Volume 4 Number 3 February 11, 2009

MarketFaith Ministries is an equipping ministry which is focused on helping Christians become more effective
in living out their faith in the midst of the increasingly diverse worldview environment of modern society.
Introduction

The article today is designed to give some insight about the Jehovah’s Witness cult. As I talk to various Christians about
this group, it seems that most who come into contact with them simply close the door when they come to visit. That is one
way to deal with them, but the better approach is to know how to share a witness back to them. We are the ones with the
truth. But that truth loses much of its benefit if we don’t know how to share it.

In dealing with Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is very important that our starting place be to understand them. We do this by
grasping their worldview position, then learning their unique teachings. With this knowledge it becomes possible to dem-
onstrate that what they believe is simply not credible. It also becomes possible to strengthen ourselves against their false
witness .Unfortunately, a large number of converts to the Jehovah’s Witness cult come from Christians who don’t under-
stand the truth of their own Biblical faith and are captured by their false teachings. Today’s article ought to give you some
new insights in this area.

On a personal note, what are you doing to grasp a deeper understanding of worldview? MarketFaith Ministries has some
very good options for you. Certainly, this newsletter is a good place to start, but if you have not taken the effort to lay your
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The Gospel According to Dwight D. Eisenhower: Jehovah’s Witness

Perhaps it is pushing it a little to put Dwight Eisenhower as
the up-front representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Not
that it is not true. He was raised in this cult. But, like so
many of the well known people who have ties with this
group, he was not active throughout his life.
While we virtually never hear high profile Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses talk of their faith, there are several very well known
people who have a connection to the cult. This list includes
people such as tennis champions Venus and Serena Wil-
liams, pop music icons Michael Jackson (along with his
whole family), Prince and Selena. Then you have model
Naomi Campbell and best selling novelist Mickey Spillane.
It is interesting that the Mormon church is increasingly
working to up their profile in modern society by trying to
make themselves seem more like a mainstream Christian
organization. In doing this, high profile Mormons are putting
themselves in the public square and standing up for their
faith.
In the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, though, it seems
that most of the high profile people who have connections
with them are either folks who have fallen away or who try
to hide their affiliation. Jehovah’s Witnesses, as an organi-
zation, are proud of their exclusiveness and distinctive be-
liefs. But that doesn’t really play well in the public square,
so those who are concerned with their public persona keep
it under wraps.
Let’s begin our journey of understanding the Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses by getting a little background information. Just
where did these folks come from?
(Continued on page 2)

Contact MarketFaith Ministries

312 Anton Dr. Toll Free: 888-883-0656
Tallahassee, FL 32312 info@marketfaith.org Phone: 850-383-9756
http://www.marketfaith.org Fax: 850-514-4571

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(Introduction - Continued from page 1)

foundation, you are selling yourself short. Spend some time checking out the free resources on the website at
www.marketfaith.org. You might also want to take advantage of some of our books that relate to understanding the prac-
tical implications of worldview. These are also available at the website. And, there are still a few copies of the four world-
view self study workbooks available. Contact us directly if you are interested in these.

You can get in touch with me any time by snail mail at MarketFaith Ministries, 321 Anton Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32312, by
phone at 850-383-9756, or by e-mail at info@marketfaith.org. It is my desire to be a powerful resource for you. Contact
me at any time with your thoughts, opinions and suggestions. It is always a joy to hear from you.

God bless,
Freddy

(Jehovah’s Witnesses - Continued from page 1)

History
The Jehovah Witnesses are officially known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The group was founded, in
1879, by Charles Taze Russell. As a teenager Russell rejected his Presbyterian roots and affiliated with the more theo-
logically liberal Congregational Church. He later left this group, as well.

Russell had no formal Bible training but borrowed doctrines from many of the popular theological trends of his day. For
example, Adventism influenced his denial of hell, and a splinter Adventist group led by N.H. Barbour spurred his interest
in end time prophecies.

While he was still a teenager, Russell organized a Bible class in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The members of that class
eventually made him their pastor. In 1879, as his ideas became more developed, he set out to try and popularize them.
To do this, he co-published a magazine called The Herald of the Morning with the periodical’s founder, N. H. Barbour. By
1884, Russell had managed to gain operational control of the magazine and renamed it The Watchtower Announcing
Jehovah's Kingdom. Around that time, he also founded Zion's Watchtower Tract Society (now known as the Watchtower
Bible and Tract Society). During his lifetime, Russell served as the teacher and guide for the organization.

The next leader, following Russell’s death, was Joseph F. Rutherford, the society’s legal counselor. Under his leadership
the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” was adopted. He moved the society toward a theocratic form of control which gave him
the power to make all policy decisions.

The third leader was Nathan Knorr who assumed leadership upon Rutherford’s death in 1942. Under his leadership the
society increased from 115,000 to over 2 million members. They also produced their own translation of the Bible, called
The New World Translation of Holy Scriptures. Knorr died in 1977.

Frederick W. Franz became the fourth president of The Watchtower Society. He served from 1977 until his death in
1992.

Franz was followed by Milton G. Henschel who was the leader of the organization from 1992 to 2000. The current presi-
dent is Don A. Adams, who took the reigns in 2000.

