Invited to Attend Easter Services

[Sufjon]

Hi Everyone: As those of you who know me are aware, I have attended services with many different Christian denominations as well as non-Christian religions. As you know, I am myself a non-Christian. Anyway, some Jehovah’s Witnesses came by my house yesterday and invited me to attend Easter services at their new church which is nearby. I think I might attend, so I thought I might ask what I can expect, and ask if there are any special protocols I need to observe as a respectful visitor.

Thanks,
You friend,
Sufjon

 

[Catholic90]

Well, JWs don’t celebrate holidays, including Easter, so I think they are probably trying to PREVENT you from celebrating Easter by having you in their clutches…

 

[LoyalViews]

I don’t think you should. They start by coming to your door, then if you go to their services, they see this as automatic acceptance of their beliefs. Then, afterwards they will try to get you to join their group. No, I wouldn’t go. I don’t know if these means anything to you, but they deny the divinity of Our Lord and Saviour!

 

[Catholic1954]

I have no idea what the service will be like, however, I think you can expect the JW’s to conduct an agressive conversion campaign for the next several weeks.

 

[pablope]

Hi Everyone: As those of you who know me are aware, I have attended services with many different Christian denominations as well as non-Christian religions. As you know, I am myself a non-Christian. Anyway, some Jehovah’s Witnesses came by my house yesterday and invited me to attend Easter services at their new church which is nearby. I think I might attend, so I thought I might ask what I can expect, and ask if there are any special protocols I need to observe as a respectful visitor.

Thanks,
You friend,
Sufjon

Hi, Sufjon,

You may find this thread helpful about what the jws celebrate:forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=551572

My advise is no. I would politely decline, if it was me. The JWs would see you as a potential convert.

My suggestion is to attend a Catholic service in your area. The Easter Vigil is quite a long servce though, and there would be Catechumens being received into the Church as well.

If you do decide to go, please immerse yourself first in what JWs believe. It is quite different.

 

[Juliebug108]

I have no idea what the service will be like, however, I think you can expect the JW’s to conduct an agressive conversion campaign for the next several weeks.

I totally agree with this statement! LOL

I’d stay FAR away from the JWs… Especially if you are trying to learn about Christianity. They do not accept the Holy Trinity (and with that, they deny that Jesus is Lord). Many Christians regard JW teachings as total heresy…and some regard them as being a cult.

Seeing as they do not celebrate Easter, I agree with the previous poster who said it’s probably an attempt to keep you from celebrating. I would not go. Not only is what they teach a blatant load of lies and distortion of the Gospel, but they can be quite relentless with their attempt to convert people.

Peace and blessings,
Julie

 

[Sufjon]

I totally agree with this statement! LOL

I’d stay FAR away from the JWs… Especially if you are trying to learn about Christianity. They do not accept the Holy Trinity (and with that, they deny that Jesus is Lord). Many Christians regard JW teachings as total heresy…and some regard them as being a cult.

Seeing as they do not celebrate Easter, I agree with the previous poster who said it’s probably an attempt to keep you from celebrating. I would not go. Not only is what they teach a blatant load of lies and distortion of the Gospel, but they can be quite relentless with their attempt to convert people.

Peace and blessings,
Julie

Looks like the error was mine and not theirs. Maybe I misunderstood them. The pamphlet they left me is for a service on April 17th, and it says they will be commemorating Jesus’ death. I could have sworn they were talking about Easter. My mistake. But I might go anyway.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[yellowbird]

Looks like the error was mine and not theirs. Maybe I misunderstood them. The pamphlet they left me is for a service on April 17th, and it says they will be commemorating Jesus’ death. I could have sworn they were talking about Easter. My mistake. But I might go anyway.

Your friend
Sufjon

Hi Sufjon,
I was invited to such an event when I was 16 by a boy I liked at school. I went, and found the people so welcoming and kind. I agreed to a “Bible study” which I was very excited about because I knew nothing of the Bible and was very curious about religion in general. I was baptized as a JW and I remained very active until my mid-twenties. I have fond memories of my “brothers & sisters” at the Kingdom Hall, and the fun times we had together.

My biggest regret though is that NOTHING they taught me was true. Nothing. And it’s taken a long time and a lot of study to get all of those lies out of my brain. I so wish I wouldn’t have gone when I was invited.

I don’t understand how anyone becomes a JW today. I did so at a time prior to the internet. Today, anyone can goggle their history… and see that it’s been a train wreck of one false prophecy after another. The Bible tells us to flee from false prophets… don’t even listen to them because they don’t speak in His name. JWs claim to be “Jehovah’s mouthpiece” yet they’ve never once gotten it right. Why anyone would want ot join a group that has such a bad track record is beyond me. I guess like me, they get sucked in because the people are “nice.”

“Nice” doesn’t make them right though.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi Everyone: As those of you who know me are aware, I have attended services with many different Christian denominations as well as non-Christian religions. As you know, I am myself a non-Christian. Anyway, some Jehovah’s Witnesses came by my house yesterday and invited me to attend Easter services at their new church which is nearby. I think I might attend, so I thought I might ask what I can expect, and ask if there are any special protocols I need to observe as a respectful visitor.

