Today we face a multitude of dangers from forces that strive to pollute the Christian message. The invasion of cults and non-traditional faiths has deceived millions of people, but none of these groups is anywhere near as threatening as a certain lie that is able to freely travel beyond denominational or faith barriers. “Liberation theology” is one of Satan’s greatest soul-destroying tools.

Throughout the history of Christianity, we’ve seen a continuous cycle of apostasy and reform. Whenever the devil would deaden one denomination, he would create a void that would be filled by a new denomination that still held to the Gospel truth. It appears that Satan has finally realized he needs to replace the Gospel with something that will take the shape and form of the rebirth experience.

Liberation theology is the perfect substitute for true Christianity. It replaces the traditional message of salvation based on faith in Jesus’ death with one that is focused on salvation through political and social reform. Salvation is simply reduced to the goal of freedom from oppression in this life. Liberation theology allows the Gospel of Christ to be swallowed up by socialism. God is seen as a “hidden force,” and the New Testament is merely a collection of useful illustrations of Marxist truths.

Liberation theology began to appear in Latin America in the late 1960s. Theologians began preaching that sin was manifested in the unjust structures of one class of people dominating over a lower class. At first they were determined to implement the social implications of the Gospel for Latin America. It didn’t take them long to progress to the belief that political revolution was the best way to express Christian love toward suffering neighbors. Later, they concluded that God is using radical Marxist revolutionary movements to establish His kingdom of peace, justice, equality, and prosperity for Latin America.

The liberationist movement revives the doctrine of universalism. Adherents ignore man’s spiritual needs and concentrate on bettering mankind’s physical condition. Universalism is heretical and undermines the biblical doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ alone.

The passages of Scripture used to support liberation theology mainly center on Jesus’ identification with the oppressed: Isaiah 61:1,2, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.”

The theology of liberation shifts the emphasis toward liberating action, in a strongly political sense, in the context of the conflict situation of the world today.

Liberation theology may have begun in Central America, but it has found its greatest support in the black population of North America. In the last two decades, what has become known as “black theology” has gained an absolute stranglehold on black consciousness. To be oppressed is to be black, and to be an oppressor doesn’t necessarily relate to a person’s skin pigmentation. What matters is one’s attitude and action towards the liberation of the oppressed black populous. Individuals who stray from the fold are labeled as being traitors to their own race.

Under black theology, all oppression relates to physical, economic, psychological, and political repression. Black theology seeks to speak to “this-world” problems rather than “other-world” issues. The sinfulness of man’s plight in a ghetto is viewed as being more important than sin in man’s heart. People are taught to look for an earthly savior who will deliver man from earthly slavery rather than for a Savior who saves man from spiritual bondage.

Liberation theology fails on both the earthly and the spiritual levels. Some of the most oppressive governments on the planet have been proponents of the principles of liberation theology. Marxism is very much related to this doctrinal view, and it leads to the deaths of untold millions of people. If you ignore the need for morality, you’re headed down a path toward self-destruction.

Nowhere in the Bible does Jesus Christ promote liberation through social and political reform. He did identify with the poor, but I hardly see how empathy for the downtrodden could be seen as a sign to take up arms against the ruling authority.

The only hint of a liberation gospel came from the people who surrounded the Savior. Most people, including the 12 disciples, expected Jesus to overthrow the Roman Empire’s rule and set up an earthly kingdom. If you look at His words, you will find the main focus of Jesus’ ministry was on the eternal Kingdom:

Matthew 5:3-10: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Matthew 5:12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 22:21: Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

John 18:36: Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

After nearly exhausting all the potential gains that can be derived from racial and social class grievances, liberation theology has found the liberation of planet Earth to be full of great potential. We repeatedly hear from environmental warriors that rain forests are being stripped of their vegetation, the atmosphere is being contaminated with greenhouse gases, and toxic waste is blighting our major waterways.

No one in his right mind wants to see all the forests cut down or the air and sea polluted. We need to be good stewards of the earth, but we don’t need to make environmentalism into a religion where Mother Earth takes on the role of the Supreme Being.

