Jehovah Witnesses
A Short History of a Heretic
Dr. Stanford E. Murrell
For many years the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been considered a cult by
students of church history. One scholar in the study of cults is Dr. Charles Braden,
professor of History and Literature of Religions at Northeastern University. Dr.
Braden defines as cult as “any religious group which differs significantly in some
one or more respects as to belief or practice, from those religious groups which
are regarded as the normative expressions of religion in our total culture.”
Certainly the Jehovah’s Witnesses meet the criteria for they significantly violate
the normative expressions of the Judeo-Christian heritage. Christians need to be
concerned about cult activities for several reasons.
First, cults will change the historic doctrines of the church.
Salvation by works will be substituted for salvation by grace.
The deity of Christ will be denied.
The doctrines of the virgin birth, the trinity, and the resurrection will be
rejected. Because of this, the Lord warned His followers to beware of
false prophets. (Matt. 7:15-23)
Second, Christians must be concerned about the cults because eternity hangs
on which doctrine is embraced, which Person is followed, and which Book is
believed. Those in the cults tend to follow specific individuals and their
interpretation of ultimate truth. For example, Jehovah Witnesses are followers of
Charles Taze Russell and “Judge” J.F. Rutherford. The Christian Scientist are
disciples of Mary Baker Eddy and her beliefs. The Mormons adhere to the
doctrines found in the writings of Joseph Smith and Bringham Young.
Jesus said that His followers would know the truth and the truth would set
them free. People in the cults simply do not believe that Jesus alone can set them
free. Therefore, a new emphasis emerges upon autosoteric efforts or the desire to
save one’s self apart from the biblical revelation of salvation by grace through faith
alone. In contrast, Jesus said, “If you believe not that I am, you will die in your
sins.”
It has been observed that men are at liberty to reject Jesus Christ and the
Bible as the Word of God; they are at liberty to oppose the Lord; and they are free
to challenge all that Jesus stands for. But they are not at liberty to alter the essential
message of the Bible which is the good news that God cares for lost souls and sent
His Son to redeem many.
The Lord wants people to be realistic. There are false prophets. There are
false Christ’s. There are false apostles and deceitful workers. 2 Cor. 11:13-15) Paul
wrote the Church to “abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.” (Rom.
12:9)
The history of the Jehovah’s Witnesses begins with a man named Charles
Taze Russell. Russell was born on February 16, 1852, in Old Allegheny (now a
part of Pittsburgh). He was one of three children born to Joseph and Eliza Birney
Russell. His parents were Presbyterians of Scotch-Iris descent. Russell’s mother
died when he was only nine years old. His father ran a success clothing store
business. New stores were added and at age fifteen Russell joined his father in the
family business.
It was when he was sixteen years old life changed for Russell. One day he
tried to witness to a friend about Christ but was completely overwhelmed by clever
arguments. From that moment on Russell became a skeptic. In particular, Russell
was disturbed by the concept of an eternal torment in hell for all unbelievers. He
made a study of the oriental religions but they did not satisfy him.
At the age of eighteen Russell saw a glimmer of light which caused a return
to some form of Christian faith. His experience has been recorded. “Seemingly by
accident, one evening I dropped into a dusty, dingy hall, where I had heard
religious services were held, to see if the handful who met there had any thing
more sensible to offer than the creeds of the great churches. There, for the first
time, I heard something of the views of Second Adventists, the preacher being Mr.
Jones Wendell…”
The evidence seems to suggest that Russell received from the Adventist his
light on the non-existence of eternal punishment, the Second Coming of Christ,
and biblical chronology. He joined the movement. A short time later, Russell and
some of his friends got together to study the Bible. Their first topic of study was
the doctrine of eternal punishment of the soul. Their conclusion? The church was
wrong on its doctrine of hell and had been for the past 1800 years. Russell was
now twenty years of age. He would spend the next forty-two years spreading this
new “gospel” or “good news” throughout America and the world—there is no
everlasting hell.
The Pittsburgh Study Group elected Russell on their own to be their
“pastor.” Here was a man being called “pastor” without formal training in
theology, doctrine, the languages, history, or church government. No denomination
every recognized Russell as a proper candidate for ordination and he in turn never
recognized any Christian denomination as worthy of respect. Early on Russell
began to form what was called a “Laymen’s Revolt.” In this revolt all former work
of Christians was set aside and ridiculed.
In the year 1879, Russell began to utilize the printing press. He had money
to support the printing of his material because he sold the clothing stories he had
inherited for more than a quarter of a million dollars. He could underwrite his
publications.
The new publication was called “Zion’s Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s
Presence.” With a first printing of 6,000 copies the publishers of the Watchtower
(renamed Oct 15, 1931) has continued to prosper, today reaching a circulation of
17,650,000 copies per month (as of February 1975).
