Lesson 13 How False Religion Misrepresents God
[Image:] A clergyman preaching in a cathedral.
[Press play to hear the MP3 of the Lesson]
If God is love, why have so many evil acts been committed by religions that claim to represent him? Put simply, these religions are false; they misrepresent God. How have they misrepresented him? How does he feel about that? And what will he do about it?
1. How does false religion misrepresent God by its teachings?
False religion has “exchanged the truth of God for the lie.” (Romans 1:25)
[Quotation] Romans 1:25: They exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. [End Quotation]
For example, most religions have not taught their followers God’s name. However, the Bible says that God’s name must be used.
[Quotation] Romans 10:13 and 14: For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.” However, how will they call on him if they have not put faith in him? How, in turn, will they put faith in him about whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach? [End Quotation]
Some religious leaders say that when something terrible happens, it is God’s will. But that is a lie. God is never the source of evil. (Read James 1:13.) Sadly, religious lies have pushed people away from God.
[Read scripture] James 1:13: When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone. [End of Read scripture]
2. How does false religion misrepresent God by its actions?
False religion does not treat people as Jehovah does. The Bible says that false religion’s “sins have massed together clear up to heaven.” (Revelation 18:5)
[Quotation] Revelation 18:5: For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind. [End Quotation]
For centuries, religions have meddled in politics, supported wars, and caused or approved the death of countless numbers of people. Some religious leaders enjoy a lavish lifestyle and demand money from their followers to pay for it. These actions prove that they do not even know God, let alone have the right to represent him. Read 1 John 4:8.
[Read scripture] 1 John 4:8: Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love. [End of Read scripture]
3. How does God feel about false religion?
If the things done by false religion make you angry, how do you think Jehovah feels? He loves people, but he is angry with religious leaders who misrepresent him and mistreat their followers. He promises that false religion will be destroyed and “will never be found again.” (Revelation 18:21)
[Quotation] Revelation 18:21: And a strong angel lifted up a stone like a great millstone and hurled it into the sea, saying: “Thus with a swift pitch will Babylon the great city be hurled down, and she will never be found again. [End Quotation]
Soon, God will put an end to all false religion.
[Quotation] Revelation 18:8: That is why in one day her plagues will come, death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned with fire, because Jehovah God, who judged her, is strong. [End Quotation]
Dig Deeper
Examine further how God feels about false religion. Learn more about what it has done, but also learn why this should not stop you from getting to know Jehovah.
4. God does not approve of all religions
Many people believe that religions are like different roads that all lead to God. But is that true? Read Matthew 7:13 and 14, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Matthew 7:13 and 14: “Go in through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are finding it. [End of Read scripture]
How does the Bible describe the road that leads to life?
Play the video Does God Accept All Forms of Worship? Excerpt (3:22), and then discuss the question that follows.
[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added by independent blind and sighted volunteers to assist those who are blind or have low vision]
[Click for Transcript]|[Does God Accept All Forms of Worship?]
[In her car a woman pensively gazes ahead]
Presenter: Many people believe that it doesn’t matter which religion you choose, that religions are like different roads that lead to the same destination, lasting blessings from God.
[She enters a congested highway]
But can that be true? Does God accept all forms of worship?
[All vehicles travel in the same direction]
The Bible itself describes worship as two roads: One is spacious with many people on it. The other is cramped with only a few finding it.
[Text; Matthew 7:13,14]
Only the cramped road represents acceptable worship, leading to life and blessings from God. How can we tell if we are on the correct path?
[Walking in a city the woman stops and looks around]
Imagine that you’re lost. You stop someone to ask for directions. One person says to head east
[A woman points her one way]
another says to go west.
[A man points her another way]
Finally, someone with a map shows you that the destination is actually north.
[Another woman unfolds a map and shows it to her]
Which one would you believe? The Bible is like that map,
[A map morphs into a Bible]
leading us to blessings from God. So why are there so many conflicting beliefs?
[Around the woman people point different ways]
For example, many religions teach that the human soul lives eternally in a spiritual realm,
[The shadow of a dead man floats to heaven]
while others believe that they are reborn in another body or form.
[Growing to the left of a man an elephant and a tree]
This is just one example of the many religious beliefs in conflict with one another. Could all religions really be teaching the truth?
[The woman looks at the map]
According to the map, the dead know nothing at all.
[Text: “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all.” Ecclesiastes 9:5]
In due time, God will restore them to life and righteous ones will live forever on earth.
[Text: The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.” Psalm 37:29]
If the Bible is clear on this teaching, what about other matters, such as our personal conduct?
[The woman watches angry drivers]
We may belong to a religion, but if our conduct offends God, our worship may be futile.
[A Bibles pages scan open]
The Bible teaches that many people today would be “without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness.”
[2 Timothy 3:6,7]
[Looters smash windows]
However, it also says that true worshippers of God would be peaceable,
[Text: James 1:26, 27]
controlling their speech
[An elderly woman drops her wallet]
and actions.
