Many people who won’t be coming to your door have been greatly influenced by the Watchtower.

Some are studying with them. Still others have left the Watchtower organization, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

Please take the initiative in talking with them and trying to reach them for Christ.

Studies (pp. 298-299)

Keep your eyes and ears open. You may already know people who are not baptized Jehovah’s Witnesses but who are studying with them. Perhaps they are members of your family or close personal friends. Maybe you have a friend who is deeply concerned because a loved one is involved in a Watchtower study.

What can you do to help?

It is almost always counterproductive to tell a person who is studying with the Witnesses point blank that the Watchtower is a cult and that they should stop their study. The Witnesses will have told them to expect this sort of opposition to their “learning the truth.” You will only be enhancing the credibility of the Watchtower.

Instead, listen to find out the degree to which they have already bought into the Watchtower mindset. If they are just starting out, commend them for their interest in the Bible, tell them that you have seen some things that concern you about the Watchtower and its teachings, and ask them to look at both sides of things before making any commitment.

On the other hand, you may find that a person who is studying with the Witnesses has already developed such a level of trust in the Watchtower that they consider any “other side” to be satanic. In that situation, the best thing to do is to tell them that you respect their right to make their own religious commitments. Then using one or more of my approaches, engage them in discussion as if they were already a fully committed Jehovah’s Witness.

Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses (pp. 299-300)

You may know someone who used to be a Witness but who has completely drifted away, has formally disassociated, or who has been disfellowshipped by the elders. Based on statistics published by the Watchtower organization itself, it has been estimated that as many as 950,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses have left the organization in a 10-year period.

Listen to them to find out why they left. Don’t assume just because they have left the organization that they disagree with its theology or look favorably on Christianity. Some leave the Watchtower because they are exhausted or because of a moral lapse but still believe the Watchtower system is “the truth.” Still others leave because they see or experience mistreatment by Watchtower leaders or other Jehovah’s Witnesses. Some people leave the Watchtower because they are burned out on religion altogether. Many have become agnostics or atheists.

Adjust your approach depending on what they reveal to you. If they aren’t interested in discussing religious issues with you, respect their decision. However, if they are open to the gospel, your commitment and the knowledge you have gained from studying my book can be invaluable.

Study Questions

  1. Do you know anyone who is presently participating in a “home Bible study” with Jehovah’s Witnesses? (pp. 298-299)
  • Would you say nothing so as not to offend them?
  • Would you tell them the Watchtower is a cult and that they should stop the study?
  • What would be some better ways to help them?
  • Are you willing to take those steps?
  • If they ask you Bible questions based on Watchtower teachings, how will you respond?
  1. Do you know any ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses (people who have cut ties with the Watchtower organization)? (pp. 299-300)
  • Do you know if they left voluntarily or involuntarily? Why did they leave?
  • What is their view of God now—Christian? Other religion? Agnostic? Atheist?
  • Are they trying to get reinstated as Witnesses or are they happy being out?
  • What steps can you take to reach them for Christ?

 

Comment Policy