For Jehovah's Witnesses...(not a bashing question)....?

Question

do you consider yourselves Christians? I have heard people say different things, and I was wondering what you believe.

Answer 1

"They believe that they are the restoration of first-century Christianity... refuse to become involved in social, religious, or political conflicts"(1) {probably including this one}
"..officially founded in 1884 [as the Zion's Watch Tower and Tract Society (originally the Zion's Watch Tower in 1879), officially adopting the name of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931], by Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916). In 1870, Russell was exposed to the teachings of William Miller, one of the founders of the Second Adventist Movement and acquired an interest in end time prophecies. Russell originally denied the doctrine of Hell, and would go on to REJECT NEARLY EVERY OTHER CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, as well as add many physically and spiritually dangerous doctrines of his own making." (2) {emphasis mine}

Answer 2

As an outsider, if you go on beliefs alone Jehovah's Witnesses are probably the most devout christians becuase it was formed when the founder, Charles Taze Russell organized a bible study group in 1870. The group intensely studied the bible and they revere the bible as the infallible word of God.
They believe in the basic tenets that make up a christian denomination such as the virgin birth and jesus' death being a ransom for all of humanity's sins, but they do not believe in the trinity. They believe jehovah is supreme, jesus is his son and the holy ghost is the method by which god interacts with the world.
What sets them apart from most other christian denominations is that they reject the cross as a christian symbol because of it's pagan origins. They believe that jesus returned invisibly in 1914 and he and satan engaged in a heavenly battle and that the outcome was satan is here on earth now causing woe. JW's don't believe in hell, but do believe in salvation as other christian denominations do.

Answer 3

Yes! they preach good news just like early Christan's, this alone is a identifying mark of true Christianity. Even though as Jesus likened or compared to days of Noah; Noah had to warn people of impending flood even though they "took no note". Witnesses Carry this work out faithfully. Matt. 24
Jesus said his disciples would be no part of the world and as a result would be hated by the world. John 17:16, John 15:9
Studying w/JW's I found that they use bible, the whole bible; that is not just to fit doctrines, as people say-but endeavor to obey God's word weather it is convenient or not. The closest to the early Christians as I found.

Answer 4

I'm also an outsider, but I have studied with the Jehovah Witnesses multiple times because religion interests me. From what I understand they are very much a Christian Religion. They Believe in the importance of Christ and are very devout.

Answer 5

*EVERY* Jehovah's Witness knows full well that he is a Christian. Any suggestion to the contrary is an unimaginable insult.

While some religionists quote this human or that, true Christians are primarily interested in WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES (see Scriptures below).

It's sad and true that 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/e/ti/
http://watchtower.org/e/20050422/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/article_04.htm

Answer 6

Are they Christian? Yes, for they put Christ and God ahead of everything in their lives. The question, in these modern times, what does it mean to be Christian? Does it mean it is okay to sleep around and have children outside wedlock like Jesse Jackson? Does it mean it is okay to avoid paying taxes, conducting retail businesses, and even gambling inside churches? Does it mean trying to force ones beliefs onto others through the passage of laws and the backing of politicians? Does it mean saying to our children that it is okay to be sexually active, provided that they use protection?

Is being Christian means observing the day that Christ said to continue to observe, or the day created by men?

Answer 7

It is best to answer your question by understanding what a Christian means? In fact, with the qualifications below, we definitely consider ourselves, JWs, as true Christians.


I quoted the Insight book (published by JWs) it states

What It Means to Be a Christian. Jesus extended the invitation to be his follower, saying: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and continually follow me.” (Mt 16:24) Those who are true Christians have full faith that Jesus Christ is God’s specially Anointed One and only-begotten Son, the Promised Seed who sacrificed his human life as a ransom, was resurrected and exalted to the right hand of Jehovah, and received authority to subdue his enemies and vindicate Jehovah’s name. (Mt 20:28; Lu 24:46; Joh 3:16; Ga 3:16; Php 2:9-11; Heb 10:12, 13) Christians view the Bible as the inspired Word of God, absolute truth, beneficial for teaching and disciplining mankind.—Joh 17:17; 2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21.

