Worship of Jesus and the Watchtower

0. Introduction

The Watchtower Society used to teach their members to worship Jesus of Nazareth, religious worship and prayer was given to him from the incorporation of Zion's Watch Tower Society in 1881 until the year 1954 when in the days of Nathan H. Knorr worship of Jesus was prohibited. In the first section, I will document the religious claims made by the organization. In the second section, I will discuss three arguments against the truth of the religion on basis of the facts.

1. General Data

The 1945 Charter of the Watchtower Society, describes the purposes for which the society exists. What are they? Why does the Society exist? 

"To... send out to various parts of the world Christian missionaries, teachers and instructors in the Bible and Bible literature, and for the public Christian worship of Almighty God and Christ Jesus; to arrange for and hold local and world-wide assemblies for such worship." (Page 4.) 

If it is idolatry to pray to Jesus and worship him as the publications of the Society claim nowadays, then they claimed to exist for the purpose of organizing "local and word-wide assemblies" for idolatrous worship. The Society's publications originally encouraged regular prayer to Jesus. 

Zion's Watch Tower, Vol. XIV., September 1, 1893, R1575, page 270:

"Should the newly enlightened one know none with whom he can meet personally and regularly, let him not forget his privilege of communion with the Father and the Son in prayer, and with the WATCH TOWER by mail; and let him seek for others of the truth-hungry among his neighbors – "holding forth the Word of life," the Truth.""

What Pastor Russell Said, 1916, p. 540:

PRAYER--Should We Pray to Jesus?

QUESTION (1912)--1--Are there special instances in which we should appeal to the Lord Jesus? Answer.--I cannot think of any circumstance in which the Lord Jesus could do more than the Father. But in my own mind and prayer I think of the two being one because their wills are one, and therefore I never make any mistake. I find myself thinking sometimes of one and sometimes of the other, but it is Thy will and not My will, and so I try to blot out any distinction."

The Watchtower Society presently claims that Jesus Christ, resurrected and glorified, invisibly appointed the "anointed men" leading their organization as the "faithful and discreet slave" in the year 1919. Jesus "inspected" the Watchtower organization and "refined" it to make it "spiritually cleansed." That time of cleansing lasted from 1914-1919. 

"How long did this inspection and cleansing work take? It extended from 1914 to the early part of 1919." (Watchtower, Nov. 15, 2014, p. 28-30.)

"By the end of 1919, Jehovah’s people were reorganized and energized. Additionally, several important prophecies involving the last days had been fulfilled. The testing and refinement of God’s people, foretold at Malachi 3:1-4, was complete." (Watchtower, study edition October, 2019 p. 2-5.) 

"In 1919, Jesus appointed a small group of anointed brothers as “the faithful and discreet slave." (Daily Text, March 24, 2021.)

"In 1919, Jesus placed “the key of the house of David” upon the shoulder of “the faithful and discreet slave” by appointing that slave class “over all his belongings.”" (w09 1/15, p. 31.) 

The Watchtower decided in 2013 that the "faithful and discreet slave" was their "governing body" [unbiblical term] and before this year had a variety of interpretations. In 1881, every Christian engaged in preaching was the faithful slave! 

“We believe that every member of this body of Christ is engaged in the blessed work, either directly or indirectly of giving meat in due season to the household of faith. “Who then is that faithful and wise servant whom his Lord hath made ruler of his household to give them meat in due season?”” (Zion's Watch Tower, Nov 1881, p. 291.)

In 1916 after Russell died, it was decided that he was actually the faithful slave the whole time in his position as Society president. 

"This book may properly be said to be a posthumous publication of Pastor Russell. Why? Because to him the Lord gave the "key"; to him was given the privilege of making clear to the Church in its last years the "Mystery of God"; to him was granted the privilege of bearing from the hands of the Lord to the House of Faith "meat in due season" [Matt. 24:45, KJV] for the special development and sustenance of God's dear little ones."  (The Finished Mystery, 1916, p. 5-6)

"Do we believe that the Lord chose as an earthly representative… and that the person so chosen was Charles Taze Russell? No one in present truth for a moment doubts that Brother Russell filled the office of the “faithful and wise servant… to give them meat in due season.” (Zion's Watch Tower, April 1, 1920, p. 99-104)

In 1927 they decided that the faithful slave was actually all anointed Christians. In 1981 they decided those who denied this interpretation were "objectors" engaged in "self-deception." 

“Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his faithful and discreet slave, made up of spirit—anointed ones... objectors may argue that not all of Christ's anointed disciples have a share in preparing the spiritual food, so that perhaps the "slave" pictures only the leading ones. There is no point in trying to force an interpretation of the parable. Self-deception is of no benefit and is spiritually damaging. Therefore, we must look to the Scriptures for an understanding. In doing this, what do we find?"” (Watchtower Dec, 1, 1981, p. 27.) 

And I must also note that they claim in the year 1919 that their organization was "spiritually cleansed" and became a "spiritual paradise."

