Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses

[Chris]

I have a question about how you guys handle this It is something I get a bit at home,
no other religion only those, knock at the door.

It is Saturday morning you have been busy all week there is a knock at the door a guy on a black and white suit is there with some magazines you recognize what do you do? or what do you normally do when they visit? the poll is for fun.

 

[Nick]

I don't have any experience with JW's or Mormons coming round to my house as of yet. They haven't come round for ages. I can't wait until they do, because I can't wait to teach them about the Trinity and the Bible. So I voted with the evangelical Christian.

This married couple at church had a few JW's come over to their house a few months ago. The wife met the first pair that came to their door and apparantly absolutely Bible-bashed them. Then they came back again when the husband was home, and he also had a massive debate/discussion with them and apparantly the junior JW is now a Christian. :D

 

[jasoncran]

I have a question about how you guys handle this It is something I get a bit at home,
no other religion only those, knock at the door.

It is Saturday morning you have been busy all week there is a knock at the door a guy on a black and white suit is there with some magazines you recognize what do you do? or what do you normally do when they visit? the poll is for fun.

i used to be a jw, in fact i was raised in that stuff. the door to door thing ah yes done some of that.

the ole watchtower and awake. you can even go online to read those and i have posted their views and dismantled them. nick remembers mohrb the most liberal jw i have ever seen as he admits that the jw doesnt know it all and that the tract society can be wrong.

that is unheard of amongst the jw's!

 

[Mike]

I love #3 and would like to try it, but obviously, that's not going to be productive.

I chose #4, but I say "biblical Christian". I'll invite them in or offer to get them a bottle of water or something if they decline. I don't get them often, but invite the conversation when I do.

 

[Chris]

I love #3 and would like to try it, but obviously, that's not going to be productive.

I chose #4, but I say "biblical Christian". I'll invite them in or offer to get them a bottle of water or something if they decline. I don't get them often, but invite the conversation when I do.

I found once you start disputing scripture it goes on forever. for some reason the JW's really don't want to pray with you. Usually when I see them It is : cool guys good to see you come on in lets have a prayer time together. Last time I did that they looked at each other and decided to leave. Apparently they had another urgent appointment.

The last Mormons that came I thought of them as people like myself seeking god, at least they would pray with me and I asked the lord to bless them and help them in thier seeking after god. The holy spirit concept confused them a bit.

 

[savedgeezer]

The question I like to ask is "where in scripture does it say that Michael the Archangel was the word made flesh and born of a virgin".

stay blessed

 

[Pizzaguy]

Option 1 for me. The JW's don't come around anymore, but the Mormons do. I have a bit of a connection with them because my sister is in the Mormon/LDS church.

I just wish my baptist church ministered to people in need like the Mormons do. :bigfrown

 

[Mike]

I just wish my baptist church ministered to people in need like the Mormons do. :bigfrown

That would be nice, but I'd rather this come as a response to the Lord's Grace than from an obligation by my church. The Mormon church requires this missionary work. To them, it's an obligation they are required to fulfill. IMO, this is another flawed aspect of the Mormon church. Christ's sacrifice was insufficient, so they believe more needs to be done. I respond to God; not my church.

 

[Chris]

That would be nice, but I'd rather this come as a response to the Lord's Grace than from an obligation by my church. The Mormon church requires this missionary work. To them, it's an obligation they are required to fulfill. IMO, this is another flawed aspect of the Mormon church. Christ's sacrifice was insufficient, so they believe more needs to be done. I respond to God; not my church.

THat and their special Mormon underwear from salt Lake city. You have no chance of entering heaven without the right sacred Mormon undies.. he he

 

[Scotth1960]

I don't have any experience with JW's or Mormons coming round to my house as of yet. They haven't come round for ages. I can't wait until they do, because I can't wait to teach them about the Trinity and the Bible. So I voted with the evangelical Christian.

This married couple at church had a few JW's come over to their house a few months ago. The wife met the first pair that came to their door and apparantly absolutely Bible-bashed them. Then they came back again when the husband was home, and he also had a massive debate/discussion with them and apparantly the junior JW is now a Christian. :D

Dear Nick, The Jehovah's Witnesses are betting at quoting their versions (they

use several) of the Scriptures than most of us, as Christians who believe that

Christ is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, do. They come prepared to witness.


We are more concerned with the witness of our lives than being able to cite

chapter and verse from the Bible with ease. Not everything comes in words.


