Witnessing to a Jehovah Witness

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Ken Jones

New Member
Jan 2, 2018
4
2
3
Kharkov
Faith
Christian
Country
Ukraine
If a Jehovah Witness claims to have been baptised in water, and then subsequently comes to the Biblical knowledge of Jesus and gets saved - should that person be baptised in water a second time?
 

Rollo Tamasi

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2017
2,317
1,512
113
73
Inverness, Florida
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
If a Jehovah Witness claims to have been baptised in water, and then subsequently comes to the Biblical knowledge of Jesus and gets saved - should that person be baptised in water a second time?
Hi Ken, the answer is yes.
Baptism by water should be to declare to the world that Jesus is Lord and Savior of your life.
Baptism should take place after that happens.
 

GodsGrace

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2017
10,727
5,716
113
Tuscany
Faith
Christian
Country
Italy
If a Jehovah Witness claims to have been baptised in water, and then subsequently comes to the Biblical knowledge of Jesus and gets saved - should that person be baptised in water a second time?
The baptism of a JW is not valid in a Christian church.
One would have to be baptised again.
 

Helen

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
15,476
21,155
113
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
If a Jehovah Witness claims to have been baptised in water, and then subsequently comes to the Biblical knowledge of Jesus and gets saved - should that person be baptised in water a second time?

My answer would be different.
If "should I" comes into the question, then it is not "from the heart" or from hearing God nudge us, then it is just a 'form' . But if God whispers - " Hey, Now you understand things, go get baptised again"

If the heart was right when first baptised, then I believe God would have counted it as faith. But, if when getting baptised under JW teaching it was just because a person is TOLD you to ...then yes I agree with the others..get baptised again now that you know the truth of what it means.

Clear as mud eh! :)
 
Last edited:

amadeus

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2008
22,394
31,446
113
80
Oklahoma
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
My answer would be different.
If "should I" comes into the question, then it is not "from the heart" or from hearing God nudge us, then it is just a 'form' . But if God- " Hey, now you understand things, get baptised again"

If the heart was right when first baptised then I believe God would have counted it as faith. But, if when getting baptised under JW teaching was just because a person is TOLD to ...then yes I agree with the others..get baptised again now that you know the truth of what it means.

Clear as mud eh! :)
No, clear as our eyes are able to see.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GodsGrace and Helen

GodsGrace

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2017
10,727
5,716
113
Tuscany
Faith
Christian
Country
Italy
My answer would be different.
If "should I" comes into the question, then it is not "from the heart" or from hearing God nudge us, then it is just a 'form' . But if God whispers - " Hey, Now you understand things, go get baptised again"

If the heart was right when first baptised, then I believe God would have counted it as faith. But, if when getting baptised under JW teaching it was just because a person is TOLD you to ...then yes I agree with the others..get baptised again now that you know the truth of what it means.

Clear as mud eh! :)
BG
The JW don't believe Jesus is God.
So the formula would be missing:
Mathew 28:19

How could it be valid??
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ken Jones

Helen

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
15,476
21,155
113
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
BG
The JW don't believe Jesus is God.
So the formula would be missing:
Mathew 28:19

How could it be valid??

For those who believe that it is a command to be obeyed I agree. But, as you know ( may remember) I don't.
Baptism is an outward sign of our decision to die to the old world and rise in life into the new.
It has been made into a law and formula.
I believe it is a heart thing, a personal thing between the person and God. Once we start saying "you must do this" then we open the same can of worms that some call "the great commission".
Many christians I know have indeed been baptised in water.
But, have they ever preach ? NO. Baptised anyone in water? NO , Spoken in other tongues? NO
" Heal the sick, NO, cleanse the lepers, NO, raise the dead, NO, cast out devils, NO, .....freely ye have received, freely give."
But, they give themselves a big gold star because they were baptised. :rolleyes:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Armadillo

GodsGrace

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2017
10,727
5,716
113
Tuscany
Faith
Christian
Country
Italy
For those who believe that it is a command to be obeyed I agree. But, as you know ( may remember) I don't.
Baptism is an outward sign of our decision to die to the old world and rise in life into the new.
It has been made into a law and formula.
I believe it is a heart thing, a personal thing between the person and God. Once we start saying "you must do this" then we open the same can of worms that some call "the great commission".
Many christians I know have indeed been baptised in water.
But, have they ever preach ? NO. Baptised anyone in water? NO , Spoken in other tongues? NO
" Heal the sick, NO, cleanse the lepers, NO, raise the dead, NO, cast out devils, NO, .....freely ye have received, freely give."
But, they give themselves a big gold star because they were baptised. :rolleyes:
Yes. Coming from the RCC I know what you're speaking of.

But Jesus did say to teach and to baptize in His name.

It shouldn't be viewed as something that MUST be done -- that's works salvation.

It should be viewed as something that Jesus said to do. I do think we should do what He said.

Personally, I don't understand why we should be baptized...but He said to do this, so we should.

