JEHOVAH WITNESSES

[DigitGen]

     Founder:     Charles Taze Russell
     Official Name:     Jehovah's Witnesses-this name was not used in Russell's time.  Rutherford named the group in 1931 based on Isaiah 43:10.
     Date Founded:     December 13, 1884
     Presidents:
1. Charles Russell
2. Joseph F. Rutherford
3. Nathan H. Knorr
     Important Books:
1. New World Translation (Bible)
2. Emphatic Diaglott (Greek Testament)
3. Make Sure of All Things (70 Section doctrinal book)
4. Let God Be True (doctrinal book)

Magazines:
1.    "Watchtower"
2.    "Awake"

Headquarters:     Brooklyn, New York (Bethel)
     Organization:     The Witnesses function under a highly organized program.
1. Headquarters (Board of Directors)
2. Branches
3. Districts
4. Circuits
5. Congregations-approximately 200 people that meet in "Kingdom Halls"

     Kingdom Hall Program:
1.     Presiding Minister (congregational servant)-one who is "spiritually" mature in leading and dedicating the people in their work.
2.     Ministerial Servant-assists the minister in these duties:
     a.     Bible study servant-studies in converts homes
     b.     Literature servant
     c.     Magazine servant
     d.     Accounts servant-expenses to run Hall
     e.     Pioneer servant-devote 150 or more hours in their territory.

     Kingdom Hall Meetings:     The J.W.'s either meet in private homes or in the Hall.  The Halls are moderate and small in number.
1.     Congregation Book Study-Early in week for one hour the people study the N.W.T. (New World Translation Bible) and Watchtower Textbook.
2.     Theocratic Ministry School-enroll for life in this course that meets one evening a week--primarily for home- to -home visitation.
3.     Service Meeting-A monthly pamphlet from Bethel discusses methods and thinking for the week.
4.     Public Meeting-Sunday afternoon or evening to study Watchtower.
5.     Watchtower Study-Most important meeting of the week, questions and answers in Watchtower Articles.

     Charles Taze Russell:     Charles Russell was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania on February 16, 1852.  His parents, Joseph and Anna Eliza, were Presbyterians.  At the age of 15, Charles Russell joined a Congregational Church.  However, due to the doctrines of predestination and eternal hell, Russell at the age of 17 became an agnostic claiming organized religion had destroyed his confidence in God and the scriptures.

     Russell did, however, begin to look into the subject of religion (see Jude .  He came across writings by Ellen White and Jonas Wendell (both Seventh Day Adventists) which seemed to offer more than the organized religions, especially appealing were these doctrines-extinction of the soul at death, the annihilation of the wicked, and hell as the grave not eternal punishment.

     Charles' father, Joseph, had a chain of clothing stores that would one day net Charles more than a quarter of a million dollars.  At the age of 18, Russell then began his own "Bible" study in a basement near his father's store.  A group of people met there for five years.  It was during this time that Russell became disappointed with the Adventist's view that Christ would return in the flesh and not invisibly.  In 1876, he met with N.H. Barbour, a leader of dissatisfied Adventists, who likewise did not believe in the physical return of Christ.  These two groups combined and started a magazine "The Herald of the Morning."  This venture later proved embarrassing to the movement as Russell mis-calculated the date of Christ's return.  With the start of this partnership, Russell sold his interest in the clothing business.  Soon after, though, Russell and Barbour parted ways due to a disagreement of theology.

Russell had set down for himself four goals for his future work:
1.     To devote his life to his cause.
2.     To invest all his money into the work.
3.     To never take church collections.
4.     And to depend on voluntary gifts.

With these goals in mind, Russell set out on his own using his magazine "Zion's Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Presence" as the forerunner.  By 1880, seven states had congregations.

     Russell married Maria Frances Ackley in 1879.  For many years she was active in the Watchtower Society as secretary-treasurer and associate editor.  However, in 1913, Mrs. Russell sued for a divorce on the grounds of "his conceit, egotism, domination, and improper conduct in relation to other women."  Upon hearing the evidence, the judge ruled in her favor.