The idea that the earth needs to be saved from human activity is laughable. Without God’s intervention, man might wipe himself out, but the earth is in no great danger. We don’t need to find salvation for the earth; we need to find it for ourselves.

Matthew 16:26: For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

History
The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (WTBTS), also known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), was formed as the Zion’s Watch Tower in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell.

Because of his rejection of the concept of Hell, Russell began to challenge many other concepts in the Bible and ultimately added and removed the ones he didn’t agree with until he built a theology that does not even mirror Christianity any longer.  Many of these original retranslations and interpretations can be found in his series of books called,Studies in the Scriptures.

When Russell died in 1916, the nod for leadership of this group went to Joseph F. Rutherford, who in turn revised the writings of Russell, deleting doctrines he didn’t agree with and adding his own commentary at will.  This began with his book, Harp of God in 1921.  He authored some 20 additional books over the next 20 years but none caused as much controversy in the movement as his addition of a new volume of Russell’s series, Studies in the Scriptures.  Because of this writing, the movement splintered and Rutherford’s group changed its name to the WTBTS.

Nathan H. Knorr was the third president of this organization and it was under his direction that the WTBTS bible, the New World Edition, was published in 1961.

Today, the organization is based in Brooklyn, New York, and is generally referred to as the Watch Tower, or the JWs.  Their leader as of this writing is Milton G. Henschel.

As with most sects originating in the 1800s, JWs believe their group to be the only true church on earth, the remnant.  Other doctrines include the denial of the deity of Jesus, soul sleep, and extreme legalism as a means of salvation.  The JWs are best known for their doomsday predictions and their practice of date setting the time of Armageddon.

Beliefs and Doctrines

Soul Sleep
This is the best known of the Jehovah’s Witness doctrines and is adhered to by the Seventh Day Adventists (SDAs) as well: the concepts of no Hell and soul sleep.

The doctrine of soul sleep is based on the belief that human beings don’t have immortal souls; their souls are their physical existence and when the body dies, the soul goes to the grave. From there, those who are righteous are said to be risen at the resurrection; those who are evil are annihilated.

JWs maintain that it would be unloving and unjust for God to punish someone forever. Unfortunately, they are denying the teachings of Jesus himself on this subject. Jesus spoke more about Hell than He did about Heaven. Jesus described Hell (Hades as well as Gehenna) as a place of torment and agony in fire that does not go out. All of these teachings are denied in lieu of a doctrine of eternal sleep and a cessation of existence.

Salvation
Again, as seen in the “remnant churches” of the 1800s, the JWs teach that there is no salvation outside of their membership. They actively proselytize Christians, as they consider Christianity the “false religion,” the “harlot,” and “Babylon,” which are all referenced in Revelation to the false prophet and the ecumenical one-world religion.

JWs teach that there are three possible outcomes for eternity – the first two are restricted to the members of the sect.

1.  Heaven – this is limited to 144,000 people, called the “John Class” or “Heavenly Kingdom Class.” This is made up of select JWs and the count began in 1893 with their first official baptism ceremony.

2.  Earth – this is the destiny of the rest of the faithful members.  They claim this represents the “Great Multitude” in Revelation 7:9 who will live forever in a restored earth.

3. Soul Sleep and Annihilation – This is for the balance of society, those who do not belong to the JW organization.
The JW organization claims that it doesn’t preach “salvation by grace,” but there is a huge flaw in this assertion. As its membership grew, the 144,000 theory became less plausible, so the doctrine was altered. The revision stated that it is not the original 144,000 members who will go to Heaven, as once taught, but that your destiny–whether Heaven or Earth–will be determined at the end and based upon your works. The organization claims that by joining and being baptized, members gain eternal life BUT that one’s destiny is contingent on works.

The organization claims that by joining and being baptized by them that you will gain eternal life BUT your destiny is contingent on your works.

Legalism
As mentioned, a destiny of Heaven or Earth for eternity is based on a strict system of do’s and dont’s.  Here are a few select rules that the JWs promote.

Do/s

Witnessing  – This is the most important directive of the JW faith. Members are even given different titles based on their number of hours of service. It is believed that the witnessing activity in conjunction with abstinence of the items listed below will directly affect one’s eternal destiny.

