During his ministry, Jesus showed courage by boldly exposing the religious leaders for misleading the people with false teachings. -Matthew 23:13-36. He continued to do this even though his life was threatened. -John 5:15-18. Twice, he fearlessly cleansed the temple, driving out those who were defiling his Father’s worship there. -Matthew. 21:12, 13; John 2:14-17.
The Watchtower society encourages Witnesses to imitate this example set by Jesus:
“As true Christians, we need to keep “speaking with boldness by the authority of Jehovah.” -Acts 14:3. What reasons do we have to preach with boldness, or courage? We know that what we preach is the truth because it is based on the Bible. -John 17:17. We recognize that “we are God’s fellow workers” and that we have the backing of holy spirit. -1 Corinthians 3:9; Acts 4:31. We understand that by witnessing zealously, we demonstrate our devotion to Jehovah and our love for our neighbor. -Matthew 22:37-39. Imbued with courage, we will not be silenced. On the contrary, we are determined to expose the religious lies that blind people to the truth. -2 Corinthians 4:4. And we will persevere in preaching the good news despite apathy, ridicule, or opposition.—1 Thessalonians 2:1, 2. -The Watchtower February 15, 2015 page. 12 paragraph. 8.
It is puzzling, however, that the Watchtower also discourages Witnesses from even listening to those they consider apostates:
“Besides all of this, take up the large shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the wicked one’s burning arrows.” –Ephesians 6:16.
Commenting on this verse The Watchtower makes this point:
“Satan, “the father of the lie,” uses those under his control to spread lies about Jehovah and about our brothers and sisters. -John 8:44. For instance, apostates publish lies and distort facts about Jehovah’s organization on websites and through television and other media. Those lies are among Satan’s “burning arrows.” -Ephesians 6:16. How should we respond if someone confronts us with such lies? We reject them! Why? Because we have faith in Jehovah and we trust our brothers. In fact, we avoid all contact with apostates. We do not allow anyone or anything, including curiosity, to draw us into arguing with them. -The Watchtower November 2019 study edition pages. 15-16 paragraph. 8. See the previous discussion of this paragraph here.
The caption to a picture associated with that paragraph says the following: “When a report appears on TV about apostates who spread lies about Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Witness family right away turns off the TV.”
But did Jesus refuse to listen to opposers? Did he run and hide from the Devil?
Then Jesus, full of holy spirit, turned away from the Jordan, and he was led about by the spirit in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by the Devil. And he ate nothing in those days, so when they had ended, he felt hungry. At this the Devil said to him: “If you are a son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” But Jesus answered him: “It is written, ‘Man must not live on bread alone.’” So he brought him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time. Then the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. If you, therefore, do an act of worship before me, it will all be yours.” In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” He then led him into Jerusalem and stationed him on the battlement of the temple and said to him: “If you are a son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will give his angels a command concerning you, to preserve you,’ and, ‘They will carry you on their hands, so that you may not strike your foot against a stone.’” In answer Jesus said to him: “It is said, ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’” So the Devil, having finished all the temptation, departed from him until another convenient time. Luke 4:1-13.
Rather than shut his ears, Jesus opposed the Devil, defending the truth by a skillful use of God’s word. He, likewise, did the same when confronting his religious opposers.
“Then there came to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying: “Why do your disciples overstep the tradition of the men of former times? For example, they do not wash their hands when about to eat a meal.” In reply he said to them: “Why do you overstep the commandment of God because of your tradition? For example, God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Let the one who speaks abusively of his father or mother be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother: “Whatever I have that could benefit you is a gift dedicated to God,” he need not honor his father at all.’ So you have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said: ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’” With that he called the crowd near and said to them: “Listen and get the sense of it: It is not what enters into a man’s mouth that defiles him, but it is what comes out of his mouth that defiles him.” Matthew 15:1-11.
What is the shield of faith?
In discussing the shield of faith in Ephesians, Paul does not tell us what the burning missiles are. In its application of this verse, the Watchtower includes such things as undue anxiety, lies, discouragement and materialism. But none of these things are directly mentioned in the context. In explaining the need for the suit of armor, Paul in verse 11 says its purpose is to enable us to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil. The word for machinations (Greek methodeia) means to employ craft or deceit. It only appears one other place in the Christian scriptures:
So we should no longer be children, tossed about as by waves and carried here and there by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in deceptive schemes. Ephesians 4:14.
