Had a jehovah witness show up at my place today....

[gr8grace3]

What could I tell this man? Nothing but the Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ and that he is a sinner in need of salvation. An unbeliever does not have the Spirit and CANNOT discern any other truths of His Word until they are saved and sealed with the Spirit.

John15:26 ~~New American Standard Bible
"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

2 Cor 1:22~~New American Standard Bible
who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.


How to be saved~~
Acts 16:31........BELIEVE/TRUST on the Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved.....

 

[billybalke]

What could I tell this man? Nothing but the Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ and that he is a sinner in need of salvation. An unbeliever does not have the Spirit and CANNOT discern any other truths of His Word until they are saved and sealed with the Spirit.

John15:26 ~~New American Standard Bible
"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

2 Cor 1:22~~New American Standard Bible
who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.


How to be saved~~
Acts 16:31........BELIEVE/TRUST on the Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved.....

I'm not trying to be unkind but you may as well as have shut the door in his face as to tell him that.

 

[Hermit]

Welcome all who knock on your door, especially those who wish to speak to you about God.
Your faith ought to be enough to even resist satan, or else you will be too afraid to even go outside.

 

[ezra]

I'm not trying to be unkind but you may as well as have shut the door in his face as to tell him that.

i had one show up at easter time i listened to what he had to say . i exchanged what i believe and told him i disagreed with him. he was very well versed of course i am sure he was trained. we shook hands and he went on his way . best way to deal with them is b nice to them . they are working for their salvation . yes they are very wrong in doctrine. as long as they are not trying to prove a more correct doctrine i will listen .

 

[billybalke]

i had one show up at easter time i listened to what he had to say . i exchanged what i believe and told him i disagreed with him. he was very well versed of course i am sure he was trained. we shook hands and he went on his way . best way to deal with them is b nice to them . they are working for their salvation . yes they are very wrong in doctrine. as long as they are not trying to prove a more correct doctrine i will listen .

I always invite them in, try to arrange a study which usually a happens. They want to do all the teaching and when they see you are trying to get some in also they cancel. We moved here last October and wasn't long before they knocked my door. We struck a friendship and he and others with him continued to come to my home for study. He lives a distance from me so not we conduct a study via e-mail. He is very, very honest and seed is being planted.

 

[Runner]

This is apparently an endless topic.

I give the Jehovah Witnesses a charitable C- for theology, an A+++ for leading Christian lives that I and most other Christians should envy. There are some points (not major points of doctrine) on which I have reached my own views and then discovered, "That's what the Jehovah Witnesses believe!" I have two JW women in my home for short and pleasant discussions at least once a month. I always accept and read their literature and frankly seldom encounter anything that makes my eyes pop out. I was interested enough that I acquired something like the first 20 issues of The Watchtower from the 1880's just to see what sort of weirdness I would encounter, and the answer was: none, N-O-N-E. Not that they don't have some distinctly odd doctrines now, but I'll let God decide how the C- on theology and A+++ for living balance out. If I were God, which fortunately for all of us I'm not, I'd open the gates of Heaven and say "Get in here, you goofballs." (If Jesus doesn't return pretty darn soon, they are going to have to rethink their own theology because one doctrine is that the generation living in 1914 will see His visible return.)

What is the joy that people derive from demonstrating their theological superiority to the Jehovah's Witnesses? Yes, I realize they think they are theologically superior and we are all lost too, but I don't see the same degree of non-JW bashing in their literature (with the exception that they love to tweak the Catholics). OK, they are misguided on some doctrines that other Christians regard as core doctrines. On the other hand, some of those doctrines, such as the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, are not exactly crystal clear in the Bible, were hotly debated in early Christianity, and were "settled" through a process of debate and negotiation. (I accept the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, so don't start down that path - but are we certain they are absolutely critical to qualifying as a Christian? That's a rhetorical question - don't feel compelled to explain to me that, yes, we by God are certain.) I'm content to fellowship with the Jehovah's Witnesses and let God decide whether they pass muster for admittance into Heaven.

 

[ezra]

I always invite them in, try to arrange a study which usually a happens. They want to do all the teaching and when they see you are trying to get some in also they cancel. We moved here last October and wasn't long before they knocked my door. We struck a friendship and he and others with him continued to come to my home for study. He lives a distance from me so not we conduct a study via e-mail. He is very, very honest and seed is being planted.

that is what it takes ..i dont have regular run ins with them most of the time i thank them stick the papers in my pocket let them go on. they are very prepared and trained

 

[ezra]

This is apparently an endless topic.

