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QA - Determining Truth About Jehovah's Witnesses I wanted to learn more about the Bible so I started studying with Jehovah's Witnesses.
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.: I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE SO I STARTED STUDYING WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES. HAVE I BEEN DECEIVED?
OUR RESPONSE: Dear friend, Thank you for writing us. It is good that you are investigating the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses and we commend you for this. The Jehovah’s Witness religion sounds good on the surface. They make you think that you are learning the Bible because they have you repeat back to them the answers that their Watchtower literature gives for the questions they ask you about the Bible. Since you don’t know much about the Bible, they will take advantage of this and make you think they know a lot. But in comparison to true Bible teachers, they do not know much about the Scriptures. Their arguments can sound very impressive and convincing if you’re new at learning how to study the Bible, but when you research what they are not telling you, you’ll see how their arguments cannot stand up to the evidence. They will tell you not to believe everything they say, but to look at what the Bible says before you believe something they teach. However, when you show them verses in the Bible that disagree with what they are trying to teach you, they get a very antagonistic attitude toward you. They are not open to any reasoning on the Scriptures that disagree with anything that they have been taught by the Watchtower Society. Many of the Scriptures they will have you look up in their Bible are often taken out of context and they will try to get you to use their New World Translation (NWT) Bible. But we caution you not to use their Bible. It is full of errors, additions and deletions. If you want proof, get a good Bible translation like the New American Standard Bible, the King James Version, or New King James Version, or even a more modern translation like the New International Version, English Standard Version, or the New Living Translation and do a comparison between these Bibles and the Jehovah’s Witness NWT. We also have a list of mistranslated verses in their Bible on our website at:
Even most Christians have a hard time talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses because Witnesses are prepared for the “common” arguments Christians bring up against their beliefs. Jehovah’s Witnesses spend two hours a week practicing how to convert people to their religion and how to overcome the objections people raise against their religion. But the fact that they know how to counter objections is a big difference from true Bible knowledge. Here are a few biblical doctrines that Jehovah’s Witnesses distort:
These are a few examples of the many teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses that do not agree with the Bible. For more examples of the problems in their teachings, please see the following articles on our website:
You will notice that when Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot answer these kinds or concerns and questions from the Bible, they will “spiritualize” the verses in question by saying that either that these verses “do not apply” or that these verses do not mean what they say. Either way, this type of Scripture twisting that Jehovah’s Witnesses do to try to make their beliefs “fit” the Bible, is dishonoring to God and His Holy Word. For Scripture warns, “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6, NKJV) We praise God that you are being led to study the Bible more. The most rewarding activity you can ever do is to search for your Creator! But only God Himself can reveal Himself to you. I cannot do it; nor can the Jehovah’s Witnesses do it. In Matthew 16:15-18, Jesus asked His followers, “ ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.’ ” (NKJV) So no matter what anyone tells you, you must ask God to reveal Himself to you, because He is the only one who can. Even if we show you an hundred verses to prove who God is that would profit you nothing unless God Himself reveals Himself to you. He promises He is not far away from each one of us. Psalm 14:2 and 53:2 are very interesting in this respect. They tell us that God is looking down from heaven to see if anyone is looking for him. I know He sees you, because you are looking for Him. Ask him to make it plain to you what is right and what is wrong. You asked about what we believe because you want to know the truth. You also realize that you need to hear both sides of the story in order to come to a proper decision. We can tell you a lot and share Scriptures with you, but it is the job of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to bear witness to Christ and to guide you into all truth. In other words, there is NO truth apart from that which is revealed by the Spirit of Truth Himself. John 14:17, John 15:26 and John 16:13 all testify to the power of the Spirit to do this in your life. At John 14:17, Jesus explains that the Spirit of truth can be “in” you. This happens when you repent of your sins, come to Jesus and give your life to Him. In my own experience, I (Tammie) was very limited in what I could understand from the Bible until I gave my life to Jesus. When you turn your heart over to Him, He will send you His Spirit of truth so that you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). You will recognize Him when you hear His Truth, because His sheep know His voice (John 10:3-7). I hope some of this helps. May Jehovah God bless and reward your diligence to find and serve Him. Tammie For more information, see:
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Testimonials
They are all there for me!
“I had Jehovah’s Witnesses visiting for six years. … The sad thing is now I have their beliefs in my head. So I put myself into God’s hands and asked for direction. …Well, the feeling of freedom is amazing. I am like a child, learning again for the first time. The reason I had to write to you was the Karen and Cindy conversations. Instead of me asking for help, one question at a time, they are all there for me!! It seems as if ‘Karen’ could read my mind.
It’s so lovely for things to fall into place, mainly that ‘What happens when we die?’ This was a very big issue for me. I was scared while I did not understand even the tiny bit I do now. It’s such a joy. Instead of feeling unworthy(were all sinners I know) and feeling I would never be saved or go to Heaven. So, please thank God and Jesus with me for such help.”
I have to tell you how your website saved my life.
“I have been a baptized Witness since 1995, and I have to tell you how you have saved my life. Every couple of years I get this gnawing sense that this is not quite right, that I am not 100% vested in what the Watchtower Society says. …Lately, I have stopped attending meetings and my daughter, 13, has begged me not to make her go back. So I have been praying and chatting with friends outside the organization…
…I can’t tell you my sense of relief when I stumbled upon your site and started to read the articles. I want to cry, but I’m at work. I can’t wait to get home because I am so excited I can barely stand it! Please, please, how can I meet others who feel this way? I sure could use the fellowship. Again, thanks for the work you do.”
God bless you for the difference you are making.
“My brother and I were raised by a Jehovah's Witness mother. I am 52 years old now and still haven't been able to shake the stigma of the experience. My brother wasn't as lucky as me and ended up taking his own life at 17. I have been through everything ... I can't express how much I appreciate what you are doing... God bless for the difference you are making.”
I do not feel so alone!
“Thank you for creating this website. After reading stories of former Jehovah's Witnesses, I do not feel so alone. My resolve to stay out of that religion has also strengthened. I have also come to realize that my depression, anxiety, and many other emotional scars inflicted by the organization and those in the ‘truth’ will take time to heal. But your website has also come to help me ... Thank you.”
Just as I was about to enter the Jehovah’s Witnesses again, God led me to your website.
“Hi…I am an Ex-Jehovah’s Witness from South Africa. ...I left the Jehovah’s Witnesses not because I did not agree with their beliefs, but because my wife could not handle it with me being a Jehovah’s Witness and she not. I became an anti-religious person. Then, just as I was about to enter the Jehovah’s Witnesses again, God led me to your website… Today, I prayed to Jesus for salvation after I read your article on your website…”
I’m so glad that I have run across this site.
“After reading the article that David Reed wrote on your site, I’ve looked at things in ‘a new light’ so-to-speak. ...I’m so glad that I have run across this site. I’m sure that it was the Holy Spirit that directed me to all of you!”
Your website is a great source for truth
“Your website is a great source for those seriously seeking the truth.… The Jehovah’s Witness elders shun me. I’ve known these guys for 30 years... Well, when I walk into the Hall they turn their backs to me. I have not seen my Jehovah’s Witness ex-wife, or daughter for two years. ...They hide my family from me. When I go to their homes, they smile with arms folded and say nothing.
The stories I read at your website were loud and clear - conditional love by the ‘brothers’! I have learned more in the Christian Church about unconditional love than 30 years as a Witness. When I accepted Christ, who He really is, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see both sides clearly. ...Without the Holy Spirit it is impossible to know the real TRUTH! Keep up your good work.”
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