Jehovah Witness

[Steveninetx]

I would like some help with my aunt who is a Jehovah's Witness. She knows that I am a new christian and has said many times now that she would like some time to talk to me about being a Witness. My mother who is Baptist doesn't want to tell me not to talk to her since she is family. I don't feel strong enough in my faith yet to discuss the bible with her. I wondering if you all had some ideas on what I should do when she comes to talk to me next time.

Steven

 

[LaRae]

Steven,

I would just be as kind as possible and tell her that you don't wish to discuss theological differences which might lead to hard feelings on either side.

Also if you have time you might try to research what JW doctrine means so you know where they are coming from and what you feel about it if ever caught off guard by any questions.

I can relate most of my family is not the same faith that I am so it can be tricky.

LaRae

 

[Larry]

Hi Steven!

The JWs are trained to argue with young Christians, I read your post about false conversions and I do have some advice for you.

Read your Bible every day! You’re in for a battle and you need to equip yourself with the word of God. Don’t take anybody opinion as fact until you have read it in a KJV Bible. Even then understand that if you can make the Bible say about anything you want it to say, by taking verses out of context.

You know the voice of the one who saved you, stick with him and keep a healthy suspicion of all humans.

By the way there are a lot of wackos on this particular page because they are not aloud to post anywhere else.

One more thought, the Baptist Board has a page where they are starting a year long reading of the Bible with a Daly discussion about what you read that day. It just started and I’m sure you benefit from it.

And yet another thought,

Invest in the Bible on CD. I have the dramatized KJV Bible by Alexander Scorby and I keep the CD player on all the time.

When the FBI trains an agent to recognize counterfeit money, they never let the agent see a counterfeit; they have them study the real thing. When you know what the real thing is supposed to look like a counterfeit sticks out like a sore thumb.

[ January 03, 2002: Message edited by: Larry ]

 

[Sir Ed]

There are also alot of other wackos who post on this page who are allowed to post on others on this board.

 

[TP]

Greetings,

I would be VERY Blunt. If you continue to ask me to discuss theology, then I will refuse to talk with you at all. My sister's mother in Law became Jehovah's witness. She would bring this up at every family gathering, and in fact, at my nieces first communion she gave her a Jehovah's witness children's bible. Eventually my sister had to be VERY blunt. If you ever speak of your religion again to our family, you will never visit again and never see your grandchildren. Ever since that moment, they have never had another discussion, and their relationship now is a very good one.

However, if this is not possible, then I would suggest another thing. If you discuss religion with her make the stipulation: You can ONLY tell me the good things about your Jehovah's witnesses, but YOU cannot Attack my version of Christianity. With this in mind, if she says "Why do you believe in the Trinity?" you would respond - Don't attack my faith, tell me what is good about yours. Then she will begin to say why there is NO trinity: You would stop her and say, why are you telling me what you don't believe, tell me ONLY what is good about your religion. Their entire evangelization method, and their theology is based on Attacking other mainline christian beliefs, but they have no strong beliefs of their own. They can only preach, by saying what they are not.

peace

 

[Ps104_33]

1. Go to Rev. 1:11 and read "I am Alpha and Omega , the first and the last".

2. Ask, "Who is the first and the last, who is speaking"?

3. Every J.W. will say "Jehovah". based on Old Testament verses like Isaiah 44:6 or 48:12 which say " I am the first and I am the last". " I am He"....

4. Then point him/her to Rev. 1:18 " I am He that liveth and, and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore."

5. Then ask "When was Jehovah dead"?

6. They then realize that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh.

CAUTION!!

This will not work with an NIV or the JW's New World Translation.

 

[Joseph_Botwinick]

Who is this Jehovah character? I worship YHWH God.

Joseph Botwinick

 

[ventin]

Hey Ps104_33, that is a good one. i ask the JW when they pay me a visit again!

i used Heb 1:8 to show them that Jesus is God!

