FAQ About Determining the Truth

.:WHY DID THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES STOP BEING MY FRIENDS WHEN I STOPPED STUDYING WITH THEM?

“I have been studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses for a year and attending meetings.  When I decided to stop studying for a while, all those friends are now no longer there.  I had stopped studying because I found it hard to believe that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are the only true religion.  I also couldn’t understand why they wanted me to take my 11-year old son out of Karate and not to prepare him for college.  I know they want him to serve Jehovah, but he also lives with his dad who is Catholic.  I miss my friends, but then again, they are only friends if I attend the Kingdom Hall.  I am so confused!”

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.:HOW CAN I FIND SOMEONE TO STUDY THE BIBLE WITH ME?

“I have been studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. When I found your website, I discovered that some of the beliefs that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been teaching me are not accurate according to the Bible. I am confused and I really want to know what the Bible says. How can I find someone to meet with me and teach me how to study the Bible accurately?”

OUR RESPONSE:

Dear friend,

We appreciate your desire to know what the Bible says about how to know God and live a life that is pleasing to Him. Since our ministry is small and does not have enough staff to meet with you one-on-one, we recommend the ministry of The Navigators as well as the ministry of Bible Study Fellowship. They specialize in meeting people one-on-one to do home bible studies or meeting in small groups at local public places, and they have many staff and resources to help you learn how to study the Bible on your own. Here are a few of links to their websites that will help you:

BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP GROUPS - www.bsfinternational.org

 STUDY THE BIBLE WITH A NAVIGATOR STAFF PERSON - Click on this map to find a Navigator staff person in your area to contact for a free home bible study. (www.navigators.org)

 THE RACE BEGINS BIBLE STUDY TRAINING GUIDE - Read this Bible Study Training Manual to learn how to read and study the Bible on your own. (from navigators.org and pfi.org) “The Race Begins” is a program for those who have recently accepted Christ.

• Note: Even though this Bible study was first created to be used as a training guide to teach prison inmates about the Bible, it is still a good Bible study for ANYONE who wants to know more about the Bible.

If there are no Navigator staff people or Bible Study Fellowship groups in your area that are able to meet with you, you can always study the training manual linked above as well as visit a local Christian church in your area.  A few guidelines that can help you find a good Christian church are given in this article:

.: I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE SO I STARTED STUDYING WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES. HAVE I BEEN DECEIVED?

“I just read Tammie’s story about her experiences in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I couldn’t help but think that I might be blinded. I have been studying with a Jehovah’s Witness for a few months and reading their books. Before this, I was never religious at all. I am very naïve concerning religion and everything I know has been what I have learned through my studies with them. What I’m learning seems to make a lot of sense, but I want to be sure I am doing the right thing. Have I been deceived or are the Jehovah’s Witnesses accurately teaching me the Bible? Are your beliefs based entirely around the Bible? If so, what are your beliefs now and how do they differ from Jehovah’s Witnesses?”

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.:I’M THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK INTO THE JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES BUT ... I am still unsure if this is really ‘the Truth’ or not.  Can you please help me?

“I’m thinking about going back to the Jehovah’s Witnesses again. I was a Jehovah’s Witness for many years, but I left due to various reasons, including hypocrisy. At one point, I was disfellowshipped and shunned by my Jehovah’s Witness friends for almost two years. Then, when I was reinstated back into the organization, I was never fully accepted by the brothers and sisters. I believe in Jehovah God, and I have been to various other churches. Yet, in spite of all I have seen in the organization, I still wonder if Jehovah’s Witnesses have ‘the Truth.’  Recently, an elder and his wife have been bringing me Watchtower magazines. So, last week, I decided to start another study with them to become active again, but I am still unsure if this is really ‘the Truth’ or not. Can you please help me?”

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.:I'M CONFUSED. WHO IS GOD? I HAVE A CHRISTIAN MOM AND A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS DAD. Who should I believe?

Hi, I’m 16 years old and I have a Christian mother and a Jehovah’s Witness dad. I am super confused! I go to church on Tuesday for my dad and Wednesday for my mom. Every time, I go to my dad’s church (the Kingdom Hall), I’m really bored and I just want to get out of there. When I go to my mom’s church, I like it and I have friends there at the youth group. I don’t want to hurt my dad’s feelings when I tell him I don’t want to go to his church. Well, I met an ex-Jehovah’s Witness who explained to me that some people say Jesus is Jehovah and that doesn’t make sense.  Then, I went to my mom’s church and they were talking about the “Father” and the “Son.” Well, who is the Father?  I asked my mom and she tried to tell me that Jesus and Jehovah are the same thing. They’re inside your heart.  What?  Isn’t that what the ex-Jehovah’s Witness friend was telling me that didn’t make sense?  So, does that mean my mom doesn’t know who God is either?  Now when my dad tries to tell me that mom is wrong, I don’t say anything because I’m confused!  Who is God?

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I AM AN AGNOSTIC WHO DECIDED TO STUDY WITH MY JEHOVAH’S WITNESS FRIEND.  What Consequence Should I Expect if I Decide Not to Continue My Studies Because I Don’t Believe in God?