During 1879 another important event took place, Russell got married to
Maria F. Ackley. Maria became very active in the printing endeavor and soon the
books began to roll off the press. Converts to Russell were attracted as the main
tenets of the Christian faith were attacked such as eternal punishment, the trinity,
the deity of Jesus Christ, man’s possession of a soul, and the physical return of
Jesus to earth.
For several years Russell’s work went unnoticed and unchallenged. Then,
after 1910 concerned ministers began to speak out against Russell’s false
teachings. When the information was examined concerning Russell’s personal life,
a lot of people were shocked. From 1893 until Russell’s death in 1916 there was
one event after another involving trials and scandals. One of the more sensational
events was the divorce procedure brought against him by his wife for sexual
misconduct.
Russell was accused of many fraudulent schemes. Between 1911 and 1912
Russell made a so-called missionary journey around the world. He was suppose to
have spoken in all the major cities and sent back home reports for publication of
being met by large crowds and reaching many new converts. It was simply not
true.
Then there was the “Miracle Wheat” episode of 1913. Russell was charged
by The Brooklyn Eagle with causing his “Miracle Wheat” to be sold at $60.00 a
bushel, an outrageous price. Russell sued for $100,000.00—and lost the case. Later
he was accused of inducing sick people to turn over their fortunes to his
organization.
When the Rev. J.J. Ross, pastor of the James St. Baptist Church of
Hamilton, Ontario wrote a blistering pamphlet denouncing Russell’s theology and
personal life, Russell sued for defamatory libel. On March 17, 1913, his case was
examined for evidence to bring the suit for trial.
Besides being exposed as a cheat, a liar, unfaithful to his wife, and a denier
of basic Christian teachings, Russell was also a supreme egotist. He believed that
along with St. Paul, John Wycliff and Martin Luther he was a great expounder of
the gospel. He told his followers it was better to read his studies and ignore the
Bible than it was to read the Bible and ignore his studies.
The end of this life came for Charles Taze Russell on board a
transcontinental train, November 9, 1916. Russell was sixty-five years old.
Unfortunately the “pastor’s” dream survived its author and remains today a
living challenge to all Christians everywhere. Upon his death the mantle of
leadership fell upon Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford. Like Russell, Rutherford
was an amazing individual.
Joseph Franklin Rutherford was born in Morgan County, Missouri, on
November 8, 1869. There were five girls and three boys in the family. Joseph’s
parents were Baptist. Rutherford studied law as he worked his way through
college. At age twenty he became a court reporter. At age twenty-two he was
admitted to the bar and began to practice law. He acted as public prosecutor and
special judge.
The year 1894 was important for Rutherford because in that year he met
some WatchTower pioneers. Impressed, Rutherford began to study the biblical
literature, and in 1906 he gave himself whole heartedly to the movement. In 1907
he became the legal counselor to the WatchTower organization.
Growing in influence Rutherford was elected the new president following
the death of Russell. The date was in January, 1917. Immediately Rutherford
moved to consolidate his power by deposing of four board members who were
causing trouble. Then he published a book entitled The Finished Mystery that
caused internal divisions and paved the way for governmental action against the
Witnesses.
The concern of the US Government was primarily the result of war hysteria.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses were taught not to be patriotic, not to salute the flag, and
not to serve in the military. Rutherford along with eight prominent officials were
arrested and put on trial for violation of the Espionage Act in 1918. Found guilty,
Rutherford was sent to the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary and served nine months.
He was released in March 1919.
Rutherford was to be considered a martyr hero. Many other Witnesses were
also persecuted, especially those in Nazi Germany beginning in 1933. Adolph
Hitler put thousands of Jehovah Witnesses in concentration camps.
Besides his legal expertise, position of power, and willingness to endure
persecution, Rutherford had other appealing assets. Physically he was an imposing
person. Though he was photogenic he avoided publicity, preferring a mystique of
mystery. What he did not avoid was the curbing of an inflated self-esteem. In his
book Why Serve Jehovah? Rutherford declared that he was the mouthpiece of the
Lord for this age and that God had designated his words as the expression of a
divine mandate.
A prolific writer, Rutherford wrote over 100 books and pamphlets which, by
1941, had been translated into eighty languages. One main doctrinal theme was
always present: Judge Rutherford was leading his followers toward a delightful and
exclusive heaven on earth. It was and is a compelling concept.
On January 8, 1942, Rutherford died from cancer at his palatial mansion
called “Beth Sarim” in San Diego California. He was seventy-two years old.
The composite picture of the founders of Jehovah Witnesses is not attractive
but it is accurate. This short history reveals some very unscrupulous individuals
willing to challenge and deny the historic faith of those who follow Christ.