I give the Jehovah Witnesses a charitable C- for theology, an A+++ for leading Christian lives that I and most other Christians should envy. There are some points (not major points of doctrine) on which I have reached my own views and then discovered, "That's what the Jehovah Witnesses believe!" I have two JW women in my home for short and pleasant discussions at least once a month. I always accept and read their literature and frankly seldom encounter anything that makes my eyes pop out. I was interested enough that I acquired something like the first 20 issues of The Watchtower from the 1880's just to see what sort of weirdness I would encounter, and the answer was: none, N-O-N-E. Not that they don't have some distinctly odd doctrines now, but I'll let God decide how the C- on theology and A+++ for living balance out. If I were God, which fortunately for all of us I'm not, I'd open the gates of Heaven and say "Get in here, you goofballs." (If Jesus doesn't return pretty darn soon, they are going to have to rethink their own theology because one doctrine is that the generation living in 1914 will see His visible return.)

What is the joy that people derive from demonstrating their theological superiority to the Jehovah's Witnesses? Yes, I realize they think they are theologically superior and we are all lost too, but I don't see the same degree of non-JW bashing in their literature (with the exception that they love to tweak the Catholics). OK, they are misguided on some doctrines that other Christians regard as core doctrines. On the other hand, some of those doctrines, such as the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, are not exactly crystal clear in the Bible, were hotly debated in early Christianity, and were "settled" through a process of debate and negotiation. (I accept the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, so don't start down that path - but are we certain they are absolutely critical to qualifying as a Christian? That's a rhetorical question - don't feel compelled to explain to me that, yes, we by God are certain.) I'm content to fellowship with the Jehovah's Witnesses and let God decide whether they pass muster for admittance into Heaven.

i told the man straight up i reject the watchtower teaching .they are blinded by religion a form of godliness

 

[Free]

This is apparently an endless topic.

I give the Jehovah Witnesses a charitable C- for theology, an A+++ for leading Christian lives that I and most other Christians should envy. There are some points (not major points of doctrine) on which I have reached my own views and then discovered, "That's what the Jehovah Witnesses believe!" I have two JW women in my home for short and pleasant discussions at least once a month. I always accept and read their literature and frankly seldom encounter anything that makes my eyes pop out. I was interested enough that I acquired something like the first 20 issues of The Watchtower from the 1880's just to see what sort of weirdness I would encounter, and the answer was: none, N-O-N-E. Not that they don't have some distinctly odd doctrines now, but I'll let God decide how the C- on theology and A+++ for living balance out. If I were God, which fortunately for all of us I'm not, I'd open the gates of Heaven and say "Get in here, you goofballs." (If Jesus doesn't return pretty darn soon, they are going to have to rethink their own theology because one doctrine is that the generation living in 1914 will see His visible return.)

What is the joy that people derive from demonstrating their theological superiority to the Jehovah's Witnesses? Yes, I realize they think they are theologically superior and we are all lost too, but I don't see the same degree of non-JW bashing in their literature (with the exception that they love to tweak the Catholics). OK, they are misguided on some doctrines that other Christians regard as core doctrines. On the other hand, some of those doctrines, such as the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, are not exactly crystal clear in the Bible, were hotly debated in early Christianity, and were "settled" through a process of debate and negotiation. (I accept the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus, so don't start down that path - but are we certain they are absolutely critical to qualifying as a Christian? That's a rhetorical question - don't feel compelled to explain to me that, yes, we by God are certain.) I'm content to fellowship with the Jehovah's Witnesses and let God decide whether they pass muster for admittance into Heaven.

Because clean living doesn't matter if there are wrong beliefs about core Christian doctrine. John 1:12, John 3:18, Rom. 10:9-13, 1 Cor. 15, and Gal. 1:6-9, among others, show that what we believe about Jesus is absolutely central to salvation.

We simply cannot have wrong beliefs about Jesus and expect to spend eternity with him, no matter how good we think we've lived.

 

[Runner]

Because clean living doesn't matter if there are wrong beliefs about core Christian doctrine. John 1:12, John 3:18, Rom. 10:9-13, 1 Cor. 15, and Gal. 1:6-9, among others, show that what we believe about Jesus is absolutely central to salvation.

We simply cannot have wrong beliefs about Jesus and expect to spend eternity with him, no matter how good we think we've lived.