“I am currently studying with a Jehovah’s Witness friend who I respect a lot. I only agreed to consider this since I am agnostic and do not believe in a higher power. However, I always thought, ‘Who am I to have such thoughts when billions believe I am wrong?’ I believe in truth, and if I claim to be a truth seeker, then I must admit that I do not know everything, especially the origin of man. I have studied the great questions we all have: ‘Where does man come from? What was the first living cell and where did it spring from? What created the spark that launched the cosmos at the beginning?’  Unfortunately, I can’t reconcile these questions with the belief in God; although the Bible is the most unique book I have ever encountered… Since I was told that my study is understood to be a journey that yields no consequence unless it results in an admitted knowledge resulting in baptism, implies, to walk away should yield no consequences to the relationship of a great friend who began this journey as my teacher. …Yet, I am struggling. Not just with my faith, but with my journey and the choice I made to take this journey down this particular road. What should I expect as a consequence knowing what I just told you? I look forward to your reply and will consider that reply thoughtfully.”

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WHAT BIBLE TRANSLATION DO YOU RECOMMEND?

“Today I decided to discontinue studying with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  My decision was based on reading information from your website and talking to my niece who was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness.  She shared with me her childhood experience of growing up in the Watchtower “truth” and then told me why she chose not to become baptized in this religion.  I have been studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses for 10 years, mainly because I thought they were the only source where I could learn “the truth” about what the Bible says.  Now I know they are teaching lies, but I don’t know where to start to re-learn the Bible.  What Bible translation should I study from?  Yes, I will pray about this too, but I would like to know what translation you are using in your ministry.  Thank you for providing your resources to all who seek to accept Jesus Christ as the truth into their lives.”

OUR RESPONSE:

Dear Friend,

We are happy to hear how God has opened your eyes to the deception you were getting involved in.  Yes, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a way of twisting what the Bible teaches. It is good you will continue your faith in Christ and reading the Bible. Just reading Scripture, without the Watchtower literature, will reveal much about the way false religions twist Biblical truth.

As far as choosing a Bible translation, there are several that we use in our ministry. They are as follows:

• The King James Version (KJV) is an old English version, but a good translation. We like it because it is a standard in many churches, but its disadvantages include the fact that its old English text is difficult to understand and the Greek text it is based upon is not as accurate as the more modern translations we have today that utilize the more ancient Greek manuscripts unearthed in the 19th Century.
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.:I’M HURT AND CONFUSED BUT I’M AFRAID TO LEAVE.  What if Jehovah's Witnesses are right?

“I’m still one of Jehovah’s Witnesses although I no longer believe in it. I’m so hurt and confused, I don’t know who to believe or trust. I’m thinking about turning in my letter of disassociation, but I’m afraid of making the wrong decision and giving up my chance of living forever in paradise on earth after Armageddon. In spite of all that I’ve seen and experienced that makes me believe that this religion is not “the truth,” I still have the nagging question of what if Jehovah’s Witnesses are right and this is all an attack from Satan to get me to leave Jehovah?”

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.:IF JEHOVAH HATES HOMOSEXUALS, WHY DID HE CREATE ME THIS WAY?

“I have always wondered why Jehovah dislikes homosexuals. At an early age, I knew I was different from others. I have had these feelings since I was five years old. Believe me, I did not choose to be this way. I was teased and harassed about this all the way through school, so why would anyone want to be gay?  Since Jehovah created me this way, why would He hate me?  Currently, I am a transvestite and in a few months, I plan to have surgery to change my sex.  My parents who are Jehovah’s Witnesses do not agree with my choice, but I feel that changing my gender is the only way I can deal with these feelings and feel accepted.  I love Jehovah God, but I need to get a new and real life. Can you help me?”

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.:MY JEHOVAH’S WITNESS BROTHER COMMITTED SUICIDE.  WILL JEHOVAH FORGIVE?  CAN YOU HELP ME?

“I need help dealing with the death of my Jehovah’s Witness brother who just committed suicide.  My brother and I were raised Jehovah’s Witness, but when I and my mother were disfellowshipped, my brother took it real hard as he could no longer be part of our lives.  Like so many Witnesses, he tried hard to be perfect and when he wasn’t able to live up to their standards, it literally killed him.  He had doubts and questions that he was never allowed to ask as he had been told that this was ‘independent thinking’ and ‘pride.’  So, he buried his thoughts and feelings and constantly strove to perform better, while he secretly suffered from severe depression and an obsessive, compulsive disorder. His marriage to a Jehovah’s Witness had failed and because of the Watchtower policy against remarriage, he could never have kids and was doomed to life alone.  Once he tried to start a ‘bible study’ with my son as this would be a way that he could have contact with us, but when an elder told him that he was not ‘spiritually strong enough’ to study with my son, even that was ripped from him.  He felt like a failure and had nothing to live for.  He left a note telling us that he ‘loved us’ and begging for our forgiveness. He asked us to cremate him and ‘dispose’ of his ashes. He believed as all Witnesses do that suicide is an unforgivable sin, but in his eyes, he was a walking dead person anyway, so why did that matter?  My brother is not in a dumpster but in all of our homes. I know it is just ashes, but it’s all I have.  How do I begin to build a relationship with God on a personal level and learn to trust religion? Do you think suicide is black and white with Jehovah or do you think my brother could one day find happiness? If I, an imperfect human, can forgive him, why can’t Jehovah who is love? Please help me!”

