Do Jehovah's witnesses contradict their own beliefs by calling themselves Christians?

Question

Since Christian means that you put Christ above everything else, while Jehovah's witnesses is a sect devoted specifically to denying the deity of Christ, even to the point of mistranslating biblical verses in their version of the bible that prove the deity of Christ. And how is inserting Jehovah into the bible and making it a casual word showing respect for God's name if it isn't even the real translation and no one would ever dare even to call a king or any important human by their real first name, much less a mistranslation. If Jesus was merely an angel, then it wouln't make sense to base an entire religion on him rather than God, because that would border on idoltary.

Answer 1

Jehovah Witnesses contradict many things clearly revealed in the Bible. They have made several false prophecies, and their denial that Jesus and God are the same is a wicked sin.

Matthew 7:22-25 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

This scripture is clearly stating that many people today who are confident, assured, and positive they have made correct prophecies will be proven wrong, which is the case with Jehovah Witnesses, and will later be rejected by the Lord.

Answer 2

You are confused, dear one. We are Christian Jehovah's witnesses, just like the Baptist call themselves Baptist after John the "baptizer."

Christians--Jehovah's witnesses are one and the same. Jesus Christ ordered us to "go out and preach by two's..." and that is what we do. We preach the good news about Jehovah God's incoming Kingdom.

Many will and have, listened--but some will proudly refuse. Then when they tell us they are not interested, and not to call we will comply.

"How will they hear without someone to preach?" We regret that. but will move on to the next house.

Answer 3

Being a Christian does mean putting Jesus above everything else. Being a Christian means that you have exercised faith in Jesus and his teachings, as well as the greatest act of his redeeming us from sin and imperfection...the ransom. Putting faith in that and living our lives in his footsteps is what being a Christian is.
Jesus even worshiped his Father, Jehovah God. He clearly put himself under his Father in heaven and on earth. It shows that throughout the Bible, but of course even more in the Greek scriptures. We hold Jesus very high. He's the centerpiece of Jehovah's purpose...however, whose purpose is it? It's Jehovah's God purpose. Jesus helped fulfilled what Jehovah wanted. So following Jesus' own example, we worship Jehovah and honor Jesus in everything that we do.

Answer 4

The NWT is neither the only or first Bible to correctly translated the Word to be a god. The Apostle John himself uses a completely different spelling for the word god when he refers to The Word and to his Father. He does use the same spelling for the word god in reference to The Word, Satan, and men. So, is Satan also God? Consider buying an Interlinear Greek Translation from a Bible Book Store some time.

As for Jehovah, Jesus is not right either, but somethings have come to be accepted by the world's religions.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2006/11/robertson_says.html

As for being Christian, at sun set on Nasin 14 will show why they are Christian. A day other churches ignore and deny the knowledge of to their followers.

Answer 5

John 10:36 do YOU say to me whom the Father sanctified and dispatched into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, I am God’s Son?

I think it is funny that Jesus is accused of blaspheming for saying he is Jehovah's Son,

and Jehovah's Witnesses are accused of blaspheming because we say Jesus is Jehovah's Son.

The trinity is idolatry. Why?

Notice what Paul said the Devil is doing.

2 Cor 4:4 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.

Jesus is an image of God, If you worship Jesus you are worshiping an image, and you are blinded by Satan.

Casual word ?

Ex 3:15 Then God said once more to Moses:

“This is what you are to say to the sons of Israel, ‘Jehovah the God of YOUR forefathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to YOU.’ This is my name to time indefinite, and this is the memorial of me to generation after generation.


It is Jehovah who said His Name was to be a memorial to generation after generation.

