LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGY SEMINARY

WORLDVIEW/ RELIGION ANALYSIS JEHOVAH WITNESSES

A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR JOHN DURDEN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APOL 500

BY JOHNNY CARTER

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINA

SEPTEMBER 23, 2012 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.2 THE BEGINNING OF THE JEHOVAH WITNESSES....2 CRITIQUE OF JEHOVAH WITNESSES3 WITNESSING TO THE JEHOVAH WITNESSES..4 CONCLUSION..5 BIBLIOGRAPHY..6

2 INTRODUCTION The intent of this research is to provide a brief summary of the Jehovahs Witnesses and their undertaking to discredit the full deity of Jesus Christ. The Jehovah Witnesses under the teaching of the Watchtower Society maintains that they are the sole earthly representative of God. They also believe that the Watchtower is the only institution that can accurately interpret the bible. The Jehovah Witnesses doctrinal views run contrary to the views of modern Christianity and therefore, in the eyes of many, it is considered a cult. This research will show how with love and humbleness one could share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all members of this institution.

THE BEGINNING OF THE JEHOVAH WITNESSES The Watchtower Society was established by Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916). He was brought up in a Presbyterian family in Pennsylvania and as a young teen; he was encouraged to pursue a career in Christian ministry.1 No one actually knows how long he was involved in the Presbyterian faith; nevertheless, there existed some doctrinal disagreements that he did not accept. Russell had a difficulty with the doctrinal views of predestination and eternal punishment. Later after departing the Presbyterian faith Russell became a Congregationalist. As a member of a Congregational church Russell is heavily influenced by an Advent Christian Church preacher, named Jonas Wendell. Wendell who was a respectable Advent preacher becomes a mentor to Russell. Wendells family was part of the Great Disappointment of
Rhodes, Ron. Handbook on Cults & New Religions Where Did They Come From? What Do They Believe? (Eugene, Harvest House Publishers, 2005), chap 17, under Jehovahs Witnesses Kindle ebook.
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1844. This particular group known as the Adventists was looking forward to the return of Christ, which was predicted by William Miller a well-liked Baptist preacher. 2 Of course, this did not happen. Russell was intrigued with this group, so he further immersed himself into the group, and they once again awaited the return of Christ in 1874 once more this prediction did not happened. In 1879, Russell left the Adventists. At some point in the future, he began publishing his own magazine called Zions Watch Tower and Herald of Christs Presence. Russell used his magazine as a way to broaden his doctrinal view, which included many of the Adventists beliefs, such as rejecting the Trinity, eternal punishment, and the immortality of the soul.3 As if that was not bad enough Russell also proclaimed that Christs invisible presence (not Christs physical return) began in 1874 and that the human government would end, and paradise would be restored by 1914. It was not until 1931, under the guidance of a new leader (Joseph Franklin Rutherford) did the Watchtower Society adapt the name The Jehovahs Witnesses. Joseph Franklin Rutherford can be credited for the development of the present day hierarchical, or theocratic, organizational structure.4

Hager, Mark, Jehovah Witnesses in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, Hindson, Ed and Caner, Ergun (Eugene, Harvest House Publishers, 2008), 291. 3 Christianity, Cults & Religion (Torrance, Rose Publishing,2008), chap 5 Under Adventist Influence Kindle ebook
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Greil, Arthur L, Jehovahs Witnesses Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs

and Practices. Ed. J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann. 2nd ed. Vol. 4. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2010. 1574-1575. Gale Virtual Reference Library. http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX1766500832&v=2.1&u=vic_liberty&it =r&p=GVRL&sw=w (accessed September 28,2012)