More is required of true Christians than a mere confession of faith. It is necessary that belief be demonstrated by works. (Ro 10:10; Jas 2:17, 26) Born as sinners, those who become Christians repent, turn around, dedicate their lives to Jehovah, to worship and serve him, and then submit to water baptism. (Mt 28:19; Ac 2:38; 3:19) They must keep themselves clean from fornication, from idolatry, and from eating blood. (Ac 15:20, 29) They strip off old personalities with their fits of anger, obscene talk, lying, stealing, drunkenness, and “things like these,” and they bring their lives into accord with Bible principles. (Ga 5:19-21; 1Co 6:9-11; Eph 4:17-24; Col 3:5-10) “Let none of you,” wrote Peter to Christians, “suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a busybody in other people’s matters.” (1Pe 4:15) Christians are to be kind and considerate, mild-tempered and long-suffering, lovingly exercising self-control. (Ga 5:22, 23; Col 3:12-14) They provide and care for their own and love their neighbors as themselves. (1Ti 5:8; Ga 6:10; Mt 22:36-40; Ro 13:8-10) The main identifying quality by which true Christians are recognized is the outstanding love they have toward one another. “By this,” Jesus said, “all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—Joh 13:34, 35; 15:12, 13.

True Christians imitate Jesus’ example as the Great Teacher and Faithful Witness of Jehovah. (Joh 18:37; Re 1:5; 3:14) “Go . . . make disciples of people of all the nations” is their Leader’s command. (Mt 28:19, 20) In carrying it out, Christians ‘witness publicly and from house to house,’ urging people everywhere to flee out of Babylon the Great and put their hope and confidence in God’s Kingdom. (Ac 5:42; 20:20, 21; Re 18:2-4) This is really good news, but proclaiming such a message brings upon Christians great persecution and suffering, even as was experienced by Jesus Christ. His followers are not above him; it is enough if they are like him. (Mt 10:24, 25; 16:21; 24:9; Joh 15:20; 2Ti 3:12; 1Pe 2:21) If one “suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name,” counseled Peter. (1Pe 4:16) Christians render to “Caesar” what belongs to the superior authorities of this world—honor, respect, tax—but at the same time they remain separate from this world’s affairs (Mt 22:21; Joh 17:16; Ro 13:1-7), and for this the world hates them.—Joh 15:19; 18:36; 1Pe 4:3, 4; Jas 4:4; 1Jo 2:15-17.


In short, we have faith that Jesus is the Christ and his Father is Jehovah and we love and follow their commandments.

Answer 8

In the beginning JW's were called christians and followed the christian doctrine. Then they went apostate and wrote their own book to profit their own lies.

They are apportionately called Russellites for the follow the doctrine of their former leader.

They are not christian now for they believe in a god called Jesus not The Son of GOD nor GOD the SON.

I have a JW bible which is an authorized King James bible. I also have the original autographs of the Watchtowerites 1st edition NWT. without all the changes. I also have literature from their libraries stateing their former beliefs before they became apostate.

They will lie staight to your face and say they have the same beliefs yet the propoganda AND NWT THEY TEACH FROM IS FAR FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES AND TRANSLATION.
tHEY CHANGED THE BOOK TO SUIT TEIR DOCTRINE INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE DOCTRINE TO SUIT THE WORD OF GOD.

i KNOW THIS FOR i TRANSLATE MANY LANGUAGES.

Answer 9

yes we are Christians. we do believe in Jesus Christ. we are not a cult or brainwashed. people think we don't believe in Jesus but without Jehovah God his Father there would not be Jesus Christ. we have a beautiful book about Jesus Christ called The Greatest Man that Ever Lived