     In 1882, Russell made his first attack on the doctrine of the trinity, and it was this article that drove Russell to believe he was appointed as Jehovah's witness to the world.  Finally on December 13, 1884, Zion's Watchtower Tract Society was granted a legal charter and became a corporation.  This is the official beginning of the Jehovah Witness Movement.  It was at this point that Russell began a seven volume series of doctrinal books called Studies in the Scriptures.  The first volume appeared in 1886, "The Divine Plan of the Ages," and the last one was published in 1917 after his death.

     The headquarters in Allegheny were too small for Russell's growing religion so they built another headquarters to house them for the next 20 years.  Russell continued his writings, traveling, and lecturing while his movement grew.  Finally in 1908, one of Russell's most important converts and next president to be, Joseph Rutherford, the Society's legal counselor, acquired some property in Brooklyn, New York.  (This is still the location of the world headquarters today-Bethel.)

     Russell's health was poor as he began a western speaking tour beginning in Texas.  Upon arriving in California his health was going quickly and Russell decided to return to New York.  He died returning to New York, October 31, 1916, on the train in Pampa, Texas.

     Court Cases Involving Charles Russell:     a.  His divorce:     In 1897, Mrs. Russell left her husband and six years later sued for separation.  The divorce was given in 1906 after sensational testimony.  There was much litigation that was very undesirable for Russell regarding alimony for his wife but in 1909, it was settled.  She was to receive $6,036.  The litigation revealed Russell's activities in the religious field were carried on through several subsidiary societies and that all of the wealth that came to him through these societies was under control of one holding company of which Russell held $990 of the $1,000 capital and two of his followers the other $10.  Thus Russell controlled all the financial power and was accountable to no one.

     b.  Miracle Wheat:     the newspaper, "The Brooklyn Eagle", exposed this fraud.  Russell's 'Watchtower' published a "miracle wheat" for $1.00 per pound that would grow five times as much as any other brand.  The proceeds from the sale would go to the Society.  The Eagle exposed this claim in a cartoon in their paper, and Russell sued for $100,000 in damages.  Government investigators made the find that the wheat not only didn't produce five times as much, but was in some cases for inferior.  The Eagle, of course, won--January 1913.

   

[DigitGen]

 c.  Russell's Imaginary Sermons:     From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of February 19,1912, is another report of Russell's hypocrisy.  Russell traveled abroad extensively and sent back sermons he delivered to the States.  The Eagle contended that Russell never delivered these sermons.  For example, in Hawaii he said he delivered a sermon at Honolulu in front of a large audience.  The editor of the "Hawaiian Star" wrote that Russell appeared for a few hours in Hawaii but didn't make his expected public address.  This was typical of many other documented accounts.

     d.  The Greek Scholar:     Reverend J.S. Ross of Hamilton, Ontario after having written a pamphlet denouncing Russell both doctrinally and morally, was sued by Russell for "defamatory libel."  Ross charged that Russell was anti-rational, anti-scientific, anti-Biblical, uneducated, a pseudo-scholar, and ignorant of the languages.  Russell being the plaintiff must prove the charges false, while Ross must prove truth.

Russell claimed all of Ross's claims were false except for the wheat scandal.  Russell had now committed a gross error before the high court and Almighty God.

1.     Russell only attended school seven years.
2.     Russell under oath said he was ordained, but later under pressure of evidence had to say this was a lie.
3.     He was asked if he knew Greek.  He replied, "Yes".  At this point he was asked to read the letters of the Greek alphabet--he couldn't.  He replied, "No" when he was asked again if he knew Greek.  Nor did he know Hebrew, Latin, or any other language.
4.     He never studied philosophy or systematic theology.

As statement after statement was proved false and Russell stood head down in front of the court---proved a liar and a fraud, the judge threw the case out of court.  Russell also had testified that his wife had not divorced him and that he did not pay alimony.  Case in Ontario, Canada, December 9, 1912- February 7, 1913, also March 1913.

Joseph Franklin Rutherford:     "Judge," as his followers knew him, was born November 8, 1869 in Booneville, Missouri.  His parents were Baptists.  His father was a farmer and had very little income.  At the age of 16, Rutherford decided to go to college to study law.  His father made him pay not only for his education but also for a hired hand to take his place at home.  Six years later, two Watchtower representatives approached Rutherford, and by 1906 he had joined Russell's movement.  Although he and Russell were direct opposites in personalities-the Judge was here to stay.

