Unsaved brother is talking to a Jehovah's Witness...

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Ted01

Well-known member
#1
May 14, 2022
1,055
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#1
Hi all... I've been praying for my unsaved brother for a while now but haven't seen any interest from him until yesterday at Christmas dinner.
He just seemed to bring up new interest in Jesus and the Bible in our random conversation. After I recovered from my initial shock, we talked a little bit, and I told him that I was really glad about his new interest.

Then he brought up the JW guy that had been coming over to talk to him... and was encouraging him to come to his church. Again, after the shock of hearing this, I tried to explain some key points about "orthodox" Christian beliefs vs. JW beliefs... chiefly the denial that Jesus is God and not "a" god. As I explained things to him, he did acknowledge that the JW views were different than what we had learned as kids... we were brought up Rom. Catholic... but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. But I must say that my brother's views on all things God related were always a bit unorthodox and more a construction of his own thinking and musings.

Later he wanted to talk about the canon of the Bible and his beliefs that books that were rejected long ago, by corrupt men, should be considered. He wanted an Ethiopian version of the bible because it had "a bunch of those books in it." I tried to keep my composure and explain some of the things, but he's always been hardheaded even as a youth... we nicknamed him the "bull moose" when we were young because of his approach to life, lol.

Anyway, I'm really stuck and could use your prayers... or more accurately, he could use your prayers.

humbly...
~ted
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#2
Jul 3, 2015
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#2
One thing I have noticed (and others too) about JWs and Mormons also, is what such gosh darned nice people they are. Generally speaking, of course. So while their theology is certainly off and even out there to the point of being downright bizarre at times, you won't find them acting like the southern Baptists who make headlines for picketing funerals with placards proclaiming that God hates gays, for instance. I found that a lot of non-believers target religion for the ills of the world and blame Christianity in particular, which gets cast in a dim view in light of some of church history and even present day events. It is not as if Christians are the only ones who can be judgmental and condemn others. But for someone seeking answers and being drawn in by a group whose history is not as stark as that of others who fall loosely under the same category as "Christian," perhaps Mormonism or JW is seen as less objectionable when it comes to such matters. Maybe that is what draws your brother as much as anything else? Is he really interested in Who Jesus is? I will pray for him...
 
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Ted01

Well-known member
#3
May 14, 2022
1,055
448
83
#3
Magenta said:
One thing I have noticed (and others too) about JWs and Mormons also, is what such gosh darned nice people they are. Generally speaking, of course. So while their theology is certainly off and even out there to the point of being downright bizarre at times, you won't find them acting like the southern Baptists who make headlines for picketing funerals with placards proclaiming that God hates gays, for instance. I found that a lot of non-believers target religion for the ills of the world and blame Christianity in particular, which gets cast in a dim view in light of some of church history and even present day events. It is not as if Christians are the only ones who can be judgmental and condemn others. But for someone seeking answers and being drawn in by a group whose history is not as stark as that of others who fall loosely under the same category as "Christian," perhaps Mormonism or JW is seen as less objectionable when it comes to such matters. Maybe that is what draws your brother as much as anything else? Is he really interested in Who Jesus is? I will pray for him...
Click to expand...
He is interested, I think, Magenta... of course, who knows the heart of a man?
My brother seemed skeptical of the JW's, Jesus is "a god", not God thing... more so when I showed John chapter 1 and explained a little about Arianism. He also said that he would ask him a few questions next time he came around. I warned my brother that the "door-knocking JW's are pretty well trained to refute questions regarding the Trinity/Divinity of Christ and just be aware.

I appreciate the prayers...
 
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TheLearner

Well-known member
#5
Jan 14, 2019
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#5
Amos 6:10e

"We must not mention the name of the Lord.”

ASV "we may not make mention of the name of Jehovah."

CEB
"We mustn’t mention the name of the Lord.”

DARBY
we may not make mention of Jehovah's name.
CJB "we mustn’t mention the name of Adonai.”
NWT For it is not the time to make any mention of the name of Jehovah.’”
adds words not in the Hebrew to avoid this command!!!
 
Daniel_Hoseiny

Daniel_Hoseiny

Active member
#6
Apr 16, 2024
307
135
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39
Netherlands
#6
Ted01 said:
Anyway, I'm really stuck and could use your prayers... or more accurately, he could use your prayers.

