Don't know how to title this except well, I did it

I have a Jehovah Witness acquantance who has recently dropped by my place a couple of times and we have discussed scripture for a couple of hours each time. It's been challenging but a little friendship has developed. I told him that perhaps one day I may visit the Kingdom Hall where they meet. This was after I think I may have invited him to perhaps visit with me one day at my church and meet some of the people I fellowship with.

He had mentioned that on April 19 they were going to have a memorial service honoring the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. He said JWs all over the world do so on April 19
Somewhat out of theological curiosity I decided to go last night to this memorial. It so happens that when I leave my driveway I can drive to their Kingdom Hall in about 50 seconds. It's about 6/10 of a mile away. So my driving there and back home involved less than two minutes of driving.

Everyone was very friendly and the place was packed with attendees. My friend was the main speaker so I heard his take on the atonement which I guess represented their official doctrine as far as possible. The only 144,000 will make it to heaven was a central point in his talk. I love the word and theology and have many emotions this morning. I guess I am stunned a bit and also grieved on the inside. I need more time to think about and properly digest things. Things happened regarding the bread and wine (I didn't partake) of which I have never seen and did not think I would ever see. I'll just have to spend more time getting used to it.

So I went. Maybe it's not for everybody. I understand that. My beliefs are the same as before I went. Has anyone here ever been involved in a active ministry to these groups?

Be very careful, brother. I have dealt with JWs on several occasions. They don't have a Holy Spirit that is able to convict, so they largely gain converts by being nice, inviting people to Kingdom Halls, and filling a "need" of companionship in the lives of others. Then, once they have you into their midst, they rely heavily on that relationship to keep you involved.

I most certainly am not saying that you have done anything wrong. I am glad that you were able to experience it. My only advice to you is that you keep the Gospel at the front and center of the issues. They are well trained in addressing your objections. Stick to the only thing that can open their eyes--the Gospel.

It started with sincere biblical christians seeking greater reality then their current denominations afforded them. Disullisionment can lead us down paths that are wrong in the end.

I would strongly second this statement. I am not saying that you are not truly hungry for God, but hunger for more of God has a counterfeit that is called disillustionment and dissatisfaction. For the disillusioned, the deception is that they think they are the hungry ones. But it always has accompanying it a strong criticism of the people with which it is dissatisfied. I have seen churches split and a group of disillusioned people splinter off and start their own work. This never goes well. The enemy is in it and he remains in it.

JW are not Christians. They have a belief system that is built around a perversion of the Bible and so their trappings look very much like what we might see in a Christian church, but they deny openly the eternal preexistence and diety of Christ.

Very good advice by Brother Greg. I also appreciate the original poster for judging JW unbiased. It is hard to see people like this, even most Christians I have met are not unbiased.

"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house..." 1 John 1:10

Brother, I have a strong check in my spirit and I want to warn you to stay away from these people.

Also remember this is a spiritual battle, just having the right theology alone is like bringing a butter knife to a gun duel.

I remember a JW lady stopping me on the street (literally blocking my path) and offering me a watchtower or Awake magazine. I didn't argue doctrine with her, I asked her "Do you have love, peace and joy?" Her jaw, quite literally, dropped. She had no answer. I then asked her "Do you know your sins are forgiven?" Again, she was flabbergasted. She said "Well, I was baptized in the Kingdom Hall..." and I told her that is not forgiveness of sins. Haven't seen her since...

Brother David, you had mentioned: "only 144,000 will make it to heaven was a central point in his talk.”

These verses were on my heart immediately:

"And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed...

After these things I looked, and behold, *a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations*, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes...

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

And I said to him, "Sir, you know.”

So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:4,9,13-14

____________

May the light of the true gospel of the Kingdom brightly shine through you into your friend’s life! 🙏🏻

Cults have the image of unity, but it's not unity it uniformity. If you think for yourself you are out.
If you accept unapproved evidence contrary to the elders you are out. If you reproach the leaders for doctrinal errors you are out.

Uniformity is the key, not unity. Unity under the guise of 'let's play nice' with each other gives the uninformed Christian they have something over evangelicals.

Dont be fooled.

The worst Christian in the worst church in the worst state of heart in the worst situation is infinitely better off than a cultist sitting in peace and happiness among the damned.

A cultist is a cultist is a cultist. If you attend one of their orderly services, hear the bible quoted and prayers go up...again the ignorant is satisfied.
Quoting a bible, twisting the interpretation, presenting a Jesus not found in scripture but created after the leaders vain heart, singing because thats what we do, praying because that's the work God commands, witnessing because in the end God will see I am good, I am working, I am nice, I am submissive to authority, I am in keeping with Church polity...I am SAVED.

