Why are Jehovah's Witnesses so afraid of apostates?

Question

Since they consider me an apostate (I'm not really) we can all see how obvious it is that they are shaking in their boots at my questions. If they have "the truth" what are they afraid of? Won't their god protect them from demonic thoughts jumping into their brains and destroying their faith/ Is their faith so shaky that it could be rocked by little old me? Do they realize that I know something they don't about their own religion?

Answer 1

i don't think they are afraid of you...but they follow the guidelines in the bible and respect them enough not to argue with someone who just wants to bring Jehova's name down  

Answer 2

Most religions fear and despise apostates.

Answer 3

I would think that if there were only 144,000 going to heaven, that they would welcome someone to be an apostate, because it gives them a better chance of making it.

Answer 4

If you are a Jehovah's Witness,

please read this first.

If you are a Jehovah's Witness please understand that I am not against you as an individual. I am not an apostate from the Watchtower organization and, of course, I was never baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. However, when I was 17, I studied with the Jehovah's Witnesses for a couple of months, but quit. Unfortunately, they used the Watchtower Magazine equally, and sometime more than the Bible and they couldn't answer all my questions. All I wanted to study was the Bible since that is God's word.

As a Jehovah's Witness you have been taught from the Bible and the Watchtower organization. You’ve attended numerous meetings, and are convinced that what you believe is the truth. You also believe the Trinity is a demonic doctrine and that Christendom is an apostate group preaching a false gospel. Additionally, you are taught the Watchtower organization is the true channel of God’s revelation to His church on earth. You are taught that you are in "The Truth."

But believing it does not make it so. I am sure you agree with this and respond by saying that your beliefs are in agreement with the Bible. After all, you study it deeply and often and have validated your beliefs with the word of God. I don’t deny that you study. But when you study, you study under the Watchtower's guidance and allow it to shape your understanding and thinking of the Bible and its doctrines.

Please consider these quotes from the Watchtower Magazine that verify what I am saying:

"All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave." (The Watchtower; 10/1/1994; p. 8.)

"Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587.

In short, you are led by what the Watchtower says the Bible says. But if the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is from God, then...

Why has it made false prophecies?

Why has it altered the translation of the Bible?

Why does the Watchtower say you will fall into apostasy if you read the Bible without the Watchtower? See their quotes

Why are you not allowed to examine your own organization and its problems?

Why does it tell you what to think and do?

Have you checked the documentation from the Watchtower Magazine? How do you know that the Watchtower is correct? Because it says it is?

Please don’t be offended by this. But when a group claims to be the prophet of God, yet mistranslates the Bible, takes verses out of context, makes false prophecies, and misquotes authorities all to make its position valid, its credibility is lost. It cannot be from God.

But you will never know that unless you "examine ALL things." Unfortunately, as a Jehovah's Witness, you are only encouraged to study what the Watchtower and Awake magazines tell you to study. That means you can't really check up on its false prophecies on your own. Instead, you must trust what it tells you about its own false prophecies. In addition, you are instructed to not take any literature from "apostate Christendom." This way, you will have far less opportunity to be challenged, something the Watchtower organization doesn't want to happen.

The Watchtower Magazine teaches by asking the questions and giving the answers. Sometimes it even uses a Bible reference (often times out of context) to back up what it says. It all looks good and sounds good from your perspective. But it is a false method of study. The Watchtower organization tells you what to think and what to do. If you say that is not true and that the Watchtower Organization is God's organization on earth, then you are simply repeating what the Watchtower tells you.

The Bible alone is sufficient. But the Watchtower denies this:

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." The Watchtower, August 15, 1981. (Emphasis added)

What are the apostate doctrines: Trinity? h**l? Jesus is God? Funny thing is that, according to the Watchtower, if you study the Bible by itself, you will come to believe these things! Could it be that apart from the selected questions, answers, scripture quotes, and direction of the Watchtower teaching, that the Bible actually does teach these "apostate doctrines"?

Answer 5

Shaking in their boots?

