Who do Jehovah’s Witnesses worship? (Who do Jehovah’s Witnesses pray to?)

I recently learned that a colleague from work is a Jehovah’s Witness. We usually say a short prayer to close our staff meetings on Monday.

This colleague was sitting next to me last week, and I noticed that she didn’t bow her head or join in the prayer. When she and I were assigned a project together, I summoned the courage to ask why she didn’t join the prayer.

To my surprise, she readily told me she didn’t participate because the person leading the prayer opened with the words, “Lord Jesus, Thank you for your love…”. The lady explained that as a Jehovah’s Witness, she could not pray to Jesus.

As a long-term Christian with a background in theology, I was intrigued. I decided to do some research and write this article for those of you wondering, who do Jehovah’s Witnesses worship?

In this article, we will delve deeper into the religious beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Join me as we discuss their worship practices and views on Jesus Christ.

Who is the God of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

Jehovah’s Witnesses hold traditional Christian beliefs, which maintain that there is only one true God. Based on the words in Psalms 83:18, Jehovah’s Witnesses prefer to call God Jehovah, the almighty God.

They believe in Jehovah’s sovereignty and his authority over heaven and earth.

This religion refers to Bible verses like Judges 6:24 to support their use of the word Jehovah as God’s title: “Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that the God of Moses, Isaac, and Abraham is the one true God.

They take the Bible as Jehovah’s divine message to guide human beings through life. Jehovah’s Witnesses trust that God inspired every scripture in the Bible.

They support their views with verses like 2^nd Timothy 3:16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Although they follow scripture to the letter, Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize that some books contain symbolic or figurative language.

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses worship Jesus?

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is the son of God. That means God’s spirit lives in Him. According to this religion, that makes Jesus a God.

But they maintain that since Jesus is also one of God’s creations, He cannot be considered the almighty God. That honour only belongs to the creator of the universe, Jehovah.

To them, Jesus must have been an archangel since archangels are said to be God’s most glorious creatures. Jehovah’s Witnesses propose that Jesus was the Archangel Michael before He was born in human form.

This religion teaches that Jesus resumed the name Michael after His ascension to heaven in Luke 24:50-53.

Who do Jehovah’s Witnesses pray to?

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in addressing prayers to Jesus. Instead, they only pray to the almighty God, Jehovah.

Although they honour Jesus as the son of God and humanity’s saviour, they see Christ as God’s principal archangel. Their views seem to be echoed in Acts 5:31: “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

This verse refers to Jesus as God’s Chief Agent and right-hand person. Still, Jehovah’s Witnesses share Christ’s doctrines and follow His teachings.

However, they only pray to God. Jehovah’s Witnesses disprove the concept of the Holy Trinity. They back their beliefs on scriptures like John 14:28: “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

That said, they recognize the Holy Spirit as God’s divine force in our lives.