Jehovah’s Witnesses Jehovah’s Witnesses is amillenarian restorationist Christian denominationwith nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. [6]The group reports a worldwide membership of approximately 8.7 million adherents involved in evangelism and an annual Memorial attendance of over 21 million. [5]Classification:RestorationistGovernance:Governing BodyOrientation:PremillennialistTheology:Nontrinitarian
What do Jehovah Witness believe about Jesus Christ?
The Witnesses of Jehovah believe that Jesus is not on an equal footing with God.They believe that Jesus was created by God and did not previously exist alongside Him.This, of course, represents a significant departure from traditional Christian beliefs.According to JW.org, ″It is appropriate to take Jesus’ words to heart when he declared, ‘The Father is greater than I am.’ (See also John 14:28) As a result, we do not worship Jesus since we do not think that he is the Supreme Being.″
Does Jehovah Witness believe in God?
The Witnesses of Jehovah believe that God has only one true name, which is Jehovah, and that this is the name by which he must be identified. God, on the other hand, is known by several other titles in the Bible, including: God (Hb. ‘elohim God Almighty (Hb.
What do Jehovah Witness believe in?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that: God the Father (whose name is Jehovah) is “the only true God”. Jesus Christ is his firstborn son, is inferior to God, and was created by God. The Holy Spirit is not a person; it is God’s active force. The Jehovah’s Witness beliefs about God are outlined in detail below. God (the Father):
What is it like to be a Jehovah’s Witness?
Being a Jehovah’s Witness is likehaving a second unpaid jobthat you work on nights and weekends for no pay. If your performance lags on the job, your invitations for dinner and movies suddenly stop. You are constantly judged by everyone else, especially the elders.
Are All Christian Churches Apostate?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that a mass apostasy (that is, a falling away from Christian truth) took place in the church soon after the deaths of Jesus’ apostles 1 and that, during this time, the Christian church “was held captive by Babylon the Great” (that is, Satan). 2 Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that God (whom they call Jehovah) used Charles Taze Russell—who founded the Watch Tower Society in 1874 3 —and his associates, known as the Millennial Dawnists, to restore biblical truths that were lost in the apostasy. 4 They claim that Russell and his associates were “the only body of genuine Christians in a vast field of imitations.” 5 To this day, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that salvation cannot be found outside the Watch Tower Society 6 and claim that every Christian outside of it “is wholly a part of Satan’s system of things.” 7
Can We Only Understand the Bible through the Watch Tower Society?
9 Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that, today, God directly teaches the Bible to humankind through this organisation alone; 10 unless we “keep in touch” with it, “we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do” 11 (note that Jehovah’s Witnesses use a fraudulent translation of the Bible called the New World Translation). 12 The punishment for Jehovah’s Witnesses who disobey the WTS’s instructions—even on minor matters—is being disfellowshipped and shunned. 13
Is God a Trinity?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Michael the Archangel is the Son of God (that is, Jesus) in his pre-existence, who became “Jesus Christ” while on Earth and resumed service as Michael after Jesus’ resurrection 14 (by “resurrection,” they mean God recreated Michael 15 ). They teach that Michael is God’s first created being and that, through Michael, God created all other things in existence. 16 Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine and teach that, while Jesus is “inferior” to the Father and the Holy Spirit is God’s “active force,” not a person, the Father alone is the true God. 17
Did Jesus Return to the Earth Invisibly in 1914?
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in a “spiritual” second coming of Jesus 27 and teach that he has already returned to Earth invisibly 28 and is currently “invisibly present.” 29 Their logic is that, since Jesus was raised from death as an invisible spirit creature (which was refuted above), Jesus will return as one rather than as a human. 30 Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus’ second advent happened in the year 1914, when they believe Jesus “was installed as God’s heavenly King” 31 and began “ruling from his heavenly throne.” 32 They teach that Jesus’ return is not literal 33 and that it just means “he has turned his attention to the affairs of the earth at God’s due time,” for he is still in Heaven. 34 They also teach that Jesus’ invisible presence in 1914 marks the beginning of the last days and acts as a sign that the day of judgement is close at hand. 35
What Is the Gospel?
One Watchtower publication defines the gospel (that is, the “good news”) this way: “This ‘good news’ is primarily the message that salvation or everlasting life is possible on the basis of genuine faith in the atoning benefits of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, and that God’s kingdom by Christ will bring all things on earth into perfect unity with the holy heavens” (italics added). 36 Therefore, the gospel for Jehovah’s Witnesses is not that faith in Christ gives people salvation; rather, it is that faith in Christ makes salvation possible. Another Watchtower publication says that faith in Christ is not enough for salvation: when a person believes in Jesus, “he can consider himself as being on the way to salvation. It would be a mistake for him to think that he is now saved and cannot fall. He must show by his endurance in the Christian faith that he is worthy of salvation ” (italics added). 37 Yet another says that “those who are saved do not steal from another person, do not live immoral lives, do not lie or defraud one another. Our eternal salvation depends on obedience to God in such things” (italics added). 38
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Christians?