Hence, it would appear to primarily have to do with deception.
Regarding Ephesians 6:16, R.C.H. Lenski writes:
What is meant by “all the blazing missiles of the wicked one,” which we shall be able to quench with this shield, “the faith”? “Temptations,” we are told. Very well. But what are they, and why are they called “missiles,” (bele) arrows or darts, (malleoli) arrows tipped with burning cotton and pitch (not poisoned arrows, as some think), not falaricae, the great spears hurled from a catapult during the siege of a fortress.
Paul is describing an open battle. The devil tempted Eve by hurling at her the doubt regarding God’s word: “Did God really say?” How could and should she have quenched that blazing arrow? As Jesus did when Satan shot the same kind of arrows at him during the temptation in the desert. Each time the arrow was quenched in the shield, not of, “I believe,” but of, “It is written.” Eve’s answer should have been: “Most certainly God did say!”
Here is the answer as to what “the faith” means when it is used as the shield against the blazing arrows. Luther: “One little word overthrows him.” Hold up to the devil, not merely your believing or subjective faith, but the Word, the doctrine, the pertinent Scripture passage, the objective content of faith, of course, also with your whole heart believing, relying on its truth and power, you may believe with all your might, but that will not be a quenching shield; Satan will easily pierce that, and you will be set on fire. Everything depends on what you believe. Hold up “the faith” (objective): this extinguishes every tempting lie of the wicked one.” -Interpretation of Ephesians pages. 670-671).
So, according to Luther, it is not merely belief that serves as a protection. It is the scriptural foundation for that belief. Hence if a person is afraid to even listen to challenges or questions regarding why they believe but instead chooses to isolate himself along with others that believe the same, how would he even know if his faith rests on scriptural truth? How would he ever know that it is nothing more than just wishful thinking? (1 Peter 1:7; 3:15; James 1:3)
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1Pe 1:6-7 NASB) The Watchtower seems most concerned with apostates. After all, Witnesses are sent out to engage with any and everyone in the ministry including ministers and pastors of Christendom. But if ever they encounter a former witness they are instructed to leave immediately. Why is this the case? Is it because former witnesses have scriptural support for what they are saying? Scriptural support for which the Watchtower society has no defense? It is noteworthy that the Jews regarded the apostle Paul as a dangerous apostate:
After hearing this, they began to glorify God, but they said to him: “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the Law. 21 But they have heard it rumored about you that you have been teaching all the Jews among the nations an apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to follow the customary practices. (Acts 21:20, 21)
Was Paul an apostate? What is apostasy?
In the Watchtower we find this definition:
“The word “apostasy” comes from a Greek term that means “a standing away from,” “a falling away, defection,” “rebellion, abandonment.” The first one to fall away from the true worship of Jehovah was Satan the Devil. He was therefore the first apostate. -John 8:44. He caused the first human couple to become apostates. -Genesis, chapter 3. Very early in the history of Israel there was a “falling away” or ‘turning aside’ from true worship. We read:
“Even to their judges they did not listen, but they had immoral intercourse with other gods and went bowing down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way in which their forefathers had walked by obeying the commandments of Jehovah.”—Judges. 2:17.
3 Later, many of the kings of both Israel and Judah became apostates and led the nations they were ruling over into a course of apostasy. God first punished the northern kingdom of Israel, saying: “Against an apostate nation [Israel] I shall send him [Assyria].” -Isaiah. 10:6. And just before the destruction of Jerusalem, capital of Judah, by the Babylonians, Jehovah stated: “From the prophets of Jerusalem apostasy has gone forth to all the land.” -Jeremiah. 23:15. Apostasy or falling away from the true faith certainly brought no blessings to Israel and Judah. -The Watchtower August 1, 1980 page. 17 paragraphs. 2-3).
Clearly we could not place the apostle Paul in this category. Why then did the Jews regarded him as an apostate?
