It’s been awhile since I’ve written anything regarding a physical interaction with any JW.  I’ve had some email interactions with a Seventh Day Adventist thanks to a coworker to which I’ll be releasing the emails (without any personal information as per my policy).  That said, today was different.  The fall season is great for one thing-fair season.  Residing in South Central PA means an annual trip to the York Fair-America’s oldest. 

Growing up spending some time on a farm working for a church elder than moving onto a horse breeding farm brings back many a good memories.  That’s the start, then there’s PLENTY of food to eat.  However, I was testing out one of those massage chairs and the Misses tells me that the JWs had a booth set up.  I got up and went over. 

Here’s a very quick rundown regarding it.  Its my “go to topic” when I don’t have much time.  I walk up and informed them that I had met with some Witnesses for a period of time and asked for a copy of their New World Translation.  The lady pointed me to look at the organization's official website (I almost feel bad for them since they can only say "go to the website") Side note-if you come across a JW set up, they will most likely NOT have a bible on display.  That means the priority is pushing their publications and the bible (even though their version is altered) is of secondary importance. 

So here’s how it went….

I told them I do not understand how they believe what they do about the resurrection (Witnesses believe that Jesus was raised as a spirit.  The conversation centered on the following verses:

I Peter 3:18 (NWT)-For Christ died once for all time for sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones, in order to lead you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.

They use this to demonstrate that Jesus is a spirit body.

I had the female Witness read John 2:19-21 (she read through verse 22 in the New World Translation)-19Jesus replied to them: “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said: “This temple was built in 46 years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was talking about the temple of his body. 22When, though, he was raised up from the dead, his disciples recalled that he used to say this, and they believed the scripture and what Jesus had spoken.

Luke 24:36-43(New World Translation)-36While they were speaking of these things, he himself stood in their midst and said to them: “May you have peace.” 37 But because they were terrified and frightened, they imagined that they were seeing a spirit. 38So he said to them: “Why are you troubled, and why have doubts come up in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.” 40And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41But while they were still not believing for sheer joy and amazement, he said to them: “Do you have something there to eat?” 42 So they handed him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it before their eyes.

When we started, they were more than willing to chat about the resurrection.  I set things up by saying John gave a prophetic statement.  They initially agreed that it was.  I had the gentleman read the account in Luke.  When he was done, I “set the scene” by reading the first few verses so that the they would realize that it was just after the resurrection.  We both agreed that Jesus was seen many times in the 40 days prior to his ascension to heaven.  He said that “flesh and blood” cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven to which I agreed and pointed him to verse 39 and there’s a difference with “flesh and bones” vice “blood.”  I asked how the organization believes that Jesus is a spirit when Jesus said something totally different.  The full effect of JW training kicks in.

He deflects by saying that we believe:

Jesus was the first and only thing Jehovah created based on Colossians 1.

Jesus was produced based on Proverbs 8 (he couldn’t even locate the verse so I had to inform him)

He said a few other things and the lady interjected, “are you here to talk about the Trinity?”  I said, “nope, and even if I did, I’m willing to conclude what you thing the Trinity is and what the bible describes what the Trinity is are two different things.”  So I took him back to the resurrection and asked the question this way, “you’re telling me one thing about Jesus’ resurrection, the Bible is saying the total opposite, which one is correct (remember I had him read Luke)?”  If you were there, you’d have seen the cognitive dissonance play out on his face between the organization’s teachings versus what the Bible says.  I let him “waffle” for a few minutes.  The lady beside him is scrambling.  What possibly felt like an eternity for him had the lady interrupt and say, “here’s the study bible and see what it says.”  He rejected it as he was still trying to rectify the clear delineation between the bible and what the organization teaches.   

He eventually answered by saying that angels manifested themselves.  He even had what I presume to be an elderly witness couple walk by.  A few moments later, he received a phone call and said, “I’ll call you back.”  I let him give a few examples throughout the bible.  I retorted that, “Jesus stated that he was NOT a spirt.”  The man said, “show me where it says this (mind you he had just read it).”  So I had him read verse 39 AGAIN.  He then tried to give some other faulty line of reasoning.  From here, the lady said that some things Jesus said are to be taken figuratively and other things literally.  She also stated, “God raised Jesus.”  I retorted, “Jesus raised himself so what does that make Jesus? Also, you say some things are literal, some things figurative.  In Luke it was LITERALLY His body that He told the disciples to touch.”

The gentleman cuts in and tries to change the topic and says, “we believe this about the resurrection.”  I cut him off (I had enough topic changes which is their practice when they feel things aren’t going well) and asked a question was direct, simple, and short: You’re saying one thing, Jesus is saying something different.  Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way the truth and the life”  He finished it saying, “no one comes to the Father but by Him.”  I agreed and asked, “you’re saying one thing, Jesus said something totally different.  Are you making out Jesus’ words a contradiction and therefore he’s a liar?” 

The reaction: SILENCE.

He didn’t answer initially nor could he.  I saw a physical display on his face regarding the spiritual battle taking hold.  He tried to talk.  I talked over him and reiterated again, “you have two choices, believe what Jesus said as contained within the inspired word of God OR believe what the Watchtower says.  I’m going to leave and allow you to think on that.”

With that I walked off. 

I saw them later tonight as I was leaving and turned behind me.  I’m pretty sure he knew who I was from behind (John Deere hats stick out) and I moved to the side to wait for one of my kids.  It looked like they picked up the pace and with that, the evening was over. 

So as always, I will ask that you the reader prays something good will come of this exchange which was shorter than normal but Lord willing be profitable and that a seed was planted within both individuals.