Who and What Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Working For?

[Quotes from Watchtower publications, including their New World Translation, are in blue.]

Jehovah’s Witnesses are hard working people.  But who and what are they working for?  Let us explore what their literature has to say on that subject.

In an article entitled, “Working Hard for the Reward of Eternal Life” 1 the Watchtower2 says, “It is for the reward of eternal life that every last person on earth should now be working… [Jehovah’s Witnesses] are working hard now for the reward of eternal life… making  themselves eligible to receive the reward of eternal life.”  The article urges Witnesses to increase their output:  “As you manifest the right attitude toward work you will not want to relax your effort but be alert always to have plenty to do in the work of the Lord, doing more and more, if possible.” 

And what exactly is the hard work the Jehovah’s Witnesses are engaged in?  The article supplies the answer, “Your hard work [is] proclaiming the good news of his kingdom.”  But since Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that there is no kingdom of God and no salvation outside the WT, the message they bring is this:  “come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation (emphasis added).”  In short, Jehovah’s Witnesses are advertising the Watchtower Organization because salvation is in that Organization.

It is ironic that in 1970 the WT asked this rhetorical question, “but where should your faith be placed - in a religious organization or in God?”3   By 1979 the cover of a WT magazine boldly proclaimed, “Put Faith in a Victorious Organization”4!  Faith in God became faith in the Organization in just 9 years!  The accompanying article repeatedly drives the theme home, and poses the question, “Is there any cause for us to lose faith in Jehovah’s visible organization...?”  The answer is given, “Absolutely Not!... Our unwavering faith will be rewarded with victory and the crown of life.”  Faith in the Organization will be rewarded with eternal life!

The WT lays down the following requirements for eternal life 5: 

1. Taking in knowledge of the Father and Jesus Christ 6

2. Obeying God’s laws

3. Being associated with God’s channel, his organization

4.  Loyally advertising his Kingdom rule to others 7

Requirement #3 reflects the WT’s stand that there is no salvation outside the WT.  Only in connection with the Organization can persons make themselves eligible for eternal life.

Witnesses are working for the WT Organization, and what does this working look like?  Working means distributing books for the Organization, and recruiting others who will do the same.

So who are Jehovah’s Witnesses working for?  The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  And what are they working for?  The reward of eternal life.

Our examination of WT literature indicates that the WT does not believe the many Scriptures that say that eternal life is a gift, “The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord  (Romans 6:23b).”  Nor does the WT believe the many Scriptures that say that faith in Jesus Christ, not faith in an organization, is the condition for eternal life, “whoever believes in him [Jesus Christ] shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16b).”  This is because the Watchtower has “another gospel” (Gal. 1:6,7).

Written by Greta Olsoe

www.soundwitness.org

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