JWs & Apostolic Succession

Answering Protestants ^ | 17 June 2014 | Philipp Rogall

[Gumdrop]

Are JW’s actually Christians? I was always told that they do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God, and therefore has a Divine nature. Am I wrong in this?

My impression of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is that they do not even belong to the category of ‘Protestants’, in that the prevailing definition of Protestant is being a believing Christian, outside the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Eastern traditions.

[2ndDivisionVet]

[lastchance]

I think it is unfair to lump JW in with Protestant as they do not adhere to the accepted Protestant belief in the Trinity and other beliefs about Jesus.

[JPX2011]

Are JW’s actually Christians? I was always told that they do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God, and therefore has a Divine nature. Am I wrong in this?

That's my understanding. They deny the Divinty of Jesus and they deny the Blessed Trinity. I've got some sneaky little JW who leaves watchtower in the office break room. I consider it my sacred duty to toss them when I find them.

[matthewrobertolson]

FreeRepublic classifies them (along with Mormons, etc.) as "Other Christians".

While they lack proper baptism, and are therefore outside of the Church, I am willing to honor that they call themselves Christian. (And yes, many I know even classify themselves as "Protestant".)

[Springfield Reformer]

They aren’t sola scriptura, in that they have a hacked up custom translation of the Bible to go along with the edicts from the Watchtower gang. Not to mention being founded by a notoriously false false prophet named Charles Taze Russell, who, like all others who predict the return of Jesus on a specific date, was necessarily disobeying the clear teaching of Jesus that such knowledge belongs only to the Father. So no, not only off on Trinitarian and Christological issues, but also subservient to human authority and false revelation rather than the God-breathed words of Scripture, which to abandon for the vain imaginations of fallen mortals is to guarantee eventual descent into error.

[CharlesOConnell]

An apostate former priest, Johannes Gerber, spirit-channeler (consort of demons), was adviser to the New World Bible Translation Committee. https://www.google.com/search?q=johannes+gerber+jehovah+witness

[narses]

More Sola Scriptura - but with a rewritten scriptura!

[sauropod]

JWs are a cult. They are NOT Christian. I don’t care what FR calls them.

[NotTallTex]

JWs are nothing but modern Arians.

[metmom]

No, they’re not Christians.

They are a cult.

[metmom]

I think it is unfair to lump JW in with Protestant as they do not adhere to the accepted Protestant belief in the Trinity and other beliefs about Jesus.

It's just an attempt at guilt by association, ie, since Protestants believe some of the same things as JWs, therefore, Protestants must be a cult.

It's a hit piece on Protestantism. That's all.

[ansel12]

I didn't even know that FR categorizes religions.

Catholic Answers lists them in the non-christian category.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

I classify them as seekers of Truth- like -Nancy -Pelosi.
Ouch!

[RBStealth]

Read on a JW forum:

JW’s need to confess their serious sins to male elders. These are usually security guards, landscapers and other non-professional careerists and the such.
Someone who has confessed their serious sins to these people have a problem when later the same security guard or landscaper, etc is thrown out of their church for reason and then goes sin-snitching for retribution.

[reefdiver]

I have found the easiest way of ridding myself of them is with a garden hose

[ealgeone]

Was Peter the “rock” on which the church was built? Matt. 16:18, JB: “I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.” (Notice in the context [vss. 13, 20] that the discussion centers on the identity of Jesus.) While it is true that verses 13 and 20 concern the identity of Jesus, it doesn’t automatically follow that everything in between must pertain to Jesus too, especially if he specifically addresses Peter and talks to him. The immediate context of verse 18 is this:

what was the primary question Jesus was asking?

who was He?

Peter gave the correct answer and Christ noted that Heaven had revealed this to him. And it was upon this rock, this confession of Peter that Christ was the Son of God that the Kingdom of Heaven is built.

No where does the Bible call Peter the primary apostle as does the RCC. You are attempting to read something into the text that isn't there.

Paul and Peter were considered equals. Paul never said Peter was primary or the other way around.

Peter did play a very, very important role in the early church as Christ promised. The keys to the kingdom was the Gospel: Christ being the Son of God and faith in Him alone for salvation. This is what he preached all the time in Acts.

When Cornelius attempted to bow before him Peter told him to get up for he was just a man....contrast that with the actions of the pope.

Peter stumbled by not eating with the Gentiles when pressured by the Jews and Paul had to correct him.

Did the apostles and prophets pass on the message of Christ? Sure they did. You always need new leaders as the old die out. But here is the difference in the Bible and the RCC. The Bible shows that all can understand the Gospel. All can share the Gospel.

Have you ever shared the Gospel with anyone and seen how the Lord works in their life? Or are you just relying on a priest to do the heavy lifting?

[af_vet_1981]

No where does the Bible call Peter the primary apostle as does the RCC. You are attempting to read something into the text that isn't there.

There are at least two other passages that show Peter's designted leadership if one puts aside the Gentile mind and considers what the LORD Jesus taught the Jewish apostles. I think one has to be willfully blind and obstinate to deny the truth that Jesus chose Peter to be the leader.

1. 15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
2. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. 21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

[Blue Collar Christian]

You’re going to agitate the Catholics that confuse their church’s teaching for Scripture.