A truth Presented by Satan
On the following websites:
http://www.doorwaychristianoutreach.info/420553916
http://www.letusreason.org/JW59.htm
https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/6ytpmp/challenging_the_source_of_information_regarding/
and many more sites, the following quote from Charles Taze Russell is given.
Truth: “A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God. . . . Accept truth wherever you find it, no matter what it contradicts” (WT 7/1879, pp. 8-9).
This quotation is from Russell, and it does state a truth. Nevertheless, what Russell said is obviously being misrepresented as though he said that it is okay to look to Satan for truth. In reality, if one actually reads the article in context, it becomes apparent that Russell was not saying that one should look to Satan as a guide to truth; he was simply putting forth a principle as applied to infidels, refer to infidels as “Satan” similar to the way that Jesus spoke to Peter as recorded in Matthew 16:23.
Evidently, some people see something wrong with what is stated when in reality there is nothing at all wrong with what Russell wrote. If Satan states something that is true, the truth does not become a lie simply because he stated it. A truth is still a truth no matter who states it. If it actually is truth, how can it not be true?
Nevertheless, Satan often presents a truth in such a way to persuade one to believe in a lie.
However, taking the quote from Russell out of context is evidently designed to mislead one into believing that Russell was in some way in agreement with, in service of, the devil, occultism, spiritism or some form of witchcraft, etc. Let us look at the quote in context:
“WHAT IS TRUTH?”
This question is one which every sincere Christian should ask and seek to answer. We should learn to love and value truth for its own sake; to respect and honor it by owning and acknowledging it wherever we find it and by whomsoever presented. A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God.Perhaps no class of people are more apt to overlook this fact than the Christian. How often do they in controversy overlook and ignore truth presented by their opponents. This is particularly the case when arguing with an infidel. They feel at perfect liberty to dispute everything he says on religious subjects. This is not the correct principle. Many infidels are honest – as anxious to speak and believe the truth as are Christians – and if in converse with them we ignore truths which they may advance, we not only fail to convince them of our truths, but put an end to all hope of reaching them; for our failure to admit the evident truth which they advance begets in them contempt for the one who is not honest enough to admit one truth because he does not see how it can be reconciled to another. Accept truth wherever you find it, no matter what it contradicts, and rely for ability to afterwards harmonize it with others upon “The Spirit of truth, which shall guide you into all truth,” as Jesus promised.
Truth, like a modest little flower in the wilderness of life, is surrounded and almost choked by the luxuriant growth of the weeds of error. If you would find it you must be ever on the lookout. If you would see its beauty you must brush aside the weeds of error and the brambles of bigotry. If you would possess it you must stoop to get it.
Be not content with one flower of truth. Had one been sufficient there would have been no more. Gather ever, seek for more.
Weave them together as a garland – “Bind them on thee as a bride doeth.” “Bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” Prov. 3:3.
C. T. R.
By reading the whole article, it becomes obvious what Russell meant by his statement. He is likening the infidels who are being used by Satan as though they were Satan; Jesus did something similar when he called the apostle Peter “Satan”. (Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33) Peter, of course, was not literally Satan, but he was imitating Satan by speaking an untruth. Likewise, the infidels who reject the creative account of the Bible, although they may present many things that are not true, may also present a lot of truths in what they say, although they may misrepresent those truths to promote what is not true.
Likewise, if Satan, or his demons speak a truth, it is still true regardless of their purposes for stating the truth. The implication of many who like to take the quote out of context appears to be to imply that the opposite is actually the truth, thus, that absolutely everything Satan says is a lie, and that thus, Satan cannot speak one sentence without everything in that sentence being a lie. Such an idea, if extended to the demons over whom Satan is prince, then the demons lied when they called Jesus: “the son of God,” and “Son of the Most High.” (Matthew 8:29; Mark 3:11; Luke 1:32; 4:41; 8:48) Thus, if they cannot tell the truth at all, then we should believe that it is a lie to say that Jesus is the “Son of God,” or that Jesus is the “Son of the Most High.”
In Job 1:7, we read:
Yahweh [Jehovah] said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered Yahweh [Jehovah], and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” — World English Bible translation.
Did Satan lie when he stated the above? Did he lie to Jehovah by saying that he had been going back and forth in the earth, etc.? We have no reason to think that he did so.
But didn’t Jesus say concerning Satan that “there is no truth in him?” — John 8:44, Word English.
