Admitting the Existence of God and Jesus
Christianity as a religion is founded on the belief that God exists and that Jesus was His son. Therefore, it is important to first reinforce the premise that God and Jesus exist before getting into a discussion about a specific religion that acknowledges their existence. As such, it is important to use scientific evidence and logical reasoning in order to convince a Jehovah Witness of the existence of God and Jesus.
Scientific Evidence. One potential path to follow is to cite scientific evidence that exists that supports the existence of God. Cosmologist and theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, argued that the laws of our universe point to the existence of a “grand design”, thus making the likelihood of a “creator” much more likely. Other scientific sources should be used to reiterate the fact that there is scientific evidence of God’s existence.
Fulfillment of Prophecy. One way to make the case for God and Jesus is to look at times in history when the prophets have predicted certain events that have come to pass. For instance, the prophet Isaiah wrote about a messiah that would come and be the savior of the world and this is precisely what Jesus has done. Taking a look at these religious texts can help explain that God and Jesus do exist.
Miracles. It is important to explain the stories of miracles that have been attributed to Jesus throughout the Bible and even today. For instance, Jesus’s resurrection or turning water into wine are iconic miracles that are deeply embedded in Christianity. Showing how Jesus has challenged the natural laws of the universe can help prove the existence of God and Jesus.
Explaining the Christian Genesis
One key point of contention between Christians and Jehovah Witnesses is the differences in Christian and Jehovah Witness belief in Genesis. It is therefore critical to explain the differences to a Jehovah Witness and explain the Christian perspective.
Origin of the Universe. The Christian view of the origin of the universe is that God created the world on the seventh day of His work of Creation. God created the heavens and the earth and everything in it in a span of seven days. It should also be noted that this differs from the scientific belief wherein the current universe has existed since the dawn of time as a result of the Big Bang.
Divine Role. It is important to explain the role of God in the Creation of the universe. According to Christian theology, God created the world because He had a purpose for it and He continues to play closely attention to its development. This idea differs from the Scientific Theory of Evolution, which postulates that the universe has shifted and evolved randomly.
Divine Law. An important part of the Christian interpretation of Genesis is that God has established certain laws for governing the world. These laws are certain standards of behavior and morality that all humans are expected to abide by and this helps to reassure people of a greater power looking out for them.
Explaining the Difference Between Christianity and Jehovah Witness
The most important step in defending Christianity against a Jehovah Witness is to explain to them the differences that exist between the two. This can be done by discussing specific issues.
Jesus as God. One of the most important differences between Christianity and Jehovah Witness is that Christianity believes that Jesus is the son of God and he is a part of the divine trinity. Jehovah Witness doctrine, on the other hand, does not recognize Jesus as a divine being and consider him to be a created being.
Holy Bible. Another difference is the source from which each religion draws its teachings. Christianity draws from the Holy Bible, which is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jehovah Witness, on the other hand, draw their teachings from the Bible but they tend to give greater attention to the Bible’s teachings rooted in the Old Testament.
Salvation. Finally, Christianity and Jehovah Witness disagree on the nature of salvation. Christianity believes that salvation can be achieved through faith in God and Jesus, whereas Jehovah Witness believes that salvation is a process that is obtained through faith and works.
Explaining the Sacraments
Christianity incorporates many different sacraments that enrich the faith life of its followers. It is important to explain these to a Jehovah Witness in order to differentiate them from Jehovah Witness beliefs.
Baptism. Baptism is a sacrament in which a believer is baptized in water to represent an cleansing of ones sins. In Christianity, this sign is often performed for babies or children who are not yet able to make up their own minds about religion. This differs from Jehovah Witness because they do not perform the sacrament of baptism on babies or children and typically only baptize when the adult makes the decision to join the church.
The Worst Supper. The Last Supper is a ritual that is often performed particularly during Holy Week in which bread and wine are blessed by a priest and then shared among the laity. This symbolizes the shared presence of Jesus at the supper and is enacted to bring together the church in community. This differs from what Jehovah Witness do which is to merely read a portion of scripture and offer prayer.
Confession. Finally, confession is a sacrament that is often practiced by Catholics in which a person confesses their sins to a priest in order to obtain spiritual cleansing. This differs from Jehovah Witness who don’t practice confession and instead encourage the laity to develop their own spiritual practice of confession.
