First Visit to a Kingdom Hall

After participating in an ordinary New St. Ordo Mass that lacked salvific elements, my husband and I decided to check out another church in Nevada. It was, perhaps, one of the least understood Christian denominations, especially among Latter-day Saints and Seventh-day Adventists.

This was our first visit to a Jehovah’s Witness church.

One woman we spoke with shared her perspective: “Personally, I don’t want to go to heaven. I’d prefer to stay on earth when I’m resurrected. Animals, trees, and plants? Not for me. And I don’t want to dominate anyone else.”

We strolled for about 40 minutes to reach the Kingdom Hall, and even though we arrived two minutes late and the congregation was already singing, we received a warm welcome. The atmosphere was a bit bland, but it felt good to tick this off my bucket list.

Visiting the Kingdom Hall had been on my list for years. Jehovah’s Witnesses were among the last groups to reopen after the pandemic, conducting online meetings for nearly two and a half years until the summer of 2022. Many churches remained closed for another year, with most still offering a mix of Zoom and in-person services for those at higher health risks.

Inside the Kingdom Hall

For many, the interior of the meeting hall might remind them of conservative Protestant churches. Most women wore skirts or business attire, while men were in full suits. The gray carpet and plain walls, decorated with a few flower pictures, contributed to a simple, no-frills environment—there were even no windows.

Rows of theater-style chairs faced the pulpit. There are no ordained clergy in the Jehovah’s Witnesses; anyone baptized is eligible to teach from the Bible. During our visit, a guest speaker from Idaho, sharply dressed in a tailored suit and bright red tie, delivered a message similar to a Protestant pastor, referencing various Bible verses to bolster his points. Notably absent was the American flag—Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t participate in voting and do not reject self-defense but identify as conscientious objectors when drafted. They refer to the scripture that those who “live by the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

The Sermon

The sermon, titled “Does true religion from God’s perspective actually exist?” began with some statistics: out of 45,000 denominations, 85% of people identify as religious and 31% as Christian, with a new denomination forming roughly every 2.2 days. The speaker posed the question, “But how does Jehovah want to be worshiped?”

He cited passages from Mark and James, quoting Solomon as saying, “True religion is the fear of God and the keeping of his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). More scripture followed, emphasizing that genuine faith should align closely with behavior, much like a well-tailored suit rather than a mismatched ensemble.

He criticized many Christian denominations for allegedly justifying slavery to Christianize pagan souls in the name of God’s Kingdom, asserting that Jehovah’s Witnesses have never supported such beliefs. He did not mention that slavery had been abolished by the time the topic came up. He cautioned against fatalism, ancestor worship, and reliance on human institutions, reinforcing the idea that if a faith endorses behavior that contradicts biblical teachings, it cannot be genuine.

“Truth is found in God’s Word,” he concluded. “Loving this word brings us peace.”

The sermon concluded with a Jehovah’s Witness hymn.

The Watchtower

Following the hymn, an elder read from the sect’s monthly publication, The Watchtower. Before adopting the name Jehovah’s Witnesses, this group was known as the Watch Tower Society, founded by Charles Taze Russell in 1881.

The day’s article focused on “Jehovah heals the brokenhearted” (Psalm 147:3). The elders read aloud and encouraged participants to share their thoughts. Here are some key points mentioned:

• Satan seeks to provoke emotions; Jehovah wants us to resist and serve Him, which leads to divine assistance.
• Jehovah doesn’t keep track of our sins but focuses on our good deeds.
• There are no time limits on our prayers; we can converse with God endlessly.
• The sacrifice of the Son absolves our past sins, allowing us to move forward.
• By showing kindness and honesty, we can support each other.
• We are not accountable for harm inflicted on us by others.

The session felt a bit repetitive, but the sincerity was palpable, making it akin to a lengthy group meditation focused on comfort and resilience.

The service concluded with another hymn. Notably, there are no tithes, and communion is reserved for once a year for those who believe they are among the 144,000 destined for heaven.

Meeting the Believers

After the service, several members came up to speak with us. A woman named Linda, around 70, shared that she had converted from Protestantism after her marriage.

“We’re not so different from other churches, but we don’t teach what they do,” she said.

I was curious, so I asked for specifics.

“We believe that Jehovah is the Almighty God, and Jesus is His Son and our Messiah. We don’t subscribe to the concept of hellfire,” she explained. “I just don’t see that idea supported in the Bible.”

I wondered if everyone ended up in heaven according to her belief.

“The Bible says 144,000 will go to heaven to become kings and priests for the coming Kingdom of heaven on earth. As for me? I’d like to stay here when I’m resurrected. I’m not interested in ruling or living among animals and trees,” she replied.

Linda handed me a small Bible, which I gladly accepted; it was lightweight and fit perfectly in my backpack. Previously, I had only carried the New Testament. She shared that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t endorse many of Scofield’s notes and that their version offers more accurate references. I enjoy reading various Bible translations, so I was happy with it.

