Need some advice about being friends with a Jehovah Witness

[BloomieDee]

I have a friend, we've been close friends for a while now, but he decided to turn into a Jehovah Witness about a year ago, I'm not very use to it. When we talk I'll say something like: "Just pray, God will help" without thinking (cause I'm not used to it) and then we get into an argument because then he starts saying up bible verses and stuff to make me change my mind and become a Jehovah Witness too. I feel like he doesn't respect my Christianity at all. I keep telling him that I don't want us to talk about religions because we always end up fighting, but then he says stuff like: "If you were really so confident with your Christianity you'll have the right words to stand up against me" I don't get it.... when we don't talk about religion, our friendship goes really well. But somehow we always seem to land on the topic. Any advice about what I can do? He used to be a normal Christian, but he is serious about being a Jehovah Witness, he was even baptized about 3 months ago.Can someone please give me a complete description of the difference between Christians and Jehovah Witnesses? I know a little but not enough. Thanks a bunch!

Deidre

 

[crooner]

Deidre,I am working with a few myself. Its hard to be friends because you are the enemy.Check out these web sites they are ex JWs. They are very helpful. You will find everything they believe and things they dont want you to know. Persistance is the only way to get to them. They will try to ware you down. You can win with knowledge.Hope this helps.http//www.4witness.orghttp//www.4jehovah.org

 

[BloomieDee]

CroonerThanks so much. I will check those out. You all can pray for me

I don't want to loose his friendship because we've been friends for a long time, but if this doesn't stop I'm gonna have walk out. I am a Christian however, I'm not as strong as I want to be... Still working on having a closer relationship with God and to have more faith in him. I don't really need someone right now who want to change my believes... if you know what I mean.

 

[crooner]

DeidredupIf you dont give up you will learn so much about the bible because you will be forced to look up scripture. It will be a blessing. You will become very frustrated, but dont give up.If you dont give up he might start to trust you. Good luck My prayer is with you. Let me know if you get stumped.

 

[Jordan]

This bible verse is alone, why I don't trust Jehovah Witnesses. Their bible is called New World Translation (NWT) They are of Satan and they know not where they are walking.John 1:1 KJV - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 NWT - In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.Source: - [url="http://www.watchtower.org/bible/joh/chapter_001.htm]http://www.watchtower.org/bible/joh/chapter_001.htm[/url]If you are interested you can look at my thread under my sig.JagLovest thou in Christ Yahshua, Lord and Saviour of the world.P.S. I'll pray for you. May I ask for your first name?

 

[BloomieDee]

thanks for the reply. My first name is Deidre.If anyone has more links, please feel free to post them. I'd like to know as much as I can about their religion as I don't really have a complete idea of what I'm dealing with.

 

[HammerStone]

Well, II John is pretty explicit on the matter. If you feel that you have a chance with this fella, then keep working on him and get through to him, but if it's something that's dividing you then it may just be best to get away from him. It's sad that it works that way, but the Bible doesn't hide that religion will be highly divisive. You'll have to go to Father on it and pray on it. We'll all do the same for you. Try and engage him with the Word if you are up to it and want to keep chipping away at the situation. Like crooner said, you'll learn a lot when you have to start looking it up. Ask for help if you need to and find the tools you need to help your search - a good Strong's concordance and Bible software is a great way to start.

 

[Christina]

DeidreHere is a link that might help you http://www.contenderministries.org/jehovahswitnesses.php

 

[crooner]

One of the scarry things with JWs is they not saved because they dont believe Jesus is the Messiah. They dont pray to him. When their organization first started they did pray to him. They have gotten progressively worse as time goes on. They have changed their doctrines many times.Just about every belief they have is indefferent to mainstream Chriatianity.

 

[BloomieDee]

Thanks you guys, it's good to know you guys are here for me

BTW, why don't they celebrate Christmas?

 

[Peacebewithyou]

(Deidredup;28441)
Thanks you guys, it's good to know you guys are here for me

BTW, why don't they celebrate Christmas?
They used to celebrate Christmas, But all of their volunteer workers in Bethel, NY who printed the magazines they distibuted wanted to go home to be with their families at Christmas, so they decided that Christmas was pagan, rather than worrying about production slowing down. The "pagan roots" of Christmas is just so ridiculous to me. Yes, December 25th was a date celebrated by the pagans, but honestly, how many "pagan carols" did you hear on the radio? How many "pagan displays" did you see in people's yards? How many "Happy Pagan Celebration" did you hear on TV and read in the newspapers? Decemember 25th was a day stolen from the pagans and totally turned into a celebration about Jesus. Every single year the story of the Birth of Christ is literally everywhere. Oh sure - it's also become materialistic, but every Christian I know celeberates the birth of Christ. We can't help what the "world" does - but the fact that Jesus is celebrated - that's a good thing. Only Satan finds fault in the celebration of Jesus. Well, and Jehovah's Witnesses.

 

[Jordan]

(Peacebewithyou;28448)
They used to celebrate Christmas, But all of their volunteer workers in Bethel, NY who printed the magazines they distibuted wanted to go home to be with their families at Christmas, so they decided that Christmas was pagan, rather than worrying about production slowing down. The "pagan roots" of Christmas is just so ridiculous to me. Yes, December 25th was a date celebrated by the pagans, but honestly, how many "pagan carols" did you hear on the radio? How many "pagan displays" did you see in people's yards? How many "Happy Pagan Celebration" did you hear on TV and read in the newspapers? Decemember 25th was a day stolen from the pagans and totally turned into a celebration about Jesus. Every single year the story of the Birth of Christ is literally everywhere. Oh sure - it's also become materialistic, but every Christian I know celeberates the birth of Christ. We can't help what the "world" does - but the fact that Jesus is celebrated - that's a good thing. Only Satan finds fault in the celebration of Jesus. Well, and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Satan is very subtle. Yes Christmas does indeed has Pagan roots on it. I give a few reason NOT to celebrate Christmas, because it made my soul un rest ever since I knew Christ was not born on December 25th. You can make another word from "Santa" of it...I also know Easter is abomination to God.JagLovest thou in Christ Yahshua, Lord and Saviour of the world.