So according to Paul’s custom he went inside to them, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving by references that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying: “This is the Christ, this Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.” (Acts 17:2, 3) However, the Jews did not react favorably to his message:
But the Jews, getting jealous, gathered together some wicked men who were loitering at the marketplace and formed a mob and proceeded to throw the city into an uproar. They assaulted the house of Jaʹson and were seeking to have Paul and Silas brought out to the mob. (Acts 17:5)
Rather than being in opposition to God’s will, Paul was working in harmony with it. He scripturally pointed out that the Jews were wrong. But instead of listening to him and reasoning on the scriptures they regarded him as an apostate and rejected him, thus demonstrating that they themselves were the real apostates? But in the same chapter we learn of the Beroeans. Though they were eager to hear Paul they didn’t automatically accept his message but carefully checked the scriptures to see if what he was teaching was true. (Acts 17:11)
Did Jesus ever encounter apostates? Couldn’t we say that this attitude of those in Thessalonica toward true worship was manifested by the religious leaders of Jesus day? Is this not why the nation was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E.? So, how did Jesus deal with apostates in his day?
“I know that you are Abraham’s offspring. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you. I speak the things I have seen while with my Father, but you do the things you have heard from your father.” In answer they said to him: “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them: “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father.” They said to him: “We were not born from immorality; we have one Father, God.” Jesus said to them: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I have not come of my own initiative, but that One sent me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot listen to my word. You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie. Because I, on the other hand, tell you the truth, you do not believe me. Who of you convicts me of sin? If I speak truth, why is it that you do not believe me? The one who is from God listens to the sayings of God. This is why you do not listen, because you are not from God.” -John 8:37-47.
Jesus was also not afraid to engage with them even when they deceptively tried to trip him up:
“Then the Pharisees went their way and took counsel together in order to trap him in his speech. So they dispatched to him their disciples, together with party followers of Herod, saying: “Teacher, we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care for anybody, for you do not look upon men’s outward appearance. Tell us, therefore, What do you think? Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: “Why do YOU put me to the test, hypocrites? Show me the head tax coin.” They brought him a de·narʹi·us. And he said to them: “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said: “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them: “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.” Well, when they heard [that], they marveled, and leaving him they went off. On that day Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and asked him: “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If any man dies without having children, his brother must take his wife in marriage and raise up offspring for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and deceased, and, not having offspring, he left his wife for his brother. It went the same way also with the second and the third, until through all seven. Last of all the woman died. Consequently, in the resurrection, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all got her.” In reply Jesus said to them: “YOU are mistaken, because YOU know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God; for in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. As regards the resurrection of the dead, did YOU not read what was spoken to YOU by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living.” On hearing that, the crowds were astounded at his teaching. After the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they came together in one group. And one of them, versed in the Law, asked, testing him: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.” Now while the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them: “What do YOU think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him: “David’s.” He said to them: “How, then, is it that David by inspiration calls him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet”’? If, therefore, David calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?” And nobody was able to say a word in reply to him, nor did anyone dare from that day on to question him any further. Matthew 22:15-46.
Are Christians to follow Jesus example? It would appear so:
In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely. 1 Peter 2:21.
But sanctify the Christ as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense before everyone who demands of you a reason for the hope you have, but doing so with a mild temper and deep respect. 1 Peter 3:15.
Why does the society encourage its members to refuse to engage former members?
It goes back to events leading up to the year 1931 and the reason why it became necessary to call themselves by the name Jehovah’s Witnesses. Basically, it is to protect their unique brand of Christianity. J.F. Rutherford sought to shield his followers from anyone speaking negatively about the organization he was forming. For more information read the article entitled: “The Origin of the Name Jehovah’s Witnesses”.
When Jesus was on earth he illustrated how the work he began in his ministry would progress after his death. But he also warned that the Devil would seek to undermine his efforts by infiltrating it with imitation Christians.
“Then after dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples came to him and said: “Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field.” In response he said: “The sower of the fine seed is the Son of man; the field is the world. As for the fine seed, these are the sons of the Kingdom, but the weeds are the sons of the wicked one, and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is a conclusion of a system of things, and the reapers are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be in the conclusion of the system of things. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will collect out from his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and people who practice lawlessness, and they will pitch them into the fiery furnace. There is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth will be. At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Let the one who has ears listen.” Matthew 13:36-43.