I agree it is important to have the soundest understanding of Christian doctrine that we can have and to share that understanding in our Christian walk. I am not here to defend or promote Jehovah Witnesses' doctrine, but lest there be any confusion this is their view of Jesus as set forth at their official website and all the JW literature that I have read:

Yes. We believe in Jesus, who said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We have faith that Jesus came to earth from heaven and gave his perfect human life as a ransom sacrifice. (Matthew 20:28) His death and resurrection make it possible for those exercising faith in him to gain everlasting life. (John 3:16) We also believe that Jesus is now ruling as King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, which will soon bring peace to the entire earth. (Revelation 11:15) However, we take Jesus at his word when he said: “The Father is greater than I am.” (John 14:28) So we do not worship Jesus, as we do not believe that he is Almighty God.
​

In other words, they believe that Jesus is the firstborn of creation (Colossians 1:15), through whom the rest of creation was made, but not equal to the Father or a person of a Trinity. This is not my understanding or belief, but I am not prepared to say that it is an understanding so incorrect and so fundamental that it would disqualify the Jehovah's Witnesses in God's eyes. Should I explain that I don't share their view and why, to them and to others? Certainly. Should I loudly proclaim that they are un-Christian, unsaved and headed for Hell, as many Christians seem to take delight in doing? No, I don't think so - in any event, I'm not confident enough of any of those things to proclaim them.

 

[chessman]

Philippians 3:4-11 though myself having confidence even in the flesh! If any other person thinks that he may put-confidence in the flesh, I more— in circumcision the eighth day; from the nation of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew from Hebrews; in relation to the Law— a Pharisee; in relation to zeal— persecuting the church; in relation to the righteousness in the Law— having been blameless. But what things were gains to me, these I have regarded to be a loss for the sake of Christ. But more than that, I am indeed regarding all things to be a loss for the sake of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of Whom I suffered-loss-of all things and am regarding them as garbage in order that I might gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the Law but the one through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith— that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection and the partnership of His sufferings, being conformed to His death if somehow I might attain to the power of the resurrection-out from the dead.​

I ask them if they are visiting me for their salvation or for mine (or both, I suppose). Simple question yet they get confused with it's answer. I just tell them I love the Lord Jesus Christ and am thus saved.

1. Who is Jesus Christ?
... He was God’s first creation, and he helped in the creation of all other things. He is the only one created directly by Jehovah and is thus called God’s “only-begotten” Son. ...​

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/...-247112b4a628&insight[search_result_index]=3u
​

Wrong!

 

[for_his_glory]

They do not come to my house anymore as I am blacklisted to their organization. The last two men who came I invited them in for a Bible Study. They are not allowed to have blood transfusions or organ transplants because of the blood. They came in an I opened my Bible to Leviticus and started talking about the blood sacrifices of animals in the OT showing it was a foreshadow of Christ who shed His blood for us as a sacrifice for our sins. One guy became very nervous for what I was showing them in scripture and wanted to leave when I started talking about the blood, but the other one was intent on listening and I even had him read the scriptures from his Bible and he told me he never saw that before. We discussed for a while, but he saw how nervous the other guy was so he excused themselves, but I know seed was planted in that man that day and prayed for both of them after they left. I also invited them to come back anytime, but never saw them again.

Below is certain things they believe and I have so much more about their society and the Watch Tower organization especially how they disfellowshipping anyone who breaks their rules, but this is enough.


BTW my sister use to be a Jehovah Witness so I know all this is true from her telling me and doing my own research on this.


Trinity
They do not believe in the Trinity. Instead, they follow a strict monotheism, in which: Jehovah is the Supreme Being. Jesus is the Son of God, a created being. Christ is believed to have originally existed in a pre-human state as the Archangel Michael. He later took human form as a man like any other person, except that he was sinless at birth and remained so throughout his earthly life. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. They believe that after the crucifixion, Christ died and was resurrected as an invisible, non-material, glorious, spirit creature. They believe that Jesus appeared on earth after his resurrection in a special body that Jehovah created for him.
The Holy Spirit they believe, is not a separate entity, but is simply a force: the method by which God interacts with the world.

Man's Soul
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that a person is the soul the Bible speaks of, and when a person dies nothing lives on, the person is dead and is conscious of nothing. When the time comes for God to resurrect them from the dead He will create a new body for them from His memory.

Hell
They totally deny the existence of the traditional Christian view of Hell. Satan is regarded as having created the concept of Hellfire in order to turn people against God. They believe that hell is the "common grave of mankind" where people go when they die. They are not conscious there. Unbelievers simply cease to exist at death. Believers remain in death until the resurrection.

