(Think of the robot from the old TV series Lost in Bible.

Bible. May I ask what version you are using?”

Space that would always flail its arms and shout When he identifies it as the New World Translation,
“Danger! Warning!” when something bad was you could then pursue a series of questions about the
about to occur). reliability and scholarship of this work.
In my encounters with Witnesses, this switching Armed with the knowledge about the translating
of subject matter has occurred in virtually every committee ask questions like: “How do you know
instance. Watch for it. It is an indication that you that this particular rendering is correct?” “How
are being effective at presenting some kind of important is it for a Bible translator to know the
difficulty, so stay on target. When it happens, let biblical languages?” “Would you trust a translator
the Witnesses finish their train of thought, then who had little or no training in Hebrew or Greek?”
politely point out that, while you are intrigued at the (For this question you could use the analogy of
prospect of discussing another issue, you will agree whether or not to trust a surgeon who was about to FIVE DON’TS FOR DEALING
to do so at another time. operate on you but who had little or no experience WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
This approach has the added benefit of ensuring doing the particular procedure he was about to
a return visit from the Witnesses, enabling you to perform. How much more important, then, it is for By Joel S. Peters
further dialogue with them (if you are so bold) and people entrusted with our spiritual wellbeing to be
continue to gain ground. It will also buy you time highly trained and experienced in their field?) It’s Saturday afternoon, and you’re going about
to do some research on the particular topic that has Your goal here is to raise doubts in the minds of your household chores. You notice as you pass the
been raised (or the one you had been discussing). the Jehovah’s Witnesses about the reliability of the front door that two people are coming down the
New World Translation. However, don’t attack their street. Since you’re not expecting anyone, you peer
5. DON’T GO BY THE WITNESSES’ translation. A few carefully and strategically placed out from behind the curtains. The two individuals
VERSION OF THE BIBLE, THE NEW WORLD questions will produce far more fruit than a full turn down your walkway. They are nicely dressed
TRANSLATION. By producing its own Bible frontal attack on something the Witnesses cherish. and wielding attaches that you will discover later are
translation, the Watchtower Society is able to keep I would like to offer one final insight for these loaded with publications from the Watchtower
its doctrinal thumbscrews tightened on its members. five no-no’s. Keep in mind that they are not a Society, the parent organization of the Jehovah’s
The text has been altered – one might even say foolproof method wielding magical powers to sway Witnesses.
mutilated – so that it supports many key your Jehovah’s Witnesses on the first encounter. Even though your mind is occupied with
Watchtower doctrines. What the average Jehovah’s You will not undo in 15 minutes on your doorstep mundane thoughts of dirty laundry, overdue bills,
Witness probably doesn’t know is that the New what the Watchtower Society has been doing for and vacuuming, you will soon be thrust into a
World Translation was produced by a committee of years in the minds of your guests. dialogue on a far higher plane – a dialogue about
five high-up Witnesses, four of whom had no But these guidelines can serve as a starting point. world violence, the devil’s control of all government
training in biblical languages. The fifth studied They can arm you with something useful and systems, or a future earthly paradise. If you are like
Greek for only two years in college. Any practical when that unexpected doorbell ring comes. most people, you feel ill-equipped to solve
reasonable person would conclude that such Keep in mind also that converting the hearts of humanity’s woes on your doorstep. So you consider
“translators” are woefully lacking the education and Jehovah’s Witnesses is ultimately the work of the pretending you’re not home. Too late – they’ve seen
skills needed for such an important task as Holy Spirit – and that you and I are greatly blessed to you. You take a deep breath and reluctantly open
translating Scripture. be used as His instruments in that process. the front door.
Witnesses will swear up and down that the New This scenario is played out untold times in the
World Translation is free from a doctrinal bias (and homes of average Americans across the country.
in good faith they really believe this), but you need Article from the magazine This Rock, Nov 2002 And while most people consider a visit by a pair of
to know that this could not be further from the truth. Published by Catholic Answers, Inc. Jehovah’s Witnesses a nuisance at best – and a rude
Without having to be versed in biblical Greek, you www.catholic.com Used with permission. intrusion at worst – the experience need not prove
can still raise some doubts in the minds of distasteful.
Witnesses about their Bible version. Having engaged in dialogue with a number of
John Paul II Society of Evangelists
For example when the Jehovah’s Witness reads a P.O. Box 5584, Bakersfield, California 93388
Witnesses – at my door, via e-mail, in Internet
passage from the New World Translation, you could E-mail: info@pjpiisoe.org Phone: 661 393-3239 discussion groups, and even in their own Kingdom
say something like, “That sounds different from my www.pjpiisoe.org Pamphlet 055 Halls (their equivalent of a church) – I have learned
some do’s and don’ts of talking with them. Based
on my experience, I would like to propose a list of remember how you treated them. work to their advantage. I am not suggesting being
five (no-no’s) for a typical encounter with rude to your guests or cutting them off or
Jehovah’s Witnesses. 2. DON’T ARGUE OR DEBATE monopolizing the conversation. I am saying that
You don’t have to be a skilled apologist to SPECIIFIC DOCTRINES WITH THE you should tactfully redirect the discussion to
practice these guidelines. They are intended for the WITNESSES. The fact of the matter is, slinging another subject.