 

[Pauline]

Steven,
A few thoughts on your situation. We tell people in a class in our parish, don't get into discussions with J.W.s, Mormons, etc.
unless you are sure enough of your beliefs to evangelize them. Don't take chances because confusion is a real enemy of one's faith.

Secondly, if J.W.s are bothering you, just say, "Wait a minute, let's stop right here and pray for God's help." And bow your head and start praying out loud. Every time this has been done that I know of, they have jumped up and left in a hurry. It seems they think we don't have the right to pray.

So protect yourself with prayer!

 

[Steveninetx]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I got some really great ideas and understanding that I am not ready to debate my Aunt. God will let me know when it's time. I told her that we would be using my Bible and not her's. She said she didn't need the Bible to tell me about being a witness. I told her she would have to use the Bible if she wanted to tell me about them. She left and hasn't said anything to me since. I will continue to pray.

Steven

 

[Irish Pete]

Steven,
When I first began following Christ at the age of 15, I learned a lot from Dr. Walter Martin's book called: "The Kingdom of The Cults", which not only enabled me to understand the beliefs of JW's but also their history, the way they think, the psychological factors involved in leaving the witnesses, etc. It also systematically showed from Scripture the truth against what they teach.
I would recommend it and there are a lot of newer books out which could help you long term so that you are focused. Sometimes it means to be in it for the long haul before you will see them start to doubt and come to Christ. There will much rejection by family and friends and that's where you will need to support them through that.

A good focus to begin with is the Deity of Christ. Most cults will distort His Person, and this is where the battle will be fought and won.

God Bless you as you do.
Irish Pete

 

[JAMES2]

Personally, I've had great success with JW's when they come to my door by bringing up Zechariah 14:4. They think that Jesus came invisibly in 1914. That verse gives them trouble.

Actually, the Witnesses are easy to defeat in any debate, although they are so closed-minded they start to shake if you get them off the party line. I am very familiar with their teachings, and believe me, they are so far off base it's not funny. Maybe not as bad as the Mormons, but just as wrong.

In the book "Study in the Scriptures" they say that God CHOSE not to know that Adam was going to fall. Now, think about that. If there is something that God does not know, then he is not ALL KNOWING, which is one of the main attributes of God. That position is utter nonsense. Yet, EVERY witness you talk to will take that exact position.
They always offer a free bible study, but if you say sure, come on over they will bring a book they want you to follow along in. You read a paragraph, then on the bottom of the page is a question. You follow that order or they will stop the study saying you are hard-hearted and don't want to learn the truth.

I've gotten out Greek and Hebrew dictionaries and challenged them on their bible, the New World "Translation", but they will put a stop to that also.

Also, one of the most effective things I have found is when you answer the door, tell them right off the bat that you would like to invite them to a real church so they can hear about salvation. Usually, they will say a hasty good-by.

Last of all, if you don't feel comfortable arguing with them, don't. They are false, false, false, and not worth the effort. And I say this after having friends that are JW's for the last 30 years. I just enjoy the debate because I always come out on top and they never come back. I must be on their do not visit list since I haven't seen any of them for about two years now. Darn, I miss the debate.
James2

 

[ventin]

Hi James2, actually i wouldnt consider those winning debates of urs success unless u managed to win them to Christ.

i never want to win an argument for the sake of a soul lost
i usually present the errors of the JWs in comparision to the scriptures and conclude that is why i am not a JW and then present what i believe about the christian God!

 

[Charles33]

I have invited many of the JW's into my home off the street, to let them have a go at it. Every single one without exception have ran away never to return. I am honest with them, but before they start I place a stipulation on them.

I ask them before they start quoting the Bible to me, how they know that the New Testament is the actual word of God, to be believed. If they can help me understand this, then I will listen.

Obviously, the ones I have dealt with, and there have been many, have absolutely no idea of history, or cannonization, or anything of like matter. Not a one has even come close to offering me anything that would actually be believeable. In fact, they so far, have just had no idea of what I was even talking about.

