Many Jehovah’s Witnesses have feelings of guilt because they cannot meet the expectations of their faith. There are always things to do more or to do better and it never seems enough although life is often already busy.
Yet, this is not needed. The bible doesn’t require as much as we often think. Many of the expectations are actually not found in the bible. Being aware of this may make you feel better. Knowing the truth will set you free (John 8:32)
Below you find more than 70 laws, habits and expressions of Jehovah’s Witnesses that don’t exist in the bible. The aim is to give you a broader viewpoint.
In the bible there is no obligation or law to:
In the bible there is no ban or law against:
- do regular personal study
- prepare for meetings
- have a family worship every week and that this is a requirement to become a ministerial servant or elder
- read the daily text
- be enrolled to give talks or demonstrations at meetings
- pray for every meal
- read the bible daily (it is positively spoken of, but not required: illiterates have always been allowed to become christians)
- having a beard, a woman wearing pants, toasting, wearing a tie, wedding rings, higher education, etc. (the bible never changed about these subjects)
- masturbation
- reading or watching violence or magic (the bible contains these things: David & Goliath / Saul and the spirit medium)
- having or wearing a weapon (Jesus commanded his apostles to buy a sword in Luke 22:36)
- Working for the police or the army (Cornelius was an army officer and yet anointed by Holy Spirit and baptised as such)
Our christian meetings
The bible makes no rules about these things:
- that christians should organise or attend bigger meetings like assemblies and conventions
- how many meetings per week christians should organise
- whether all christians worldwide need to have the same amount of gatherings
- that the christians in the 1st century all had the same program and structure at their meetings
- What style of clothing or hair is expected at meetings
Our christian ministry
The bible doesn’t say that:
- Christians are required to preach from door to door (which was actually acknowledged during COVID)
- Christians should preach at least once a month to be exemplary
- Christians should turn in a field service report to the elders and that efforts should be done to make detailed international reports (the great crowd in Rev 7 no man would number)
Cutout of photo by Steelman. Source and license: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Evangeliza%C3%A7%C3%A3o.jpg
These expressions often used by JW’s are not found in the bible:
- unbaptised publisher
- auxiliary, regular or special pioneers
- hour requirements
- irregular or inactive publishers
- service committee
- branch committee
- circuit overseer
- headquarters representative
- the Society
- governing body
- judicial committee
- appeal committee
- reinstatement procedure
- privileges in the congregation
- resolutions
- the organisation
- neutrality
- the issue of universal sovereignty
- chaperone
- recurring contributions
- blood fractions
In the bible, christians were not asked to donate for these expensive costs:
- Building and maintaining kingdom halls (christians in the 1st century met in private houses and schools)
- Building and maintaining assembly halls
- Renting stadions for conventions
- Bethel homes, missionary homes, translation offices, headquarter buildings and their inhabitants
- Printing presses and video production facilities
- travel costs for headquarter representatives to do worldwide branch visits and convention talks
- thousands of circuit overseers and their cars
We were working night and day, so that we would not put an expensive burden on any one of you.
Cutout of photo by Jud McCranie, source and license: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Watchtower_Brooklyn.jpg
Christian baptism
Things that Jehovah’s Witnesses teach about baptism that are unmentioned or even contrary to the bible:
- The requirement to do a dedication vow in prayer, and that baptism symbolises this dedication
- A person has first to build a reputation of regular preaching activity as an unbaptised publisher before being allowed to be baptised
- That 3 series of many questions have to be asked by elders to check if someone can be baptised
- Elders have received the divine power to intervene and forbid someone from being baptised
- Baptism can only happen 3 times a year at big meetings
- A baptism talk is needed
- Right before baptism, candidates have to answer with a clear and loud YES to 2 questions asked by the speaker
- In one of these questions, the person declares his attachment not to God or Jesus, but to an organisation
In that hour of the night… he and his entire household were baptized without delay.
Prophecies
These things are taught by Jehovah’s Witnesses without a biblical basis:
- The dream of Nebuchadnezzar about a big tree chopped and banded for 7 times is recorded in Daniel chapter 4. It is fulfilled in the king being temporarily mad. No indication exists for a 2nd fulfillment, yet it’s taught.
- In Luke 21:24, Jesus spoke about the times of the gentiles (nations), but he didn’t say these times were already ongoing. He said: “Jerusalem will be trampled” which is future tense. There is no link between this verse and the account of Daniel. It actually fits better with Rev 11:2, where these times of the nations are 42 months.
- How can Jesus’ presence start before he comes or arrives ? A visitor is only present after he arrives.
- That the time from 1914 until today can be called “a short period of time” in Rev 12:12. No human would. The bible is written for humans.
- That the great tribulation will start with the idea to attack false religion. Contrary, 1 Peter 4:17 seems to indicate that the judgment will start with the house of God.
- That Daniel chapter 8 is about the king of the south. Comparing dan 8:11 with 11:31 quickly shows that the chapter is actually about the king of the north, giving interesting indications about the end of times.
- That the slave is guaranteed to stay faithful and discreet. Jesus clearly stated in Mat 24:48-51 that this slave can become evil, beating unnecessarily and unaware or drunk to what he causes. He would be taken by surprise.
A terrible mistake about the Memorial of Christ’s death
- No biblical basis exists to say that not all christians are in the new covenant:
- Jer 31:31-34 says that those in the new covenant will know Jehovah, being Gods people and have their sins forgiven. Nothing is said about a different hope.
- Even in the old Law covenant, all Israelites were part of it, even when only some of them were priests or kings
- The “other sheep” in John 10:16 are the Gentiles, who are added to the first sheep, the Jews. This is in line with Eph 2:11-17.
- This means all christians must partake of the bread and the wine at the Memorial of Christ’s death
And taking the cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, saying: ‘Drink out of it, all of you“.
Go, make disciples, teaching them the things I have commanded you.
Other unnecessary things
- No obligation exists to research the historical background of a holiday to check if it might have some unknown pagan link. How would early christians or illiterates possibly have done such investigation ?
- It is nowhere forbidden to accept some candy from a classmate who’s birthday it is.
- No biblical rules exist whether it is allowed to carry out work for i.e. a church or the army
- No rules exist about whether a christian can visit a church at the funeral service of a relative or family member
- Nothing is said in the bible about gambling, buying a lottery ticket or casinos
- The bible doesn’t require prayers to be specific
- No prayer in the bible ends with the wording ‘in Jesus’ name, Amen”
- The bible makes no distinction between the 4 main components of blood and blood fractions
- Matthew 18:15-17 says that when someone sins, you should talk to him. If he doesn’t listen, take 1 or 2 extra with you. If he still doesn’t listen, speak to the congregation. No indication exists that this procedure only applies to small sins like fraud and slander or that the congregation is to be replaced by the elders.
- What does it mean to stop keeping company with someone removed (disfellowshipped) ?
- 2 Thes 3:14, 15 shows that you can stop associating with someone and yet continue admonishing him
- Jesus talked with the Devil about scriptures. He ate with sinners, tax collectors and pharisees
- When someone is cut off from the congregation, the bible does not say he is also cut off from his family
- It is unbiblical (and unloving, not christ-like) to shun your child, parent, family or neighbor
- The bible does not forbit to read something that is negative or even from an adversary. In Ezra 4:11-16 and Acts 24:2-8 we find a full letter and a speach from adversaries. Truth withstands all criticism.
The important questions
How much % of the way of worshipping by Jehovah’s Witnesses is really firmly based on the bible ?
What would Jesus say about it ?
Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for yourselves. For my yoke is kindly, and my load is light.
