[Originally written August 14, 2022. This is an entry from a larger research/writing project to equip Christians with the necessary information to help Jehovah's Witnesses see the light of Christ.]
This entry is not designed to confront the teachings of the JWs, nor to prepare one to minister to them, but to warn those who are interested in joining this ministry effort. For a while, I have been praying and researching the material that I discuss in my entries. I have spent time with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, read their literature, spoken with ex-JWs, and sought wisdom from the Lord and from more mature Christians. The things that I have learned, and the things that I have experienced, have led me to writing this entry. I believe that my job is to educate Christians about the Jehovah’s Witnesses, so that Christians can go out, preach the Gospel, and that many lives can be saved. However, there are some very big risks that one must take in order to participate in this ministry effort, and I feel like I need to explain what those risks are, and how to minimize them.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are good at what they do.
While this is not always the case, in general, Jehovah’s Witnesses have an excellent understanding of their beliefs, and they have an excellent understanding of how to address arguments against said beliefs. The average JW is much less likely to know the way to deal with people who challenge them on their beliefs, but, just as there are expert apologists in Christianity, there are expert apologists in the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Ministering to the Jehovah’s Witnesses is not something that one can do without investing a considerable amount of time into studying. You will not see Jehovah’s Witnesses turning around in droves, following you towards the truth of Christ (there are exceptions, and I hope that there are more in the future). In reality, you will be committing to a long-term, in-depth, study and relationship with Jehovah’s Witnesses. You do not have to (nor should you) renounce your Christian faith, nor do you have to avoid discussing your faith, but you do have to surround yourself with people that do not know Jesus, and are actively trying to draw you away from your faith.
Satan uses false religions to harm our faith and lead us away from God.
The Bible makes it very clear how the devil will use false prophets, false religions, and individuals who claim to know Christ, for the purpose of infiltrating into our lives and destroying our faith from the inside. This ministry requires one to venture into the enemy camp and expose himself to the attacks that the devil will inevitably direct towards him. This ministry will cause you to experience an increased volume of attacks on your spirit, along with attacks on others involved with you/this ministry. We have the ability to fight against such attacks, as we are given access to our Father, and God is all-powerful, but unless you know how to identify and address demonic oppression in your life, it is not advised that you participate in this ministry.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are very well organized, and they will keep track of you.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses will be very careful about what they tell you, and what they invite you to. As you grow in your relationship with the JWs, they will pay more attention to you and your life. The JWs are amongst the best in terms of following up with people and keeping track of events and dates. If you enter into this ministry, do not expect to be able to just leave when you feel like it. This ministry is all about leading others to Christ through relationships and fellowship with others.
There is the risk of one’s faith being irreparably damaged by the false teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The stories of people who have left the JWs are very different from each other, but one thing is almost always present in an ex-JW’s testimony: the long-lasting trauma and distrust of others, combined with a prolonged period of dealing with the brainwashing that they have been victims of. If you are not strong in your faith, if you do not have the ability to address the teachings that you will be exposed to, and if you lack the ability to remain confident in your faith, you will be putting yourself in the position to potentially lose your faith altogether when you are involved with the JWs. The JWs are a cult, and they could not exist without brainwashing others. By participating in this ministry, you are voluntarily exposing yourself to said brainwashing, in order to rescue people from the path that they are on.
By leading JWs away from their current beliefs, you will bear the weight (on your conscience) of the fallout that will inevitably take place in their lives.
The consequences of leaving the JWs are numerous, and the consequences are incredibly severe. People who leave the JWs are viewed as being apostates, and the other JWs are instructed to completely cut ties between themselves and those who have been “disfellowshipped” [refer to the entry on disfellowshipping for more information]. This policy applies to family, as well as friends. By participating in this ministry, you are aiming for people to leave the JW organization and follow Christ. If you are successful in your efforts (which I pray that you are), you will inevitably cause the JW to lose their social connection, their family, and their way of life. That type of loss will destroy a person, and you must be able to assist the individual so that they have the support needed to get back on their feet. There is a sense of guilt that will likely follow a successful conversion to Christianity, but such guilt is worth the promise of everlasting life for the person, through Jesus Christ.
There is always a risk of feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or confused, which could lead to one’s faith being harmed.
Jesus speaks about the challenges that will come to those who follow Him. Jesus tells us that we will be hated for following Christ, and the Epistles go into more detail about the suffering that comes to those who seek the Lord. In ministering to others, you will encounter hardships. Again, you will encounter hardships. This is a reality of seeking God, and a reality of openly professing your faith. The Bible tells us about the rewards that will be given to us when we suffer unjustly, and when we suffer for the sake of the Gospel. God will take care of you, He will strengthen you, and He will guide you, but you must know how to seek Him and His guidance. If you are new to your faith, or you have been doubting your faith/salvation, then you should not participate in this ministry.*
* It is a normal thing for people to doubt themselves and their beliefs occasionally. This statement is about those who consistently doubt their faith.
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