They deny the nature of Christ and the atonement; they deny the resurrection and the just wrath of God upon sin. Therefore, it is impossible to affirm that a consistent Jehovah’s Witness (who believes as the Watch Tower instructs) is also a genuine Christian.
What do Christians believe about the Holy Spirit?
Christians. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, and a person of the triune God. We can see many references in the Scriptures to the personality of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks (Acts 13:2), hears and guides (John 16:13) and can be grieved (Isaiah 63:10), etc. Jehovah’s Witnesses.
What do Christians believe?
Christians believe that all those in every place who call upon the name of Lord Jesus Christ make up the true universal church. And groups of believers who voluntarily covenant together to meet and worship together are local churches.
What do evangelicals believe?
Evangelical Christians believe that salvation is by grace, through faith, and based entirely on the work of Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). They deny that salvation can be achieved by works (Galatians 2:16). They believe that a person is justified (declared righteous) on the basis of Christ’s imputed righteousness (Phil 3:9 & Romans 5:1).
Why do Christians prefer different Bible translations?
There are many Bible translations to choose from in the English language, and Christians prefer different translations for a variety of reasons including readability, accuracy, the beauty and flow of language, and the translation process and philosophy behind a particular translation.
Is Jesus a god or a deity?
They believe that Jesus can be called a deity or a god, but only in the sense that an angel can be thus called. They affirm the deity of God the Father, and specifically deny the deity of Jesus Christ. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe and teach that Jesus Christ is the incarnate name of Michael the archangel.
Where did Christianity begin?
Although its roots reach back to the beginning of human history, Christianity as we know it today began with Christ, the Apostles and the New Testament. At Pentecost (Acts 2), the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, and many theologians point to that event as the time the Christian church was born. Others would look back a bit further to the resurrection of Christ (Luke 24) or to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).
How to interpret the Bible?
Typical with cults that use the Bible to support their position is a host of interpretive errors: 1 Taking verses out of their immediate context. 2 Refusing to read verses in the entire biblical context. 3 Inserting their theological presuppositions into the text. 4 Altering the Biblical text to suit their needs. 5 Latching onto one verse to interpret a host of others. 6 Changing the meanings of words. 7 Proclaiming some passages to be figurative when they contradict their doctrines. 8 Adding to the Word of God.
Why did the Watchtower change the Bible?
In addition, to support its erring doctrines, the Watchtower organization (which is the author and teacher of all official Jehovah’s Witness’ theology) has altered the Bible to make it agree with its changing and non-Christian teachings.
What does "figurative" mean in Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Proclaiming some passages to be figurative when they contradict their doctrines. Adding to the Word of God. Additionally, the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ organization requires of its member’s regular weekly attendance at their “Bible Study” meetings where they are repeatedly indoctrinated with anti-Christian teachings.
Is the Watchtower a Christian organization?
The Watchtower organization of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is a non-Christian organization that uses its people to promulgate false doctrines, collects “contributions” for distribution of a multitudinous amount of literature, and expands its grip into the lives of its members and their families. The Jehovah’s Witness organization is a non-Christian …
What Bible translation do Jehovah’s Witnesses use?
Jehovah ‘s Witnesses use a Bible translation called the New World Translation. Before this translation was released specifically by and for Jehovah’s Witnesses, most relied on the King James Version. According to TowerWatch.com:
Why don’t we accept blood transfusions?
For example, we don’t accept blood transfusions because the Bible forbids taking in blood to sustain the body. ( Acts 15:20) Likewise, the Bible prohibits health treatments or procedures that include occult practices.—. Galatians 5:19-21 ," explains JW.org. Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/NexTser.
Is the Holy Spirit a person?
They claim that the Holy Spirit is "impersonal": "By referring to God’s spirit as his ‘hands,’ ‘fingers,’ or ‘breath,’ the Bible shows that the holy spirit is not a person. ( Exodus 15:8, 10) A craftsman’s hands cannot function independent of his mind and body; likewise, God’s holy spirit operates only as he directs it.
Who translated the New World?
The translators of The New World Translation were: Nathan Knorr, Albert Schroeder, George Gangas, Fred Franz, M. Henschel."