"Since 1919, after God's people had been spiritually cleansed and had begun to enter a spiritual paradise, the prophecy of the joining of the sticks began to see its greater fulfillment." (Pure Worship of Jehovah - Restored at Last!, 2018, p.134)

"The serving of food, the right sort of food, at the proper time was the issue. It had to be according to this that a decision must be rendered by the returned master... On inspecting the remnant of his anointed disciples in the year 1919 C.E., the reigning King Jesus Christ did find the appointed slave faithful and discreet in the feeding of his domestics. Accordingly, he appointed this slave class over all his belongings." (Gods Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached p. 350, 355.)

However, they were still worshipping and praying to Jesus after 1919. After allegedly being "spiritually cleansed" and divinely appointed, giving the "right sort of [spiritual] food" they were publicly worshipping Jesus alongside God. According to their own standards, this would be public idolatry. 

"Would it not be proper to pray to Jesus? This would not be improper for a Christian to do, because Jehovah God has committed to Jesus all power in heaven and in earth. But the Lord Jesus himself directed the Christian that when he prays he should say: “Our Father who art in heaven”; and that then he should ask in the name of Jesus the beloved Son of God. He says: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15: 7) By this we understand that the Christian alone has the privilege here mentioned. He must be in Christ, in this, that he has been begotten and anointed of the holy spirit and now is a new creature; and he who abides in that blessed condition and the Word of God abides in him, then he shall ask what he will and it shall be done unto him." Watchtower January 15, 1926, p. 22, par. 24: (Also reprinted in Golden Age, March 24, 1926, p. 413.)

It was not until the year 1954 that they prohibited prayer to Jesus. 

"Consequently, since the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is not a trinitarian co-person with God the Father, but is a distinct person, the Son of God, the answer to the above question must be that no distinct worship is to be rendered to Jesus Christ now glorified in heaven. Our worship is to go to Jehovah God. However, we show the proper regard for God's only-begotten Son by rendering our worship to God through and in the name of Jesus Christ. Even now when we kneel in prayer, as Paul did according to Ephesians 3:14-19, we offer prayer in the name of Jesus Christ in obedience to his own directions (John 15:16; 16:23-26), but the prayer itself is addressed, not to Jesus, but to God his Father. In this way we keep things in their relative positions." (Watchtower January 1, 1954, p. 31.)

Therefore, if their claims are taken together, we must believe that the risen Christ invisibly inspected their church from 1914 to 1919, cleansing and refining it, "as though with a refiners fire" for they interpret Malachi 3:1-7 to be about this event. And with a "refiners fire" worth of spiritual cleansing, they still ended up practicing public idolatry long after 1919. If they were still practicing idolatry from 1919 to 1954 what did Jesus exactly cleanse? Throughout these years their doctrines on a variety of issues continued to constantly be changed, back and forth, like "the waves of the sea, blown about by the wind." (Jas. 1:1-5) Their claims would mean that God and Christ sat on their hands until 1954 to tell them how to properly worship, yet somehow, they were already cleansed, refined, appointed, and teaching the "right sort of [spiritual] food" in 1919. 

2. Two Arguments

Because cognitive dissonance is a powerful thing, especially among defenders of the Watchtower Society, I will spell out simply in two simple arguments (though many more might be given) why this is a problem.

1. Suppose that worshiping Jesus and praying to him is idolatrous. (Assumption for Reductio)

2. If a religion practices prayer to and worship to Jesus then that religion is practicing idolatry. (Premise)

3. If a religion practices idolatry, then that religion is a false religion. (Premise)

4. From 1881 until 1954 the Watchtower organization practiced to prayer and worship to Jesus. (Premise)

5. Therefore, the Watchtower Society was a false religion from 1919-1954. (From 1, 3, and 4)

6. If the Watchtower Society was a false religion from 1919-1954 then Jesus did not "spiritually cleanse" them in 1919, and their governing body is not the "faithful and discreet slave." (Premise)

C. Jesus did not "spiritually cleanse" the Society in 1919, and their governing body is not the "faithful and discreet slave." (From 5 and 6)

Suppose God, “cleansed and refined” the watchtower society in 1919 of “false religious practices.” If God did this, then they would not openly be practicing idolatry from 1919-1954. But the watchtower claims it is idolatrous to pray to Jesus and they were praying to Jesus from 1919-1954. Hence, according to their own standards, the Watchtower Society was openly committing idolatry from 1919 to 1954. 

1. If public prayer to and worship of Jesus is idolatry, then to teach that it is divinely commanded would be to err on a very basic doctrinal matter. (Premise) 

2. If public prayer to and worship of Jesus is divinely commanded, then to teach that it is idolatry would be to err on a very basic doctrinal matter. (Premise) 

3. If Jesus cleansed and refined the Watchtower Society spiritually from 1914-1919, making their organization a “spiritual paradise,” then they would not err on a very basic doctrinal matter for decades. (Premise) 

4. The Watchtower Society taught that the public prayer to and worship of Jesus was divinely commanded from 1881 to 1954, and then taught the opposite in 1954. Whichever position is correct, they have erred on a very basic doctrinal matter (a matter of idolatry) for decades. (From 1 and 2) 

C. Therefore, Jesus did not cleanse and refine the Watchtower Society spiritually from 1914-1919. (From 3, and 4.) 

If the Watchtower Society was committing idolatry actively from 1919 to 1954, then God did not cleanse and refine them in 1919. Therefore, God did not cleanse and refine them in 1919.