What are the main doctrinal differences between Jehovah's Witnesses and mainstream Christianity?

[Eternally Grateful]

Some people just wont get it. And nothing I or anyone else says to them will help.

 

[Aunty Jane]

God spoke directly to him after he sinned. That's not spiritual life?

God never spoke directly to Adam after his sin......communication was always though his appointed spokesman....the “one mediator” spoken about in 1Tim 2:5-6....
No sinful human can come into God’s presence. The appointed mediator was the ‘go between’ so that communication between sinful mankind and God could continue.

I missed this. Yet, you consider yourselves Christians, yes?

Wow!

We hold no doctrines in common with Christendom....is what that means. All our beliefs are based on the Bible rather than on the teachings of an apostate church founded by a pagan Emperor over 300 years after Christ died. None of Christendom’s beliefs originate in the Bible.

remember, at one time they believed only 144000 would get to heaven, They had to increase this number because they were losing members, because everyone looked and figured corectly, that if they were right, there is already 144000 so no one else could be accepted

That is a very interesting story actually....
For a good while the early members of our brotherhood believed that all had the “heavenly calling” because Christ chose this group first. But it was becoming clear to many however, that some were holding back from baptism because they had not received the confirmation of the holy spirit that they had been chosen for a role in heaven....so the brothers met to discuss what this could mean....having studied the Scriptures thoroughly, and with much prayer they received their answer......there were two flocks of sheep, one chosen for a role in heaven whom the Scriptures plainly states would be “resurrected first” and another group who also attribute salvation to God and the Lamb, but who do not receive the heavenly calling because they will be subjects of the heavenly kingdom on earth......these are “the other sheep” (John 10:16) whom Christ also spoke about...the ones described in Revelation 7:9-10; 13-14....those who “come out of the great tribulation” as survivors on earth. They are seen as a separate group to those 144,000 who will rule with Jesus in heaven.

At a large convention, after all this was explained, a call went out for those of “the other sheep” to stand up and many did, to thunderous applause.....no longer holding back from baptism, they now they knew where they fitted into God’s eternal purpose for this earth and the precious life upon it. This is how God’s first purpose would be restored.

God always reveals his truth progressively.....and when the time is right he makes things clearer. (Prov 4:18)

 

[Wrangler]

God never spoke directly to Adam after his sin......communication was always though his appointed spokesman

Untrue. Read Genesis 3:9-10.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Some people just wont get it. And nothing I or anyone else says to them will help.

I couldn’t agree more.....but for some it will also be a shock to learn that they never were counted among Christ’s “sheep” to begin with......
Their rejection will leave them trying to excuse themselves to the one who is judging them as unworthy of life, since he says he has NEVER known them.....(Matt 7:21-23)

 

[Aunty Jane]

Untrue. Read Genesis 3:9-10.

“And Jehovah God kept calling to the man and saying to him: “Where are you?” 10 Finally he said: “I heard your voice in the garden, but I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

Any time sinful humans spoke to God, they were most always answered by the one representing him.....the one who speaks for God is his “logos”.....”The Word”....the one who always spoke for him.

The one who delivered the Revelation to John....the one who spoke from a burning bush to Moses.....the one who appeared with two other angels to deliver God’s message to Abraham and Sarah.....and also the one who spoke to Moses in the Most Holy compartment of the Tabernacle.....God’s own voice heard was heard only three times according to Scripture.....and that was to declare his approval and love for this son, with the admonition to “listen to him”. (Luke 9:34-35; Acts 3:22-23)

Whist at the temple, Jesus had been agonizing over the death that he would soon face. His main concern was how his Father’s reputation would be affected, as he was to be put to death as a blasphemer, so he prays: “Father, glorify your name.”
At that, a mighty voice comes from the heavens, proclaiming: “I both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

The crowd standing around are bewildered. Some say...“An angel has spoken to him,”. Others claim that it “thundered”. But...this last time, Jehovah speaks so that multitudes can hear!

Jesus explains: “This voice has occurred, not for my sake, but for your sakes.” It provides proof that Jesus is indeed God’s Son, the promised Messiah. (John 12:28-30)

If we could speak to God directly, and he could speak to us....we would not need a mediator....or prophets...or a Bible....or to offer our prayers to him via Christ Jesus’ name.

 

[face2face]

The devil targeted the woman (the newest and least educated of the two) when Adam was not with her, and completely deceived her.

