Vol. 9, No. 1, 1992

Director's Chair: A Thousand Points of "New Light"

James Walker

When you talk to a Jehovah's Witness about the many false prophecies and doctrinal changes the Watchtower has made, they will often answer, "Well, we have now received `new light.'"

They will usually quote Proverbs 4:18: "But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established," (New World Translation).

According to this "new light" theory, it seems to be alright to make false prophecies and teach false doctrine as long as you claim that the newest position or doctrine is now "new light."

However, when you examine the numerous predictions for Armageddon, the doctrinal flip-flops, and even changes in medical prohibitions, the Society's record resembles a corporation experimenting with policies and procedures rather that Jehovah's organization dispensing new light from heaven.

New Light or Old Darkness?

It also appears that whatever is being taught currently by the Society as "new light" is likely to be tomorrow "old light." As others have pointed out in the past, if he were alive today, even Charles Taze Russell, would be disfellowshipped for teaching the same doctrines he did when he founded the Society.

You will even notice that in some cases, the Society's "new light" is simply a return to older light.

The Society's position on the identity of the "higher powers" in Hebrews 13 has switched from human government in 1886, to Jehovah and Jesus in 1929 and then back to the original position, human government in 1962.

Does this sound like new light or like someone playing with the light switch?

Biblical "New Light"

While Watchtower history represents a misapplication of the principle, there is a scriptural concept of new light. A Biblical example of new light can be seen by looking at Messianic prophecy.

In Genesis 3:5 we find that the Messiah would be of the seed of woman. Psalms 22:16 teaches that his hands and feet would be pierced. In Isaiah 7:14, and 9:7 we discover that He would be born of a virgin and would sit on the throne of David. And in Micah 2:5 more new light arrives revealing that He would be born at Bethlehem.

But notice the "new light" never contradicted the older light or made the old light "darkness." We did not get old light that He would be born at Bethlehem and new light that He would be born in Chicago.

Charles Taze Russell, agreed with this view of "new light" when he wrote, "A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New Light" never extinguishes older "light" but adds to it," (Zion's Watch Tower, February 1881, p. 188).

Jehovah's Witnesses Need Newer Light

Ironically, the Jehovah's Witnesses are desperately in need of new light -- not another doctrinal change or a new false prophecy -- but another kind of new light.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," (John 8:12).

The only new Light Witnesses need to receive is the true Light, the one who said, "I am the light of the world."

You, our reader, can help bring the true Light to those who have been blinded by the "new light" of the Watchtower. "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them," (2 Cor. 4:4).

You can do so by praying for and financially supporting this ministry that is dedicated to sharing this Light with those lost in the Watchtower and other cults.

By committing yourself to learning a Biblical defence of the faith and picking up some of the basics of cult apologetic, you too can pick up the torch and help bring this new Light to the Jehovah's Witnesses in your neighborhood.

If our readers across the country will join with us in sharing this vital message we can indeed be a thousand points of new light bringing the true Light to those lost in the darkness of the cults.

Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world," (John 9:5) "Ye are the light of the world...." (Matt. 5:14).