Don't be deceived – Cults Uncovered Jehovahs Witnesses Dividing the Lies from the Truth in...

Don't be deceived – Cults Uncovered Jehovahs Witnesses

Dividing the Lies from the Truth in common Cults

What are our Warnings?• Isaiah 45:5–6 (NASB95) — “I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God.

I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.

• Colossians 2:8 (NASB95) — “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

• Colossians 2:20–23 (NASB95) — “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

What are our Warnings?

• 1 Timothy 1:4 (NASB95) — “nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.”

• 1 Timothy 6:20 (NASB95) — “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—

• 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB95) — “in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

What is a Cult?• “A cult is a group of people often gathered about a specific person or

person’s misinterpretation of the Bible.”

• To Christians, a cult can be defined as a perversion of biblical Christianity.

• The belief systems of the cults share much in common, and some of these common factors are worth noting.• Characterised by close-mindedness.

• Not interested in a rational cognitive evaluation of the facts.

• The organisational structure interprets the facts to the cultist.

• The cultic belief systems are characterised by genuine antagonism on a personal level since the cultist almost always identifies his dislike of the Christian message with the messenger who hold such opposing beliefs.

Typical Cult Characteristics• A characteristic of many cults is their claim to be Christian or a fuller

revelation of Christianity. This is what makes them so dangerous.

• Many Christians are seduced into a cult by mistakenly believing that they represent just another Christian denomination. And many non-Christians join a cult thinking they are becoming Christians.

• This confusion is made more hazardous because cults frequently use Christian words and terminology, redefined to convey an altogether different meaning than the Christian understanding.

• Thus a cult member can speak of Christ, the Holy Spirit, faith, and sin but mean something entirely different from the orthodox Christian understanding.

Jehovah’s Witnesses - their Characteristics – some background

• Founder of magazine “Zion’s Watchtower” Charles T. Russell c. 1879.

• Second president J.F. Rutherford c. 1916.

• Third president Nathan Knorr c. 1942

• Fourth president Frederick Franz c. 1977

• Current President Don Alden Adams c. 2000

• Doctrine: Deny the truth of the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, His bodily resurrection, salvation by grace and eternal punishment of the unsaved in hell.

Truth Versus Lies – what JWs believe

Elements of Faith Historic Christianity Jehovah's Witnesses

Supreme Being

One personal / supreme God who is Creator & Lord of everything that exists. He eternally exists as Triune God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Gen. 1; Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19.

One God, properly called Jehovah. His Holy Spirit is an impersonal force. Reject the doctrine of Trinity.



Person of Jesus Christ

One divine Person, eternal, with two natures-human & divine. Born on earth as a fully human being. Supreme example of God's character & His love for humanity. Full and final revelation of God and His love. John 1:1-13

A created being with stages of existence: 1. Archangel Michael or the Word. 2. Jesus, perfect man, became Messiah at his baptism; 3. After his spiritual resurrection, became Michael again but retains the name Jesus.



Work of Jesus Christ

Jesus was born, lived, & died in a given time & place as a unique historical event. He lived a sinless life & willingly died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. He is Messiah (Christ), Lord and Saviour. John 1:14-18; 3:16

Christ's ransom sacrifice on a "stake" made salvation possible.



Sources of Authority

Bible (Old & New Testaments). Unique, revealed, factual, accurate, & inspired Word of God. Sole authority for faith & practice. 2 Tim. 3:16-17.

Bible ( New World Translation of Holy Scriptures) as interpreted by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.



Doctrine of Humanity

Humanity is part of creation, but distinct from the rest of creation & from God. Human beings are created in God's image. Every person is a unique, precious being of dignity & worth. Gen. 1:26-28.

Created in Jehovah's image; a soul, not immortal; capable of responding to Jehovah.



The Basic Human Problem

Sin: By their free will, human beings have chosen to sin against God, rejecting His nature, & pursuing a course of life that is opposed to His essential character & revealed law. Gen. 3; Rom. 3:23.

Sin: wilful rebellion against Jehovah.



Solution to the Basic Human Problem

Salvation-release from the guilt & power of sin - is God's gift of grace through Christ's atonement, received through personal faith in Christ. Eph. 2:8-9

Allegiance to Jehovah plus works (baptism, faithfulness in Kingdom Hall work; those ignorant of Jehovah given a chance to believe during millennium).



Ethics (Value System)

Ultimate values for humanity are based on God's character and His Ten Commandments. Human beings are potentially good, but not inevitably good. They always need God's grace to renew their characters.

Those not loyal to Jehovah are unrighteous; all earthly organizations controlled by Satan; Jehovah's Witnesses required to obey Jehovah's laws as explained by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.



Prophecy Views & Life After Death

Eternal communion with God (heaven) or eternal separation from God (hell). Heb. 9:27; Rev. 20-22

144,000 "elect" to reign with Christ in Kingdom of God (heaven). Other Jehovah's Witnesses to live on glorified paradise earth. Annihilation for all who reject Jehovah.

Starting PointsBiblically Based Truth• Acts 17:11• 1 Thess 5:21• Test all things against Scripture

You Witness but God Converts• Matt 28:19-20• Acts 1:8• John 6:39-40,44• 2 Tim 4:1,2• Titus 1:9• Acts 17:2-4• 1 Peter 3: 15-16

Starting PointsBiblically Based Truth• Acts 17:11• 1 Thess 5:21• Test all things against Scripture

You Witness but God Converts• Matt 28:19-20• Acts 1:8• John 6:39-40,44• 2 Tim 4:1,2• Titus 1:9• Acts 17:2-4• 1 Peter 3: 15-16• 2 Cor 5:20• James 1:19; Proverbs 18:13; 25: 15

Starting Points – the Key – Your Testimony

Your personal testimony to a JW (or any other cult) must include the fact that you are sure of going to heaven because you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the divine Saviour and Redeemer, who died for you are the cross. Centre your testimony on Jesus Christ.