The Carnal mind given voice through the serpent requires the following considerations:

The Serpent is the perfect representation of the Flesh:

He challenged the "weaker vessel" (1 Pet. 3:7). This has been a characteristic of human serpents ever since:

For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive. Ro 16:18.

The Serpent waited for the Women to by herself! And said "Yes, has God said?"

This is a half-reflective exclamation, as if the serpent had brooded long over the matter, and come to an unwelcome conclusion. It reasoned on completely earthy principles; it was the logic of flesh speaking, very good of its kind, but not adapted to reasoning upon Divine principles.

I suggest reading over the account in Genesis 3 and look at it from the perspective of the flesh vs. spirit and I believe you will draw to a right understanding.

F2F

 

[Aunty Jane]

@Eternally Grateful......I would offer 1 Cor 10:12. Be careful how hard you laugh....

Those described in Matt 7:21-23 never imagined for a moment that their “Christianity” was not in accord with the Scriptures. How could they possibly be “workers of lawlessness? They will protest loudly but in vain.

They have first of all violated the First Commandment and put another god in place of the Father....one that Christ himself never mentioned as he taught from the Hebrew Scriptures....(Deut 6:4)
Many teach that Jesus was resurrected bodily when the Scriptures state otherwise. He sacrificed his flesh and was raised as a spirit. (1 Cor 15:45)
They carry on the devil’s first lie that we don’t really die...we continue to live on, in another place in another form when the Bible teaches the exact opposite. (Excl 9:5, 10)
And they invented a place of burning eternal punishment that paints God as a fiend who enjoys the torture of souls eternally in a hell of flames. (Jer 7:30-31)

These are disgusting lies perpetrated by the devil when he sowed his “weeds” of apostasy among the early Christians. These are old lies still perpetuated by the whole of Christendom to this day.

 

[face2face]

Untrue. Read Genesis 3:9-10.

The entire Genesis account is handled by the Elohim (angels) wrangler.

"And they heard the voice of Yahweh Elohim walking in the garden"

Notice how it mentions the cool of the day? I believe this was the time of the afternoon when the Angels came to teach them divine principles about God and His Character. I also believe this is evidence of Divine grace, in that he approached man at the most comfortable and pleasant time for him.

F2F

 

[David in NJ]

I couldn’t agree more.....but for some it will also be a shock to learn that they never were counted among Christ’s “sheep” to begin with......
Their rejection will leave them trying to excuse themselves to the one who is judging them as unworthy of life, since he says he has NEVER known them.....(Matt 7:21-23)

@TheHC @face2face @Wrangler

The KEY is to know if you KNOW.

Otherwise you may be a 'goat' next to the sheep thinking all the while that you're a sheep also!!!
The sheep and goats BOTH are grazers and BOTH are clean animals = cloven hoof and chew their cud
The sheep and goats are BOTH clean animals/grazers/chew cud/cared for by Man acting as providers

Only the sheep are brought into the Kingdom!

So, how do you KNOW???

 

[Aunty Jane]

@TheHC @face2face @Wrangler

The KEY is to know if you KNOW.

Otherwise you may be a 'goat' next to the sheep thinking all the while that you're a sheep also!!!
The sheep and goats BOTH are grazers and BOTH are clean animals = cloven hoof and chew their cud
The sheep and goats are BOTH clean animals/grazers/chew cud/cared for by Man acting as providers

Only the sheep are brought into the Kingdom!

So, how do you KNOW???

Excellent question David.....
Jesus answers it....”by their fruits you will recognise those men”.....what are the “fruits” produced by these ones as a collective...a united global brotherhood of “one mind and one line of thought” and “with no divisions among them”. (1 Cor 1:10)

There can be no blood on their hands, otherwise God will not hear their prayers (Isa 1:15) They are at peace with all, no matter what nation they inhabit....they will be “no part of the world” (John 18:36)

They will be hated and persecuted preachers of the Kingdom. (John 15:18-21; Matt 24:14; Matt 28:19-20)

They do not use the gifts of the spirit as proof of their calling, when such gifts were to cease, and depend on the more mature qualities of “faith, hope and love”....most especially towards those related to them in the faith. (John 13:34-35) They will meet together for worship regularly. (Heb 10:24-25)

That’s how you know......

