BIBLE STUDY WITH JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES. NEED SOME HELP.?
My mother as well as you have been carrying a investigate with a little Jehovah’s Witnesses (two studies now). We have been both zealous Church goers yet figured it couldn’t harm to have an additional Bible investigate as well as sense some-more about alternative Christian doctrines.
Since they knew you were zealous Christians they usually let us collect a theme in their book “What Does a Bible Really Teach?” We looked during a Table of Contents as well as picked “Where have been a Dead?” From there it was a rsther than ‘interesting’ investigate which you have concluded to go upon yet you have been during a detriment as to what you should do. No make a difference what verses you uncover them which remonstrate with their ideology causes them to fast try to disprove a hymn observant which we’re possibly celebration of a mass to many in to it or which you simply do not assimilate it fully.
They brought up Ecclesiastest 9:5 (For a vital know which they will die, yet a passed know nothing; they have no serve reward, as well as even a mental recall of them is forgotten.) as well as Genesis 2:16-17 (And a LORD God ordered a man, “You have been giveaway to eat from any tree in a garden; yet you contingency not eat from a tree of a believe of great as well as evil, for when you eat of it you will certainly die.”). They pronounced which a passed have been wakeful of nothing, so you can’t be in Heaven or ruin since a passed aren’t wakeful as well as can’t do anything, as well as which once male (Adam) ate of a tree of believe he would certainly die as well as turn dust.
So you referred to which you believed a genocide He spoke of was a devout genocide as well as yet a physique earnings to dirt a essence continues on. We brought up Isaiah 14:9-11 (9 The grave next is all during large to encounter you during your coming; it rouses a intoxicating beverage of a over to hail you, all those who were leaders in a world; it creates them climb from their thrones, all those who were kings over a nations. They will all respond, they will contend to you, “You additionally have turn weak, as you are; you have turn similar to us.” All your resplendence has been brought down to a grave, along with a sound of your harps; maggots have been widespread out underneath you as well as worms cover you.) as well as 1 Peter 3:18-20 (For Christ died for sins once for all, a moral for a unrighteous, to move you to God. He was put to genocide in a physique yet done alive by a Spirit, by whom additionally he went as well as preached to a intoxicating beverage in jail who disobeyed prolonged ago when God waited patiently in a days of Noah whilst a ark was being built. In it usually a couple of people, 8 in all, were saved by water…).
We suspicion it was flattering cut as well as dry as well as you even had alternative verses ready to do; they simply told us which you were, again, celebration of a mass to many in to this as well as afterwards brought up something about a physique is done up of nerves which allows us to feel as well as if a physique is returning to dirt as well as you have been usually intoxicating beverage so how can you feel anything? you referred to which God creates all probable as well as could pattern a souls to action though a physique being means to feel as well as reason. After which they asked if you had beheld which many Bible’s do not make use of a name of God, Jehovah, similar to it was used in strange Greek/Hebrew Bibles as well as they never answered a questions after they fast altered a topic. Each time you move up verses similar to this, ones they can’t simply turn to their beliefs, they now find a pointed proceed to shift a theme as well as never answer a questions.
How should you proceed them? Any tips for traffic with them? Is it value it? I’ve been told which they will reason to what a Watch Tower has taught them no make a difference how many a Bible contradicts them as well as there is zero you can do. As a Christian I’m taught to widespread a Word of God, yet if it won’t volume anything should you give up?
Thanks in Advance!
Tagged with: Bible • Help • jehovah's • Need • Some • Study • With • Witnesses
Filed under: Course Learning
PLEASE do not let them take scripture out of context.
First, God told Adam and Eve…the DAY you eat of this fruit, you WILL surely die. We see from scripture that satan took GOD out of context and said “Did God really say?” The fact is that death is not the cessation of life…it is separation. When our body dies, our soul is separated from it. When our soul dies (from not having trusted in Christ, our soul is separated from God for eternity.
Now we can see from Adam and Eve’s reactions after they disobeyed that there was a separation from God…they hid from Him, yet they lived for many years afterword.
Paul also told is that for him to die would be GAIN. I ask…would Paul thought it was a gain to die and not be here to tell of the gospel of Jesus Christ if he was just going to be in a grave somewhere?
But lets go back to Ecclesiastes 9 but lets go back to verse 2
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
My suggestion? RUN from the WT as fast as you can and come to JESUS for salvation! This is what we do to have eternal life according to the Biblehttp://www.shatterdmen.com/first_step.ht…
Here we see that we all have one thing in common…we will die. It happens to the good and the wicked. but lets go on.