But it is best to avoid discussions with these people unless we read John 1 from

the KJV to them. That chapter alone shows Christ is God, not "a god" as their

false NWT "Bible" mistranslates Scriptures. As for the Mormons, when they came

by our house door, they didn't say much. They just carried a Book of Mormon

and I didn't hear them say much. The Seventh-day Adventists sometimes would

stop by, too. Jehovah's Witnesses are the most common people to come by a

Protestant Christian's house. I was a Protestant Christian for many years, and

now I am just trying to be a "mere Christian" without believing everything Martin

Luther said. I have outgrown the views of Luther and the Reformers. But I find

Russian Orthodoxy to be truthful about John chapter 15. A good point for

Orthodoxy. In Erie PA Scott

 

[Mike]

Dear Nick, The Jehovah's Witnesses are betting at quoting their versions (they

use several) of the Scriptures than most of us, as Christians who believe that

Christ is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, do. They come prepared to witness.

Satan know scripture pretty well too, and he's the father of lies. I don't know about the JW's as much as I do the Mormons who are obligated to do missionary work. If, and that's an important "if" they are doing their door-to-door witnessing out of compulsion, my guess is these people would be the ones who know their own version of the Bible (and how to defend its changes to the real deal) better than the average one. They know the objections we as Christians have to the NWT and their theology, and the defense of them has been pounded in, rehearsed and re-rehearsed. I've known some JW's who were very nominal. They'd long since forgotten all that was drilled into them. So, not all JW's are as steep in scripture as you imply.

We are more concerned with the witness of our lives than being able to cite

chapter and verse from the Bible with ease. Not everything comes in words.

I believe this is painting with a broad brush, both JW's and Christians. I underlined a sentence that doesn't seem to fit the preceding one. Maybe I'm missing your point.

But it is best to avoid discussions with these people unless we read John 1 from

the KJV to them. That chapter alone shows Christ is God, not "a god" as their

false NWT "Bible" mistranslates Scriptures.

That is not going to be fruitful most likely. I've discussed this chapter at length with some, and you can't get past the first 3 verses, because they refuse to accept the way our Bible reads. They only believe their perverted version. Not saying the Truth won't prevail, but they have been indoctrinated in the NWT.

Jehovah's Witnesses are the most common people to come by a

Protestant Christian's house. I was a Protestant Christian for many years, and

now I am just trying to be a "mere Christian" without believing everything Martin

Luther said. I have outgrown the views of Luther and the Reformers. But I find

Russian Orthodoxy to be truthful about John chapter 15. A good point for

Orthodoxy. In Erie PA Scott

I don't know how they would know they're coming to a Protestant house. Most of us don't have a sign in front saying we're Protestant. The rest of this gets off topic, so no need to respond. :gah

 

[Nick]

Dear Nick, The Jehovah's Witnesses are betting at quoting their versions (they

use several) of the Scriptures than most of us, as Christians who believe that

Christ is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, do. They come prepared to witness.

I have noticed this, but that doesn't mean much. The question we need to ask is what are their motives for wittnessing? Often it's to serve the Watchtower, or whatever their central church is.

As Mike said, Satan knows the scriptures very well too. Just take a look at Luke 4:1-13 (ESV):

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8And Jesus answered him, "It is written,

"'You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.'"

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written,

"'He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,'

11and

"'On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"

12And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.​

We are more concerned with the witness of our lives than being able to cite

chapter and verse from the Bible with ease. Not everything comes in words.

Wittnessing with our lives and direct discussion of scripture are both needed and both have their place.

But it is best to avoid discussions with these people unless we read John 1 from

the KJV to them. That chapter alone shows Christ is God, not "a god" as their

false NWT "Bible" mistranslates Scriptures. As for the Mormons, when they came

by our house door, they didn't say much. They just carried a Book of Mormon

and I didn't hear them say much. The Seventh-day Adventists sometimes would

stop by, too. Jehovah's Witnesses are the most common people to come by a

Protestant Christian's house. I was a Protestant Christian for many years, and

now I am just trying to be a "mere Christian" without believing everything Martin

Luther said. I have outgrown the views of Luther and the Reformers. But I find

Russian Orthodoxy to be truthful about John chapter 15. A good point for

Orthodoxy. In Erie PA Scott

John 1 is a great place to go when discussing Christianity with JW's.

