Response from Society (CCJW)

Dear Mr. M

This is to reply to your letter of May 15, 2009, wherein you ask if Jehovah’s Witnesses use certain laws for logic and reasoning in their ministry.

Jehovah’s Witnesses seek to emulate the manner of reasoning used by Jesus and the first century Christians, who based their reasoning and their conclusions on God’s Word. For example, at Acts 9:22 we read that Saul (Paul) “proved logically that this is the Christ.” That such logic was Scripturally based is shown at Acts 17:2-4, where it says that the apostle Paul “reasoned with [the Jews at Thessalonica] from the Scriptures, explaining and proving by references that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying: ‘This is the Christ.’” Another example of Paul’s doing so is recorded at Acts 13:16-41. In speaking to a very different audience at Acts 17:16-34, Paul made a brief reference to respected sources from outside the Bible before introducing Christ’s role in judgment and resurrection.

While it is evident that Jesus and the early Christians employed a reasoning manner in teaching God’s Word, there are no indications that they engaged in the type of extended discussions or debates that characterized the philosophers of their day. And although Paul and other first-century Christians must have met many who were disciples of such teachers as Aristotle, Socrates and Plato They did not endeavor to take up their methods of logic and reasoning. In fact, Paul strongly warned against debating over words as well as discussions that “furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith.” (1Timothy 1:3, 4; 2:8; 6:2-5; 2 Timothy 2:14; 3:7) Jehovah’s Witnesses endeavor to apply this balancing counsel in their ministry. (1 Corinthians 1:19-2:2; 3:19) In the final analysis, Christians are encouraged to base their conclusions on God’s Word and to regard it as the final authority.---Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Hebrews 4:12.

Additional information can be found in the article entitled “Must You Believe It?” in the December 1, 2000 issue of The Watchtower; and in studies 26, 48, and 49 of the book “Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education.” If you do not have copies of these references in your personal library, you can likely obtain or at least borrow them from the Witness with whom you have been conversing.

We note that you have written us a few times and, while we want very much to be helpful, our limited facilities do not permit us to carry on continuous correspondence with individuals. At the same time it is good to note your desire to obtain answers to questions that arise from Bible study. In many cases an answer can be found in our publications or with the help of Jehovah’s Witnesses locally. Otherwise, perhaps in the future more will be published on a desired subject.

It is hoped that our letter is helpful to you. We send our kind regards and best wishes.

Sincerely
Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Read my original letter:
http://watchingthetower.blogspot.com/2009/05/letter-to-christian-congregation-of.html

Read my response to this letter:
http://watchingthetower.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-reply-to-ccjw-response.html