What the hell is wrong with Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

I am a junior in high school. The past two days, my auto repair teacher has been out. In his place we got a crazy substitute who is a Jehovah's Witness. Normally I don't like these people, or any radical religious group, but she seemed okay. That was until she told us about her views on politics. She had the crazy idea that her religion was its own "government", and she was not a citizen of the U.S. (even though she was born here). I asked her how that made sense, since she must pay taxes. She claimed that her "government" said that their people should pay taxes to the U.S.
So according to her, she can have her own government, one that can tell the citizens whether or not they can pay taxes and follow the laws. Does this make any sense at all? When you're born in this country, you're a citizen, you pay taxes not because your religion tells you to but because the government says you have to....... Am I wrong??? no.

Answer 1

The apostles and early Christians consistently recognized the Kingdom of God as their first allegiance.

(Acts 5:29) Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.

(John 15:19) If you [Christians] were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.


Like the early Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that God's Kingdom by Christ Jesus is a real government which will soon replace all earthly governments.
(Daniel 2:44) God of heaven will set up a kingdom... It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite

That Kingdom will rule over the vast majority of mankind, most of whom will have been raised from the dead after Armageddon.
(John 11:23,24) Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”
(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.

Until that resurrection, there is no suffering in "hell", or the grave. Sometime after the resurrection, death and "hell" will themselves be destroyed.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all
(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]
(Revelation 20:14) And death and Hades ["hell"] were hurled into the lake of fire

While a limitted number of humans will be resurrected to heaven to share in ruling over mankind, the vast majority (literally more than 99.9%) of Jehovah's Witnesses expect an EARTHLY hope, the same hope given to Adam and Eve.
(Genesis 1:28) God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill THE EARTH and subdue it [caps added]
(Genesis 2:17) You must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die [so never eating from that tree means never dying]

Interestingly, the Scriptures are full of references to this earthly hope.
(Psalms 37:11) 'the meek will possess the earth'
(Proverbs 2:21) 'upright will reside in the earth'
(Isaiah 45:18) 'God formed the earth to be inhabited'
(Matthew 5:5) 'the mild will inherit the earth'
(Revelation 21:3) The tent of God is with mankind

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_10.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_06.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/trueworship.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_07.htm

Answer 2

You already have some great answers. I was just thinking about Armageddon. Right before that people will realize that everything in the scriptures and what they rejected is about to come true. I would say that will be a really big punishment. But, let's face it, a God of love would never cause the horrible things that Christendom has drummed up by their misinterpretation of "hell". Many agree: this world is hard enough to live in under the devil's control, that is why they say living life is hell. However, when you know the truth, you have happiness...you are in a "Spiritual Paradise". When you have a worldwide brotherhood you picture a global paradise. 1 John 5:19; 2 Cor. 4:3, 4, 2 Tim. 3:1-5, Psalm 37:10, 11

Answer 3

Hello there,

It can seem 'crazy' to hear someone express this view, I agree. However, what she means is that ...have you ever heard the Our Father prayer? There is a line that says, 'Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' Think it through. A person prays for God's kingdom, that is in heaven, to come upon the earth. What is an earthly kingdom? It is a place that has a ruler. The ruler 'governs' his subjects. Follow so far? God, as the ruler of his Kingdom has a government with laws that all heavenly creatures must obey. He also has people on earth that live under his laws and they consider him to be Supreme. Almighty. I do to. I live in the U.S. and because of that I give respect to the president and all those in governmental jobs here on earth. However, as Jehovah's Witnesses, we cannot give allegience to national leaders. God wouldn't approve of it because many of their laws are contrary to what God's laws are. So, what do we do? We do all the things the lands we live in require, except those things that go against God's law. We bow to him and not to any flag. We don't desecrate it by burning it or wearing it on our clothes, etc. We wouldn't insult it or those who due salute it. It is their choice and we respect that. No matter what country we are born in, we have affection for our land but our heart serves Jehovah. We pay taxes because he says to 'give to those who call for the tax, the tax.' Where the worlds governments ask us to do what is against God, we will not. For instance, we will not lift up arms and kill. We will forfiet our own life if need be before we will take up arms.
If you would like to know more, please feel free to ask.
Sincerely, Kim

Answer 4

"When you're born in this country, you're a citizen,"

Except of course not EVERYONE born here IS a citizen, doesn't always work that way.

"you pay taxes not because your religion tells you to but because the government says you have to....... "

Funny thing is a lot of people try very hard NOT to pay the taxes that the government says they should.

"Am I wrong???"

