Defending Our Faith - What About Slanderous Publicity?

 At times, Jehovah's Witnesses have been the target of distorted information in the media. For example, on August 1, 1997, a Russian newspaper published a slanderous article claiming, among other things, that Witnesses categorically require members to 'reject their wives, husbands and parents if these do not understand and do not share their faith.' Anyone who is truly acquainted with Jehovah's Witnesses knows that the charge is false. The Bible indicates that Christians are to treat unbelieving family members with love and respect, and Witnesses endeavor to follow that direction. (1 Corinthians 7:12-16; 1 Peter3:1-4) Even so, the article printed, and many readers were thus misinformed. How can we defend our faith when we are falsely accused? 

Here again, this is "a time to keep quiet and a time to speak." The Watchtower once expressed it this way: "Whether we ignore false information in the medic or defend the truth by appropriate means depends of the circumstances, the instigator of the criticism, and his goal." In some cases it might be best to ignore negative reports, thus not giving further publicity to the lies.

In other cases it may be "a time to speak." A responsible   journalist or reporter may have been misinformed about Jehovah's Witnesses and may welcome truthful information about us. (See box "Correcting a Misrepresentation.")  If negative reports in the media arouse prejudice that hinders our preaching work, representatives of the branch office of the Watch Tower Society may take the initiative to defend the truth by suitable means. For example, qualified elders might be assigned to present the facts, as in a TV program, where failure to appear might imply that Jehovah's Witnesses have no answer. Individual Witnesses wisely cooperate with the direction of the Watch Tower Society and its representatives in such matters. - HEBREWS 13:17.

Next time: How Did Jesus View Politics?

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