Reviewing the study article, “How Can You Safeguard Your Heart?” in the January 2019 Watchtower Study Edition. Topics of discussion: applying counsel consistently to the Watchtower and JW leadership. Subscribe to the JW Review in iTunes
Reviewing the March 2018 Watchtower Study Edition for the week of May 28-June 3. Topics of discussion: Omitting Jesus, the Divine Name in the Christian Scriptures, the Organization, Disfellowshipping/Shunning, Judicial Committees, Second Chance Doctrine, the Atonement, the Governing Body Subscribe to the JW Review in iTunes and please consider rating this podcast!
Reviewing the study article, “What Does It Mean to Be a Spiritual Person” in the February 2018 Watchtower Study Edition. Topics of discussion: reading Bible verses in context, examining the teachings of men, the authority of the Governing Body, compassion for shunning victims, the two classes. JW.org sources cited: 7 Elders who are reading this … More Watchtower Study Review – “What Does It Mean to Be a Spiritual Person?” April 16-22, 2018
Reviewing the March 2018 JW Broadcast Topics of discussion: the authority of the Governing Body Go HERE to subscribe to the JW Review Podcast on iTunes. Don’t forget to rate it! More ratings draws more people to the podcast.
Reviewing the article, “Pleasant Unity and the Memorial” in the January 2018 Watchtower Study Edition. Admittedly, I struggled to explain the Watchtower’s resurrection doctrine. There is much to criticize, but also much to learn as it’s important we accurately represent the JW’s in what they believe. Topics of discussion: The Lord’s Supper, the “faith examination … More Watchtower Study Review – “Pleasant Unity and the Memorial” – March 5-11, 2018
I decided to create a compilation of authority quotes (that is, from the Governing Body) that can be easily linked to JW.org. Until relatively recently, it was somewhat difficult for the non-JW to track down Watchtower quotes from the original source. Now, with the online library at our disposal, we can easily link to the source … More JW.org Authority Quotes
Reviewing the article, “Help Your Children Become ‘Wise for Salvation’” in the December 2017 Watchtower Study Edition. Topics of discussion: Correcting my error from last week’s Podcast, Watchtower’s lack of Jesus, applying critical thinking to Governing Body teachings, loving Jesus, Watchtower’s doctrinal changes and how to approach it, the cost of becoming a JW, and … More Watchtower Study Review – “Help Your Children Become ‘Wise for Salvation'” – February 12-18, 2018
This is a review of the “Questions from Readers” in the April 2018 Watchtower Study Review. The primary statement in question is this: “By directing interested people to our official websites, we are connecting them with the one true source of spiritual food, “the faithful and discreet slave.” This may be the strongest statement of authority … More Is the Governing Body the “one true source” of Spiritual Food? April 2018 Watchtower Study Review
Reviewing the study article in the October 2017 Watchtower Study Edition, “Chariots and a Crown Safeguard You.” Topics of discussion: 1914, 1919, the Faithful Slave, and the Organization. Go HERE to subscribe to the JW Review Podcast on iTunes. Don’t forget to rate it! More ratings draws more people to the podcast.
Reviewing the study article in the October 2017 Watchtower Study Edition, “Love…in Deed and Truth.” Topics of discussion: Christian hedonism, the ransom, the anointed class, the new birth, second chance doctrine, the Faithful and Discreet Slave, Field Service Report Slips, the Governing Body. Go HERE to subscribe to the JW Review Podcast on iTunes. Don’t … More Watchtower Study Review – November 27 – December 3, 2017 – “Love…in Deed and Truth”
This presentation group was given to a group of college students in March 2017 at GA Tech University. The topic was the Governing Body and refuting their authority claims. Enjoy! Please subscribe to the JW Review Podcast on iTunes HERE
This is the third and final part of this review. If you’d like to follow along, you can download the Feb. 2017 Watchtower Study Edition HERE. Please subscribe to the JW Review Podcast on iTunes HERE
This is part 2 of 3. I was hoping to get part 3 done before February ended, but time got away from me. I plan on getting to part 3 before the end of March. If you’d like to follow along, you can download the Feb. 2017 Watchtower Study Edition HERE. Please subscribe to … More Reviewing the February 2017 Watchtower Study Edition part 2
In this podcast, I share a very interesting experience I had at a local Kingdom Hall on Jan. 15, 2017. Please subscribe to the JW Review Podcast on iTunes HERE
It was not necessarily by my choosing that this review centered once again on the Governing Body. Rather, it is the Governing Body themselves who are regularly promoting every Christian’s absolutely unquestionable obedience to anything they put in print. I would encourage everyone to read the full context of the November 2016 Watchtower HERE. In … More Reviewing the November 2016 Watchtower Study Edition
It’s been a while since my last podcast, mostly due to starting a new job as well as my involvement with my wife’s business. In this episode, i’ll be reviewing the August 2016 JW Broadcast; in particular, the first 25 minutes or so as it relates to the Governing Body and how JW’s are required … More Reviewing the August 2016 JW Broadcast
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In this podcast, I will be interacting with the arguments Rotherham made against my previous podcast. To subscribe to the JW Review podcast: CLICK HERE
In this episode of the JW Review, i’ll be sharing a recent lecture I did on the topic of the Governing Body. To be honest, I had prepared a much more in depth presentation but it turns out the audience had a lot of questions on the basics prior to delving into the primary topic. … More What is the Governing Body?