Blood
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to accept blood transfusions for themselves or their children, believing that this is the same as eating blood and is forbidden by the Bible. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have died because of this restriction the Watchtower Society has placed upon its followers. In the past the Watchtower Society has forbidden its followers to get vaccinations or accept organ transplants, many people died needlessly before the Watchtower Society changed its rules and allowed these procedures. They still hold fast to the prohibition of receiving blood transfusions.

 

[billybalke]

They do not come to my house anymore as I am blacklisted to their organization. The last two men who came I invited them in for a Bible Study. They are not allowed to have blood transfusions or organ transplants because of the blood. They came in an I opened my Bible to Leviticus and started talking about the blood sacrifices of animals in the OT showing it was a foreshadow of Christ who shed His blood for us as a sacrifice for our sins. One guy became very nervous for what I was showing them in scripture and wanted to leave when I started talking about the blood, but the other one was intent on listening and I even had him read the scriptures from his Bible and he told me he never saw that before. We discussed for a while, but he saw how nervous the other guy was so he excused themselves, but I know seed was planted in that man that day and prayed for both of them after they left. I also invited them to come back anytime, but never saw them again.

Below is certain things they believe and I have so much more about their society and the Watch Tower organization especially how they disfellowshipping anyone who breaks their rules, but this is enough.


BTW my sister use to be a Jehovah Witness so I know all this is true from her telling me and doing my own research on this.


Trinity
They do not believe in the Trinity. Instead, they follow a strict monotheism, in which: Jehovah is the Supreme Being. Jesus is the Son of God, a created being. Christ is believed to have originally existed in a pre-human state as the Archangel Michael. He later took human form as a man like any other person, except that he was sinless at birth and remained so throughout his earthly life. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. They believe that after the crucifixion, Christ died and was resurrected as an invisible, non-material, glorious, spirit creature. They believe that Jesus appeared on earth after his resurrection in a special body that Jehovah created for him.
The Holy Spirit they believe, is not a separate entity, but is simply a force: the method by which God interacts with the world.

Man's Soul
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that a person is the soul the Bible speaks of, and when a person dies nothing lives on, the person is dead and is conscious of nothing. When the time comes for God to resurrect them from the dead He will create a new body for them from His memory.

Hell
They totally deny the existence of the traditional Christian view of Hell. Satan is regarded as having created the concept of Hellfire in order to turn people against God. They believe that hell is the "common grave of mankind" where people go when they die. They are not conscious there. Unbelievers simply cease to exist at death. Believers remain in death until the resurrection.

Blood
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not allowed to accept blood transfusions for themselves or their children, believing that this is the same as eating blood and is forbidden by the Bible. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have died because of this restriction the Watchtower Society has placed upon its followers. In the past the Watchtower Society has forbidden its followers to get vaccinations or accept organ transplants, many people died needlessly before the Watchtower Society changed its rules and allowed these procedures. They still hold fast to the prohibition of receiving blood transfusions.

I always use the NWT (New World Translation) with them, its the only one they actually accept.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I do think their organization provides meaning, structure, and order to the lives of many. That's admirable. On the other hand...I disagree with a lot of their beliefs. I clearly am in no position to judge them--God will, as He sees fit--but I do think false religions are dangerous. Are their errors severe enough to cost them any hope of salvation? I honestly don't know. I'm not God. But...although some errors are more severe than others (2+2=8 is a lot closer to correct that 2+2=22), I think rejecting traditional, sound Christian doctrine in favor of false doctrine is not OK, and could potentially lead to serious problems.

 

[gr8grace3]

I'm not trying to be unkind but you may as well as have shut the door in his face as to tell him that.

Telling Him the true Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ is SHUTTING the door in His face?

I sat down with the fella for 25 to 30 minutes........and the conclusion made........Nothing but the Gospel is going to get through to him.

But I digress, He sounded like 99.5% of the CHRISTIANS here who FIGHT for doing their 'duty' to be saved. Like being dunked in a tank of water to be saved.

 

[billybalke]

Telling Him the true Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ is SHUTTING the door in His face?

I sat down with the fella for 25 to 30 minutes........and the conclusion made........Nothing but the Gospel is going to get through to him.

But I digress, He sounded like 99.5% of the CHRISTIANS here who FIGHT for doing their 'duty' to be saved. Like being dunked in a tank of water to be saved.

Sir, it does me no pleasure to say your post of what you said to the JW was every bit as false teaching as what he represented. I'm not trying to be mean or unkind, but such is my understanding of the scripture.

Be well, Billy

 

[Runner]

But I digress, He sounded like 99.5% of the CHRISTIANS here who FIGHT for doing their 'duty' to be saved. Like being dunked in a tank of water to be saved.

