Key Scripture: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1).

The objective of The Christian Freedom Approach is to get Jehovah’s Witnesses to think for themselves instead of simply accepting whatever the Watchtower says.      

Why it matters

Jehovah’s Witnesses are often known by what they won’t do:

  1. They won’t serve in the armed forces of any country.
  2. They won’t celebrate birthdays or holidays.
  3. They won’t hire “clergy” or pay wages to congregation elders.
  4. They won’t pass a collection plate at their meetings.
  5. They won’t display or wear a cross.

These are all positions which help convince Jehovah’s Witnesses that they alone are “in the truth.” They often bringing up these subjects in order to portray Christian churches as pagan and put us on the defensive. Although Christians don’t believe that any of these matters are salvation issues, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that all of them are, so we need to be prepared to address them. (pp. 225-226)

It is usually best to wait for the Witnesses to bring up these issues. If you initiate the discussion, they are likely to view it as persecution, but once they introduce the topics as indictments of Christendom, it is only fair for you to respond. (p. 226)

The unexpected approach

Instead of becoming defensive—as Jehovah’s Witnesses expect—you will defend their freedom to follow their convictions in these matters without being judged or condemned by people who disagree with them. You will show them that the Bible allows Christians freedom to follow their own conscience in these areas. In other words, these are not matters on which all Christians must agree. Your goal will be to help them think about these matters for themselves.

Issue #1: War

Jehovah’s Witnesses see military service as unchristian: “If true Christians in one nation were to go to war against another nation, they would be fighting against fellow believers, against people who prayed for help to the same God that they did. Appropriately, Christ directed his followers to lay down the sword.” (p. 226)

Say, “Because you believe it is wrong to serve in the military, I believe you should have the right to be conscientious objectors. However, I personally don’t think that position is required by the Bible. Given that we still live in a fallen world, God still has purposes for the armies of this world to fulfill. It will remain so until Christ returns with the armies of heaven.” (pp. 227-228)

Of course, they will disagree. When they do say, “I would like to get your take on several New Testament Scriptures that do address the subject of whether it is possible to follow Christ and still serve in the armed forces.”

John the Baptist: Ask them to read aloud what John the Baptist said to soldiers who came to him to be baptized. Luke 3:14: “Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.’” (p. 229)

Ask, “If it was wrong for followers of Jehovah to serve in the army, why didn’t John the Baptist tell them that? Why did he just tell them to serve in an honorable manner?” They may tell you that this happened before Jesus’ ministry, so next look at Jesus’ interaction with a Roman soldier. (p. 229)

Jesus and a Roman centurion: Ask one of the Witnesses to read aloud the encounter between Jesus and a Roman centurion recorded in Matthew 8:5-10 in which Jesus stated, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Follow up by saying:

  • Roman centurions commanded a hundred soldiers. If serving in the Roman army was detestable to Jehovah, why would Jesus commend this man for his level of faith and also heal his servant?
  • Why didn’t Jesus tell this man that in order to demonstrate genuine faith in Jehovah he and his servant needed to leave the Roman army? (p. 229)

 Cornelius: Have one of the Witnesses read aloud Acts 10:1-2: “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” (Footnotes in the latest Watchtower translation indicate that Cornelius was a centurion who was in command of 100 soldiers and that the Italian unit consisted of 600 soldiers).

Then have them also read aloud Peter’s comment about this man in Acts 10:34-35: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Ask:

  • How is it that this man could be both a Roman military commander and “a devout and God-fearing man”?
  • How could Peter describe Cornelius as a man who “fears God and does what is right” when this man was an active commander of 100 Roman soldiers?
  • Invite them to show you anywhere in the Scriptures where Cornelius was told by God or Peter to give up his military career. It isn’t there. (p. 230)

Governments as God’s servants: Have one of the Witnesses read aloud Romans 13:1-4 regarding the proper role of earthly governments in the Christian era.

Romans 13:1-2: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

Ask:

  • According to these verses, where do the governments of this world get their authority—God or Satan?
  • Who has placed these governments in their relative positions? God or Satan?

Romans 13:3-4: “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

Ask:

  • Who authorized these governments to bear the sword? God or Satan?
  • The governments are agents of whose wrath? God’s or Satan’s?
  • Do you understand from these Scriptures why I believe military service can be an honorable calling for Christians?

You can conclude by saying, “If your conscience tells you not to take up arms, I certainly respect that decision. But in this fallen world, some people have to serve as police officers and as soldiers in order to restrain evil, and I personally believe that it’s better for righteous men and women to serve in those roles. So I also respect the decisions of Christians who choose to serve in those capacities. Don’t you think you should as well?” (pp. 230-232)

Study Questions

This chapter deals with the following issues:

  • War and military service
  • Birthdays and holidays
  • Paid clergy
  • Collections (“passing the plate”)
  • The cross.
  1. “As Christians, we know that none of these matters is a salvation issue. The problem is that to a Jehovah’s Witness, all of these practices are salvation issues.” How might this fact influence the way we approach these topics when talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses? (pp. 225-226)

     2. How would you reply to a Jehovah’s Witness who says the following regarding Christians serving in the military? “If true Christians in one nation were to go to war against another nation, they would be fighting against fellow believers, against people who prayed for help to the same God that they did. Appropriately, Christ directed his followers to lay down the sword. (Matt. 26:52)” (pp. 226-232)

  1. With regard to serving in the military and going to war (pp. 226-232):
  • Given that God is love and that one of the Ten Commandments says not to kill, are Christians forbidden to serve as soldiers?
  • Please read Romans 13:1 and 1 Peter 2:13-14. Do these verses mean that Christians must serve in the military and go to war whenever our earthly rulers command us to do so?