Page 83 - Cults and Marginal Groups - Textbook w videos short

They argue that the only two birthdays mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 40:20-22 and Matthew 14:6)
present birthdays in a negative light. Both individuals were pagans, and both had someone put to death
on their birthdays. Therefore, celebrating a birthday is an affront against God Himself.

Concluding that a particular day is evil simply because something bad happened on that day is truly
warped logic. If your child dies on Christmas, then is Christmas bad? The logic is ridiculous.

Wearing Crosses

The Watchtower Society teaches that the cross is a pagan religious symbol.
Christians adopted this symbol, we are told, when Satan took control of
ecclesiastical authority in the early centuries of Christianity. They say Christ was
NOT crucified on a cross, but on a stake (single pole). They say that wearing a
cross is a form of idolatry (I Cor. 10:14).

In the Bible, the Greek word for cross is stauros, and it means a wooden structure similar to the Greek
letter tau (T), a structure looking like the plus sign (+), sometimes two diagonal beams (X) as well as
infrequently a upright stake with no cross piece (I).

In John 20:25 Thomas said, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails (plural) and stick my finger
into the print of the nails (plural)….” If Jesus was crucified on a stake, ONE nail would have been used in
his hands. Thomas would have needed to say, “see in his hands the print of the nail (singular).

Also, In John 21: 18-19 Jesus predicted Peter’s death and told him they would “stretch out your hands”
signifying the death he would experience in the likeness of His own.

The sign was placed over Jesus’ head when He was crucified. If his hands where nailed together by one
nail over his head, then the sign would have been place over his hands. But according to Matthew
27:37, the sign was placed over his head.

As far as idolatry, when a Christian wears a cross, he is not worshipping or venerating it,
but rather it represents a worshipful attitude toward Christ and His work of salvation.
For it to become an idol, it must be worshipped in the place of God.

Witnessing Strategies

Understanding where they are coming from….

During their time of training, JWs are taught HOW anticipate common questions and objections to what
they say. In a sense, they are “programmed” to respond to what you say. They are even trained to
respond to common comebacks. Keep this in mind when sharing with them. Many times their
responses will not be logical and even related to the question at hand. They will also try to change the
subject if they don’t have an adequate response available to them. Remember these things so that you
remain patient with them.

When you point out a particular verse to a JW, he automatically “reads” it through the “lens” of the
Watchtower Society. His conditioned, preprogrammed mind replaces what the verse actually says with

82