A Look at the Early Church vs. the Watchtower
One of the core claims of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is that Jesus came to earth to establish an organization—specifically, their organization, governed by a central authority known as the Governing Body. According to Watchtower teachings, this human structure is the only channel through which God speaks today. But does this claim hold up when we examine the Bible? Did Jesus actually start an earthly organization? Or did He establish something far more organic, relational, and Spirit-led?
The Watchtower's Claim: Organization = Salvation
The Watchtower insists that Jehovah has always used a single, centralized organization to accomplish His will. Their publications teach that without being associated with this organization, one cannot have a relationship with God, understand truth, or gain eternal life. The Governing Body in Brooklyn (now in Warwick, NY) is said to be God’s sole “channel of communication,” much like Moses, the prophets, and the apostles. They assert that just as Noah had to be inside the ark to be saved, so people today must be “in the organization” to be saved.
But is this view rooted in Scripture, or is it a modern interpretation that serves institutional control?
Jesus’ Actual Teachings: A Personal Call, Not Organizational Allegiance
When we look at Jesus’ life and teachings, we see a clear rejection of institutionalism in favor of direct, personal faith. His call was always to follow Him, not to join a man-made structure.
Jesus focused on individuals. He said, “Follow me,” (Matthew 4:19) not “Follow an organization.” He offered living water to the Samaritan woman (John 4) without asking for religious affiliation. He healed, forgave, and taught in a way that cut across religious systems.
Jesus rebuked religious hierarchy. He strongly criticized the religious leaders of His day for their legalism, their abuse of authority, and their love of power (Matthew 23). If Jesus came to set up a controlling structure, why would He rebuke those who had already built one?
Jesus taught about the Kingdom—not an institution. The Kingdom of God is a central theme in Jesus’ teaching, but it was never described as an organization. Instead, it is within us (Luke 17:20-21), grows like a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32), and is received like a child (Mark 10:15).
What Did the Early Church Look Like?
If Jesus had started a formal organization, we would expect to see that clearly established in the book of Acts and the epistles. But what we actually see is something very different:
The early church was Spirit-led and decentralized. There was no headquarters, no Governing Body. Local elders were appointed, but they served—not ruled (Acts 14:23, 1 Peter 5:1-3).
Decisions were made with prayer and consensus, not decrees from above. In Acts 15, even the Jerusalem Council acted more like a meeting of peers seeking God’s will than a ruling board handing down mandates.
All believers were seen as priests. 1 Peter 2:9 calls all Christians “a royal priesthood,” not just a few select leaders. The idea of a rigid hierarchy is foreign to the New Testament.
There was freedom in Christ. Paul taught that we are no longer under law (Galatians 5:1), and that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Watchtower system, on the other hand, imposes strict rules, surveillance, and consequences.
The Watchtower vs. the New Covenant
The Watchtower often appeals to the structure of ancient Israel as justification for their organizational model. But they miss a crucial truth: Jesus fulfilled and replaced the Old Covenant.
Hebrews 8:6–13 tells us that the New Covenant is “better” because it is based on grace, internal transformation, and direct access to God. The veil in the temple was torn at Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:51), symbolizing that access to God was now open—not mediated through priests, temples, or human organizations.
Jesus didn’t come to reform the old system—He came to replace it with something entirely new: a relationship, not a religion. A family, not a factory. A body, not a bureaucracy.
The Danger of Replacing Jesus with an Organization
When a human structure claims exclusive access to God, it inevitably takes the place of Christ. The Watchtower teaches that you cannot understand the Bible without their literature. That you cannot please God without following their rules. That questioning their authority is tantamount to rebelling against God.
But Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Not through an organization. Not through a governing body. Through Him.
So What Did Jesus Start?
Jesus began a movement of people called by His name, filled with His Spirit, and united by their love—not bound together by human governance. The true church is not a visible corporation with property holdings and legal departments. It is a spiritual house made of living stones (1 Peter 2:5).
The Greek word for “church,” ekklesia, means “called out ones.” It refers to people—not buildings or institutions. It is the body of Christ, not an administrative body in upstate New York.
In Summary
No, Jesus did not start an organization like the Watchtower. He launched a spiritual movement, a family of believers, rooted in grace and truth. The early church didn’t look like the Jehovah’s Witness model, nor did it rely on centralized control.
If you are questioning the teachings of the Watchtower, I invite you to look at Scripture for yourself. What you’ll find is a Savior who calls you to follow Him, not a structure. Who gives you His Spirit, not endless rules. Who wants your heart—not just your obedience.
There is life, joy, and freedom outside of the Watchtower. There is Jesus. And He is enough.