Talking to Jesus (page 2)

leaving_quietly

I've been a JW for over forty years. I can assure you that JWs do not pray to Jesus. As for talking to Jesus, to be honest, as far as I can tell, that has never been written about. I would dare to say that the vast majority do not. They would view praying and talking as the same thing. The most recent information on praying to Jesus found in the October 1, 2010 Watchtower. It says:

"Does the Bible instruct us to pray to Jesus, to Mary, to saints, or to angels? No—only to Jehovah. Consider two reasons why. First, prayer is a form of worship, and the Bible says that worship should go exclusively to Jehovah. (Exodus 20:5) Second, the Bible reveals that he bears the title “Hearer of prayer.” (Psalm 65:2) Although Jehovah delegates generously, this is a responsibility he has never passed on to anyone. He is the God who promises to hear our prayers personally."

The same Watchtower says this a little later:

"Here is yet another essential aspect of how to pray. Jesus said: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) So Jesus is the means of our approach to the Father, Jehovah. Thus, Jesus told his followers to pray in his name. (John 14:13; 15:16) That does not mean that we should pray to Jesus. Rather, we pray in the name of Jesus, remembering that Jesus is the reason that we are able to approach our perfect and holy Father." (italics in the original article)

Kiana

They would view praying and talking as the same thing

LQ thank you. That is exactly my point.

He said that at a convention he attended, the JWs talked TO Jesus all the time.

Then he said that talking is not the same thing as praying, and that we PRAY to the Father, but can TALK to Jesus. I'm stumped by his comments!! And he told me I talk a load of rubbish (by saying that the JWs do not speak to Jesus at all, because he said they DO talk to Jesus), and told me to prove that they don't. Which is why I'm asking

leaving_quietly

Personally, I've never heard of any JW doing that. If they do, it's not openly admitted. I suspect that some who converted from another religion might, but those born in the religion most likely do not.

Let's take a poll here, since the audience of this forum is made up of both current and ex-JWs. Who here, while a JW, talked to Jesus?

I never did because I was taught it was wrong to do so. And yes, I considered talking to Jesus the same as praying to him.

Kiana

Hi LQ, Interesting thoughts.

Yes, a poll would be good, (are there poll facilities here? I'm on my mobile so can't see!).

FayeDunaway

Witnesses definitely don't talk to Jesus. If they did, they would get in trouble, because it would be verrrrry 'false religion' to them. I think your friend is nuts for saying this. He wants to look 'normal' in your eyes? But still, he sounds like an absolute heathen form of JW!! Seriously they don't do it.

When I was coming out of the religion and becoming an actual Christian, I felt a strong desire to pray to Jesus, but it felt SO scary to start. I actually asked the Father's permission first, praying that I hoped it was ok. It all seems so silly now!! And no, there's no difference between talking to Jesus and praying to Jesus.

smiddy

I was a J.W. for 33 years , I was never taught or instructed to pray or talk to Jesus . ...1960 - 1993

I was taught and instructed to pray to Jehovah God , and to do so in Jesus name his son.

So to answer your question ? No. Kiana .they do not.

However it is interesting to note , that up to about the 1950`S ? Jehovah's witnesses did worship Jesus and then sometime after that they were forbidden to do so .

smiddy

Kiana

Really interesting, thanks!

Kiana

Nobody on Earth, right now talks to Jesus, and he definitely doesn't talk back, either.

Hi Dunedain. Why do you say that? How can we have a relationship WITH Jesus if we do not speak or listen to him?

Eternal life is KNOWING the Father and the Son, and to KNOW someone, we need to communicate with them, otherwise we only know ABOUT them, and it's not the same.

Eg, Jesus said: 'You search the scriptures thinking that in THEM you will find eternal life, but it's THESE that speak of me, and you refuse to COME TO ME that you may have life'. Scriptures certainly show that we can go to the Son of God.

To NOT speak to/ listen to our Savior, Lord, King and Mediator between God and Man is to ignore him... and why would a Christian do that? As I said to my friend: How would YOUR son feel if people came to your door (Jesus is the door) and completely snubbed him, (because men told them not to talk to him), and crowded around you, while treating him as if he did not exist, even though he laid down his life for them.'

cofty

No they don't talk to Jesus they only talk to their other imaginary friend that they call Jehovah.

Kiana

BTW this is a really nice forum, (layout, etc)!

Talking to Jesus

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