Jehovah's Witnesses

This afternoon, Pete found a tract lying on our front porch. The tract was left by a Jehovah's Witness. Evidently a group of them were visiting the neighborhood. As it turns out, our next door neighbors are members as well. We have limited discussions with them about their beliefs. They used to be Christians many years ago before changing over.
Having only been around a few Witnesses ever in my life, I did try to do a little reading up on their beliefs. I read one of their little booklets that they had passed out. I quickly realized that their take on Jesus Christ is really rather vague.
In this tract that we received today, it states: "EVEN many people who are not Christians believe that He was a great and wise teacher. He was certainly one of the the most influential people who ever lived." This quote came from the The World Book Encyclopedia) 'Who is "He"?' Jesus Christ the founder of Christianity. Then it goes on to say that Jesus' ministry was recorded in the 4 Gospels.
Additionally this tract says that "He was not just a great teacher who taught love. He INDICATED that he had a prehuman existence as the only begotten Son of God. ...he also had a posthuman existence, which makes him even more significant to you. The Bible indicates that Jesus was raised up and is now enthroned as King of God's Kingdom. Jesus said: 'This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.' "Indeed, taking in knowledge of Jesus Christ can mean endless life in Paradise." Then the last sentence says, "Jehovah's Witnesses will be happy to help you.-John 13:34-35.'
The final quote from John actually says," A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
In this tract, it does not really mention that the only way to heaven is through faith in Jesus Christ. John 14:6-7 states, " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on , you do know him and have seen him." Verse 11 states," I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." Then further on in John, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit saying (verse 16) "And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
Jehovah's Witness mention that Jesus INDICATES that he is the son of God. They mention that you can live endlessly in Paradise if you take in knowledge of Jesus. It does not mention that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that believing in him is the only way to everlasting life. The Trinity- The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit are not mentioned. There is no mention of Jesus being born to a virgin. No mention of confessing sins and praying to God for forgiveness. According to the tract, it glorifies LOVE. Which love is so very important. Love is one of the greatest lessons that Jesus taught. However, Jesus' sacrifice for us is by far the greatest example of LOVE ever. Just simply loving one another is only part of the greater picture.
If you are like me (before taking time to study up a little) and cringe at the thought of having a Jehovah's Witness appear at the front door, try to be a little more open minded. Im not saying to be open to accepting their message as truth. Im saying, take a look at the book of John that they quote. Next time one of the Witnesses visits the door, you may feel a little more prepared. You dont have to be able to quote what the Bible says. Just know in your heart what YOU truly believe. As a Christian, we believe that (John 3:16-18) God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. We also believe in the the Holy Spirit as part of the Trinity. And we believe that the Bible does not only consist of 4 Gospels, but a New and an Old Testament. We believe in prayer....lots of prayer. We believe in loving one another. We believe in the 10 Commandments.
None of these truths are scary. We believe what we believe. We can feel fully confident in what we know, even if we haven't memorized all of the books of the Bible.
I know that Jesus doesn't just INDICATE that he was the Son of God. I know that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I know that he showed the most pure form of unconditional love ever in the existence of the world. I know that no matter how bad of a sinner that I am that Jesus still loves me. And I know that eternity is guaranteed to me as a believer in Christ. Being visited by someone with a tract in hand will not change those truths for me. Thank God for the blessings and knowledge that he has bestowed upon us in the greatest truth that exists: The Bible. The entire Bible. So if you get a visit, opening the good book to John or one of the the other Gospels could make for an interesting conversation!