Quote Biblical passages to prove that they are a cult.
2006-08-09 21:44:30 · 8 answers · asked by Masnibor 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The term "cult" is an insulting synonym for "religion". The term has no place in polite conversation, and Jehovah's Witnesses correctly consider it an insult.
Despite the lies of anti-Witnesses, the Scriptures quite plainly show that Jehovah's Witnesses are true Christians and are *NOT* a cult. Trinitarians and other anti-Witnesses repeatedly pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses are not Christian. Trinitarians use an artificial, trinity-specific definition of the term "Christian" which excludes anyone who does not believe that Jesus is God Himself, rather than the Son of God. Interestingly, pagans in the first century pretended that Christ's followers were Atheists(!) because the Christians had a somewhat different idea from the pagans about the nature of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe! Both secular dictionaries and disinterested theologians acknowledge that Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religion.
The Trinitarian arguments are intended to insult and demean Jehovah's Witnesses, rather than to give a Scripturally accurate understanding of the term "Christian".
In fact, the bible most closely associates being "Christian" with preaching about Christ and Christ's teachings. Review all the times the bible uses the term "Christian" and note that the context connects the term with:
"declaring the good news"
'teaching quite a crowd'
'open eyes, turn from dark to light'
"uttering sayings of truth"
"persuade"
"keep on glorifying"
(Acts 11:20-26) [The early disciples of Jesus] began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus... and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.
(Acts 26:17-28) [Jesus said to Paul] I am sending you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God... Paul said: “I am not going mad, Your Excellency Festus, but I am uttering sayings of truth and of soundness of mind. ...Do you, King Agrippa, believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” But Agrippa said to Paul: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.”
(1 Peter 4:14-16) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy... But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name
So why do anti-Witnesses try to hijack the term "Christian" and hide its Scriptural implications? Because anti-Witnesses recognize that it is the preaching work that makes it clear that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are by far the most prominent followers of Christ:
(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
Learn more!
http://watchtower.org
http://watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2000/6/22/article_01.htm
2006-08-09 23:15:38 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no scriptual definition of a cult because cults aren't specifically mentioned in the bible. It's sort of like asking what the scriptual definition of a "bible" is when the bible itself wasn't known and cannonized when it was being created.
And anyways, cults are better defined psychologically rather than scriptually.
Some psychological signs of a cult.
* Authoritarian. There is almost always a central,
* Charismatic, living human leader who commands total loyalty and allegiance.
* Oppositional. Their beliefs, practices and values are counter to those of the dominant culture.
* Exclusivistic. They are the only group that possesses the “truth.”
* Legalistic. Rules and regulations abound governing spiritual matters and the details of everyday living.
* Subjective. They emphasize the experiential, the feelings and the emotions. This is usually accompanied by an anti-intellectualism.
* Persecution-conscious. The groups feel they are being singled out by mainstream Christians, the press, parents, and the government.
* Sanction-oriented. They require conformity in practice and belief, and exercise sanctions against the wayward.
* Esoteric. They promote a religion of secrecy and concealment. Truth is taught on two levels, inner truth taught to hardcore members and outer truth taught to fringe members.
2006-08-12 21:31:52 · answer #2 · answered by enigma_frozen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't. I am not a J.W. but so far that religion has taught me more about God and his kingdom than any other religion has. And I have been to alot of different churches. None could answer my questions. The Witnesses encouraged me to look things up for myself and find the truth that way. I used a concordance and Britannica. I was amazed at just how precise they were on alot of things. So I don't have a problem with them, or think that they are a cult. I applaud them for being so strong in their faith, and the love they have for Jehovah and his creation. I hope they continue to do their fine work, because in my minds eye they are the only ones doing the will of God.
2006-08-10 05:03:43 · answer #3 · answered by GraycieLee 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
they are no part of the world therefore the world hates them.
and they are not like Christians they are Christian and do their best to follw Jesus Example.
Cris is and Example of the lies people make up without looking into the scriptural reason fo their beliefe.
(Colossians 1:15-16) 15Â He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16Â because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him.
b.c. you were never one or you didnt listen, every thing you said is wrong
2006-08-10 04:51:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
*Jehovah Witnesses deny that Jesus Christ is God in that He is part of the Holy Trinty...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
They believe that Jesus was a created being, originally going by the name Michael the Archangel and then became Christ when born of the virgin and becomeing man....having previously been Michael....not the divine God, the Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah, the WORD that was God and the Word that became flesh.
They are permitted to read ONLY their own publications such as Watchtower, Awake and their own translation of the bible called the New World Translation that only they use.
They believe that Jesus (a created being) has already returned to earth....back in 1914.
The 144,000 mentioned in the Book of Revelation is already in heaven....its all Jehovah Witnesses.....and none of the rest of us can get in. Heaven is full.
Holy Bible scriptures tell us to deny Christ; Christ will deny us to the Father. Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in Christ nor the Trinity so they are in opposition to the Christian Bible and Christian Faith. They are a Cult....sorry.
P.S. DEAR GREG:
I welcome you or anyone to say that what I have written here is not the truth concerning Jehovah's Witnesses. And give more than off the cuff opinion please. When refuting..give source. Don't just tell me I'm wrong. Tell me WHY I'm wrong.
2006-08-10 04:47:49 · answer #5 · answered by Augustine 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
There's nothing wrong with Jehovah's Witnesses. They are Christians like any Christians. They are not a cult!!!!
2006-08-10 04:50:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
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from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult#Christianity_and_Cults :
In common usage, "cult" has a negative connotation, and is generally applied to a group by its opponents, for a variety of reasons.
Walter Martin, the pioneer of the Christian countercult movement gave in his 1955 book the following definition of a cult: "…….Cultism, in short, is any major deviation from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith."
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People called Jehovah’s Witnesses the cult because they oppose them.
Walter Martin’s statement fittingly describes Jehovah’s Witnesses because their teachings totally differ from major Christianity (Christendom). Jehovah’s Witnesses only teach pure Bible truth. Learn more: http://watchtower.org
2006-08-10 10:55:46 · answer #7 · answered by kch9019 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
THEY FOLLOW STRICT RULES FOR CHURCH OR WUTEVER......THE HAVE 2 HR CHURCH...U CANT CELEBRATE ANY HOLIDAY WUT DO EVER.....NO BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS....NO SEX.....GAYS LES' BIS.....UHHH OH YEAH NO JEWELERY 4 MEN....OOOOOO UM IF U DONT FOLLOW THE CHURCH RULES U GET KICKED OUT OF IT AND U CANT GO THERE NO MORE....AND THEY GO OUT 2 LOOK 4 PPL 2 DO BIBLE STUDY.......AND THATS REALLY ANNOYIN...O YEAH NO JESUS JUST GOD..THEY THINK THE HOLY SPIRIT JESUS AND GOD.......ARE 1 SUPER SPIRIT BEING JEHOVA
2006-08-10 04:53:41 · answer #8 · answered by TITO 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