Why are some told Jehovah's Witnesses are a 'cult' or a 'sect', as they fulfill Jesus' command at Mat. 24:14?

A sect is a dissenting group within a religious community or one that breaks away to form a new religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses have not broken away from any church. They are not a sect.

Many people are simply misinformed. Others may not appreciate the Witnesses’ evangelizing work. The fact is, however, that the Witnesses do this work out of love for neighbor, knowing that “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”—Romans 10:13.

JESUS CHRIST was accused of being a drunkard, a glutton, a Sabbath breaker, a false witness, a blasphemer of God, and a messenger of Satan. He was also accused of being subversive.—Matthew 9:34; 11:19; 12:24; 26:65; John 8:13; 9:16; 19:12.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, his disciples were likewise the target of serious accusations. One group of first-century Christians were dragged to the city rulers by people crying out: ‘These men have overturned the inhabited earth.’ (Acts 17:6) On another occasion the apostle Paul and his companion Silas were taken to the authorities and charged with greatly disturbing the city of Philippi.—Acts 16:20.

Paul was later accused of being a “pestilent fellow and stirring up seditions among all the Jews throughout the inhabited earth” and of trying “to profane the temple.” (Acts 24:5, 6) The principal men of the Jews in Rome accurately described the situation of Jesus’ followers when they acknowledged: “For truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”—Acts 28:22.

Evidently, this new group established by Jesus Christ was considered by some to be a religious group with radical views and practices that clashed with what was accepted in those days as normal social behavior. Undoubtedly, many today would have considered the Christians a destructive cult. The accusers were often prominent and respected members of the community, and this seems to have added weight to the allegations. Many believed the accusations against Jesus and his disciples. Yet, as you probably know, every one of these charges was false! The fact that people said these things did not make them true.

In point of fact, we do not have a human leader. The Watchtower organization is made up of Jehovah's Witnesses just like the rest of us as is the Governing Body. What we do and believe in is absolutely directly from the Bible standards for Jehovah's true people.

Perhaps Matt. 24:14 is not the best "orders", as Matt. 28:19-20 are. 24:14 is a result of what we do and can be seen as a sign of our times we live in.

We do all of those things. We educate. preach and warn at the same time with the preaching work. Even if many refuse to listen, they have at least been warned of what is to happen and who will do it. Just by our very name we show that they can never say they had no knowledge. Before Jehovah destroys anything, he provides both a warning to those involved and a safe way out to those obeying him. We are doing that work now.

Baptism is only the public way of showing one has privately personally dedicated their lives to Jehovah's service, not to men or themselves. Instead of being private and isolated, we are perhaps the most open and involved group ever. We don't go for fame or self. We go to help others learn what we have learned so they too may rejoice with us and also avoid the coming cleansing of this wicked corrupt world.

Jesus did not give a command at Matthew 24:14.

Jesus did give a command at Matthew 11:27-30, however. I encourage you to ask Jehovah's Witnesses how you should follow that command.—Compare John 5:39-40; 4:10; 4:14; 6:35; 6:43-44; 6:65-69; 7:37-39; 8:49-51

Jesus also gave a command at Matthew 28:19-20. I encourage you to ask Jehovah's Witnesses at what point you will begin to baptize other people so that you also can fulfill this Great Commission.

People usually call Jehovah's Witnesses a "cult" because they refuse to conform to Satan's established system of false worship, particularly his form of counterfit Christianity - Christendom.

If Jesus was preaching on earth right now, there is no doubt that he would be called a cult leader. Jesus always taught the truth about God, which meant rejecting false doctrines and the traditions of men. True Christians follow his example.

Here's a little tip: When answering the question of "Are Jehovah's Witnesses a Cult?", you might want to do a little research on cults, not just a broad, general summery. Also, going to the subject of the accusation for "proof" they are not a cult is somewhat unreliable wouldn't you say?

Officer: You're under arrest for murder.

Suspect: I'm not a murderer!

Officer: Do you have any proof of that?

Suspect: Of course! I'm innocent of your charge because I said so!

Yeah, it doesn't work like that.

Jehovah's Witnesses are NOT a cult and anyone who has actually done any kind of research concerning Jehovah's Witnesses knows this. People who oppose Jehovah's Witnesses like to use the word 'cult' because this word has a general negative connotation. They are counting on people who are not familiar with Jehovah's Witnesses to simply accept this false label and then ignorantly repeat what they have been told.

