Return to Jehovah?

In an effort to reach out to inactive ones and encourage them to return to the organization, the Watchtower society has produced a brochure entitled: “Return to Jehovah”. In the introduction it says:

“Dear fellow believer:…

As you know, the Bible is largely a book about people. Many were faithful men and women who faced challenges similar to our own. They had “feelings like ours.” (James 5:17) Some were weighed down by troubles and anxiety. Others were deeply hurt by family members or fellow worshippers. And a number were plagued with guilt over their own mistakes.

Consider, for example, how Jehovah helped his servant Job, who experienced a number of calamities-including financial setbacks, the loss of loved ones, and a severe health problem. Job also endured hurtful words from those who should have been there to support him. But he never turned his back on Jehovah, although he did go astray in his thinking for a time. (Job 1:22; 2:10)”

The brochure is designed to appeal to Jehovah’s Witnesses that have ceased attending meetings and participating in the field ministry. They are described as worshippers of Jehovah that have strayed from the fold. Their loyalty to an organization and its directives, for whatever reason, has diminished. Is that the way Job went astray in his thinking? How did Moses, the writer of the book, come to know of Job’s experiences? Was he part of the nation of Israel and had ceased attending worship at the Tabernacle?

According to David Splane, when Job was experiencing his trials, the Israelites were going through their 40 year trek in the wilderness. They hadn’t been established as a nation yet.

Hence, there was no earthly organization for Job to obey.

Along with losing his health, his wealth and his children, it was fellow believers that misjudged and criticized him. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar questioned Jobs motives and even accused him of harboring some secret sin for which he needed to confess and repent. However, Job kept his integrity to Jehovah (Job 27:5) and, thanks to Elihu, finally received much needed understanding and encouragement. In the end Jehovah responded and restored him. He did not destroy him for refusing to accept the counsel of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar but instead the three of them had to offer sacrifices for not speaking the truth about God and Job was encouraged to pray on their behalf. (Job 42:7,8) So just how did Job go astray in his thinking for a time as the brochure states? For scriptural support, Job 1:22 and 2:10 are offered. Let’s take a look at them:

In all of this, Job did not sin or accuse God of doing anything wrong. (Job 1:22)
But he said to her: “You are talking like one of the senseless women. Should we accept only what is good from the true God and not accept also what is bad?” In all of this, Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10)

I don’t see anything there that says Job went astray in his thinking. Do you? In fact, the verses strongly assert the opposite. Job later apologizes for a lack of understanding. But that hardly qualifies as straying from Jehovah. (Job 42:1-6)

Hence, it appears that, if the aim is to get inactive members to see the need to attend meetings and participate in door to door preaching in order to gain God’s approval, they could not have picked an example in the Bible that is farther away from what they hope to convey in this brochure!

Another scripture appealed to in the introduction is Psalm 119:176:

“As you know, the Bible is largely a book about people. Many were faithful men and women who faced challenges similar to our own. They had “feelings like ours.” (James 5:17) Some were weighed down by troubles and anxiety. Others were deeply hurt by family members or fellow worshippers. And a number were plagued with guilt over their own mistakes.

Had such individuals left Jehovah completely? No. Many were like the psalmist who prayed: “I have strayed like a lost sheep. Search for your servant, for I have not forgotten your commandments.” (Psalm 119:176)

Only if such persons, because of experiencing such problems had stopped believing in God, even a little, not because of failing to attend religious meetings, then it could be said that they strayed from Jehovah. But is that the case with the Psalmist? Consider some examples from earlier in the Psalm:

(Psalm 119:8) I will observe your regulations. May you never utterly forsake me.

(Psalm 119:10, 11) With my whole heart I seek you. Do not let me stray from your commandments. ¹¹ In my heart I treasure up your saying So that I may not sin against you.

(Psalm 119:16) I am fond of your statutes. I will not forget your word.

 (Psalm 119:31) I cling to your reminders. O Jehovah, do not let me be disappointed.

Many more examples could be cited but these should suffice in order for you to get the picture that the Psalmist had not strayed from God’s commandments even a little.

