Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christian?

There are a good amount of people who have come across, or have had a visit from, a Jehovah's witness. Most simply tell them that their not interested and close the door, or walk away. But have you ever wondered who they are? Whether or not they are a Christian organization? If you have, then watch the below video will help. Mat Slick, who is the president of CARM, answers those questions.

 

Here is one more video that will give you an overview of their beliefs. It's great to stay informed on the various cults. That way, the next time a witness comes knocking, you can be prepared.

 

Repent and believe before it's too late

 

Elohim: Creator

 

In the last post we looked at how the traditional Jewish view of Elohim is the Name of God as the Creator and Judge of the universe. The main focus was on God as creator. This post will look at the second part, praying to God as the Judge of the universe.

 

I would like to point out one other thing about the name Elohim before we proceed. The name Elohim is unique to Hebraic thinking: it occurs only in Hebrew and in no other ancient Semitic language. What makes it unique is the fact that the masculine plural ending does not mean “gods” when referring to God, since the name is mainly used with singular verb forms and with adjectives and pronouns in the singular. This is one of the evidences in the Old Testament that reveal the plurality within the Godhead.

Okay, on to the main point. Scripture reveals two separate judgements that will take place.

One is the judgment seat of Christ, also known as the Bema seat.

2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Now let me point out that this judgment does not determine salvation, which is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), but rather it is the time when believers will give an account of their lives in service to Christ. Our position in Christ is the foundation spoken of in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. That which we build upon the foundation can be the “gold, silver, and precious stones” of good works in Christ’s name, or it may be the “wood, hay and stubble” of a life of just getting by. It reminds me of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. However, 1 Corinthians 3:15 makes clear that this is not concerning salvation, “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” The Judgment Seat of Christ will reveal all of this.

 

With that in mind, knowing that I will be standing before Christ and giving an account of my life, I'm humbled. My prayers should turn from being those of what He can give me to asking for ways that I can be of greater service to Him! I don't want to “be saved, yet so as through fire.” I want to make Him proud. So with Christ as my Judge, my prayers turn to seeking every opportunity I can to make Him proud. Which ironically brings us to the second judgment.

The second judgment is the Great White Throne judgment spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15. This is the judgement where the unbelievers will stand before God, not to determine salvation, rather, these are those who have rejected Christ in life and are therefore already doomed to the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12 says that unbelievers will be “judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Those who have rejected Christ as Lord and Savior will be judged based on their works alone, and because the Bible tells us that “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Galatians 2:16), they will be spending eternity in hell.

 

This should give us pause.

The Bible is clear that the way to hell is wide and the path to heaven is narrow (Matthew 7:13-14). This should turn our prayers toward seeking the lost. The judgement seat of Christ should turn our prayers toward service, and the Great White Throne judgment should turn our prayers toward the lost. I don't think that this is a coincidence. Seeing God as our judge should bring our focus away from ourselves to praying and working toward seeking and saving the lost.

What better service is there than bringing honor and glory to Elohim by seeking the lost?


 

Elohim: Judge

In this study of God and our view of Him in Scripture for prayer, I figured the best place to start would be the beginning. The first mention of God in the Bible is found in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

In the traditional Jewish view, Elohim is the Name of God as the Creator and Judge of the universe. It is also one of the most common names used of God throughout the Old Testament.

So our first glimpse of God in the Bible is as a creator. He creates everything in the universe, one day at a time, culminating in His creation of us. What do you think about when you think of God as our creator? What's the first thing that comes to mind?

For me, I begin to think about Scriptures like,

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." -Colossians 1:16 (ESV)

Elohim created everything for Himself. This helps me to put things in perspective a little better concerning my pride... or my self entitlement. Everything was created for the glory of God, and for Himself. To reveal His glory to the very same creation that He created.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works;" -Psalms 139:13-14 (ESV)

What an amazing shout of praise for God's glory! Reading the Psalms can help us to pray like nothing else. Here is the perfect response to Elohim. When I think of prayer to my Creator, this Scripture reveals my heart. He created me, not like everything else in all of creation, but He formed the clay personally and breathed life into it. "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." -Genesis 2:7 (ESV)

We are crafted, not just spoken into existence. This shows Elohim's love for us. He desires to show us His wonderful creation and for us to give Him honor and praise, to shout from the rooftops His glory. The prayer for my Creator is a prayer of praise and glory for:

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." -Psalms 19:1 (ESV)

 

On the road to Emmaus

This is such an Amazing passage. The lessons, the implications to prayer, the overall wisdom that can be seen by these two disciples is astonishing. I'm really wanting to dig into this passage and learn all I can. So here goes!

