Jehovah's Witnesses

            Along with Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses are growing, too. But before I get into what JWs believe, I have to praise them for something they do that Christians don’t (although, just like Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe they are Christians, too).

            They tell others about the(ir) truth.

            I believe Christians have the truth, and yet… we do nothing about it. We don’t go looking for those who are not saved and evangelize to them. We sit back and either ignore them or think that God will save them… and then ignore them.

            So, Mormons and JWs, if you ever read my blog, I have to commend you. You may not like what I have to say about you, but at least know that I admire the way you treat your truth. You treat it as if it was actually true, compared to Christians who do nothing about the truth.

            Let’s begin:

How They Explain the World Around Us

            It’s the usual “pain and suffering exist* because we disobey God”. Pretty standard among most religions, including Christianity (it’s easier to call Christianity a religion than to explain the whole “Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship” thing. Read James 1:27).

            Also, just like the Mormons, JWs believe that the true church was lost soon after the apostolic age, and it wasn’t until Charles Russell (JW founder) in the late 1800s that the true church was restored.

Their Belief in How the World Started

            While I’ve heard of individual JWs being Young Earth Creationists, their official website denies this position. They officially are Old Earth Creationists (evolutionists).

How They Believe the World Will End

            If there ever was a stumbling block, it would be here. JWs have predicted the end of the world a bazillion times, and were wrong every single time (for some reason they believe God’s Kingdom came down in 1914, World War 1’s starting date. Go figure). JWs have swung and struck out in this area a lot (understatement).

            But their individual beliefs are this. Jesus will come down. At the time of his second coming, everyone who was a JW will be saved. Those alive when he comes down who were not JWs will cease to exist (JWs don’t believe in Hell). Those who were not alive at the second coming and who never got the chance to become a Jehovah’s Witness will be resurrected so that they too can be saved by the end of the 1,000 years (millennium). Those who were Jehovah’s Witnesses but died before Jesus comes back will also be resurrected.

            At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be loosed from his 1,000 year long  imprisonment, and everyone who exists at this time will fall into two camps: JWs and those who choose to follow Satan. Those who choose to follow Satan will be annihilated (the Second Annihilation, you could say) and will cease to exist (no Hell).

            From this point there are three results: the 144,000 special JWs who will rule with Christ (heaven), the other JWs who will continue to live on the earth (quasi-heaven), and those who have been annihilated.

Their Belief in What We Should Be Doing in the Mean Time

            As is typical in all religions other than Christianity (including the LDS), Jesus’ death on the cross wasn’t enough. JWs believe in a works-based salvation (though they will do the most they can to deny it). They have to spread the word (their Bible is a corrupt thing called the New World Translation) and follow the Watchtower Society.

            Mormons send young men out on missions from ages 19-21. JWs have something called “Pioneers”. Every JW is an evangelizer (pioneer), but there are different levels. Special Pioneers are the saints. They devote 130 hours a month to evangelizing. Then there is the typical JW, who is a Regular Pioneer (70 hours). Last but not least are the Auxiliary Pioneers who can’t devote as much time (30-50 hours).

Their Differences from Christianity

            Just like Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses LOVE to cite their similarities with Christianity. However, underneath the surface are major doctrinal differences that render JWs (and Mormons) non-Christians.

1. Jehovah’s Witnesses: Jesus was the literal first-born of creation (along with Lucifer). Oh, and he was really the archangel Michael before God turned him into Jesus.

Christianity: Jesus IS God (John 10:30). He created ALL things, which means He couldn’t have created Himself (Colossians 1:16). He created Lucifer and Michael.

2. Jehovah’s Witnesses: Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t physical, but spiritual.

Christianity: *Sigh*. (Luke 24:39)

3. Jehovah’s Witnesses: there is no trinity.

Christianity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost (Spirit). (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 14:26)

4. Jehovah’s Witnesses: There is no Hell.

Christianity: Yes there is, unfortunately. (Matthew 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:9)

Conclusion

            Jehovah’s Witnesses, just like Mormons, love to stress their Christian doctrine. However, they do not tell you the full story. JWs hide that they believe Jesus is Michael. Mormons hide that they believe the Heavenly Father was very a very busy guy to produce all the humans on earth. Both organizations know these beliefs would make them unpopular, so they try to hide them.

            Ultimately, a true belief can be tested with these questions: was Jesus fully God and fully man? JW: no. Is salvation by faith alone and nothing we can do? JW: no.

            JWs are not Christians, though they are a lot more Bible-based than Mormons. They have a butchered Bible that is not based on the original languages, but that supports their erroneous teachings (obviously).

*I feel bad about my lost post. I didn't use a lot of links when describing mormonism. I'll have to go back sometime and add some.