     After Russell's death, Rutherford took over as the Society's president.  He completely reorganized the Brooklyn Headquarters and began to encourage more active member solicitation.  However, very soon there arose trouble in the new leadership.  Rutherford, a cold, hard man who was never to be opposed-this was equivalent of opposing God himself.  The ones who had been loyal to Russell began to have conflicts, and when Rutherford finished Russell's last book in the doctrinal series-this led to a split in the society.  The ones who left formed a "Dawn Bible Students" study and stated all revelations had ceased at Russell's death.  (J.W.'s also believe in Progressive Revelation.)

The last volume in the doctrinal studies brought charges from the Canadian and U.S. governments on insubordination, anti-war statements (World War I was in progress) and failure to serve military duty in the U.S. Services.  On June 20, Rutherford and other Witnesses were sentenced to jail in Atlanta, Georgia for 20 years.  However, the war ended in November 1918, and the jailed Witnesses, after having served nine months, were released by a court order.  Rutherford returned as a martyr-hero and the work was on the move again.  A new magazine "The Golden Age", later to be called "Awake", was the beginning of a massive literature campaign.

In 1931, at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, the Society took the name of Jehovah's Witnesses from Isaiah 43:10.  Due to the split in the work, Rutherford tried to write off Russell's doctrine or rather to disguise it with his own.  On January 8, 1942, Judge Rutherford died.  He was president for 25 years.

Nathan Homer Knorr:     Nathan Knorr was born in 1905 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  At the age of 16, Knorr joined the Society, and at 18 became a full-time preacher and worked at Bethel.  In 1932, Knorr was made General Manager of all publishing activities.  In 1940, he was made vice-president of the Pennsylvania Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  Finally on January 13, 1942, Nathan Knorr was elected as the Society's third (and present) president.

Knorr was not as well known as the two previous presidents although he had demonstrated his ability by beginning a campaign to canvass the neighborhoods as witnesses.  This proved to be a drastic change in the Society's growth and development.

Important prospects carried out by Knorr since his presidency:

1.  Improvement of the Society's training program.
2.  Gilead Watchtower Bible School in South Lansing, New York.
3.  Theological ministry school for the congregations.
4.  A new set of doctrinal books.
5.  Translation of the Bible into modern English- The New World Translation.
6.  Expansion to foreign countries.

(As an afterthought, even though it was a rule at Bethel that no one who lived there could get married and some were thrown out because of breaking this rule, Knorr, living there while president, got married.)

Ideas for Witnessing:

1.     Be careful about use of the history of the cult's leaders.
2.     Let them know if they reject the Gospel, they are on troubled ground.
3.     Always use this with the J.W.'s.  If we talk about anything in the Bible, we will disagree, so let's talk about important issues and from where.
4.     Say, we are both students of the Bible so let's use only the Bible.
5.     Do not allow them to jump around.  Get on John 6:47 etc., and don't move till it is completely explained.
6.     Make sure of the meaning of all the terms.
7.     Don't persecute them--this is what they are looking for.  Be courteous and agree as much as possible.  (Titus 3:9; II Timothy 2:24-26)
8.     Don't leave them comfortable.
9.     When a witness approaches you, he is programmed to make his presentation--let him.  Do not interrupt of disagree-just let him finish.  When he is done, you will be expected to reply.  At this point, give your testimony in a loving way, stressing grace versus works.
10.     Always read the context of their passages.
11.     They usually travel in pairs--one has experience, one doesn't.  Try to reach the one with less experience (He will be the one who doesn't talk.)
12.     Ask these questions to determine the amount of programming they have had:
     a.     How long have you been a witness?
          · A short time can be both good and bad--good in that they don't know much, and bad in that it brings much zeal.
          · A long time---the person has experienced much disillusionment.
     b.     How many hours do you go door-to-door each month?
          · A good witness puts in 100 hours.
     c.     May I have your address?
          · They do not like to do this, but explain that you want to visit them also.
13.     Do not accept literature.
14.     When talking always be well prepared--don't ramble.
15.     Get books on Jehovah Witness doctrine.
     · William Schnell-Good Source.

[TalkerCat]

I don't fully understand these extremely long posts, but I have two questions:  1) Are you a JW? and if you are; 2) Why don't you believe in the Trinity?

Blessings -

[Soldier4Christ]

I don't fully understand these extremely long posts, but I have two questions:  1) Are you a JW? and if you are; 2) Why don't you believe in the Trinity?