Thanks,
You friend,
Sufjon

since they do not believe that Jesus Christ is God, nor that he did all he the gospels record about him, including the resurrection, that would be an utter waste of time, and for a Catholic, possibly a sacrilege.

If you once attend their worship they think they have converted you and will be relentless in their attacks on you.

Unless you are very well versed in your own Catholic faith, particularly on points that JWs attack, do not even try to engage them in debate.

It goes without saying you must attend Mass at the Easter Vigil or on Easter Sunday in any case.

 

[yellowbird]

since they do not believe that Jesus Christ is God, nor that he did all he the gospels record about him, including the resurrection, that would be an utter waste of time, and for a Catholic, possibly a sacrilege.

If you once attend their worship they think they have converted you and will be relentless in their attacks on you.

Unless you are very well versed in your own Catholic faith, particularly on points that JWs attack, do not even try to engage them in debate.

It goes without saying you must attend Mass at the Easter Vigil or on Easter Sunday in any case.

The OP not Catholic. I believe she identifies herself as a non-Christian, who is learning about Christianity.

 

[T_More]

Hi Everyone: As those of you who know me are aware, I have attended services with many different Christian denominations as well as non-Christian religions. As you know, I am myself a non-Christian. Anyway, some Jehovah’s Witnesses came by my house yesterday and invited me to attend Easter services at their new church which is nearby. I think I might attend, so I thought I might ask what I can expect, and ask if there are any special protocols I need to observe as a respectful visitor.

Thanks,
You friend,
Sufjon

Sufjon, I noticed that you identify yourself as “Learning about Christianity”. I was a JW for 25 years. Going here is the last place you want to go to accomplish this task. Almost everything they teach hardly resembles what early Christianity believed. And unless you want them constantly coming to your home because you showed a modicum of interest by attending, don’t bother.

 

[jlmagee]

I have no idea what the service will be like, however, I think you can expect the JW’s to conduct an agressive conversion campaign for the next several weeks.

This is my experience with this time of year for the Jehovah’s Witness. The big push at this time is traditionally many people who do not go to weekly services go to Easter services.

To the OP, you list your religion as “Learning about Christianity”. JW teching goes against the common teachings that many of the posters (Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical)on this forum hold to such as the Deity of Christ, Bodily Resurrection, etc. Actually, they (JW) fight tooth and nail about the “death of Jesus”.

In my opinion, if you are trying to learn about Christianity, I would not attend JW service. Posters may have disagreements about many doctrines, but you see unity on His Deity, Death on the cross, and Bodily Resurrection.

If you want to learn about Christianity, JW is not the way to do it.

 

[Publisher]

This is my experience with this time of year for the Jehovah’s Witness. The big push at this time is traditionally many people who do not go to weekly services go to Easter services.

To the OP, you list your religion as “Learning about Christianity”. JW teching goes against the common teachings that many of the posters (Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical)on this forum hold to such as the Deity of Christ, Bodily Resurrection, etc. Actually, they (JW) fight tooth and nail about the “death of Jesus”. **They teach no physical death since he only had a spirit body. **In my opinion, if you are trying to learn about Christianity, I would not attend JW service. Posters may have disagreements about many doctrines, but you see unity on His Deity, Death on the cross, and Bodily Resurrection.

If you want to learn about Christianity, JW is not the way to do it.

Actually this is not true…JW’s believe that man is a living soul…not an immortal soul…the “spirit” does not live on after death…but is totally unaware.

At the Last Day the dead will be raised and judged…those found worthy will receive eternal life here on a glorified Earth…those that do not will be annialated…“un-created” and cease to exist.

Jesus died and was “raised a life giving spirit” as stated in 1 Corinthians…they DO deny the bodily resurrection of Christ.

 

[CB_Catholic]

Looks like the error was mine and not theirs. Maybe I misunderstood them. The pamphlet they left me is for a service on April 17th, and it says they will be commemorating Jesus’ death. I could have sworn they were talking about Easter. My mistake. But I might go anyway.

Your friend
Sufjon

The big clue there is that Easter is NOT on April 17 this year. It is on April 24. This is not an Easter service. They came to my door the other day and immediately tried to approach me using Easter as their draw. Since they do NOT believe that Jesus is God, they can’t possibly be celebrating Easter, which is a CHRISTIAN holy day. They also will do this around Christmas.

My concern for you is that you want to learn about Christianity, even if only in an intellectual sense, and this group does not teach true Christianity. However, they use half-truths to draw Christians and others into their belief system and are not up front about their activities and beliefs. That is intellectually dishonest–and if you are seeker, why would you want to seek through people who use such tactics? Also, they are very aggressive prosetylizers to those who show an inkling of interest. My husband once gave them a quarter for their magazine, The Watchtower, just to get rid of them and he became a target. They kept coming back to talk to him, and I had to get very abrasive with them before they quit coming around. He was too nice. I hated that I had to resort to being abrasive, but that is the only way they quit coming.

