St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

A God both here and there

The Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t shy of knocking on vicars’ doors, and they came to mine a couple of months ago. I always invite them in - it keeps them off the street - and besides that, you never know, I might learn something! How can I expect people to listen to me and consider my opinions on spiritual things, unless I listen to others and consider their views?

They offered me a book, and so I made a bargain with them - if you’ll read a book I lend you, I’ll read one you lend me. And when they came back, they asked me what I thought of their book. A tactical mistake, because I told them at length the three points where their book fell down and where a genuine Christian faith gives an answer which is better than the answer they get.

One point, of course, was the name of God: “Jehovah”, as they claim. As a mark of recognition of God as a distinct individual with a character and personality of his own, shouldn’t we call him by his name which he has revealed? So I asked them if, when I called my dad “Dad”, that showed I failed to recognise his distinct individuality? And how come the divine name YHWH is never used in the New Testament either by Jesus or his followers as they speak to God in prayer?

But the other two points were more serious. The Jehovah’s Witnesses do believe the biblical doctrine that Jesus was a ransom sacrifice who paid his life to redeem our lives. What they don’t believe is that Jesus is part of God - in fact, all conversations with them usually end up on the doctrine of the Trinity. God punished Jesus so that we could be forgiven - we’re agreed on that. But how can it be just for God to punish an innocent third party? The ransom sacrifice is a terrible travesty if it means my sins can get palmed off onto someone who isn’t even involved. It’s only just if God somehow takes the cost on himself. Which he did - for Jesus is God himself in human form.

And third, the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the importance of love. But in their book, love is the good we do in response to God. We are left on our own to behave rightly, and they don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a “person”. I agree with them that right behaviour is very important. There’s only one snag - I’m not a very good person. I need some help - and the bible promises me the help of the Holy Spirit: God himself come to live in me. A faith that doesn’t have God coming to help me will never really be able to scratch where I itch.

So on this occasion, I think I’ll stick with the bible. But maybe you have questions on these aspects of the “doctrine of the Trinity”? Well, come to church and let’s hear each other’s views!

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. June 2007, Page 1.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (June 2007) Trinity, Sidesmen, Pray for the sick, DCF, Hymn. Other articles on the bible.	A God both here and there The Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t shy of knocking on vicars’ doors, and they came to mine a couple of months ago. I always invite them in - it keeps them off the street - and besides that, you never know, I might learn something! How can I expect people to listen to me and consider my opinions on spiritual things, unless I listen to others and consider their views? They offered me a book, and so I made a bargain with them - if you’ll read a book I lend you, I’ll read one you lend me. And when they came back, they asked me what I thought of their book. A tactical mistake, because I told them at length the three points where their book fell down and where a genuine Christian faith gives an answer which is better than the answer they get. One point, of course, was the name of God: “Jehovah”, as they claim. As a mark of recognition of God as a distinct individual with a character and personality of his own, shouldn’t we call him by his name which he has revealed? So I asked them if, when I called my dad “Dad”, that showed I failed to recognise his distinct individuality? And how come the divine name YHWH is never used in the New Testament either by Jesus or his followers as they speak to God in prayer? But the other two points were more serious. The Jehovah’s Witnesses do believe the biblical doctrine that Jesus was a ransom sacrifice who paid his life to redeem our lives. What they don’t believe is that Jesus is part of God - in fact, all conversations with them usually end up on the doctrine of the Trinity. God punished Jesus so that we could be forgiven - we’re agreed on that. But how can it be just for God to punish an innocent third party? The ransom sacrifice is a terrible travesty if it means my sins can get palmed off onto someone who isn’t even involved. It’s only just if God somehow takes the cost on himself. Which he did - for Jesus is God himself in human form. And third, the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in the importance of love. But in their book, love is the good we do in response to God. We are left on our own to behave rightly, and they don’t believe the Holy Spirit is a “person”. I agree with them that right behaviour is very important. There’s only one snag - I’m not a very good person. I need some help - and the bible promises me the help of the Holy Spirit: God himself come to live in me. A faith that doesn’t have God coming to help me will never really be able to scratch where I itch. So on this occasion, I think I’ll stick with the bible. But maybe you have questions on these aspects of the “doctrine of the Trinity”? Well, come to church and let’s hear each other’s views! John Hartley
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