3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
then in verse 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Wow…did you notice that….in verse 3 we are told that what happens to one group..will happen to all..and now we see this:
neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
In short…if the WT is right..we are ALL doomed!
But notice a very important key phrase…under the sun! This shows that we do not know what is happening HERE amoung those still alive on earth. Luke 16 and many other verses show we sure do in another place. In Luke 16 the rich man died and we are told that in hell he lifted up his eyes and he was in torments. Sure sounds like he knew something was happening. Meanwhile Abraham was able to respond to this rich man so I guess he knew something was going on too.
Try this link. Scroll down to the stuff on JW’s. It should help:http://www.catholic.com/library/noncatho…
tell them if they wanna talk to you they gotta come in and drink a shot a whiskey
there a pain and wont change there opinion don’t bother with them
One problem is that they confuse or deliberately misuse the TWO very different Greek words dealing with hell and the grave. It doesn’t help that the kjv did some of the same, mistranslating hades as “hell” in numerous passages.
Hades, analogous to sheol in Hebrew, is simply the grave, the realm of the dead in general. Gehenna on the other hand is a place of torment or punishment.
The next issue is that TIME is NOT AN ELEMENT of the spiritual realm, but the physical. The spirit apart from the body does not experience the passage of time. It gets a bit into theoretical physics, and as time-bound creatures, we have trouble wrapping our minds around not experiencing time, but the idea does fit with everything in scripture dealing with the subject.
The only way I have found to deal with their false teaching/indoctrination is to tie them to a particular context so tightly they can’t squirm away from it… “I don’t care what X says, what does Y SAY HERE ABOUT THIS?”
You can snag them on the organizations several dozen very public false prophecies and their take on the kingdom and end times… Their kingdom view clearly contradicts Mark 9:1 – When? and eschatology contradicts 2Peter 3:7ff – Where? (earth DESTROYED)
avoid them….they cant hear you…
Narrow is the gate leading off into every lasting life and few will find it. Your on the right track with your studies, don’t invite the demons to discourage you. This is exactly what he wants. Remember that only 8 people did escape the flood. Keep up your studies and get to the meetings and every question you have will be answered in time. You cannot plant seeds and expect fruit the next day.
Please consider this:
You can argue endlessly about getting all of the animals in the Ark, How did they get to the ark, What did they do with all of the poo… etc. But that was a long time ago and no one alive today was there. However, there is evidence that is here today that bears on the flood as revealed in the Bible.
If there had been a Noah’s ark where all animals were reduced to just two individuals – one male and one female – then the genetic variability, within all species (kind), of all animals existing today would be essentially ZERO. All animals, all over the world today, would suffer the same problem of a lack of genetic variability that the Cheetah does today. The genes of Cheetahs are so similar, one to another, that when skin grafts between non-related Cheetahs are made there is no rejection of the donor skin.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_var…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheetah
Yet, this is not what is found. Only a few species (kinds) have the problem of low genetic variability. Cheetahs experienced a near extinction about 10,000 years ago (down to perhaps less than ten individuals). Today they have almost no genetic variability within the species because of that near extinction.
Yet, the millions of animals around the world don’t suffer from this problem. That is because they were never reduced to just two individuals 5000 years ago. They were never on an ark. There never was a general flood that caused all life, except for two of a kind of every animal, to perish. The very genes inside you and I proclaim that fact.
It is obvious that the story of Noah’s ark is a wonderful story – but just a story. It is a story of man’s sinful nature and of Both God’s impatience with man and of God’s love for man as indicated by his regret and promise not to repeat the event.
That does not reduce the importance of the story for it is a beautiful story of God’s love for us and of his justice and regret. It is just not accurate, but it are not supposed to be. The Bible is about God’s love and about how to live a righteous life and achieve everlasting life. Don’t dishonor God by using and interpreting his written word incorrectly.
I have found that in studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses (or any similar false teachers), the tactic they use is to switch as quickly as possible the topic under discussion when they have no support from the scripture. I simply do my best not to allow them to switch the topic, but force them to remain on the subject.
Unfortunately, you will not convince anyone who has no desire to know the truth. Remember Jesus said:
Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
Thank you for your question. It is such a good one. What I am about to say does not come from a Watchtower. The following comes from God’s word the Bible. I encourage you to pick up yours, please, and consider this information in its light.