You can download my Keynote slides as a PDF HERE
Rotherham’s arguments are more directly related to THIS POST, but COMMENTED ON the article, “Did the Watchtower’s ‘Faithful Slave’ claim the Holy Spirit’s functions ceased?” I would recommended reading Rotherham’s comment before proceeding to read my critique. I’m posting this here rather than the comment section because it highlights many of the common responses JW apologists … More Answering a JW apologist: is the Watchtower Directed by Jehovah?
While this issue has a complex history and much can be written, I want to keep this as simple as possible. Let’s first cover what the Watchtower has stated regarding the work of the Holy Spirit since 1919: *** ip-1 chap. 25 p. 340 par. 20 The King and His Princes *** Happily, since 1919, … More Did the Watchtower’s “Faithful Slave” claim the Holy Spirit’s functions ceased?
We all know that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have denied claims of inspiration. For example: In most ways Jehovah’s Witnesses are like everyone else. They have normal problems—economic, physical, emotional. They make mistakes at times, for they are not perfect, inspired, or infallible. But they try to learn from their experiences and diligently study the Bible to make needed … More Spirit-directed and Spirit-inspired: is there a difference?
In the August 15, 2014 Watchtower Study Edition, the Watchtower addresses some interesting points as it relates to reading the Bible when someone has less access to the Watchtower publications than others. Since the appointment of the faithful slave in 1919, millions of “domestics” of all languages have been gathered into God’s organization and are … More What about those with less access to Watchtower Publications?
This debate took place on the TRUE THEOLOGY forum, but I will be posting the full debate on a PDF once it is completed. You can follow the discussion HERE. The debate is with Rotherham, who is a JW I regularly interact with here. The format is as follows with hyperlinks for each section: (1) Openings Rotherham’s … More Debate with a JW: “Is the Watchtower’s interpretation of the faithful slave found in Matthew 24 and Luke 12, as articulated in the July 15th, 2013 Watchtower, accurate?”
This is an article that I published on CARM. The link is below: NEW LIGHT ON THE “FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE”
While not an “official” publication by the Watchtower, THIS ARTICLE appears to reflect the attitude of many JW’s as they consider former Governing Body member Ray Franz and his books. While there may be other books he’s written that i’m not aware of, the most prominent are CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE and IN SEARCH OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM. The purpose of this … More How many JW’s view so-called “apostate literature”
Thus far, myself and the JW apologist “Rotherham” have gone through almost 80 comments in discussion on this topic. While one can only take a discussion so far before the dead horse gets beaten some more, I really think this topic is central to our differences with the JW’s. Unfortunately, i’m going to be out of … More Ephesians 4:11-16 discussion
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses are adamant in saying that all true Christians must believe everything they teach. ***w09 p. 14 par. 5 Treasure Your Place in the Congregation*** We need to guard against developing a spirit of independence. By word or action, may we never challenge the channel of communication that Jehovah is … More The Governing Body, Ephesians 4:11-16, and “unity”
Perhaps this mock dialogue will illustrate: Non-JW: When the Holy Spirit is leading us, it’s always to the truth? It would never lead somebody to error. JW: Right. Non-JW: And all true Christians have the Holy Spirit? JW: Yes Non-JW: So if we think something incorrectly, it is our own imperfection leading us that way, … More Should Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the Spirit or the Governing Body?
MJF APOLOGETICS 