Why do Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be 'Christians' when they are not?

[Diggindeeper]

The Watchtower/Jehovah's Witnesses come on this board marking "Yes, I am a Christian." But they adhere to teachings that are far removed from normal protestant Christianity and I don't see how they can honestly say they are 'Christians'.

For example, they claim that Jesus returned in 1914 and set up his kingdom. We know there is no scriptural proof of that....

They deny the deity of Christ....

They deny the trinity....

There is absolutely no proof of any kind... historical, scientific, archeology, DNA or anything else... to prove what they teach did indeed happen in history...

And, they have made so very many false prophecies that every bonafide Christian denomination recognizes them as a CULT, along with Mormons, etc.

So why do they claim to be Christians? Does anyone have a clue?

[gringo300]

I remember reading somewhere, years ago, that Jehovah's Witnesses don't self-identify as Christians...

I don't know if this is true or not.

[Slug1]

2 Peter 2, spells it out to us that this will happen. The why... to exploit people is one Biblical reason:

v1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.

[Reynolds357]

The Watchtower/Jehovah's Witnesses come on this board marking "Yes, I am a Christian." But they adhere to teachings that are far removed from normal protestant Christianity and I don't see how they can honestly say they are 'Christians'.

For example, they claim that Jesus returned in 1914 and set up his kingdom. We know there is no scriptural proof of that....

They deny the deity of Christ....

They deny the trinity....

There is absolutely no proof of any kind... historical, scientific, archeology, DNA or anything else... to prove what they teach did indeed happen in history...

And, they have made so very many false prophecies that every bonafide Christian denomination recognizes them as a CULT, along with Mormons, etc.

So why do they claim to be Christians? Does anyone have a clue?

I did not know they claimed to be Christians. I thought the claimed to be "elect."

[Desperaux]

Anyone who cannot perceive who Jesus is still needs Him.

[TrustGzus]

I remember reading somewhere, years ago, that Jehovah's Witnesses don't self-identify as Christians...

I don't know if this is true or not.

I'm not positive but this article from their website would make me think they'd identify themselves as Christians. I'm not sure how much they use that term though. I don't get to talk to them that often.

[amazzin]

They can claim whatever thier soul desires but their beliefs do not line up with Orthodox Christianity on such issues as Salvation, Trinity and so much more

[Diggindeeper]

I'm not positive but this article from their website would make me think they'd identify themselves as Christians. I'm not sure how much they use that term though. I don't get to talk to them that often.

You know, sometimes you may be talking to them right here, on this board! They come here, marking "Yes, I am a Christian." It does not take long for some us to identify them though. Honest, sometimes people are discussing things with them and don't know its a JW!

Its important for Christians to know some about cults, I think, and that way you pick up on their false teachings. With JW's its really important to KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE. (Or I should say what they don't believe. For example, they deny the deity of Christ. They will make reference to the year 1914. That's because at one time Watchtower, which is where they get all their teachings, used to predict that Christ would return in 1914. When he did not, THEN they changed their teachings to say that he DID return in 1914 and sat up his kingdom at that time. But we didn't see him because he returned spiritually, invisibly. They also deny hell and talk a lot about the 144,000 which they say is all JW's, and nearly all of that number is already ruling with him...invisibly, of course. They also deny the trinity.....)

The trouble here, on this board, is that they USED to NOT come here calling themselves 'Christians'...but they do now! And that is being deceitful. We don't kick them off, because like someone already said, they need Jesus too. But they need the real Jesus, not the on Watchtower has created.

[gringo300]

I had several conversations with a group of Jehovah's Witness's years ago.

They very explicitly denied the Deity of Jesus.

That's one of the main things I remember, because that really made an impression on me.

[X-Rez]

How does 1 deny the deity of christ ? what does that even mean ?

[Diggindeeper]

One denies the deity of Christ when they claim he is merely another 'created' being. He was not. He was there in the beginning. He is throughout the Old Testament. Here are two examples:

1- When Abraham was about ready to offer his only son (Isaac) as a sacrifice, Isaac said, "Father, I see the wood, and I see the flame, but where is the sacrifice?" (My paraphrase)

Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb..." (And he did! At Calvary.)

When the old king threw the 3 Hebrew boys into the fiery furnace, he looked to see if they were burnt to cinders, and then he yelled to those around him, "Didn't we throw 3 men into that fire?"

They said, "Yes, king. We threw 3 men into the fire."

Then he said,

Daniel 3:25
He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

How in the world did HE knew what Jesus looked like way back then???

[X-Rez]

One denies the deity of Christ when they claim he is merely another 'created' being. He was not. He was there in the beginning. He is throughout the Old Testament. Here are two examples:

1- When Abraham was about ready to offer his only son (Isaac) as a sacrifice, Isaac said, "Father, I see the wood, and I see the flame, but where is the sacrifice?" (My paraphrase)

Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb..." (And he did! At Calvary.)

When the old king threw the 3 Hebrew boys into the fiery furnace, he looked to see if they were burnt to cinders, and then he yelled to those around him, "Didn't we throw 3 men into that fire?"

They said, "Yes, king. We threw 3 men into the fire."

Then he said,

Daniel 3:25
He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

How in the world did HE knew what Jesus looked like way back then???

Youngs literal translation reads...

25He answered and hath said, `Lo, I am seeing four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth [is] like to a son of the gods.'

1st it describes this angel as having the appearence of a A MAN. So its NOT REFERING TO JESUS, since he was not yet on earth.

2nd it says he resembles A SONof the Gods. Thats in general. Remember the bible sometimes describes humans as sons of God, it also describes any angel as a a son of God. So this IS NOT REFERRING AT ALL TO CHRIST !

This is not from the NWT, its from YLT. Do you have objections to this translation as well ?

[episkopos]

The Watchtower/Jehovah's Witnesses come on this board marking "Yes, I am a Christian." But they adhere to teachings that are far removed from normal protestant Christianity and I don't see how they can honestly say they are 'Christians'.

For example, they claim that Jesus returned in 1914 and set up his kingdom. We know there is no scriptural proof of that....

They deny the deity of Christ....

They deny the trinity....

There is absolutely no proof of any kind... historical, scientific, archeology, DNA or anything else... to prove what they teach did indeed happen in history...

And, they have made so very many false prophecies that every bonafide Christian denomination recognizes them as a CULT, along with Mormons, etc.

So why do they claim to be Christians? Does anyone have a clue?

They are of a different indoctrination. There are thousands of ways of reading the bible that misses the truth of a new life in Christ.

[X-Rez]

They are of a different indoctrination. There are thousands of ways of reading the bible that misses the truth of a new life in Christ.

There are no thosands of way to read this !? Either he is the firstborn or he is not. Which is it ?

[Diggindeeper]

Youngs literal translation reads...

25He answered and hath said, `Lo, I am seeing four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the appearance of the fourth [is] like to a son of the gods.'

1st it describes this angel as having the appearence of a A MAN. So its NOT REFERING TO JESUS, since he was not yet on earth.

2nd it says he resembles A SONof the Gods. Thats in general. Remember the bible sometimes describes humans as sons of God, it also describes any angel as a a son of God. So this IS NOT REFERRING AT ALL TO CHRIST !

This is not from the NWT, its from YLT. Do you have objections to this translation as well ?

ANY translation that has added words and used 'gods' rather than God is a terrible translation. As bad as the New World/Watchtower translation! So yes, it is a terrible translation. Not acceptable because it has changed the original to fit Watchtower doctrine.