Understanding & Understanding & Evangelizing Evangelizing

Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s WitnessesSource: Cky Carrigan, Ph.D.Source: Cky Carrigan, Ph.D.

Interfaith Evangelism, www.namb.netInterfaith Evangelism, www.namb.net

Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Official Organization called “The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.” (WBTS)

Also known abroad as “The International Bible Students Association” (IBSA)

J.W. Who, When, WhereJ.W. Who, When, Where

Founder - Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916)

Presently headed by “Governing Body”

World Headquarters - “Bethel” Brooklyn, New York, NY

J.W. Numbers and LingoJ.W. Numbers and Lingo

Worldwide membership - 5.6 million in 232 countries– N. American membership - 1.1 million

Meeting places called “Kingdom Hall”

Active Participants called “Publishers”

Publications

•The Watchtower: Announcing Jehovah’s Kingdom

•22 million copies published semi- monthly in 132 languages

•Awake!•20 million copies published semi-monthly in 78 languages

Bibles, etc.Bibles, etc.

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures

Kingdom Interlinear Translation ( of the New Testament)

Knowledge that Leads to Everlasting Life

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

J.W. History: The Russell EraJ.W. History: The Russell Era

1870: Russell begins Bible study group in PA focusing on End Times doctrines

1884: Russell became president of “The Zion Watchtower and Tract Society, Inc.”– wrote - Studies in the Scriptures - which set

forth his program of theology

Russell was president from 1884 to 1916

J.W. Governance after RussellJ.W. Governance after Russell Four presidents followed Russell till 2001

“Judge” Joseph F. Rutherford (1917-1942) Nathan H. Knorr (1942-1977) Fredrick W. Franz (1977-1992) Milton G. Henschel (1992-2001)

Since 2001, WBTS is organized by a sophisticated plan that separates corporate governance from theological governance to protect its assets

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: The Bible The Bible

Divinely inspired, infallible, scientifically accurate

Canon of 66 books, OT and NT

New World Translation is the most accurate translation of original languages

NWT reflects WBTS theology (i.e., John 1:1)

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: The BibleThe Bible “Governing Body” is the only channel of accurate biblical interpretation

a.k.a. “The Faithful & Discreet Slave”Salvation depends upon association with this exclusive channel of interpretation

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: GodGod

Jehovah is the one true name of the one true God– German (mis)transliteration of YHWH

Jehovah is “spirit being” with a “spirit body” and is not omnipresent

To J.W., the doctrine of the trinity is heretical and a gross misrepresentation of the true nature of God

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: Jesus ChristJesus Christ

Jesus Christ was “created” by Jehovah in ages past as an angel, or a “son of God”– In ages past, Jesus Christ was Michael the

Archangel who created all [other] things

He was born of a virgin, executed as a “ransom for many”

He “became” Messiah at his baptism

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: Jesus ChristJesus Christ

– Killed on a “torture stake,” not crucified on a cross

– Arose from the dead “spiritually,” not bodily

– Returned to earth in 1878?, 1914?, 1915?, 1918?, 1925?, 1975?

– Presently reigning as king in heaven, and will soon return openly

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: Humanity

The spirit of a human being departs at death “life-force”

There is no conscious existence at death “soul sleep”

There is no assurance of salvation, only hope of resurrection

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: SalvationSalvation Heaven and Paradise are different

Heaven is the location of Jehovah Paradise is the “New Earth”

There are two classes of “saved” witnesses

1. “Anointed Class” or “Little Flock”- 144,000 who are so righteous that they bypass spirit unconsciousness at death, spirit goes directly to Heaven est. 8,700 alive today

2. “Great Crowds” - resurrected after Armageddon & the Millennium, then live forever in Paradise (New Earth)

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: SalvationSalvation

Hell is only the place of the dead, not a place of lasting punishment

All the unfaithful will be annihilated with Satan and the demons at the end of the Millennium

Variously predicted to arrive in 1874, 1914, 1925, and 1975

What J.W. believe: What J.W. believe: CultureCulture– Don’t celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, Easter,

Christmas, etc.; annual “Lord’s Evening Meal” is only approved celebration

– Don’t vote or participate in civil government

– Don’t pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag

– Don’t volunteer for armed forces, but not because of pacifism

– Don’t have professional clergy

– Don’t accept blood transfusions

First Steps to Evangelizing J.W.First Steps to Evangelizing J.W.

1. Develop sincere relationships first.

2. Let witnesses observe genuine Christianity in you (holy living).

3. Be prepared to use Scripture positively to explain & defend key Christian doctrines. Focus points:

Trinity, Full Deity of Christ, Salvation for all through faith alone

Evangelizing J.W. – Next stepsEvangelizing J.W. – Next steps

1. Gently undermine confidence in WBTS by noting errors in WBTS interpretations about prophecy and changes to key doctrines.

2. Gently undermine their confidence in the New Word Translation. (YHWH)

3. Be prepared to speak as to why J.W. is not an authentic expression of biblical Christianity.

Evangelizing J.W. – ConversionEvangelizing J.W. – Conversion

1. Invite them to test their beliefs by reading Scripture alone, without consulting any extra-biblical materials (Watchtower, etc.) for 30 days

2.2. Make sure the J.W. is able to experience Make sure the J.W. is able to experience conversations within authentic Christian conversations within authentic Christian communitycommunity

Many are refugees from lax SBC churchesMany are refugees from lax SBC churches Are J.W. more fervent in their faith than we are in ours?Are J.W. more fervent in their faith than we are in ours? We have to become a more thorough expression of We have to become a more thorough expression of

authentic faithauthentic faith

Other helpsOther helps

www.ontruth.comwww.ontruth.com

www.4truth.netwww.4truth.net– Belief bulletins, comparison charts, pdf Belief bulletins, comparison charts, pdf

filesfiles

Video resource: Video resource:

Understanding & Understanding & Evangelizing Evangelizing

Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s WitnessesJohn Chandler John Chandler

www.rasnet.orgwww.rasnet.org