What does this J Witness claim prove about whether they can be called Christians or not?

Question

When answering this question, ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses? wat r ur beliefs and how r u diff frm christians?’, one JW said:

"The Bible is written to the Holy Ones, The Little Flock. These are the ones that go to heaven to rule with Jesus Christ. It was not written to us but we all benefit from it because of the teaching and it sets matters straight. So when it says they will go to heaven it is talking to a select few. Rev. 1:1-6 will tell you who the bible is written to.....the holy ones, the ones who will be kings and priests in the kingdom of Jehovah God."

As there are only some 9,000 Witnesses today who claim to be part of this group for whom the Bible was written, how can the millions of others say they are Christians? How can they have any real interest in the Bible if virtually all of it does not apply to them, but to an elite core group who tell them what to do to stay on earth when they are going to rule over them from heaven? How do these poor folk know whether they are being told the right interpretation or not? If God did not write the Bible for them, why even read it? What kind of a religion tells 99.9% of its members that God's Word is not addressed directly to them?

The link is http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Anm7yMSGkXECruAp7SzU4a4AAAAA;_ylv=3?qid=20080829122832AALHUhd

Answer 1

After reading the original question and the answer referred to here, I can only conclude that if Jehovah's Witnesses claim that the Bible was written to 'the little flock' (which they say numbers 144,000 people) and was not written to all the other Jehovah's Witnesses, then they are seriously, dangerously misinformed.

Jehovah's Witnesses have been told by their Governing Body that "We cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside of the 'faithful and discreet slave' organisation" Watchtower 15 February 1981.  The 'faithful and discreet slave' is the Governing Body, and up until the end of last century, were made up of members of the elite 'little flock', those who claimed to be part of the 144,000 with a heavenly hope. Jehovah's Witnesses believe they cannot understand the Bible unless it is explained to them by their Governing Body. They believe that since 1919 they are the only channel of communication between God and humanity. Further, they claim that only the Governing Body can dispense spiritual food at the appropriate time. In other words, whatever the Governing Body says is "gospel".

The implication is that unless you are a Jehovah's Witness, you cannot understand the Bible. Furthermore, you cannot be saved unless you are a baptised Jehovah's Witness. "To serve and praise the Universal Sovereign, one must associate with the organization of Jehovah's Christian witnesses" (Watchtower 1 July 1973).

Strange, but doesn't the Bible say that it is God's Holy Spirit who opens our eyes, unstops our ears and softens our hearts so that we may receive the true gospel message? Is there any scripture in the Bible that says you cannot understand God's Word unless you have joined a man-made organisation?

Seems to me like their attempts to control what people believe about the Bible is strikingly similar to the Holy Roman Catholic Church when it prevented the Word of God from being read by anone other than a priest and insisted that only their interpretation of scripture was right.

What kind of religion tells 99.9% of its members that God's Word is not addressed directly to them? A false religion.

Answer 2

I don't believe them to be totally Christian. Yes they may worship the same God but I don't think their beliefs and practices are Christian

Answer 3

You have completely miss understood the answer that was given to you.

Answer 4

JWS are NOT Christians, they are a cult.

Answer 5

Strange how one answer on an internet message board can lead to: "What kind of a religion tells 99.9% of its members that God's Word is not addressed directly to them?"

From what I've seen, the JW's are the closest thing to real and proper Christians out there.

All the rest seem to be playing at it.

And those that consistently take pot shots at them almost always come across as embittered apostates or something.

Answer 6

The Bible was written for everyone to gain benefit from, not just the "Holy Ones". Whoever said that either must not be a witness or just mistaken.

Answer 7

foolish people think foolishly that is why.  

Answer 8

The Jews from long ago were in a covenant relationship with Jehovah. They had specific laws given to them that we refer to as the Law Covenant. And of course additional writings that were gathered together into what we call today the Old Testament.

That Law Covenant and the Old Testament were considered as Holy Writings by the Jews. Nations around them did not consider their laws and their writings to be applicable to them.

