Kingdom work

An inside look Basic beliefs and key differences with other Christians

An inside look Basic beliefs and key differences with other Christians

No Triune God

— Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity. They see God, whom they call Jehovah, as the one true God. Christ is his son, but is a separate being and is inferior to God.

Saluting the flag — Witnesses do not salute the flag or any other symbol of a nation, believing to do so would be idolatry. This belief has led to misunderstandings and sometimes persecution. But, the Witnesses’ refusal to salute the flag was upheld in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette in 1943.

God and country

— Witnesses believe in following the laws of man that do not conflict with God’s law. However, they do not vote in civic elections, nor do they serve in the military.

Only one holy day — Unlike other Christians, Witnesses do not celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas or his Resurrection at Easter. The only holy day observed by members is the Memorial of Christ’s Death or the Lord’s Evening Meal which commemorates the Last Supper. Blood — Witnesses believe taking blood into the body in any way is a violation of God’s law. Most will not accept blood transfusions, even in life and death emergencies. This has led to criticism, lawsuits and sometimes criminal charges following the death of children whose parents refused the use of blood on religious grounds. The Witnesses are proponents of “bloodless surgery” as an alternative to traditional methods.

A small flock

— Witnesses believe the righteous will be given everlasting life and live in paradise on earth. Only a small flock of 144,000 of the faithful, however, will go to heaven to rule with Christ. The wicked will be destroyed.

No cross

— Contrary to common Christian belief, Witnesses do not think Christ was crucified on a cross. They believe he died on a stake. Witnesses believe the cross and all other symbols have no place in Christian worship.

Source: www.watch tower.org and How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook

The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches tracks the membership of the nation’s Christian religious bodies. And in this year’s edition, the numbers were grim. Only three of the two dozen largest organizations are growing, according to the 2009 Yearbook.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette assistant religion editor Christie Storm has investigated these three growing religious movements and is telling their stories. Herb Wight has knocked on a lot of doors since he became a Jehovah’s Witness over half a century ago.

The first in his family to become a Witness, he began participating in the denomination’s trademark doorstep evangelism at the age of 12. The year was 1951.

Now 70, Wight relies on a cane for walking but he continues to share the Witnesses’ message. Most Tuesdays and Saturdays he can be found going door to door with fellow Witnesses in Fayetteville. It’s a ministry he says he’ll never give up regardless of his age.

“I’m still actively involved in the witnessing work because Christianity is a way of life,” Wight said. “I feel that it is a rare privilege to have God’s name called on me, to be known as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

On any given day Wight’s fellow Witnesses the world over are also sharing their faith with their neighbors. They are following a biblical commandment, they say, to spread the teachings of Christ and make disciples of all nations.

Matthew 28:19 states, “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

It’s a mandate Jehovah’s Witnesses work hard to carry out, especially since they believe the end of days is near.

“We take that not as a suggestion. We take it as instruction from our all authoritative Lord, Christ Jesus,” said Wight, a member of the West Fayetteville congregation.

To help in their efforts, the Witnesses have a multitude of publications to share with those they visit, most notably the Watchtower magazine, which is available in 176 languages. From its publishing house in Wallkill, N.Y., and in countries scattered around the world, the denomination prints religious materials in 500 languages, as well as in Braille. Video publications are offered in American Sign Language and in 39 other sign languages in use around the world. Much of the material is now available online, as well.

Wight said much of the work is made possible by the 2,500 translators striving to bring the message to all people.

CONTINUING GROWTH

As Witnesses disseminate these publications and engage in personal evangelization, the church continues to grow, defying the downward slide of many denominations. The Jehovah’s Witnesses rank 23rd in the nation with more than 1 million members, according to the current Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. Worldwide there are more than 7 million Witnesses.

Arkansas is home to about 10,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in 110 English and 24 Spanish congregations. Congregations are kept at about 200 members and if one grows beyond that another house of worship — called a Kingdom Hall — is built. Twenty congregations make up a circuit and 10 circuits form a district. Local congregations are led by a group of elders and the central governing body is based at headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Spokesman J.R. Brown said the number of Witnesses is increasing in countries all around the world, but growth is especially noteworthy in Latin America. The United States has the most Witnesses, followed by Mexico and Brazil.

“In these places we are getting fantastic growth,” Brown said. “In Africa, Nigeria is booming, even with a strong Muslim influence. ... People are looking for something better than the condition the world is in now. They have faith in the Scriptures that [God] is going to do something about it. That accounts for the fantastic increases we’ve had.”

Wight said the growth is ultimately attributed to Jehovah.

“Jehovah’s Witnesses are acutely aware of the fact that any growth that we’re experiencing, numerically or spiritually, is because of God’s blessing,” he said.

MULTIPLE TRANSLATIONS

The Witnesses follow biblical advice to become imitators of God and sharing His word with the world is their ultimate goal. By offering biblical translations in multiple languages, Wight said individuals can read the Good News in their own languages, which has a greater impact.