Explaining the Beliefs
It is also important to explain the core beliefs of Christianity in order to explain to a Jehovah Witness why Christianity is different than what they believe.
Sin and Salvation. One of the core beliefs of Christianity is that all people are born with the potential to commit “original sin” and the only way to be saved from this is to accept Jesus as their savior. This differs from the Jehovah Witness belief in the fact that they believe each individual must work their way to salvation and it is not dependent on Jesus alone.
The Afterlife. Christianity also believes that after death, the soul shall go to heaven or hell depending on the individual’s life and the choices that they have made. This differs from the Jehovah Witness belief in that they believe in a resurrection of the dead and that those individuals that have followed God’s law shall be brought back to life on earth.
Holy Scripture. Christianity also believes that the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, are Divine documents that serve as instruction and guidance to Christians on how best to live their lives to please God. This differs from the Jehovah Witnesses in that they do not accept the Apocrypha and they do not believe that the Bible should be interpreted in the same way that Christians do.
Providing Historical Evidence
Finally, it is important to use historical evidence to back up the Christian claims of Jesus’ existence, divine purpose, and teachings.
Art. One source of evidence to support the life of Jesus can be seen in the plethora of art that has been produced across the centuries. From the paintings of the crucifixion, to nativity scenes and portraits of Jesus, there has been an abundance of evidence to prove Jesus’s life and divinity.
Records. Additionally, there are numerous records that have been written about Jesus that exist even today. Pliny the Younger wrote about the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament was composed in the first century to detail the life of Jesus.
Eyewitnesses. Lastly, there were numerous eyewitnesses of Jesus’ miracles and teachings while He was alive on earth. In addition to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there were many other individuals who observed Him and His works and wrote about their experiences.
Explaining Symbols In Christianity
Christianity has a plethora of symbols that are deeply embedded in the religion. Explaining these symbols to a Jehovah Witness can provide insight into the faith.
Cross. The cross is a symbol that is deeply embedded in Christianity as it is a reminder of Jesus’ death and resurrection. For Christians, the cross represents love, sacrifice and redemption and its use is often to reflect Jesus’ life and death on the cross.
Bible. The Bible is synonymous with Christianity, as it is a source from which all teachings and opinions are based. The Bible is seen as a symbol of God’s love and power and it is used to remind Christians of the teachings of Jesus.
Fish. The fish symbol is an ancient symbol that dates back to the time of Jesus and it was used as a secret sign to represent Christianity. One of the most famous usages is the Greek phrase “Ieysous kyrie soter” which translates to “Jesus Christ, savior” and uses the letters of the Greek alphabet that resemble fish.
Explaining Beliefs in Heaven and Hell
Christianity teaches that there is a difference between Heaven and Hell. Explaining this difference to a Jehovah Witness can be beneficial.
Heaven. Heaven is the final resting place for Christians who have accepted Jesus as their savior and have lived their lives according to God’s laws. It is often seen as a place of bliss and joy where the souls of the faithful are reunited with God.
Hell. Hell, on the other hand, is the final resting place for those souls who have not accepted Jesus as their savior or have chose to live their lives contrary to God’s laws. It is seen as a place of darkness, despair and punishment.
Purgatory. Finally, there is also the concept of purgatory in Christianity, which is a place between Heaven and Hell where souls can be cleansed of their sins. Those souls in purgatory are seen as being in a spiritual limbo until they are able to break free of their sins and be reborn into Heaven.
Explaining the Relationship between God and Humans
Christianity teaches that there is a special relationship between God and humans. This can be explained to a Jehovah Witness in order to help them understand Christianity better.
God’s Love. Christianity teaches that God loves his creation and desires a relationship with them. This is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, wherein God gave them life and showed them love and affection.
Righteousness. Additionally, Christianity teaches that in order for a person to have a true relationship with God, they must be righteous in all that they do. This means that they must live their lives according to God’s laws and principles in order to be close to Him.
Faith. Lastly, in order to build a relationship with God and to be saved, a person must have faith. Faith is an essential principle in Christianity and it helps to create a bond between the believer and God.