Blessings -

Sister, this post shows the cult that the JW's are and has suggestions on how to properly witness to the JW's to attempt to steer them in the right direction, so no DigitGen would not be a JW.

[TalkerCat]

Thanks for clearing that up PR!  But I'd still like to know why JW's don't believe in the trinity?  It is SO CLEARLY stated in the bible!

Blessings -

[Soldier4Christ]

Thanks for clearing that up PR!  But I'd still like to know why JW's don't believe in the trinity?  It is SO CLEARLY stated in the bible!

Blessings -

It is because that is what they are taught. They listen to mans teachings not the teachings of the Bible.

[TalkerCat]

OK . . . . . Now, I am taught from the bible, what are JW's taught from?  Sorry to be so hard-headed about this, but I just don't understand their thinking - it's like they're brain washed.  

Blessings -

[Soldier4Christ]

OK . . . . . Now, I am taught from the bible, what are JW's taught from?  Sorry to be so hard-headed about this, but I just don't understand their thinking - it's like they're brain washed.  

Blessings -

They use a very warped version of the Bible called the New World Translation (NWT). This version is the most despicable version of all, changing the very deity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to the point that the Holy Spirit is not considered to be alive. They also get much of their doctrine and interpretations of the Bible from a magazine known as the Watchtower.

In fact the Watchtower even says if you read the Bible alone, you'll become a Trinitarian.

"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ‘Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." The Watchtower, August 15, 1981.

And what are the apostate doctrines of 100 years ago?  Why, the Trinity of course.

[TalkerCat]

My husband used to be a practicing JW... although he's a nonbeliever now, he still tries to compare my bible to theirs.  He quotes scripture (so does Satan!) and says their bible is the same as mine, that I'm just ignorant to the truth!  He has cursed me, referring to me as a "f**king christian" and that all christians are "liars, cheats and thieves" - there is no way I can compete with the filth that comes out of his mouth except to praise the Lord audibly, rebuke Satan audibly and promptly leave the room!  

Is my husband a typical JW?

Blessings -

[TalkerCat]

my husband tells me that my bible is "wrong" because we rewrote it to exclude the name 'Jehovah'.  He said we replaced 'Jehovah' with 'God' or 'Lord' to make it fit our beliefs!  O man, do I need help!  My husband has been brainwashed by the WatchTower ......

Blessings -

[Shammu]

TalkerCat, here you go, on information on J.W.

Jehovah Witnesses

 Jehovah's Witnesses
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

It was founded by Charles T. Russell in 1852, though the first formal organization was in Pittsburgh in 1872.

- 3 million members worldwide, and 926,614 in the USA, with 9,985 Kingdom or Assembly Halls (in 1994).

- Address: 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11202 (called "Bethel").

- Before, they have been called "Millennial Downists", "International Bible Students", and "Russsellites", after their first leader.

... Their official name, is not "Jehovah's Witnesses", but an Incorporated Society, the "Wathtower Bible and Tract Society" ... in this Society, the leaders are elected by the number of "stocks" they have; the "President of the Society" is the one who has more stocks... the members do not vote, they do not count, even though they are the ones who bring the money, selling Bibles, Books, the Watchtower, Tracts... the actual President is Milton G. Henschel, since 1993.

Very active members:

The Witnesses are very active, selling 100,000 books and Bibles, and 800,000 copies of its two magazines, daily!... from home to home...

False Prophecies:

The Witnesses are the children of the Adventists, and as the Adventists, they have officially announced the Second Coming of Christ and the Armageddon for 6 dates: 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, and 1975... and never came!...

... The prophet whose prophecies are not fulfilled is a "false prophet"... on everything!.

... But the Society, and the money, keeps going on, because every time there was an "strange explanation", swallowed by some members: After the 1914 failure, the explanation was that Christ did not come to earth, but "became king in heaven", and cast out Satan, with the consequent World War I... After the 1975 failure, there was another explanation ready: The witnesses were told that Adam's creation was in 4026 B.C., and 6,000 years later would be the Second Coming of Christ, in 1975; when the date passed, many members left the Society, but others followed Franz's explanation that the 6,000-year chronology was set forward not since Adam, but since Eve's creation, and the leaders do not know the interval between the creation of Adam and Eve!...