Notice how Jehovah's name is pronounce in other languages:

Forms of the divine name in different languages, indicating international acceptance of the form Jehovah

Awabakal - Yehóa

Bugotu - Jihova

Cantonese - Yehwowah

Danish - Jehova

Dutch - Jehovah

Efik - Jehovah

English - Jehovah

Fijian - Jiova

Finnish - Jehova

French - Jéhovah

Futuna - Ihova

German - Jehova

Hungarian - Jehova

Igbo - Jehova

Italian - Geova

Japanese - Ehoba

Maori - Ihowa

Motu - Iehova

Mwala-Malu - Jihova

Narrinyeri - Jehovah

Nembe - Jihova

Petats - Jihouva

Polish - Jehowa

Portuguese - Jeová

Romanian - Iehova

Samoan - Ieova

Sotho - Jehova

Spanish - Jehová

Swahili - Yehova

Swedish - Jehova

Tahitian - Iehova

Tagalog - Jehova

Tongan - Jihova

Venda - Yehova

Xhosa - uYehova

Yoruba - Jehofah

Zulu - uJehova

As to the accuracy of the NWT: Please read:

Old Testament:
In fact, the New World Translation is a scholarly work. In 1989, Professor Benjamin Kedar of Israel said:
"In my linguistic research in connection with the Hebrew Bible and translation, I often refer to the English edition as what is known as the New World Translation. In doing so, I find my feeling repeatedly confirmed that this kind of work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible. Giving evidence of a broad command of the original language, it renders the original words into a second language understandably without deviating unnecessarily from the specific structure of the Hebrew....Every statement of language allows for a certain latitude in interpreting or translating. So the linguistic solution in any given case may be open to debate. But I have never discovered in the New World Translation any biased intent to read something into the text that it does not contain."

New Testament:

While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.

“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:

King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Amplified Bible, Today's English Version (Good News Bible), Living Bible, and the New World Translation.

The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:

John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1

Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University

Answer 6

Dear John,

You question sure does give me a sense of deja vu!

When I was growing up the adult Watchtower Witnesses in my family used to pressure family members who were not in their organization.

I think I was about 10 when I asked an aunt or uncle "Are you a Christian?" I still remember the scorn in the way they looked at me and answered me. It was as though I had used the foulest language.

It sure seems to me that the in vogue thing with jws is to change their view on everything every so often just so they can keep on publishing.

Fifty years ago "Christian" was a dirty word in their eyes. Now it isn't.
What will their view be down the road?

Answer 7

The Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus = Michael the Archangel -- and that Jesus is not God -- but rather that Jesus is a created being (basically another angel, albeit an arch-angel).

You are right that Jehovah's Witnesses can not meaningfully be called Christians if the word Christian is to mean one who worships (holds in reverence) Christ as God.

Cordially,
John
http://www.GodSci.org

Answer 8

We believe Christ is not God but is his son. And you might want to actually look at the definition of "Christian". It just means you believe in Jesus. And we do 100%

Answer 9

We are Christians because we believe in Jesus. He is Jehovah' son, God's first creation, the second most important person in the Universe.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." -- Colossians 1:15

"The Father is greater than I am. " -- John 14:28

The fact that we don't believe in the trinity (which has pagan origins and it isn't mentioned in the Bible) doesn't make us non-Christians or a sect.

Some define sect to mean a group that has broken away from an established religion. Others apply the term to a group that follows a particular human leader or teacher. The term is usually used in a derogatory way. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not an offshoot of some church but include persons from all walks of life and from many religious backgrounds. They do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader.

And yes, Jehovah is God's name. If you don't believe it search an old Bible and you will find God's name. These days I saw a Bible from 1913 in which the word 'Jehovah' appeared many times.


For more information go to:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/ti/article_06.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/na/article_07.htm

Answer 10

You actually said, "Since Christian means that you put Christ above everything else..."

Funny, but when I look up the definition of "Christian", it doesn't say that at all.

Answer 11

Jesus taught that we should love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength. (Matthew 22:37)
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. (Matthew 20:28; Luke 24:46; John 3:16; Galatians 3:16; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 10:12, 13) A true Christian follows Bible principles and lives their lives according to these high principles of morality and integrity . They love their neighbor as themselves. They follow Jesus example and obey his commands such as is found at Matthew 28:19,20.
None of this is contradictory. Jehovah's Witnesses are very much Christian because they do all of the above mentioned.
Jehovah's Witnesses will also be commemorating his death on Nisan 14, according to his command (Luke 22:19), which falls on April 2 this year.
For more scriptural evidence regarding who Jesus is, and what he is doing now, go to the following link.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050915/article_02.htm