Interesting question, yet dificult at time's even to discuss, as some want to rip you a new one if you dare "judge" someone else. "Arogant" they will say, or why is "your way" the only way, ect..

I say we can lay it out on paper and Biblically see for ourselves what the Word says, and leave everyone to ponder their own thoughts and add to their convictions one way or the other, after at least considering core beliefs.

Take Jehovs Witness and their core beliefs, based on what I know.


BTW, I have no problem with comparing any religion with Christianity, and having said that here are some differences in mainstream Christianity and Jehovah Witness...
Here are their core beliefs, as I understand it...

1. Firstly, they believe after you die, you can have a second chance. That right there denies's the importance of the cross.

2. They don't believe in the cross. They believe he was hung on a tree, or at least with arms above his head, body straight up and down.

3. They deny the trinity. They believe in God.

4. They believe the Holy Spirit is NOT a part of the trinity, but is Gods active force. An impersonal spirit.

5. Jesus - Jehovah's Witnesses disagree with the mainstream Christian belief that Jesus was "fully God, fully man." Witnesses teach that Jesus was not God, but rather God's first creation.

Jesus existed in pre-human form as God's agent of creation and God's chief spokesman (the Word), and took on human form as the man Jesus by means of a virgin birth.

6. Souls we think are hell bound they believe just get annihilated. They do not believe in hell.

I am just giving some insight into the beliefs of Jehovah Witness.
This is not judging, it is using the Bible as the measuring stick against all others.

Again, we don't want to be condescending or hurtful. Comparing the differences is a far as I want it go. God love's the people in the JW's, but hates the religion.

Moderator please delete this thread. I don't want to do it. TY.

Change of thought I see...

Another sad story for the deceived. All are condemned unless they believe in God's only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (complete gospel). This is not judging anyone (as the devil makes many "think") but is speaking the Truth as God Himself has spoken in the Holy Bible and today through His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. There is no such thing as religion. There's only one Truth--- The Holy Bible. Don't let Satan make you even "think" it isn't so.
Now, Jehovah's Witnesses, or Watchtower, is a heresy (do not base their salvation on God's word) from the devil, a great lie (great because so many souls have been deceived). This evil organization doesn't agree with the Holy Bible and all that God says therein; they don't believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God; they deny the eternal punishment of the wicked; they disbelieve the redemptive power of the Blood; they claim Jesus Christ has already returned (nobody knows when Jesus Christ is returning); they do not believe Jesus Christ is God.
Other heresies are Mormonism, Roman Catholicism, Seventh Day Adventism. The devil is the enemy of man. His only purpose is to destroy God's plan of salvation for mankind. As the greatest liar of all, Satan convinces man to disbelieve God's Holy Word (everything in the Bible). He uses pastors, ministers, popes, to reveal and explain God's Word (instead of God's holy apostles and prophets) and to build heresies and denominations (which are built on sand).
Let us all help those who are deceived by praying for them while at the same time cursing and tramping on the devil in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ....Amen.

Amen, brother Noname. Amen. Jesus did say "I am the way and the Truth and no man comes to the Father except through Me." Although the implications of that quote are a bit disturbing to those who believe just being good and sincere in one's own beliefs is acceptable to God, I thnk He made his point veeerrrry clear.

There is only one measure of righteousness. "Abraham believed in God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness". You either believe in God or you don't. Now how does that fit in with Jesus's words, "I am the way and the Truth and no man comes to the Father except through Me." If you know the Father, then you recognize the Son. "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." David and the prophets also wrote about Jesus. If you know the Father, then you recognize the Son.

[quote name='barnabas' date='Feb 20 2007, 10:55 PM' post='102853']
Interesting question, yet dificult at time's even to discuss, as some want to rip you a new one if you dare "judge" someone else. "Arogant" they will say, or why is "your way" the only way, ect..

I say we can lay it out on paper and Biblically see for ourselves what the Word says, and leave everyone to ponder their own thoughts and add to their convictions one way or the other, after at least considering core beliefs.

Take Jehovs Witness and their core beliefs, based on what I know.[/quote]

let the scriptures speak on their own. you're not judging people.
as long as your humble and cool about it then you let the Word stand on its own.

[center] [/center]
[quote name='noname' date='Mar 12 2007, 06:46 PM' post='105203']
Another sad story for the deceived. All are condemned unless they believe in God's only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (complete gospel). This is not judging anyone (as the devil makes many "think") but is speaking the Truth as God Himself has spoken in the Holy Bible and today through His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. There is no such thing as religion. There's only one Truth--- The Holy Bible. Don't let Satan make you even "think" it isn't so.
Now, Jehovah's Witnesses, or Watchtower, is a heresy (do not base their salvation on God's word) from the devil, a great lie (great because so many souls have been deceived). This evil organization doesn't agree with the Holy Bible and all that God says therein; they don't believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God; they deny the eternal punishment of the wicked; they disbelieve the redemptive power of the Blood; they claim Jesus Christ has already returned (nobody knows when Jesus Christ is returning); they do not believe Jesus Christ is God.
Other heresies are Mormonism, Roman Catholicism, Seventh Day Adventism. The devil is the enemy of man. His only purpose is to destroy God's plan of salvation for mankind. As the greatest liar of all, Satan convinces man to disbelieve God's Holy Word (everything in the Bible). He uses pastors, ministers, popes, to reveal and explain God's Word (instead of God's holy apostles and prophets) and to build heresies and denominations (which are built on sand).
Let us all help those who are deceived by praying for them while at the same time cursing and tramping on the devil in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ....Amen.
[/quote]
[center] [/center]

Maybe you can shed some light on what "believe in God's only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (complete gospel) means?

