A
Beginner’s Guide to Witnessing to the jehovah’s Witnesses Jehovah’s
Witnesses come to your door with one main objective: to place literature from
the Watchtower Society in your hands so they can come back and discuss it with
you. Are you ready? After giving a prepared introduction (usually about the sorry and
frightening state of the world) your JW visitors will try to determine your
religious background so they can decide which Watchtower publications to give
you. Although they’d rather you make a donation to cover the cost of the
material, they will give it to you if you’ll accept it and agree to read it. Once you have their literature, the JWs’ next job is to follow up with
another meeting to discuss it with you in what they call a “Bible study.” But
beware — unless you’re a mature Christian who’s well-grounded in the Bible and
experienced in witnessing to cultists, you should politely refuse any
Watchtower literature because:
If you do accept their literature, one good strategy is to look it over,
then hand it back on their next visit and say, “I don’t agree with this
article. I’d really like to discuss it further with you if you’ll bring
photocopies from the original sources for the quotations it uses.” If the JW agrees, congratulations! You’ve just gotten him to do his
homework. Assure the JW that the Watchtower should be happy to supply him with
documentation for its statements (even though chances are slim that they will).
Then, once the JW finds the Watchtower uncooperative, he may feel obligated to
get you the answers on his own in order to save face. If he does, he’ll be
taking the first step toward breaking through his own mind-control barrier and
recognizing the Watchtower Society’s dishonesty for himself. JWs, the Bible, and Authority. JWs are trained to use the Bible to twist you into a spiritual pretzel (in
most cases, their New World Translation). That’s why most former JWs urge
Christians to avoid discussing Scripture in depth until the JW is willing to
deal with the Watchtower’s false prophecies and changing doctrines. JWs usually
can’t accept what the Bible really says until they begin doubting the authority
and veracity of the Watchtower.
Remember that JWs are carefully conditioned to believe that the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society is God’s sole channel of truth and that it alone can
correctly interpret Scripture. The JW believes that you have no right to
disagree with the Society, which is Jehovah God’s organization and visible
representative on earth. All churches, denominations, and creeds — whether
liberal, conservative, Catholic, Protestant, or even Mormon — are lumped
together under the term “apostate Christendom.” If the JW knows you’re a
Christian, he considers you part of Christendom — the “Great Whore of Babylon”
in the Book of Revelation. When witnessing, never forget that you are the child of God; you must
maintain authority in the situation and not allow the JW to take control and
teach you (2 John 9–11). How to Use False Prophecies. One of the most effective ways to demonstrate the Watchtower Society’s
false prophecies is to present unsettling photocopies from its own
publications. Seeing this evidence, the seasoned JW will reply with programmed
excuses like… JW: Well, we’ve never claimed to be prophets. Christian: May I show you something? Here are photocopies from
Watchtower sources where the Society claims to be a “composite prophet.” What’s
that? JW: It’s important to understand that we are not
inspired prophets. Christian: The Watchtower Society has claimed to be a prophet
comparing itself to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, etc. Were those Old
Testament prophets inspired? Besides, an uninspired prophet is a false Whore of
Babylon” in the Book of Revelation. JW: Really, we’re only prophets in a sense. Christian: I would agree — a prophet in a false sense! JW: No — you see, we’re only humans, and humans make
mistakes. Christian: Deuteronomy 18:20–22 says clearly that a mistaken
prophet is a false prophet. JW: But we admitted our mistakes, so we’re not false
prophets. Christian: Wait a minute! Think about it: Where does the Bible
teach that after a prophecy fails, if the prophet admits he made a mistake he
is no longer a false prophet? JW: But what about Jonah and his prophecy? Christian: God told Jonah to preach to Nineveh so that the
Ninevites, being convicted of their sinful condition, would repent. They did
repent, and God spared them at that time (Jonah 3). JW: Well, in any case, the light is getting brighter. Christian: You mean Proverbs 4:18? [JW nods]
Would you please turn in your Bible to that verse and read it to me? [Wait for
the JW to read it aloud, then ask:] When a false prophecy or a mistake is made
in the name of Jehovah, is the light on or off? JW: I guess the light is off at the time a mistake is
made. After all, we are imperfect humans! Christian: I agree with you; imperfect humans do make mistakes
in the name of Jehovah. Please read verse 19: “The way of the wicked is like
darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.” This verse applies to those
whose light is out. JW: If this isn’t the truth [referring to the
Watchtower magazine], then where is it? Christian: I’m glad you asked! Jesus said, “I am the way, and
the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John
14:6) Be Prepared. If you’re not adequately equipped to evangelize JWs, you need to study!
CRI’s free Resource List offers a varied assortment of the best books, tapes,
and tracts to help you refute the Watchtower’s Scripture-twisting and help JWs
find Jesus. You should also take one or more classes to help you defend what
you believe from the Bible. Remember: a successful witnessing situation is one in which the JW is made
to think. Let the Holy Spirit continue to guide you, and be ready and able to
lead your Witness friend through God’s Word to Jesus, who is “THE TRUTH.” — Marian Bodine For further study, CRI offers these resources: Witnessing to the
Witnesses by Jerry and Marian Bodine (NB114) The Watchtower Files by Duane Magnani and Arthur
Barrett (NB080) Approaching Jehovah’s
Witnesses in Love by Wilbur Lingle (NB343) How to Rescue Your
Loved One from the Watchtower by David Reed (NB107) Jehovah’s Witnesses on
Trial
by Robert U. Finnerty (NB352) For price information and shipping and handling charges,
please refer to CRI’s Resource Listing, or to place a credit card order, please
call CRI toll-free at (888) 7000-CRI. For a free copy of our Resource Listing,
please write, call, or fax us. |