CRITIQUE OF JEHOVAH WITNESSES The Jehovah Witnesses believe that the Watchtower Society is the one and only true institution any other institution is of the devil. The believers must obey the Watchtower as the voice of God. If you believe anything different than what the Society follows, you are disfellowshipped, and all your former Witness friends cluck and wag their heads because you have been influenced by Satan.5 There are many things wrong within the belief system of the Jehovah Witnesses, for one they deny the Trinity. Since the Trinity is not mentioned throughout the bible there is no foundation for the Trinity. Believing that the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are one is a pagan doctrine. They believe that Jesus was the first and greatest of creation, and they believe Jesus is the incarnation of Michael the Archangel. 6 The Jehovah Witnesses believe that God (Jehovah) and Jesus are two separate gods, with Jesus being an inferior god serving under God who is the only true God. The Jehovah Witnesses believe that the Holy Spirit is nothing more than Gods invisible force.7 The Jehovah Witnesses deny the existence of hell and teach that only 144,000 people will go to heaven and they believe that only the Jehovah Witnesses will survive the Battle of Armageddon and the second coming of Christ.8

5
Zellner, William, Wesley, Of Another World: The Jehovahs Witnesses South Dakota State University, 1981. In PROQUESTMS ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT), http://search.proquest.com/docview/303189495?accountid=12085. (accessed September 28,2012) 6 Elwell, Walter, A Evangelical Dictionary of Theology 2nd ed (Grand Rapids, Baker Academic, 2001),625 7 Rhodes, Ron, chap 17, under Jehovahs Witnesses Kindle ebook. 8 Hager,Mark,292
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WITNESSING TO THE JEHOVAH WITNESSES Known for their fast talking and at times confrontational manner witnessing to a Jehovah Witness can be intimidating and at times down right frightening. However, Christians are encouraged to use every opportunity to open their eyes to the truth and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. When witnessing to a Jehovah Witness never forget that you are the child of God; you must maintain authority in the situation and not allow the Jehovah Witness to take control.9 It is very critical that a positive attitude is always maintained. Keeping your cool could make all the difference. After all Christians are called to share the good news of the gospel with them so they might be saved from destruction (Jude 3; 1 Peter 3:15-16; Matthew 28:19-20).10

CONCLUSION Seek the truth Listen to the truth- Teach the truth Love the truth Abide by the truth- And defend the truth Unto death. 11 The desire of any Christian should be that everyone accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. There is nothing wrong with having different views, however; when that view goes against the word of God the job of the Christian is to show that person the error of their ways. This is done with love and humility and with much prayer.

Bodine,Marian , Christian Research Institute A Beginners Guide to Witnessing to the Jehovahs Witnesses June 9th,2009 http://www.equip.org/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-witnessing-to-the-jehovahs-witnesses/ (accessed September 28,2012) 10 Rhode, Ron, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovahs Witnesses (Eugene, Good News Publishers, 2001), under Introduction Kindle ebook. 11 Drapers Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton, Tyndale House,1992),628

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bodine, Marian. "A Beginner's Guide to WItnesing to the Jehovah's Witnesses." Christian Research Institute. June 9th, 2009. http://www.equip.org/articles/a-beginners-guide-towitnessing-to-the-jehovah's-witnesses/ (accessed September 28, 2012). Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1992. Elwell, Walter A. Evangelicial Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2001. Greil, Arthur, L. "Jehovah's Witnesses:." Liberty Univerty. 2010. http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX1766500832 &v=2.1&u=vic_liberty&t=r&p=GVRL&sw=w (accessed September 28, 2012). Hager, Mark. "Jehovah Witnesses." In The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, by Ed,Caner,Ergun Hindson, 502. Eugene: Harvest House, 2008. Rhodes, Ron. Handbook on Cults & New Religions: Where Did They Come From? What Do they Believe? Eugene: Harvest House , 2005. . Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Eugene: Good News Publishers, 2001. "Under Adventist Influence." In Christianity,Cults & Religion, 112. Torrance: Rose Publishing, 2008. Zellner, William,Wesley. "Of Another World:The Jehovah's Witneses." Liberty University. 1981. http://search.proquest.com/docview/303189495?accountid=12085 (accessed September 28, 2012).