About My Faith
Why Jehovah's Witnesses?

They knock on your door Saturday mornings, all dressed neatly in suits, ties and dresses. They come bearing Watchtower and Awake! magazines on any subject imaginable. They offer to open their Bibles and read a particularly encouraging verse, or a thought-provoking one. But who really are these people? What do they want? And why do they keep coming back?

I was not always one of Jehovah's Witnesses, having symbolized my dedication to Jehovah God through water baptism in May of 1997, at the age of 36. I had even harbored some skepticism of their motives, and suspicions of the origins of their faith. I spoke with them reluctantly when they came to my door in 1995, accepted a book that they said showed God's purpose for mankind right from the Bible, and began a Bible study with them only to prove to myself that they were not as wholesome as they seemed. It wasn't long before they were proving me wrong in that regard.

I soon saw for myself that a deep respect for and belief in the Holy Bible's authenticity as the inspired Word of God motivates these Christians to obey the command given by Jesus Christ at Matthew 28:19, which reads: Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit. In harmony with further instructions found in the Bible for Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses preach from house to house, and wherever people can be found (Acts 20:20, Acts 17:17), giving a thorough witness as to Christ impaled (Acts 10:42, 1Corinthians 1:23). They keep at it urgently, for the apostle Paul urged Christians to do so in his letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:2). In fact, I found that not only the preaching work, but all activities of Jehovah's Witnesses are patterned after the first-century congregation of God's servants.

What do they hope to gain by this? Is there some ulterior motive of increased wealth or material gain? Do they believe that this sort of work will in some way guarantee their salvation or entrance into heaven? The answer to all these is NO. Knowing that the arrangement for mankind's salvation is really an undeserved kindness and free gift from God, the Witnesses realize there is no way to "earn" it. But an abiding love for God first, and love for neighbor second, motivates these volunteers to use their own time and resources to preach and teach the Word of God (Matthew 22:37-39). It is in imitation of Jesus Christ himself, who used his earthly life course to be engaged in the ministry of teaching about his Father's Kingdom. One of Jesus' apostles, John, wrote a letter in which he emphasized the need to imitate Jesus Christ's example, calling it an obligation for those who say they are in union with him (1 John 2:6). The apostle Paul also spoke of the necessity of faithful ones to preach and teach God's name and purposes (Romans 10:14,15).

If, then, it is an expression of their love and faith that the Witnesses come by, why do they return so often -- especially if rejected or turned away? This is because the message the Witnesses bear is not their own (John 7:16-18). The work they are doing is not even their own. They teach about God's Kingdom even as Jesus did, showing from the Bible what it is and how Jesus taught us to pray for it (Daniel 2:44, Matthew 6:9,10). The Witnesses have come to learn -- as I have too -- how wonderfully mankind will benefit from this Kingdom. Why would anyone hold back from another such vital information? And time has proven that a person who shows little interest one day or who hasn't a moment to spare in a busy schedule, can actually develop an appreciation for the information and make the time to learn more another day.

Further information is available on this group of people, including tracts and brochures which outline the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, the origin of their name, their modern-day history, and their work and organization. Visit their website, or write to them on the address listed on any of their publications. Of course, any of Jehovah's Witnesses you may meet at your door or on the street or at a Kingdom Hall would be happy to talk to you further about God's purpose for mankind.