Public Perception a Problem for Jehovah's Witnesses

PUBLIC PERCEPTION A PROBLEM FOR JWS [Excerpts]

Throughout this summer and continuing through January 2016, Jehovah's Witnesses are holding thousands of "Imitate Jesus!" conventions in 92 countries. The program, organized by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, is being presented in nearly 350 languages. According to a release, the gatherings promise three days of "fascinating presentations of Jesus' dynamic teachings, designed to help people of all ages and circumstances."

Christian apologist Dr. Alex McFarland contends that faith group has an image problem. "The Jehovah's Witnesses have a very negative perception in the minds of many people..." "And though they've been around since the 19th century, really their growth has been flat in recent years.

"So while they have been very aggressive to try and proselytize, they really have not grown in recent years because they've got such a negative perception in the minds of so many people."

McFarland...says Jehovah's Witnesses don't have orthodox Christian beliefs when it comes to the authority of scripture.

"They certainly don't believe that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, the second member of the Trinity," he explains. "Any time you try to help them see truth through scripture they will claim that the Bible is perverted, the New Testament has been changed, and only their New World Translation is the definitive word of God."

In fact, the opposite is true....Greek scholars "across the board" denounce the New World Translation, labeling it as a "shocking mistranslation" and the translators themselves as "intellectually dishonest."

http://www.onenewsnow.com/church/2015/06/08/public-perception-a-problem-for-jws?utm_source=OneNewsNow&utm_medium=email&utm_term=16781251&utm_content=698132270417&utm_campaign=20110

[TBC: Public perception has little to do with how we should view Jehovah's Witnesses. To the question "do the JWs base their teachings upon the Scriptures," the answer is a resounding "no." As noted in the February 2012 newsletter, "their chief problem [is]: they do not believe that Jesus is God, but rather a created god. Their New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) spells that out quite clearly by corrupting John:1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
See All...: 'In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.' Jesus, whom JWs believe is 'the Word,' is 'a god.' The problems with that teaching defy both what the Bible teaches and reason."]