average Catholic who has no formal theological Bible verses back and forth with a Jehovah’s Witness For example, you might ask them how they came
training. to prove a doctrine is unproductive. He has been to be associated with the Watchtower or if they were
conditioned to accept only the Watchtower’s members of another denomination before becoming
1. DON’T SLAM THE DOOR IN THEIR interpretation of Scripture. From the Witness’s Witnesses and, if so, why they changed over. Ask
FACES. This simple point could mean the perspective, you are not debating the meaning of the them to tell you in a concrete way how being a
difference between the loss of the souls of your biblical text so much as the religious authority behind Jehovah’s Witness has improved their lives. Get
Witnesses or their salvation. Please stop for a any given interpretation. Since he is conditioned to them to tell their stories so that they are relating on a
moment and take this thought to heart. I say this accept the Watchtower as God’s “sole channel of person-to-person level rather than regurgitating
because the difference between slamming the door communication” on earth, your ability to wield Watchtower beliefs. Regardless of how much
or choosing to be cordial and speaking with them biblical Greek will likely count for naught. The indoctrination the Watchtower has done, it cannot
could mean the difference between affording the Witness will merely resort to the party line for any remove the Witnesses’ humanity, so make a
Witnesses a moment for God’s grace to operate passage being discussed. connecting on that level.
through you - or losing that moment forever. He is more than prepared to confront you on Once they have shared something about
I find that a typical response to Jehovah’s major doctrines, with special emphasis placed on themselves, do likewise. Tell your own story about
Witnesses who are canvassing a neighborhood is to Jesus’ divinity and the Trinity. These two areas are how you have encountered Christ through his
be brusque with them and then slam the door in where Jehovah’s Witnesses have spent the most time Church. Tell them about your own faith journey.
their faces. I have even had some of my high school and effort preparing to thrash you into doctrinal Talk about how Christ is real to you. Your words
students recount with pride such actions taken by submission with a string of Bible passages quoted out don’t have to be fancy or highly theological-
their parents when Witnesses came knocking at of context and completely misinterpreted. (And sincerity goes a long way. If nothing else, such a
their doors. Not only is this approach uncharitable, believe me, the average Jehovah’s Witness has witness on your part will demonstrate to the
the Witnesses expect it. spewed forth these passages so often that he could Jehovah’s Witnesses that even though you practice
The Watchtower Society drills into the heads of quote them effortlessly while dangling upside down (from their point of view) a belief system tainted
all its followers that at some point in their door-to- in midair.) with paganism, you are still in touch with Christ in a
door witnessing they will suffer persecution for Unless you are quite familiar with these passages real, tangible way. That will give them food for
proclaiming “Jehovah’s message.” The Watchtower and a proper understanding of them (John 1:1, John thought.
points to Jesus’ own words as proof of their claim: 8:58, John 10:30, Acts 20:28, and Romans 9:5 to
“Blessed are you when men revile you and name a few), the Witnesses’ interpretation of them 4. DON’T ALLOW THE WITNESSES TO
persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you will sound convincing. They salivate at the prospect BRING UP MULTIPLE ISSUES AND GET
falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for of debating these two doctrines in particular, since YOU SIDETRACKED. One of the cardinal rules
your reward is great in heaven, for so men they lie at the heart of what we “apostate” Christians of talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses is to deal with
persecuted the prophets who were before you” (att. believe. So do not meet them on their own turf. This one theological topic at a time. It is said that there
5:11-12). gives them the home court advantage. What should are only two unavoidable things in life – death and
The fact that the Watchtower belief system bears you do if they bring up one of these topics? Read on. taxes. Actually, there is a third: If the Witnesses at
almost no resemblance to Jesus’ actual teachings your door are losing any ground in the conversation,
does not come into play here. The point is, 3. DON’T LET THE WITNESS GET you can bet that a subtle shift in topic will occur.
Witnesses are told by their organization to expect THROUGH HIS REHEARSED PRESENT- I would even venture to say that the Witnesses
harassment and harsh treatment. When they get it, ATION. Remember that the well-scrubbed disciples themselves might not consciously be aware of it.
it only reinforces their loyalty to and belief in the at your door have had extensive training and It’s just that their training is so effective that it
Watchtower for having predicted such behavior. experience4 conducting encounters like this. You becomes second nature for them to make this switch
Instead kill them with kindness. Be as charitable need therefore to detail them, so to speak – pursue a when the prospective convert is gaining the upper
and hospitable as you can, because long after they topic where their stock answers, memorized Bible hand. It is imperative at this point for your brain to
may forget what you said to them they will passages, and pre-packaged presentations will not send up a red flare and alert you to the switch.