A “Memorial” of Christ’s Death?


Just over a week ago, I joined a ministry called GodTown that regularly reaches out to homeless people in St. Paul, Minnesota. While we put together bags of food at an outreach center, two Jehovah’s Witnesses stopped in. The couple handed us brochures to promote an Easter event they were having. That’s rather odd since the Watchtower discourages celebrating holidays. 

I asked one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses questions about eternity, plus shared Scripture pointing out that salvation is a gift one must receive. The Watchtower promotes a false gospel based on works. One woman who was part of GodTown later approached me with tears in her eyes. She thought I needed to “love them more.” With all due respect to her concerns, we are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). True love warns sinners of wrong beliefs that can lead to eternal separation from God. Galatians 1:8 says, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed."

Eventually, I examined the brochure the Jehovah’s Witnesses left with us. I noticed the cover highlights Jesus’ death but not His resurrection. The inside briefly refers to it and states, “Once each year, Jehovah’s Witnesses commemorate the death of Jesus just as he commanded when he said: ‘Keep doing this in remembrance of me.’ —Luke 22:19.’”


The Bible doesn’t specify how often we should observe communion. However, I believe He wants us doing that more frequently. Acts 2:42 in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition points out the early church did that as much as praying. 1 Corinthians 11:25-26 says, “This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 


Further investigation revealed this so-called “Memorial” tricks people into rejecting Jesus Christ by refusing communion. According to this testimony from a former Jehovah’s Witness, the Memorial is a parody of the Black Sabbath celebrated by Satanists and those involved with the occult. The Bible doesn’t discourage communion except for those who aren’t believers. 1 Corinthians 11:29 warns, “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”


The Jehovah’s Witnesses website claims, “Jesus commanded that we commemorate his death, not his resurrection.” Cults minimize our Lord rising from the dead. Philippians 3:10 encourages us to “...know Him and the power of His resurrection.” I will continue to do so this Easter Sunday and beyond.


“And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.” - 1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT) 

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