The Dichotomy of Belief: When Trust in Jehovah Becomes Trust in Men
One sentence in this week's Treasures From God's Word workbook caught my attention because it Is a contradiction. Although in saying that I know not many Jehovah's Witnesses will know it is a contradiction.
Under the heading "It Matters Whom We Trust," the lesson discusses Jeremiah 17:5 and Isaiah 30:1-2, reminding us that those who place their trust in mere humans displease Jehovah.
So far, the lesson follows Scripture perfectly.
Then, later in the meeting, the Spiritual Gems review asks a surprising question:
"Why does trusting in Jehovah include trusting his human representatives?" — Jeremiah 17:7
That question deserves careful thought.
Notice what Jeremiah actually says.
"Blessed is the able-bodied man who puts his trust in Jehovah, and whose confidence Jehovah has become." — Jeremiah 17:7
The verse identifies one object of trust:
Jehovah.
As Christians, we also recognize that Jehovah has appointed Jesus Christ as Lord, King, High Priest, and Head of the congregation. Trusting Christ is not separate from trusting Jehovah, because Jesus perfectly represents his Father and always directs attention back to Him (John 14:9; Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23).
But Jeremiah says nothing about extending that trust to an organization or to unnamed "human representatives."
Are we reading the Scriptures, or are we reading an interpretation into the Scriptures?
The distinction matters.
Who Are Jehovah's Human Representatives?
The obvious question is one the workbook never answers:
Who exactly are Jehovah's "human representatives"?
Of course, we know who they're talking about. They're talking about the faithful, discreet slave, the so-called governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses. But the Bible clearly identifies many faithful servants of God. It speaks of apostles, elders, prophets, evangelizers, shepherds, and teachers.
Yet none of these individuals are ever presented as an additional object of trust alongside Jehovah and Christ.
Instead, the Bible repeatedly points believers back to God.
David wrote:
"Do not put your trust in princes nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation." — Psalm 146:3
Jeremiah similarly warned:
"Cursed is the man who puts his trust in mere humans." — Jeremiah 17:5
These verses are not discouraging respect for spiritual shepherds. Christians are instructed to honor faithful elders and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7, 17).
But respect is not the same thing as trust.
One is earned by faithful conduct.
The other belongs ultimately to God.
That distinction is easy to blur—and history shows how dangerous it becomes whenever religious authority begins asking for the kind of confidence that Scripture reserves for Jehovah.
What Does the Watchtower Say?
A February 2022 Watchtower study article makes this statement:
"Since we no doubt wholeheartedly agree that Jehovah always does what is right, the challenge for us, however, might be to trust in his human representatives."
Yet no scripture is presented demonstrating that Jehovah has appointed a modern group of men as His representatives in the same sense that Jesus was His representative. If such an important doctrine is true, we should reasonably expect the Scriptures to teach it clearly—not merely assume it.
Anyone can claim to represent God.
The real question is not whether someone makes that claim.
The question is:
Where does the Bible tell us to place our trust?
It clearly, and very pointedly tells us to put our trust in Jehovah, not imperfect men.
The Bereans were praised because they carefully examined the Scriptures every day to determine whether even the apostle Paul's teachings were true (Acts 17:11).
If inspired apostles welcomed examination, surely modern religious teachers should welcome it as well.
That is not skepticism. It is biblical faith.