Non-JWs, Which of these beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses do you disagree with and why?
TRINITY – JWs REJECT this belief.
We believe that there is only One God the Creator, and he is singular, not plural. For one to believe the Trinity the Father and Son must be EQUAL they are not. Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I." The Bible also says, “…the head of the Christ is God.” We believe the Trinity is a demonic lie that has made Almighty God into a common God. Instead of One Almighty God person in heaven there are three.
WHO IS GOD?
JWs believe Jehovah is God. Jesus his Son is godlike.
WICKED BURN IN HELL – JWs REJECT this belief.
We believe hell is mankind’s common grave and is located 6 feet under the ground. You have heard of R.I.P (Rest in Peace). JWs believe the dead in hell rest in peace. That Christians who claim they are burning are liars. That both good and bad people go to hell. That the dead in hell rot, they do not burn. That those buried above ground are still in hell, their grave (memorial tombs).
PHYSICAL RESURRECTION OF CHRIST – JWs REJECT this belief. We believe Jesus was raised a mighty spirit person, that he was not human upon his resurrection. We believe Jesus was an incarnate (a spirit manifesting himself as a man) like the angels who appeared to Abraham and Sarah before going on to Sodom. FLESH and BLOOD cannot enter into heaven, therefore Jesus could not have been raised the same way he died, FLESH AND BLOOD, since he had to immediately go to heaven. Why would God raise his Son in a form that cannot enter into heaven? Jesus was FLESH and BONES, an incarnate. Since there is no other form the angels who appeared to Abraham before going on to Sodom must be FLESH and BONES also. But Jesus ate food after he was raised? So did the angels before going on to Sodom..
NO ANNIHALATION – JWs REJECT this belief.
We believe the human soul is not immortal. That God cause man to exist and he can stop them from existing.
DIETY OF CHRIST – JWs REJECT this belief.
We believe Jesus is the Son of Almighty God. That Jesus is godlike but is not God. And though Jesus said, “If you see me you see my father” we do not believe Jesus meant he is the Father (the heavenly One). Rather Jesus was referring to his Father’s character.
WHO GOES TO HEAVEN AND WHY – JWs believe only "Saints" go to heaven and they go there to work. They will rule with Christ for 1000 years from heaven. The rest of righteous mankind remain on earth.
"Saint’s" are also known as the Little Flock or the 144,000.
SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH – JWs ACCEPT this belief.
However when we say faith we are not speaking of dead faith (the kind that lacks works). We believe we are saved through faith that’s alive (faith accompanied by works that harmonize with one’s faith). We believe that works demonstrate we have true faith. We also believe one must practice WORKS of REPENTANCE before one can be baptized or receive God’s holy spirit. God’s holy spirit will not dwell in unclean temples (bodies). Therefore a woman who is sleeping with someone’s husband cannot get baptized until she stops fornicating nor will God’s spirit dwell in her. She is required to practice works that befit repentence which demonstrate her faith is true. Thus, before one gets baptized which is a very serious commitment (like marriage), one must be taught the Word of God.
We DO NOT BELIEVE we can do nothing to save ourselves or that Jesus did everything and we do not have to do works. We also do not believe Salvation is 100% free. Rather we believe we must fear God (have deep reverence for God) and work righteousness as well as avoid bad works if we are to be saved. Since we are imperfect we cannot do it alone we need Jesus’ help. But to think that Jesus righteousness ALONE will make us righteous…we do not believe that. If that was the case the weeds/tares would also be righteous.
Jesus said, "If YOUR righteousness does not abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens."
Our filthy rags (our righteousness) which abounds more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees + Jesus’ righteousness = Holiness
Edit
JORGE- (1) the 144,000 & 24 elders-look at the answer Debbie gave she is one of Jehovah’s witnesses (2) In order to enter heaven one MUST be "born again" no exception therefore neither the woman nor her 7 husbands can go to heaven. They will join the evildoer who Jesus promised, "I tell you this today, you will be with me in paradise." The paradise Jesus speaks of is the new Earth.