After settling Adam in the Garden, and providing him with all manner of food, God told Adam this: [all scriptures are taken from the beloved King James Version, lest anyone repeat the usual allegation that Jehovah’s Witnesses use some odd distorted Bible translation.
“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17 King James Version.
Here, God plainly states both the command that Adam must obey and the resulting punishment if he does not. We may reasonably infer that so long as Adam obeyed he would live since death is introduced only as a punishment for disobedience. Do we reasonably believe that if he remained obedient, Adam would only live spiritually? Or do we understand, as did Adam, that he would continue to live literally, physically? Physically, yes? Continuing on . . .
If we say Adam is made up of soul and body, which sinned? The soul? Then why must the body be destroyed? If we say the body sinned, then why must the soul be punished? If we say the body sinned but the soul cannot live without the body so the soul must be punished too, then upon what do we base a dichotomy of body and soul in the first place? There is no basis.
God plainly told Adam each outcome for whichever path he chose. If Adam’s disobedience led merely to a ’spiritual’ death, why did God not tell Adam that? God plainly communicated with Adam about everything – why would he leave this out if it were so? If Adam would live on elsewhere, why did God not tell him this? If Adam would live on in heaven, that would hardly be a punishment for disobedience? If Adam lived on in a torturous hellfire, that would be a contradiction of what God told him.
Well, what DID God tell Adam upon Adam’s disobedience? “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Genesis 3:19 King James Version
According to God himself, Adam was from where? The dust. And where was he returning? To the dust. What was Adam made out of? Dust. Where in this scripture does God mention one location for Adam’s soul and another for his body? Nowhere. Reasoning further, if something survives the death of the body, what need is there of a resurrection? Jesus mentions this wondrous event numerous times: in the fifth chapter of John. It is a promise that holds out hope. Paul defends the doctrine in 2 Corinthians chapter 15. But if something survives death, what need is there of a resurrection? Because truly we can see that resurrection is for dead people, not living people.
I don’t think you should give up. I think you should continue. Two studies is hardly a sufficient basis upon which to make such a decision.
Hannah J Paul
First of all, they are teaching you from a book that interpets the bible to their way of thinking. Most of the study is based from one of their publications and not from the bible. Their doctrine does not fit any known bible so they had to write their own bible to fit their doctrine. If you are seking advice, please heed the warnings, the Jehovah’s witnesses are a cult and they are not Christians. What ever church that you were going to, go back there and speak with them about your situation. Get away before they get you sucked into their way of thinking it is a strong cult and they have a very strong system that works to decieve you. Get out, run, read your bible and see your minister of your church. They will tell you that your church is part of Christendom and the system of things which is run by Satan. That is out right false. I can not stress enough for you to get out. If you would like some good reading on the subject, go to http://www.jwfacts.com you will fine it interesting, but don’t tell them you are reading it as they will be very upset about it. Get away from that cult, it is a cult!!!!!
“Jehovah’s Witness” is a cult that uses a distorted version of the Bible that isn’t the TRUE Bible. They reject the truth that Jesus is God, and they reject the one way of salvation by faith alone in Jesus. Instead they teach their works for salvation, but it is a false gospel that leads to eternal hell (Galatians 1:6-9).
“Jehovah’s Witness” cannot save, but leads to eternal hell.
Only JESUS saves, the true Jesus, who is God Himself.
Hi, I was raised as a JW. I have two suggestions for you:
Join an online forum for Christian cult apologetics:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Freedom_Be…
Find out if there is anyone in your area that might be able to help:http://defendingyourdoorstep.com/I_NEED_…
You can also email me if you like.
The Word of God says “there will be false prophets in the last days”. Burn the Watchtowers, stop the meetings and quit poisoning your minds. I am so glad you are Christians because this means you have the Holy Spirit to keep you grounded. Find a Christian church, join their Bible study and forget everything you have heard from them. I am moved by you bringing up scriptures and challenging them cause what you said they did as far as changing the subject or say you’re reading too much into it clearly shows the manipulation and their technique. I am speaking from experience because I had a co-worker who tried the same thing on me and took the time to explain a lot of her beliefs and it all contradicted all my beliefs. So I know what you are going through. This says to me, you already have doubts. So don’t be sucked in my their persuasive rhetoric. It is filled with a lot of deceipt. This is work of the devil. He twists the truth of the Word and confusion and the Word says: Satan is the author of confusion”. Allow the Lord to minister to you and your spouse and ask Him for guidance but in the meantime, put on the whole armor of God, stand fast. Next time, be kind to them and stand up to them and simply tell them you are not interested without having to explain. Ask them to respect your wishes. They also believe Jesus was only a prophet and not the Son of God. Paul said: “Absent in the body and present in the Lord” so forget all that mumbo jumbo and I will keep you all in prayer as God takes complete control of your spiritual journey.
