charles taze russell - official website

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(scroll to bottom for answers to criticisms)

We do not want to give the impression that Pastor Russell was a perfect man. The Bible says "there is none righteous, no not one". But when scare tactics are used and facts twisted they must be boldly addressed. The accusations made against Pastor Russell were almost entirely due to his teaching that the Christian creeds are human traditions which violate the word of God. The accusations were framed in such a way as to discredit him, and create a morbid fear of eternal damnation, ultimately resulting in many refusing to even read his writings. Nowadays people are comfortable with investigating the history of Christianity, and can clearly see how useless and deceptive the creeds are. But in Pastor Russell's day such things were entirely new, and were very much a heresy against the established order. So then, why are these lies still told? Gossip tends to be self-propagating, and once rumors or twisted facts get into the minds of people they are very difficult to clear away.

It is said that 'evil seeks to maintain power by supressing the truth, or by misleading the innocent'. When Pastor Russell, and others, were successful in showing clearly both from the Bible and church history that the Roman creeds are only unholy traditions of men, those in power began a verbal Inquisition fighting him tooth and nail using all forms of propaganda and twisting of truth to suit their ends.

   In our day of worldwide ministries, with TV and Radio evangelists spreading their message to other nations, many are unaware of the fact that this organized earthwide ministry lead by Charles Russell was the VERY FIRST in the history of Christianity.  Never before had there been a worldwide ministry united with the same purpose of defending the Bible, and destroying the power of the Roman creeds and traditions.  Other reformers of the church, including Wycliffe, Luther, and Wesley, sought to work from the inside out, while Charles Russell worked from the outside in.  The Dark Ages had but only just ended in 1799, the very year in which the first modern electric battery was invented leading to the discovery of the the very first electric arclight a year later.  The very first worldwide Bible Society was founded in 1804.  The first successful locomotive was invented in 1828.  The first successful typewriter was invented in 1874.  Pastor Russell's ministry began in 1878.  The 19th century was a time of great progress, technologically, politically, and religiously.  Owning your own Bible, even in the 1870s was still a luxury for the average family.  Too many Christians think that things have always been as they are today.

   Unable to control the minds of the people now freed from the Dark Ages, and unable to defend their creeds and traditions as Biblical, the religious leaders began a smear campaign, utilizing character assassination in an attempt to destroy Pastor Russell's influence.  While such activity may be common amongst the non-religious, it is without doubt neither loving, nor Christian.  Most thinking people were able to see through these attacks, and dismissed them.  But now that over ninety-years have passed since Pastor Russell's death it is much easier to attack him because a dead man cannot defend himself.  Rumors and gossip, as we have already noted, tend to be self propagating in that they get repeated by others who present them as established fact without actually having any detailed knowledge of the truth.  But what does the Bible say regarding our treatment of our Christian brethren?

"Do good to all men, especially our family in the faith" —Galatians 6:10

"A servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but gentle to all men" —II Timothy 2:23

"Speak evil against no man, being gentle and showing meekness" —Titus 3:2

   Of all those who criticize Pastor Russell how ironic that most of them are not able to withstand the same microscopic examination of every aspect of their lives.  The many provenscandals involving widely respected priests and preachers over the past twenty years have stumbled many.  Yet, these very ministers condemn Pastor Russell as a deceiver, false prophet, and heretic.  Jesus said: "For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measuring stick you measure, it shall be measured to you the same."  (Matthew 7:2-5)  The spirit of a presentation tends to prove a person's true heart and character.  Though personally and unjustly attacked on many occasions because of his stand for truth, Pastor Russell never once attacked individuals, but only addressed doctrines, principles, offices and institutions.

   In 1894 Robert Ingersoll, although a staunch atheist and rabid critic of the Bible, made a very perceptive statement:  "Somebody ought to tell the truth about the Bible. The preachers dare not, because they would be driven from their pulpits. Professors in colleges dare not, because they would lose their salaries. Politicians dare not. They would be defeated. Editors dare not. They would lose subscribers. Merchants dare not, because they might lose customers. Men of fashion dare not, fearing that they would lose caste. Even clerks dare not, because they might be discharged."  It should be clear to all thinking people that anyone brave enough to take on the religious establishment will receive of their wrath.  Charles Taze Russell took them on, revealing their deceptions to the world, and as expected, received their vile epithets, such as "heretic", "cult leader", "swindler", "deceiver".  None of those words represented the truth about Charles Russell, but they were intended to confuse many, and uphold the ancient creeds and traditions as the true path to God.

   Those who are honest-hearted do not fall for cleverly produced propaganda; they seek the truth and listen to both sides of an issue before making a judgment.  (Proverbs 18:13; John 7:51)  Below we present the direct words of Pastor Russell to the most common and insidious criticisms, accompanied by some updated comments and analysis.  We challenge you to read the facts, and encourage you to then spread the truth to combat the error:

Was Charles Russell a Freemason?

Did Charles Taze Russell get rich selling his books and "Miracle Wheat"?

Was Charles Russell immoral, and cruel to his wife?

Did Charles Russell lie under oath?

Was Pastor Russell a cult leader and false prophet?