Prayers

Not just for his sake, but for the sake of everyone, we need to pray that God's Word is always taught as the Truth that it is, without adding to or taking away.

Amen, brother. Keep on preaching because there are listeners!

I talked with our sister Anita last night.  She had a visit from a Jehovah's Witness, and the young woman was unable to answer Anita's questions.  Anita invited her to engage in an ongoing Bible study to discuss the questions, and the young woman agreed only if she could bring a man from her church with her.  I spent last night giving Anita the history and the Biblical passages that JWs usually cannot answer.  I recommended she invite them to use their Bibles so they couldn't claim mistranslation on Anita's Bible (I also gave Anita the history of the JW Bible translator, under oath in a court case, admitting he did not know Hebrew or Greek).  Please keep Anita in prayer as she shares the love of God and the truth of scripture with the people who decide to join her in study.  Speak the truth in love!

I guess I have always been a magnet for apologetics (possibly a cantankerous personality), but I have had numerous dealings with JWs as well as Mormons- Jacks, pew- sitters, and leaders (bishops).  What I have found most useful in dealing with them is an almost exclusive focus on the Trinity, atonement, and insisting on a agreement before beginning to discuss only the Bible- since it's the only thing we all agree on (Mormons like the KJV).  Even the JWs will say they believe in the Bible- inasfar as it is correctly translated.  Whenever either get off on a rabbit trail, I continuously reply, "that's nice, but remember we agreed to only discuss the Bible."  After a number of times doing that, they usually reduce or quit the attempts to hijack the conversation to their dogma.  They pretty much memorize their presentation, and it disrupts their pitch when you refocus on the Trinity and the blood. 

They never have an answer as to why it was necessary for Jesus to shed His blood, if we could be perfected any other way.  Why would God allow- no, demand it, if there was any other way?   

It is important to never attack their religiosity.  Always keep your cool, be kind and patient, and always ask to close in prayer.  In the closing prayer always clearly repeat the gospel- repentence, the cleansing of the blood, and the sealing of he Holy Spirit, in Jesus' Name.  They may not add their "Amen", but if there is a younger one paired with an old JW or Mormon (usually the case with the JWs)- the young one will be impressed (and get the gospel) and the old one will likely frown in frustration.  They are prepared to have he door slammed on them, or to be yelled at, but not to be loved on and prayed for in Jesus' Name.  It blows their comfort zone. 

Greg

jjoey shared this link with me about a guy who is an apologist for Mormons in Salt Lake.  It's a pretty interesing piece on witnessing to cults:

http://hotm.tv/shows/aretheychristi
an.htm

They are prepared to have he door slammed on them, or to be yelled at, but not to be loved on and prayed for in Jesus' Name.  It blows their comfort zone. 

Interesting. And the strategy I would think the Lord would prefer us to take.

But to the young in Christ, I advise caution. Some of these people are very persuasive and are very capable of casting doubt into the believer's mind. You are 100% right in sticking to the Bible and what the Bible says. If you allow these people to get you out of the Bible you are venturing out on your own and that is very dangerous.

Praying for them without being pious about it is a great idea. Aren't we supposed to be praying for those who use us and despise us? Surely we can pray with and for these people. Just don't let them bring anything into a conversation that is non-Biblical because that is exactly where they want to go. They will also try to read things into the scriptures that aren't there and take things out of the scriptures that are there.

Biblical knowledge and a rock solid faith in Christ and scripture is a must when dealing with such people. Satan has deceived them and seeks to deceive us through them. We must always remember how easy it was for Satan to deceive Eve in the garden and cast doubt into her mind about God's Word. We are not ignorant of his ways.

Thank you for your insight, Greg.

http://hotm.tv/shows/aretheychristi

an.htm

Good link, Greg. Thanks again! I plan to watch all of those videos. Not so long ago I had some Mormons attempt to draw me into their church. I thank God for Biblical truth which is ultimately what stood between me and them. The truth will set you free indeed.

Greg and Armyman, great advice indeed.  If we can't stick to the Bible and speak the truth in love, we will be ineffective servants.  Unfortunately, many of our churches don't teach the Bible anymore.  I refuse to be involved with a church that doesn't teach the Bible--every book every verse beginning to end in the original languages.  Our enemy is well trained in twisting scripture and deceiving people; we must love and support them while trying to show them the truth.

Greg, may I share your info with Anita before she begins her Bible study next week?  She needs time to study, but she is already following your advice--stick to the Bible, love the ones you speak with, concentrate on what they cannot answer even from their own Bibles, and be aware of the history of mistranslation.  I will share your post with her as soon as you let me know you are OK with it!

