What make people think that Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult?

Question

Before you answer this question please make sure that the information you give is a fact about this particular religious group. (NOT something that you heard from neighbor or your cousin's sister's friend) And please tell how their belief is out of harmony with the BIble.

So where in the Bible does it say the JESUS is GOD and please do not quotw John 1:1.

Answer 1

Because if you read alot of their claims, they cannot be supported by the Bible alone without the watchtower, and yes the watchtower altered the bible to suit their needs.
By claiming false prophecies about the end of the world which never happened.

By claiming Jesus is the archangel Michael instead of God as one in three persons. Doubting Thomas called Jesus my Lord and my God, not my Lord and my archangel. If Jesus sits at the right hand of God as part of the trinity then if he were an Angel the other angels would not be allowed to worship him if he were not God (Rev. 5:13-14,14:6-7)

Answer 2

A few sincere persons do not understand that the term "cult" is really an insulting synonym for "religion", or perhaps they misunderstand the teachings and beliefs of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses (the official title of the religion). Such ones can learn more from the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses:
http://watchtower.org

Others have been blinded by the work of Satan and Satanic agents. Those also can be helped by bible education and the preaching work:
(2 Corinthians 4:3-4) If, now, the good news we declare is in fact veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.


Sadly, however, there are those who KNOW that Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians and KNOW that the slander they use against the Witnesses is simply untrue. These have actually themselves BECOME SATANIC AGENTS.

Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:

(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

(Luke 6:22) Happy are you whenever men hate you, and whenever they exclude you and reproach you and cast out your name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man.

(1 Peter 4:4) Because you do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you.

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.


It seems signficant that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones best known for their worldwide preaching work. Yet Jesus commanded that ALL who would call themselves "Christian" perform this public work:

(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.

Answer 3

I think people think they are a cult simply because they do not believe in many of the traditional doctrines of christianity.
They think that the NWT isn't a 'real' bible, but rather something that was translated to suit their beliefs.
And a ton of other reasons...
I have studied with them in the past and done my own research independantly and I myself haven't found anything out of harmony with the Bible.

Answer 4

I think so because of how they keep each other so close and pretty much teach that everyone else is bad. They kick you out when you are doing something they dont approve of (judging) and then the whole congregation cannot speak to you, even family. I figure their believes are just there own interpretation from the bible like every other religion. My mom got pregnant with me without being married so she got disfellowshipped, she never returned, some of her sisters and brothers dont talk to her unless they need something because of it and she is the only one of her 6 sisters still married to this day - yes to my dad.

Answer 5

The first responder is correct, if you wish to know more about them read the book "So What's The Difference" by Fritz Ridenour. He briefly details the belief of the JW's that are contrary to the Bible.

Answer 6

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I can answer that question form the Bible. When Jesus was on earth he said that his followers would be persecuted on account of his name. Simple.

Answer 7

For all those that say we do not believe Jesus is God, Well, Jesus did not believe that Jesus was God either.

John 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. King James Bible

It seems to me Jesus says "I ascend to my Father & my God" clearly showing that He is not the Almighty God.

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. King James Bible

Jesus is praying to his Father, is He praying to himself? I believe not, because He says to the one He is praying to "you are the only true God"

Someone is going to say: "Jesus was man and God when he was on Earth." but that is not what the Scriptures say:

Not Divine on Earth

The Scriptures make it clear that Jesus was entirely human from his birth until his death. John did not say that the Word was merely clothed with flesh. He “became flesh” and was not part flesh and part God. If Jesus had been human and divine at the same time, it could not have been said that he had been “made a little lower than angels.”—Hebrews 2:9; Psalm 8:4, 5.

If Jesus had been both God and man when on the earth, why did he repeatedly pray to Jehovah? Paul wrote: “In the days of his flesh Christ offered up supplications and also petitions to the One who was able to save him out of death, with strong outcries and tears, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear.”—Hebrews 5:7.

That Jesus was not partly a spirit when on the earth is proved by Peter’s statement that Christ was “put to death in the flesh, but . . . made alive in the spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18) Only because Jesus was wholly human could he have experienced what imperfect people experience and thus become a sympathetic high priest. Wrote Paul: “We have as high priest, not one who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in all respects like ourselves, but without sin.”—Hebrews 4:15.

As “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,” Jesus “gave himself a corresponding ransom for all.” (John 1:29; 1 Timothy 2:6) In that way, Jesus bought back exactly what Adam had lost—perfect, eternal human life. Since God’s justice required ‘soul for soul,’ Jesus thus had to be what Adam was originally—a perfect human, not a God-man.

To be a "cult" you must have a human leader, I have been a Jehovah's Witness for 48 years, and most certainly do not have a human leader.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES recognize no man as their leader. Their organizational structure has no equivalent of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church, the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, or the leaders of other churches and sects of Christendom. Their allegiance is to Jesus Christ, the Head of the Christian congregation, who stated: “Your Leader is one, the Christ.”—Matthew 23:10.

Answer 8

Ignorance.

Answer 9

By the Christian Faith they are. Because they are man founded and man controled. AND they deny the Diety of Christ.

I accept email questions about the Christian Faith from all honest seekers. Or, you can check me out at:

www.idahomike.com

Answer 10

I find it hard to put the witnesses in cult status they tend not to seprate people from their family and doesn't demand all earnings go to the hall.