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INTRODUCTION TO BASIC CHRISTIANITY
-- FOR FORMER JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
OVER 200 SHORT CHRISTIAN - BIBLE TOPIC READINGS,
ESPECIALLY SELECTED FOR FORMER "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES",
AUTHORED MOSTLY BY FORMER "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES"
"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (1) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, (2) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (3) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen." -- Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV). Emphasis ours.
ALL later scripture should be interpreted such that it is totally consistent with this "great commission" issued by CHRIST JESUS. No later letter, nor division thereof -- paragraph, chapter, and especially no single verse -- should be interpreted as if such is an encyclopedic treatment of a particular topic, that somehow refines a previous teaching or command of JESUS CHRIST. (A deceased longtime television "Bible teacher" was so ignorant as to proclaim that "Paul's Gospel supersedes John 3:16".)
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Understanding that people in 2021 are busy, and don't have hours to spend searching and reading for something that might not be what they were looking, we have tried to accumulate a small library of 10-30 minute long articles which have been written by Christians, most of whom are former "Jehovah's Witnesses" (both converts and reared-ins), who fully understand what it is like to be a former "Jehovah's Witness" -- both recent and seasoned. These authors are all highly intelligent and/or highly educated. We have judged our article selections based on the content of these articles -- not on any past or present idealogical or denominational affiliations of the author.
We do NOT include articles whose main purpose is to educate non-JWs on the false teachings of the WatchTower Cult, EXCEPT in those instances where even former JWs themselves do not correctly understand some Cult teachings which impacted their past life, and may even be presently retained to some extent. Additionally, the treatment of certain subjects require comparing and contrasting false WatchTower Cult doctrine. Any exceptions to these scenarios were made for reasons made obvious in the content of that article. Few if any of these readings are "XJW testimonials". You can find lots of those elsewhere. Most pages have multiple (2, 3, 4, or more) articles, so if you are just browsing, be sure to tab to the bottom of each page.
We also have attempted to include doctrinal articles from the "middle of the road" -- avoiding both extreme conservative and extreme liberal topics and positions. We have tried to be "selective", but we don't endorse every single thought in every single essay, and neither should our visitors. Take what works for you, and leave what does not. You are no longer part of a CULT. Guided by the Holy Spirit, it is your choice/decision.
Our hope simply is to help former "Jehovah's Witnesses" to understand that LORD JESUS, and His written word, the Holy Bible, are still the answer to all life's problems. We will leave it to the individual and to the Holy Spirit to develop matters further. You can jumpstart the process by getting your Bible and going back and looking up all the Scriptures that you previously skimmed over. There are not a lot of things which we can guarantee in this life, but we can guarantee that spending time in His Word pleases the Holy Spirit and brings His blessing. In fact, if you are not planning to look up the scripture citations in these articles, then turn off your computer, and read your Bible. (We believe there even are added benefits to reading the Bible in an undertone, and to improve even on that -- outloud, with a volume appropriate to the circumstances.)
"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near. -- Revelation 1:3 CSB.
Feel free to drop us an email (below) if you have constructive comments, or if you have the URL to an essay that we should consider adding to our list. We don't provide "personal advice", and neither do we "argue" about "anything". If you don't like a particular essay, then move on to another essay. If you don't like this website, then move on to another website. Life is too short for drama. GOD BLESS YOU!!!
Some Jehovah's Witnesses, who say there is no future physical resurrection of mankind, came to Jesus and questioned Him: "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaves his wife behind, and leaves no child, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. ... In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be, since the seven had married her?" Jesus told the Jehovah's Witnesses, "You are deceived, because you don't understand the Scriptures, nor the power of God. For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Now concerning the dead being raised -- have not you read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him: "'I AM' the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. Jehovah's Witnesses are greatly deceived." -- MARK 12:18-27. (THE REAL WORLD TRANSLATION).
