To Beard or Not to Beard: That is the Question

The Watchtower has claimed to have been “chosen by God” for over one hundred years. This is accepted without question by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who also claim to “only believe what’s in the Bible.” If you ask them, “Where can this be found in the Bible?” you will be met with answers like, “Are you an apostate?” or “Are you interested in learning or are you only here to argue?” or a long host of similar questions. The Watchtower organization so heavily discouraged questions that Jehovah’s Witnesses instinctively know better than to ask them. What happens if they do? The elders may haul them into the back room and “counsel them.” Think of it as a verbal spanking with a warning never to do it again. It could go so far as disfellowshipping, throwing someone out of the organization, and shunning them.

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One God or Two?

If you ask a Jehovah’s Witness, ‘How many Gods do you believe in?’, they will answer and say “One. We believe in the One true God, Jehovah.” And by that, they mean the Father. However, it quickly becomes apparent, once you start asking questions, that they actually believe in many gods. They don’t realize this because everything they believe is compartmentalized and they don’t compare and contrast what they believe. This is how they can believe contradictory ideas. When you show them this, it causes cognitive dissonance. Let me explain.

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Introduction

For those of you who are curious about who I am. My name is Sabrina Pattis and I currently reside in Sierra Vista, Arizona. I was a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses for sixteen years and I left in 1992. I identify myself as a born-again Christian. I embrace the basic tenets of Christianity and am currently attending Liberty University in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion.

The Role of Women in the Church

              Today, in our culture, it is largely accepted that men have certain positions of leadership, particularly in the Church. Although women might be permitted to have a position in some denominations, often this is relegated to an assistant in teaching other women, or in teaching children, hardly a position requiring a degree. Rarely, if ever, do we see a woman giving the Sunday sermon, though her male counterpart is welcomed to do so. In many denominations, it seems to be viewed as sacrilegious, or anti-biblical for a woman to preach in the Church. Why are women still being barred from teaching? Is this cultural or is it Biblical?  Has the Church had the proper viewpoint on women’s position regarding leadership in the Church? That is what this paper will examine.  

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Scriptures JW’s Disagree With Part 1

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Really Disagree with the Bible?

If you have ever tried to have a Biblical discussion with a Jehovah’s Witness then I am sure you are aware of the often-endless go-rounds that can occur, otherwise known as the game of Bible ping-pong. One way I have found to avert this is by presenting a Bible verse and asking them how they understand it. I’ve found this method to be one of the simplest ways of engaging with them and have found they are far less likely to become combative. I ask a question, present a scripture, and then end with a follow-up question. This is the first of a series of articles entitled “Scriptures Jehovah’s Witnesses Disagree With”.  

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Doctrines Don’t Save, Only Jesus Saves

Long after a Jehovah’s Witness leaves the Watchtower organization, he or she may still cling to many of their false teachings, believing them to be true. This was certainly true in my case. For ten years after leaving the Watchtower organization, I still believed their teachings and obeyed all their rules and regulations. I didn’t celebrate birthdays or holidays, vote, salute the flag or sing the national anthem. I was a cult member without a cult!

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Top Ten Scriptures the Watchtower Disagrees With

Many people are not aware that Jehovah’s Witnesses actually disagree with the Scriptures. The key is knowing which Scriptures. Please realize, a Jehovah’s Witness will never say they disagree with the Bible. They actually don’t realize the Watchtower teaches them to reject what the Bible clearly says. Here is a list of the simplest Scriptures I like to use with them. (Considering we don’t want to get into an argument over the Greek, since most of them don’t know Greek anyway.)

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Just Get Over It

 

Have you ever heard those words or a variation of them? I sure have. We’ve all seen it, a former Jehovah’s Witness, who may have left the Watchtower Organization many years earlier, still angry, still upset, and still lost. Why does it take a Jehovah’s Witness so long to recover? Why can’t they “just get over it”?

Why Does It Take a Jehovah’s Witnesses So Long to Recover?

If you’ve never been a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or any other “high control group” commonly known as a cult, you may never understand it. The level of indoctrination, mind control, and abuse is difficult to comprehend for someone who has never experienced it.

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Knock, knock!

Have you ever just stepped out of the shower, only to have the doorbell ring and find Jehovah’s Witnesses on your doorstep? We’ve all been there but take heart! There is an easy way out of this dilemma. First, don’t feel it’s necessary to have a discussion immediately. Simply explain it’s a bad time and ask them to return at a later date. (A side note, it’s a good idea to swap phone numbers so you can text each other in case plans change.) They will be thrilled someone has shown interest and you will have the necessary time to think about what you would like to discuss.

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Salvation: By Faith in Christ or by Obedience to the Watchtower?

If you ask a Jehovah’s Witness, how can I be saved, chances are you’ll be met with a puzzled look, rather like a deer caught in the headlights. That’s because Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in salvation.

According to the Watchtower, a person must:

  1. Study with Jehovah’s Witnesses, usually at least 6 months.
  2. Attend all meetings
  3. Go out door to door with Watchtower magazines
  4. Associate with the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
  5. Study for baptism
  6. Answer 100+ baptism questions
  7. Get baptized
  8. Continue attending all meetings, conventions and going out door to door until Armageddon
  9. Continue faithful during the 1,000-year reign of Christ
  10. Continue faithful while Satan is let loose “for a little while”
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