Instruction and training for Jehovah’s Witness members is provided at frequent meetings held primarily in their worship
centers, which are called "Kingdom Halls."
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Find these books along with other

great worldview resources at
www.marketfaith.org

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((Jehovah’s Witnesses - Continued from page 2)

The Watchtower Society currently claims a worldwide membership of over six million. About one million of these are in the
U.S. They maintain that they have over 91,000 congregations in 235 countries. The church takes in approximately
300,000 new members each year and establishes an average of 45 new congregations every week. The Watchtower so-
ciety claims to field over 500,000 full and part-time missionaries.

Basic Beliefs and Practices

There are several distinctive beliefs that characterize the theology and practice of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is considered to be God’s sole channel for the flow of Biblical truth to men on
earth.
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to accept the Bible as their only authority. However, the Bible must be explained accord-
ing to Watchtower Society interpretations. Initially a six volume set of Scripture Studies written by Russell were touted
as containing the knowledge of how to correctly interpret the Bible. Russell claimed that people are unable to see the
divine plan by studying the Bible alone and that the Scripture Studies were necessary to inform their understanding.
He even stated that if a person lays the Scripture Studies aside and tries to study the Bible alone, they will soon fall
into darkness. However, it is possible for a person to study the Scripture Studies alone and receive all of the light of
the Scriptures. Over the years, elements of Jehovah’s Witness theology have changed and it seemed prudent for the
Watchtower Society to withdraw the Scripture Studies from circulation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that their interpretation of Scripture has been “passed to the Holy Spirit who invisibly com-
municates with Jehovah’s Witnesses – and the Publicity Department.” In practical terms, the truth that Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses accept is believed to ultimately come from
Jehovah God who passes it on to Jesus Christ, who
then passes it on to a ruling class of humans. They,
then, pass it to the governing body of the church who Subscription Information
forward it to the individual kingdom halls. This authori-
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Witnesses believe that there is no hell as a place of http://www.marketfaith.org.
everlasting punishment for the wicked. They claim that
the concept of hell is: 1) wholly unscriptural; 2) unrea-
sonable; 3) contrary to God’s love; and 4) repugnant to PERMISSION TO REPRINT: If you wish to reprint this
justice. month’s article in your own print or electronic newsletter,
Over the years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have made many please include the following paragraph:
prophesies concerning the end of the world which did
not come true. These prophesies were later reinterpret- Reprinted from Worldview Made Practical; a free e-zine
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Essential Beliefs www.marketfaith.org.
God
Jehovah’s Witnesses are unitarian in their belief about God
and, thus, deny the doctrine of the Trinity. They claim that
neither Jesus Christ nor the Holy Spirit is God. They be-
lieve that God has many titles but only one name, and that Support MarketFaith Ministries
name is Jehovah. Jehovah is understood to have a body,
but it is not like ours. As a spirit, God is a life form that is The purpose of MarketFaith Ministries is to equip the Body
much higher than our own. The Watchtower considers Him of Christ to become more effective by sharing the practical
to be the only true eternal God. applications of worldview. We are involved in developing
training and resource materials for that very purpose. If
They assert that there was a time when Jehovah was all you would like to partner with us in this effort, you may
alone in universal space and that his first creative act was send your tax deductible contribution to MarketFaith Minis-
to create his son, Jesus Christ. Christ is not acknowledged tries, 321 Anton Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32312.
to be God in human form. Rather, he was God's first cre-
ation and is, thus, called the "firstborn Son of God.” Wit-

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(Jehovah’s Witnesses - Continued from page 3)

nesses believe that Jehovah God and Jesus Christ together constitute the superior authorities. Jesus was a god, but not
Almighty God.

Further, Witnesses believe that prior to his coming to earth, Jesus existed in the form of Michael the Archangel. They also
believe that after his resurrection, when he returned to heaven, he re-assumed his former state. Lucifer, who rebelled
against God, is understood to be the brother of Jesus.

Jesus is the only Son that Jehovah created by himself. He then used Jesus as his "master worker" to create all other
things in heaven and on earth. At the appropriate time, God sent Jesus to the earth by transferring his life to the womb of
Mary. He is not believed to have had a human father, which is why he did not inherit any sin or imperfection. When Jesus
died, he was resurrected as a spirit creature and returned to heaven. Upon his return, God made him to be King.
The Holy Spirit is not recognized as a personality in any way and is not part of the Godhead. It is understood to be an
“invisible active force of Almighty God which moves his servants to do his will.”

Man
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that mankind is a purposefully created being formed in God’s image. The first man, Adam,
disobeyed Jehovah when he was tempted by Lucifer. As a result of his disobedience, Adam and all his descendants lost
the right to life and became subject to death. The loss of the right to life only applies in the physical sense of the word.

In his essence, man is seen to be completely mortal. The word “spirit,” for Jehovah’s Witnesses, is interpreted to mean
literal physical breath. The result of that interpretation is that man is not a spiritual being, only a physical, breathing being.
Therefore, there is no spiritual part of a person to live on after death.