Yes.

"What the hell is wrong with Jehovah's Witnesses?"

Nothing, is there something wrong with you?

Answer 5

From what I know of JWs, they follow the Bible strictly and Jesus took a government issued coin and said 'pay Caesar his coins and pay God His things (dedicating your life to Him)'

Jesus also said his Kingdom was "no part of this world" and likewise his followers would "be no part of this world" so true Christians do not take sides in politics, governments, wars, etc.

The Bible is very clear on who is the puppet master of all politicians, governments and wars; please read the following Scriptures:
Daniel 2:44
Luke 4:5-8
James 4:4
John 15:19
John 17:14
John 18:36
Acts 5:29
1 John 2:15
Romans 12:2
John 14:30
2 Corinthians 4:4
Ephesians 2:2
1 John 5:19

I have faith in Jesus and God's Kingdom and the Bible, so I tend to agree with much of what JWs believe

Killing others in war because your government told you to is not something a true Christian would do. True Christians follow Christ's example and he said to love your enemy and turn the other cheek, not to kill your enemy in wars of satans governments; please read the following Scriptures:
Matthew 5:44-48
Matthew 26:52
Luke 6:27
Luke 10:27
John 13:34, 35
John 15:17
1 Peter 2:23
1 Peter 3:9
Romans 12:17
Romans 13:10
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 16:14
1 John 3:9-15
1 John 4:20

but truly the Scripture that sums up your teacher's beliefs is this; "we must obey God as ruler rather than men"-- Acts 5:29

agape!

.

Answer 6

If this discussion even took place, I imagine that it took place while working on a project, such as a car repair. It remind me of many a father who will talk to their children about various issues, while working on the family car or mowing the lawn. That time that feminists claim men don't spend time with their children.

Even as old as I am, I remember auto shop and how we talked about various things while working on the car. Granted, what we talked about when the teacher was not around was a little different from when he was around. Politics is just one subject discussed while waiting for oil to drain, or jacking into place a transmission.

So, don't make this look like she was using up class time trying to teach you about her religion. This was more likely a part of a larger discussion that was going on.

Answer 7

No. Many in this country do not pay their taxes though they live here. Either she might not have worded it well, or you may not have listened well. Firstly, consider your viewpoint, you know, appearently little about us/our beliefs, you have decided we are Radicals, and that you don't like us. It could be that allot of your opinion on what was said was colored by your preconceived ideas.

As for what she said, as Christians we see serving God/obeying the Bible as supercedeing all else. Christ set the precident with give Ceaser's things to Ceaser and God's things to God. That is what she was trying to say. We pay our taxes as the Bible shows that, unless it goes against the Bible we should be compliant with the laws of the land.

All Christians recognise that we serve Christ and his Father, as THE authority, one might even say as the leader of said "Government". A Government, is that which GOVERNS us/our actions. As Christians the Bible Governs, ie leads, how we act.

Nice to see Oshihana/Erica B has come back after 2 times at least being deleted, and has kept her paranoia:D

Answer 8

okay, what she means is......

God has His own government. We as "Christians" are to live according to God's laws not the flawed governments of wherever we live. We, of course, have to abide by the rules set by our physical governments but what people need to understand is that the physical is only temporary. They were put in place to establish order but Satan managed to deceive the whole world and slowly, but surely blind people into thinking some laws don't need to be followed through with like: adultery, abortion, needing physical evidence to convict murderers and embezzlement.

the world's government will shortly reign until Jesus comes to put everything under His feet. You can believe that!

Answer 9

I think they have some issue with national flags and stuff. Can’t blame them really, I don’t acknowledge any government either. I don’t acknowledge governments, political borders, politicians, or their armies. They are all corrupt, criminals, and every government is legal organised crime supported by democracy (the majority, who are not necessarily right). Some say “Well then if you don’t like it f—k off.” Well the only place I could go seems to be Antarctica, I’m thinking about it. I’m not a JW btw.

Answer 10

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She may be one of the born againers which claim their citizenship exist in the heavens yet she is still a legal citizen of USA enjoying many benefits of this government or she probably would not be teaching...Jesus set the example for the born-againers in the paying of taxes when he had Peter get the coin from the fishes mouth yet, the religious business which she belongs to relys on Romans 13:7 in not paying the tax as a none prophet entity recognized by the IRS as such.

To recite, the born againer relys on Jesus example, he being a model for them to follow yet, the religious corporation does not follow the example of Jesus in the paying of the tax but yields to the inference found in Romans 13:7
.