When I finally let them off the hook, and let them take a go at their teachings, I keep asking why the first Christians, who understood Greek and Aramaic, completely disagreed with them? BTW, they are the ones who start with the Greek and Aramaic topic to change the meanings of the Bible. And why should I believe them today? How exactly did they get this new special knowlage (Gnosis...aka Gnostics)? In fact, I pull out Ireanaus' Against Heresies and read exactly about the Gnostics new secret knowlage to them. It is scary. They have refused to speak to me on several occasions if I read anything more to them, and I refused to listed if they read anything to me. Fair?

Then I question everything they tell me, and they try to quote the Bible, at which point, I ask again, how do they know this is any more the word of God than the Koran? And here we go again. Needness to say, they do not like me.

I do not do this an attacking fashion as is portrayed on this board by us. I am very nice, and loving about the whole ordeal, as these people have not been taught the whole story, and it is not their fault. The weak disciple among them (they always have two, one leader and one weaker)always is receptive to what I am saying as I ask the questions. The leader is the one who is in panic mode.

I have never read a book on them, but just realized one day, that I would like to get some answers from them regarding why they beleive the things they believe. I was as surprised as them to discover the sudden shock of the situation with no answers forthcoming.

Also, I forgot, we talk about Charles Russell and their founding roots, and contrast his teachings with the early Christians.

 

[JAMES2]

Ventin:
Well, they come to me, I don't go to them. They knock on my door and I just stand firm for the faith and they leave. Win or lose, they are gone.
I don't win anyone to Christ anyway, The Holy Spirit does that. But I get your point. I would prefer them to rip up their Watchtower and come to my church, but they never come back and give you a change.
James

 

[ventin]

How true! i remember i gave them tracts about the Watchtower, but they are taught not to even read it. so sad! but i do admire their loyalty to the society.
May the Lord bless ur ministry James2 and grant u fruits

 

[Pauline]

In one place we lived, two JW women came to the house and asked me to study with them. I said I would if we could study whether or not Jesus Christ is God. They agreed to that.
And I pulled together a list of scriptures.

They came for a few weeks. The last time, the younger one looked at the older one and said, "It does say He is God." The older one looked rather upset. They left and I never say them again. But have continued to pray for them.

However, I still caution people not to engage anyone from any of the sects unless they know their way around the Bible and the history of that sect well enough to do so.
There are too many confused Christians running around now. Part of the reason is, most people do not do indepth studies on any subject, not even their own faith. So they aren't strong enough to withstand an on-slaught of Bible verses being thrown at them.
Pauline

 

[JAMES2]

ventin:
I guess I give the JW's credit for going door to door, but too bad they aren't preaching the gospel.

I have found over the years that once a person gets involved with that false organization, it is really difficult for them to break free from it.
My advice to most people is that when they come to your door, do not take ANYTHING from them, invited them to a real church and every time they open their mouth, reinvite them. They will go away and not come back.
James2

 

[Chemnitz]

I heard a great joke involving the jehovah's witnesses.

There was this guy who was new to town and moved into a neighborhood that the jw's frequented alot. So, he was asking around at his church about how to deal with them. One guy suggested that he mount an American Flag in his livingroom and then when they showed up at his door invite them in. But be very insistant about honoring your tradition of that everytime you enter your livingroom you say the Pledge of Allegiance. Because as his friend said he could guarantee the jw's would be out the front door before he could finish the first line and would never comeback. The new guy liked the idea so he went ahead and hung up an American Flag. Sure enough the next weekend this lady dressed all business like carrying a breif case showed up at his door. He invited her in and went into his reasons for saying the Pledge and began saying the Pledge. Out of the corner of his eye he watched the Ladies' response. At first she looked a little surprised and confused, but to his amazement halfway through she joined in. When they finished she turned to him and said "well now thats a first, I have never before had to say the Pledge of Allegiance inorder to sell Avon products"

 

[Charles33]

Yes!