humbly...
~ted
Click to expand...
שלום עליכם Shalom, God's peace be upon you.
Do you thing he would be better off if he was a lukewarm nominal Christian or unbeliever? Yes, Jehovah's witnesses reject some basics of Christianity, but I hope his awakened interest in religion would help him to seek the truth and eventually he will accept the trinitarian Nicæan creed and be saved by God's grace and providence. So be it, Lord Jesus.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are the God Who knows the heart and gives light and wisdom. Have mercy on brother of Ted and enlighten him as to what way of life he should lead in order to be saved and inherit eternal life. Show him what or who the Truth is and help him to always be on Your right path. Protect him from completely following the Jehovah's Witness teaching, lest he end up as a Jehovah's Witness and become a prey to demons. For we know that there is no other way to the Heavenly Father than the one You have established. There is no other name by which we can be saved except the Divine name of Jesus Christ, which all the evil spirits of the fallen angels fear. Grant him and all of us to clearly understand and see that neither Buddha nor Krishna nor Mohammed nor other idols and false prophets with their teachings will help us in the end; nor justify us on the Day of Judgment; nor save us from the underworld and inner emptiness, even if they help us in this temporary life. Grant us reason and prudence to distinguish good from evil, truth from lies in other religions and philosophies. Inspired by everything good and kind, we attribute this good to You, for nothing can be good and positive from another source, except You, as the source of absolutely every true good. Save brother of Ted and all of us from any evasion from the Path of correct glorification of You, the true God and Creator. We also pray to You: have mercy on and save all Jehovah's Witnesses and people of other religions who sincerely wished to live correctly and follow the Truth, but did not come to know You and did not know the Truth in all its fullness for one reason or another. Lead us all to the Kingdom of Heaven, to the pasture of Your rational sheep, and grant us to always drink the living water of Your Holy Spirit. For You are Good and Lover of Mankind, and to You be all glory, honor and worship, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
 
CommodoreTeach

CommodoreTeach

Member
#7
Nov 25, 2024
96
17
8
#7
Ted01 said:
Hi all... I've been praying for my unsaved brother for a while now but haven't seen any interest from him until yesterday at Christmas dinner.
He just seemed to bring up new interest in Jesus and the Bible in our random conversation. After I recovered from my initial shock, we talked a little bit, and I told him that I was really glad about his new interest.

Then he brought up the JW guy that had been coming over to talk to him... and was encouraging him to come to his church. Again, after the shock of hearing this, I tried to explain some key points about "orthodox" Christian beliefs vs. JW beliefs... chiefly the denial that Jesus is God and not "a" god. As I explained things to him, he did acknowledge that the JW views were different than what we had learned as kids... we were brought up Rom. Catholic... but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. But I must say that my brother's views on all things God related were always a bit unorthodox and more a construction of his own thinking and musings.

Later he wanted to talk about the canon of the Bible and his beliefs that books that were rejected long ago, by corrupt men, should be considered. He wanted an Ethiopian version of the bible because it had "a bunch of those books in it." I tried to keep my composure and explain some of the things, but he's always been hardheaded even as a youth... we nicknamed him the "bull moose" when we were young because of his approach to life, lol.

Anyway, I'm really stuck and could use your prayers... or more accurately, he could use your prayers.

humbly...
~ted
Click to expand...
My opinion is to get him a King James Version bible. It's one of the closest to the Textus Receptus, and although imperfect in places, is much less modified than newer bible translations which the JWs may know where to poke holes in. The KJV can refute the Oneness heresy of the JWs if one can get past the few olde worlde words, and when one does the research, it is more reliable in key verses than the JWs deliberately erroneous (heretical!) New World Translation.

You could also get him to read Deuteronomy 18 about how to detect false prophets, and provide the historical evidence of the Watchtower organisation's failed prophecies (and its claim to be God's prophet). Put bluntly, why should he listen to a demonstrably false prophet?

Ultimately, though, the importance is that your brother accepts Christ - avoiding the JWs is just a hazard along the way. Explain that salvation through Christ is by grace and through faith, not of works, that no man may boast.
 
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TheLearner

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#8
Jan 14, 2019
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#8
They published the Living English Bible by Steven T. Byington

https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Living...39M5ZSG9J6WR6B1HBK9M0&tag=namespacebran492-20

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/binav/r1/lp-e/by

The Gospel According to John

1 At the first there was the Word, and the Word was where God was, and the Word was God.

2 He was at the first where God was. 3 Everything was made by his agency, and not a thing that was made was made without his agency.

4 In him there was life, and the life was the light of men; 5 and the light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not taken it in.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 This man came for testimony, to testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light but to testify about the light. 9 There was coming into the world the true light that lights every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by his agency, and the world did not know him; 11 he came to what belonged to him, and those who belonged to him did not receive him. 12 But to as many as accepted him he gave the chance to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born not from blood nor from will of flesh nor from will of man, but from God.

14* And the Word became flesh and abode among us and we saw his glory, glory such as that of an only son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies of him and shouts “This was the one I spoke of when I said ‘He who is coming behind me has got ahead of me,’ because he was before I was,” 16 because out of his fullness all of us have had portions, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came in through Jesus Christ. 18* Nobody ever has seen God; an Only Born God, he who is in the Father’s bosom, he gave the account of him.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/by/43/1#study=discover
 
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TheLearner

Well-known member
#9
Jan 14, 2019
8,220
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#9
15 Who is image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation, 16* because in him everything was created in the heavens and on earth, the visible and the invisible, be it thrones or lordships or governments or dominions—everything has been created through him and to come to him, 17 and before everything he is, and in him everything holds together. 18
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/by/51/1#s=15&study=discover

because in him all the fullness of deity is resident in bodily form,
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/b/r1/lp-e/by/51/2#study=discover
 
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