Why do unbaptized Jehovah's Witnesses identify themselves as not being Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

There are a lot of Jw's out there who say they are not Jw's but follow Watchtower theology as well or better than people who claim to be Jehovah's Witnesses..

So my question is....Do you have to be baptized to call yourself a Jehovah's Witness?....If so, Why....and would a Christian have to be baptized to refer themselves as a Christian

Hello fox......It does instruct one to be baptized, you are right.....but...is that a prerequisite (sp?) to calling yourself a deciple?
The reason I ask, is because I don't remimber the answer, and I see aallot pf Witnesses answering but saying that they are not Witnesses...I am confused....

Daysee...get over yourself...I asked a non threatining question, because I wanted an answer...now go play if you can't handle this.

Born Again...I was calling myself a Christion, before I was Baptized...I am confused on the JW rules.

Dayzee...i do not Hate Witnesses...i do hate "false religion" as do you.....

Lucid Freedom...when I was a child before I was Baptized, i told people I was a Witness....Is this "NEW LIGHT"?

Simon....No one in particular...Just an observation because...I see answers that are obviously from Jehovah's Witnesses, but they prefice theor answer witn " I am not a Witness,.......and then give an answer out of the Watchtower...That is all.

Who is Asker?.....@ of the Jehovahs witnesses accuse me of being angry, but decide to attack me for asking the question...."you will know thm by their works". by tje way I have said that I worship at a Baptist Church....I never claimed to be a Baptist.

Never said I was a Baptist, I said that I worship at a Baptist Church...I would not miss this fact, because i will never allign myself with a secular religion. I am a Christian. You Misunderstood me not the other way around.

Thank you "seasoned with salt" for answering my question....I was confused..things have changed.

Answer 1

That is what they are taught. If you aren't baptized, then you really aren't one of Jehovahs Witnesses.

I am a Witness of Jesus like the people of the Bible. When I talk to JW's, they ask me if I am baptized or if I ever was baptized. It is a big thing for them.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses are baptized into that actual religion. Mormons, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, etc are as well baptized into that particular relgion. When your garden variety Christian is baptized they are baptized in the name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit. There is an ongoing debate about whether or not a Christian HAS to be baptized to have salvation.

EDIT: Are they studying to be a JW and not yet baptized? If thats the case, they are not truly a JW in regards to the dogma of the Kingdom Hall. You HAVE to be baptized to be a full fledged JW. They most likely are saying they are not because of this very rule, yet they are studying to be one, or love the theology and arent getting baptized for some reason.
EDIT AGAIN:

It doesnt look remotely like a smear campaign, whats with these people??

Answer 3

When I was growing up in the KH, anyone who was committed to living as a JW, even if they hadn't taken the step of baptism, called themselves JWs.

I'm wondering if you might have a specific person in mind when you ask this and I am wondering if this person may, in fact, belong to one of the Russellite sects, such as one of the several "Bible Student" groups.

The reason I say this is that such people do often think they are better than the JWs because they feel that the JWs left the theology of Charles Russell to follow his successor, Joseph Rutherford. This is where the rift between the two major groups began. Thereafter, other doctrinal differences caused sub groups to split off from the Bible Students, so there are now several sects of "Russellites".

For the most part the doctrines are the same (ie no trinity, no hell), but there are also some differences. At first glance, however, you might see enough similarities to think that they are JWs when you talk to them. But if you ask them if they are JWs they almost act offended. They think their theology is superior because it is pure, unadulterated Russell.

Answer 4

There are no "unbaptized Jehovah's Witnesses." All of Jehovah's Witnesses are baptized. It is when we get baptized that we are publicly recognized as Jehovah's Witnesses.

Many Bible students progress to the point of qualifying to share in the public ministry alongside Jehovah's Witnesses as "unbaptized publishers" or "unbaptized associates."

Example:

I was raised by Witness parents. I qualified as an unbaptized publisher at the age of 9. I was baptized in 1995, when I was 11. So, even though I am now 23, I have only been one of Jehovah's Witnesses for 12 years, counting from the date of my baptism.

To be a Christian means to be "Christ-like." It is a life-style, demonstrated in our every-day actions and evident to those around us. Jesus dedicated himself to do his Father's will and was baptized. A Christ-like individual, a Christian, would certainly follow Jesus' example in this.

Answer 5

Is the phrase still "unbaptized publisher"? That's what it use to be before I escaped. I think my children still use that phrase also for what some are calling "associate JW's". These are people who are studing, participate in the meetings, have talks, going in the door-to-door work, etc.
I don't think they are officially JW's until they answer the 100+ questions with elders, then answer the 2 questions at a assembly/convention, then get baptised.

