Why do Jehovah's Witnesses observe the Memorial since they don't believe that Jesus is God? and don't they celebrate Jesus' resurrection?

This is the question I was asked:

What are they observing? That a man (who claimed to be God) died on a tree? Did their version rise from the dead?



The best explanation that I can give you of the Jehovah's Witness belief:

That God's son who is the only being created directly by the Father took the form of a man and died a sacrificial death to break the curse of Adamic sin. When he died he was non-existent, but held in the Father's memory so that his life-pattern could exist again in spirit form.

Though Jesus neither commanded nor blessed any holidays, he did tell us to observe this and only this. 

What is the Purpose of Life?

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and  transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven  and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or  authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:13

For who has  known the mind of YHWH? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.  Isaiah 40:13; Romans 11:34-36

Why does God call us?

God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 John 1:3

And our fellowship is with the Father. 1 Corinthians 1:9

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from
his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion. Philippians 2:1

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7
  
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

An example of a Mind Control technique: Information control

Destructive mind control can be understood in terms of four basic components, which form the acronym BITE:

Behavior Control
Information Control
Thought Control
Emotional Control

It is important to understand that destructive mind control can be determined when the overall effect of these four components promotes dependency and obedience to some leader or cause.

It is not necessary for every single item on the list to be present. Mind controlled cult members can live in their own apartments, have nine-to-five jobs, be married with children, and still be unable to think for themselves and act independently. - From chapter two of Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs by Steve Hassan.

Here we see one type of Information Control, access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged:


"False religious propaganda from any source should be avoided like poison! Really, since our Lord has used ‘the faithful and discreet slave’ to convey to us ‘sayings of everlasting life,’ why should we ever want to look anywhere else?—John 6:68.” – w87 11/1 p.20 par. 16



"Wise King Solomon wrote: ‘Take a warning: To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh.’ (Ecclesiastes 12:12) One might add that the reading of many books published today is not only wearisome to the flesh but, frankly, dangerous to the mind.” – w00 10/1 p. 10 par. 9

The Good News of God's Kingdom?

How and when do we enter God's Kingdom?

Jehovah's Witnesses say: 
"Only a limited number are born again. The great crowd does not need to be born again. Their life is earthly, not heavenly." - Watchtower 4/1/1988, p. 4

But wait, what is the Kingdom of God?

    He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14 ESV)

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3-5 ESV)

A seed to plant with Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are told that if they are not faithful in what is least (obeying the Governing Body about avoiding non-JWs, and going from door to door, for example) they will not be faithful in much, like doing what they need to do to make it through the tribulation. It is this fear that keeps them under the control of the cult.

but 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says "Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come." That fear was broken! It was about a year later that I was saved.

Please share this scripture with Jehovah's Witnesses. They desperately need the good news.

What to say when a Jehovah's Witness invites you to the Memorial

No thanks, I partake of the bread and wine, for I know that Matthew 26:27 says that it is the New Covenant by which I have forgiveness of sins. 27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 


Why are still observing the Lord's supper, don't you think Jesus came in 1914? I Cor. 11:26 states, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."


No thanks, I heard that not everyone partakes of the bread and wine, and I would rather gather with people who obey Jesus. John 6:52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Matthew 26:27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 


I get that you hope to live forever on earth, but do you believe that if you die you will be resurrected? Let's look at something that Jesus said we must do. John 6:54

What do Jehovah's Witnesses do to be saved?

Luke 5:22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…”

John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

1 John 2:23 Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. John 1:12 to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

Jesus has the authority and ability to judge your heart and to forgive you and give you eternal life. What are you waiting for? Ask him! (John 4:10)

Jehovah's Witnesses, why pray in Jesus' name?

"In the name of" does not mean that we put the name Jesus in our prayer, it means that it is by Jesus that we have the authority to pray to the Father. (Eph 2:18) When I was trying to serve God without being born again I put "in Jesus' name" in my prayers, but had no right to call God Father or pray to Him, and my prayers were not answered. It is only after receiving Jesus (John 1:12) that I can call God my Father and my prayers were answered, and since He is always with me, (John 14:23) I talk to Him all day, every moment, "pray without ceasing".