Jehovah's Witnesses

First off, it is of vital importance that you understand how a typical JW sees [i]you[/i]. You do this by stepping in their shoes, figuratively speaking. Each JW is indoctrinated to view a Christian as someone duped by Satan into worshipping a three-headed pagan god called "The Trinity". Subsequently, everything you say comes through this "Trinity" filter and they see [i]you[/i] as the one needing to be saved. If you think the JW's are brainwashed, they think even more the same about you, and, on the average, are much more zealous to win you over to their religion than a Christian is to win them to his.

If you remember this when you meet them, you'll go about things a little differently. Now, if the Lord gives you an open door to engage one (I find that most of the time the door is closed for me), the very first thing you need to do is incapacitate the Watchtower. The Watchtower is basically their "mothership" that interprets scripture for them and rules the empire like Big Brother in Orwell's 1984. Just like any other structure, if you want to bring it down, immediately go for the foundation, the Achilles Heel - which, in this case, is the numerous failed prophecies the Watchtower has put out over the years and tried to cover-up. Familiarize youself with some of them and mention your findings to your JW guests, one-by-one, and with genuine earnesty.

You won't go far before they'll stop you. There's usually a JW elder that accompanies a younger, less informed convert when they go on a "follow up" house call, and the elders are trained like robots to immediately provide proof texts and explanations. For the failed prophecies they'll most likely bring up Proverbs 4:18 in defense, asserting they are getting more and more wisdom, shining brighter and brighter. In the past, they'll say, they got some things wrong, but that was along time ago when they didnt have as much light as they do today.

Then he'll try to divert the discussion to a disjointed endtime reference in Daniel or Ezekiel, but don't let them off the hook. Keep them on the ropes, go back to bringing up all the failed the prophecies and how serious something like that is in God's eyes - especially the repurcussions God's Word instructs in Deut. 18 as to dealing with false prophehts.

Be careful here; they're fixing to leave. You just smashed a gaping hole in their Mothership and they need to get away so they can try to tape it back up. But now that you've got a hole, try inserting gospel truth through it, as led by the Holy Spirit. You won't have that much time to do this, so make sure you have a pretty good grasp of gospel basics.

A friend gave me this long ago:

There are several things you must understand before God blesses you with the passion and privilege to witness to a Jehovah’s Witnesses or a Mormon.

First, do not be timid. For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but He has given us a spirit of power and a spirit of love and a spirit of self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) As I mentioned earlier, He will not give you something that you can not handle.

Second, allow the spirit of love to lead the conversation. Notice that I said and emphasize conversation, not discussion or debate or argument. Would you be receptive to listen to someone if they start the conversation by telling you that what you believe is false? Well I guaranty you, neither will them. Remember, God is Love.

Third, allow the spirit of discipline and self control to guide you. All it takes is patience. Let them speak all night if that is what it takes. When they say something contradicting to the Word of God ask them to elaborate using another scripture. Since the word of God is infallible, more powerful than a double edge sword and God is not a God of confusion, then let the Word bring correction. Sit back, watch God do His work and enjoy the show.

Fourth and Last, trust the spirit of power, After all, this is not about your knowledge or their willingness, whose religion is better or who can quote more scriptures. The purpose is for everyone to come closer to God including you and I. Trust the power of His word, the power of His name.

brother mike (reformer),

Nice to hear from you my friend.

Concerning the Jehovah's Witnesses, I have found by much experience the last 2-3 years that probably the best work on JW'S that I ever read was the work by Walter Martin called "Kingdom of the Cults".

David Reed, a former JW, has also written many books about understanding the heart of a JW.

There are many websites like www.letusreason.org and www.carm.org that answer alot of the questions and show the many differences between an average bible believing christian and the JW.(I apologize if we are not supposed to write about other websites).

There is so much that I would like to tell you about Jehovah Witnesses, but it would be very long. But if you would like to talk more about the Witnesses, then feel free to pm me and i'll give you my phone #.

I know the many twisting and deceiving doctrines and literature that the Watchtower puts out and is swallowed by its followers can almost feel exhausting, but after studying this thing out you will have a more sure faith in our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

your brother,
phil

Be careful here; they're fixing to leave. You just smashed a gaping hole in their Mothership and they need to get away so they can try to tape it back up.

And then they will return to their Watchtower brotherhood with the questions you raised and will come with an answer that they hope will silence your objection.

The point with the JW's is it is very difficult to win a logical point with them - or to get them to admit it. It is, instead, a spiritual battle and it may require lots of encounters with compassionate, persistent Christians who will not bend or bow to their doctrines. And go to their house and talk with them! That just might impress them! (I know of one case where a couple did that and they admitted they were impressed!)

Most Christians have been taught to steer clear of them and so they treat them like "lepers". But they are human, like another poster said. If they are sick, ill, ailing, in need of something, it has been known that Christian benevolence will touch their heart.

Blessings,
ginnyrose

I agree with brother Paul West. I have them come to my house and when you use the tactic he suggested they go running. In fact I think sometimes I am public enemy number one they send different ones(JW) to my home. But I continue to walk in love and be very kind to them I think this is what really keeps them coming back. one lady asked me why things were like they are and I got to share the gospel with her. But yes as brother Paul says attack them at the head crush the head ( the watchtower society) and the body just dies. Understand the Gospel one of the things JW's do is take away a salvation by grace through faith and substitute it for a salvation of works. be blessed dear friend

I have them come to my house and when you use the tactic he suggested they go running.