And they are very controlling once they have you. They control just about everything in your life, including family relationships. They bear all the hallmarks of a cult.

 

[jlmagee]

Actually this is not true…JW’s believe that man is a living soul…not an immortal soul…the “spirit” does not live on after death…but is totally unaware.

At the Last Day the dead will be raised and judged…those found worthy will receive eternal life here on a glorified Earth…those that do not will be annialated…“un-created” and cease to exist.

Jesus died and was “raised a life giving spirit” as stated in 1 Corinthians…they DO deny the bodily resurrection of Christ.

You are correct, I was once involved with a three way discussion and the spirit body came up by a third party not the JW. I have removed that line thank you for pointing out my error a s I try to utilize accuracy.

 

[Publisher]

The big clue there is that Easter is NOT on April 17 this year. It is on April 24. This is not an Easter service. They came to my door the other day and immediately tried to approach me using Easter as their draw. **Since they do NOT believe that Jesus is God, they can’t possibly be celebrating Easter, which is a CHRISTIAN holy day. They also will do this around Christmas.**My concern for you is that you want to learn about Christianity, even if only in an intellectual sense, and this group does not teach true Christianity. However, they use half-truths to draw Christians and others into their belief system and are not up front about their activities and beliefs. That is intellectually dishonest–and if you are seeker, why would you want to seek through people who use such tactics? Also, they are very aggressive prosetylizers to those who show an inkling of interest. My husband once gave them a quarter for their magazine, The Watchtower, just to get rid of them and he became a target. They kept coming back to talk to him, and I had to get very abrasive with them before they quit coming around. He was too nice. I hated that I had to resort to being abrasive, but that is the only way they quit coming.

And they are very controlling once they have you. They control just about everything in your life, including family relationships. They bear all the hallmarks of a cult.

The resurrection has nothing to do with Jesus’ divinity…JW’s do believe in the resurrection…just not a bodily resurrection. They do not celebrate Easter or Christmas not because they deny the divinity of Christ…but because these days have “roots” in pagan religious practice. Easter is also a celebration of spring…and the “trappings” of bunnies, eggs and the like hail to goddess worship of some fertility cults…same with Christmas…it coincides with the Saturnailia…“Santa” as a jolly old elf, Xmas trees, presents all have been adopted from paganism…the holy days of the Old Religions have been “Christianized” into the New Religion and now given “Christian” meanings.

If a witness is to be presented about other faith traditions…it would serve us well to “get it right” when discussing what other’s believe.

 

[3DOCTORS]

The JW’s must have some big campaign going on because they came around my neighborhood which they don’t often do and left a flyer inviting me to the service like was described above.

I wasn’t sure who it was but I didn’t open my door, just told them to stick the flyer in the door handle. Figured that was charitable and left my options open.

My hunch is like those already posted, that if you accept this invitation be prepared for them to really put pressure on you to join.

 

[Sufjon]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. The JW folks used to come by my house all the time but they had stopped coming for a few years. The was the first I had seen of them for a while. While I understand that they don’t represent mainstream Christianity, I do have to say that they are about the only denomination I haven’t attended services with, which is why I was considering it. I actually joined a Christian church for a number of years, because my wife’s religion seemed to require it for me to marry her. We raised our children in her faith, went to services every week, taught religious education, and such. Once my kids were raised I looked back and I thought to myself “my that was interesting.” I can’t say that I really got my head around it. I went back to my own faith, but I still have a keen interest in it because my faith can easily incorporate Christian beliefs, and for many it does. So I thought I’d check out the JW folks and learn something about them. The best way is to go there and get the feel. As you all have said, they might try to convert me, but I’m pretty hard to move.

Thanks again - I really do appreciate the warnings. At least I’ll be well advised on what to look for.

Your friend
Sufjon

 

[yellowbird]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. The JW folks used to come by my house all the time but they had stopped coming for a few years. The was the first I had seen of them for a while. While I understand that they don’t represent mainstream Christianity, I do have to say that they are about the only denomination I haven’t attended services with, which is why I was considering it. I actually joined a Christian church for a number of years, because my wife’s religion seemed to require it for me to marry her. We raised our children in her faith, went to services every week, taught religious education, and such. Once my kids were raised I looked back and I thought to myself “my that was interesting.” I can’t say that I really got my head around it. I went back to my own faith, but I still have a keen interest in it because my faith can easily incorporate Christian beliefs, and for many it does. So I thought I’d check out the JW folks and learn something about them. The best way is to go there and get the feel. As you all have said, they might try to convert me, but I’m pretty hard to move.

Thanks again - I really do appreciate the warnings. At least I’ll be well advised on what to look for.

Your friend
Sufjon

If you attend, I’d be very curious to hear what you thought of their service.

 

[Sufjon]

If you attend, I’d be very curious to hear what you thought of their service.

Hi Yellowbird - if I do, I’ll let you know. I’ve heard so many things about them on so many posts on this website, I have to say I’m quite intrigued.

Your friend
Sufjon