A COMPARISON OF CHRISTIAN BELIEFS TO THOSE OF JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

A comparison of Christian beliefs to those of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Dana A. Lambert
Axia College of The University of Phoenix

This small step into identifying and exploring the beliefs and practices of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been both interesting and challenging. Relatively young in years, the religion was founded in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in 1879 by Charles Taze Russell. (Carmen 2005) Its current practicing members total an estimated 6.95 million people. Its current headquarters is in Brooklyn New York, where the governing body of elders is located. Although constantly under scrutiny by various other religions, Jehovah’s Witnesses have continued to grow over the past 200 years. (Willis 2006) For the purpose of this paper, I spoke in depth to Mr. Michael Campbell, an Elder of the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall located in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Mr. Campbell has been a Jehovah’s Witness for the past 35 years, and is a personal friend and neighbor to my family. There are approximately 75 members in the Green Cove Springs hall, being established in 2005. Being a friend, Mr. Campbell understands that my questioning of his religious practices is not to confirm or deny, interrogate or subrogate his beliefs or mine in any adversarial way. Actually he stated that it would give him a chance to “speak what he has been learning for the past 35 years from his family room recliner.” I have spent the past three Sunday evenings speaking to Mr. Campbell in regards to the beliefs and practices of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I found it a most interesting chance to compare my Baptist beliefs to his. We both addressed issues that were specifically important to our beliefs and made simple comments about items we mildly “questioned” about the others. He never made me, or I him, uncomfortable or nervous when speaking openly about these two very different religions and their practices. Neither of us converted the other to our practice. He thought that it was most interesting that this topic was part of my college education, and wondered why I had chosen him and his particular religion. I easily replied to him that I had known him for quite some time and felt comfortable speaking to him openly for the purpose of writing this paper. As a result, the following took place over coffee and fellowship, so to speak. Obviously there are major differences between Baptist and Jehovah’s Witnesses on the surface. Jehovah is considered to be the personal name of God, the only true god, the creator of all things. Baptist’s do not have a personal name, only recognizing God as God. (Holden 2007) His outstanding qualities are love, justice, wisdom and power. A witness is an individual who states facts from direct personal knowledge or views of truths of which he/she is convinced of. Thus, the term “Jehovah’s Witness” describes someone that proclaims the truth that Jehovah is a loving and just God, deserving of our love and obedience. Do we both consider ourselves Christians? Yes, I in a baptism of faith, Mr. Campbell by putting faith in Jesus’, imitating his example and preaching or teaching to fellow mankind. Both religions follow Jesus Christ, and put faith in the sacrifice he provided for the salvation of mankind. That he is the Son of God. According to Mr. Campbell, Jesus now rules as King of God’s Heavenly Kingdom, which will soon bring peace to the earth. Jesus never claimed equality with God and thus is not a part of a Trinity. He is not omniscient or omnipresent. Jesus was a created being, who god created everything else through. That he was Michael, the Archangel prior to coming to earth. This topic is not mentioned in any Baptist teaching. His ransom consisted of giving up his fleshly body and the right to live forever on earth, which he had earned by living sinless life. His ransom paid for Adam’s sin alone. Whereas, Baptist’s believe that he died on the Cross at Calvary for everyone’s sins. This gives people the opportunity to earn their salvation by believing in God and doing good works. They do not believe that every passage in the bible is to be interpreted literally. They follow the direction given in the Bible by Jesus’ travels journeying from city to city and from village to village. They copy that of Paul, who taught in public places, and from house to house. Baptist’s finding comfort in holding bible classes, public pronouncing or preaching. Is a Jehovah Witness a fundamentalist I asked? Mr. Campbell laughed, and stated that they were not as in today’s context. They are not involved in any political pressuring or controversies. Being a witness teaches one to be kind, loving, good, mild, all qualities that do not allow for any type of wild fanaticism that is often associated with fundamentalism. They as do Baptist’s look at sin that was caused by the first man, Adam, who chose to disobey God’s command concerning eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge. While us as Baptist’s look at the symbol of a Cross, the place where Jesus died, not the Jehovah’s Witness. The “Watchtower” is the known symbol of any Jehovah’s Witness. It is an expressed word, fuel to live by, a statement of true divine living. Both religions do not want any member to fall from grace. Baptist belief is that you are never away from God, to come back, ask for forgiveness, enter back into the fold. The same is a practice within the Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, if poor behavior unrepentantly practices, serious sins or actions continue then a Jehovah’s Witness would suffer disfellowship. No member would speak to them, they are to be avoided. The general attitude is that the entire congregation must be protected from their influence. Point to a part of scripture which states, “Remove the wicked man from among you.” I asked what would happen to someone that was married and this happened to them. The spiritual ties that they once had would be no more, but the blood ties would remain in place Mr. Campbell added. They may continue to attend services, they could receive spiritual counseling, and they would be welcomed back into the faith if they reject the improper conduct for which they were disfellowshipped initially. What is a Jehovah’s Witness belief in regards to Hell? They believe that is does exist in the sense of a place of the dead. (Jesus went there) Hellfire and brimstone does not exist, it was created by Satan to turn people from Jehovah. As a Baptist, I cannot think of a sermon that exists where Hellfire and brimstone was either not mentioned or referred to in some way to turn a congregation away from sinning. I could not help myself, I asked if not of the bad, then what of the good. What is the position on Holiday’s such as Christmas or Easter? In retrospect, there is a time that is given in memorial to Christ’s Death, which is the most important religious event of the year for Jehovah’s Witnesses. They enjoy parties, picnics and other events. They do not celebrate holidays that could have non-Christian religious traits or those that promote nationalism. The cross itself is considered a rejected symbol. What of ethics I asked. In today’s society with all that we have been subjected to, are these strictly enforced as a Witness? Mr. Campbell stated divorce was accepted only in cases of adultery. There was no allowance made for premarital sex or homosexuality. Abortion is forbidden, regardless of the situation. I can easily see the similarities in this and the teachings I have learned growing up Baptist in Tennessee. Right when we seem to start veering apart from each other, I can see a common base that both religions use. I was amazed to see his eyes light up as I asked him in regards to how funding or financial means were in place for worship. I explained how various other religions accepted money at service, or used both radio and television to spread the word of God, and accept funds. Mr. Campbell sat upright in his chair, looked me very sternly and stated the following. “No collections are made at our meetings, and members are not required to tithe. Voluntary donations are made in clearly marked containers. There are no paid clergy, and meeting places are generally considered modest. It is a personal decision to donate, whether toward local expenses or other things. Financial reports are given for the information of the entire congregation, not just the men. Obviously, there were some significant differences here. I was very curious to ask his opinion of the “Anointed Remnant.” I was told that they must be born again. That they would reign as associate kings with Jesus in heaven. That they give up their physical bodies, changing into spirit form when they die. Most of them were born in 1914 or earlier, and that probably a few thousand of them are left alive today. Of those that have died, and gone onto heaven, are somehow guiding the lives and work of Jehovah’s Witnesses alive on earth today. There is no comparison in my religion to these beliefs. He laughed as he talked about the Southern Baptist Convention. How it was a political travesty. In contrast, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are governed by a leadership council. These are twelve men who are the top leaders, located at the Headquarters in New York. This is a distinct difference in leadership principles and procedures between the two religions. Mr. Campbell stated that his group was “led” by this committee of Elders. Whereas, mine was given “direction” from various groups within the religion itself.

