Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 3/8/2007

Question
How does being a Jehovah Witness affect your view of people that are not Jehovah Witnesses?

Answer
Hello Carolyn

Thank you for your question and sorry for the delay, I have not received any notification of any questions and when I finally logged onto the site I see I  have 6 questions waiting for me. Usually "experts" get an e-mail saying that there is a question waiting and I have not received any.

I’m not really sure as to what sort of a relationship with none JWs you are referring to by that question so I will give you a “spiritual view” as well as a secular view”

First, form a spiritual view point (a religious one), I view none JWs in the same way Jesus did in his time when he looked at the general population of the Israelites. From a religious point of view he said (Matthew 9:36) “36 On seeing the crowds he felt pity for them, because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.. . “.   They were not literally  skinned and thrown about but spiritually they had been as the religious leaders of that time had deviated form the laws of God and imposed a lot of human traditions that made life extremely hard.

Jesus also felt pity because of the physical needs of some of the people.

Today JWs do feel a great deal of empathy for the needs of people in a physical way.  We also follow the example of Jesus in that he was known for his teaching and preaching more than he was known for his miracles.  Our message is the same as that of Jesus, - the Kingdom of God – so that is our prime mission, as we earnestly believe that the Kingdom of God will solve all of mankind’s problems where man has failed.

What about every day life? We interact with none JWs on a day to day basis as anyone else would.  Our children go to school, we work go to movies enjoy concerts just like everyone else. However we try to be very selective of the movies and concerts we go to trying to avoid subjects that go against Bible principles.

SO how does being a JW effect my view of none JWs?  I do not treat non JWs any differently to JWs. I do see none JWs as needing to be aware of and get to know the prophecies of the Bible.

I hope I have been able to answer your question.  If I have not approached my answer in a way that satisfies your question, please write to ask for more clarification.