their belief system and the Christian way? I have 2 of them coming to my house this morning for the fourth time and I really think that both of them are seriously questioning the difficult issues?
2006-09-27 01:19:46 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First show them this quote:
In The Encyclopedia Americana we read: “Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.
This will prove that the trinity is a deviation from the early Christian teaching.
Then you can back it by showing that Paul and Jesus didn't believe the trinity either.
(Romans 15:4-6) . . .” 4 For all the things that were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant YOU to have among yourselves
the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had,
Rom 15:6
that with one accord YOU may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Next quote Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University
when he said that of the nine bibles he complared, only the NWT translated John 1:1 correctly.
I enjoyed Mr. BeDuhn explanation, In English it is wrong to say "Snoopy is dog", In English you have to say "Snoopy is a dog"
John didn't use "the" with the second usage of god, then the translator shouldn't either. Especially when John used "the" with other other two times he said God, in vs. 1 & 2.
Next take them to Ez 18:4 to show them that the soul dies, and Matt 10:28 that it can be destroyed.
I hope this helps.
2006-09-27 05:00:49 · answer #1 · answered by TeeM 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Since there are quite a variety of beliefs within Christianity, it might be a good idea to first see what they have to say about their beliefs so you can provide contrasting views about your beliefs. I'm not saying you have to agree with what they have to say, but they are offering the specific points that are important to THEM. By listening, you can then thoughtfully respond to them by presenting the contrasting beliefs from your own faith. That would seem to be more effective than simply coming up with your own list of priorities -- they would find those to be as irrelevent to them as the points they were making are irrelevent to you.
In other words, give the audience the specific information they need.
2006-09-27 08:33:18 · answer #2 · answered by Bryan 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
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 three 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
2006-09-27 13:33:03 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The one I used with my in-laws was this:
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in the earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
1 John 5: 7-8
Because they do not believe in the Trinity as most Christians do.
And to explain this use an egg as an example. I know it sounds simple but it can help..... an egg has 3 parts (yolk, white, & shell) but yet is still an egg. There for God has 3 parts yet he is still God.
2006-09-27 08:29:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The best point you could show them would be the one on the tip of your boot. Don't have them in your home. They are misguided and confused but adamant that they are right about everything under the sun. Hypnotic mind-control could not be more effective than the brainwashing they are under. It's like conversing with a zombie and equally pointless. Tens of thousands of people out there have tried doing what you are proposing and not one time has it ever produced a Jehovah's Witness de-converting and becoming a real-life human being again. Don't waste your time.
2006-09-27 08:25:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
You really need to understand that Jehovah's will never touch anything that is not from the Watchtower organization.
I encourage you if you can to listen to this: http://www.countrysidechristiancenter.org/word/ccc-jwalker.htm
At least the part on Jehovah Witnesses EXCELLENT material. You'll be writing down notes left and right. However, you need to have sometime to listen to it.
I recommend visiting his website as well http://www.watchman.org/
He has some excellent books on speaking to Jehovah witnesses AND Mormons. Its a must see: http://www.watchman.org/
God Bless you have a great day.
2006-09-27 08:26:22 · answer #6 · answered by schr91 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
there is no difference. They DOnt take part in any pagan holidays that are dressed up as Christian holidays. They preach the word like Jesus Commanded. They pretty much folow the bible strictly and more than any Christian sect I have ever seen. I think you will lose that battle!
2006-09-27 09:12:36 · answer #7 · answered by david s 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You have to prove to them that Jesus is the ture son of God...
Their bibles are modified and don't have many verses proving this Issue.. then use your Bible :
Mathews 14:27 "But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."
I doesn't mean I.. It means God whose one of his names is I ...
Luke 22:70-71 "70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth."
It shows how the hebrews understood the meaning of I as Jesus means that he is God...
John 1:14 " And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Human Being : is consisted of Soul, flesh and word....
Soul : his life
Flesh : outer body and the old man
Word : Example : If you met a person for the first time... you won't know how is this person thinking unless he start talking...
That's the meaning of the Word : It's a representation for that person...
As a person = his Word...
God:
Father
Holy Ghost
Word : which is God...
1st Timothy 3:16 "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
Romans 5:8 " But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
If they don't agree with you.. ask from them to stop visiting you...
2006-09-27 08:36:13 · answer #8 · answered by jmdanial 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The last time I talked to them, they believed only 144,000 people would get to heaven, and they were it. But the Bible makes reference to these as being Jews in the tribulation. Ask if they believe in angels, demons, and a literal Hell. Ask about speaking in tongues, and offer to pray for them.
2006-09-27 08:24:11 · answer #9 · answered by RB 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Serious? Come on, it's as serious as knowing how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
Why don't all of you go help at a soup kitchen, or read to people in nursing homes?
2006-09-27 08:24:19 · answer #10 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