Transcript Understanding & Evangelizing Jehovah’s Witnesses

Understanding &
Evangelizing
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Source: Cky Carrigan, Ph.D.
Interfaith 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, Where
 Founder
- Charles Taze
Russell (1852-1916)
 Presently
headed by
“Governing Body”
 World
Headquarters “Bethel” Brooklyn, New
York, NY
J.W. Numbers and Lingo
 Worldwide
membership - 5.6 million
in 232 countries
– N. American membership - 1.1 million
 Meeting
 Active
places called “Kingdom Hall”
Participants called “Publishers”
Publications
•The Watchtower: Announcing
Jehovah’s Kingdom
•22 million copies published semimonthly in 132 languages
•Awake!
•20 million copies published
semi-monthly in 78 languages
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 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 Russell

Four presidents followed Russell till 2001

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“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: 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
1:1)
reflects WBTS theology (i.e., John
What J.W. believe: The 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: God

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: Jesus 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: Jesus 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: 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: Salvation

Heaven and Paradise are different

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
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: Salvation
 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: Culture
– 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.
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 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. – Conversion
1.
Invite them to test their beliefs by reading
Scripture alone, without consulting any extrabiblical materials (Watchtower, etc.) for 30 days
2.
Make sure the J.W. is able to experience
conversations within authentic Christian
community

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Many are refugees from lax SBC churches
Are J.W. more fervent in their faith than we are in ours?
We have to become a more thorough expression of
authentic faith
Other helps
 www.ontruth.com
 www.4truth.net
– Belief bulletins, comparison charts, pdf
files
 Video
resource:
Understanding &
Evangelizing
Jehovah’s Witnesses
John Chandler
www.rasnet.org