Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus

[desi2007]

If you don't know scripture, then you are ill prepared to discus the bible with a JW. Their theology is not completely based on scripture, but man, with enough of the truth to cause some to stumble if they do not know scripture. If you want to know what they believe and compare it to what Christians believe, here are two sites you can read. Jehovah's Witnesses vs. mainstream Protestant Christianity - Religious Facts and Jehovah's Witnesses - CARM where the last is more in depth.

I agree, don't take her on in debate if you are not fully prepared.She will have been trained in stock answers and you will have no recourse. Debating a JW is fraught with danger if you don't know your bible too well.

Agreed. They know the lie better than many Christians know the truth (unfortunately). Many times have JW's turned well meaning Christians into doctrinal pretzels in a couple of minutes, because the Christian didn't know their bible as well as the JW knew the teachings of the WBTS.

ha pretzels, no doubt, but in my past encounters with JW people I refrain from any arguments with them and just let them know I am a Christian and wish them a blessed day.

[RustyAngeL]

To many Christians JWs are heretic, but I don't know a great deal about them except that they believe that the 144,000 of Revelation are Jehovah's Witnesses. I don't believe that they follow or understand scripture except for when they want to put their own spin on it. They are also guilty of coming out with a number of false prophecies.

The Bible makes it very clear 144,000 are Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel. They are a cult plain and simple and a very dangerous cult. They do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, in fact they believe that Jesus is really the Arch Angle Michael. They also believe the 144.000 are the only ones that will be in Heaven, I really don't see how they can miss these people are Jews when in scripture the 12 tribes are listed. Don't listen to her and don't argue. You just say I"m sorry I do not believe what you do, and go on your way. Reminder her of the scripture "Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no man come to the Father but by Me." You will find too that their translation of the scriptures called I believe "The World Wide Translation " has a lot of thing taken out and some things added to support their beliefs. You don't have to know much about these people to know that scripturally you cannot back anything up they say. Then you can reminder her of the last verse in Revelation about adding to and taking from scripture. So stay planted where you are, firm in the word of God.

[missmuffet]

If you don't know scripture, then you are ill prepared to discus the bible with a JW. Their theology is not completely based on scripture, but man, with enough of the truth to cause some to stumble if they do not know scripture. If you want to know what they believe and compare it to what Christians believe, here are two sites you can read. Jehovah's Witnesses vs. mainstream Protestant Christianity - Religious Facts and Jehovah's Witnesses - CARM where the last is more in depth.

I agree, don't take her on in debate if you are not fully prepared.She will have been trained in stock answers and you will have no recourse. Debating a JW is fraught with danger if you don't know your bible too well.

Agreed. They know the lie better than many Christians know the truth (unfortunately). Many times have JW's turned well meaning Christians into doctrinal pretzels in a couple of minutes, because the Christian didn't know their bible as well as the JW knew the teachings of the WBTS.

ha pretzels, no doubt, but in my past encounters with JW people I refrain from any arguments with them and just let them know I am a Christian and wish them a blessed day.

That also goes for Mormons.I have had them show up on my porch and I have told them who Jesus Christ is.They said "Ok,have a nice day....goodbye."

[Qnts2]

I agree that the JW's are not Christians, and it is a cultic religion.

Just from my experience, they are not really familiar with the OT. Years ago, I had a JW come to my house. I invited her in, and in the conversation she mentioned that they refrain from blood. I asked what that was, and it had to do with not received transfusions etc. I took her to the OT, and showed her the food laws. She had never seen that before, and all I was doing was trying to help her 'refrain from blood' completely and the source. This flipped the tables so I was now teaching her. With the additional visits, we began discussing the prophesies of the Messiah in the OT, and what to expect in the Messiah.

Unfortunately, the elders of that church get reports on the conversations, and as she told them all of the things she was learning, she was forbidden to come speak to me anymore. The elders did come, and after a discussion of the scriptures from the OT, they pronounced that I was dangerous and banned any JW from speaking to me.

So, if they are not in the roll of teacher, they forbid the conversations. If they do not have the answers, it is not allowed to be discussed. And the elders keep tabs on the people who are followers.

[B3L13v3R]

If a novice, as some have said, stand clear! These are a seasoned, often well taught brainwashed cultist.

They twist Scripture beyond measure. Their "new world translation" false bible removes the deity of Christ at every turn and as noted, they claim their false jesus was "Michael" before he was born, ahh no. He made Michael!

However, for those who are strong in the Lord and His Word, and understand what the cultist JWs think, they are lost just like anyone else without Jesus Christ.