For us, we have no one related to us in the faith, who believe things that the Bible does not teach.
Those who hold the faith that Jesus taught are one brotherhood.....not those who serve a different god....one manufactured by an apostate church, many centuries ago, and who is still worshipped to this day in Christendom....but those who are obedient to the Christ in all things.....to the best of their imperfect ability.

 

[face2face]

They do not use the gifts of the spirit as proof of their calling, when such gifts were to cease and depend on the more mature qualities of “faith, hope and love”....most especially towards those related to them in the faith. (John 13:34-35)

And cease they did

Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 13:10 but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. 1 Co 13:8–10.

How many in this forum speak, without Him saying a Word.

F2F

 

[PS95]

God never spoke directly to Adam after his sin......communication was always though his appointed spokesman....the “one mediator” spoken about in 1Tim 2:5-6....
No sinful human can come into God’s presence. The appointed mediator was the ‘go between’ so that communication between sinful mankind and God could continue.

The appointed mediator is still Jesus. He is NOT your mediator though. Sounds harsh doesnt it? Not my words though. Your leaders insist that Jesus is not your mediator, Jane. They mediate for you.-- Not biblical.--
Jesus is still the ONE mediator between God and man.

We hold no doctrines in common with Christendom....is what that means. All our beliefs are based on the Bible rather than on the teachings of an apostate church founded by a pagan Emperor over 300 years after Christ died. None of Christendom’s beliefs originate in the Bible.

No kidding. And some people wonder why we say JWs are not Christians. Most of JW beliefs are made by linking cherry picked verses and even half verses that do not go together by any stretch of the imagination. You guys never read THE CONTEXT!

About your hatred for Nicea- it was long before Constantine. if only you would Apostolic fathers you would know that. But you refuse. Choosing to remain in ignorance isnt wise.

That is a very interesting story actually....
For a good while the early members of our brotherhood believed that all had the “heavenly calling” because Christ chose this group first. But it was becoming clear to many however, that some were holding back from baptism because they had not received the confirmation of the holy spirit that they had been chosen for a role in heaven....so the brothers met to discuss what this could mean....having studied the Scriptures thoroughly, and with much prayer they received their answer......there were two flocks of sheep, one chosen for a role in heaven whom the Scriptures plainly states would be “resurrected first” and another group who also attribute salvation to God and the Lamb, but who do not receive the heavenly calling because they will be subjects of the heavenly kingdom on earth......these are “the other sheep” (John 10:16) whom Christ also spoke about...the ones described in Revelation 7:9-10; 13-14....those who “come out of the great tribulation” as survivors on earth. They are seen as a separate group to those 144,000 who will rule with Jesus in heaven.

JW history is actually that drunken President Rutherford noticed that the members were going over his 144K limit ,and 'light flashed up" and he closed heaven in 1935.

At a large convention, after all this was explained, a call went out for those of “the other sheep” to stand up and many did, to thunderous applause.....no longer holding back from baptism, they now they knew where they fitted into God’s eternal purpose for this earth and the precious life upon it. This is how God’s first purpose would be restored.

The other sheep are the Gentiles. There is NOTHING biblical about this JW other sheep class that doesnt need to be born again, is not in the new covenant, does not have Jesus as mediator, is not a branch of the true vine, is not adopted as child of god, etc etc. It is all made up!

God always reveals his truth progressively.....and when the time is right he makes things clearer. (Prov 4:18)

Proverbs 4:18 is true- but not the way Jws abuse it- God does not change His mind every week and teach something one day and flip it the next, and back again and again. Nor does He lie. That proverb is being abused terribly! There is very long bad JW track record of making God seem like an utter nutcase! No, that is not GOD.-- That is man.

This new "progressive" term that Jws use as of late- makes one wonder how you can't see the hypocrisy but alas..

 

[PS95]

Yes, this is the last point I addressed….they all address one truth, but not all subscribe to the same interpretation.….and the fact that calling Jesus “Lord” does not make him God.
He is our ”Lord”…the way a slave addressed his Master…the way Sarah referred to Abraham as her “lord”….out of respect for his position. All he accomplished in his earthly mission was for the glory of his God….not for himself.

How about the other 5 points that you didn’t mention? How would you support your view of this passage, which when broken down, does not even infer what is written in those translations.

Hope you have a restful sleep….