In conclusion, I found there to be some very distinct similarities between our two religions. During my conversation with Mr. Campbell, I never attempted, as did he, to convince the other that one was real and the other false. I could easily see how both had a common denominator, and then the arithmetic began. It branched out in one direction, part from the other. The word of God clearly was given to the people, yet in very different ways. One through the Son of God. The other anointed upon a common man, by an Angel. There are parts of the Bible, scriptures; passages that are both determined exactly the same way. Yet, there are others which have completely different translation. I can see how, if I wanted, I could make that which I have learned over the years in bible study mean anything I wanted it to. There are scriptures that we as Baptists take verbatim, without question, without regard to reason or verification. Yet, the same exists for the Jehovah’s Witness, but with a completely different meaning and purpose. Two colors of blue, yet one perceived in a different shade so to speak. I am genuinely glad to have had the opportunity to interview Mr. Campbell, he is truly unique. Very interesting, not overbearing, comfortable yet stern when delivering a message that you can tell comes truly from his heart. When I asked him if he believed that he was one of the chosen, the 144,000 that would leave earth and live in Heaven with God. He chuckled, and said that he had spent too many years getting his orange tree grove in shape to leave the paradise of earth, but if that was his destiny then he was sure that they would grow in Heaven also. I think that it is peculiar that people can be so devout in belief, and yet rationalize things still as a simple human could, something like a child would do as it grows. Perhaps, I may see Mr. Campbell in Heaven one day, perhaps under his beliefs or mine. Possibly under different circumstances that we do not understand of this earthly world we live in. But one thing is for sure; he can knock on my door and is always welcome, even as an Elder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. REFERENCES

Willis, Anthony (2006) Jehovah’s Witnesses-Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, pp 101-105 Stanton, PA

Carmen, Melody (2005) History of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Their Doctrines, Bentley Publishers, Rock Island, IL pp1100-1101 Briars reprint of original 2000 2nd Article

Holden, Andrew (2007) Portrait of a contemporary religious movement, Publisher Routledge, Arkoma, MA Chapter 1 pp3-25, ISBN 978-0415266109