by Patrick Navas
6 Scripturally-Based Reasons Why Christians Should Not Adopt the Label “Jehovah’s Witnesses” As Their Official Group-Name
- The name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” was not the name that the early Christian community in apostolic times was known by.
- The name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” was chosen by a man named Judge Rutheford (the second president of the Watchtower Society) in the twentieth century (1931), not by God or Scripture in the first.
- The adoption of the name “Jehovah’ Witnesses” is not commanded or encouraged in Scripture. Isaiah 43:10 does not command the adoption of the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” as the name that Christians should adopt and be known by to the world. It simply describes the function of the Nation of Israel in the prophet Isaiah’s day. Christians bear witnesses to God and his purposes in a distinctive way by preaching His Son Jesus as the “one Lord” and “Messiah” whom Jehovah has “raised from the dead” and exalted “at his right hand as Leader and Savior” (Acts 2:36; 3:15; 5:31; 1 Cor. 8:6).
- The name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” does not bear witness or call attention to the “Christ” or “Messiah” (Jesus), the one God’s people must bear witness to according to Acts 1:8. This is not to say that Christians bear “witness” to Jesus and not Jehovah God. Rather, by bearing witnesses to Jesus, Christians glorify Jehovah God and carry out his will because they are bearing witness to Jehovah’s Messiah, the one through whom Jehovah fulfills his purpose.
- According to the NWT and others (Young’s Literal Translation of the Holy Bible, 1898; McCord’s New Testament Translation of the Everlasting Gospel; The Simple English Bible New Testament), the name “Christian” was adopted by the disciples based on “divine providence.” Therefore, the name “Christian” should be the official name by which God’s people are known to the world, according to the Scriptures and the apostolic example and testimony (1 Peter 4:14-16).
- Taking on a supplemental religious label like “Jehovah’s Witnesses” simply conforms to the pattern of every other denomination and sect of “Christendom” that has done the same, and only adds to the confusion and multitude of divisions that have existed for centuries among professed Christians.
by Patrick Navas