Notice that in his field there exists together both genuine Christians and imitation ones. Jesus does not say that this will continue until his Father would come and accelerate the growth of the genuine wheat. In the conclusion he said the Son of man will send not men, not a small group of anointed ones but his angels to collect from his Kingdom all things causing stumbling. I believe all Christian sects claiming to have restored first century Christianity and seeking to constitute themselves as the only true religion on earth today should think seriously about what they are claiming. In the illustration the master directly told his workers not to interfere with the harvest.
“So the slaves of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow fine seed in your field? How, then, does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy, a man, did this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go out and collect them?’ He said, ‘No, for fear that while collecting the weeds, you uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest season, I will tell the reapers: First collect the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them up; then gather the wheat into my storehouse.’” Matthew 13:27-30.
Jesus however did give warning about such disobedient ones that would come in the future and try and interfere with the harvest.
He said: “Look out that you are not misled, for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The due time is near.’ Do not go after them. Luke 21:8.
The apostle Paul likewise warned of those that would seek to draw the disciples away to themselves:
“I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, 30 and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves. Acts 20:29, 30.
“Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought. For some from the house of Chloʹe have informed me regarding you, my brothers, that there are dissensions among you. What I mean is this, that each one of you says: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to A·polʹlos,” “But I to Ceʹphas,” “But I to Christ.” Is the Christ divided? Paul was not executed on the stake for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crisʹpus and Gaʹius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephʹa·nas. As for the rest, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. For Christ sent me, not to baptize, but to declare the good news; and not with wisdom of speech, so that the torture stake of the Christ should not be made useless. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
“Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ; Colossians 2:8.
In order for one to draw away the disciples after themselves one would have to have a distinctive name so as to set himself apart from the rest. They could then sell this name or brand as unique, exclusive, one of a kind, the only place where truth can be found, leading to a relationship with God and everlasting life. The organization then becomes God’s organization, automatically making all others false and under control of the Devil. If anyone of these disciples were to discover something out of harmony with God’s will in the organization, this could pose a threat, as others hearing of it would begin to question the leadership and consider leaving. What could the organization do to protect itself?
First they could try various means to keep the person from speaking out, perhaps reasoning that such information could cause divisions and have a faith weakening effect on others thus stumbling them. But what if the organization itself misrepresented God or its doctrines or policies were of such a nature that, if not corrected, had the potential of causing others harm. What if the person felt he could not conscientiously remain in the organization if changes were not made? What if he felt a responsibility to warn others or at least to present them with the facts and allow them to decide their own course of action? What then? If the organization was unable to refute the claims made and did not want to deal with its authority being questioned it would be necessary for them to instill in its membership mistrust of any former member. Branding former members as liars and apostates would be its only means of protection from loss of control over its membership.
In reality though, by disobeying the master’s instructions and interfering with the harvest, drawing away disciples to themselves, they themselves are the true apostates.
This is not to say that any group that organizes itself in order to study the Bible, pray and fellowship is apostate. But when that group makes authoritative claims for itself as being the sole representative of God on earth, that a relationship with God can only come through it, then they are transgressing. In reality they are assuming a position that God has delegated to only one person, his Son. -John 14:6.
Rather than encourage its members to hide, run away or shield themselves from from criticism a true religion would educate them to evaluate it in light of what the Bible says. Consider this statement in a 1964 Watchtower. The article is entitled “Should You Change Your Religion?:
“If you have not proved for yourself, from God’s Word the Bible, that the religion you belong to teaches the truth and meets God’s requirements, then there is the strong probability that your religion does not please God. Why can this be said? Because the right religion would have a permanent program for teaching and equipping you to be able to prove your faith from God’s Word, the Bible. As the apostle Peter said, you would be “always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you.”—1 Pet. 3:15.
This is not the only requirement for true worship, of course, but it is one of the more fundamental. So if your religion is failing to equip you to make the defense of your faith that Peter speaks of, then you have compelling reason to consider changing your religion. (The Watchtower May 15, 1964 pg. 294)
I agree with the concluding statement of that paragraph. Since neither Jesus nor Paul shielded themselves from apostates, I believe that they would agree with it as well. Do you?