Often we are stumped when Jehovah’s Witnesses come to our door and ask all sorts of questions. With a little preparation beforehand, there are ways the Holy Spirit can use us to open their eyes and maybe see what God has to say about the Watchtower’s false teachings:
When they come to your door, say something like, “I have a question.” They are programmed to answer questions and will be anxious to answer yours. Ask them, “This guy online says the Watchtower teaches Jesus wasn’t raised in the same body that died on the tree (don’t use the word, ‘cross’ or they’ll get you off on another subject). Is that true?”
You’ve done at least three important things with your question.
- You’ve pointed out it is the Watchtower that teaches this false doctrine not the Bible.
- Your question directed the conversation to a subject you a prepared to deal with,
- Questions make people think rather than just recite what they’ve been taught.
If you’re nervous and mess up the question, don’t worry. God’s more interested in saving these folks than even you are. He’ll work with you. Silent prayer is good.
They are trained to take you to 1 Peter 3:18 where Scripture says Jesus was put to death in the flesh and made alive in the spirit. Write in the margin of your Bible next to 1 Peter 3:18, “Revelation 1:10, ‘in the spirit doesn’t mean as a spirit.'” Ask (you’re using a question again) the JW, “do you think in the spirit means as a spirit?” If they persist, take them to Rev. 1:10 to show John was “in the spirit on the Lord’s day” and wasn’t a spirit. So, “in the spirit” doesn’t mean what they think. Jesus was put to death by the power of the flesh: man. He was raised again by the power of the Spirit: God (Rom. 8:11)
Next, they might take you to Acts 10:40-41 where Scripture says Jesus appeared to many but not to everyone. They will try to say He manifested Himself in temporary bodies so that He could strengthen the faith of His disciples. Here are some of the verses they will use to back that up. You can get them to take you to these verses by asking, “Where do you see that in Scripture?” Make notes in the margins next to each of the passages below so you can answer them:
- 1 Cor. 15:45 says Adam became a living soul, and Jesus became a life giving spirit. There is nothing in the passage that would indicate this is an event which happened at the resurrection of Jesus. More likely it is speaking of the time of the creation of Adam when Jesus, who was not in physical form at the time, gave life to Adam.
Next, they will show you portions of Scripture where Jesus was not recognized after His resurrection and try to tell you He manifested other bodies. Make notes next to these passages so you’ll remember the answers you can give to your JW friend:
- John 20:11-16 — Mary didn’t recognize Him. – She wasn’t looking at him while she was weeping. She turned to see Him and then recognized Him (vs. 16).
- Luke 24:13-35 — The disciples on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize Him. – Their eyes were prevented from doing so. It wasn’t Jesus in another body, it was their eyes that were veiled (vs. 16 & 31)
- John 21:4-14 — The disciples didn’t recognize Jesus when they were fishing. — Comparing Scripture with Scripture, it may well have been their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him as in Luke 24. It may also be a result of the terrific beating Jesus received prior to His crucifixion. Isaiah says He was beaten more than any man (Isa. 52:14).
And, that’s about all the JW’s have to offer. Here are some passages you might ask them to explain, though:
- John 2:18-22 — Jesus predicted He would raise His own body from the grave. Ask the JW if Jesus ever lied and if this is what the Watchtower teaches.
- Luke 24:36-39 — Jesus showed the disciples (except for Thomas) His body of flesh and bone and even proclaimed that He was NOT a spirit. Ask the JW if Jesus deceived His disciples here or did the Watchtower deceive him.
- John 20:26-28 — Jesus shows Himself to Thomas and asks Thomas to examine His body to see that He was raised from the dead. Ask the JW if Jesus deceived Thomas.
If the JW asks you something you can’t answer, tell him you will write it down and have an answer for him the next time he comes. Write it down in front of him. Check it out through your own study or drop me a note. I can probably help.
Keep him on topic. “That’s interesting, but we haven’t finished with this passage yet,” or “Let’s talk about that next time,” are good ways to keep the conversation on track.
The verses I’ve listed above that JWs use are straight from their manual of what to say. These are the very verses they will use. Be prepared for these passages.
So, with a little note taking in the margins of our Bibles and some patience with a brainwashed individual or two, we can now share the Gospel with our JW neighbors and maybe even see them respond. If you’re anxious to try this, you can spot them in town with their magazine racks. Walk up and ask, “This guy online says…..” Share with them the Truth, and love them.
I have talked with Jehovah’s Witnesses for over 45 years and have yet to see one come to the Lord on the doorstep. It usually takes time for the Holy Spirit to work on them. Our job is not to save people, that’s the job of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to plant and water. God brings forth the increase (1 Cor 3:7). Love them. Most JWs come to Christ through the love of Christians.
1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Revelation 1:10 (ESV)
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
Romans 8:11 (ESV)
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Acts 10:40-41 (ESV)
40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,
41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:45-48 (ESV)
45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.
47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.
48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.
John 20:11-16 (ESV)
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Luke 24:13-35 (ESV)
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
John 21:4-14 (ESV)
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.
7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Isaiah 52:14 (ESV)
14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
Luke 24:36-39 (ESV)
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
John 20:26-28 (ESV)
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
1 Corinthians 3:7 (ESV)
7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 