Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses
How should we respond to Jehovah's Witnesses who come to our door? I know just a tiny bit about them, but of course I don't want to argue with them. What can I say?
You want to respond by speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) to people who need to hear the truths of God’s law and God’s gospel.
You have the right attitude in that you do not want to argue with them. You don’t want to be rude to them or slam the door shut on them either. Jehovah’s Witnesses are told that they can expect persecution for their beliefs. Any rude behavior they encounter only reinforces their conviction that they have right beliefs.
You can simply confess your faith: that Jesus Christ is the God-Man who lived perfectly in your place, and suffered and died to endure the punishment your sins deserved. Jesus’ physical resurrection from the dead is proof positive that God the Father accepted Jesus’ life and death as the full payment for your sins (Romans 4:25). Through faith in Jesus, you can be confident that that you are at peace with God (Romans 5:1) and that you will be in God’s presence in heaven forever (Psalm 23:6).
Don’t expect the visitors at your door to automatically agree with you, but you have planted the seed and shared the truth of God’s word with them. If you have time and want to engage Jehovah’s Witnesses in conversation, you will want to get them off their talking points. Ask them what they are doing to enjoy God’s forgiveness. When they point to their deeds, show them the demands of God’s law. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Share what God says in his word, that there is no salvation through people’s efforts to keep his law (Romans 3:20).
Then, direct your visitors to Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God (Matthew 26:63-64; John 8:58). Point them to Jesus’ perfect life (Romans 10:4) and sacrificial death (Ephesians 1:7) as the only means by which God has forgiven the sins of people.
If you find yourself hosting Jehovah’s Witnesses regularly at your home, you might benefit from a resource like this from Northwestern Publishing House. God bless your efforts!