Why Did Jehovah's Witnesses Change the Lyrics of Their Song 58 in the Old Book/Song 50 in the New Book?

Has the word of Jehovah God and His Son Jesus been twisted by the misleading choice of words in the song 'I Did Not Read It'? The answer lies in ensuring clarity and a clearer understanding of the truth, a change motivated by the larger interest and adherence to the correct theological concepts that fortify a member’s faith.

Religious Fundraising Practices

A recent trend has emerged among Jehovah's Witnesses, involving an increased solicitation of funds from the membership. This strategy serves as a subtle reminder to members to contribute more financially, reinforcing their loyalty and commitment to the organizational mission.

Ex-Jehovah Witness Observations

As an ex-Jehovah Witness, I have an in-depth understanding of the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. These teachings, particularly in their organizational aspects, do dishonor to Jesus Christ in several ways:

The Nature and Identity of Jesus Christ

1. **The Nature of Jesus** – The leaders of the organization teach members that Jesus is a created angel. However, this contradicts key biblical verses:

Hebrews 1:4 states that Jesus has a name superior to angels, making it logically impossible for Him to be an angel. Hebrews 1:10 references Psalms 102:25, where Jesus is identified as the Creator. This scriptural reference underscores the fallacy of Jesus being a created being if He is the Creator. John 1:1 asserts that Jesus existed before anything else began to exist, emphasizing His pre-eternal existence.

2. **God’s Nature and Jesus as God** – Jehovah's Witnesses do not fully recognize Jesus as God by nature. Many scriptural references, such as those in 1 Timothy 3:16, highlight Jesus as God. However, the New World Translation (NWT) distorts this meaning, making it inconsistent with other unbiased translations. For instance, consider the following verse:

1 Timothy 3:16

1 Timothy 3:16 in the NWT reads: “and crooked is the secret of faithfulness – God appeared in flesh declared righteous in spirit, seen by the messengers, preached in the inhabited earth, believed in in the world, lifted up in glory!”

A more faithful translation, such as the Young's Literal Translation, reads:

"crooked is the secret of faithfulness – God appeared in flesh, proclaimed righteous in spirit, seen by the messengers, preached in the inhabited earth, believed on in the world, lifted up in glory!"

This discrepancy highlights the intentional alteration in the NWT to support the organization's doctrine.

3. **Substitution and Ambassadors** – The governing body teaches that Jesus’ faithful followers are His substitutes on earth. Paul, in his Letters, emphasizes the role of ambassadors specifically for Christ:

2 Corinthians 5:20

In the NWT: “Therefore we become the ambassadors of Christ, becoming on behalf of Christ [God making His appeal]. As His representatives we beseech you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.”

In the English Standard Version: “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.”

The latter translation more accurately reflects the biblical text and does not attribute a role as Jesus' substitute, contradicting the perceived autonomy of Jesus and the intended subservience of His followers.

The Financial Subtlety

The increased solicitation of funds from members is a careful and calculated approach by the organizational leadership. It serves a dual purpose: reinforcing the hierarchical structure within the organization and subtly encouraging financial support through the guise of organizational mission and loyalty to the leader's direction.

Conclusion

The changes made to the lyrics of song 58 in the old book and song 50 in the new book are not about changing the content; rather, they are part of a broader strategy to maintain theological correctness and to avoid any potential stumbling blocks in the path of truth. As an ex-Jehovah Witness, these observations underscore the importance of adhering to unbiased Biblical interpretations and recognizing the fallacies within the organization's teachings.