[center] [/center]

There are flaws in every religion that is based on the teachings of man. I am a sinful man and not qualified to judge any of them, for I fear the commandment, "judge not lest ye be judged".

Jesus does not say he will judge you by what church you attend, but by your fruits.

Let me tell you a story of the day I saw Jesus.

I saw an old woman by the side of the road.
She was cold and hungry, I fed her and gave her a place to rest.
She had nothing to protect her from the rain and she had holes in her shoes.
So I bought her new boots, raingear and an umbrella.
Of course I didn't recognize him (he looked nothing like I expected) till months later when I read the following scripture and then I recognized him.

Matthew 25

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Aye,,,
loving God with all your heart,,will definately lead to good works.
BUT

Mat 7:21-
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, [color=#FF0000]but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [/color]

22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'


God's will IS for his people to feed the poor and tend to the needy,,
thats a common theme in all religions especially in the purpose driven social gospel

There is no law against doing good,,,,even the pagans do some form of "good"

BUT

That is not the extent of God's will.

Where do we find what God's will is?

look again at the law,,,,,it was written to show what God likes,,,and what is an abomination to him.
God's will is for us to really get into him,,,and pursue His heart.

[quote name='RAF_Ogg' date='Mar 21 2007, 10:51 AM' post='106180']
Aye,,,
loving God with all your heart,,will definately lead to good works.
BUT

Mat 7:21-
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, [color=#FF0000]but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [/color]

22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'


God's will IS for his people to feed the poor and tend to the needy,,
thats a common theme in all religions especially in the purpose driven social gospel

There is no law against doing good,,,,even the pagans do some form of "good"

BUT

That is not the extent of God's will.

Where do we find what God's will is?

look again at the law,,,,,it was written to show what God likes,,,and what is an abomination to him.
God's will is for us to really get into him,,,and pursue His heart.
[/quote]


I don't believe in salvation "by works" and this is why I don't agree with what you're saying.

[quote]I don't believe in salvation "by works"[/quote]

neither do I,,,,,it wasn't what I was saying.

"Doing the will of the Father"
isnt simply the "works" done by our hands, its searching Him. Its building a relationship with Him.
Its allowing God's hands to work on us, to change us and make us conform to Christ image.

God's will for us,, is that we would love him with all of our hearts.
If we did that,,
THEN
"good works" (feeding the poor, housing the hungry) would be just one of the many good fruits we bear.

The "social gospel" though,,,goes heavy on the do not judge and feed the hungry purpose driven stuff. If that was the extent that anyone ever did though and closed their hearts to the rest of God's word,,,,,,,,,They will never know God.

they will have a form of godliness,,,but deny Him in their hearts.

There is no religion that can save you. God saves you through His will, that is the Lord Jesus Christ. The example, The teacher, The truth the way and the Life literally.

[quote]I don't believe in salvation "by works" and this is why I don't agree with what you're saying. [/quote]

I agree with you, I don't believe in salvation "by works" either. Works without love is nothing. Works done out of love are a beautiful thing.

Jesus tells us the greatest commandments are to Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. Everything else follows, all the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.

Matthew 22

37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38This is the first and great commandment.

39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Its easy: In Christianity God reaches for man
In all other "spiritual paths" man reaches for God.

Christianity=grace
Other Paths= Self-righteousness through works

[quote name='LoisFaith2000' date='Mar 23 2007, 08:51 AM' post='106420']
1 Corinthians 13
The Way of Love
1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

11When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
[/quote]
But even if you give your body to be burned and have not love you are nothing......
1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

Adonaicole-
Your story reminds me of a day when Tim and I were on our way home from church one day. We were out in the "boonies" in a remote part of a rural area.

We passed a man walking with, what looked like, some very heavy bags of groceries, even though it was miles from the nearest town.

We turned around and stopped to ask him if he needed a ride. He was very disheveled and rough-looking, and had an angry look on his face. He walked half-way across the road toward us, stopped, looked at Tim, and said, "What is your name?"

We both got a chill, because Y'shua asked Legion that (Mark 5:9). Tim told him his name and said that we just wanted to give him a ride if he needed it, but he just waved us off and said he was alright, and kept going.

That incident stands out in our mind more than all the other circumstances where we have actually had the privilege of helping someone. I think because of the strange question that related directly to a scripture where someone asked something that Y'shua asked.

To this day, we're wondering what the relevance of that incident was, if anything.