Author Archives: Keith

Exercising Faith With A Jehovah’s Witness Elder Part 2

January 22, 2014 12:09 am / 11 Comments /
Faith is the root of salvation. Works is the fruit.

Faith is the root of salvation. Works is the fruit.

This is part two from yesterday’s conversation. A few lines from part one have been included to give a little context. We were talking about what we need to do to have God’s approval.

KW: I asked you earlier. “Does God justify the godly or the ungodly?” Which one does God justify?

JW: It really depends what “godly” means.

KW: From God’s perspective, whatever He views as godly. Would He justify those people who are godly or those people who are ungodly, according to His own standard?

JW: Well, He would justify the godly.

KW: (Repeating his answer.) He would justify the godly. Okay then I have to get your interpretation on this verse. Let’s look at Romans 4:4-5. Read More →

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Exercising Faith With A Jehovah’s Witness Elder Part 1

January 21, 2014 12:12 am / 2 Comments /
Hard Work Doesn't Always Pay Off

Hard Work Doesn’t Always Pay Off

Ugh. Today’s mountain cedar pollen count is well over 30,000 with a 1,000% chance of miserable. I was praying all the way to the restaurant because when the pollen count gets this high, I lose mental focus and have a harder time keeping my temper. That is not a good combination for meeting with a Jehovah’s Witness elder. When I arrived, I prayed harder because I could see that my Witness friend was suffering from the same symptoms. Great. I started praying for his mental focus and irritability too. Read More →

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Who Rules The World With A Jehovah’s Witness Elder

January 10, 2014 3:34 pm / 4 Comments /
Grumpy Squash

Why do some Jehovah’s Witness Elders look like this?

I met with my Jehovah’s Witness elder friend for the first time this year. Although I enjoyed our break during the holidays, I was looking forward to meeting with him again. From the look on his face, I wasn’t so sure about him. When he walked into the restaurant, he had a sour expression and looked to me like a grumpy squash from the Plants vs. Zombies game. I almost laughed out loud, but kept my thoughts to myself. I don’t think he would have appreciated the comparison. Read More →

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A Twisted View Of God With A Jehovah’s Witness Elder

December 20, 2013 4:56 pm / 15 Comments /
There is no competition.

There is no competition.

It has been three weeks since we have met. My Jehovah’s Witness friend had to cancel the last two weeks, but he did let me know beforehand. I received a text message from him yesterday and we were both looking forward to getting back together again. I’ve viewed these few weeks off as a nice break. I needed it too. Our recent meetings have been exhausting.

We spent nearly an hour today talking about what it was like for him to grow up in another country. For a Jehovah’s Witness, he sure does know a lot about politics. He explained how the government worked and described what I would call “controls” over the citizens of his country. I mentioned George Orwell’s 1984 and told him a little about the book. He seemed interested, yet put off at the same time. I hope he will look it up on his own. Maybe I’ll get it for him as a CHRISTmas gift. Read More →

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Jesus; God’s Heretic – The Back Door To the Deity of Christ

December 19, 2013 12:49 pm / 4 Comments /
Jesus

Jesus, who do you think you are?

It is finally here! Back in October of this year I was invited to speak at the 35th annual Witnesses Now For Jesus Convention in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania. I have spoken many times on the deity of Christ before, but this time I wanted to do so from a completely different angle. As I would read through scripture, certain verses would jump out at me. These verses were not the normal ones Christians use to prove the deity of Christ because they are not direct claims, but these verses contain some pretty bold declarations. Claims that would seem arrogant, egotistical or crazy if made by anyone else in history.

One of my favorite techniques to use when witnessing is to assume the validity of the opposite of my position. In other words, for the sake of argument, I am assuming that I am wrong and the person I am witnessing to is right. If the other person’s view is correct, then what is the logical conclusion of their argument? If their conclusion leads us to absurdity, then their argument is invalid and the opposite position is true. The technique is called the Reductio ad absurdum. Read More →

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