This is not salvation by grace, this is salvation by the authority of men, propagating a false Christ and a false salvation. Their salvation is not worth the spit.

What does it matter if Jesus is not God? What does it matter that Jesus is brother to Satan (God forbid, I am quoting the Mormons)? What does it matter that I am saved by works? What does it matter there is no hell? What does it matter the bible needs extra books written by modern apostles who have declared all other Churches false?

For the cultist none of these things matter. They cannot be saved by grace because their doctrines (which they must follow to the letter) forbids salvation by grace, but by keeping the commandments of God and being a good JW or Mormon.
The Mormon missionaries that came to my door just 4 weeks ago had NO IDEA about salvation by grace or righteousness by faith. Period. They call righteousness by faith "works that are done in a righteous manner which Jesus approves of and will be added to all other good works at judgment day".
Their repentance is a moral conditioning, not a new heart.

What is the danger of cults like this?
They are look a-likes, they are fakes, deceivers, liars, wicked men dressed in sheep's clothing...and those young Mormon missionaries all pimply and young and smiling are emissaries of hell.

But to look at the externals, look at the smiles, look at the friendliness, look at the invitations and look at their moral lives...short of a moral life a prostitute can offer the same externals.
But this is babylon, this is harlot churches, this is what it looks like when you imitate the true Church but your worship is all about using God as a means to an end...that end is your own happiness, family blessing, eternal rewards and good reputation among your peers.

True Christianity was founded upon none of this and it is not founded upon it now.

You might want to come to the realization that a fist-fight in a real Church among real Christians has more holiness in it than all the peace, smiles, joy, prayers, sermons, worship of false and ungodly men who belong to cults.

The ungodly have sewer for hearts and a devil for a father; the Christian in his worst may do that which is horrible and carnal, but he is still born of God and God's son/daughter.
God owns the Christian in all his failings and sin.
Satan owns the cultist in all his morality, preaching, witnessing, giving, family friendliness, invitations, potlucks and baptisms.

Satan every day seeks to make the genuine Christian look like he works for the Devil, and the Devil's kids to look like they are God's best.

Don't allow the simplest deception to fool you into giving a cultist praises for his morality or Church uniformity.

I moved from Tallahassee, Fla to Bemidji, MN in Sept of 2014. That first winter went by and when spring came around a church friend I had met took me with him as he went to various rummage sales. At one house way out in the country a lady comes out and during the conversation asks me why I had on a Fla shirt. I said I was from Fla and she asked where. I said Tallahassee and her jaw dropped because she said she had just moved back to Bemidji after living in Tallahassee for several years. So my jaw dropped. Upon closer inquiry we determined that her and her husband lived approximately a mile and a half from me while I lived in Tallahasse for seven years. And I moved 1,534 miles and we met each other in Minnesota after living a mile and a half from each other in Fla for seven years! It's entirely remarkable. The very last thing on my mind was for this to sort of be dumped in my lap. The husband grew up not far from where I grew up in Fla.

I didn't see her again for over a year. So one day I'm walking across the parking lot of Hobby Lobby and out of nowhere the lady pops into my mind and when I walk into the store I bumped right into her after not being in contact for over a year.

We met together once after that in a popular pastry shop. Her husband was out of the country in Ireland I think it was on a teaching mission for the JWs. He came back and next time was with her and friends as we met just to talk about Fla and the like and a small friendship developed and has grown a bit and just recently we have begun to meet and discuss scripture. I haven't really thought about the Witnesses in years except when they knocked on the door oor ocassionally. If it wasn't for the providence of living close to each other in Fla and then meeting here I might not even be interested in this set of circumstances that was the last thing I ever expected.

I'm thinking though how else can one witness to them withoug talking to them? I realize a trip to a Kingdom Hall isn't for everyone but I wasn't endorsing their organization. It didn't shake me. If some have a check against associating with them in any way does that mean everyone has to have the same check? I've had a few knee jerk reactions to being friends with them. It wouldn't be good for me to
around them I've heard. And they need to be run out of the yard when they come around. A few have spouted out pre-programmed answers minus any real thought that certain situations may be different from one person to the next. Some are praying for them.

It has got me wondering and pondering again how the church should minister to these groups. Just being the church and living the life of Christ is the best way. And also under the leading of the Spirit Yet I don't believe we should have the attitude of it's all a waste of time and I wouldn't give them the time of day anyway.

Thank you and blessings.