Sunday 24 October 2010

Christian Brands? - Jehovah's Witnesses

Origin: 1870's
Began in: America
Founder: Charles Taze Russell - his writings used to have great merit within the organisation and were circulated as being almost holy writ - not so today (or with his successor, Joseph Franklin Rutherford, either) as they've pretty much rejected his (and Rutherford's) teachings!
Membership: c. 7m worldwide

Bible: Claim to support Bible as accurate and God inspired and meant to be taken literally (hence issues regarding blood transfusions). Prefer to use their own version, 'The New World Translation' rather than any of the 'mainline' version.

Beliefs: Only one true God (Jehovah, YHWH) who created Jesus, who is inferior to Him, to be his 'firstborn' son and who works through the Holy Spirit (an impersonal force who is an 'it').

A monotheistic faith (unity with the Jews perhaps but not the Christians!).

Jesus had some power but is not God and was not incarnate, He is a, subordinate, spiritual being who appears to be human (which makes it rather 'docetism' I guess) and never thought himself to be God either! In what can only be paralleled with Gnosticism, Jesus sits somewhere between God and the angels, who are of course higher than humans.

That said, they do regard Jesus as the Messiah and there is an understanding of atonement within their faith. Jesus' resurrection was spiritual and not physical. He will judge all at the end of time.

The Holy Spirit is an 'it' and is the life force of God at work in us.

The Trinity doesn't exist, it's a pagan concept and is wrong as it contradicts the original faith (Jewish) and the Bible).

There is no hell (phew!) and the dead, once dead, are dead and no longer exist and their soul also dies with them (a full stop). Mind you, God can recall a person and recreate them such that they are resurrected. This is a pretty good thing because most of the JWs I know are totally taken up with the end times and are looking for signs (which up until now they've been pretty awful at predicting) of the end date. This is probably because heaven only has space for 144,000 (AKA 'the anointed'). The anointed know who they are - it is these who take communion because they know they're the saved one. As for the rest, according to a friend it's an eternity of gardening duties on earth as the maintain paradise - so it's not all bad.

This bunch appear to live to knock on doors and seek converts, often trying to convince people that they're 'proper' Christians. They don't mark Easter or Christmas as Christians do - apparently this is pagan too!

Are they Christian? I'd have to say 'No'! At best they might be considered heretical Christians, but that means the same i.e. 'No'! After all, they fall at the first hurdle i.e. the Creed.

7 comments:

UKViewer said...

I have to admit that Jehovah's Witnesses are the best dressed, most polite visitors I receive.

I cannot find it in my heart to be rude to them, I normally just point out that I am a Christian, and that disputation ceased with the printing press.

They normally, go away then.

Simon said...

I befriended two JWs after I first met with them when they came knocking, they are very lovely people and we got quite close and have since helped each other out at times when we each needed it.

But the sad truth is anybody who rejects Christ is not Christian. Yes, I know they claim to believe in Jesus as Messiah, but simply creating an idol and labelling it Jesus (as the Watchtower has done) does not cut it.

I know from experience that they are very nice people, but they have been so trained in their beliefs that all we can really do to help them is preach clear Biblical Gospel and let the Holy Spirit do his work.

I am often studying the theology of the main non-Christian cults, such as JW's, LDS, and Roman Catholics (yes Rome is non-Christian also for it rejects the nature of the Gospel) and I have noticed that in the end, they all deduce down to man-centred rather than God-centred religions.

My heart goes out to them, and I thank God in his providence that if even I can be saved, there must be nobody from which I should spare the Gospel.

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

I can not agree more with you both, JWs are generally polite, well-mannered and well turned-out people.

One of my friends became a member because they accentuate the family so much. This was the winner for him because it turned his (nominally) Christian home into a place where he was the boss and his children were well-behaved.

If only the Christians I know were so zealous or committed to door-to-door. Amazing from such a separate group.

Sadly, not Christian though!

Anonymous said...

Jehovah's Witnesses (JW's) predicted the end of the world, IN WRITING, numerous times. Not once did they come true. They are known for their false predictions the world over.

JW's are taught that they alone are True Christians and that all other people not JW will soon be destroyed. This is no exaggeration.

JW's will allow their children to DIE rather than accept a life saving blood transfusion even in severe medical emergencies.

JW's used to forbid Vaccinations and Organ Transplants (calling a life saving transplant "Cannibalism") for a combined 33 years.

JW's enforce extreme shunning for any member that decides to leave their religion or who commits a sin without showing enough repentance in front of the elders.

Families have been devastated because of these harsh shunning policies. I have literally seen Parents cut off all ties with their children solely because the kid did not want to remain a JW but went in another direction.

Just a few things people need to know.

I was a JW (and elder) for 15 years before leaving because of their blood and fractions policy fours years ago. Today I am shunned by all JW's (including the stepson I raised for those 15 years) simply because I left the faith. Amazing but true.

Many JW individuals are sincere people that simply accept everything the Watchtower teaches and says. Just like I did.

Most believe God has chosen the Watchtower Society as his "channel", which provides food from God Himself to their religion and only their religion.

But an honest look at the facts and history of the JW religion shows God has not chosen the Watchtower for anything!

Take a LOOK:

http://home.tiscali.nl/t661020/wtcitaten/part2.htm

It's all from their own literature with dates and pages recorded to see for yourself.

GOD was sure not directing any of that!

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

Thanks for the comments Anon.

Sorry to hear of your experiences, especially the stepson, must be very painful.

Praying for you and the stand you have taken.

Thanks for the info' - an interesting link,

V

EJK said...

After reading about JW, I see Christadelphians more or less about the same, " they alone hold the truth ", as a Christian I also struggle with the trinity, I wonder Vic, if Nicean council did not bring the view of trinity how we would have progressed. There is so much in the bible that Jesus is God and so much that he is not. I wonder what the Christians were believing prior to 325 AD ?. How do you see that Vic ?

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

I have no problems with the trinity - it's merely a descriptor - and the ecumenical unity that came from the council was something to be treasured.

See nothing to suggest Jesus is not God - of course the connections are solid but not always explicit.

Thanks for comments,

V