JWs and My Mom

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ChristIsTheWay

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Hey everyone. I found out a few days ago that my mom has invited JWs to our home. I know how to handle discussions with JWs but my mom is what concerns me. I try to tell her that what they teach isn’t Christianity. She responds that we wouldn’t should judge other people’s beliefs and they are just “doing the Lord’s work.”

So, I need some help. How can I show my mom that these people are not Christian, it is okay to make that judgment, and that they are not doing the work Christ called us to do?

My mom is not Catholic. I converted, along with my sister, a few years ago. I have been teaching Mom some basics about the Church and she has attended mass with me on occasion. She has expressed interest in learning more and I believe, provided she does not get sidetracked, she might even convert one day. I can only pray.

So, please help me out. My mom’s background as a Protestant would probably make her quite receptive to verses of Scripture regarding this issue. Thanks.
 
If you truly know how to handle their presentation, ask your mom if you can be at the next study.

And yes, it is perfectly acceptable to judge another person’s beliefs.

If I had a friend who believed that God was telling him to kill all red heads, would I be judgemental to try to show him the truth of Christianity.

The only thing we are not to judge is whether or not another person has achieved salvation or damnation.
 
ChristIsTheWay said:
Hey everyone. I found out a few days ago that my mom has invited JWs to our home. I know how to handle discussions with JWs but my mom is what concerns me. I try to tell her that what they teach isn’t Christianity. She responds that we wouldn’t should judge other people’s beliefs and they are just “doing the Lord’s work.”
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Boy did this jump out at me.

Your mother is judging other people’s beliefs. She is judging that they are “doing the Lord’s work.”

How does she know they are “doing the Lord’s work”? How can she possibly know that without making some kind of judgment?
 
Kay_Cee said:
Boy did this jump out at me.

Your mother is judging other people’s beliefs. She is judging that they are “doing the Lord’s work.”

How does she know they are “doing the Lord’s work”? How can she possibly know that without making some kind of judgment?
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Thats not judging. If that was judging, then you would be guily of judging in your post…now I’m guilty of judging you. :confused:

I think what the OP meant by judging is the negative version ie accusing others hypocritically, or without enough information etc.

Btw ChristIsTheWay, I recommend you stay with your mum throughout their “visit”.
 
MH84 said:
Thats not judging. If that was judging, then you would be guily of judging in your post…now I’m guilty of judging you. :confused:

I think what the OP meant by judging is the negative version ie accusing others hypocritically, or without enough information etc.

Btw ChristIsTheWay, I recommend you stay with your mum throughout their “visit”.
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Excuse me, but that is judging. Judging works both ways: negatively and positively. She’s judging that they are “doing the Lord’s work.” She’s judging that that statement is accurate. This predisposes her to listen to them as if they are speaking for the Lord (which they are not necessarily doing!) That being the case, the OP needs to point that out to her or else she may by inclined to accept whatever they say.

I agree, however, that the OP should absolutely be there during the visit.
 
Not intendingt his at all to be spam in ANY way, but first you need to be ready to teach the JW’s and your mother…

“Where did the Bible come from?”

I suggest this video

youtube.com/watch?v=P7dHo52SxpM

Then you may want to look at getting the DVD set, I did and trust me, this is VERY important to understand where “protestants” came from, including JW’s.

They translated what Martin Luther translated, which was already skewed, they the have a double skewed bible.

Here is another video that is very good

youtube.com/watch?v=KpogtkWabTk
 
Along with the apologetics resources others have offered you, consider this…

The only family members of mine that I know of who (temporarily) converted to JW told me they did not do so because of theological reasons. They said that at the time they were looking for a way to find out more about the Bible – something they did not find, apparently, in their local Catholic parish. Along came these nice people who came to her, seemed knowledgable, and offered to share the Bible with them. That was what got them hooked. And this may be what your mom is looking for too.

If this is the case, and if you want to help your mom avoid being trapped in the Watchtower, you need to give her some alternatives. Hook her up with a solid and friendly local Catholic Bible study, and make sure she has a way to get there. If there isn’t one in the area, start one.

Sometimes it isn’t just enough to identify the counterfeit – you have to give them the real thing.
 
Thanks everyone for the great advice. I will definitely stay with my mom during their conversion pitch. I found the following verses of Scripture that might help her to understand that it is okay to judge these people’s beliefs: Matthew 7:15, 21; Mark 13:6, 21-22; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

One of the biggest problems is that my mom is sick and often can not leave the house. So, these door-to-door missionaries easily play on that. They come straight to the house, usually without asking. I found it is difficult to make similar arrangements at my parish. I’ve tried before and not much has come of it.
 
I thought I would provide an update. One of the JWs came back today. I sat in on her meeting with my mom. She started off on some relatively basic stuff, like the problem of evil. At first she didn’t say anything that was unusual, then she got into the idea of Christ being created and so on. I really think she was surprised to find a Biblically literate Catholic. I found it a rather easy task to deal with her presentation. And now, thankfully, mother understands what I was trying to tell her about JW beliefs.

Okay, question. Should we invite her back and continue to present her with the real truth or should we politely ask not to be bothered again? She left mom with a copy of the study guide she is using for her sales pitch, so I can easily prepare my own response in advance. Suggestions?
 
ChristIsTheWay said:
I thought I would provide an update. One of the JWs came back today. I sat in on her meeting with my mom. She started off on some relatively basic stuff, like the problem of evil. At first she didn’t say anything that was unusual, then she got into the idea of Christ being created and so on. I really think she was surprised to find a Biblically literate Catholic. I found it a rather easy task to deal with her presentation. And now, thankfully, mother understands what I was trying to tell her about JW beliefs.

Okay, question. Should we invite her back and continue to present her with the real truth or should we politely ask not to be bothered again? She left mom with a copy of the study guide she is using for her sales pitch, so I can easily prepare my own response in advance. Suggestions?
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IMO, ask not to be bothered again. JW’s are very aware of what is going on with their people, and the odds of you converting one of them is low. It’s probably better to let your mother gain a more firm foothold in her faith and beliefs before attempting to convert them. I’ve had my share of JW’s and have attempted to present the truth to them, and they are tough. They have much support from each other and are tight-knit, and frankly I’m surprised that one of them came to you alone. They usually work in pairs. One lady made arrangements with me to come back on the bargain that I was allowed to present my beliefs and discuss Scripture with her. She seemed like a fairly new JW. She never showed up and I believe her partner had something to do with that.

Perhaps you and your Mom could study the Bible together. Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch are publishing a very good Bible Study called the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. They come in booklet form, as they are publishing the commentaries as they are finished. They have a good deal of the NT published. My friends and I are studying the book of Matthew now, and have completed Acts. We have found them very helpful for home study. Just a suggestion.

Anyway, all of this is just my opinion. I’m sure others will give you theirs.
 
CB_Catholic said:
Perhaps you and your Mom could study the Bible together. Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch are publishing a very good Bible Study called the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. They come in booklet form, as they are publishing the commentaries as they are finished. They have a good deal of the NT published. My friends and I are studying the book of Matthew now, and have completed Acts. We have found them very helpful for home study. Just a suggestion.

Anyway, all of this is just my opinion. I’m sure others will give you theirs.
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This was my suggestion above, as well. You’ve already accomplished the major task of showing your Mom the JW errors. Now you need to follow through and feed her hunger for God’s Word. If no one from your parish can do it, you sound very well qualified to do it.

For more suggestions, please visit my humble website, linked below.
 
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