If Jehovah's witnesses are so right, then why do they need to be so deceptive about their beliefs?

Question

When they try to recruit new members, they are always careful to be vague and not to reveal their true beliefs such as Jesus being an archangel and even using God instead of Jehovah. If they were really standing up for what is right, what then would they have to be ashamed of.

Answer 1

This so-called "question" is laughably untrue.

Jehovah's Witnesses generally use a bible-based publication entitled "What Does the Bible Really Teach" with new students. The name "Jehovah" appears 31 times in the first chapter (nine pages) alone. Early in the book an entire chapter (the fourth of nineteen) focuses on Jesus, his position and relationship to Jehovah, and his connection with God's purpose.

Please do not pretend that Jehovah's Witnesses think of Jesus primarily as an archangel, any more than they think of Jesus primarily as a carpenter. Instead, true Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) recognize that Jehovah has given Jesus extraordinary authority, and so Christians work to demonstrate their devotion, love, obedience, and obeisance to Jesus.

(Hebrews 1:3-4) [Jesus] sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places. 4 So he has become better than the angels

(Matthew 28:18) And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: "All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth [by God the Father]

(Acts 2:36) God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you impaled.

(John 3:35) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

(Acts 5:31) God exalted this one as Chief Agent and Savior to his right hand

(Psalm 2:2-6) The kings of earth take their stand And high officials themselves have massed together as one Against Jehovah and against his anointed one... Jehovah himself will hold them in derision..., Saying: "I, even I, have installed my king [Jesus]

(Hebrews 1:6) When [God] again brings his Firstborn [Jesus] into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.”


Thanks for another opportunity to effectively demonstrate that Jehovah God the Father is a distinct person from Jesus Christ the Son!

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm

Answer 2

JW's studied with me and I don't think they're vague or deceptive about their beliefs at all. They are extremely willing to tell others what they believe.

The only exception I can think of is that - on Yahoo Answers - I have seen Witnesses say that they don't necessarily believe that you have to be a Jehovah's Witness to be saved. I would call that deceptive because they think that the Watchtower Society is the only way to salvation (in addition to Jesus) and if you reject the Watchtower as the "truth", then they think you won't be saved. Perhaps there are a few individual JW's who believe otherwise, but I know for a fact that is what the Watchtower teaches.

Also, what you think of as deception might be more a matter of perspective. JW's always say they go entirely by the Bible. They aren't trying to deceive anyone, they really believe that themselves. But an onlooker can plainly see that they go by the Watchtower, then, in their minds, the Bible says what the Watchtower says. If the Watchtower changes their point of view, they follow. All the while, they think it's the Bible they're following, even if the WT does a 180 degree turnaround on any subject.

They didn't hesitate to tell me that they believe Jesus is an archangel and they used Jehovah, not God.

Answer 3

I find this question quite amusing!
The main study guide that we use with people entitled, "What Does the Bible Really Teach," discusses 'Who is Michael the Archangel' on page 218 and give scriptural reasonings behind why we believe he is the resurrected Jesus Christ.

Nothing hidden there.

As far as using "God" instead of Jehovah. There is nothing wrong with referring to Jehovah as God, that is who He is. The Bible calls him both Jehovah and God as well as the Almighty God, Ancient of Days, the Creator, Sovereign Lord, King of Eternity, Maker, Holy God, Happy God ..... We also call him all of those titles.

Answer 4

We are so 'ashamed' that we go door to door to tell others about Jehovah God and His Son Jesus.

We are so 'ashamed' that we publish all our beliefs for everyone to read.

We are so 'ashamed' that we invite everyone to our meetings.

We are so deceptive about our beliefs that we require people to study for 6 months to a year, then we ask them some 100 plus questions prior to their getting baptised.

Just so they 'know' what they are agreeing to.

This question is another case of a so called expert on Jehovah's Witnesses, who really has no clue of what he is talking about.

Answer 5

I detect some kind of animosity from you against Jehovah's Witnesses. Your question seems more like an attack against Jehovah's Witnesses, than a question, but in case you are being sincere, I am responding to your question.

You claim that Jehovah's Witnesses use God instead of Jehovah, when in fact it is Jehovah's Witnesses who are to be credited for making known God's name which is Jehovah.

Many religions refused to use God's name, in fact, many translations have removed God's name from the Bible, Jehovah's Witnesses have righteously and courageously always made it know that they are Witnesses of Jehovah God and uphold his name and hold his name sacred. In the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (which Jehovah's Witnesses use), which is translated from the orignal "old" and "new" testaments, God's name, Jehovah appears over 7000 times.

So while many have hidden or refused to use God's name, Jehovah's Witnesses have taken the lead in using it. They wholeheartedly believe the scripture at Psalm 83:18, which says: "That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth."

Answer 6

They do not. They make it clear that Jehovah is God. Jesus is his Son.

Why do non-JWs try to be deceptive and ignore the fact that he is?

Gal 4:14 but received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.

Answer 7

No one is deceptive. When speaking with people, we use terms they're familiar with such as God, as well as Jehovah. Personally, when speaking I use both often. I'm never 'vague' when asked a direct question. Often at the door the householder does not have ample time to wade into a subject that requires more than a three word answer.

No one 'recruits' anyone. People are drawn to the truth by their own hearts and minds. Our meetings are open to everyone, nothing is hidden.

Post Script: The slander and hate seen here is nothing new to any one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is just one of many ways Satan uses people to attack the True God. The Bible bore this out:
Matt. 24:9 “Then people will deliver YOU up to tribulation and will kill YOU, and YOU will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.

John 8:42 Jesus said to them: “If God were YOUR Father, YOU would love me, for from God I came forth and am here. Neither have I come of my own initiative at all, but that One sent me forth. 43 Why is it YOU do not know what I am speaking? Because YOU cannot listen to my word. 44 YOU are from YOUR father the Devil, and YOU wish to do the desires of YOUR father. That one was a manslayer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of [the lie]. 45 Because I, on the other hand, tell the truth, YOU do not believe me. 46 Who of YOU convicts me of sin? If I speak truth, why is it YOU do not believe me? 47 He that is from God listens to the sayings of God. This is why YOU do not listen, because YOU are not from God.”

Answer 8

I think everybody should just have their own relationship with God. Believing in The Bible(a book), which is based off organized religion(which is man-made and there are so many of), is pretty much guessing at what the word of God is. Nobody can say who's religion is right or wrong. If God gave his word to the people of the past, then he can certainly give you yourself his word as well.

Answer 9

Lover of Jehovah says they are not recruiting anyone. What an amazing statement. The JH are the group ringing everyone's doorbells. What are they doing, if not recruiting?

If they were not somewhat vague in their initial approach, people would slam the door in their face. Well, they do that anyway, but they wouldn't have a chance from the outset.

Answer 10

Some interesting answers here. Will the deceptive tell you that they are deceptive?

Hidden in their apologetics is a plethora of logical fallacies, misinterpretations, and scriptures taken out of context. Enter at your own risk. Have your own apologetics ready.