The Watchtower’s study book, What Does the Bible Really Teach? (p. 186) says, “As described in the Bible, love for God is much more than a feeling… The Bible teaches: ‘This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome.’ (1 John 5:3). To be genuine, love for God must bear fine fruit. It must be expressed in actions.”[1]

What the Watchtower fails to understand is that none of this is possible without the inner transformation provided by the new birth.

The best way I know to address this is with The New Birth Approach from my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses: Approaching Bible Discussions in Unexpected Ways, pp. 131-133).

Nevertheless, you can have an impact on Jehovah’s Witnesses with some diagnostic stone-in-the-shoe comments and questions.

Ask:

  • How do you feel you personally are doing at keeping all of Jehovah’s commandments?
  • Are you certain that if you die tonight Jehovah will consider you worthy to be resurrected?

Ask one of the Witnesses to read the context of 1 John 5:3 by also including verse 4: “For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome, because everyone who has been born from God conquers the world. And this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith.”

Ask:

  • Isn’t the statement that God’s commandments are not burdensome addressed only to people who have experienced the inner transformation of a new birth by God?

You can add:

  • I certainly agree that good works are an important part of the Christian life, but I believe that works—though important—have nothing whatever to do with saving us. They are the products of salvation, not the prerequisites to

“Bible Teach” states, “We show our love for God when we observe his commandments and apply his principles. It is not too hard to do so. Far from being burdensome, Jehovah’s laws are designed to help us live a good, happy, satisfying life.”[2]

Ask:

  • How does that statement square with what Paul said in Romans 7:18?

Ask one of the Witnesses to read that verse aloud: “For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, there dwells nothing good; for I have the desire to do what is fine but not the ability to carry it out.”

Then ask one of them to read aloud Romans 8:8-9: “So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God. However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this person does not belong to him.”

Ask:

  • According to those passages, can we please God and belong to Christ unless we have God’s spirit dwelling within us?
  • How do we get God’s spirit dwelling within us except by the inner transformation of the new birth?

Summary

Although I believe the best way to discuss this topic with Jehovah’s Witnesses is set out in The New Birth Approach in my book, this stone-in-the-shoe method can also be effective.

In fact, it can set the table for just such an extended discussion.

 

[1] What Does the Bible Really Teach?, p, 186

[2] What Does the Bible Really Teach?, p, 186

 

 

 

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