She invited us to lunch with her husband and some friends, and we joined around 20 fellow believers. I sat next to a woman a bit older than me, who had grown up as a Jehovah’s Witness and had spent a lot of her youth traveling as a nanny. She mentioned marrying a man from Grace Baptist Church, having a daughter together, and later divorcing. “I’m thankful my daughter is learning about God in both homes,” she shared.

While she didn’t have anything negative to say about her ex-husband, it was evident she believed her faith was different from his. Curious about this, I asked her how she distinguished their theological approaches.

“Good question,” she replied. “Not much, really.”

Then she added, “Regardless of how we define the Trinity, the term doesn’t appear in the Bible. I know because I’ve looked into every translation. We both have faith in this idea, but Jehovah’s Witnesses are more literal and rooted in biblical descriptions. We see the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct entities united by purpose. I think Grace Bible Church’s view is a bit more aligned with Catholicism when discussing the Trinity.”

After spending the day with them, I found them sincere, focused on the Bible, and not cult-like at all. They seemed to love God, frequently cited scripture, and welcomed us warmly, even when I pressed on some of their more controversial beliefs.

“I’ve heard your church doesn’t allow blood transfusions and that quite a few people die from that,” I said cautiously.

“Yes, we consider blood sacred and believe it shouldn’t be spilled for any reason, even in war, or consumed,” Linda clarified. “However, blood can be separated into its components, and it’s safe to consume certain amounts of these parts.”

She added, “The need for blood transfusions isn’t what it used to be. Scientists have found healthier alternatives to boost low blood cell counts through supplements or iron.”

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?

I’m not really sure what defines a cult anymore. Some say it’s when followers prioritize men over scripture, but Jehovah’s Witnesses have no central authority figure. They encourage individual study of the Bible.

Interestingly, around 65% of their membership is made up of converts, individuals who joined out of faith rather than being born into the religion. While some might leave, those who choose to stay generally do so intentionally. Every religion has its share of disgruntled ex-members, but that alone doesn’t qualify a group as a cult.

Many beliefs held by Jehovah’s Witnesses wouldn’t be particularly contentious to the average Protestant. They oppose abortion yet support contraception and believe individuals should be responsible for family size. Moreover, there’s no strict oversight beyond guidance from JW Broadcasting in New York. They also lack formal regulations regarding blood transfusions or holiday observances.

Globally, there are approximately 8.6 million Jehovah’s Witnesses, far fewer than the 15.7 million Jews, 17 million Mormons, or 22 million Seventh-day Adventists. Despite the common view that their refusal to accept blood transfusions stems from Protestant roots, Jehovah’s Witnesses are neither anti-medicine nor faith healers. They are politically moderate and knowledgeable about science.

A Bit About the Founder

Charles Taze Russell, the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses, had Presbyterian roots. At 13, he left the church in search of truth, wandering through periods of skepticism.

He became known for writing Bible verses on fences as a unique form of evangelism, ultimately establishing the Bible Student Movement in 1879. Following a model similar to groups like the Mormons, his movement expanded through pairs of men preaching directly from the Bible.

Despite his enthusiasm, his life was marked by controversy. He divorced his wife after she sought editorial control over The Watchtower. He frequently engaged in lawsuits for defamation, sometimes winning questionable settlements. In one incident, a jury ruled in his favor but awarded him only $1, which he later negotiated to $15,000.

Russell passed away in 1931, and the group fragmented. About a quarter of members remained loyal to his successor and took on the name Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The use of “Jehovah” has drawn criticism, even though the name appears in the King James Version of the Bible (Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18).

Interestingly, the doctrine of the Trinity established by the Catholic Church has been widely accepted by nearly all Protestant denominations. There’s an irony in that many Protestants who oppose Roman influences still identify their faith against such doctrinal lines. However, just because someone disagrees with this theology does not inherently classify them as a cult.

Observations on Division

During the sermon, a striking point was made: a new denomination forms every 2.2 days.

Christianity had only a few branches until the 16th century, but now there are 45,000. The speaker attributed this to a collective quest for truth. Personally, I think it reflects a loss of love.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13, “I might have faith that can move mountains, but without love, I am nothing.”

What’s the value of truth without love? God doesn’t favor self-righteous divides. Maybe this was the key flaw of figures like Martin Luther and Henry VIII. Their pride fragmented the body of Christ.

Interestingly, many Protestants hold Judaism in high regard, even though it denies the divinity of Christ, yet they often exhibit less tolerance for groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Adventists who also profess Jesus as Lord and Savior.

With that in mind, I encourage believers to explore various churches. Embrace as much unity as possible. Instead of merely following trends, we should love the entirety of the body of Christ, including Jehovah’s Witnesses.