 

[Christina]

Heres a quick reference chart that you can usehttp://www.contenderministries.org/jehovah.../comparison.php

 

[Peacebewithyou]

(thesuperjag;28451)
I also know Easter is abomination to God.JagLovest thou in Christ Yahshua, Lord and Saviour of the world.
Oh yes.. because hates it that some celebrate the Ressurection of Jesus.

 

[Christina]

(Peacebewithyou;28469)
Oh yes.. because hates it that some celebrate the Ressurection of Jesus.

No because it is the Holiday of the goddess Istar the fertility goddess that the catholic church took instead of Passover which is what God set as his Holiday (holy day) no where does God say to celebrate resurrection and even if he did not mind us doing so he never would have made it on the fertily goddess day of worship. This was strickly an abomination done by the church for one reasonthey wanted to convert members knew the pagons would not easily give up their goddess holiday so instead of trusting in God and converting the heathens the right way with Gods truth the Church comprimised the Word to gain converts by combing Gods Holy day of miracles into the Pagon ritual of fertily eggs.

 

[tim_from_pa]

If you really know your bible, they will be intimidated, and unfortunately in your case your friend will probably leave you.I know. One time JW's came to my door and I started quoting the bible and other extra-biblical sources. When they couldn't answer me, they abruptly said they had to leave. That's the first time I ever heard of a JW trying to get away from someone! I felt a little proud of myself.

 

[Thunder1]

Don't worry, God is in control. It's good thing from your side not to get to the argument. People always want to argue about something. You don't have to agree what your friend is believing, if that person is real friend of yours, he/she won't leave you. And you are entitled to your beliefs,if discussion is starting to head to the argument,stop and say you don't want to argue, be strong and stand up to your beliefs though, or if you don't know something it's ok to say that. That does not mean that she/he is right ,even she/he might have some kind of answer. You may say that you will look into that. My brother became Jehova's witness, but he lives overseas,so I don't get to talk to him. I visited him last year, we didn't have any arguments. He is still quite new to that stuff and had his own questions. I just told my opinion and left it like that. I know God is in control. My brother used to be a quite heavy drinker and he has stopped now,so I thought better for him to be Jehova's witness than drunk.Then I have one customer, who, became friend of mine and she is Jehova's witness,she tried to convince me, how right she was about the scriptures, I told her that I did not agree,while we were reading a same scripture. We are friends on personal level,but not on our spiritual belief system. It's funny,how you can read same scripture and disagree about that. I still think, I was right though, because it was how it was written in a Bible and I believe that from word to word. It was about healing, laying hands on people and they can get healed. Well she did not believe that even it's in the Bible. No worries! I just don't want to limit God.

 

[RobinD69]

Get yourself and interlinier Greek to English NT as well as Hebrew to English and ask Him to study with you alone.If he is your friend he will be open to the challenge,if not then he is too brainwashed by the elders.Christ commands us to be ready in season and out of season.There are also some good books at Christian book stores for talking with JWs.You will find out that there is no room for "a god" in John 1:1 and I believe there is another verse in Hebrews that shoots down their theory of Christ being the Archangel Michael,I believe it is Hebrews 1:5.And it can be found the same way in their Bible as well.

 

[desire_his_path]

Hi,I was in a similar situation a few years ago, it was with my friend who was also a JW. We agreed to disagree and we didn't really ever touch on religion but then things took a turn for the worse when every time I'd say things like "thank God" or "praise God" she'd roll her eyes or make a sound. I learned to ignore them even though deep down inside I felt by ignoring it I was saying what she was doing was OK when it wasn't.Fast forward to now, I'm really and I mean REALLY trying to walk with Jesus, closer to Jesus, hear Jesus... she and I don't mesh because the life I'm trying to live is not how she's trying to live. I realize that people are in our lives for a season, perhaps I'm in her life to plant a seed and I pray one day she'll remember my faith and come to seek it as well. Perhaps she was in my life for the time that she was for a reason as well, time will tell but I do know that even though I can agree to disagree with her, it's not enough anymore. You'll have to decide for yourself if you want your faith and belief questioned and/or mocked by this person.

 

[Thunder1]

(kriss;28470)
No because it is the Holiday of the goddess Istar the fertility goddess that the catholic church took instead of Passover which is what God set as his Holiday (holy day) no where does God say to celebrate resurrection and even if he did not mind us doing so he never would have made it on the fertily goddess day of worship. This was strickly an abomination done by the church for one reasonthey wanted to convert members knew the pagons would not easily give up their goddess holiday so instead of trusting in God and converting the heathens the right way with Gods truth the Church comprimised the Word to gain converts by combing Gods Holy day of miracles into the Pagon ritual of fertily eggs.
I respect your belief kriss, honestly. And you can be totally right. But how life is today...For me personally, it does not matter if people celebrate Easter and Christmas, even if the exact date would be wrong or they came from pagan origin. For me,important part is being in personal relationship with God everyday, but I don't mind people celebrating those times. I would choose Jesus instead of Easter bunnnies and santa,though. Many unbelievers might even come to know Jesus as their personal Saviour at those times. I try to take the good and leave the bad. "If life gives you a lemon, make lemonade out of it." Those are good times to tell about Jesus to easter bunny fans and santa fans also.