Some Help for Jehovah’s Witnesses

We often see Jehovah’s witnesses as a threat or as obnoxious people who knock on our doors early on Saturday mornings to ask us questions we can’t answer or comment on Bible verses we’ve never really looked at before.  Even more often, our response is something like, “No thanks,” or “I’m a Christian,” followed by a door slam. 

But, these folks may well be God’s answer to our prayers for some lost soul to talk with who wants to know about Jesus, who thinks the Bible is true, and who may well come right to our doors.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll lay out some of this cult’s basic beliefs, the verses they misuse to support those beliefs, and how to deal with them.

But, first I need to repeat some witnessing tips from an earlier blog:

• We are supposed to love these folks. Sure they’re lost.  But, like you and me, they are people for whom Christ died.
• We are to treat them with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
• One effective way to share our faith with them is to ask questions.

Also, we need to realize the mindset of the typical Jehovah’s Witness.

• She is certain the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (The organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses) is God’s channel of truth to mankind.
• She believes there is no other channel of truth except the Organization and the Bible, and when push comes to shove, the Bible wins out over the Organization.
• She also believes the Organization is absolutely correct in what it teaches today. So, if you quote Bible verses to them, they will compare your view to the Organization’s view and accept the Organization as correct.  After all, who are you to tell them what the Bible means?  They have God’s chosen organization to explain it to them.
• She is well trained to give programmed responses and not to think about alternatives.
• She is sincere in what she believes.

With this in mind, it may all seem pointless and a little frightening to share with them.  But, there are ways to handle their visits so they will walk away with something to think about, something the Holy Spirit will work on, and it doesn’t involve hours of study on our part.

So, next week, we’ll start by looking at what the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (“Watchtower” or “Organization” hereafter) teaches about the resurrection of Jesus, the verses they misuse to support their view, where they’re wrong, some easy responses to their error, and a way to direct them to what you are best prepared to talk about. 

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
¹⁵  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,