Local Church and Jehovah's Witnesses

[pw]

I was raised in the Local Church of Witness Lee and Titus Chu and still maintain some affiliation with them through family and church friends and I still think they are generally part of the Body of Christ.

I was recently invited to a online zoom 'Bible Study' with Jehovah's Witness which I have been participating weekly for well over a year. My purpose was to gain more of a direct understanding of their teachings and culture and perhaps share some of the more 'orthodox' evangelical teaching and culture of the the larger Body of Christ with them.

Anyways, I wanted to share on this forum that I have noted a striking similarity in their teachings and practises with that of the Local Church to where I believe that I have to infer that Witness Lee likely shared some of their teachings and practises into the Local Church.

These include their distain for all secular pseudo Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter. Their intense distain and criticism of the Catholic church and their practises. Their belief that they have a unique revelation or 'recovery' of the original christian truths and practises to where they are the 'true christians' (See jw.org about 'true christians') The JW's also hold to the 'gospel of the kingdom' as a special revelation of the gospel, that Jesus is coming to set up his kingdom on earth with 144000 special chosen ones. JW also hold congregational conferences similar to LSM conferences. Witness Lee propagated at door knocking campaign simmilar to JW's. Witness Lee derived his own spin on the Trinity similar to the JW's distain for the orthodox trinitarian doctrine.

Of course the JW's have some unique teachings that may be considered herectical by the rest of Christianity including the LC such as Jesus Christ not being part of the Godhead, being Michael the archangel and other unique prohibition of blood tranfusions and absolute abstinence from war.

Nonetheless similar to LC, I personally believe that there are good 'christians' (Ultimately God will judge) in the JW movement and LC movement that strive to follow and understand the Word of God. I think the world is overall a better place with these organizations, certainly better than the liberalism, secularism and hedonism and aethism teachings and practises of today, AKA 'Worldly religions' .

Anyways, I wanted to put out my recent thoughts and experience for other's feedback.

May God give us all wisdom and discernment

[WitnessMe]

JW denies Jesus is God while Witness Lee denies Jesus is the son of God. Witness Lee states that the Father is the Son, the Son is also the Holy Spirit. The similarities JW and Witness Lee share are that there is only one person in the Godhead and Witness Lee and Jehovah Witness both share the name Witness.

In some ways, Witness Lee's teachings are a lot more heretical and ridiculous. He taught four-in-one God, man can become God and processed triune God.

I don't know whether or not it's correct to say that JW and LC are worship another Gods.

[bearbear]

Jehovah Witness are not saved because they deny the deity of Christ.

John 8:24 (ESV):
"I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."

In this verse, the phrase "I am he" (Greek: "ego eimi") is significant. It echoes the divine name revealed to Moses in the Septuagint (Koine Greek translation of the OT):

Exodus 3:14 "And God spoke to Moses, saying, I am (ego eimi) THE BEING; and he said, Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, THE BEING has sent me to you.

By using this phrase, Jesus is identifying Himself with God. Therefore, Jesus is saying that belief in His deity is required for salvation.

Jehovah's Witnesses also believe that Jesus was resurrected as a spirit being, not in a physical body. They teach that His physical body was dissolved or taken by God. Hence on this account they also fall short of the promise in

Romans 10:9
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Satan has masterfully introduced enough heresy in cults like JW to ensure damnation for said followers of the heretical cult.

[StevenLi89]

I don't know much about Jehovah's Witnesses，but they don't adhere to the holy trinity. I've seen them before on the streets and they place bookshelf then look for people.

[ThankfulForever777]

Originally Posted by pw

Nonetheless similar to LC, I personally believe that there are good 'christians' (Ultimately God will judge) in the JW movement and LC movement that strive to follow and understand the Word of God. I think the world is overall a better place with these organizations, certainly better than the liberalism, secularism and hedonism and aethism teachings and practises of today, AKA 'Worldly religions' .

I read somewhere that up to 80% of Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses come from born-again Christians who were convinced they had found something better. I think this is a very accurate assessment of the LC as well. Most people I met in the LC, including myself, initially became believers in other denominations such as Baptist, Pentecostal, etc., but were persuaded to join the LC. I believe their prior genuine spiritual experiences may still positively influence their conduct and views within the LC. For instance, these individuals might be more friendly towards believers outside the LC or not as fanatical about Witness Lee, even quietly disagreeing with some of his teachings. However, the fear instilled by Satan keeps them in the LC system, trapping them and compelling them to try their best to be good members of the LC.

My point is that, yes, there are many true believers trapped in these cults. However, for someone born in the LC or brought straight from the world who has never heard a true gospel message, it may be much harder to become a genuine believer. Looking back, I recall some individuals who possessed a very different spirit. They were mostly judgmental towards other Christians, often abusive and controlling, and viewed Witness Lee as their supreme leader in a very fanatical way. They often held leadership positions, such as responsible ones or co-workers. Furthermore, I saw people who, over the years, as they adhered to the teachings of Witness Lee and went through FTTs, became hardened in their heart, and robotic.

Cults such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and the LC do both good and bad. I think that's Satan's strategy: to give people half-truths, mixing God's pure word with demonic teachings and practices. However, God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, can still use even these cults to draw people to Himself.

[bearbear]

Originally Posted by ThankfulForever777

Cults such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and the LC do both good and bad. I think that's Satan's strategy: to give people half-truths, mixing God's pure word with demonic teachings and practices. However, God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, can still use even these cults to draw people to Himself.

Jehovah Witness teach that Jesus is the archangel Michael. They literally believe in another Jesus. The archangel Michael cannot save us from our sin.

Who Is Michael the Archangel?

"By defending Jehovah’s rulership and fighting God’s enemies, Michael lives up to the meaning of his name​—“Who Is Like God?” But who is Michael?
... Since God’s Word nowhere indicates that there are two armies of faithful angels in heaven​—one headed by Michael and one headed by Jesus—​it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role.

Reference: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102005160

Who Is the Archangel Michael?
The Bible’s answer

Michael, referred to by some religions as “Saint Michael,” is evidently a name given to Jesus before and after his life on earth. Michael disputed with Satan after the death of Moses and helped an angel deliver God’s message to the prophet Daniel. (Daniel 10:13, 21; Jude 9) Michael lives up to the meaning of his name​—“Who Is Like God?”​—by defending God’s rulership and fighting God’s enemies.​—Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:7.

Consider why it is reasonable to conclude that Jesus is the archangel Michael.

Reference: https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/502016229

Preaching the gospel of the "Archangel Michael" is literally another gospel and Paul warned against this.

Galatians 1:9
As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed [anathema].

The word anathema in the Greek according to Strong's refers to someone who is pledged to destruction (meaning damnation):
https://biblehub.com/greek/331.htm

Originally Posted by ThankfulForever777

I read somewhere that up to 80% of Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses come from born-again Christians who were convinced they had found something better.

People who left the true gospel for a cult that preaches a false gospel are not saved.

1 Cor 15:2
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.