AboutDerrick Holland Expertise I was raised in the religion known as Jehovah`s Witnesses for 13 years. Since becoming a born-again Christian, I have researched extensively this religion, especially their doctrines and their history. I can answer questions about their doctrines from the perspective of Biblical Christianity.
Experience 23 years of Biblical research into the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, and how they differ from the teachings of the Watchtower.
Question Hi,
I am not a JW but my Mother was one and I am thinking of studying with them myself. I thought this website was for qualified JW's to answer questions. You are obviously an apostate, trying to confuse people.
Answer Hello again, Vanessa.
I just read your comments on the Ratings/Feedback, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Please do not worry about my being offended, because I am not.
I did want to say a few things, just so you can understand where I am coming from. You are under the impression that an "apostate" is someone who speaks out against the Society, but this is not the case. An apostate is actually a Christian who turns their back on God and Jesus Christ. However, the JWs have given it another definition....One who was once a JW, but turns their back on the religion. The thing is, just because a person comes to disagree with the JW religion, does not mean that they have forsaken God and no longer love Him. It simply means that they cannot accept the teachings of the Watchtower Society, when those teachings disagree with God's Word.
The Watchtower Society uses this "apostate" label to keep their followers in the dark about the religion's history, and numerous false teachings. By labelling the person an "apostate", they feel that they do not have to address what the person says. They can simply ignore it, regardless of whether it is true or not.
Like you, my mother is also a JW. I spent 13 years of my life under the teachings of the JW religion. I will say that most of them are decent and sincere people, but sincerely wrong in their beliefs. The Bible only gives one true gospel, and the JWs have another gospel. There is no desire on my part to deceive anyone....Only to show them the true gospel of Christ.
You are to be commended for saying that you are going to read the Bible for yourself. That is certainly a wonderful thing, for this is the only way you will come to the truth which is in Jesus Christ. May I caution you about one thing, though? You mentioned that you were considering studying with them. Of course, that is a decision only you can make. But I must tell you that your "bible" study with JWs will actually become a study of one of the Society's publications, and not the Bible alone. This is done to indoctrinate you in the Watchtower's beliefs, which you would never arrive at by studying the Bible alone. Please be careful in your study. If the JW gives you a verse supposedly "proving" their point, READ THE VERSE IN CONTEXT. Compare it with other relevant verses. Many well-intentioned people have been taken into a false belief system by letting someone convince them the Bible means something other than what it says.
In closing, you mentioned in the Feedback comments that very few groups were willing to give Bible studies. I want you to know up front where I stand. I was brought up believing JW doctrine, but now I am a born again Christian who believes in a literal understanding of the Bible. I firmly believe in the Trinity, the existence of Hell, and that salvation comes only through trusting in the blood of Jesus Christ as the payment for our sins.
That being said, if you ever have any questions regarding these, or any other Biblical issues, I want you to know you can feel free to ask me. I understand some of the turmoil involved in being taught something for your entire life, and then having to examine it to see whether it is true or not. I don't claim to know it all, but I can promise you that any answer I give you, I will attempt to support it solidly with Scripture. If there is a question I cannot answer, I will tell you that too.
I just want to let you know that you may ask anything you wish, and I will be happy to take the time to help. That is the purpose of being on Allexpert anyway....to help. But above all, when you study, take the advice found in Romans 3:4....
"Let God be true, but every man a liar...."
In other words, let the Bible be the final authority, and not some man or some Organization. And again, if I can be of help, just let me know.
