Week 2: Polemics: Confronting What they Believe

ISLAM - Understanding and Engaging Muslims

Theme: "The Islamic Dilemma and Engaging Muslims with Truth"

Understanding Islam

• Core Islamic beliefs: 5 Pillars, Quran, Muhammad

• What Muslims believe about Jesus (Isa): prophet, not divine, didn't die on cross

• Islamic view of the Bible: corrupted (tahrif)

• Islamic view of salvation: works-based, no assurance

The Islamic Dilemma

• The Islamic Dilemma Explained:

  • The Quaran confirms repeatedly the inspiration, preservation and authority of the Christian Gospels and Torah (and in turn, the whole bible). If the Bible is true, then Islam is false because it contradicts in key doctrines. If the Bible is false, then Islam is still false because the Quaran claims the preservation of the previous scriptures. Either way, Islam is false.

  • If the Bible is True, Islam is false because it contradicts the Quran and Mohamed’s teaching.

  • If the Bible is False, then Allah commanded people to follow a false gospel creating a contradiction and Islam is false. Either way, Islam is false.

• Allah can’t be just

• The Quran claims that Allah is all merciful (all over the book)

• Allah forgives sins without any price paid, meaning that he is not just and his justice (if it exists) is in conflict with his holiness and righteousness.

• The Cross is the only answer to this dilemma. You can have both mercy and justice in the same person when the price is paid by one who can afford it and the mercy is given to the one who did not earn it.

Jehovah Witness

Understanding the JW Mindset

• JW history: Charles Taze Russell, Watchtower authority structure

• Core beliefs: No Trinity, Jesus as Michael the Archangel, 144,000, paradise earth

• The New World Translation and its distortions

• The Control System (Melissa Dougherty's emphasis):

  • Information control: only read Watchtower literature

  • Disfellowshipping and shunning: fear of losing family

  • "Us vs. them" mentality: all outside Watchtower are "worldly"

  • No independent thinking allowed

  • Salvation anxiety: never doing enough

Why Normal Apologetics Often Fails

• JWs are trained to deflect and use scripted responses

• They're not allowed to think independently

• Attacking their beliefs = attacking their identity and family

• Ask questions, don't tell

  • Questions bypass the Watchtower programming

  • Questions force them to think rather than recite

  • Questions show you care about THEM, not just winning an argument

Key Doctrinal Issues & Question-Based Approach

1. The Deity of Christ

• Instead of telling them John 1:1 means "was God"...

• Ask: "If Jesus is 'a god' (NWT), doesn't that make Him a second god? Isn't that polytheism?"

• Ask: "Why does Thomas call Jesus 'My Lord and my God' in John 20:28?"

• Ask: "In Revelation 5:13-14, all creation worships the Lamb (Jesus). Why is it okay to worship Jesus if He's not God?"

• Ask: "In Colossians 1:16-17, how can Jesus create 'all things' if He Himself was created?" (Note: they add the word ‘other’ to the verse rendering it “all other things” so that they can justify their understanding)

2. The Name of God (Jehovah/YHWH)

• Instead of arguing about the name...

• Ask: "In Exodus 3:14, God says 'I AM.' In John 8:58, why did Jesus say 'Before Abraham was, I AM' and why did Jews try to stone Him?"

• Ask: "If 'Jehovah' is so important, why doesn't it appear in any Greek NT manuscript?" (Note, they translate it that way from the Greek for Lord, which just means “master”.)

3. Salvation and Works

• Instead of preaching grace...

• Ask: "How many hours of field service do you need to be saved? How do you know when you've done enough?"

• Ask: "Do you have assurance of salvation? Can you know for sure you're saved?"

• Ask: "If salvation is by faith plus works, what did Jesus mean by 'It is finished' on the cross?"

4. The 144,000 and Heaven

• Ask: "If only 144,000 go to heaven, and the Watchtower started in 1870s with thousands of members, aren't all those spots taken? Where does that leave you?"

5. The Organization's Authority

• The most powerful question (Melissa Dougherty emphasizes this):

• Ask: "If the Watchtower has been wrong about major prophecies (1914, 1925, 1975), and changed teachings multiple times, how can you trust them with your eternal soul?"

• Ask: "Does God's organization give false prophecies? What does Deuteronomy 18:22 say about false prophets?"

Part 4: Wilbur Lingle's "Reaching JWs in Love" Framework

• Plant seeds, don't demand harvest

  • One conversation rarely frees a JW

  • Your job: plant doubt in the Watchtower, point to Jesus

• Love them as people, not projects

  • Invite them into your life

  • Show them Christian community and joy

  • Many JWs are lonely and burned out

• Focus on Jesus, not doctrine debates

  • Share your personal relationship with Jesus

  • Emphasize grace, forgiveness, assurance

  • Contrast with Watchtower's treadmill

• Pray for them by name

  • Spiritual warfare is real

  • Pray for scales to fall from eyes

When JWs Come to Your Door

• Don't be rude or slam the door

• Melissa's approach: Flip the script

  • "I'd love to talk! But can I ask YOU some questions?"

  • Offer them water, hospitality

  • Ask about THEIR story: "How did you become a JW?"

  • Share YOUR testimony: personal relationship with Jesus

  • End with: "Can I pray for you right now?" (most have never been prayed for by name)

Week 2 Homework:

• Read "Do What Jesus Did" - Chapters 4-6

• Practice listening to Holy Spirit daily

• Ask God for one word of knowledge for someone this week (journal what happens)

• Identify 3 people in your life to pray for (salvation or healing)

• Watch 2-3 David Wood videos on the Islamic Dilemma (links provided)

  • https://youtu.be/aSOvrWbp4u4

• Memorize the Islamic Dilemma framework

• Practice explaining one of the five objections with a partner

• Pray for Muslims by name (if you know any)

• Watch 2-3 Melissa Dougherty videos on witnessing to JWs (links provided)

• Obtain/read excerpts from Wilbur Lingle's "How to Reach Jehovah's Witnesses in Love"

• Practice question-based approach with a partner

• Write out your testimony emphasizing grace and assurance (2-3 min)

• Memorize 3 key questions to ask JWs

• Pray for JWs in your area (especially those who knock on doors)

Recommended Resources:

• Melissa Dougherty YouTube channel

• "How to Reach Jehovah's Witnesses in Love" by Wilbur Lingle

• JW Facts website (for research on Watchtower false prophecies)