Be God's!
Sissy

My wife's grandmother is much better and is going home today so that is a blessing.  Fortunately my wife is going to be able to go see her this weekend and that will make her feel so much better as well.  The truth is her grandmother is 92 years old and this has been a wake up call to all of us that we need to spend as much time with her as we possibly can.

We all get so busy in our lives it becomes real easy to say I can always do _______ later but the truth is we need to make time in our lives for the ones we love so that we can cherish them.  This has been a stark reminder to me that we should slow our lives down and give thanks to the Lord for what we have and spend more time appreciating it.

If there is someone special in your life that you have been meaning to go see or call make plans to just do it.  Live your life in joy and happiness and share it with the Lord and those that you love.

Praying for everyone on this thread and I thank God for adding such great people into my life.

Have a blessed week!

Greg, may I share your info with Anita before she begins her Bible study next week?  She needs time to study, but she is already following your advice--stick to the Bible, love the ones you speak with, concentrate on what they cannot answer even from their own Bibles, and be aware of the history of mistranslation.  I will share your post with her as soon as you let me know you are OK with it!

Sure, Sis, I'll be happy to help any way I can. 

Greg

http://www.scribd.com/doc/10463043/
Kingdom-of-the-Cults-Jehovah-Witnes
ses



Anyone needing sound material to use in conversing with JWs should check out this excerpt online from Dr. Martin's landmark book, Kingdom of the Cults.  This was really the foundation resource for evangelization and apologetics to the cults in America.  It is a response to the bewildering amount of distortion and deception that is thrown at a believer- particularly if they are ill- informed and/or naive in the faith.  As ArmyMan pointed out, they can tie a typical believer in knots, often resulting in frustration and non- Christlike reactions.  Often the believer knows something is not right, but they don't know exactly why.  The cultist talks about Jesus- but it's not the Jesus we know from the New Testament.  They talk about salvation- but it isn't by grace through faith.  They use all the Christian terms, but have so re- defined them as to render them meaningless.  Dr. Martin describes the reasons and solutions for this dilemma.  This link is simply a portion relating to JWs.  He also discusses Mormons and most other cults.  The New Age was a little before this time, but the principles are not that different. 

Remember, get them to stick to the Bible, atonement, and the Biblical gospel.  Anything else leads to sin.  Pray, love, and be patient.  Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and produce the fruit.


Greg

Thanks for the link, Greg, I have the late Dr. Martin's book, too, and you are right about it being a groundbreaking source of information.  His work has been continued by the Christian Research Institute (www.equip.org) and by the Ankerberg Theological Institute.  I use Ravi Zacharias alot as well as Chuck Missler.  I shared your info with Anita.  Her Bible study starts this Thursday with a young woman who will be bringing an older man (JW teacher) with her since the young woman couldn't answer Anita's questions.  Please keep our sister in prayer as she speaks the truth in love to these two people.

Be God's!
Sissy

Good evening and God bless.  Too many requests to type them all on here in agreement, but know they have been lifted up.  I am in agreement with all prayers and praises on the thread.  

Please keep the family of former WVU Head Football coach Bill Stewart in your prayers as he passed away today at 59 years old.  From listening to him speak I am pretty sure that he knows Jesus so he is fine but the family will need peace and comfort regardless.

Good to see so much positive dialogue on the thread lately and I am lifting up all prayer requests and posters.

Have a great and blessed evening and keep on keeping on with God.

Jack

 

Hey Jack, I just heard the sad news about Coach Stewart.  I will keep his family, friends, team, and coworkers in my prayers.  It is hard to work so closely with someone for years and then lose them unexpectedly.  May God speak His peace to all who knew Coach Stewart and give rest and comfort to them in Jesus' name.

Sis

Share this with sister Anita. http://www.risenjesus.com/templates
/RisenJesus/Behold.pdf Great!! Tell sister I say hi.

Actually that was for Mormon. Still great!

The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

-Job 1:7

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

-1 Peter 5:8

Greetings to all. Know that you are in my prayers!

I have a praise report! I took my credential test yesterday to pursue my ministry license with the Assemblies of God. I made a 93%!!!! 

Gary   

"The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing."
Psalm 65:13

Each year the rice paddies were laid out and the tender plants were planted. Each year the people of the village waited with anxious hope, looking to see whether the storms would come and wash the fields away. Many times, the people would watch as their hard labor was destroyed, but other times they rejoiced to see their crops full and bountiful. After each harvest, the village offered a portion of their harvest to God, thanking Him for his mercy and grace.
 
What do we offer to God when we are blessed with good things? Do we even remember to say thank you? The Lord has given us so much, and we should always and everywhere give Him thanks and praise.
 
Father, in bad times, please be my strength; in good times, celebrate with me, Lord. Thanks for being with me, doing so much for me, and giving so much to me. Thank You for so many answered prayers among us.  We praise Your Holy Name, Amen.