Also, bear in mind that most JW's are ex-evangelicals, meaning most were unregenerate people just attending church along with the masses and have a rudimentary head-knowledge of the Christian gospel. If God has given up on them, nothing you say will effect them - after all, they've heard your "trinitarian" spiel a million times over and will automatically tune out Satan's propaganda. Remember, [i]you[/i] are the one deluded and they are saved. But you'll never know if God is still working on a JW's heart...so pray for discernment lest you cast you pearls in the wrong direction.

Brother Paul

Am I taking 2 John 10 too literal? I don't want them to think they can come back and try to give me propaganda.

I think you did the right thing, brother. With most JW's I've been around, I've gotten clear signals from the Holy Spirit to not persue a discussion, as God has given up on them. It is a very sad thing when the Lord gives a person over to a lie, and actually seals their doom to everlasting destruction while they yet still walk on earth. But we've seen this many times, people so closed off to the gospel, so hardened, the conscience so seared, heart so darkened...and if this weren't enough, an oppressive forbidding by the Holy Spirit to witness to them.

This is truly terrifying, and you are hearing this from a mortician who deals with the dead on a daily basis. Many of you also deal with the dead daily as well and don't even know it.

I think it is good to point out all the false prophecies of the various leaders of the JW's but as other have noted, when you do this they just circle the wagons and give the pat answers. So you will find it hard going along this line.

I prefer to stick with just talking about Christ, the deity of Christ, the sufficiency of Christ, the glory of Christ...Ask them about how you can know eternal life; for every "do" they present (and like all false religion they will present a works salvation) you present a "done" from Christ.

Also, for those who don't know exactly what JW's believe and don't believe, I have incuded below something from Ed Decker that may be helpful.
[b]Five important facts to remember about the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Organization.[/b]

1. They have accepted the Organization as the Prophet of God.

2. They have accepted the Organization as God's sole channel for His truth.

3. They believe that to reject the Organization is to reject God.

4. They believe that only the Organization can interpret the Bible; as individuals they are unable to do so.

5. They believe the Watchtower Magazine contains God's truth, directed by Him, through the Organization.

[b]What does the Organization and Watchtower Magazine teach that is in conflict with Orthodox Christianity?[/b]

1. That Jesus is a created being/a creature.

2. That Jesus is actually Michael the Archangel

3. That Jesus was not resurrected bodily, but as a spirit being.

4. That Jesus returned invisibly in 1914 (secretly to the Organization)

5. That Jesus was only a man when on earth, not the Word Become flesh.

6. That the Holy Spirit is only an active force, not the person of God.

7. That Hell is simply the grave.

8. That Heaven's doors is open to only 144,000.

9. That the majority of Witnesses must remain on earth.

10. That salvation is found only through the Organization.

11. That it must be maintained by energetic works for the Organization until the end when one may merit eternal life on a paradise earth.

12. That Satan is the author of the doctrine of the Trinity.

13. That Jesus cannot be given worship, but only honor as Jehovah's first creation.

[b]The Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe or teach some of the very basic tenets of Christian doctrine.[/b]

They deny:

1. The Trinity.

2. The Omnipresence of God.

3. The Deity of Christ.

4. The dual nature of Christ.

5. The bodily resurrection of Christ.

6. The visible return of Christ.

7. The person of God the Holy Spirit.

8. The Promise of Heaven to all believers.

9. The necessity of the New Birth for all believers.

10. The Lord's Supper for all believers. (only for the 144,0000).

11. The Eternal Security of the believer.

12. The conscious Eternal Punishment of the lost.

This is a very good conversation. I agree with you reformer. A couple of weeks ago I had a family member call me with some JW's on the line and they wanted to debate and I felt that I should not engage in a heated debate. I did say a few words of scripture but would not go any further to give my own opinions I just stood upon the scriptures alone. I did that once( the heated debate thing) and it was not good and it did not glorify Jesus Christ. So you did the right thing only the father can draw men to himself John 6:44. Only the Holy Spirit can convict the world of sin and error John 16:8. Our job is to just sow the word, or I should say speak the truth in love. Then watch a sovereign God in all of his glorious power take that which is dead, deplorable and depraved and bring life to it. What a wonderful thing God does in conversion, just amazing.

PaulWest wrote:

Many of you also deal with the dead daily as well and don't even know it.

Brother, this sent a shiver down my spine when I read it and made me kind of sick to my stomach. This IS truth. And we as Christians seem to forget that at the end of the day, there is only heaven or hell for us and our brothers.

IN reaagards to the JW's and Mormons, I always talk to these folks. I invite them in, pull out my bible, and talk scripture with them. They never do come back, even though I ask them to come back with their friends.

Once in fact, I talked one of them into giving me their phone number. I called them up and invited them to our all night prayer meeting. The declined and did not come back.

My heart breaks for these folks.

The failed prophecies mentioned earlier, by date;

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2919/dates.html

Other helpful information there as well.

[url=http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2919/]Watch the Tower[/url]