As an ecumenical Christian, I value unity in essential faith while respecting doctrinal differences. I believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son, who died for our sins and physically rose again. I've chatted to a number of Jehovah's witnesses (JWs) who have knocked on my door. I have also received carefully handwritten letters from JWs and followed up by email to engage in some very involved discussions about the Bible and Christian beliefs. I admire Jehovah’s Witnesses for their commitment to outreach, their diligent study of the Bible, and their desire to see God’s Kingdom come. These qualities make me eager to engage in open dialogue, even when we disagree.
While there are some general JW beliefs I agree with, there are also significant areas where I do not. I’ve found it challenging to have constructive conversations about these differences. While we share foundational beliefs, such as the Bible as the inspired Word of God and the importance of living in accordance with it, our interpretations often diverge.
I hope this list of questions can provide a starting point for meaningful discussion and mutual understanding. I understand that these are deep and nuanced topics, and I welcome any insights you’d like to share in response.
On the Nature of Authority and Interpretation
- How does the Watch Tower organisation's claim to provide the only true interpretation of scripture compare to the interpretations preserved by early Christian traditions?
- How do recent changes in Watch Tower doctrine, like the significance of 1914 or 1975, fit into its claim of providing the only true interpretation of scripture?
- Is it possible that the Bible can be rightly interpreted outside of the framework provided by your organisation? If not, why not?
- How can the Watch Tower claim to restore "true Christianity" if it differs so significantly from historical, Eastern, and traditional Christian beliefs?
- If Jesus is not God, how can He offer salvation to all humankind?
- Why do passages like John 1:1 ("The Word was God") or Thomas calling Jesus "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28) not mean that Jesus is divine?
- Why does Hebrews 1:6 describe angels worshipping Jesus if only God is to be worshipped?
- Why was the divinity of Christ accepted by early Christians, especially those closest to Jesus and the Apostles, if they were incorrect?
- Why is the year 1914 emphasised so heavily when it is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible?
- If Jesus became King in 1914, why do we still see so much suffering, and why hasn’t the Kingdom been fully established yet?
- How does the emphasis on a specific date fit with Jesus’ statement in Matthew 24:36 that "no one knows the day or the hour"?
- Do you believe salvation is earned by good works, or is it a free gift of grace?
- If Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that salvation requires specific works, how does this align with the example of the thief on the cross who was saved by faith alone?
- If works are essential for salvation, how do you reconcile this with Ephesians 2:8-9, which says salvation is by grace through faith and not by works?
- If worshipping Jesus is viewed as wrong, how do you reconcile Philippians 2:10–11, which describes every knee bowing to Him?
- How does annihilation as a punishment align with the concept of eternal consequences in traditional Christianity?
- What happened to people who lived and died before the Watch Tower existed? Were they unable to find salvation?
- Why are Jehovah’s Witnesses the only group practising "true Christianity", given that their beliefs are so modern and Western in origin?
- If God wants everyone to know the truth, why is the truth only accessible through one organisation?
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