Jehovah’s Witnesses and You

Jehovah’s Witnesses and You

Author: Emeka Esogbue


Jehovah’s witnesses are a Christian denomination known for their door-to-door preaching ministry. They are known for calmness especially in approaches to religious issues hoping frankly to win individuals and groups with conscientious objections to the moral as well as religious beliefs shared by them (Jehovah’s Witnesses) In this way, individuals with deferring biblical views are often seen in heated arguments with this sects as teachings go on. Since foundation, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been viewed as highly controversial it is therefore not surprising that the activities of this Christian denomination has been banned in a number of countries.

Even the United States of America, the country of origin of the denomination, the group has faced series of prosecutions at one time or the other. Could this have arisen out of “A Prophet has honor except in his own town? In 1990, the Supreme Court of United States of America ruled that all religious literatures were subject to taxation which the members of Jehovah’s Witnesses claimed was maliciously targeted at the denomination.

I have never been a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses but the activities of the denomination show quite well that they have the good and bad sides depending on how you see them. I have absolute respect for this religious group and I make bold to state that the “Awake” and Watch Tower” publications of the group have immensely benefited many individuals and group in their educational pursuits, study and researches, yet only very few in our societies have publicly acknowledged this intellectual additions. The Awake considered to be the companion of Watch Tower is my favorite, one cannot but shower praises on the caliber of brains beyond the information content of this monthly magazine.

As of 2008, the magazine is published in 81 languages and reaches about 35,754,000 including Nigerians and only second to The Watch Tower as the second most widely distributed magazine in the world. The content of these magazines are usually unprejudiced racial wise which is why it is mostly accepted by all races.

Another good thing about Jehovah’s Witnesses is the ability to penetrate the locals in rural areas especially the African continent. The door-to door teachings of the organization function effectively here, while other churches expect members to come to them especially the wealthy in our societies, Jehovah’s Witnesses take their promises on the arrival of the kingdom to locals in our rural places which is also why these preachers and their literatures are found in the homes of everyone down in our typical African villages. Interestingly, those who have had to turn down their requests still find literatures belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses in their homes. In this way rather than serve Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Witnesses serve the people which is marvelous in the eyes of the people.

In Nigeria, for instance, the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses are far from the usual approaches of other Christian denominations in the country which appear to put up unwelcome attitudes to arguments concerning the things of God and force adherents to consume their own views. The members of Jehovah’s Witnesses welcome ideas and arguments from the adherents of other denominations before trying to impose theirs with usually superior reasons.

For reasons beyond my understanding, not much is known about the how the affairs of Jehovah’s Witnesses are organized within their kingdoms as they are most often seen outside in pairs carrying their bags, and doing their door-to door teachings, this I believe is the birth of the controversy trailing this denomination in the interior African society. In order words, not much is known about Jehovah’s Witnesses, a major reason most people prefer to merely listen to them then let go of them. How do we refer to the head of Jehovah’s Witnesses kingdom, pastor or evangelist?

We hear that they are authoritarian and demand absolute adherence from members in keeping to their doctrines and that the denomination may go ahead to expel anyone who fails to comply and shun it. All sexual encounters, constant drunkenness, and gambling outside of marriage or even attempts to marry a non witness may be met with expulsion instead of winning back such members through preaching or counseling. If one is dismissed from the house of God, where on earth does he find salvation?

It is also problem for the denomination which prevails on its members from attending the Christian retreats and fellowships of other Christian denominations yet do all they can to win others to their ministry. You may not expect to have any one member of this group to your social gatherings such as community development unions and others alike in what the society considers as social segregation imposed on members by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nothing annoys the society more to find out that someone is not taking part in the arrangements aimed at developing his/her immediate community, and it spells doom for Jehovah’s Witnesses members.

You not expect a Jehovah’s Witness to render any form of social help to you instead all you hear is sermon in which you are told to expect the kingdom of God sooner or later. Perhaps social helps to individuals begins and ends in the kingdom of Jehovah’s Witnesses. A Jehovah’s Witness may be kind and affable to you but this continues as long as you welcome a visit aimed at sermonizing you and your family but this friendship becomes short lasting and abruptly terminates no sooner the divine fraternity ends.

Because Jehovah’s Witnesses oppose blood transfusion, the families of member Witnesses who die as a result of the rejection this medical remedy hold Witnesses responsible, the hatred that this creates lives long after the death of such people and this people see Witnesses as responsible for these deaths. Witnesses therefore come no where near them. Aid work after large natural disasters are performed by Witnesses in places such as USA, France and Britain but are rarely performed in Africa, I have never seen any such in Nigeria.

In spite of all these criticisms, the Jehovah’s Witnesses still have their good sides as pointed out earlier in this article, this is because perfection is not found anywhere but only exists in the Dictionaries, however there is still room for the Organization to make amends on the lapses disclosed here.

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About the Author:

Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is a Historian and International Relations graduate with lots of tremendous published and unpublished works.



emekaesogbue@yahoo.com