Oh please- what a bad comparison- Abraham is not Lord of heaven and earth- He certainly did not make the heavens and the earth-
The Lord Jesus did!
It is written-
Hebrews 1:8,10

8But of the Son He says,

10And,
“YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH,
AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;


Jesus is not an angel! Hebrew 1:13-14

But to which of the angels has He ever said,
“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES
A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”?
14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Nope--
5For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

6But one has testified somewhere, saying,
“WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM?
OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?

7“YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS;
YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR,
AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;

8YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.”
For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

 

[PS95]

I couldn’t agree more.....but for some it will also be a shock to learn that they never were counted among Christ’s “sheep” to begin with......
Their rejection will leave them trying to excuse themselves to the one who is judging them as unworthy of life, since he says he has NEVER known them.....(Matt 7:21-23)

Indeed- they are workers of lawlessness.
They prophesied-in His name.- He never knew them-which would mean that they prophesied falsely in His name.
That is why people constantly bring up the false prophecies of the Watchtower. The list is LONG.
That includes the Faithful Slave parable that you still push falsely to this day.
Your enemies arent warning you about this as you believe.- Your enemies are in your gates. -
Show me the good fruits of the watchtower. I havent see any! --There is that missing fruit meant for the poor though.--
And the child sexual abuse cases that never end. It's actually worse than the RCC.

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will [k]know them by their fruits. [l]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will [m]know them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [n]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

 

[face2face]

And the child sexual abuse cases that never end. It's actually worse than the RCC.

Here is a survey done recently in NZ of sexual abuse cases some of which are currently being investigated by the NZ government. A friend of mine was abused in one of these denominations (not JW), mainstream Christianity (other faith based). It's such a small representation of the whole picture, which is why I said, your community whatever it is is not immune. You lack the humility in a major way! Your posts contain a real unsavoury anger about them, jaded. Again, I'm left wondering why? Jack is lonely, I get it but you not sure? It's clear you are unable to reason out a matter from Scripture, so maybe that is your approach when things don't go your way?

 

[Wrangler]

View attachment 49284

I'm surprised anyone would consider "Salvation Army" a denomination.

 

[face2face]

I'm surprised anyone would consider "Salvation Army" a denomination.

They started as one and they still meet and operate as one, althought they don't partake of the bread and wine which has me at a loss.

They have built a lot of churches here in Australia (rather cash up as well).

F2F

 

[Eternally Grateful]

@Eternally Grateful......I would offer 1 Cor 10:12. Be careful how hard you laugh....

Those described in Matt 7:21-23 never imagined for a moment that their “Christianity” was not in accord with the Scriptures. How could they possibly be “workers of lawlessness? They will protest loudly but in vain.

They have first of all violated the First Commandment and put another god in place of the Father....one that Christ himself never mentioned as he taught from the Hebrew Scriptures....(Deut 6:4)
Many teach that Jesus was resurrected bodily when the Scriptures state otherwise. He sacrificed his flesh and was raised as a spirit. (1 Cor 15:45)
They carry on the devil’s first lie that we don’t really die...we continue to live on, in another place in another form when the Bible teaches the exact opposite. (Excl 9:5, 10)
And they invented a place of burning eternal punishment that paints God as a fiend who enjoys the torture of souls eternally in a hell of flames. (Jer 7:30-31)

These are disgusting lies perpetrated by the devil when he sowed his “weeds” of apostasy among the early Christians. These are old lies still perpetuated by the whole of Christendom to this day.

I would put you and your church in line with those people..

Just saying

 

[TheHC]

@TheHC @face2face @Wrangler

The KEY is to know if you KNOW.

Otherwise you may be a 'goat' next to the sheep thinking all the while that you're a sheep also!!!
The sheep and goats BOTH are grazers and BOTH are clean animals = cloven hoof and chew their cud
The sheep and goats are BOTH clean animals/grazers/chew cud/cared for by Man acting as providers

Only the sheep are brought into the Kingdom!

So, how do you KNOW???

1 John 3:10-18

Since its inception, Christendom has supported the wars of their respective nations!
During the times when showing love was needed the most (during conflicts), religions in Christendom have encouraged their members to kill each other!

That’s how you “know”! - John 13:35.

And it’s also the standard by which we know who isn’t!

“Workers of evil.” - Matthew 7:23

 

[TheHC]

Some people just wont get it. And nothing I or anyone else says to them will help.

I agree….

I was thinking the same thing.