WARRIOR – (1) You believe in Salvation by Grace thru Dead Faith which DOES NOT require works; JWs believe in Salvation by Grace thru Living Faith which DOES require works
FRIEND – (1) Reread the reason we reject the Diety of Christ. Modalism is heresy. (2) Spirits do not eat but incarnates do. Jesus after his resurrection and the three angels that appeared to Abraham before going to Sodom ate food. All were incarnates (spirits beings that assume fleshly bodies).
KIME – (1) I doubt you read anything I posted you are justly completely off. Too many wrong beliefs for me to respond to here.
Tim – (1) Jesus is the firstborn of God’s creation. Jesus can never be equal to his creator. His God and Father. Furthermore, the scripture you posted states the head of the woman is the man the head of every man is the Christ and the head of the Christ —is God Jehovah, Creator of them all– the woman, the man, and the Christ.
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Interesting that most of the "beliefs" you mention are things you don’t believe in (trinity, hell, immortal soul)
Of the eight "beliefs" you mention, three of them are the equivalent of "we don’t believe in the trinity." No problem with that. The trinity as you present it is not a scriptural doctrine.
I’m not too convinced on the whole 144,000 thing, though. The Witnesses use Revelation 14:1-4 (as well as Rev. 7) to prove that only 144,000 individuals are resurrected to heavenly life. They feel that this particular number should be taken literally…but the following are merely symbolic:
- Rev. 14:1 "the Lamb": Symbol of Jesus
- Rev. 14:1 "Mt. Zion": Symbol for heaven
- Rev. 14:1 "name…written on their foreheads": Symbolic
- Rev. 14:3 "throne": Symbolic
- Rev. 14:3 "4 living creatures": symbolic
- Rev. 14:3 "24 elders": symbolic–of the 144,000!!
- Rev. 14:4 "virgins": symbolic of spiritual virginity
- Rev. 7:4: "144,000": Literal
- Rev. 7:4: "out of every tribe of Israel": symbolic
- Rev. 7:5-8: *names of tribes*: symbolic
- Rev. 7:5-8: *12,000 from each tribe: symbolic
From the above, doesn’t it appear that the Witnesses are being arbitrary when they interpret the "144,000" number to be literal, but the other numbers (e.g., 4 living creatures, 24 elders, 12000 from each tribe) are symbolic?
And what’s even more baffling is that the 144,000 and the 24 elders are supposed to represent the same group of people! But Rev. 14:3 depicts the 144,000 singing a song BEFORE THE ELDERS! So they’re singing a song in front of themselves! What kind of sense does that make?
I have heard Witnesses claim that Jesus preached an earthly resurrection. If that’s the case, would you care to explain Matt. 22:23-30? For your convenience, the quote is below:
23 On that day Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and asked him: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If any man dies without having children, his brother must take his wife in marriage and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and deceased, and, not having offspring, he left his wife for his brother. 26 It went the same way also with the second and the third, until through all seven. 27 Last of all the woman died. 28 Consequently, in the resurrection, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all got her.”
29 In reply Jesus said to them: “YOU are mistaken, because YOU know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God; 30 for in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.
OK, so let’s see what was going on here. The Jewish religious leaders posed a hypo to Jesus involving a deceased woman who had 7 husbands. Jesus said that in the resurrection there is no marriage, but they "are as angels in heaven." Note that this hypothetical woman had died BEFORE Jesus’ crucifixion–thus, according to Witness theology, she would not be a candidate for heavenly life. Thus, in this case Jesus had the opportunity to witness about the earthly hope and did not. Interestingly, there are no scriptural examples of Jesus talking about an earthly hope. Why not?
How about the first belief: God exists. I don’t believe that one.
^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^
I disagree with all of them…
I believe in salvation by grace through faith BUT salvation is a action of grace alone; good works are the fruits of salvation…
In James it says that faith without works is dead.
and only God decides and knows who’s going to heaven or not. (I don’t think all non Christians go to hell etc)
I fully believe in salvation by grace through faith. The JW’s however do not, as the following from The Watchtower, February 15, 1983, p. 12
"What does God require of those who will reside forever upon his Paradise earth? Jesus Christ identified a first requirement when he said in prayer to his Father: ‘This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.’ Many have found the second requirement more difficult. It is to obey God’s laws. The third requirement is that we be associated with God’s channel, his organization The fourth requirement is connected with loyalty. God requires that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his government by loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others."