I have had them inside and outside my house at least a dozen times over the years, and politely show them their wretched sin before True God that they will meet one day, letting them know with the false christ they serve, the eternity in Hell that awaits them... (They do not believe in eternal Hell, but "annihilation" kinda "poof" and you disappear, no eternal Hell.)

Generally they have one seasoned cultist, and one or more novice cultist in training. Nearly all the time, I can see the Lord getting through to the novice when I am speaking His Word.

They have walked quickly and on occasion run and sped from my house, once while I was in prayer asking the Lord to open their eyes to the deep deception they were in after speaking to them.

Come to think of it, I've not seen them here in over 2 years. After a while they put you on a "Do not go to that house" list for a while.

I also find that their wicked material, like the "Awake" and the "Watchtower" magazines are often stabbed on a bulletin board in public places.

Take advantage of this by taking down their cult material, tearing it up and recycling it. (Hey I'm going green! )

Then take the tack, and place a good Christian tract prayerfully in it's place!

[noobie]

My best friend of 16 years is a JW and I remember going to his house one day and all his family members were there. I thought they where having a party but come to find out they was having a family JW meeting on reading the "scrolls" I think they called it. They kind of side swiped me and I didn't know this was coming but I said I would come back later and they told me to come on in. I was a Christian then too and something in my gut just didn't feel right but I went in anyway. They gave me "there" book and told me to have a seat. Confused I sat down with the book and then one of my friends family members began to read, then another, then my friend started to read... odd thing about it, I didn't comprehend a word they spoke. It was like something blocked what they was saying and I just got jumble jumble muffle muffle and they was reading english and thats what I speak lol... then they told me to read where he left off. I can read fine but I can't enplane what happened next. When I looked down at this book I started pouring sweat and the words on the pages started jumping around and I couldn't make since of anything to read anything. Then I heard a voice that said "LEAVE" inside me. Don't know if it was the Holy Spirit or my own mind but I got up and left feeling ill. When I got to my house I started feeling a lot better but I know for a fact I wasn't suppose read whatever they was going to have me read. Days after that I told my friend that we can always be friends but we wont discuss beliefs and he agreed. That was about 11 years ago and like I said we been friends for 16 years. I try to show him what I believe by my actions instead of words because of the pact we made but so far he is still a JW.

[Willa]

The best way to witness to cultists is to tell them what Jesus has done in your life, that of your family and to truly testify of the things you yourself have seen and heard. They have no testamony like this. All they can tell about is their church-- Why they think it is right and why they think yours is wrong. Sometimes I go into who the Scriptures say Jesus is. But I know my bible fairly well. Just can't remember where to find verses. So I pray when I see them coming, that God would give me the words that they need to hear. From then on it is kind of fun to hear what comes out of my mouth. It often surprises me and I think hay, that was pretty good! I learn as much as they did because it wasn't from me but from God.

[janiebeth]

^{JW's most basic belief is that Jesus was not the son of God. They actually took out any areas where Jesus's name was written and replaced it with Jehovah. They don't believe that Jesus is God. They are also quite literal in the numbers given in the Bible. They take the 144000 in Rev (which refers to the Jews saved during the tribulation) and see that as all that was chosen. zOdd though as there have been more than that number of so called JW saints by like 1950 or something. They don't see non-Jewish as Gentiles and un-numbered. Much of their doctrine is based on works. If they don't do certain things and check them off the list, they are not a saint. For instance, one must go on so many missions and spend a certain amount of time doing that. I would steer clear. Apostates. Heresy.}

[angel_uk]

So I ended up at another JW's house along with the girl that I work with - 2 against 1

They made a big point of there being lots of Bible verses that back up their view and that their view is the truth. We went through a bit in their little study book. I can see how they could be really convincing - they were so fervent and backed each other up. Not sure if their comments were prearranged.

Things that stood out to me -

Jesus wasn't The Messiah or Christ until He was baptised - He didn't know who He really was and what His purpose was.

Jesus was shielded in the womb against Mary so He would develop perfectly.

Jesus was God's first creation and Jesus created everything else - heavens, earth, etc. Colossians 1:16

Jesus lived in heaven with God for billions of years. Michah 5:2, John 3:13, 6:38, 17:4

Jesus is not God.

Jesus is less than God. John 14:28

They also used a verse in Genesis to "prove" that Jesus created the world - Genesis 1:26.

Interestingly I didn't feel like I should get out as fast as possible - I felt quite supported and almost like what they were saying didn't touch me if that makes sense.