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If you are somewhat "down", and could use a "pick-me-up", and have 70 minutes to listen to an entertaining speaker who does an excellent job of combining christian comedy and personal testimony along with bible study that proves that the Good Shepherd of the New Testament is also the Good Shepherd in the 23rd Psalm, then click HERE, and then click the "start" arrow.
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DOLLARTREE has cheap 5.25" x 7.5"outreach KJV BIBLES for only
Link takes you to DOLLARTREE's bulk order webpage, but most local stores have these in stock.
All of us former door-knockers who spent literally thousands of hours (as well as $$$) distributing literature authored by men should think about now distributing the actual
WORD OF GOD.
Set a goal of passing out 4 or 5 of these Bibles every week/month
to folks waiting in their cars while their spouse shops, visits their doctor, or whatever.
(My local hospital parking lot always has a handful of older males waiting in their cars/trucks.)
Place these Bibles in a gallon-size ziplock baggie, and tell the recipient it is a "Glovebox Bible".
"Read the Bible, instead of listening to your radio, and draining your car's battery."
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Large Group vigorously sings "There Is No God Like Jehovah".
Who are they? Jehovah's Witnesses?
Cut/paste YouTube link for correct answer:
https://youtu.be/6woSL6yC9wA?si=bcGL6fA-7jvxEj8o
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Reading List:
WatchTower Society Compared With George Orwell's 1984 Society
Short Combo Xian XJW Theology-Psychology-Autobiography
Help To Acknowledge and Admit That You Were in a Cult
Understanding How and How Much You Were Deceived By the WatchTower Cult
"Comrade JW, Pass the Pravda ... err WatchTower"
A Balanced View of Disfellowshipping - Shunning
Disfellowshipping: Is It Biblical?
2021 Study On Effects of Disfellowshipping
Have You Been Spiritually Abused?
Jesus Christ Can Be Your Mediator, Too!
You Can Be Declared "Righteous"!
Is The Bible Really God's Word?
The New World Mistranslation Bible
New World Translation Inaccuracies
Scholars Scour New World Translation
Summary of New World Translation Issues
NWT MisUse of "Jehovah" and "Jesus"
The Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ
The False Jesus of the WatchTower
Realities Facing Some New Christians
Your New Life as a Saved Christian
MORE Living as a True Christian
Life as a Born-Again Follower of Christ
Christian New Birth Scriptures
Your Relationship With Jesus Christ
One True Gospel of Grace OR WatchTower Cult's Gospel?
Reconciling Paul and James On Salvation
Prayer is Extremely Important!
Awaiting the Second Coming As Biblically Instructed
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Scriptures Supporting the Diety of Jesus Christ
More Trinity vs. WatchTower Essays
WatchTower Doctrine is Arian Heresy
More Trinity vs. WatchTower Essays
JWs Do Not Understand Nor Properly Use the Name "Jehovah"!
Who is the Alpha and the Omega?
WatchTower Deity Teachings Are "Greek Philosophy"
Early Second Adventism's TRINITY DOCTRINE History
MORE WatchTower vs. Trinity Doctrine Essays
"Holy Spirit" or "Active Force"?
The Personality of the Holy Spirit
"Today, You Will Be With Me in Paradise"
What Did Jesus Reveal About The Afterlife?
"Soul" - "Sheol/Hades/Hell" In Context
Where Do Your Soul-Spirit Go When You Die?
Christian Living Issues and Problems
Who Actually Are "Jehovah's Witnesses"?
Does GOD Only Work Through An "Organization"?
Must Christians Join a Church?
Jesus' Interaction with Jewish Sects Enlightened
Great Example of WatchTower Cult Lies and Hypocrisy
You're Out, But Are You Still in "Cult Denial"?
Reasons the WatchTower Society Is and Will Remain a Cult
Causes of Mental Health Problems Amongst Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses Mental Health
Mental Health Problems of Jehovah's Witnesses
"We are NOT a Cult!!!" - "We are NOT a Cult!!!"
