Encounters between Christians and Jehovah's Witnesses typically
revolve around a discussion of deity. The reason for this is
twofold: 1) This is the area where Watchtower theology deviates
most dramatically from orthodox Christianity. In contrast to the
trinitarian concept of one God in three Persons, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, the JWs have been taught to believe that God the
Father alone is "Jehovah," the only true God; that Jesus Christ is
Michael the archangel, the first angelic being created by God; and
that the Holy Spirit is neither God nor a person, but rather God's
impersonal "active force." 2) The subject of deity is a frequent
confrontational focus because _both_ Jehovah's Witnesses _and_
Christians (at least those who like to witness to JWs) feel
confident and well-prepared to defend their stand and attack the
opposing viewpoint.
Due to the profound theological differences such discussions
often take the form of spiritual trench warfare -- a long series of
arguments and counterarguments, getting nowhere and ending in
mutual frustration. But this need not be the case, especially if
the Christian will "become all thing to all men" by taking a moment
to put himself in the Witness's shoes, so to speak (1 Cor. 9:22).
In the JW's mind he himself is a worshipper of the true God of the
Bible, while you are a lost soul who has been misled by the devil
into worshipping a pagan three-headed deity. He is, no doubt, quite
sincere in these beliefs and feels both threatened and offended by
the doctrine of the Trinity. To give any serious consideration to
your arguments in support of the Trinity is simply unthinkable to
the JW: he would be sinning against Jehovah God to entertain such
a thought.
So, in order to make any headway with the Witness, it is
necessary to bridge the gap -- to find common ground that will
enable him to rethink his theology. Rather than plunging into a
defense of "the doctrine of the Trinity," which can be mind
boggling even to a Christian, take things one step at a time....
Source File: crj0091a.txt
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