[A younger woman picks it up and gives it to her]
Rather than saying there are many religions that please God, the Bible says there is only one faith.
[Text: Ephesians 4:5]
True worship leads a person to a good relationship with God and everlasting life.
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2018 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
Does the Bible say that there are many religions that please God?
5. False religion does not reflect God’s love
Religions have misrepresented God in many ways. One notorious way has been their involvement in war. To see one example, play the video The Churches’ Role in World War II (2:22). Then discuss the questions that follow.
[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added by independent blind and sighted volunteers to assist those who are blind or have low vision]
[Click for Transcript]|[The churches’ role in World War 2]
[Two women in floral dresses approach a door]
Presenter: Jehovah’s Witnesses were proclaiming that the solution to the world’s problems rests with God’s government.
[Wearing light pink gloves one of them knocks]
On the other hand, the churches repeatedly voiced support for human governments.
[Footage of Popes in ceremonies]
Jehovah’s Witnesses felt a responsibility to make people aware of the position being taken by their religious leaders.
[Witnesses march with signs]
In 1938, more than 10,000 people jammed into London’s Royal Albert Hall to hear a pointed lecture by Joseph Rutherford, while millions more heard this stinging message by radio. Always outspoken, Rutherford invited his listeners to ‘Face the Facts.’
[A re-enactment]
Brother Rutherford: The dictator of the totalitarian rule of Germany has entered into an alliance with the pope. The indisputable facts are that the Roman Catholic hierarchy has stooped wholly to political methods to gain control of the world.
Presenter: Rutherford pointed to the church’s role in the rise of Adolph Hitler, its alliances with Fascist regimes, and its push in many nations to make Catholicism the state religion.
[Photos of catholic leaders with Hitler and General Franco. Black and white war footage]
When World War II erupted in 1939, nearly every organized religion sent its members into the battle.
[Photos of priests blessing soldiers]
French and American Catholics killed German and Italian Catholics; British and American Protestants killed German Protestants.
Jehovah’s Witnesses wanted to make it clear that they were no part of this controversy.
The Watchtower of November 1, 1939, reasoned, “How could a person who is devoted to God’s Kingdom “favor one side or the other in a conflict between factions of the world?”
[Text: John 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world’]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2011 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
[Image:] Collage: A cathedral and a pagoda surrounded by scenes depicting ways false religion has promoted war throughout the ages. 1. The Crusades. 2. World War I. 3. An Orthodox priest blesses a soldier. 4. An African pastor incites tribal warfare. 5. Japanese soldiers worship the emperor. Caption: False religion has not reflected God’s love
What position did many churches take during World War II?
How do you feel about the position they took?
Read John 13:34 and 35 and 17:16. Then discuss the questions that follow:
[Read scripture] John 13:34 and 35: I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] John 17:16: They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. [End of Read scripture]
How must Jehovah feel when religions get involved in war?
False religion is responsible for many bad things. In what ways have you seen religions fail to reflect God’s love?
[Image:] Collage: A cathedral and a pagoda surrounded by scenes depicting ways false religion has promoted war throughout the ages. 1. The Crusades. 2. World War I. 3. An Orthodox priest blesses a soldier. 4. An African pastor incites tribal warfare. 5. Japanese soldiers worship the emperor. Caption: False religion has not reflected God’s love
6. God wants to free people from false religion
Read Revelation 18:4, * and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Revelation 18:4: And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues. [End of Read scripture]
How does it make you feel to know that God wants to save individuals who have been misled by false religion?
[Footnote] * To find out why the book of Revelation describes false religion as a woman named Babylon the Great, see Endnote 1. [End of footnote]
7. Continue learning about the true God
Should false religion affect your view of God? Imagine a son who rejects the wise direction his father has given him. The son leaves home and leads a corrupt life. The father does not approve of his son’s actions. Why would it not be fair to blame the father for the way his rebellious son is living?
Would it be fair to blame Jehovah and stop learning about him because of the actions of false religion?
[Box]
Some People Say: “I’m not interested in God because religion is the cause of so many problems.” Do you feel that way?
Why should the actions of false religion not affect our view of Jehovah? [End of box]
Summary
False religion has misrepresented God by means of its false teachings and terrible practices. God will destroy false religion.
Review
How do you feel about what false religion has taught and how it has acted?
How does Jehovah feel about false religion?
What will God do to false religion?
Goal
At the next congregation meeting, ask someone, “Why did you become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?” Set Other Goals
Explore
Learn about two ways that most religions displease God. “Are All Religions the Same? Do They All Lead to God?” (Web article)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Why does Jehovah want us to worship him along with others? “Is It Necessary to Belong to an Organized Religion?” (Web article)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
A priest was troubled by his religion. But this did not stop him from learning the truth about God. “Why a Priest Left His Church” (Awake!, February 2015)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
For generations, religions have told lies that make God seem distant and cruel. Learn the truth about three of those lies. “Lies That Make God Seem Unlovable” (The Watchtower, November 1, 2013)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]