The following shows how this label is completely untrue:

Cults are regarded as being small, local groups. In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses currently number over 7,ooo,ooo and can be found in almost every country of the world.

http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/

The World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses is in New York. Located there is the Governing Body, a central group of experienced elders who oversee the worldwide congregation.

Jehovah's Witnesses - Their Worldwide Organization and Work

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-...

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Cults are also regarded as encouraging their adherents to live in groups apart from the rest of society. Many also think of cults as being secretive about their activities or having something to hide.

In contrast, Jehovah's Witnesses live and work in the midst of other people. They have nothing to hide. In fact, they desire to tell anyone who is willing to listen about everything that they believe.

Their book Jehovah's Witnesses—Proclaimers of God's Kingdom correctly notes: "Jehovah's Witnesses are in no sense a secret society. Their Bible-based beliefs are fully explained in publications that are available to anyone. Additionally, they put forth special effort to invite the public to attend meetings to see and hear for themselves what takes place."

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Cult members are also associated with following living human leaders.

Yet Jehovah's Witnesses do not look to any human, but rather to Jesus Christ, as their leader. Jehovah’s Witnesses follow what Jesus taught and put it into practice:

See: "Who is Jesus Christ?"

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/good-news-...

That is what it means to be a Christian. Accordingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to adhere strictly to the precepts established by the first Christians.

Jehovah's Witnesses base all of their beliefs, their standards for conduct, and organizational procedures on the Bible. Their worship is a way of life, not a ritual devotion.

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Rather than relying solely on hearsay and running the risk of parroting bad information, Jehovah's Witnesses encourage people to investigate this further FOR THEMSELVES. This way, one will be in a position to be properly informed as to the true faith and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.

The best way to find out more about Jehovah's Witnesses via the Internet is through the pages of their official website:

Jehovah’s Witnesses—What Do They Believe?

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/g20100...

Recommended Related Articles:

Are Jehovah’s Witnesses a Cult?

http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/are-je...

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Really a Cult? - Showing How This Label is Incorrect

http://defendingjehovahswitnesses.blogspot.com/201...

Some of these ones who call us by these names don't know anything about us, only what they have been told or read on blogs.

It doesn't bother us what others says about us just like it didn't bother Jesus. He also continued without letup preaching and teaching to all people, in which we are following that command in 236 lands all over the world.

Is God's backing behind all this world wide preaching activity? With tens of thousands dedicating their life to Jehovah every month, 1000s of new Kingdom Halls being built to help accommodate these ones, without any doubt, even under ban in some countries, persecution, and slander, we too will continue preaching and teaching until Jehovah's say's stop.... then the end will come!

So how can our preaching be a waste of time?

a few months ago, I was at a door with a sister and the householder tells us she was not to talk with us because her pastor told her not to talk with Jehovah Witnesses. we asked her why and she could not even tell us, they are more afraid of there pastor then Jehovah God. people know nothing about us or listen to people who turned there back on Jehovah like unsilence lioness, revkip, galatians 5-1. Jehovah will deal with them. they know nothing about us, just like pharaoh who said who is Jehovah, well Jehovah showed him who he was. also look in Noah's day when they laughed at Noah and his family. the more they call us a sect or cult the more we know we have the truth. a cult worships man. we worship Jehovah God

CULT Noun/kəlt/

1. A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.

2. A relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.

SECT

sect/sekt/Noun: A group of people with somewhat different religious beliefs (typically regarded as heretical) from those of a larger group to which they belong.

Because all three definitions are considered to be true by a vast majority of people.

1. All denominations of Christianity are Sects. get over it.

2. Jehovah's Witness venerate/are devoted to Christ/Jehovah, therefore Cult, def. #1 is true

3. Jehovah's Witnesses are a relatively small denomination, in comparison to other more established sects. And they are considered, by and large, to be a little weird by EVERYONE, not just other Christians. (ie. The whole knocking on the door at some unGodly hour on a Sunday is just plain bizarre, if you ask me.)

In Singapore, JW is a banned sect. Singapore male citizens have to complete National Service in either the Army, the Police or the Civil Defence, hence carry arms.

Followers of JW refuse to carry arms or defend their country, hence, their practises are banned in Singapore.

Not sure about other countries though..