![]() ![]() We need not plead ignorance or incompetence regarding the subject matter, for with a little educationĪnd lots of prayer we can become the very instruments by which the Holy Spirit will lead a person out of the Watchtower’s darkness. There are ways to deal with this type of situation, and there are responses to the belief system of the Watchtower organization. What, then, is a Catholic to do about a family member or friend who has become a Witness?įortunately, there is hope. Jehovah’s Witnesses, they are taught to view the Catholic faith as a satanic corruption of the true faith from which they should remove themselves as far as possible. People are at transitional periods in their lives (starting college, beginning a new job, undergoing a relocation), and the accompanying disorientation leaves them more susceptible to the influence of groups such as the Witnesses.To all of life’s most difficult questions. Consequently, they turn to groups that offer both companionship and ready-made answers People experience a void in their lives, such as a desire for love and attention or a quest for purpose and meaning, and they are looking for something to fill that void.People who are unfamiliar with these doctrinal issues are often easily swayed. Since the Witnesses are well trained in presenting their beliefs and “proving” them with well-worn Bible verses (which,īy the way, are taken out of context), they provide what may at first appear to be compelling reasons to join them. People have been poorly taught the Catholic faith and therefore cannot adequately respond to the Watchtower’s theological assault on it.The reasons people become involved in groups like the Jehovah’s Witnesses vary, but they often boil down to three: The salvation of souls is at stake, and we must do what we can to help those who have been ensnared by the Watchtower. In fact, a significant percentage of Jehovah’s Witnesses are former Catholics, so this issue cannot be lightly brushed aside by those who profess the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Faith. This type of occurrence is real, and its relevance hits home for many Catholics who have brothers, sisters, cousins, grandparents, spouses, or friends “serving Jehovah God.” They distribute the Watchtower’s publications and warn people of the imminence of Armageddon-the final conflict between God and Satan-the Watchtower’s central theme. When such a change happens, very often family members and loved ones are left reeling-at a loss to know how to counter the Watchtower’s beliefs or how to rescue their loved ones from the spiritual blindness that has enveloped them. This situation has been played out countless times across most neighborhoods, and it is the proverbial foot-in-the-door approach that can result in unsuspecting Catholics abandoning their religious upbringing to become Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of the Watchtower organization. Since their message in some way seems relevant and since through common courtesy you give them the benefit of the doubt, you agree to listen to what they have to say. Then they pique your curiosity by asking you if you would like to know more about such an existence, adding that God’s plan for humanity is precisely such a paradise. You open the front door and see two neatly-dressed people standing on your doorstep, their briefcases brimming with the latest issues of The Watchtower and Awake! They tell you that they are in the neighborhood, talking with people who are concerned about what is happening in the world today-crime, drugs, immorality, violence-and they want a few minutes of your time to share a message with you.Īfter getting you to agree that humanity is not exactly a paradigm of virtue these days, they appeal to your desire for “a better world” by describing an earth without war, without sickness, without hatred, and without want or need. It’s Saturday afternoon, and you’re at home spending time getting caught up on some of your chores when the doorbell rings. Please enjoy this excerpt from Answering Jehovah's Witnesses
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