But it can be difficult discussing things with JW's and Mormons considering that they are cults who believe they are Christians and have their own version or additions to the Bible, but think that they have the Bible. John 1 in the NWT could be quite different from the correct translations.

But we must do our best, realising that it's the power of Christ that works in us. :yes

 

[jasoncran]

nick the tract society in nyc is the hq of the jw's.

speaking of a jw, mohrb was online a few days ago.

 

[Free]

I was having discussions with a couple of young Mormon missionaries last fall and into December. They wanted to bring around a former Protestant or Evangelical since they weren't as familiar with the Bible as I was (their words, not mine). It really seems that they only know the Bible insofar as to refute common Christian objections to their theology.

Should I choose to pick up discussions with them again, I have PDFs of several old versions of the Book of Mormon, including the first, which should make for some interesting discussion. :yes

 

[Jake]

I was having discussions with a couple of young Mormon missionaries last fall and into December. They wanted to bring around a former Protestant or Evangelical since they weren't as familiar with the Bible as I was (their words, not mine). It really seems that they only know the Bible insofar as to refute common Christian objections to their theology.

Should I choose to pick up discussions with them again, I have PDFs of several old versions of the Book of Mormon, including the first, which should make for some interesting discussion. :yes

Hi Free,
The Mormons believe the Bible has been changed by man so frequently it is not a reliable source for them. They will use the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price to refute anything in the Bible. It is very difficult to have a conversation with them regarding what is written in The Word.

My sister-in-law brought it into the family, my oldest brother converted and they are really messed up on theology, there is no conversation about the Bible, it is all about Joseph Smith (who they revere just as highly as Jesus). Their children, the oldest is 12, already believe those outside the Mormon faith are not saved.

Not sure if this will help, good luck!

Jake

 

[Mike]

I have little confidence that anything will come of a discussion with either the JW or Mormon. Obviously, God can break anyone's heart, and he could do it at any time. But I've never seen it happen. Besides being deeply indoctrinated, they are also surrounded by those who affirm their faith and will fight hard to keep them in it. I knew someone that almost left the Mormon church, but he encountered so much resistance by his church (threats), he fell right back in.

They both network closely together in their respective clans, so any passing conversation had at a door or in a living room will be countered by endless affirmation. This is more evidence of their "cult" nature.

 

[jasoncran]

true, but mohrb here should give us hope as he is the rarest amongst the jws i have known.

 

[Chris]

I have little confidence that anything will come of a discussion with either the JW or Mormon. Obviously, God can break anyone's heart, and he could do it at any time. But I've never seen it happen. Besides being deeply indoctrinated, they are also surrounded by those who affirm their faith and will fight hard to keep them in it. I knew someone that almost left the Mormon church, but he encountered so much resistance by his church (threats), he fell right back in.

They both network closely together in their respective clans, so any passing conversation had at a door or in a living room will be countered by endless affirmation. This is more evidence of their "cult" nature.

you are pretty right there, the best you can do is try to break through the stereotypes of us. Arguing is the worst thing to do, it is a waste of time, I think being hospitable and kind to them is good. Enthusiastically talking about the holy spirit really confuses them too. Try asking them if they have been filled with/baptized in the holy spirit. I usually tell them how fantastic it is to have it done to you. I think they miss out on that. after all these people are desperately seeking God, we should be hospitable to them. I think it raises a question with them they dont really know much about ( Mormons) that is. The last couple I made them pray with me so I could ask god to bless them and fill them with his spirit. I was being nice but they haven't returned.

They don't know what to do if you don't argue scripture, particularly old testament.

Who knows God may answer my prayer and send them the holy spirit to guide them to Jesus as savior alone.

 

[Mike]

you are pretty right there, the best you can do is try to break through the stereotypes of us.

OH MY GOSH!! When I read that first sentence, I thought for second you were "coming out of the closet" as a Mormon or JW!! :shocked! I nearly spit the pop out of my mouth!

Breathing easier now.

 

[Mike]

true, but mohrb here should give us hope as he is the rarest amongst the jws i have known.

Mohrb was a very decent guy to have around during our lengthy conversations, but I didn't see anything to suggest that he was reconsidering his JW faith. He was very steadfast in it down to his last post.

Establishing a relationship is critical. They don't care how much you know unless they know how much you care. This was a constant theme in the mission trips I've been on.