

Are you ready for some Ping Pong?

Match #1 . . .

Question: Will the men of Sodom

 be resurrected?

 

Yes  -  WT, July 1879, p.8

No   -  WT, June 1, 1952, p. 338

Yes  -  WT August 1, 1965, p. 479

No   -  WT June 1, 1988, p. 31

Yes  - “Insight on the Scriptures,” 1988, p. 985

No   -  “Revelation: Its Grand Climax At Hand!”, 1988, p. 273

Yes  -  “Revelation: Its Grand Climax At Hand!”, 1988, p. 273 but later printing of the same book say “no.” pp. 178-179.

Ping Pong Match #2 . . .

Question: Who is the ‘Lord’ in Romans 10:12-16?

          Jesus    - “Zion’s’ WT Reprints,” Dec. 1, 1903, p. 3282

          Jehovah    - WT, July 1, 1940, p. 200

          Jesus    - WT, May 1, 1978, p. 12

          Jehovah    - WT, Feb. 1, 1980, p.16

Ping Pong Match #3

Question: Who is the man that sows the seed in the parable of the mustard seed in Matt. 13?

          Jesus    - Watchtower founder C.T. Russell

          Satan    - “Man’s Salvation Out of World Distress,” 1975, p. 208

          Jesus    - WT, Oct. 1, 1975, p. 600

The God of the Bible is not a God of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33) and knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).

Jehovah's Witnesses remind me of those who the Bible says are,

"...forever changing their minds about what they believe because someone has told them something different, or has cleverly lied to them and made the lie sound like the truth." (Ephesians 4:14 Living Bible)