But if the Psalmist had not forgotten God’s commandments, an obvious question arises, in what way had he strayed?

Regarding this, Cambridge Bible commentary writes:

It seems however more in accordance with the general spirit of the Psalm to suppose that the Psalmist is describing his outward circumstances rather than his spiritual state, the helplessness of his condition rather than his moral failures. He is a wanderer in the wilderness of the world; like a sheep that has been separated from the flock he is exposed to constant dangers, and therefore he beseeches God not to leave him to wander alone, but in accordance with His promise (Ezekiel 34:11 ff.) to seek for him, for amid all these dangers he does not forget God’s law. So Israel in the Dispersion is compared to a strayed sheep, Jeremiah 50:6; Jeremiah 50:17; cp. Isaiah 27:13.

Regarding the phrase “I stray like a lost sheep” the NET Bible comments:

“It is possible that the point of the metaphor is vulnerability: The psalmist, who is threatened by his enemies, feels as vulnerable as a straying, lost sheep. This would not suggest, however, that he has wandered from God’s path (see the second half of the verse, as well as v. Psa_119:110).

So it is also possible, in line with the context, to understand that the Psalmist had not strayed from God at all. It is true that as all imperfect humans he could not keep God’s law perfectly. But rather than being “plagued with guilt over his own mistakes” it appears his chief concern was that Jehovah continue to watch over him as a vulnerable sheep in the midst of his enemies.

This is emphasized in the Psalm:

(Psalm 119:22-24) Remove from me scorn and contempt, For I have observed your reminders. ²³ Even when princes sit together and speak against me, Your servant ponders over your regulations. ²⁴ I am fond of your reminders; They are my advisers.

What is meant by “scorn and contempt”? Is this referring to God’s disapproval? Compare what is said here about scorn and contempt in Psalm 123:

(Psalm 123:3, 4) Show us favor, O Jehovah, show us favor, For we have had our full share of contempt.  ⁴ We have had our full share of ridicule from the self-assured And the contempt of the arrogant.

Hence it is clear that the request made in this Psalm is for God to watch over all those that face scorn and contempt because of faithfully adhering to his commandments. However, by seizing on the phrase in English “I have strayed like a lost sheep” without considering it’s metaphorical use, here in this brochure as well as elsewhere in their literature, this verse is regularly used to describe one that has abandoned true worship and needs encouragement to return to Jehovah.

What is meant by return to Jehovah is return to activity in support of an earthly organization. For Jehovah’s Witnesses, pursuing the goals and interests of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only way one can serve God. There is absolutely no allowance for anyone to have a relationship with God otherwise. But Jesus taught otherwise. Notice what he said in conversation with a Samaritan woman:

The woman said to him: “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where people must worship.” 21 Jesus said to her: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation begins with the Jews. 23 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.” (John 4:19-24)

For more information see the articles “Who Are the True Worshippers?” and “Sincerity Alone Not Enough to Please God?”

But what happens when a person that truly wants to honor God realizes that some of the teachings of the organization are not in harmony with the Bible and begins to question them? Such ones are then viewed as lacking faith in God. If they cannot set aside their conscience and conform to what the organization teaches, they are seen as either spiritually weak or prideful and rebellious. Some have had their motives questioned and have even been accused of secret wrongdoing for which they need to confess and repent. Sound familiar? Where are the Elihu’s to show understanding and provide satisfying answers to their questions from the Bible?

If on the other hand, the concerns of such ones are valid how is this brochure supposed to help them? The brochure addresses only three situations, anxiety, hurt feelings and guilt, that may cause some to slack off in their activity with the congregation. Nothing at all is said that could help those that have left because of questions over doctrine. Is this simply an oversight? What more important reason could one have for worshiping God in association with a particular organization than that it’s teachings are in harmony with what the Bible teaches? If the three problems are successfully addressed so that a person is no longer anxious, his hurt feelings have been soothed and his guilty conscience eased but he becomes active again in a religion that teaches falsehoods, can it truly be said that the person has returned to Jehovah?