When is new light old light?
When the society flip-flops between two contradictory views. An example would be organ transplants. The Society stated that organ transplants were something that "each individual must decide for himself"1 A few years later, organ transplants were "cannabalistic" and "God did not grant permission for humans to try to perpetuate their lives by cannabalistically taking into their bodies human flesh."2 But then, a decade or so later, "new light flashed up" and the society stated "...the transplantion of human tissue or bone from one human to another ... is a matter for consciencious decision by each one of Jehovah's Witnesses".3
Yes, old light was back in fashion and organ transplants were up to the individual again.
Every time the society change their mind on an issue, it's heralded in their magazines as "new light" or the "light getting brighter". The society frequently vacillate between two contradictory published views, and this challenges their claim to be the unique, or sole channel of communication between God and humans today.
Why can't they get Gods message right the first time?
Because they claim God reveals his will to them in a progressive manner
Basis for the "Present Truth" and "New Light" doctrines
The doctrine of "new light" is a Watch Tower Society teaching used to explain away the problem of their frequent, and often contradictory, changes in published doctrine.
It is based on two theories:
- God reveals His purpose and will in a progressive manner
- This progressive manner involves change in their teachings
Of course, they assume that this progressive revelation of Gods will must incurr some contradictions along the way, although they have never offered any proof of this claim. Thus "the truth" which is the published policy of the Watch Tower Society, becomes present truth - allowing a bit of slack for future changes, or "new light".
How does the society attempt to support their "new light" theory ?
The usual Bible verses are Proverbs 4:18, Psalm 97:11 and the odd example from Christ's ministry, where his apostles misunderstood something He said or did such as Acts 1:6 and John 16:12.
Proverbs 4:18-19
Consider how Proverbs 4:18-19 appear in the New English Bible:
"The course of the righteous is like morning light, growing brighter till it is broad day; but the ways of the wicked are like darkness at night, and they do not know what has been their downfall"
Now, exactly where does it say Jehovah will allow His "single channel of communication with humankind" to continually get His message wrong, making change after change after change?
The society has taken verse 18 out of context and said that the light here referred to is not 'the course of the righteous", as the Proverb states, but Watch Tower Society teachings and publications.
They then suggest that because this verse describes morning light getting brighter, or changing, then this means its OK that the material they publish will be wrong and have to change from time to time.
But what exactly is the light referred to in verse 18? In fact its not symbolic of anything. Rather, the life-course of the individual is like light or dark.
If you make a comparison of how these verses read in different Bible translations you will see that the point of this Proverb is that the righteous are not "in the dark" as the unrighteous are.
Verse 12 says (NEB): "As you walk you will not slip, and if you run, nothing will bring you down" because, metaphorically speaking, the righteous can see where they are going.
Quite simply, Proverbs 4:18-19 do not support the "new light" doctrine at all.
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What about Psalm 97:11 then?
This verse, according to the New World Translation, reads: "Light itself has flashed up for the righteous one, and rejoicing even for the ones upright in heart"
However the New English Bible (NEB) puts it this way: "A harvest of light is sown for the righteous, and joy for all good men"
The New World Translation implies some form of divine 'flash of light' or guidence, and the society uses this to suggest that Jehovah reveals and clarifies His purposes to them in stages - these "flashes".
However, a footnote to "flashed up" in this verse, in the NWT Reference Edition, admits that many original sources say "is sown".
This verse does not support the teaching of "new light" either, it has nothing to do with how Jehovah reveals His will to humans.
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The examples from Christs life and Ministry
Acts 1:6
This is an account of the Apostles asking Christ a Question:
"Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?" - Acts 1:6 NWT
Christ answered by telling them, as recorded in the next verse, that :
"It does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction" - Acts 1:7 NWT
The society has suggested that the Apostles misunderstanding what was going to happen at that time is the same as them publishing material that is incorrect and then having to change it. They reason that they too simply misunderstood what was going to happen at a significant moment, and later had to change their story.
But hang on a minute, the Apostles asked Christ what was going to happen. They didn't send out the disciples over the known world telling them that Christ was going to restore the kingdom right then, and then later have to change their story because they misunderstood what was going to happen.
No, it is not the same is it? There is a difference between asking Christ what is happening and blindly running ahead of Christ, telling everyone what is happening.
The Watch Tower sociey has an established track record of running ahead of Christ and failed prophecy about the time of the end.
Why hasn't the society applied Acts 1:7 to themselves?
For over a hundred years the society has kept on prophesying the world would end on certain dates, such as 1914, 1925 and 1975. All through the 80s and 90s "the end" was imminent, and today they continue with this claim - even though this verse made it plain that it did not belong to Christs Apostles, and much less so the Watch Tower Society, "to know about dates or times, which the Father has set within his own control" - Acts 1:7 NEB
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John 16:12
This is yet another verse the society uses to try to support their "new light" doctirine, according to the New World Translation (NWT) it reads:
"I have many things yet to say to you, but you are not able to bear them at present"
The "Reasoning from the Scriptures" book suggest witnesses use this verse when someone challenges them about the Society frequently changing their doctrines. It says, on Page 205, that "The Bible shows that Jehovah enables his servants to understand his purposes in a progressive manner" and then lists this verse, and Proverbs 4:18 and Psalm 97:11 which are discussed above.
But is that really the point Christ was trying to make here? Was Christs discussion all about the "progessive manner" in which God reveals his purpose and will for humans?
No. Christ had told his apostles that he was going away, and they would face some very difficult times, as can be seen by verse 2 "...The hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God". But Christ then points out that it is for their benefit that he is going away: "It is for your good that I am leaving you. If I do not go, your Advocate will not come, whereas if I go, I will send him to you." -John 16:7 NEB
Christ then discusses with them exactly what this Advocate will do for them, while he is away. This is the point at which He says he has much more to tell them, but they could not bear it (verse 12) .
So, is Christ here giving the Apostles a description of how Jehovah reveals his purpose to humans in a progressive manner, or was He not simply aware that he had just given them a lot of information to chew over and they wouldn't be able to take any more in for a while?
The next verse (13) clarifies this. Jesus tells them that when the Advocate - The Holy Spirit comes - they would understand things they did not understand currently. Why? Because The Holy Spirit would be their teacher.
So, again we see the society taking a verse out of its context and missing its point. These verses are not about why Gods "single channel of communication with humankind" continually gets His message wrong. They are an introduction to the role of the Holy Spirit in christians lives and how it will be their teacher.
This verse does not support the Society's "new light" doctrine either, none of their "proof" texts stand up to scrutiny.
1. The Watchtower, 1961, January 8, page 480
2. The Watchtower, 1967, November 15, page 702
3. The Watchtower, 1980, March 15, page 31
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