“Christianity is not the acceptance of certain ideas. It is a personal attitude of Trust and devotion to a person” (Stephen Neill)

“Christianity is not devotion to work, or to a cause, or a doctrine, but devotion to a person, the Lord Jesus Christ”. (Oswald Chambers)

“A Christian is, in essence, somebody personally related to Jesus Christ,” and “Christianity without Christ is a chest without a treasure, a frame without a portrait, a corpse without breath”. (John R. W. Stott)

Starting Points – the Key – Your TestimonyWhat to include:

1. Describe what your life was like before becoming a Christian – feelings, attitudes, actions, and relationships. (Acts 24: 4-11)

2. What events led up to your decision to trust in Christ? What led up to you considering Christ as a solution to your needs? Was there a crisis? A lack of meaning in life? A pervasive awareness of sin? A fear of death and what lies beyond? Be specific.

3. Describe your conversion experience. Were you at home? Were you in church? Were other Christians with you? (Acts 26: 12-18)

4. What change took place in your life after your conversion? What effect did trusting in Christ have on your feelings, attitudes, actions, and relationships? (Acts 26: 19-23)

Starting Points – the Key – Your TestimonyWhat to avoid:

1. Don’t be too long winded! People have short attention spans so try to keep within half an hour.

2. Try not to use “Christianese”! Try not to use too many theological words that your listener may not be familiar with – like justification, propitiation, reconciliation and sanctification.

3. Do not imply that true Christianity is a “bed of roses” for believers. This is simply not true. You may want to share some of the struggles you have faced since becoming a Christian.

4. Do not be ignorant of or insensitive to the JW’s legalistic spiritual blindness (1 Cor 2:14) The gospel of God’s grace may not make much sense to someone who has been schooled in the gospel of works. So focus in your testimony on how God’s grace has set you free.

Our Statement of FaithOur members consist of people who have all had a personal experience of salvation, have been born again of the Holy Spirit and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord, Saviour and Redeemer.

Our Beliefs

• The Holy Bible – Both Old and New Testaments are divinely inspired, without error, the infallible written word of God, entirely trustworthy and the ultimate answer in all matters of faith and conduct.

• The Holy Trinity – Comprises God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, all are as one and yet remain individually three persons.

• Our Saviour – Jesus Christ. The Son of God, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Truly divine and truly human, who lived a blameless and sinless life in the service of others whilst teaching God’s Word and the path of righteousness. He performed many divine miracles whilst on earth demonstrating the power of God. He was sacrificed on the cross at Calvary so paying the price for the sins of the world and that, as individuals, our sins may be forgiven. He arose from the dead on the third day, he ascended into Heaven where he sits at the right hand of God the Father. By rising from the dead He defeated the devil, Satan, and the power of death. He is Head over all things to the Church and reigns over all power and authority and continues to intercede on behalf of the believer. Through His death He has reconciled us to God the Father. One day He will physically return in all His Power and Glory.

Our Statement of Faith (Cont….)• The Holy Spirit – An extension of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit comes upon us when

we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour and imbues us with the will and ability to carry out God’s work, enables us to see God’s will more clearly and may also bring additional “infilling” or “baptism in the Holy Spirit” as required, in order to empower His people to live a holy life, to grow towards a fuller understanding of God, participate in the ministry of the church, and witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Creation – God created all things from nothing for His pleasure and He created male and female in His image to love Him and one another and to have a personal relationship with Him.

• Sin – Since the “fall” of Adam and Eve, all have been born in sin; we therefore possess a sinful nature and are therefore subject to God’s wrath and condemnation. Sin separates us from God. Sinners are made righteous in the sight of God solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ.

• Salvation – Only through true repentance of our sins and by believing in Jesus Christ can we be made righteous in the eyes of God. We are saved by God’s grace alone and not by works.

• Believers Baptism – We believe that upon confession of faith in Christ Jesus and the repentance of sin, that baptism by full immersion in water is to be encouraged of all Christians as it follows the example as set by Christ Jesus himself.

Our Statement of Faith (Cont….)• The Church – As Christians we are the “Church” and are duty bound to spread the gospel and

administer to the needs of others within and without the confines of the fellowship.

• Priests – In accordance with the Word of God we believe that all who have received salvation through Jesus Christ become part of the “Priesthood of all Believers” and therefore have direct access, through prayer, to God the Father in Heaven.

• Marriage – In accordance with the Word of God and as recognised by Jesus Christ we believe that marriage is to be a permanent, lifelong union of one man with one woman, to the exclusion of all others.

• Resurrection – The bodily resurrection of Christ on the third day after His death, and is the first guarantee of our resurrection at the end of the age.

• The Future – The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God; who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth. In the final accounting there will be a resurrection of the dead with salvation only going to the righteous and eternal condemnation to all of those who are not saved by the Grace of God.

Our Statement of Faith (Cont….)

Our Practices• Holy Communion - We observe the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine in memory of

our Lord’s sacrifice for us.

• Water Baptism – Believers Baptism by total immersion in water.

• Prayer for healing - Anointing with oil combined with prayer for the healing of the sick.

• Operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit endows the believer with His gifts to worship God, do His work, proclaim the gospel, promoting justice and love. We practice these gifts as part of normal Church life when together in fellowship. We recognise “speaking in tongues”, prophecy, healing and other associated New Testament church practices, as confirmed by scripture, when some church members are moved by the Holy Spirit to do so.

The Priestly Blessing - Numbers 6:24–27 (NASB95)

24 The LORD bless you, and keep you;

25 The LORD make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.’

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