Jehovah's Witnesses and Cognitive Dissonance
The Art & Science of the WatchTower Cult "STING"!
Analysing Escapees From the WatchTower Cult
Witnessing To Jehovah's Witnesses
False WatchTower Cult Teachings
Printable One-Page WatchTower Cult Doctrine Expose
Dangerous False Gospel of the WatchTower Cult
Classic Historical Refutation of WatchTower Cult Doctrines Still Valid
The Slippery Slope of "Tolerance"
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JOHN 6
(THE REAL WORLD TRANSLATION)
Jesus said, "Tell the people to recline," since there was plenty of grass in that place. The men who reclined numbered about 5000. Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks, He distributed them to those reclining. Jesus did likewise with the fish, as much as the people wanted. ...
Having observed the signs that Jesus had performed, the people began to say, "This really is the Prophet foretold to come into the world!" When Jesus understood that the people were about to come and forcibly take Him and make Him their King, He slipped away by Himself and hid in the mountain.
When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It became dark, but Jesus was nowhere in sight. A strong wind arose, and the sea began to churn. After they had rowed about three or four miles, they beheld Jesus walking on the sea. As He neared their boat, they became frightened.
So, Jesus yelled to them, "I AM. Do not be frightened!" Only then did they welcome Him on board. Immediately, the boat arrived at its destination. ...
Jesus said to them, "Listen carefully to what I AM saying to you. Moses did not give you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the real bread from heaven. The Bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." ...
"I AM the Bread of life," Jesus told them. "No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again. Just as I told you, you have seen Me, but you do not believe. All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never reject. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me, but should resurrect them up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will resurrect him on the last day."
Therefore the Jews started murmuring about Him because He said, "I AM the bread that came down from heaven." They were saying, "Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is He now saying, 'I have come down from heaven'?"
Jesus answered them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will resurrect on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: And they will all be taught by God. Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father comes to Me -- not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God. He has seen the Father.
"Listen carefully to what I AM saying to you. He who believes has eternal life. I AM the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. I AM the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.
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JESUS "TEACHES" THE PHARISEES "HE IS" "I AM" (YHWH).
JOHN 8:12-59
(THE REAL WORLD TRANSLATION)
Then, Jesus spoke to the crowd: "I AM the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
So the Pharisees said to Him, "You are testifying about Yourself; thus Your testimony is not valid." Jesus answered, "Even though I AM testifying about Myself, My testimony is valid, because I know from where I AM coming and where I AM going. You don't know from where I AM coming or where I AM going. You are reckoning according to human standards, although I AM not now judging others. When I AM judging others, My judgment will be valid, because I AM not alone, but my Father who sent me and I AM judging together. It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is valid. I AM testifying about Myself, and my Father who sent Me testifies about Me."
Then they asked Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me, nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would also know My Father." Even though He publicly taught these things in the Temple treasury, He was not arrested, because His hour had not yet come.
He said to them again, "I AM going away. You will look for Me, but you will die in your sins. Where I AM going, you cannot come." The Jews said again, "Will He kill Himself, since He says, 'Where I AM going, you cannot come?'" He answered them, "You are from below. I AM from above. You are of this world. I AM not of this world. Thus, I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."
Then they said to Him, "You, who are You?" Jesus answered, "I AM telling you about the very beginning. I AM having many things to decide whether to tell you. The One who sent Me is Truth. What I heard while alongside Him, I AM telling the world." They did not understand that He was speaking to them about His Father.
Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I AM doing nothing of My own accord. I AM speaking to you only what My Father taught Me. The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone. I AM always doing His will.
As He was speaking these things, many professed to believe in Him. So, Jesus said to the Jews who professed to believe in Him, "If you remain in My word, you really are My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
They answered Him, "We are children of Abraham, and we have never been enslaved to anyone. Why do You say, 'You will become free?'" Jesus responded, "Listen closely to what I AM telling you. Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son remains forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. I know that you are children of Abraham, but you are trying to kill Me because you do not accept My word. I AM speaking what I heard while I was alongside My Father, just as you are doing what you heard while alongside your father."
