Religious Fundamentalism

Full Reports on the Bible & Theology Course - 2004

Teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses

1. The Bible and its interpretation: Jehovah's Witnesses depend on their own translation of the Bible, "The New World Translation". This translation introduces significant changes in a number of passages that support their own theology. Jehovah's Witnesses adapt the Bible to suit their theology. They are taught that any interpretation of the Bible not conforming to their own version is no doubt wrong.
   
   
2. Teaching on God: Jehovah's Witnesses reject the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity by saying that "Satan is the originator of the trinity doctrine." They argue that the word "trinity" does not appear in the Bible. But, traditional Christianity responds to this argument by pointing out that while the word "trinity" does not appear in the Bible, the basis of the concept of Trinity does. There are several passages that complement this point: Mt 28: 19, Mk 1:19-11, Jn 1:1-18, 2 Cor 13:14, etc.
   
   
3. Jesus Christ: Jehovah's Witnesses deny the eternal pre-existence of Christ. To them, Jesus is no more than a perfect man. They hold that Jesus is only the highest creation of God, and not God Himself. They directly deny that Jesus has two natures: divine and human. In their dogma, Jesus is often identified with the Archangel Michael. Jehovah's Witnesses argue further that because Jesus according to them was not God, His birth cannot be spoken of as an incarnation. Therefore, they consider Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, family birthdays, etc. as pagan and do not observe these occasions.
   
   
4. Church: Jehovah's Witnesses reject traditional Christianity and maintain that all of the denominations of "Christendom" are utterly false and amount to apostasy (renunciation of religious faith), and that they will constitute the very enemy of God in the battle of Armageddon (final battle between good and evil). They use the word "Christendom" in a derogatory sense to describe "corrupted Christianity". According to them, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is God's the only true organization on earth. They believe that God uses this organization as a witness to prepare for the coming of God's kingdom. Jehovah's Witnesses do not entertain the term church. The New World Translation translates the Greek word "ekklesia" as "congregation" and not church. (The term church is derived from the Greek word "ekklesia".) Jehovah's Witnesses call themselves as a "Theocratic Organization". Their baptism is by immersion without any special baptismal formula.
   
   Jehovah's Witnesses interpret "the great harlot" sitting on "a scarlet beast" described in the book of Revelation (Rev 17:1-5) as referring to "the visible organization of the religious heads of heathendom and Christendom". For many of them, the "harlot" represents the Roman Catholic Church. Their argument in this connection is interesting: They agree that the book of Revelation itself identifies the "harlot" with Rome (Rev 17:18). In the Bible, idolatry is described in terms of "adultery". Roman emperors demanded "emperor worship" from their subjects, and thus the Roman Empire and its emperors were guilty of idolatry. Now, Rome is the religious capital of the Catholic Church, and the Catholic Church is known as the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is, in the views of Jehovah's Witnesses, full of "idols" (statues of saints). Therefore, Jehovah's Witnesses claim that the "harlot" in the book of Revelation refers to the Catholic Church!
   
   In this context, the distinction between polytheism and veneration of images or statues is significant. The Catholic Church does not worship images or statues, although it venerates them. Statues are there to remind us of saints or Blessed Virgin Mary, to help us follow their holy lives, and make intercession through them. It is true that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5). However, the same Apostle (St Paul) requests prayers from his community members (Rom 15:30, 2 Cor 1:11, Col 4:3, 1 Thess 5:25). If Paul asks for prayers from the living members of his communities, is it wrong to ask for prayers and help from Blessed Mary and those saints who are already with God? Even Jesus concedes to the request made by His mother at the marriage feast at Cana (Jn 2:1-11). We also find in the Gospels that Jesus has often heard the requests made by mediators (Lk 7:1-10, Mk 2:1-5).
   