In the end, all the faithful (meaning Jehovah’s Witnesses) will be resuscitated to life. There will be 144,000 people who will
be transformed into spiritual beings and taken to heaven to live there with God. The rest of the faithful Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses will be given new bodies and allowed to live on earth eternally. Those who did not become Witnesses will simply
not be resurrected.

Salvation
For Jehovah’s Witnesses, salvation is accomplished by a combination of faith and works. In order to be rewarded with
everlasting life, individuals must devote themselves to do God’s will, and faithfully carry out his work. There are four steps
to salvation:
1. Taking Knowledge - Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ includes knowing the Watchtower’s interpretations of God’s
purposes regarding the earth and Christ’s role as earth’s new King.
2. Obey God’s Laws - A person must conform their life to the moral requirements set out in the Bible according to the
teachings of the Watchtower Society.
3. Be Associated with God’s Channel - A person must be part of the Jehovah’s Witness church.
4. Loyalty - God requires that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his government by loyally advocating the rule
of his Kingdom to others (that is. to go out and witness).

Faith Foundation (How Jehovah’s Witnesses answer the seven worldview questions)
1. What is the most fundamental reality? (Ultimate reality)
Jehovah is the one and only God and exists as a unitary being. He lives in universal space and is creator of all things.
Heaven exists and is where God dwells with his son Jesus Christ. Material reality is the domain of mankind.

2. What is the nature of our material reality? (Material reality)

Material reality is a creation of Jehovah. He created it for his own purposes and personally guides its existence.

3. What is a human being? (Humanity)

Humans beings are creatures which were created by God. They are strictly physical beings (a soul) and do not have a
spirit that survives the death of the body. The soul cannot exist apart from the body.

4. What happens to a person at death? (Death)

At death, the human soul ceases to exist. When the body dies, the corpse remains in an unconscious state in the grave
waiting for the resurrection. At the resurrection, those who did not accept Jehovah’s Witness beliefs will have a second
chance to be saved. If they do not accept it, their bodies will simply die and they will cease to exist. There is no hell where
the wicked are punished. Those who are righteous will be resurrected and given a soul that exactly duplicates the person-
ality they had as they lived life on earth. They will have their lives reunited with a physical body and live eternally on the

(Continued on page 5)

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(Jehovah’s Witnesses - Continued from page 4)

new earth. The 144,000 Jehovah's Witnesses who have been chosen by God to be part of the ruling class are changed
into spirit beings and go to heaven and live out their eternity there.

5. Why is it possible to know anything at all? (Knowledge)

Knowledge is possible because God created mankind with the ability to know.

6. How do we know what is right and wrong? (Morality)

Right and wrong are revealed in the Bible. However, it must be interpreted by the Watchtower Society. The primary inter-
pretations are found in the Watchtower Magazine.

7. What is the meaning of human history? (History)

History is a linear series of events which began with God’s creation of the world and humanity. There will come a moment
when God ends the world as we know it, but will transform it into a place where all the faithful will live forever. This blissful
earth will fulfill God’s purpose for material reality.

Authority
There are no authoritative doctrinal statements issued by the Watchtower Society. Their theological views are found in
their various publications, and all doctrines that proceed from these works are considered authoritative. They contend that
the Bible is their final source of authority, but they establish their own particular beliefs by quoting Scripture verses out of
context while omitting other passages relevant to a given topic. The foundation of their beliefs are the teachings of
Charles Taze Russell. These were initially recorded in his Scripture Studies. The primary tool which is now used to edu-
cate members in the faith is the Watchtower Magazine which is written by the church’s leaders in the home office.
Jehovah’s Witnesses also have their own translation of the Scriptures, The New World Translation, which was published
in 1961. This version reflects the binding interpretations of the group's leaders.

Evidence for the Authority

The authoritative interpretations of The Watchtower Society come from the original writings of Russell and from subse-
quent proclamations of the home office. When authoritative statements are issued, no rationale is given except that it is
the new official position which has been passed on to them from God. Individuals are not permitted to question these pro-
nouncements as they are believed to be revelations from God to those chosen by him to lead the church. It is unknown
who these people are. Other than the church’s claim of authority, there is no evidence that what they teach is true.

Summary
Jehovah’s Witnesses have a reputation for being good, moral people. In general, this is quite true. They have a very
strong sense of morality and the foundation for that morality comes from the Bible. It is not stretching it to say that the
moral sense of Jehovah Witnesses is, in many ways, quite similar to Biblical Christianity.

But the most important issue regarding faith does not relate to one’s sense of morality, as important as that is. There are
many groups which have an admirable moral code. Rather, the most important question is, “How does one come to know
a relationship with God? On this one, Jehovah’s Witnesses are completely off base. In order to come up with their ap-
proach to salvation they have taken Scripture out of context, changed previous doctrinal pronouncements and hidden
where their beliefs come from.

In our dealings with Jehovah’s Witnesses, we don’t need to be intimidated or contemptuous. They are very good, sincere
people who are devoted to their religion. Rather, we need to be educated about how to show them that what they believe
is wrong so that we can be effective in sharing the truth with them.

In the next Issue: How Non-Christian Worldviews are Changing America