I can be a Christian without being baptized. I prayed the prayer months before I had the opportunity to be baptized. Being a Christian is being a follower of Jesus. Scripture does require baptism in following Jesus' example, who was baptized by John, but I don't believe you are not a Christian until you get baptized. I believe you get baptized because you are a Christian. It may be a "chicken/egg" question and answer.

Good question btw.

Answer 6

A "Jehovah's Witness" is a person who continues to meet the qualifications for participation in the formal preaching work of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

An unbaptized publisher among Jehovah's Witnesses might prefer to wait until his baptism before declaring himself to be a "Jehovah's Witness" because of some personal perception of what the term means, or some other personal motivation. A person who merely studies or merely attends the meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses correctly refrains from identifying himself as an actual "Jehovah's Witness". Significantly, the term "witness" is heavy with responsibility (and privilege).
...(Isaiah 43:10,12) “You are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah... So you are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I am God.
...(Hebrews 12:1-2) Because we have so great a cloud of [Jehovah's] witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus
...(Revelation 1:5) Jesus Christ, “the Faithful Witness”


The term "Jehovah's Witness" includes both baptized and unbaptized publishers of "the good news" (all of whom will have previously demonstrated an understanding and commitment to the faith).
...(Acts 13:4-5) Accordingly these men, sent out by the holy spirit, ...began publishing the word of God


It seems significant that Jesus noted that being his disciple would involve personal sacrifice. Reasonable people have long recognized that a person may choose to identify himself as a "Christian" if he believes he is working to follow Christ, even if he is still merely progressing toward baptism. Christ will decide for himself if such claims are valid at the appropriate time.
...(Matthew 7:21) Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.
...(Luke 14:25-35) ...Whoever is not carrying his torture stake and coming after me cannot be my disciple...


The bible seems to reserve the terms "in the Lord" and "in Christ" only for baptized Christians (see Romans 16:8-10 and Colossians 4:7).
...(1 Corinthians 7:39) [A widowed Christian] is free to be married to whom she wants, only in the Lord.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/who.htm

Answer 7

Isn't the asker happy being a Baptist? Why does she spend all her time badgering JW's?

The asker says she hates false religion. But does she? Does she not know that Baptists and others celebrate Christmas and Easter, holidays that most people know are rooted in paganism? Easter is named after the false goddess of spring and fertility. The asker knew this as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. The asker also knows that JW's do not tolerate body-defiling practices like smoking. Can a Baptist smoke and remain in good standing in that religion? Oh, yes.

The asker knows that doctrines like the trinity are not based on the Bible. She is well aware that there are no scriptures that say God is made up of 3 co-equal, co-eternal persons.

So how in the world can she say she hates false religion? SHE WENT BACK TO IT!!

The asker couldn't care less about baptized or unbaptized Jehovah's Witnesses. Her only intent is to smear the integrity of Jehovah's Witnesses. She lives and breathes hatred.

The asker did say she was Baptist. Has she forgotten that fast?

As usual, she has attracted much misinformation. Do I call unbaptized witnesses as "associates? No. I call them either "brother" or "sister."

Answer 8

I would assume they do because they are not baptised, thus they have not yet made the public declaration of thier beliefs. Case in point, many listened to Jesus. However just listening to someone, and/or agreeing with them doesn't make someone a follower or dicsiple of that person. I think Ghandi had some good ideas, and probably some of my views are the same as his, however I doubt anyone would call me a disciple of his, for one thing I don't know all the ends and outs of his beliefs.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

Does not the Bible direct a person to be baptized?
I do not see what you are getting at.
I really admire many of the JW's.
Why? Because, they stand firm and take a lot of heat from people. They really have a consistent message. And although there are some wolves in sheep's clothing here and there, (hey the Bible warned us), there are so many of them that have dropped everything to help me when I was experiencing tremendous trials, that I can not thank them enough.

Answer 10

Surely you remember that the witnesses refer to anyone who isn't baptized as "associates." There are layers of status and privilege that are not conveyed if one is unbaptized. But most telling are the questions asked at baptism since 1985 at least:

---Note how they used to be:

May 15, 1970 WT, Your Conscience Toward Jehovah, p 26

Two questions which do search out the heart and mind of each candidate are:

(1) Have you recognized yourself as a sinner and needing salvation from Jehovah God? And have you acknowledged that this salvation proceeds from him and through his ransomer, Christ Jesus? (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for redemption have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to Jehovah God, to do his will henceforth as that will is revealed to you through Christ Jesus and through God’s Word as his holy spirit makes it plain? Those who answer "yes" audibly to these two questions so that the other persons present may witness their affirmation of dedication may appropriately be baptized.

--Note the changes:

June 1, 1985, Watchtower Subjecting Ourselves to Jehovah by Dedication p29

The first question is:

On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

The second is:

Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?