AN OPEN LETTER TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
Dear Friend,
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and tell you a little about me, and why I have chosen to create this site.
My name is Derrick Holland, and I am a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was raised in the Jehovah's Witnesses religion, and have a number of family members who are still active JWs. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of 15 at a gospel singing at a local church. I had very little exposure to any other religious beliefs up until that time. At this time, I was not an active JW. For that matter, I was never baptized into the Jehovah's Witnesses religion (so JWs cannot call me "apostate"), but since it was the only religion I had ever known, I just assumed that most of their beliefs were Biblical. I had, however, begun to disagree with a few points. By this time, I was attending church every other week with my father, and the Kingdom Hall every other week with my mother and stepfather. My mother is still an active JW. At this point, I began to question which religion was really right. I really paid very little attention at either place, but I heard enough to make me begin to wonder. Then, in February of 1985, I attended this gospel singing at a local church, and heard and understood the gospel for the first time. I began to realize that it wasn't a matter of simply finding "the right church" and joining it. It was a matter of whether or not I had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And I realized that night that I didn't. I had no plans of "getting religion" that night, but the Holy Spirit drew me to Jesus Christ, and the following week, I gave my life to Jesus Christ, and became a born-again Christian. I would also like to add that I didn't immediately change all of my doctrinal views that very night. I hadn't even considered whether or not my doctrine was correct, I just knew that I wanted a relationship with my Creator. He promised that those who come to Him, He "will in no wise cast them out". After becoming a Christian, I began to diligently study the Bible. The more I read, the more I realized the errors of the Watchtower Society's teachings. This was not an immediate thing, but took place over a period of months.
Though it is true that I was never offically a baptized Witness, I still feel that my background and knowledge of the JWs religion qualifies me to deal with their doctrines from a Biblical perspective.
Why have I done this web site? What is my motivation for such an endeavor? Many JWs will, no doubt, feel that I am simply out to attack "Jehovah's organization", and therefore should be avoided. That simply is not the case. I have no ill feelings or dislike at all for the people involved in the Watchtower Society. It is my desire for them to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as I have. Actually, I have created this web page at the advice of the Watchtower Society itself. No, they did not contact me and ask me to Biblically expose their false beliefs, but they have indicated that a person should do an "examination" to see if they are really in the correct religion. In the WT publication "Jehovah's Witnesses In the Twentieth Century", they said this on pages 3-4:
"When it comes to teachings offered as Biblical truth, they strongly endorse the course followed by the Beroeans when they heard the apostle Paul preach: 'They received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, CAREFULLY (emphasis mine) examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.' (Acts 17:11) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that ALL (emphasis mine) religious teachings should be subjected to this test of agreement with the Scriptures, WHETHER THE TEACHING IS OFFERED BY THEM OR BY SOMEONE ELSE (emphasis mine). They invite you, URGE YOU (empasis mine), to do this in your discussions with them."
In another book, also published by the WT Society, and titled "You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth", they have the following to say: "Since many religions today are not doing God's will, WE CANNOT SIMPLY ASSUME THAT THE TEACHINGS OF THE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION WE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD'S WORD (emphasis mine)....It is important that we OURSELVES examine whether they are or not. Persons in the city of Beroea were commended because, after the Christian apostle Paul preached to them, they checked the Scriptures to make sure that the things he was telling them were true. (Acts 17:10, 11) The religion that is approved by God must agree in every way with the Bible; it will not accept certain parts of the Bible and reject other parts. (2 Timothy 3:16)."
With such sound advice coming from the headquarters of their own religion, JWs should have no objection to having their doctrines examined in the light of Scripture, and that is what I will attempt to do on this page. All too often, however, JWs develop a "persecution complex" when someone shows Scripturally why their beliefs and doctrines do not line up with God's Word. They forget that, since the beginning of their religion in 1879, they have consistently and without hesitation renounced the Christian churches as the "institution of Satan" and "Babylon the Great". It is only fair for them to realize that those of us who have had our doctrines attacked and misrepresented by the WT, have a right and responsibility to show what the Scriptures really teach.
To all JWs out there who read this: My motive is not to attack you. You are no doubt very sincere in your beliefs, and honestly desire to be pleasing to Jehovah God. Please understand that anything you read from this page is not designed to put you down personally. It is an attempt to convince you to take the advice of your own religious leaders and do a "thorough examination" of what you believe. To do this, you cannot simply take a part of a verse here, and another part of a verse there, and then arrive at the truth. This is exactly how most of your doctrines are formed. To come to the truth, we must carefully examine ALL that the Bible has to say on a given subject. I urge you to follow the advice of your leaders, and "make sure of all things, hold fast to what is fine". If what you believe is really "the truth", then it will stand up to a Scriptural investigation, and there will be nothing to fear. You owe it to Jehovah God, and yourself to do that.