"And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them." Luke 24:13-15 (NASB)

 

Okay, let's get some background first. These two disciples are traveling away from Jerusalem to Emmaus after Jesus' death. They are worried and heart broken over the fact that the man they thought was going to be crowned king has died. Even though their dreams are dashed, they can't stop talking about it.

Now, I wonder if these two disciples weren't so fixated over Jesus, discussing everything that went on, would He have paid them a visit? By being so distracted by my own frivolous, worldly things, how much have I missed out on. That's the first lesson I see in this passage. I need to make sure that I'm not too earthly minded and miss out on what God is wanting to show me! It's too easy to get side tracked and distracted from keeping my focus on God and my focus needs to be on Him! (Matthew 6:33) (2 Corinthians 10:5)

"But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad." Luke 24:16-17 (NASB)

This is an interesting point. Why would they have been prevented from recognizing Jesus? First off, they didn't understand the Scriptures clearly, as we will see in a moment, and they were sad over the fact of Jesus' death. His appearing to them would have changed all of that. But I wonder if it's not due to their ignorance that Jesus remained hidden from them. Would they have trully understood? They didn't have a clear view of who Jesus really was. But their ignorance, nor their sadness, didn't keep them from sharing about Jesus...

"One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” Luke 24:18 (NASB)

Clearly Jesus' death was a big thing. They couldn't understand the ignorance of this stranger. How could he not know what happened? So Cleopas fills him in on the events, including their own ignorance of the Scriptures...

"And He said to them, 'What things?' And they said to Him, 'The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” Luke 24:19-24 (NASB)

Even though it was politically incorrect, they told a complete stranger which side they were on. Jesus' death placed any one who was on His side at risk of being a collaborator and Cleopas made no bones about it. They were hoping Jesus was going to restore Israel. That meant they saw Him as the prophesied Messiah. At this point, I have to wonder, again, if the disciples had just glanced at Jesus shrugged and kept going, would they have missed outt on being one of the first to see the resurrected Jesus? Fear of being a collaborator should have kept them quite about the events. But they shared anyway and were rewarded with a great blessing. Jesus was about to explain to them the Scriptures!

"And He said to them, 'O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?' Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures." Luke 24:25-27 (NASB)

What an opportunity! Jesus was revealing to them all the Scriptures that pertained to His death and resurrection. I can't imagine what that would have been like. God, the messiah, was tutoring them on the very Scriptures that were prophesied thousands of years in advanced, that spoke of Him and all He would accomplish for us. Now, for us, the Holy Spirit brings that wisdom to us. But I can't imagine a face to face encounter with the living God, explaining what He wrote. That would be a truly great blessing. Because these two disciples were so open, and bold, they were able to have just such a blessing.

"And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.' So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight." Luke 24:28-31 (NASB)

Here is a great lesson to be learned. To the two disciples, this was just a stranger. One who knew the Scriptures but a stranger none the less. ANd again this is another place where had they not insisted upon this stranger staying, they would have missed out on a blessing. That seems to be the overall theme of this passage. How many blessing have I missed out on? How many times have I been just at a point where God could have shown me something to change my whole world... and I was too busy, or too focused on other things? Psalms 46:10 says;

“Be still, and know that I am God..."




It doesn't get any clearer than that! Looking through this event, I'm amazed at all the opportunities that these two disciples didn't miss. My prayer is to not miss out either.

"They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread." Luke 24:32-35 (NASB)

Once Jesus revealed Himself and disappeared, everything became clear. They just witnessed a miracle greater than they had seen Jesus perform yet. They had seen the risen Lord Himself! What a huge blessing for them, and what great lessons for us.

I believe we can learn another lesson from this passage as well;

We are all on the road to Emmaus. Where along that road will depend on where in your relationship with Christ you are...

Are you at the beginning of the journey? You know about Christ and His death but your not quite sure what it means to you?

Or are you at a place where you know why He died but have yet to insist on Him staying awhile?

Or have you come to the truth and have seen Jesus in all His glory? You have placed your trust in Him and have repented of your sins...

If you are at the beginning or middle of the journey, check out this website NeedGod for help.