Most of my blog posts and my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses, focus on showing the Witnesses the Watchtower’s errors in  doctrine.

That is of critical importance if we are going to be able to show them what the Bible really teaches.

However, we also need to be mindful of the importance of reaching Jehovah’s Witnesses hearts as well as their minds.

We need to be aware of the Witnesses’ inner struggles and be able to identify with them.

Instead of arguing with the Witnesses, draw them out and let them know that as a fellow human being you empathize with their struggles.

Knowing that you truly care about them will be a stone in their shoes because it doesn’t match the Watchtower’s indoctrination that people who don’t agree with them are the enemy.

You can ask them some diagnostic questions.

More important than their answers is the fact that they will remember your questions.

They will be stones in their shoes.

It is important that you understand the inner struggle that this Watchtower perform-or-perish motivational system produces.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses who come to your door believe they are “in the truth” and “in Jehovah’s organization,” but they have no assurance of their own salvation because they have been taught that it depends on them.

Ask:

  • Jehovah’s Witnesses sometimes use expressions like being “in the truth” and being “a part of Jehovah’s organization,” but they don’t seem to be assured of their salvation. Please help me understand why.

They will talk about the importance of obedient works and of how Matthew 10:22 says, “but the one who has endured to the end will be saved.”

Ask:

  • I have read in Watchtower literature the phrase “Jehovah’s undeserved kindness,” but it seems to me that Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that in order to obtain salvation, they have to show that they are deserving of it. That confuses me. 
  • I think I would be aware of my many shortcomings and constantly fear that I was undeserving.

They will give various responses, but the fact remains that their beliefs contradict each other.

Ask:

  • I have heard Jehovah’s Witnesses say that salvation is a gift, but in order to be deemed worthy to receive it they must continually prove their worthiness through their works. So when does the gift actually become yours?

Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t see the contradictions.

Instead, they keep striving to prove worthy while fearing that they will fall short.

They are caught in a system of belief that makes it impossible to know if they doing enough to merit God’s approval.

In addition, they are constantly being exhorted to do more and more in view of the fact that Armageddon is just around the corner.

As you can imagine, the angst caused by this organizational pressure and perpetual state of spiritual uncertainty is not a topic of open conversation among Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Many think they are the only ones who struggle with feelings of fear, inadequacy, and unworthiness, not realizing that the Watchtower itself causes these feelings by its doctrines and, in fact, depends on them as powerful motivators in its works-oriented salvation system.

Certainly, Jehovah’s Witnesses aren’t likely to disclose these anxieties and insecurities to you at the door or in your living room.

After all, they are trying to convince you that you need to “come into the truth” by becoming a Jehovah’s Witness yourself.

Summary

They won’t show it, but your stone-in-the-shoe questions will resonate with them.

They will hear you voicing fears and questions that they have but dare not express.

Connecting with them in this way affords us the opportunity of identifying with the spiritual hunger they have as human beings, as opposed to simply arguing doctrine with them.

Although we do need to discuss doctrinal differences openly with Jehovah’s Witnesses, our objective must not be simply to win debates.

Rather, our goal must be to lead hungry souls to a genuine saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

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