The Witnesses are around the neighborhood. I invited one of them in and accepted their reading materials. We had a nice discussion and she wants to come back next week.
She told me they are totally anti-war, and they refuse to vote for anyone. They don't take stock in any human being because they are going to die along with their ideals, they just promote God's Kingdom. I told her that I thought doing nothing isn't helping anyone.
I am SO out of practice with my apologetics. Anyone have any suggestions of books, CDs or websites I can go to so I will be prepared next week?
4 comments:
Beth,
I found this online. It's from a non-Catholic site and had some ridiculous and (I'm sure) anti-Catholic stuff (Catholicism was on the sidebar with JW and Mormonism) but I thought this was good:
There is nothing in the Bible to keep us from being politically active or saluting our flag. In fact, the Bible commands us to have respect and reverence for the government because it is an authority that God has allowed to be placed over us (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2:13-14)
After breaking out the Bible, I would particularly refer them to Romans 13:7 "Render therefore TO ALL MEN their dues. Tribute to whom tribute is due: custom, to whom custom: fear, to whom fear: honour to whom honour."
(Douay-Rheims)
Peter 2:13
"Be ye subject therefore to EVERY HUMAN CREATURE FOR GOD'S SAKE: whether it be to the king as excelling, or to the governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of the good."
Remember, many JWs are baptized Catholics who have been lied to. We should have the utmost pity and compassion for them, which you obviously do, as you have in your charity offered to speak with them. A sound understanding of Catholic theology can bring many of them back home.
Here is a Catholic site which may be of use:
http://www.cwo.com/~pentrack/catholic/
apolo.html#Jehova%20Witnesses
Here's another:
http://www.newadvent.org/library/
almanac_thisrock92.htm
Let us know how it goes!
Perhaps you could approach this by challenging the source of the JW's authority to interpret scripture.
Check out this website:
http://www.carm.org/jw/history.htm
It too is probably not very Catholic friendly, but this site points out that it all comes down to a single guy named Charles Taze Russell from the late 1800s - and his personal interpretations of the Bible. Point out how long the Catholic CHurch has been around. (since Christ! * I would have just a few quotes on hand from early Church Fathers discussing the role of Bishops- starting from the first century.)
Note that JW's deny the existence of the Trinity. You might want to review the first few verses of John. "In the beginning was the Word... and the Word was God.. and the Word became flesh.." I don't recall exact chapter and verse off hand but you can easily find it).
Anyways, I would always come back to the issue of authority with these people. Essentially they believe their scriptural interpretations because they came from someone claiming to have special revelation into scripture. But anyone can claim that. (example: 40,000 plus protestant denominations all offering different explanations on essentials).
Ask them how they know theirs is the right interpretation? Did the founder of the their sect have special favor from God? The Mormons also claim such favor. Only the Catholic church can trace her roots back to Christ himself in his exchange with Peter.
I think this is a great opportunity and I commend you for your courage.
Be sure to be prayed up - and trust the Holy Spirit to give you words.
oh yeah one more link:
http://www.carm.org/witnesses.htm
How about Catholic Answers website? I also a book I carry in my purse called Catholic Pocket Evangelist and there is also a full sized version. It lists our beliefs and biblical back ups.
Oh I hope you can get some good arguments in there! God bless!
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