Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Really Christians?

Do you really want to know the answer to this question because you are concerned for their salvation. Or, do you just want another excuse to criticize and condemn another religion based on faith, Biblical teaching, and sharing the love of YHWH (Yaweh or Jehovah) door to door? Let’s look at the facts here. Meriam-Webster define a Christian as one who follows the teachings of Christ, or a member of a church that started from the disciples of Christ. Wikipedia has a similar definition, stating one who adheres to a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Bible defines the disciples as Christians in Acts 11:26. So who then can truthfully call themselves Christians and does it matter what religion you belong to?

There is absolutely no religion out there that could truthfully profess to be Christians in entirety. Why? Because Jesus the Christ came to Earth to expose the errors of religion and set the world strait. Religion had become a strict set of laws and regulations to follow, instead of an intimate relationship with the Creator and Father of all humanity.

If you have a Bible, open it to Luke chapter 11. In verse 52, Jesus says, “How terrible it will be for you experts of religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.” Further more, in Matthew 5:20 Jesus says, “But I warn you–unless you obey God better than the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do, you can’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all!”

Over and over throughout Jesus ministry on earth, he broke the religious laws. He ate with the tax collectors. He spoke to an adulteress Gentile, and even offered her water. He healed on the Sabbath. Did he care that he broke these laws? Did his rebellious behavior disprove who he really is? Or was he trying to show us how far off we were from the truth?

Well, if religion doesn’t make you a Christian, what does? Jesus spoke on this through Luke in Chapter 12 verse 8, “And I assure you of this: If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on Earth, I, the Son of Man, will openly acknowledge that person in the presence of God’s angels.” So, if I say I believe in Jesus, is that enough? A true Christian knows the answer is no. I must follow him, and remain connected to him. John 15:1-4, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.”

So back to the question at hand. Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Christians? No. Neither are Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, or Lutherans. Will I be struck down for making this claim? I don’t think so, Jesus said so himself. He said the only way to tell for sure, if a person belongs to him, is by their fruit, not their name.

Well then, can a person who claims to be part of any religion be a Christian? Jesus also told us to connect with others who believe, he told us to pray together, and worship together. So the answer is yes. But the building in which you meet does not make you a true Christian. It’s what’s in your heart, on your lips, and at the work of your hands that defines you.