... Henschel, the actual President, has not set a fixed date, only that it will be in the early 2,000s.

"Little Popes"... "Blood Transfusions":

The Witnesses reject the "successor of Peter" of Matt.16:19, the Catholic Pope... but they have their "little Popes", not the successor of Peter, they are self- proclaimed, but much more demanding that the real Pope:

... For example, Russell permitted the "Blood Transfusions", and said "only he with the mentality of a pharisee can prohibit them"... so, at that time all the Witnesses read in the Bible that the Blood Transfusions were a good thing to do...

... But then came their second "little Pope", Rutherford, and "prohibit the Blood Transfusions"... and since then, every Witness reads in the Bible that the Blood Transfusions are prohibited... the 3 million of them!... and if anyone dears to say that the Blood Transfusions are permitted, he will be "disfellowshiped", cast out of the Society, and the rest of the members will consider him as dead, they are forbidden even to speak with him... and the "excommunicated apostate" is told he will not rise from the grave on Judgment Day...

... How come at least 10 Witnesses don't read in the Bible that the Transfusions are permitted, like other 2,100 million Christians do?... you know the reason: Because the actual "little Pope" says so... if another Russell would come, all of them will read in the Bible that Transfusions are good!

... One of the big problems about the Transfusions is that Jesus repeats 4 times "you have to drink my blood", in Jn.6:53-56... but they dismiss it as a "symbol", as told by their "little Popes".

- Some members have been "disfellowshiped" for reading books written by ex-members, or eating with a suspected dissenter... and if a Witness says that "Jesus Christ is God", he will be the worst apostate!...

The "144,000"... the "Brainwash":

The key word for the Society is the "Second Coming of Christ", with the war of Armageddon, won by Jesus Christ, and the beginning of the "Millennium" of Rev.20.

- The Witnesses are told to work hard "now", because from that Day, the 144,000 "anointed ones" since 1914 will live for ever as kings and priests in heaven, as told in Rev.7 and 20; and the "Great Multitude" of Rev.7, will rise from their graves to live for ever on earth like in a paradise, ruling earth under the tutelage of the 144,000 during the "Millennium", ... but only the good Witnesses!... the rest of the wicked people will be annihilated in the Millennium... and the "apostate Witnesses" will not raise from the grave on Judgment Day, at the Second Coming of Christ.

- These ideas, of "raising from the graves" to "rule earth", "like a paradise"... are the basis for the brainwash of the members with biblical after long biblical lectures... and their leaders become like gods for them... there is no other world for a Witness...

... And there are many good honest Witnesses... but brainwashed... no biblical reason makes sense for them, only what they are told in the Kingdom Hall... I pray Jesus to give light to any honest Witness who reads these lines, and I order Satan to get out of his heart, in the glorious name of Jesus, because only Satan can praise Jesus by saying that "Jesus is not God". Thank you, my Lord and my God Jesus Christ... proclaimed just like that in the Bible, in the Gospel of St. John 20:28.

Jesus Christ "is not God"!:

The Jehovah's Witnesses discard most orthodox doctrines of the Bible, conflicting with those of historic Christianity:

- The Holy Trinity is seen as a demonic doctrine, Jesus christ is stripped of his deity, is not God!, the Holy Spirit is robbed of his personality... they deny the physical resurrection of Christ, and there is not eternal Hell... their doctrines on the sufficiency of Christ's atonement, on human government, and on the existence of the soul are not biblical...

- The worst of them all is to say that "Jesus is not God": But their Bible says emphatically the "Jesus is God", on John 20:28, proclaiming Jesus "my Lord and my God"... "Lord"... "God"... the Bible says Jesus is God!... directly... just like that!.

... John 1:1-3, says it also directly; however, in their Bible, Knorr added an "a"... "is a god", and he put not "God", but "god"... but verse 3 says that "all things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being".

- Colossians 1:16-17, also proclaims that "all things" were made by Christ and for Christ... but again, Knorr adds "(other)" several times between "all things", trying to water down the creation of all things by Jesus Christ, material and spiritual... but in Jn.1:3 says it so clearly!... and here Knorr forgot to put the word "(other)" in between...

The Society is the worst vomit of Satan...

