Reasoning with Jehovah’s Witnesses

Before delving into a discussion of the Bible’s viewpoint on a certain topic, we do well to try to determine what our listener really believes. Otherwise, we might spend a lot of time refuting an idea that he never believed in the first place! Tactful questions can help us to learn why a person believes what he does. For instance, what if someone we meet in the ministry says that he does not believe in God? It might be easy to assume that the person has been influenced by secular views, such as the theory of evolution. However, some people have lost faith in God because of the intense suffering they have personally seen or experienced. They may find it hard to reconcile such suffering with the existence of a loving Creator. Therefore, well-thought-out questions may help us to determine the best way to assist the person.

COMMENTARY

It may be that you might have an occasion to speak with an elder or family member who is a Witness concerning some of the Watchtower’s teachings. And like the Daily Text comment states, the use of tactful questions might be an effective way to get them to reason on their own beliefs.

For example, you might ask them: Do you think people have already received the figurative 666 marking on their hand or forehead? Get them to thinking. They might not even realize that the Watchtower claims that the marking began in 1922.

Or, if they say that they believe what the Watchtower teaches, then you might ask them what they think the mark signifies. If they agree the 666 mark symbolizes that a person has received the sentence of permanent death —as it surely does since the scripture says their names are not written down in the book of life —then ask them why Jehovah’s Witnesses preach a message of salvation to a world of people who have already been irrevocably doomed to the lake of fire? Perhaps if they think about it they may realize the absurdity of the Watchtower’s teaching. 

Or, along another line of reasoning, you might ask them if they think there is going to be another world war. If they think it is possible, show them from the Reasoning book where it states that there cannot be another world war. 

For sure, posing questions is a less offensive way to try to get people to think, as opposed to simply preaching at them. It is true with non-believers as well as Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Here are some more questions you might consider.