Baptism – The JWs require full body immersion by a qualified church leader.

Dont’s

Secular – JWs are not to have anything to do with the secular world. This includes music, television, movies, drinking alcohol, smoking, sports, school activities such as clubs, Girl/Boy Scouts, etc.

Traditional – Believing most traditions to be pagan in nature, the JWs reject the practices of holidays and observances such as Easter, Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s/Father’s Day as well as most other holidays and milestone observances.

Political – The JWs refuse to be involved in any political actions, including voting, saluting the flag and serving in the armed forces.  This is all based on their refusal to pledge allegiance to anything other than Jehovah.

Religious – No crosses are to be displayed in the worship hall, on a person, or in their houses. They teach that Jesus was crucified on a stake and that the cross is a pagan symbol. Only the “anointed” members may take communion. These members are determined by the organization and they are very few and far between in number. Communion for the anointed is held in the spring.

Medical – Organ transplants and blood transfusions are expressly forbidden.  This goes back to the Old Testament time when the Lord warned Israel about their handling of blood. Vaccinations were once forbidden as well, but the JW organization has changed its position on that due to the numerous deaths of its members over its history due to improper medical care.

Trinity and Deity of Christ
Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the deity of Christ, His physical resurrection and His visible return.  They teach that the first creative act of the Father was to create the spirit being, Archangel Michael, who later donned a physical body to be seen by his followers in the persona of Jesus.  Additionally, they hold that as Jesus, the Archangel was a perfect man who became the Messiah at the time of his baptism.  The resurrection of Jesus is said to be a spiritual one, not a physical one.

They deny the deity of the Holy Spirit as well, describing it as an “…impersonal, invisible, inactive force that finds its source and reservoir in Jehovah God.” (Let Your Name Be Sanctified, p. 269).

One of the major changes made when the New World Edition Bible was written was the rewrite of all verses pertaining to the deity of Christ and the Trinity.

New World Edition Bible
As is common with splinter groups, the JWs decided that the Bible had been translated improperly and they set about to create their own version of Scripture. A committee of five wrote the New World Edition (NWE). One of the most notable changes in the NWE is found in John 1:1:

The King James Version says,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The NWE added the qualifier, “a”, and took the capitalization emphasis off of “God”:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word waswith God, and the Word was a god.
The logic here is that Michael/Jesus is a little “g” god but inferior to Jehovah God.

False Prophecies
In addition to the door-to-door witnessing techniques, this is the other item for which the JWs are renowned – their obsession with prophecy.

As seen above in the salvation section, JWs have their own unique interpretation of the end-times events and of whom the Scriptures are speaking. They deny the doctrine of the rapture of the Church and are incessant date setters, with false prediction after false prediction about the timing of Armageddon.

Their most notable dates (which usually were followed by promises never to date-set again) include 1914, 1918, 1925, 1975 and 1989. When the 1914 date failed, rather than acknowledge it as a false prediction, they simply declared that Jesus had returned to the earth in invisible form. They continued setting Armageddon dates for future fulfillment.

Angels – The Basis For Their Doctrine
In the Book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul warns about receiving “another gospel” from an angel who does not agree with the message of Christ:

Gal 1:8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Let’s compare that admonishion to the following two quotes from the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ leadership…

“…the heavenly messengers or angels of the Lord now used by the Lord in behalf of the remnant. These angels are invisible to human eyes and are there to carry out the orders of the Lord. No doubt they first hear the instruction which the Lord issues to his remnant and then these invisible messengers pass such instruction on to the remnant” (Vindication, volume III, 1932, p. 250).

“Again God put it in the mind of his people, by his angel, to act and to carry out his purposes” (Light, volume 1, 1930, p. 120).

Summary
Jehovah’s Witnesses appear to be Christians on the outside. They teach against evolution and apostasy in the church. That is where the similarities end, however.Sadly, with their twisting of Scripture to make it read how they want it to read as opposed to accepting it as the Word of God, they have totally gotten lost in the process and have become yet another legalistic, man-made religion.

---

Jehovah’s Witness Home Page