Are the Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult? | Anchorsaway

Are the Jehovah’s Witnesses a cult? This is a question that has been asked time and time again. The answer to that question is complicated, but it is important to understand the group’s beliefs and practices before coming to a conclusion. In this article, we will explore the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs and practices to determine if they are a cult.

what do jehovah witnesses believe?

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in a form of Christianity that is unique to their group. They believe that their religion is the only true religion and that all other religions are false. They believe that Jehovah, the God of the Bible, is the only true God and that Jesus is His son. However, their beliefs about Jesus and salvation are different from traditional Christian beliefs.

Is Jehovah Witness a Cult?

A cult is a group of people that embrace a counterfeit Christian religion. All cults have a leader who claims to be uniquely called by God. Not all cults follow all of the characteristics of a cult, but following any one of them should be a warning to us to stay away. The group requires the study of books other than the Bible. Their “revealed truths” supersede or contradict the Bible. They claim to be the only true church and do not hold back from criticizing all Christian churches. Cults use excessive control by the leaders of the group. They often claim new revelations from God and change their beliefs with new revelations. Their doctrine is nothing short of a total lie.

Charles Taze Russel was the leader of the Jehovah’s Witness group that formed in 1870. The group has now grown to about 8.7 million actively involved people. The markings for this movement are cultish.

Jehovah’s Witnesses Beliefs and the Christian Faith

Let’s examine how the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs line up with the central tenets of the Christian faith.

The Deity of Christ
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael, the archangel, the highest created being. This belief contradicts many Scriptures which declare Jesus to be God.

The JW’s bible, called The New World Translation, translates John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.”
John 1:1 from the Christian Bible reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
John 8:58, “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Salvation
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation comes through faith, good works, and obedience. Once again, their belief in works for salvation contradicts the heart of the Christian scriptures, which declares that salvation comes by faith in Christ’s death and resurrection.

“For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5)

The Trinity
The trinity in Christian doctrine believes there is one eternal being of God, indivisible and infinite. This one being of God is shared by three co-equal, co-eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the trinity.

“And when Jesus was to carefully consider the teachings of any religious group and to compare them to the teachings of the Bible. As Christians, we are called to love and serve others, to share the good news of Jesus Christ, and to help lead people to a personal relationship with Him.

In conclusion, while Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in Jesus, their beliefs about Jesus and the nature of salvation are vastly different from orthodox Christianity. Their rejection of essential doctrines such as the Trinity and Christ’s substitutionary atonement sets them apart as a cult rather than a legitimate Christian denomination. As Christians, we must lovingly engage with members of this group and share with them the true nature of God and salvation through Jesus Christ.

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