Answer 6

It seems Jehovah's Witnesses believe that when Jesus instructed us to love our neighbors, and even our enemies, that there was an exclusion made for those that the JWs have labeled as "apostates," even if they remain zealous students of the Bible, whole-heartedly seeking after God!  The JWs seem to believe they have free reign to unapologetically slander the credibility, the character, family life, education, intellect, and even the spirituality, etc. of those who vocally challenge the authority of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, and/or the official doctrine as dispensed by these sinful, errant men.

Should a follower of the Watchtower Society find a discrepency in the teachings, he is encouraged to "ask the elders" at which point, they will try to persuade the questioner into agreement. However, in the event that he is not convinced, there is unconditional expectation that the individual must QUIETLY disagree, keeping his findings to himself and patiently wait for "new light" (official change in doctrine). Failure to do will result in accusations of apostasy, being "marked" and often leads to disfellowshipping and shunning.

Sometimes, even the nature of the questions can lead to stern warnings, being "marked," accusations of apostasy, etc. This is because the Watchtower Society has effectively sheltered the average JW from a great deal of negative information about their society. They've been repetitively warned through their publications and in public discourses that they are expected to steer clear of any information that shines a negative light on their Organization. So, when a JW asks questions that are regarding information that is not common knowledge to the average member of the congregation, suspicion quickly arises.

Anyone who believes that they may be teaching truth would be wise to pray, research and challenge away, before the stakes get higher! (accusations of apostacy, loss of family and friends, scarred children, the list goes on) And all in the name of "Unity!" For this reason and many others, the Jehovah's Witnesses are widely recognized as a psychologically and spiritually abusive cult.

These words are not mine, but I hope you'll find them helpful! :)

All religions have one thing in common: they encourage their members to work as hard as they can to gain everlasting life, the celestial kingdom, nirvana, or whatever else they want to call it.

Biblical Christianity, however, is different. Instead of earning our goal as a reward, it is offered to us freely as a gift through Jesus Christ as the perfect sacrifice, whose offering of Himself was complete to earn our way to everlasting life with God the Father.

As Jesus Christ was dying, he said “It is finished” because from that point on, all anyone had to do was to trust His sacrifice to cover their sins. Everyone needs this sacrifice because the Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that we are all sinners.

We are in such bad condition that when we try to earn favor with God through our good works, Isaiah 64:6 tells us that our righteous deeds are like filthy rags to God. In Mark 10:27 Jesus is answering His disciples’ question, “who then can be saved?” He said, “with man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

God realizes that man cannot possibly save himself through door-to-door preaching or ordinances of a church. That’s why God did not send an organization or a church to offer us peace with God, but He sent His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me.”

Answer 7

JWs ARE apostates!  Russell was a false prophet.

Answer 8

Are we scared? No, we're not.

Many apostates like to argue with former members.. which pointless and childish.

Answer 9

They think that Apostates tell lies about them, and try to purposely mislead others.  

Answer 10

You say you not an apostate . well what is this " Won't their god protect them "..Their God? You speak of  the God of the Bible " as if he is to be compared with any of the ancient Mythical gods..your Question exposes you for who you are. Oh Yeah we afraid of your ilk.Paul states in his letter to the Romans. He writes: “Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.” (Romans 12:21)

No one has Green or Black Mamba's as pets.

Paul warned the Christian elders of Ephesus: “I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29, 30) In the last of his inspired writings Paul named a few of such first-century apostates. He warned Timothy: “Shun empty speeches that violate what is holy; for they will advance to more and more ungodliness, and their word will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of that number. These very men have deviated from the truth, . . . and they are subverting the faith of some.” “Alexander the coppersmith did me many injuries . . . be on guard against him, for he resisted our words to an excessive degree.”—2 Tim. 2:16-18; 4:14, 15.

Look in the Mirror.

Answer 11

You are asking for logical answers to religious questions. There is a basic inconsistency there.

Answer 12

--We stay away from discussions that fit these descriptive ideas of apostates, even if one says they are not!

--Augmenting has a reasonable place in discussing , but if producing arguments of words , ideas, questionings, we then follow these warnings:

(2 Timothy 2:14-17) “14 Keep reminding them of these things, charging them before God as witness, not to fight about words, a thing of no usefulness at all because it overturns those listening. 15 Do your utmost to present yourself approved to God, a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of the truth aright. 16 But shun empty speeches that violate what is holy; for they will advance to more and more ungodliness, 17 and their word will spread like gangrene. Hy·me·nae′us and Phi·le′tus are of that number.”