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.:I'M STUDYING WITH JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE I GET BAPTIZED?

“I’ve been studying with Jehovah's Witnesses and I think what they say makes a lot of sense, but before I get baptized, I want to make sure they are ‘the Truth.’ What do you have to say about them?”

OUR RESPONSE:

Dear friend,

Your desire to critically examine the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses before becoming involved is commendable. We appreciate the opportunity to share with you some of the research we have compiled and hope you will find it helpful as you determine whether you should get involved with the Watchtower organization. While most individual Jehovah’s Witnesses are nice people, we have found that the Watchtower organization itself is not honest in its presentation of “the Truth.” Not only is the Bible Jehovah’s Witnesses use, the New World Translation (NWT) distorted, but many of the doctrines they teach do not line up with Scripture. (For more information, click examples of Watchtower lies and cover-ups, click errors in the Watchtower NWT, and click here for a list of doctrinal errors)

.: Letter from a Jehovah’s Witness: “How Can Anyone Believe Jesus is God?”

I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Yet, before studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses, I found the Bible to teach that Jesus is not Almighty God, nor part of a Trinity. I don’t see the equality of the Father and Son. The Son was tempted by the Devil (Matthew 4:1), whereas God cannot be tempted by evil (James 1:13). If the Son were God, how could there be any real temptation in offering God something back that He Himself had already given to Satan (Matthew 4:8-9)? The Son doesn’t know the day or hour, only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36). The Son’s will is distinct and can be different from the Father’s will (Matthew 26:39). The Son can only do what He sees the Father do (John 5:19), whereas God can do all things (Matthew 19:26). The Son only has the power and authority “given” to Him by the Father (Matt 28:18), and the Son will relinquish that power in the future (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Above all, the Son says that the Father is “greater” than Him and that His Father is His “God.” If the Son has a God, how can he be God Himself? There is much more I could write, but this is certainly a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. Isn’t it? May the “King [be] over all [other] gods” (Psalm 95:3). Jehovah bless you.

OUR RESPONSE:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your conviction that Jesus is not God. It is indeed an admirable task to seek to be a true “witness” of Jehovah by studying to accurately defend the identity of this only true God (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20). Your studious examination of Scripture in this regard is to be commended.

In response to your concerns, let's start by first discussing what traditional Christians mean when they/we say that “Jesus is God.” We believe that as God (John 1:1), Jesus possesses the full nature of the only true God (Colossians 1:19; 2:9), yet we DO NOT believe that Jesus is the Father. As you correctly note when you mentioned how the Son’s will is distinct from the Father’s will, Scripture makes a clear distinction between the person of the Father and the person of the Son.

.:I WAS MOLESTED AS A CHILD IN JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES. DOES JEHOVAH EVEN CARE?

“When I was growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, I was sexually abused by my father, who was an elder. When it came to light, it was swept under the rug and I was told to leave it in Jehovah’s hands. I waited with the expectation of a child, but nothing ever happened. Justice never came. Does Jehovah even care about my abuse and the long lasting effects I have because of it? As an adult I suffer from depression, eating disorders and serious thoughts of suicide. What kind of a loving God would let this happen to an innocent child? Loving God was the worst mistake of my life!”

OUR RESPONSE:

Dear Broken Hearted Friend,

My name is Beryl, and I cannot exaggerate how much I understand your feelings. My heart has spent many years in pain and I have cursed God and shaken my fists at Him in outrage! I have tried two times to take my own life. I know firsthand what hopeless feels like.

If it is alright with you I would like to share a little bit of my story, just enough for you to have absolute confidence that I am not patronizing you or giving you false hope. I am truly speaking from my own life experience.

.:WHY CHRISTIANS EMPHASIZE JESUS INSTEAD OF JEHOVAH

Hi, my name is Tressa. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness or are thinking about leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses, you probably have the same question that I had when I first left Jehovah’s Witnesses: “Why do Christians emphasize Jesus instead of Jehovah?”

As a Witness, I wore the title “one of Jehovah’s Witnesses” proudly. Over and over in the Kingdom Halls, we spoke of Jehovah, sang of Jehovah, worshipped Jehovah and prayed to Jehovah. But when I decided that I wasn’t going back to the Watchtower and started visiting many different Christian churches, looking for the “right organization” that could tell me what I was supposed to believe, I was shocked.

.: WHAT IS YOUR DEFENSE BEFORE JEHOVAH GOD?

Powerful Lessions from the ER (www.livingwaters.com)

.: MY DEFENSE BEFORE JEHOVAH GOD

After living a “decent” life, my time on earth came to an end.  The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.  The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.  As I looked around, I saw the “prosecutor.”  He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.  He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.  I sat down and looked to my left. There sat my Lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed very familiar to me.