   
5. Ministry: Winning converts has become the obsession of the movement. Door-to-door witnessing is mandatory for all members. Jehovah's Witnesses and evangelical Christians have a strong conviction that it is imperative for believers to share their faith with others. Indeed, Jehovah's Witnesses put Christians to Shame in their zeal for witnessing. They consider every member of the congregation as a "missionary". Depending on the amount of work done, members are called "Pioneers" and "Publishers". "Pioneers" devote a minimum of 90 hours of house-to-house witnessing per month. "Publishers" (of the good news of the kingdom) take an active part in winning new members for the movement. Ten hours per month is the minimum time to be devoted by any member. Passive members are not admitted. This activism has turned Jehovah's Witnesses into a worldwide organization.
   
   
6. Sacraments: Jehovah's Witnesses administer two sacraments - Baptism and the Lord's Supper. They observe mass Baptism by immersion. The "anointed class" of 144,000 undergoes a second baptism that they call the "baptism in the holy spirit". They have a provision for a springtime Lord's Supper, at which only the elect may receive communion. They reject the doctrine of the real presence.
   [Please see: The Seven Catholic Sacraments @ Category: THE CHURCH >> Sacraments]
   
   
7. Life Style: Members of Jehovah's Witnesses disapprove blood transfusion. Recently, there has been a change in the sect's stand over blood transfusion and vaccination, and now individuals can take their own decisions on this. The sect calls upon its members to abstain from alcohol, dance shows, cinemas, and theatres.
   
   
8. Soteriology: The term Soteriology is derived from Greek and means the salvation given by Jesus Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jehovah's offer of salvation extends to two classes of people namely the "heavenly" class and the "earthly" class. The heavenly class consisted of 144,000 according to Rev 14:3-4. This exclusive class is also known as the "little flock" or the "anointed class". The earthly class of people who are saved are known as the "other sheep" (Jn 10:16), which the book of Revelation calls the "great multitude" (Rev 7:9). Traditional Christian soteriology knows no distinction between an earthly class and a heavenly class. Jehovah's Witnesses hold that the unbeliever who will not repent will suffer eternal death. They interpret eternal death as annihilation. This annihilation is also called the "second death" (Rev 20:14) or eternal death. Traditional Christianity interprets eternal punishment or eternal damnation as a total separation from God forever (Rev 14:10-11). Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the human soul is not eternal or immortal as Christianity teaches. This is a natural conclusion if the doctrine of annihilationism is accepted.
   
   
9. Eschatology: The term Eschatology, another Greek derivation, refers to the branch of theology concerned with the final events in the world or mankind such as the end of the world, death, final judgment, etc. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus Christ returned to earth spiritually in 1914 and that he is now proceeding to establish a theocratic millennial kingdom. This kingdom will arrive in the near future with the battle of Armageddon. Jehovah's Witnesses have already fixed several dates for end-time events: first one was in 1989; then in 1914, followed by 1915, 1918, and 1925. Again, the Watchtower set 1975 to be the year of destiny. Every time, the prophesied events failed to occur. Traditional Christianity has been content to rest its hope on the certainty of the Second Advent of Jesus Christ to earth. God has hidden the time from all but Himself (Mk 13:33). Jesus' Second Coming is a future and certain event, the timing of which is not to be determined by the elaborately worked-out details of prophetic time charts.
   
   
10. State: Jehovah's Witnesses never salute the national flag of any country, arguing that their membership of the theocratic kingdom prohibits their allegiance to any country. They refuse to participate in war and military activity. This is due to the sect's conviction that Jehovah will fight all battles alone.

Conclusion: From the standpoint of traditional Christianity, Jehovah's Witnesses, far from being "God's true organization on earth", are a heretical movement guilty of unfulfilled prophecies. In spite of this, it continues to grow because many members of the mainline Churches who join this organization do not know its history or what the Bible teaches concerning matters of doctrine, faith, and practice. The worldwide membership of active adherents of Jehovah's Witnesses was reported to be about 6.4 million spread over in more than 200 countries.

Introduction   Biblical Fundamentalism   Challenges Today
Book of Revelation & Fundamentalism   Jehovah's Witnesses   Teachings of JWs
Pentecostal Churches   Characteristics of Pentecostals

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