"Our father is Abraham!" they responded. Jesus told them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works done by Abraham. But, you are trying to kill Me -- a man who has told you the Truth which I heard while I was alongside God. Abraham would never have done such as you do. You are doing the works of your father.
They replied, "We are not the children of multiple fathers. God is our one and only Father. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I AM here because I came from God. I did not come of My own accord, but He sent Me. You do not understand what I say because you do not listen to My word. You are from your father the Devil, and you are more than willing to carry out your father's desires. He was a manslayer from the very beginning. He has not stood in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his inner self, because he is a liar and the father of the lie. Yet, when I AM telling you the truth, you do not believe Me. Who among you can accuse Me of sin? When I AM speaking the truth, why do you not believe Me? The one who is from God understands God's words. That is why you don't understand me, because you are not from God."
The Jews responded to Him, "Are not we correct when we say that you are a Samaritan, and that you are hosting a demon?" Jesus answered. "I AM not hosting a demon. I AM honoring My Father, while you are dishonoring Me. I AM not seeking glory for Myself, but for the One who deserves it, and judges. Listen closely to what I AM telling you. If anyone observes My word, he will never experience death at any time." Then the Jews said, "Now we know you are hosting a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets. You say, 'If anyone observes my word, he will never taste death at any time.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Even the prophets died. Who are you making yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If ever I glorified Myself, such glory would be nothing. It is My Father Who glorifies Me -- the One whom you claim to be your God, but you have never known Him. I know Him. If I were to say I have not known Him, I would be a liar like you. But I have known Him, and I AM observing His word. Your father Abraham was exulted to see My day. He saw it, and rejoiced."
The Jews replied, "You are not even 50 years old, and you have seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Listen closely to what I AM telling you. Before Abraham was, I AM." At that, they gathered stones to stone Him. But Jesus hid, and slipped out of the temple complex.
JOHN 10:22-39
(THE REAL WORLD TRANSLATION)
In the winter, the Festival of Dedication was being held in Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in the temple when the Jews surrounded Him in Solomon's Colonnade, and demanded, "How much longer are You going to keep us guessing? If You are the Messiah, just say so."
Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you are not believing me. The works that I AM doing in My Father's name are testifying about Me, but you are not believing me because you are not part of My sheep. I AM knowing My sheep, because they are hearing My voice, and they are following Me. I AM giving eternal life to them, and they will never perish during all eternity. Noone will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. Noone is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. The Father and I AM one." Once again, the Jews gathered rocks to stone Him.
Jesus responded, "You have seen me doing many fine works of the Father. For which work are you stoning Me?" The Jews answered, "We are not stoning You for any fine work, but for blasphemy, because You, although being a man, You are making Yourself God."
Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? (Psalm 82:6) If God called 'gods' those to whom His word was there being directed, and that Scripture cannot be erased, why do you say to the One whom the Father sanctified and sent forth into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I AM the Son of God'? If I AM not doing the works of My Father, then don't believe Me. But if I AM doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in Me and that I AM in the Father." Once again, they were trying to seize Him, but He slipped through their hands.
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The chief priests and Pharisees formed a posse of temple officials and soldiers carrying lamps, torches, and weapons, and Judas led them [to the garden]. Knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, Jesus went out and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" "Jesus the Nazarene", the posse answered. "I AM", Jesus responded. Standing with the posse was Judas, whom had led them to Him. When Jesus proclaimed, "I AM," the posse retreated and fell to the ground. Jesus again asked them, "Whom do you seek?" "Jesus the Nazarene," they said. "I told you, I AM," Jesus replied. "So, if you are looking for Me, then let these men go." This He said to fulfill His words: "I have not lost one whom You have given to Me." -- JOHN 18:3-8 (TRWT).
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