S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The sect known today as the Jehovah's Witnesses started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell. Russell named his group the "Millennial Dawn Bible Study." Charles ...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Emo Tenorio Supporter Shomer

One must understand that the Watch Tower is the source of their theological beliefs (via new light or revelation, which is ever changing to cover exposed mistakes and errors), and not what is called their bible. 

The central doctrine of the witnesses is their blind faith in the organization (WTS) whose authority can never be questioned. If the society states that blue is now orange and has always been orange or say 3+3=33 they are correct to the captives within the walls of kingdom halls. Those outside saying they're wrong, is just more proof to them that their teaching is correct. 

Consider one precept, Watch Tower 7-1-1965 page 391:
He [God] does not impart His Holy spirit and an understanding and appreciation of His Word apart from His visible organization.

Consider just two Watch Tower Society prophecy claims!
1. That Jesus returned to earth in 1914 
2. The Watch Tower Society was hand picked by Christ as God's only channel of communication to man in 1919.

If Christ "arrived" in 1914 why do Jehovah Witnesses continue to partake of the bread and wine? Shouldn't they have stopped in 1914? 

If indeed only they are anointed to speak for God, shouldn't their doctrines and prophecies be 100% correct from the beginning as a biblical true sign? 
Instead we see demented old men who consider themselves prophets covering their mistakes with new light corrections via their get out of all errors scripture, Proverbs 4:18 (okay, maybe minor doctrinal changes updates).

But not the wholesale 180 degree reversals on MAJOR doctrine that is so common here within only 130 years of setting up shop!

What kind of confidence can you have in an organization that rejected its founder, C. Taze Russell (1879-1916), and the first two presidents, J. "judge" Rutherford (1916-1942), when will they--via new light--disfellowship and reject their current seer and his teachings?

Consider this 63 year early rewrite of Watch Tower history for a moment:
What happened to the poor souls who died in their sins truly believing the lies the Society was teaching them at the time. Do they get a do over maybe?

There are good people within the J-wits, but it's difficult to escape the society's evil organizational stranglehold doctrines that are in place for just one reason! 

The captives must be willing to scale the walls and leave all behind, pick up their cross and follow Christ in true freedom.

Bottom line: Does anyone outside of this outfit really believe that GOD would partner (share HIS glory) with a man-centered outfit from the "holy city of Brooklyn"?

There is much to uncover to find the truth. Always ask God to reveal it. He will. One can start with what the ex-captives or practioners say about life inside the walls?................warrior on.

September 23 2013 • 16 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Gene Coleman Supporter

Although I certainly do not consider myself a scholar, I have devoted considerable time to studying what the Watchtower says that Jehovah Witness believe and some of statements apologizing for Jehovah Witnesses, I believe should be given serious additional reconsideration. 

First the Lord Supper is still offered but they believe none are now allowed to partake. The ones Watchtower identified and permitted have more or less now died.

Second my bible says when Jesus come all will see Him and therefore know He came. Does not Watchtower erroneously say He came secretly to them and now "they" and they alone speak for God. They appear to be taking position Bible gives the Holy Spirit. 

Third-Mark 10 verses 17&18 quoted earlier could well mean Jesus knowing only God was good was in essence asking the young man who ran up to Him and called Him Master and kneeled as if to Worship Him: Are you acknowledging and accepting Me as "good" and therefore God?

Fourth: Jehovah Witnesses and Watchtower as referenced earlier reject the scriptures referring to the 2nd birth or the in dwelling of Holy Spirit. Fifth: they reject God's offer of the Gift of Eternal Heavenly life.

Sixth: they are annihilationist in regard to eternal punishment in Lake of Fire. 

Seventh: they teach Jesus was originally "created" as the angel, Micheal, not our God & Saviour! Check it out. Hope this helps.

January 16 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Nils Jansma Supporter Missionary in San Diego California

Having firsthand experience, I can tell you that Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) are a sincere group of unorthodox Christians who think we are living in the last days. Most JWs have only been associated since the 1980s and so do not know about their history or their changing doctrines. In the past all changes were justified upon the basis of “new light” that gets brighter and brighter as the “perfect day” approaches. (Proverbs 4:18) 

Their name comes from Isaiah 43:10 where Jehovah says to Israel, “Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah” [ASV]. As a result, they are what you might call, Old Testament Christians. In the past, heavy emphasis was placed on allegorizing the OT and applying it to themselves.

They are “ruled” by what is called the “Governing Body” who they erroneously believe is the “faithful and wise servant” of Matthew 24:45-46. They are taught that JWs leadership has been appointed over all “his [Jesus] household, to give them their food in due season.” So when they change doctrines, not only is the light getting brighter, but the “season” for proper feeding requires such a change. 

From my experience, many, if not most, of JW converts have had a bad experience in one way or another with religion. The converts come from all religious backgrounds and welcome finally learning what they believe to be the “Truth” that will “make you free” from religious corruption. (John 8:31-32) They refer to themselves as “being in the Truth” and may ask someone they just met “How long have you been in the Truth?”

They go from door to door preaching Jehovah’s Kingdom, which they believe was established invisibly in heaven in 1914. (Matthew 24:14) They teach that this was the result of the “war in heaven” fought by Michael and his angels. The Devil was “cast down” to the earth and knows he has but a “short time.” (Revelation 12:7-12) During the time since then, they have placed themselves under the rulership of Jesus Christ who is in heaven sitting at the right hand of God ruling until Jehovah makes his [Jesus] “enemies the footstool of thy feet.” (Hebrews 1:13) They teach that Jesus’ earthly rulership is conducted by the Governing Body of JW’s. Incidentally, I along with countless others detested the requirement of going from door to door.

However, they teach that because the Devil’s time is “short” the battle of Armageddon must be near. (Revelation 16:16) They have been called the “Armageddon just around the corner” group, which is a true statement. All my life, I thought Armageddon was just around the corner. That thought regulated all aspects of my life, including my education, work, and where I lived. They do not encourage education that would prepare you for a “career in this world.” (1 John 2:16-17) You should be out in the “service” preaching about Jehovah’s Kingdom.

I would not recommend trying to convert a JW by argument at the door. They are trained in “proof texting” their doctrines and have all the Scriptural support memorized. If they don’t know the answer, they will agree to come back and set things straight. 

In my opinion, the best thing you can do for any JW who calls at your door is to just give your testimony. Tell them how Jesus is making you a better person day by day in contrast to how you were before you came to Christ, if appropriate. Tell them how unchanging the Bible is and how Christians can enjoy reading material written over a 100 years ago that is still applicable today. This is a stark contrast to their position which discourages them from reading any of their own publications older than about 10 years. 

The most interesting thing that I can attest to is that it would take only about 10 or 15 minutes to convert a JW to Christ if their “blinders” were removed. They sincerely want to do God’s will but are being blinded by Satan. (2 Corinthians 4:4). The very best thing you can do is pray for them to be liberated from their bondage to the Watchtower Society.

June 14 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Al Mark Supporter

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the deity of Christ - without that, how are they any different than other religions of the world? Christ cannot have the power to save all believers throughout all time unless He is God.

I had a conversation with one a long time ago and I asked him, "How is it that people worship Jesus in the New Testament?" The NWT (New World Translation, which is the JW "bible") purposely mistranslates those verses to make it seem like showing respect, but the context of those verses (Heb 1, for example) make it clear that the context is a religious context and is an acknowledgement of deity. To his credit, he said he could not answer the question.

John Stott, the theologian, said, “Nobody can call himself a Christian who does not worship Jesus. To worship him, if he is not God, is idolatry; to withhold worship from him, if he is, is apostasy.”

January 04 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report