29 May 2007

Is exposing false teaching unloving?

Today we received a scathing email from someone who did not like our "attack" on the Jehovah's Witnesses. Below is the translation and my answer:

From: ... Sent: Monday, May 28, 2007 10:48 PMTo: studiati@studiatibiblia.roSubject: intrebari
"Hello,
I also have a few questions:
What makes you think that you are right and the Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong?
Why do you attack other religions?
Do you think this is what people need?
Why do the Jehovah's Witnesses not have a site like yours in which they attack others?
It seems, rather, that the truth is not from you by the way in which you express yourselves and even contradict yourselves in what you say.
I am sorry that you occupy yourselves in such, people need something refreshing not scandal. Jesus Christ said: "Come to me, you, who are weary and heaven laden and I will refresh you!"
It would be better if you would encourage people from the Bible not scare them more, because they have such a mound of problems.
True Christians must distinguish themselves from other through love. This, Jesus said, is the distinctive mark (of a Christian).
The fact that you occupy yourselves with the slander of other religions does not demonstrate that you are true Christians who distinguish yourselves from others through love. Jesus Christ did not waste time with this. And even when he was on earth, he did not occupy himself with discussions about Pharisees, although he condemned them a few times but he saught to teach people who were "scattered like sheep without a shepherd". Jesus had mercy on people and wanted to help them, telling them the truth from the Bible. He wanted to enlighten their minds, not put them in deeper darkness. Do what you want, but such you will not find those who seek the truth. Perhaps you will just draw those who love slander.

Here is my answer:
What makes you think that you are right and the Jehovah's Witnesses are wrong? The Bible
Why do you attack other religions? This is a loaded questions, a fallacy. You must first demonstrate where and have we have attacked this religion. Give us the facts. We do not want to attack. Rather, we want to expose false doctrine, contrasting it with the Bible. This is a loving act.
Do you thinkg this is what people need? If they are deceive by false teaching, certainly. Would you refuze medicine for a patient?
Why do the Jehovah's Witnesses not have a site like yours in which they attack others? Again, this is a loaded question. However, you have not searched carefully for a site. Here the Jehovah's Witnesses attack (according to your definition) "the majority of religions," especially Catholicism: http://www.watchtower.org/m/kn37/article_01.htm

It is one thing to accuse us of attacking, slander and loving slander, but another to demonstrate how we have done so. Have we written something untrue? If you will show it to us and, after an examination, we find that we are wrong, we will change it. However, to expose a lie is not an attack. Do you think that true Chrisitans would allow serious false teaching to remain unchallenged? Where is the love in this? Not only is it an act of love, but we must do so according to Scriptures (2 Tim. 4.1-5). Read carefully: Was Paul not a true Christian and not demonstrate love when he wrote 2 Cor. 11.2-4 and Gal. 1.6-8 (Jehovah's Witnesses preach another Jesus http://www.watchtower.org/m/rq/article_03.htm - Jesus is eternal or created by God?); 2 Cor. 11.13-15; 1 Tim. 4.1-5; 2 Tim. 3.12? Peter was not a true Christian and did not demonstrate love when he wrote 2 Peter 2.1-3? John was not a true Christian and did not show love when he wrote 1 John 4.1 and 2 John 2.7-9? Jude was not a true Christian and did not show love when he wrote his epistle (verse 3). Even Jesus said that there will be false teachers (Matt. 7.15). People do not need the teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses added to their "mound of problems".

Jesus did not talk about the Pharisees? Why did Jesus warn the 12 of their bad influence (Luke 12.1-3)? Is this slander? About whom was Jesus speaking concerning giving, praying and fasting (6.1-18) in order to be seen by men? Matthew 5.20. In fact, all of the sermon on the mount was a discussion on the teaching and behavior of the Pharisees and scribes. Was it slander for him to expose them?

It is evident that you have not carefully read our site in which we offer encouragement. The problem is that you misunderstand what it really means to love and show mercy.

We hope that you will search the Scriptures and check the facts more carefully before making accusations. This shows love as well.

Thank you for writing.
StudiatiBiblia

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