... only Satan can may you praise Jesus Christ, by saying the "Jesus Christ is not God"... only Satan can make you living only expecting the Second Coming of Christ, with his great victory of Armageddon, and proclaiming that "Jesus Christ is not God".

They "changed" the "Bible":

Knorr, the third president of the Society, published the Bible of the Society, "The New World Translation"... changing and adding words in many verses... and the Bible says, "if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him every plague mentioned in the book" (Rev.22:18).

- He changed or added words to verses relating to the "deity of Christ", the "adoration of Christ", the "immortality of the soul", the "eternal Hell"... (Jn.1:1, Colos.1:14-16, 2:9-10, Fil.2:5, Tit.2:13, Heb.1:6, 8, 2Pet.1:1, Matt.28:17, Luc.24:52, 23:43, Matt.25:56)

The Life of a Witness:

It is a strange one: Do not observe holidays or birthdays. Do not vote, salute the flag, work in the military, play chess... no Sabbath is observed, they meet on Sundays to study their Bible... they work haad, "door to door"... making money for the Society.

[DigitGen]

Romans 4:1-5 Have not been changed and they clearly demonstrates salvation secondly
Roman 8:23For the wages* of sin is death; but the gift** of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
*Op-so'-nee-on:rations or pay for a soldier
**Charidzomia:to grant a favor; to deliver or forgive freely

If you ask him if Christ was the saviour he should say yes, and when he does...
Isaiah 43:10-11; Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I  am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
The amusing thing about his is first verse 10 is where the JWs get their name and vs 11 demonstates both the need for the Trinity to be True, as well as the deity of Christ
The verses below also demonstrate this fact and are worthwile to your study

No Savior
Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:21; Isaiah 49:26; Isaiah 60:16 Hosea 13:4; Titus 2:10; IITimothy 1:10; Jude 1:25; John 4:42
Isaiah 45:8 Acts 4:12 John 3:36 I&II Cor 4:4

[TalkerCat]

My Dears, DW and DigitGen:

Thank you both so much for helping clear up this mystery of the JW's for me .... there is no doubt in my mind that they are indead a cult!  My husband was brainwashed, then  disfellowshipped simply for speaking to another disfellowed member.  Now he has no faith at all.  He still believes as the JWs do, but hates religion for "kicking him out" . .  I can see this clearly now, and it breaks my heart for him.  

My prayer for Bill is that the Lord softens his heart, opens his mind and restores his faith.  In the meantime, I will remain a loving, gracious wife and stay by his side.

Blessings -

[ollie]

Jehovah's Witnesses have never tried to sell me books or magazines. They always give them to me when they come to the door. Occasionally I invite them in and open the Bible to them. They will continue to talk of articles in their magazines usually, sometimes getting to the Bible if I persist.

I find them very good people, somewhat misled, looking for a better life on the other side of death. They are difficult to reach with the gospel of Christ.

Most Christians do not have the work ethic they have about spreading what they think is truth.

ollie

[nChrist]

Hello Ollie,

It's great to see you on the forum.

I'm positive that some of the indoctrination of new Jehovah's Witnesses DOES amount to brain-washing. The work (WORKS) ethic is part of this brain-washing. The thought that one must work very hard for their Salvation is almost natural. For whatever reason, the REALITY of God's Grace, God's Love, and God's GIFT as described in Ephesians 2:8-10 is harder to accept and believe.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

It is very sad that many people believe that Salvation is by their own work instead of the finished work on the Cross by JESUS CHRIST. Faith Alone in Christ Alone just seems to be too simple for Salvation, so many look within themselves and are easily convinced that Salvation can only be obtained by hard work and other attributes of themselves.

I wish there was a simple way to share the truth of JESUS and the Cross with a Jehovah's Witness. I've tried very hard many times, and I'm not aware of a single success. They don't understand that their teachings about JESUS are blasphemy and false. In fact, they don't have a clue that anything they've been taught is wrong and false.

I have no doubt at all that cults and false religions are the work of the devil. I was just thinking that cults and false religions are really more welcome these days than JESUS and the CROSS. Islam would be the biggest and worst example around the world and even in countries with a background in Christianity. The only thing that I know we can do is work harder and pray. The difference will be that we know our works don't save us. Our good works are simply from hearts of appreciation for what JESUS CHRIST did for us on the Cross.

Love In Christ,
Tom

John 4:36-38 NASB  "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.' "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor."