----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 1994 by the Christian Research Institute.
----------------------------------------------------------------
COPYRIGHT/REPRODUCTION LIMITATIONS:
This data file is the sole property of the Christian Research
Institute. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may
be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware,"
without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain
the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright 1994 by the Christian
Research Institute"). This data file may not be used without the
permission of the Christian Research Institute for resale or the
enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its
content with the exception of a few brief quotations not to
exceed more than 500 words.
If you desire to reproduce less than 500 words of this data file
for resale or the enhancement of any other product for resale,
please give the following source credit: Copyright 1994 by the
Christian Research Institute, P.O. Box 500-TC, San Juan
Capistrano, CA 92693.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"The Bible Answer Man: Questions and Answers" (a column of the
Christian Research Newsletter, Volume 7: Number 1, 1994) by Ron
Rhodes.
The editor of the Christian Research Newsletter is Ron
Rhodes.
-------------
_This column is based on questions we are frequently asked at
CRI. In this issue of the *Newsletter,* Ron Rhodes addresses the
question, "Are the Jehovah's Witnesses right in saying that only
the Father is to be worshiped, and not Jesus Christ?"_
The Jehovah's Witnesses often appeal to John 4:23 in arguing
that only the Father is to be worshiped. In the _New World
Translation_ this verse reads:
"Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the
true worshipers will _worship the Father_ with spirit and truth,
for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship
him." Jesus, a lesser deity, is not to be worshiped in this way,
Jehovah's Witnesses say.[1] Christ may be _honored,_ but not
worshiped. Worship may be rendered only to Jehovah God.
How should we answer this argument? To begin, it is highly
revealing to note that at one time the Watchtower Society
actually endorsed the worship of Jesus. An early issue of _The
Watchtower_ magazine (1880) said that "to worship Christ in any
form cannot be wrong."[2] Some years later, another issue of the
magazine (1892) said: "Yes, we believe our Lord Jesus while on
earth was really worshiped, and properly so. While he was not
_the_ God, Jehovah, he was _a_ God."[3]
Then, many years later, _The Watchtower_ magazine
dogmatically stated that "it is unscriptural for worshipers of
the living and true God to render worship to the Son of God,
Jesus Christ."[4] Indeed, the magazine warns, "Do not erroneously
conclude that Christians are to worship Christ; that is not what
he taught."[5]
A similar reversal took place in the Jehovah's Witnesses'
version of the Bible. The 1961 edition of the _New World
Translation_ (NWT) translated Hebrews 1:6, "But when he again
brings his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says: 'And let
all God's angels _worship_ him.'" By contrast, the 1971 edition
reads: "But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited
earth, he says: 'And let all God's angels _do obeisance_ to
him.'"
In view of this change of position, you might want to ask the
Jehovah's Witness: Why did early issues of _The Watchtower_
magazine -- as well as the NWT -- say that we should worship
Jesus while later printings of the magazine/NWT say we should not
worship Jesus? Since later issues of _The Watchtower_ magazine
said it is "unscriptural" to worship Christ, does that mean the
earlier issues of _The Watchtower_ magazine -- as well as earlier
editions of the NWT -- were "unscriptural"? What does this major
reversal say about the Watchtower Society's claim to be a true
prophet of God?
The Watchtower's theological bias comes through loud and
clear in how it translates the Greek word for worship,
_proskuneo._ When used with reference to the Father the _New
World Translation_ correctly translates the word as "worship" (22
times). When _proskuneo_ is used of Christ, however, it is
translated -- without any exegetical justification -- as
"obeisance," "reverence," and "homage." The Watchtower Society's
translation completely obscures the fact that Jesus is worshiped
_as God_ in the New Testament.
The fact is, Christ was worshiped as God (_proskuneo_) many
times according to the Gospel accounts. Jesus accepted worship
from Thomas (John 20:28); all the angels are told to worship
Jesus (Heb. 1:6); wise men worshiped Jesus (Matt. 2:11); a ruler
bowed before Him in worship (Matt. 9:18); a blind man worshiped
Him (John 9:38); Mary Magdalene worshiped Him (Matt. 28:9); and
the disciples worshiped Him (Matt. 28:17).
Now, as a backdrop, it is significant that when Paul and
Barnabas were in Lystra and miraculously healed a man by God's
mighty power, those in the crowd shouted, "The gods have come
down to us in human form" (Acts 14:11). When Paul and Barnabas
perceived that the people were preparing to worship them, "they
tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 'Men,
why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you'" (v.
15).
By contrast, Jesus never sought to correct His followers, or
"set them straight," when they bowed down and worshiped Him.
Indeed, Jesus considered such worship as perfectly appropriate.
Of course, we wouldn't expect Jesus to try to correct people in
worshiping Him if He truly was God in the flesh.
In your encounters with Jehovah's Witnesses, you might want
to point out that in the Book of Revelation, God the Father and
Jesus Christ are clearly seen as receiving _the same worship._
Point them to Revelation 4:10, which speaks of worshiping the
Father, and Revelation 5:11-14, which speaks of worshiping the
Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. You might then ask the Jehovah's
Witness: What does it say about Jesus' true identity that in the
Book of Revelation He is seen receiving the _same worship_ that
is given to the Father?
That Jesus is worshiped says a lot about His true identity,
for it is the consistent testimony of Scripture that only God can
be worshiped. In view of this, the fact that Jesus _is_ worshiped
on numerous occasions shows that He is in fact God.
For more information on this and other issues related to the
Jehovah's Witnesses, see my book _Reasoning from the Scriptures
with the Jehovah's Witnesses_ (Harvest House Publishers, 1993).
1 _The Watchtower,_ 1 November 1964.
2 _The Watchtower,_ March 1880, 83.
3 _The Watchtower,_ 15 May 1892, 1410.
4 _The Watchtower,_ 1 November 1964, 671.
5 _The Watchtower,_ 15 July 1959, 421.
-------------
*1993 A Big Year for Jehovah's Witnesses*
* In 1993 there were a total of 4,709,889 "peak" (active,
baptized) Jehovah's Witnesses in the world functioning as
"kingdom proclaimers."
* These "kingdom proclaimers" -- from over 73,000 congregations -
- spent 1,057,341,972 (over one billion) hours spreading
Watchtower doctrine around the world.
* Jehovah's Witness Memorial Services were attended by 11,865,765
people last year.
* In 1993 the Watchtower Society spent $48,857,112 in caring for
special pioneers, missionaries, and traveling overseers in their
field services.
These statistics were derived from the January 1, 1994 issue of
_The Watchtower._
-------------
End of document, CRN0076A.TXT (original CRI file name),
"The Bible Answer Man: Questions and Answers"
release A, July 31, 1994
R. Poll, CRI
(A special note of thanks to Bob and Pat Hunter for their help in
the preparation of this ASCII file for BBS circulation.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
YOURS FOR THE ASKING
The Christian Research Institute (CRI) -- founded in 1960 by the
late Dr. Walter R. Martin -- is a clearing house for current, in-
depth information on new religious movements and aberrant
Christian teachings. We provide well-reasoned,
carefully-researched answers to concepts and ideas that challenge
orthodox Christianity.
Did you know that CRI has a wealth of information on various
topics that is yours for the asking? We offer a wide variety of
articles and fact sheets free of charge. Our informative
newsletter is freely available upon request as well. Write or
call us today for information on topics of interest to you. Our
first-rate staff will do everything possible to help you.
Christian Research Institute
P.O. Box 500-TC
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
(714) 855-9926
---------------
End of file.