A Letter to a Jehovah’s Witness

Some time ago, I was stopped on the street by a Jehovah’s Witness, passing out literature. Since we did not speak the same language, she promised to have an English-speaker call me, and a few days after that he did. Our conversation was cut short by a bad phone connection, but before we hung up, I gave him my e-mail address, and later he sent me an e-mail, asking me if I was interested in studying the scriptures to see what God has promised about changing this world so that it would be peaceful and good. He included several scripture passages that described this perfect world in some detail. I appreciated this man’s desire to share with others the possibility of finding eternal joy, and I also knew of some scripture passages that spoke of God’s eternal rewards, and the way in which to receive them, so I wrote this letter in response. I would encourage any Jehovah’s Witnesses who might see this to read it and feel free to contact me for further dialogue.

Dear ________,

Thanks so much for your genuine concern about my well-being. I appreciate your honest grappling with life’s hard questions, and your desire to go to the Word of God to see them answered. Thank you for the scripture passages teaching of the blessed end that God is preparing for them that love him.

All of the beautiful ideas you spoke about, of a world in which human hurt and tears and sickness and evil are done away, seem almost too good to be true – after all, I have seen the sorrow in this world, and I know how selfish my own heart is. It would take quite a miracle to change me, so that I could even enter such a world without messing it up like we humans have messed up this one. And I can’t help but believe that others are like me. Who is powerful enough to change, not just me, but everyone else who will be a part of that world, so that it will really be the way those verses describe it? Since these offers are so staggeringly rich and wonderful, they are too important to accept on little authority. Before I believe them, I’m going to want to know who made them, whether or not he is actually able to do what he said, and what the conditions are for me to experience them.

When I read more about these promises, I am impressed with the fact they are all made by God, or on the basis of his authority (e.g. Isaiah 43:11, 25; Acts 2:17-21); or else, by Jesus, or on the basis of his authority (e.g. John 4:14; 11:25-26). I am also struck with the fact that the condition is always the same: we will receive these blessings only if we believe on Jesus, or as some scripture passages say, if we believe what God has testified about Jesus (John 3:16-17; Acts 16:31; 1 John 5:9-12). Jesus teaches us that he is the only way to God (John 14:6), and the apostle Peter assures us that there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). It is only if I believe that Jesus is who he said he is that he promises to give me eternal life and joy. But there is something else very frightening that I encounter when I read more about these promises; and that is, if I reject the truth about Jesus, and refuse to believe in him, he will return to judge me with everlasting destruction away from his presence (John 3:18, 36; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). So then, according to these scripture passages, I have in front of me either a life of eternal joy in the presence of God, or an existence of eternal punishment away from his presence; and which of these I will experience depends on whether or not I believe what God has said about Jesus.

Well, if I’m going to believe all these wonderful promises that some man named Jesus made so long ago, and if it really is only by believing the truth about Jesus that I’ll receive the promises instead of judgment, then first of all, I’m going to want to know just who Jesus is. If such extravagant claims are made about him – that what I believe about him determines my eternal future – then he had better be someone unique. After all, I’m staking my eternal joy on it. So then, before we talk about any of those other things, let’s talk about who Jesus is and what he has done that makes him so unique.

To be honest with you, I have to say from the beginning that I am thoroughly impressed with Jesus. I believe what God has revealed about him in his word: that he was born of a virgin, and had no human father (Matthew 1:22-23); and that, therefore we can know that he is holy, and the unique Son of God (Luke 1:35). I believe that he is sinless (1 Peter 2:22). I believe that he is the only one who reveals God to man (John 1:14,18). I believe that he is the exact representation of the essence of God, and the radiance of his glory (Hebrews 1:3). I believe that he is equal to God (Philippians 2:6). In fact, I believe that he is very God, who came down to take on human flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). He is explicitly called God several times in the Bible (e.g. John 20:28-29; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1 [there is a rule of Greek grammar called the "Granville Sharp Rule" which demands that "God" be referring to the same person as "Jesus" in the last two of these references]). Furthermore, Old Testament passages that speak of “Yahweh” (“Jehovah”) are specifically applied to Jesus in the New Testament, for instance, John 12:36-43, which says that when Isaiah saw Yahweh high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1-5), he was seeing Jesus. Or when in Isaiah 45:23 Yahweh says that every knee will bow and every tongue confess to him alone, Philippians 2:10-11 says the every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue confess that he is Lord, that is, Yahweh. Jesus is also called “God” by God the Father in Psalm 45:6-7, as we can read about in Hebrews 1:8-9.

Not only am I thoroughly impressed with Jesus, but I am thoroughly impressed with what he has done. He took my sins upon himself, suffered the wrath of God that should have come on me, and was raised for my justification, so that God might remain just, and still declare me acceptable in his sight (Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 2:21-25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 3:21-31, Romans 4:25). Such a great promise as this, that I, a sinner, can have eternal life in the presence of the holy God, is something that can only take place on the basis of a perfect sacrifice; and such a great sacrifice can only be accomplished by someone who is both God and sinless man. There is no one but Jesus who meets those qualifications. If you still want to talk, that is what I would like to talk about, before we move on to any other topic. That is what I consider foundational and non-negotiable.

Thank you again, and I pray that God will direct you into the knowledge of his Son through the Word of his truth.

Nathan Pitchford

2 Responses to “A Letter to a Jehovah’s Witness”

  1. Jules Gilbert says:
    July 20, 2007 at 5:12 pm

    You might consider having your note printed up. Many Christians would be helped by having a short tract to give those who come to the door.

    Enjoy your day, Sir. Our God made it.

    Bye!

    –jg

  2. pitchford says:
    July 22, 2007 at 1:34 am

    Jules,

    Thanks for the idea. I might look into it.

    He made it indeed!

    Nathan

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