Perhaps unintentionally, but you make a good point.

"Christianity" spans an extremely broad spectrum of beliefs (as do Buddhism and Hinduism, for that matter). At some point, you fall off the edge. New Age groups that promote "Ascended Master Jesus, Chohan of the 2nd Ray," are simply not Christian. Being very familiar with LDS doctrine, I think it's very questionable whether the LDS church is still within the Christian spectrum. Being very familiar with JW doctrine, I would place them at the far end but definitely on the Christian spectrum.

Where I would place any of them is, of course, irrelevant. The issue is where God will place them, which we'll learn some day.

The point your post underscores is that 95% of Christians think that one or more other species of Christians are promoting false doctrine, badly misguided, perhaps even lost. The Mormons and JW are merely the most convenient targets for the venom-spewing that 95% of Christians engage in all the time. The Catholics are, of course, another popular target but somewhat less convenient than the Mormons and JW.

But forget the convenient targets - the thinly or not-so-thinly disguised contempt and disdain that prevails throughout Protestant denominations cannot be denied. The thinly or not-so-thinly disguised contempt and disdain that prevails at Christian Forums and similar sites cannot be denied. I've been a Christian for 47 years, so don't try to tell me it can be denied.

Basically every one of the 41,000 Christian denominations (the last count of which I'm aware) has some level of contempt and disdain for a sizable percentage of the others. You apparently believe 99.5% of the Christians here are badly misguided.

I'm through playing this silly "correct doctrine" game. I will concern myself solely with my own understanding. God will judge who will be saved and who won't. I'm not a betting man, but I would bet that "correct doctrine" will play a far smaller role than most evangelicals expect, and my money would be on sincere Catholics, sincere JW and many other unpopular candidates making the grade.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. They believe that after the crucifixion, Christ died and was resurrected as an invisible, non-material, glorious, spirit creature.

THAT IS NOT CORRECT. Again, I'm not here to promote or defend the JW. But why not get your information from the JW themselves rather than some "Why the JW are not Christians" site? I just spent 30 minutes reading two lengthy articles on the Resurrection at the JW site: https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/jesus/final-ministry/tomb-empty-jesus-alive/ and https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20130301/resurrection-of-jesus/ . I literally didn't see one word with which I, in my most conservative Campus Crusade, Southern Baptist mode would have disagreed or with which I disagree now. They believe that, at some point during the Ascension, Jesus essentially "dematerialized" into a purely spiritual body and entered into Heaven. And what do the rest of us think happened - that He sped across the entire universe like an ICBM until he reached the edge, at which point ... what? Or that once He rose out of view, some sort of portal opened and sucked Him in? The exact meaning of the Ascension and "how it worked" are indeed a bit of a mystery that most churches simply ignore. The JW deal with it as described, and I have no problem with their view.

 

[Edward]

They do not come to my house anymore as I am blacklisted to their organization. The last two men who came I invited them in for a Bible Study. They are not allowed to have blood transfusions or organ transplants because of the blood. They came in an I opened my Bible to Leviticus and started talking about the blood sacrifices of animals in the OT showing it was a foreshadow of Christ who shed His blood for us as a sacrifice for our sins. One guy became very nervous for what I was showing them in scripture and wanted to leave when I started talking about the blood, but the other one was intent on listening and I even had him read the scriptures from his Bible and he told me he never saw that before. We discussed for a while, but he saw how nervous the other guy was so he excused themselves, but I know seed was planted in that man that day and prayed for both of them after they left. I also invited them to come back anytime, but never saw them again.

That is soo cool Sister!

 

[GodsGrace]

I like to go to John 1:1
Their bible says Jesus was a god.
The normal bible says Jesus is God.

I made friends with a couple that came by often. Nice people. I make them tea - they're English.
They don't try to conver me anymore.

I try to get my 2 cents in whenever I can.

Be nice to everyone. It's a good testimony.
We can't change anyone's mind. But the Holy Spirit can if they hear the right words.

 

[for_his_glory]

I like to go to John 1:1
Their bible says Jesus was a god.
The normal bible says Jesus is God.

I made friends with a couple that came by often. Nice people. I make them tea - they're English.
They don't try to conver me anymore.

I try to get my 2 cents in whenever I can.

Be nice to everyone. It's a good testimony.
We can't change anyone's mind. But the Holy Spirit can if they hear the right words.

They have rewritten the KJV Bible way back when they began to back up their own teachings. One would not see how they have changed one word in a sentence to give it a false meaning unless they are showed. My sister was oe a long time ago and got out from under them and showed me how they distorted the Bible.