We try not to argue, for there is very little good that comes from worldly argumentation by the power of words, that go around as a unchristian circle of

wordings, questions,  

(Titus 3:9-11) “9 But shun foolish questionings and genealogies and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile. 10 As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition; 11 knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is sinning, he being self-condemned.”

Without applying these points to you directly , there is always the danger of using ideas , words, questionings etc. that are unhealthy and not upbuilding!

Answer 13

I am not JW, but it ain't what you know,

it's how you act.

God love you!

Answer 14

Devils fear and tremble the name of Jesus.  Jesus!  Not saying they are devils but devils are roaming the earth trying to drag down as much people as they can with them.  The devils blocked the ears of those that don't accept Jesus as their Lord (God) and Savior.  The devil hate Jesus.  Accept Jesus as your Lord (God) and Savior; and gain salvation.  

Psalms 34: v 4&5.  "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."

Answer 15

I can remember being terrified of 'apostates' growing up as a JW!  We were taught that they are Satanic!  Now that I am grown and can see this organization for what it is and WHY people are opposed to them!  Ex-JWs aren't Satanic!  We can just see the organization for what it is now AND we have the best insight as WE USED TO THINK THE SAME WAY!  

Being deprogrammed from their thinking even takes a very long time.....I am so glad that I am free of them!  I am glad that YOU are too!  We are NOT apostate in their warped definition!

PS....I've moved on with my life....I want to spare ANYONE the pain that I've had to endure being spiritually abused!

Answer 16

Because they don't want you "apostates" to tell others how empty their religion really is.

The same goes for any branch of Christianity.

.

Answer 17

As a JW I was warned constantly not to do any Bible study on my own without the Aid of Watchtower Literature.

That should have set off warning buzzers for me but it didn't.

There is a kind of ignorance that fills Kingdom Hall that doesn't seem to make sense.

I determined recently that there must be an outside power at work.

No body could be that gullible, right ?

I have read the Bible on my own and I am set free from my former belief system !

They did warn me though !

: )

EDIT: Rick G...........History ?  How about the History of the Watchtower ?

How do we get past that ?

Answer 18

You of course are kidding ? I don't know one person out there that can effectively begin to make a Jehovah's Witness shake in their boots.Wow you are living in never never land thinking that.Being so sure of yourself can get you into a heap of a mess.I was a Witness and I remember their argumentation's and reasoning's and you don't make me shake in my boots and if someone on here is a real Jehovah's witness they could take you on in a snap with one hand tied behind their back.Trust me they are masters at what they do.Unless you like fighting a battle against a sword with a butter knife you better check you credentials carefully because you will loose and loose big.

Answer 19

Look at history.

The Jews were given the chance to provide all the positions that would be "kings and priests". They listened to their "religious leaders", the High Priest Caiaphas and these men plotted the murder of the Messiah. When before Pilate, their leaders had them cheer for the release of a murderer over the release of Jesus.

Bad effect of apostates.

Look at the teachings developed by the "fathers" of the 2nd and 3rd centuries. They built a clergy/laity division, grew to have power in the Roman empire, and when it collapsed, took the power and title of Cesar. These apostate "Christians" then brought mankind the Dark Ages, the Crusades, and every doctrine that pagandom had, all dressed up in "christian" clothes.

Bad effects of apostates.

My boots are size 15, they don't shake, they walk away from teachers of falsehood.  

Answer 20

"Since they consider me an apostate (I'm not really) we can all see how obvious it is that they are shaking in their boots at my questions."

Funny stuff. The only time aposties make me shake in my boots is when I laugh at them for not getting a life. Instead of their moving on with their lives, they love to look back on their former affiliation with their former brothers with such bitterness and hatred. If you don't want to be a JW any longer, fine. Go back to the false religious ways that you once rejected. You are only hurting yourself. Life goes on.

"Do they realize that I know something they don't about their own religion?"

Instead of focusing on that, why don't you tell us (JWs AND non-JWs) how the religion you are now associated with is teaching you the truth from the Bible and how everyone here should join you? Can you do that? No, I suppose not. How sad.