BUT - there were those who chose to voluntarily live by those laws and obey those prophetic writings by becoming followers or converts. A primary example to this is Ruth the Moabitess whose account of acceptance is recorded in the Bible as the book of Ruth. Others were Doeg the Edomite, Uriah the Hittite, and Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian. And in Queen Esther's day, "many of the peoples of the land were declaring themselves Jews". But obviously these individuals were not descendants of Abraham.

When the Jewish Temple was built, there were provisions for these of honest heart to also come and worship.  It was a section of the Temple area called the "Court of the Gentiles".  All of honest heart could benefit from Jehovah God's writings to the Jews.

There were proselytes to the Jewish faith. Acts 2:10 says that there were both "Jews and proselytes" present at the outpouring of the holy spirit on the day of Pentecost. These were individuals who had even accepted circumcision.

A notable individual who had Jehovah's favor but who had not been circumcised was Cornelius. He was an Italian army officer who was "a devout man and one fearing God together with all his household, and he made many gifts of mercy to the people and made supplication to God continually". - Acts 10:2.

So even though Cornelius was not Jewish, not even a Jewish proselyte, he was noticed by Jehovah God with favor, great favor. So Cornelius recognized that the Law Covenant and the other writings did not include him, but he still lived his life by the principles they contained. And it brought outstanding benefits to him and his family.

The fact that the New Testament is written to a small group which the Bible calls the "little flock", does not preclude Jehovah's outstanding favor on those other individuals who choose to live by the principles. In fact, 1st John 2:2 says "he is a propiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world's."

Those of the "little flock" recognize this statement as a provision of God's love and do all they can to get the message of the Bible to ALL people, the WHOLE WORLD.

Since the "little flock" are chosen for heavenly life for the reason to rule with Christ as Kings and priests, they share with all the hope of life on a paradise earth under the rulership of God's kingdom as the primary hope at this time.

Should Jehovah God choose among those that respond to the Bible's message and indicate to them that they are a part of the "little flock", there are none of Jehovah's Witnesses that will tell them that this is not so. Jehovah makes the choice as to who, how many and when, within his guidelines.  

Although their hope is different, the reward is the same for all - everlasting life. "The gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord". - Romans 6:23.

If I had been a Gentile in Old Testament times, I would have been extremely grateful for all the provisions that Jehovah provided for me, to be able to go to the Temple and soften the face of my God, to pray to him and have my prayers heard as Cornelius' prayers were heard, and to receive daily benefits by following the principles of God's counsel and be in line in the future for everlasting life.

Romans 11:5 states that "at the present season also a remnant has turned up according to a choosing due to undeserved kindness". This "choosing" is for Jehovah to do. We cannot presume that he will select any of us for the position of king and priest in the heavenly government. That is why it is a little flock. But he wants us to have life whether we are chosen for that specific role. It is no "secondary" life as if it is not sufficient or adequate. Jehovah God gives "good gifts".



At all times in history and at the present, Jehovah's loving provisions are more than adequate for all. Jehovah loved the world so much that he sent his Son so all may have everlasting life. Where they spend that life is his choice.

Answer 9

JW do not believe the deity of Christ, so they are not.  Period.

If JW confess that Jesus Christ is both 100% man and 100% God, I welcome them to the family with loving arms because my Father who in heaven definitely will!

Answer 10

A Christian is a Christian is a Christian as far as I am concerned.

Answer 11

Ah- so THAT is the comment people have been harping on about....

*star* Debbie dear- people have been reading your answers!!! Come see!!

Answer 12

Jehovah's Witness DO NOT believe that Jesus Christ is God and they will pull out their little rearranged book that they want to call a Bible and start trying to prove right off the bat that Jesus was just a prophet.  Brothers and Sisters, this is the wolf in sheep's clothing.  Many fall victim to their lies.  Even Satan didn't change the scriptures when he used them to tempt Jesus.  I guarantee Satan knows the scriptures better than anyone walking the face of the Earth.  Jehovah's Witness is just another prime example of man continuing to distort the Truth because it was distorted and taught to them.