Answers to some children's questions part 15 || Sunday classes children's ministry || 2025 || Dangerous teachings (Doctrines) - Part 3

 

Dangerous Doctrines - 3

Basics about common cults and False Teachings-1:

Imagine someone knocks on your door and offers you a book about God. They say Jesus is not God but an angel. What would you say?

Jehovah's Witness 

They would come unexpectedly knocking at the door with wearing as if some office staffs are roaming around homes to announce their vacancies and will certainly give you some eye-catching books to read with a possible title 'The Watchtower' or 'Awake'! Have you ever read them???  

Origin: Started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1886. Their headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, is called the Watchtower, and they have their own Bible translation called the New World Translation (NWT). The root of this present day False teaching is Arianism. Arianism is the idea that Jesus Christ is not equal to the Father by nature, but He is the first creation of God. The founder of Arianism was Arius who died in 336. 

Their core beliefs:

a) Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. Deny his physical resurrection.

b) Salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. 

c) Reject the doctrine of the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God.

d) The church has corrupted the Bible over the centuries; thus, they have re-translated the Bible to reflect their unique doctrines—the result is the New World Translation. This version of the Bible has changed the name of God to "Jehovah" in hundreds of places in which the original text uses different names. 

e) Do not celebrate most holidays, do not vote or hold political office, do not participate in patriotic activities, and do not accept blood transfusions. 

f) Jesus began his rule invisibly on earth in 1914

g) Only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witness go to heaven

h) The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used; Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake

Sources:

a) No Trinity: Let God be True, 2nd Ed., pp. 100-101; Should You Believe in the Trinity? p. 7; Watchtower, 2/1/1960, p. 94, Why Do You Believe in the Trinity? 

b) Holy Spirit is an impersonal force: Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 406-407; The Watchtower, June 1, 1952, p. 24.

c) Jesus was created first: Aid to Bible Understanding, pp. 390-391.

d) Jesus was actually Michael angel who became man: The Watchtower, May 15, 1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.

e) Jesus was not God in Flesh: Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p. 306.

f) Jesus didn't rise physically:  Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4; Let God be True, p. 276.

g) His invisible rule on earth: The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 300.

h) Only 144000 Jehovah witnesses will go to heaven: Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121.

i) The cross symbol must not be used; Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake: Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 90-92; Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 89-90.

The Bible rather says:

a) Trinity is True (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)

b) Jesus is God (John 1:1; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:3)

c) Holy Spirit is a person (Acts 5:3-4)

d) Jesus received worship (Luke 24:52)

e) 144000 is number (can either be symbolic or literal) from Israelites 12 tribes who would believe Jesus during End times who would be added to the church (Rev. 7:4-8; 14:1-5; Rom. 11:25-26) One must study Eschatology deeply for further understanding!

f) Jesus never spoke of his invisible rule. His return and reign shall be global. (Matt. 24:30; Revelation 19:11-16; Acts 1:9-11)

g) Jesus raised physically. He appeared to many and with undeniable proof of being purely physical! Limiting the scope of resurrection within spiritual space is a dangerous position to our complete redemption! (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:26-29; Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 12-20)

Impact: This group is still active and they come with their colourful books. They used to be the most flourishing group in Nepal in near past. Their main attack is on Jesus' deity and Trinity. You cannot try enough to argue with them. They twist lots of scriptures and play lots of tactics to persuade you! What do you need? You need daily Bible study and consulting with prescribed commentaries from your church pastors, elders and teachers! 

Resources concerned:

a) https://carm.org/jehovahs-witnesses/jehovahs-witness-beliefs-jesus/

b) https://www.gotquestions.org/Jehovahs-Witnesses.html 

Further study:

a) Answering Jehovah Witness: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC4pYuVpL3s7ENHe5DE3UtU7hOSat5bt2&si=VegWVuyQvPkVgR-0 

b) All about Jehovah witness: https://carm.org/world-religions/jehovahs-witnesses/ 

c) Jehovah witnesses vs Christianity: https://youtu.be/_gZe6BCuCa4?si=5RAyw6LVMCEmHGd9 

d) JW explained in 2 minutes: https://youtu.be/__GGthZN-Fk?si=shuxJIH6CEnZm0So