So in other words, you were misleading because JW’s do NOT believe in salvation by grace through faith, and you admit as much when you yourself said:
"We DO NOT BELIEVE we can do nothing to save ourselves or that Jesus did everything and we do not have to do works. We also do not believe Salvation is 100% free’
That there is a contradiction of salvation by grace through faith.
I really wonder why you had to be misleading here.
To answer your questions, the Bible disagrees with you, thus I disagree with each of those beliefs of the Jay-Dubs.
I never before heard the lil flock also known as "saints"
I believe in Trinity. The word is not in the Bible but the concept is. Like if you watch does not show minutes, it does not mean that they do not exist.
Jesus is the Son of God. Jehovah is God, Jesus is the same God as Jehovah, just a different role. Jesus was fully human and fully God while here. He is the Word that become flesh in John 1:14. The Word is God in John 1:1. Holy Spirit is God. You cannot lie to an impersonal active force.
Jesus talked more about hell than He talked about heaven. Remember the Lazarus story
Thomas put his hands on Jesus’ wounds. Jesus ate. Spirits do not eat
The main thing I disagree with JWs is that I do not believe their organization is God’s organization.
OK. Here goes.
"Jesus said "My father is greater than I". You’re taking the verse out of context. Jesus came to earth to serve. He was showing submission to God the Father and was trying to give the disciples an idea of the Trinity which would soon be apparent to them. Three separate parts of the same God. In Jn 17:11 He speaks of Himself and the Father being one. also see Jn 14: 10 & 11. Jn 10:30 Jesus says "I and the Father are one". Understanding Jesus’ Deity doesn’t get much more simple than that. They are one in the same.
"Wicked burn in Hell" Check out Rev 21:8- The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, ….their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The fire is real. Physical bodies will rot, souls suffer eternal torment.
Physical resurrection of Christ- Do you remember the story of doubting Thomas? Jn 20:24-29. Thomas had to literally touch Jesus’ wounds to believe that He was resurrected physically. In addition, hundreds of people saw Him after that. As He ascended up to Heaven, He took on His glorified form (as will we). God isn’t limited by physical restrictions. Jesus and angels can appear as humans (flesh and blood) if they need to.
No annihalation (the human soul is not immortal)- 2 Cor 4:16 & 17- " …though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day….. achieving for us an eternal glory…" Man’s eternal future is referred to many times in the Bible.
Who goes to Heaven (144,000)- In the New Test. followers of Christ are referred to as saints. They are without number and the term is still widely used to refer to today’s Christians. The N.T. also frequently mentions Jesus’ followers going to Heaven (we’ll have mansions, treasure, robes, crowns, etc).
Salvation…-The Bible makes it very clear that salvation is only found through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jn 3:16 "god so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." 2 Cor. 2:18- "All this is from God who reconciled us to Himself through Christ…." And "if any man is in Christ he is a new creation…." and "by grace you have been saved through faith….not by works, so that no one can boast." and "salvation is found in no one else, there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
We (Christians) believe that, as new creations, our hearts and lives should reflect the love of Christ. We do good works, not to earn salvation, but to show love to others as Christ showed mercy and love to us. If Jesus’ death on the cross didn’t pay the full pardon for our sins, why did God send His only son? His death was sufficient payment for our sins. Your’s too.
Accept His free gift, then enjoy the freedom of living a Christ filled life. You’re used to doing works, now you can do them because you enjoy them, not because you have to.
For Curious Jorge:
*** re chap. 29 p. 201 pars. 10-11 Singing the Triumphal New Song ***
10 How can the 144,000 sing “before” the elders, since the 24 elders are the 144,000 in their glorious heavenly position? Early in the Lord’s day, those “dead in union with Christ” were resurrected as spirit creatures. Thus, faithful anointed Christians who have conquered are now in heaven, symbolically fulfilling functions comparable to those of 24 divisions of priestly elders. They are included in the vision of Jehovah’s heavenly organization. (1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16; 1 Chronicles 24:1-18; Revelation 4:4; 6:11) The remnant of the 144,000 still on earth are therefore singing the new song before, or in the sight of, their resurrected brothers in heaven.
11 At this point we might also ask: Why is it that these anointed overcomers are referred to as the symbolic 24 elders as well as the 144,000? It is because Revelation views this one group from two different standpoints. The 24 elders are always shown in their ultimate position around Jehovah’s throne, installed as kings and priests in the heavens. They symbolize the entire group of 144,000 in their heavenly position, although at present a small remnant of these is still on earth. (Revelation 4:4, 10; 5:5-14; 7:11-13; 11:16-18) Revelation chapter 7, however, focuses on the 144,000 as brought forth from humankind, and it stresses Jehovah’s grand purpose to seal the complete number of individual spiritual Israelites and to grant salvation to an unnumbered great crowd. Revelation chapter 14 provides a picture confirming that the complete Kingdom class of 144,000 individual overcomers will be assembled with the Lamb on Mount Zion. The qualifications to
be met in order to be numbered with the 144,000 are also made known, as we shall now see.
Well, I only have time for the TRINITY part, sorry.
[We believe that there is only One God the Creator, and he is singular, not plural.]
Obviously you were terribly misinformed about the Trinity Creed. We believe there is only One God the Creator, and He is singular, not plural just as you said it.
[For one to believe the Trinity the Father and Son must be EQUAL they are not.]
Jesus is equal but subordinate in 1 Corinthians 11:3…
3Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
Now if I’m right to say that you are a woman, are you equal in nature but subordinate in hierarchy to your husband, brother, father or the brothers in your congregation? If men and women are equal in their nature, then why can’t God and Jesus be equal in their nature too in that same verse 1 Corinthians 11:3? You will also see that Jesus has two natures in our belief, one human and the other divine. His Divine Nature is equal but subordinate in hierarchy to God the Father, while man’s human nature is equal but subordinate in hierarchy to Jesus’ human nature. The hierarchy is with the equalities between the natures and subordinations between the hierarchies, there is no superiority of men over women in their nature, and there is no inferiority of women under men in their nature, however the subordinations are in their hierarchy, not in their nature. The same applies to Jesus and God, Jesus is equal but subordinate to God.
[Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I." The Bible also says, “…the head of the Christ is God.”]
We agree with that reading also. The Greek word "meizon" (greater) in John 14:28… God is greater than Jesus… (when Jesus was made lower than angels) is different and yet similar to the Greek word "kreitton" (better) in Hebrews 1:4 … Jesus is better than angels. You can say your leader (president, prime minister) is greater than you in hierarchy, but would you say your leader is better than you in hierarchy? Are your leaders equal in nature to you and yet greater? Would you rather say they are equal but better? This is what headship in 1 Corinthians 11:3 is all about.
[We believe the Trinity is a demonic lie that has made Almighty God into a common God.]
Does this mean you won’t bother to read this answer because already you think this is a demonic lie? Why bother asking this question when you can’t reason with the answers in the first place?
[Instead of One Almighty God person in heaven there are three.]
Three persons of One Almighty God makes sense with the Hebrew word echad or the Greek word sens used in the Bible, both mean compound unity. If God really wanted to express a singular person God in the Bible, He would have used the Hebrew word yachid or the Greek word monogenes, both mean singular unity.
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Did you read the whole verse 1 Corinthians 11:3 in context? If you say Jesus is not equal in Divine Nature but subordinate in hierarchy to God, then you must be saying you (assuming you are a woman) are not equal in human nature but subordinate in hierarchy to the men also? Are the men around you superior over you, are you inferior under the men around you? If this is the case then this kind of thinking is not acceptable to society, and this is also unbiblical. Jesus was never created, this did not come from the Bible, but only from a group of false leaders. If you somehow feel there is a lack of equality between the genders in their nature, visit my question and see most of the JWs (especially the women JWs) are saying there is no lack of equality…
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqjE6yh4z002aqcvQo1920bAFQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20081122080038AAzCenW