Question:
Dear
Greg,
Since Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs are founded in unbiblical
teaching, what would be the best way to help a Jehovah’s Witness when a
Christian’s foundational approach begins with the Bible?
Since Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe that Christ is God, but
instead “a god”, how does this affect their salvation?
Tony
Answer:
Dear
Tony,
Discussing the Bible and salvation with a Jehovah’s Witness?
I recommend you read “Contending for the Faith”—available free of
charge through PTM. When
discussing the Bible with someone who has been indoctrinated or even exposed
to cultic teachings, we must understand that they may know parts of the Bible
better than we do. Cults know
historic Christianity, so they construct an elaborate system from
out-of-context proof texts to guide you through the Bible so that you arrive
at the presupposition they want you to. If
the cult also has their own Bible that they have “translated” (which is
not the case with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, they did not use Greek scholars
because the Greek manuscripts are the gospel of Jesus Christ and not at all
the teaching of Charles Taze Russell and Joseph Rutherford), you have another
red flag. Why, in addition to
their elaborate maze of proof texts, do they insist upon using their own
Bible?
If, of course, you can succeed in getting Jehovah’s Witnesses off the
beaten, well-worn path of proof texts that appear to validate their cultic
teaching, you have a chance of discussing the gospel.
However, you must realize one more thing.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not taught that conversations with
“outsiders” are equal. They
are taught that you are deceived and that you may be trying to dislodge them
from “the truth”. You have
already been demonized and are not an equal partner in the discussion.
They may be silent while you are talking, but do not assume they are
listening.
How to reach a Jehovah’s Witness?
Befriend them. Relate to
them, if possible in ways not related to anything about the Bible and their
religion. Try to humanize the
relationship. Find common
interests. Help them to know you
as a normal person. Try to hold
off discussions of the Bible and religion until a relationship can be
established. Is this possible?
Sometimes—but once again, Jehovah’s Witnesses are discouraged from
having friendships with “outsiders” for this very reason.
I don’t know that any one of us can adequately answer how the
aberrant and unbiblical teaching of the Jehovah’s Witnesses affects the
salvation of a specific individual who finds himself trapped and enslaved by
Jehovah’s Witnesses teachings. It
is obviously wrong. It is
obviously unbiblical. Such
teaching leads to heartache and pain, not at all consistent with the fruit of
the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5).
May God bless you, Tony.
In Christ,