We believe the correct thought that Jesus expressed should be understood in reference to the “truth” that Jesus had just spoken of (John 8:32,40): such “truth is not in him.” (John 8:44) Regardless, we don’t believe Jesus intended to say that Satan can absolutely never tell a truth, anymore than he meant that those Jewish leaders to whom he spoke could never tell a truth. Did Jesus believe that when Satan spoke to Eve, saying that if she ate of forbidden tree, that he eyes would be opened, that he lied? (Genesis 3:5,7) Did Jesus believe that Satan lied to Jehovah when he answered Jehovah as recorded in Job 1:7? We do not think that he believed such. However, most often when Satan tells us a truth, it is framed in a setting of a lie, as in Genesis 3:5. By such methods he misrepresents the truth that he states with a lie.
Another motive for quoting Russell as quoted on the sites may have been to leave the impression that Russell believed that what Satan says is “the truth” — even if it contradicts God’s Word — which is again far from Russell’s intent in his statement. Some appear to take quote out of context to make it appear that Russell was actually a worshipper of Satan, into the occult, etc. Russell’s works overwhelmingly attest of his view concerning Satan, that he was a liar, and the father of the lie, as Jesus said.
Below we present some links to various articles and sermons that reveal what Russell actually taught about Satan::
Satan’s Ambition – Jesus’ Ambition
Why God Has Allowed Satan’s Lying Deceptions
Satan the Murderer – Murderer to Die
The Overthrow of Satan’s Empire
For more concerning Charles Taze Russell, see:
https://ransomforall.blogspot.com/p/c-t-russell.html
Charles Taze Russell Monitor 
Russell haters love to quote him out of context.
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Daniel T.
April 5, 2009
What is incredibly obvious is that you missed the point of what he said. His explanation (and your watered down defense of it) doesn’t justify what is clear in the passage. He very much made the point of believing truth regardless of it’s source. He goes on the attack Christians but that hasn’t a thing to do with the overall theme. Because you feel the need to defend him doesn’t change the fact that he was a fool. He was a fool. That is no doubt. Whether it be quotes like this, false prophecies, astrology, pyramidology, etc etc etc. Defend him if you wish. He was still a very bad man…
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Jeremiah
December 23, 2009
Jeremiah,
Yes, we should indeed believe the truth regardless of its source! That is indeed the point. Should we think that Jesus is not the Son of God because a demon said such? Should we refuse to accept as truth anything we read in a newspaper or hear about on the TV or radio because the material may be written by an infidel? Are we to assume that every news report and every documentary is all lies if its is not from a “Christian” source?
When did Russell “attack” Christians? I know he did expose false doctrine, and in many cases false practices, if that is what you mean by attacking Christians.
Believe what you wish of Russell, he certainly helped me realize many truths of the Bible that I would never have known had it not been for his work.
Regarding Russell’s alleged “false prophecies”:
http://ctr.reslight.net/category/prophet
Russell was not into astrology:
http://ctr.reslight.net/category/astrology
Nothing at all wrong with pyramidology:
http://ctr.reslight.net/category/pyramidology
On the other hand, many who claim to be Christian seem to be willing to believe outright lies if they are told by one who attacks Russell personally, regardless of source.
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reslight
December 23, 2009
[…] The busiest day of the year was June 18th with 53 views. The most popular post that day was A truth Presented by Satan. […]
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2010 in review « Charles Taze Russell
January 2, 2011
to argue points about what is true or false makes the enemy laugh at us because that is satan’s blind sided plan if we can fight among ourselves we help him to cause divisions among all professed christians. more than that ;its a shame that there are so many interpretations of scriptures so many people would rather argue instead are we more interested in working out our own will to satisfy our fleshly desires or will we continue to turn our heads instead of sittng down and reason from the scriptures remember satan is the god of this world he is very crafty imagine how fast satan would flee from our midst when we quit the resentment toward each other because any house that is against itself will fall jesus said that you will know my disiciples by the love they have for the world to see all we are doing is straying away from his commandments like a boat that was to the shore and not anchored down just to slowly drit back to the deep waters to be tossed about in the agitation of the sea. i admonish all sincere god seeking truth finders to pray to our creator and ask him to help us to not have automatic negative thoughts in our hearts because that is where we get our motives to do what we do in our lives pray for guidance from the holy spirit be sincere and he will make the truths known to us all…….may peace be with you all who thirst for truth…..quit the fighting for that is a form of killing and thats what satan’s work dont let him blind us anymore….unite.
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eddie salinas
January 20, 2012
eddie salinas Submitted on 2012/01/20 at 3:31 pm
It is because Satan is still the “god of this age” (2 Corinthian 4:4) that I believe we should contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3) To do otherwise would be to join hands with the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6) Does this mean, however, that we should pass some kind of condemnation those who disagree with us on all points? I don’t believe so.
See what I have written on sectarianism:
http://bstudents.reslight.net/sectarianism
See also:
Focus on Charles Taze Russell: Sectarianism
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reslight
April 22, 2012