Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversation’s With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Interpreting the Bible Stephen Bedard, June 29, 2021June 29, 2021 I started meeting again with the Jehovah’s Witness that I had been meeting with a year or so back. I’m not thinking I’m going to convert him, but it is a way for me to learn. What I’m looking for is not to debate the fine details, such as the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 4 Things That the Jehovah’s Witnesses Get Wrong About Jesus Stephen Bedard, July 31, 2019 I have been interested in the Jehovah’s Witnesses for a long time. They have a lot of unique beliefs. But as I argue in my book, The Watchtower and the Word, we should focus our discussions on the most important doctrines. It doesn’t get anymore important than Jesus. Not surprisingly,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Why Bother? Stephen Bedard, July 4, 2019July 3, 2019 I have been doing a series on Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses. But it is a fair question to ask why I would bother. Growing up, my dad would make us pretend that we weren’t home when we saw Jehovah’s Witnesses on our street. Why would I voluntarily let them in… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Six Stephen Bedard, June 25, 2019 I had another conversation with some Jehovah’s Witnesses, once again concerning the kingdom of God. I do consider the kingdom of God to be an essential topic (unlike attitudes toward birthdays or the shape of the cross). We had agreed to disagree about whether the kingdom began to appear during… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Five Stephen Bedard, June 17, 2019 I once more had a conversation with a Jehovah’s Witness (and a new partner) focused largely (but not completely) on the kingdom of God. After numerous conversations on the kingdom of God, it is clear that we just don’t agree. I believe the kingdom has always been in heaven, began… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Four Stephen Bedard, May 27, 2019 It has been quite a few weeks, but I finally had another opportunity to visit with a pair of Jehovah’s witnesses again. Once again, our conversation revolved around the nature of the kingdom of God. It is clear that we have a fundamentally different understanding of the kingdom. For example,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Three Stephen Bedard, March 18, 2019May 11, 2019 This morning I had my third meeting with some Jehovah’s Witnesses. It has been the same lead person each of the three visits, but a different helper each time. I had mentioned last time that I was interested in how they got 1914 as the year of the establishment of… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Two B Stephen Bedard, March 9, 2019December 16, 2019 The first part of our conversation was about the Tetragrammaton in the New Testament. While there is some rhetorical effect here, it is not an essential goal for my conversation with Jehovah’s Witnesses. That is why we switched directions to the kingdom of God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses wanted to focus… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part Two A Stephen Bedard, March 4, 2019March 4, 2020 Today I had my second conversation with a pair of Jehovah’s Witnesses who came to my house. The one change was that the senior witness didn’t bring his assistant but instead brought his wife. At the end of our last visit, we had talked a bit about God’s name (YHWH)…. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Conversations With Jehovah’s Witnesses – Part One Stephen Bedard, February 25, 2019January 1, 2023 I have started meeting with some Jehovah’s Witnesses. My plan is to share how our conversations go after each meeting. Today we talked about two topics. Much of our conversation was about the kingdom of God. They began by discussing Old Testament statements of the kingdom. They tried to focus… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Jehovah’s Witnesses Take on the Jesus Myth Stephen Bedard, October 19, 2016May 22, 2020 Since I have written a book on the Jehovah’s Witnesses and a book on the Jesus Myth, I was quite interested when some ladies came to my door and gave me the latest issue of Awake! with the headline “Did Jesus Exist?”. Although I disagree with the Jehovah’s Witnesses on… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 6 Questions to Ask Jehovah’s Witnesses Stephen Bedard, October 14, 2016October 14, 2019 Jehovah’s Witnesses are often eager to talk about religion. This means that there are plenty of opportunities to share your faith with them. However, just talking religion will not have much of an effect. You need to have some sort of strategy. Be assured that they have a strategy. I… Continue Reading
The Sects Talk Stephen Bedard, May 17, 2016 I recently led a workshop at my church, Queen Street Baptist Church, on “Sects Education.” We looked at groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Science and so on. I recorded the talk and you can listen to them through the links below. If you want more audio resources,… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 7 Things You Should Know About the Jehovah’s Witnesses Stephen Bedard, April 27, 2016April 11, 2019 You have probably have had Jehovah’s Witnesses knocking at your door at some point. But do you know what they believe? There is a lot that can be said about the Jehovah‘s Witnesses, but here are seven things that you should know. The Jehovah’s Witnesses were founded by Charles Taze… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 30 Day Apologetics Challenge: Day 19 Stephen Bedard, January 20, 2016January 7, 2020 Talk to a Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon What do you do when a Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon comes to your door? Do you pretend you are not home? Do you try to scare them off with an aggressive style? Or do you try to engage them in a productive conversation?… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog What People Are Saying About the Watchtower and the Word Stephen Bedard, December 5, 2015August 20, 2019 A few years back I wrote a book called the Watchtower and the Word. It started out as a response to the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ book, What Does the Bible Really Teach? However, it grew into more than that. It really is a guide to productive conversations with Jehovah’s Witnesses, pointing… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Proselytization and Children Stephen Bedard, September 19, 2015September 6, 2019 I was shocked to hear that this past week, a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses were stationed at one of the exits from our children’s schoolyard. They were giving away copies of their book, What Does the Bible Really Teach? Little did they know that I have written a book in… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is it Possible That Jesus is the Archangel Michael? Stephen Bedard, June 3, 2015June 3, 2021 I address this same question in my book, The Watchtower and the Word. Paperback (USA) Kindle (USA) Paperback (Canada) Kindle (Canada) Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Did Jesus Die on a Cross or a Stake? Stephen Bedard, April 3, 2015May 28, 2019 The shape of things The death of Jesus is one of the most important events (along side the resurrection) for all those who consider themselves followers of Jesus. But what was the shape of the wood that Jesus was executed on? Was it a cross or a stake? Options Traditional… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Jehovah’s Witnesses: No Part of This World Stephen Bedard, February 15, 2015August 21, 2020 I thought this was a pretty decent video about the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is by Reveal reporter Trey Bundy. You may discover some things that you never knew before. Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Jehovah’s Witnesses and Samaritan Issues Stephen Bedard, February 10, 2015August 15, 2020 In a previous post, I looked at how the Jehovah’s Witnesses get some things right. That is the first section of my book, The Watchtower and the Word. The second section of my book deals with what I consider the Samaritan issues of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. What are Samaritan issues?… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Jehovah’s Witnesses Get Some Things Right Stephen Bedard, January 28, 2015January 28, 2023 In my book on Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Watchtower and the Word, I divide the book into three sections. The first section is on what they get right. Some people don’t like that at all. It would be a lot simpler if the Jehovah’s Witnesses got everything wrong. But the truth is… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses Stephen Bedard, January 19, 2015April 17, 2019 I got to know Chris Stire a few years ago when I was teaching with the Lay Pastors Training Program. At that time, he mentioned to me that he had been a Jehovah’s Witness. That intrigued me (my interest in the Jehovah’s Witnesses finally materialized in my own book, The… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why Did I Write the Watchtower and the Word? Stephen Bedard, January 12, 2015June 22, 2019 Last year I published a book called The Watchtower and the Word, both in print and Kindle. It would be fair to ask about my reasons for writing such a book. I will say that I did not write the book out of intolerance toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. I support the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Suppressing the Laughter: Being Respectful But Honest Stephen Bedard, October 27, 2014April 21, 2019 I have been teaching a class on sects at a local church. Over the past two weeks I have taught on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It has been a fun class, one that I advertise as “Sects Education.” It is easy, when… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog 10 Reasons Why You Should Read the Watchtower and the Word Stephen Bedard, July 31, 2014October 21, 2019 I am very happy with my new book, The Watchtower and the Word. I think you should purchase a copy (or three) and not just for me to make some money. Here are ten reasons why I think you should buy this book. 1. Jehovah’s Witnesses are people that we… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog When the Jehovah’s Witnesses are Right Stephen Bedard, November 30, 2013November 19, 2019 I had some nice Jehovah’s Witnesses come to the door the other day. I have noticed that they are not near as pushy as they used to be and are quite pleasant. They handed me a brochure called Can the dead really live again? I took a look at it and… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog God or a god? Stephen Bedard, January 15, 2013August 28, 2019 One of the controversial passages when talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses is John 1:1. Most Bibles translate it something like: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 ESV) The New World Translation, however, translates it as: “In [the] beginning… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Blasphemy Against the Spirit and Personhood Stephen Bedard, March 17, 2011January 11, 2021 What is the Holy Spirit? Is it, as Jehovah’s Witnesses claim, just the power of God, or is the Spirit a divine person within the Godhead? Here is a verse to take into account: “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Holy Spirit Stephen Bedard, October 19, 2010July 13, 2022 In the Oct. 1 2010 issue of the Watchtower there is an article entitled “What is the Holy Spirit?” One of the main purposes of this article is to demonstrate that the Spirit is not a person. Here are some responses. The article points out that in Acts 2:1-4 that… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Praying to Jesus Stephen Bedard, September 11, 2010May 30, 2019 Should we pray to Jesus or should we only pray to the Father? Certain groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that we should pray to God in the name of Jesus but should never pray to Jesus. This makes sense if one denies the deity of Christ. But what does the… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Was Jesus Really Crucified? Stephen Bedard, July 2, 2010October 5, 2019 There is an article on the CNN Belief blog calling into question whether or not Jesus was really crucified. You can read the post here. What is different about this is that the scholar identifies himself as an evangelical Christian. The issue is not whether or not Jesus was executed… Continue Reading
Sermons Is Jesus God? Stephen Bedard, May 27, 2009April 30, 2019 Introduction Growing up, I heard a lot about Jesus. I read the stories and learned the parables. But my knowledge of the nature of Jesus was deficient at best. I had heard of the Trinity but I just thought of that as a group of three important people: God, Jesus… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Is Jesus the Archangel Michael? Stephen Bedard, April 25, 2008August 11, 2022 One of the distinctives of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is their belief that Jesus is not God but is rather the archangel Michael. They derive this from the following passage. “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Why the Trinity Makes Sense Stephen Bedard, April 21, 2008February 26, 2021 Groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses sometimes point out that the Trinity is never mentioned in the Bible and yet traditional Christianity uses the Trinity as one of its major tests of orthodoxy. Could the Trinity be so important if it is never mentioned in the Bible? Does it even… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog The Bible and Pagan Holidays Stephen Bedard, April 6, 2008January 1, 2021 The subject of holidays with pagan origins came up recently in our discussion on Jehovah’s Witnesses. I mentioned that I consider this a “Samaritan” issue, that is a nonessential. However, I would like to pursue this a bit in that it has value in a lesson on applying biblical principles on… Continue Reading
Apologetics and Theology Blog Jehovah’s Witnesses and What the Bible Really Teaches Stephen Bedard, April 5, 2008January 11, 2023 Recently two pleasant ladies came to our door. They were Jehovah’s Witnesses. I immediately I told them I was a pastor so as not to pretend that I was ignorant of the Bible and then to suddenly surprise them. They were still interested in talking to me, although I could… Continue Reading