Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 20, 1993 TAG: 9306200083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"A religion is only as good as its roots, and the Jehovah's Witnesses' roots are founded in error," Kesterson said in an interview.
The Danville minister - now an ordained Southern Baptist minister - knows a bit about the roots of Jehovah's Witnesses.
He converted to the faith at 11 and became a full-time missionary of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society six years later in 1969.
In 1984, after a year of depression, physical illness and watching the breakup of his marriage, Kesterson said he "was a broken man" who began to question the tenets of the Witness faith.
Kesterson is part of an apparently growing movement of ex-Witnesses who label the religion a cult and attempt to convert their former brethren to traditional Christianity.
The most serious doctrinal differences with conventional Christian belief probably lie in the Witnesses' denial of Jesus' equal divinity with God and their doctrine that only a few Christians may attain eternal life in heaven.
The programs of ex-Witnesses, however, tend to focus on what they believe are the failed prophecies about the "end times," which they expect to be most effective in leading Witnesses out of their faith.
Kesterson and others charge that Witness doctrine has changed numerous times.
For instance, they say the organization has waffled in official documents from saying that organ transplants are a disfellowshiping offense to saying that they may be acceptable. They cite publications that once said that "the deliverance of the saints must take place some time before 1914," changed after that date to say "very soon after 1914."
Early publications referred to Christ as having returned in October 1874 to assume his kingdom. Later publications - and current belief - set that date at 1914.
A 1917 edition of the book "Finished Mystery" says God will destroy the churches wholesale "in the year 1918." The 1926 edition asserts that God only began to destroy the churches then.
A 1920 publication asserted "we may confidently expect that 1925 will mark the return of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the faith prophets of old" to the earth. Later publications said they would not return until after Armageddon.
Some publications in the late 1960s seemed to say that Witnesses were not out of line to expect Armageddon in 1975. The Watchtower spoke glowingly about members who had sold their homes and other possessions and decided to work full time to draw converts in the few months remaining until the establishment of Jesus' kingdom.
When 1975 passed without incident, officials said a few overzealous members had misinterpreted the publications and overreacted.
Kesterson asserts that the Witnesses have set up the 12-man Governing Body as an intermediary between humans and God - the way to salvation - in contradiction to biblical teaching that only Jesus can fill that role.
While they want to help Witnesses who want to leave the faith, critics also hope to educate those who may be susceptible to the Witnesses' message. Once in a Kingdom Hall, it's hard to leave, Kesterson said. Disfellowshiping means those who stay in the assemblies cannot speak - at least on spiritual matters - to the ousted member. Kesterson has a toll-free telephone line: (800)-777-1AIM.
by CNB