“We have found when people read something or hear it in their own language rather than a foreign language, it touches their heart,” Wight said. “It resonates with them.”

More often than not Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for what they don’t do, rather than by what they believe. For example, members don’t celebrate Christmas or other holidays. Their only holy day is the Memorial of Christ’s Death. Also known as the Lord’s Evening Meal, it’s a commemoration of the Last Supper.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not salute the flag of any country, nor do they vote or serve in the military. They consider themselves citizens of Jehovah’s nation, although they are instructed to follow the laws of the land as long as they do not conflict with God’s law.

“We believe that the kingdom is actually God’s government in the hands of Jesus Christ with Jesus as king,” Wight said. “That’s what our preaching is all about. We’re trying to share with people the Good News about the kingdom.”

One of the most contentious beliefs involves the Witnesses views on blood and receiving blood transfusions. Witnesses do not believe in taking blood into the body and many have died due to that belief, including children.

CENSORSHIP AND BANS

The unique beliefs and practices of the Witnesses have often led to conflicts and even to censorship and persecution. Earlier this month the Russian Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling banning the dissemination of Witness publications, including the Watchtower, that it labeled as extremist. In all, 34 publications were banned and activities of a regional branch were also terminated.

Brown said the denomination is used to facing opposition, but its members are disappointed in the Russian ruling, which he said will effectively ban all Witness material from the country. They plan to appeal.

The church is also facing trials in the United States, as well as in other countries, some involving taxation and others religious freedom. Brown said it’s the church’s duty to fight for religious freedom.

“We view our organization as an international brotherhood. We don’t care where Witnesses are on the globe. If they have problems we are going to help resolve them through whatever legal means we have,” Brown said. “If you have laws that guarantee freedom of worship we are going to, through the courts, test that out to see if you really do live up to it. We continue to pursue that.”

The Witnesses also encounter opposition for some of their other beliefs, as well, especially those that don’t mesh with mainstream Christianity. For example, the Witnesses reject the doctrine of the Trinity.

“We take note of the fact that neither the word Trinity nor the concept of Trinity is found in the Bible,” Wight said. “There is no verse in the Bible that talks about the three being one, but plenty where they talk about Jesus being in subjection to the Father ... He never claimed to be equal to his father.”

Wight said their lack of belief in the Trinity also leads many to say that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in Jesus Christ, a claim he said is not true.

BELIEVE IN JESUS

“We’ve always believed in Jesus Christ,” Wight said. “We do believe in Jesus, but we believe he’s God’s son and we think that salvation comes only by exercising faith in his shed blood.”

Wayne Fisher, a member of the East Springdale congregation, said Witnesses are also stereotyped as isolating themselves from the world and not helping out in their communities. Fisher said Witnesses are so well-known for their evangelizing that people don’t realize they are also involved in other ministry work.

“A lot of people don’t realize we are very, very involved in disaster relief,” Fisher said. “During every major disaster Jehovah’s Witnesses are among some of the first to help and we believe a very big part of being a Christian is helping people.”

The Witnesses rely on their regional building committees — the groups of volunteers who build their Kingdom Halls — to also coordinate disaster relief efforts. The teams can build a Kingdom Hall in days and have the ability to mobilize quickly. Teams from Arkansas helped Gulf Coast residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“Jesus was asking what are the two greatest commandments in the law. He said the first one is you must love Jehovah your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength and the second is this, you must love your neighbor as yourself. That’s what motivates us to do door-to-door work and what motivates us to do disaster relief work.”

Wight said the Witnesses also offer free literacy classes around the world.

LITERACY CLASSES

“Here’s our commission — we’re supposed to go out and teach people about the Good News of the kingdom and make disciples, but if they can’t read, that’s pretty difficult to do. So we offer literacy classes,” Wight said.

In countries with a high level of illiteracy, the classes are offered in the native language. Participants are taught to read and write. The objective is to teach them to read so the Witnesses can evangelize, but Wight said there are also secondary benefits, such as an improvement in their quality of life and that of their children.

Perhaps one of the biggest criticisms Wight hears involves the Witnesses’ preferred translation of the Bible — the New World Translation. The translation was published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in 1961 and has been the subject of debate and derision since then.

“Sometimes I will hear people say, ‘You people have your own Bible,’” Wight said. “When I hear that objection they are indicating they think the New World Translation is biased ... I don’t want to be unkind, but people who say we have our own Bible are unacquainted with the Bible and if they would read it and what other Bible scholars say about it they would see it’s an extremely accurate translation.”

Others would disagree, but Wight said despite the criticism and opposition the Witnesses face here and abroad, they will continue to share the Good News of Christ.

“The next time one of us knocks on your door, if you’ve got a question, ask us,” he said. “We’re not on a person’s doorstep to argue. We are trying to be faithful to what Jesus commanded us to do.”

Religion, Pages 27 on 12/24/2009

Upcoming Events