2006-09-11 02:54:07 · 33 answers · asked by stephen 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The full name of the religion is actually "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses".
Sadly, Trinitarians 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
2006-09-13 10:17:11 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'm one of Jehovah's witnesses, and i'm am most certainly a christian. Jesus came and sacrificed his life on a stake (the greek word used was stauros meaning pole, stake or tree, not a crucifix of two crossing peices of wood) to pay the debt adam created when he gave up perfection.
as for the blood issue, i would have thought that all the so called christians would have noticed acts 15:28,29.
we believe Jesus ''returned'' so to speak, as king in Heaven in 1914 which can be worked out using bible prophecy and secular history. when he returned he cast satan to the earth(revelation 12:9) and that is the cause of all the problems in the world and also the fulfilment of the signs of Christs presence (matthew 24).
the reason we preach the good news to all the nations is because of matthew 24:14, 28:19, and because Jesus and his apostles did too, luke8:1, 9:1-6, 10:1-9.
as for the state of the dead, ecclesiastes 9:5 says they are unconcious. coupled with deuteronomy 18:10-13 is why we stay away from the demons who employ spiritism as a snare.
any other issues go to www.watchtower.org and have a play around on there or email me, or just talk to us when we call at your doors.
2006-09-11 03:26:55 · answer #2 · answered by iamalsotim 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Considering that Jehovahs Witnesses are a branch of Christianity, acctually a fringe to be technichal, then yes they are.
They believe in the Literal interpretation of the bible, which is infalliable. Though they reject the Trinity, The father, son and Holy Spirit as one and the same, they believe that Christ, is a seperate being from God and he will return to Earth to reign over the faithful alongside God.
2006-09-11 03:12:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are the only religion that actually use God's holy name and teach others about our Creator and His Heavenly Kingdom,just as Jesus did and commanded his followers to do the same.(Mat28:19,20;6:10)
They are the only religion that believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God,and instead of adhering to a creed based on human tradition,they hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.
Jesus said of his true followers - "By this all will know that you are my disciples,if you have love among yourselves"(John 13:13).Tell me,what religion comes to mind if any.What church can you walk into where everyone knows one another and welcomes any new faces.What religion do you know of that will not take up arms and kill his brother?
Jesus also said of his followers at Mat.24:9"...you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name".
So Jehovah's Witnesses are prepared and alert to the prejudice,ill-treatment,
persecution and down right rudeness they experience for doing what their Heavenly Father asks of them.
So to answer your question,not only do I think Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians,but Jehovah's Witnesses are the only true religion
2006-09-11 03:10:35 · answer #4 · answered by lillie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Regarding the blood thing. Like all sects they take things read in the bible out of context. In this instance the jewish dietry laws on bleeding an animal to death when killing for food.They interpret this as meaning don`t take blood. The reason of course is that in a warm country the meat would quickly go off if this did not happen so it is common sense. HELP since I first posted this someone has said only 144,000 are going to heaven where did this number come from????? then Jesus is the first born in all creation but then talk about the return to the earth as it was for Adam and Eve. Also the first century Christian were the coptics so why are they JWs existing surely they should be Coptic Christians.I am now totally confused with peoples beliefs. Sorry, I have always been totally confused with peoples beliefs.As I read on I become more perplexed by the answers to the blood issue was it not in (Mark 7:15,18,19,21) "There is nothing from outside a man that passes into him that can defile him; but the things that issue forth out of a man are the things that defile a man...Are YOU not aware that nothing from outside that passes into a man can defile him, ... since it passes, not into [his] heart, but into [his] intestines, and it passes out into the sewer?" Thus he declared all foods clean.... for from inside, out of the heart of men, injurious reasonings issue forth..." So does this include blood?? If there was a ban on blood would the biblical Jesus have said (John 6:52-56) Therefore the Jews began contending with one another, saying: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 Accordingly Jesus said to them: "Most truly I say to YOU, Unless YOU eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, YOU have no life in yourselves. 54 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. Take what you will out of any book and make it your religion.
2006-09-11 03:05:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they're the same as everyone else, they just want to spread their message a bit more intently. Which is fine as long as I haven't got a hangover.
To be honest, they come round quite regularly and I'm always polite and take their literature but I have never yet read it. It always goes straight in the bin. It's a waste I know, but I don't want to be rude to them!!
Don't understand their stance on not having blood transfusions though.
2006-09-11 02:57:50 · answer #6 · answered by Wafflebox 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are Christians!! They do up hold the teachings that the first Century Christians taught and learned from the Christ himself!!
Jehovah's Witnesses believe the following:
God has a personal name, which is Jehovah.
They believe that Jesus was created by God alone and that Jesus is not God but the Son of God, only-begotten Son, First-born of all creation..
They believe the holy spirit is God's active force in which he uses to fulfull his purposes and his will...
They don't have a clergy class
The Watchtower is not a mediator to God but they are an aid to help people to get to know God better..Just like Peter and Paul were aids for the congregations in their time so is the same today..
They don't believe the the people after they die will experience pain and suffering in a place of eternal fire..
They don't believe every 'good' person will go to heaven but that a select few will go to heaven which they believe to be 144,000...
They believe the literal earth will not be destroyed and the heavens be destroyed but that the 'earth' or the 'wicked human society' will be destroyed along with the 'heavens' or the government and kings of the earth will be eliminated...
They also don't participate in pagan holidays, One thought to consider is If you saw a piece of candy in the mud will you eat it? The answer is no of course you won't!! Same thing with pagan holidays, they seem inicent, fun, and sweet but they come from a bad source...
They believe the Soul is the person him/herself and that the spirit is a 'life-force' that enable everyone, including animals, to live...Just like electricity keeps 'alive' so to speak electronic devices..
They believe the rightous will inherit the earth and dwell upon it forever and experience the blessings that Adam and Eve lost when they were in the Garden of Eden...
If you want to know more and it's obvious that I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses...please feel free to ask me any questions I will be glad to answer them.
Remember Go to the source for questions not people who hate us and think they know what there is to know about us..
We don't have anything to hide just ask and it will be given to you...
My e-mail: Pitoayala1@yahoo.com
www.watchtower.org
2006-09-11 03:10:34 · answer #7 · answered by Whistle 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i am allways the one who has to gentltly send them from the door. but i admire their dedication to their belief. i know 1 or 2 and i would say they are more genuinine then a lot of supposed Christians. it must be very difficult to develop the thick skin(and I don't mean that in a nasty way) needed to carry on regardless,that most people have no time -literally for them.
2006-09-11 03:02:49 · answer #8 · answered by saywot? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are all other Christian beliefs knock down? Why do only beliefs that celebrate Christmas, Easter...etc...deemed appropriate. I dont' feel I have the right to judge others beliefs or other religions. I think everyone has a right to believe what they want or what makes them feel complete.
2006-09-11 03:12:53 · answer #9 · answered by wardsha2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are, they believe in the 3 unity, and believe Jesus died on the cross for there sins, and he raised from the dead, and went to heaven where he is know sitting on right hand of God, and as per the bible that's what u need to believe to be a Christian. They just have a diffrent way of believing.
2006-09-11 02:59:44 · answer #10 · answered by colarstar77 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