I agree that it's a sign of an internal condition.
We go into the water dead, and come out alive.
Just like Jesus was baptized to complete all rules, so we should follow HIS rules, NOT man-made rules.
 

mjrhealth

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2009
11,810
4,090
113
Australia
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Problem is for many its just an outward thing. Being baptized in water actually changes little, it is when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit we become alive, because that beautiful seed of God is planted in us which brings us life and light. And when we learn from Him that seed grows and so does the light and life in us.

Act_1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

a lot changed after pentecost but so many still live pre that day, even more so in the OT. Love teh JW's can have wonderfull conversations, even if its all "head" knowledge.
 

aspen

“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Apr 25, 2012
14,111
4,778
113
52
West Coast
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I’ve had zero success with JWs. My idea of success is sharing ideas.
 

tigger 2

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2017
916
405
63
84
port angeles
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I’ve had zero success with JWs. My idea of success is sharing ideas.

I would be happy to share ideas concerning 'Who is God." Remember, sharing ideas means both sides are thoroughly examined by each person.

If you agree, I'll start a new discussion here where we can thoroughly examine this topic one (or two) verses at a time.
 

aspen

“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Apr 25, 2012
14,111
4,778
113
52
West Coast
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I would be happy to share ideas concerning 'Who is God." Remember, sharing ideas means both sides are thoroughly examined by each person.

If you agree, I'll start a new discussion here where we can thoroughly examine this topic one (or two) verses at a time.

If we agree to a discussion, we will have to agree to terms and start a new thread.
 

tigger 2

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2017
916
405
63
84
port angeles
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
If we agree to a discussion, we will have to agree to terms and start a new thread.

I agree. I suggest we discuss only scriptural evidence for who is God. I believe it would quickly get out of hand unless we agree to discuss only one (or two if necessary) verses or statements at a time. And then continue to another only when we both agree to do so.

If there is too much distracting input by others, we could go to a forum which allows one-to-one discussions.
 

aspen

“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Apr 25, 2012
14,111
4,778
113
52
West Coast
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I agree. I suggest we discuss only scriptural evidence for who is God. I believe it would quickly get out of hand unless we agree to discuss only one (or two if necessary) verses or statements at a time. And then continue to another only when we both agree to do so.

If there is too much distracting input by others, we could go to a forum which allows one-to-one discussions.

Scriptural evidence as defined by whom? If we all allowed to share our points of view without posturing or degrading doctrines, i can agree. I am not interested in hearing the JW’s opinion of the Catholic Church, for example.

We can go two verses at a time.
 

tigger 2

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2017
916
405
63
84
port angeles
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Scriptural evidence as defined by whom? If we all allowed to share our points of view without posturing or degrading doctrines, i can agree. I am not interested in hearing the JW’s opinion of the Catholic Church, for example.

We can go two verses at a time.

I am not interested in that either. I would accept we start with Bible quotes as backed up by the major modern NT Greek texts (W&H; Nestle-Aland; UBS). In other words, no single translation is to be considered infallible.

I would prefer to examine only one statement at a time, unless two are absolutely related and necessary for a single statement (perhaps like John 8:58 and Exodus 3:14).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: aspen

aspen

“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Apr 25, 2012
14,111
4,778
113
52
West Coast
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I am not interested in that either. I would accept we start with Bible quotes as backed up by the major modern NT Greek texts (W&H; Nestle-Aland; UBS). In other words, no single translation is to be considered infallible.

I would prefer to examine only one statement at a time, unless two are absolutely related and necessary for a single statement (perhaps like John 8:58 and Exodus 3:14).

Agreed. We will need to be patient with this discussion. I am interested, but not willing to commit all my time to it.
 

tigger 2

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2017
916
405
63
84
port angeles
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I can be as patient as my advancing age will allow. In the early seventies I began studying with JW's. After a year I was confronted with a Dr. Walter Martin tape by a co-worker. I was shocked. From then on, for the next ten years, I conducted my own private study concerning the trinity. I had to be convinced whether God is one person or a trinity. So I wrote down all my studies and became a baptized JW in 1982.

My memory is very poor now, so I will have to rely on my study files.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Helen

aspen

“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Apr 25, 2012
14,111
4,778
113
52
West Coast
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I can be as patient as my advancing age will allow. In the early seventies I began studying with JW's. After a year I was confronted with a Dr. Walter Martin tape by a co-worker. I was shocked. From then on, for the next ten years, I conducted my own private study concerning the trinity. I had to be convinced whether God is one person or a trinity. So I wrote down all my studies and became a baptized JW in 1982.

My memory is very poor now, so I will have to rely on my study files.

Oh good. I am glad to hear that you are older and have experience with your doctrine. I grew up with a Presybeterian viewpoint, but visited many churches during adolescence. I became friends with a Catholic when i was in graduate school and she got me interested in the Catholic church. I spent two years studying Catholic doctrine and joined the church at age 30. I am 46.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Helen

tigger 2

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2017
916
405
63
84
port angeles
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
If a Jehovah Witness claims to have been baptised in water, and then subsequently comes to the Biblical knowledge of Jesus and gets saved - should that person be baptised in water a second time?

If a Trinitarian claims to have been baptized in water, and then subsequently comes to the scriptural knowledge of Jesus - should that person be baptized in water a second time?

Definitely.