As a Witness for over 20years i can tell you that a so called discussion is not a two way deal with the JW’s…they will ask only to try and catch you out and any questions you ask them will be quickly discredited….simply put,they firmly believe that you are a part of Satan’s system and they being JW’s are privileged to have the truth and know everything that needs to be known in order to gain everlasting life.
Do yourself a big favor and politely tell them that the Holy Spirit is answering your questions as God purposed…they cannot argue with the power of the Holy Spirit…..discredit it maybe…but deny it’s power? No
I’ve found that the best way to deal with any of the “door-to-door” set is to witness by deed. Invite them in, be unfailingly polite and hospitable, live your truth. Words do not matter as much as behavior that prompts questioning about the source of your peace and confidence.
You are right they get all their info from the Watchtower. I was reading a question recently (but I dont know where it is now,) anyway some other person on here had posted a link on “converting JW’s to Christianity”, it was very informative. The first thing they suggested was you have to discredit their source, i.e. the Watchtower. Point out all the inaccuracy’s, and corrections, and misleading things that the Watchtower has been forced to correct over the last 50 years or so.
They are taught that nothing is “the truth” unless it is approved by the Watchtower, but the watchtower has made so many mistakes over the years, if you can plant a seed of doubt in their minds about “the mothership”, possibly they would be open to hear you side of things.
Don’t think fr a second that you are too educated to get caught up in a cult. More learned people than you have been swept away.
I was a Witness for over 30 years, served in Bethel, pioneered, was an elder and a missionary. I will tell you this in all seriousness:
You will never win a debate with them using the Bible. The reason is that they believe that only the Faithful and Discreet Slave, the annointed remnant on earth (in practical terms the Governing Body and writers of the Watchtower) OWN the Bible, and are alone in having the RIGHT to discrern the scriptures.
In other words, what they say GOES. End of story, no debate. In fact JWs are not ALLOW TO DEBATE WITH YOU. THEY WILL NOT TOLERATE IT VERY LONG. EVENTUALLY THEY WILL END THE STUDY THEMSELVES. Sorry about caps.)
Make sure you spend EQUAL TIME reading and studying the books by Freed Jehovah’s Witnesses, like the book Crisis Of Conscienxe by Ray Franz a former member of the Governing Body, a whistle blower. Captives of a Concept by Cameron. Combattong Cult Mind Control by Steve Hassan and Gentile Times Reconsidered by ?? Also, Apocalypse Delayed by Penton.
Good luck and becareful. I would hate to see you become a worshipper of a magazine.
I can answer any of your questions. Email me and I will give you my number. If you want to overcome their arguments, even after my comments, I can help you do that as well.
But I will reiterate, you are basically having a Bible study with a couple of stones. You will never penetrate their conditioning with argument. It just doesn’t work in 99% of cases.
As to the soul thing, it looks like you already have some adequate answers for them. There is nothing to improve on. You asked “Is it worth it?
The Bible cautions, those having dealings with stupid ones will fare badly. Close contact with these people, letting them into your homes and families will only cause irreparable harm. They can destroy your family.
You cannot trust what they say either, They are programmed to lie. Just look at some past questions and answers and you will see how they never really answer a question directly and deflect deflect deflect, sidestep, two-step do a jig… anything but give a direct answer.
When they do sometimes give a direct answer, it is usually a lie.
Especially look at questions that ask if JWs believe they are the only trut religion, and will non-JWs survive Armageddon as well as Freed JWs. This is the area where what they say in private does not match up with what they say in public. In private they have conversations about moving into the houses of the wealthy dead who were killed in Armageddon. They drive around in their cars doin return visits commenting on which house they would like to live in once the current owners are killed by God.
Once again, good luck, and be careful. They are very crafty.
My suggestion? You’ve only had two studies, give it some time. Rather than argue, listen to what they have to teach you. Ask your questions, but realize that your relationship with them in young now, and that they may well be able to answer all of your questions, but doing so immediately is premature if they haven’t given you any background regarding how many scriptures say something other than what you have been taught.
I’ve studied with people and It can be a little frustrating at first because they have so many questions and what they are seeing from the Bible may be all new to them.
The Bible is NOT a book of confusion. But it has to be studied with an open heart, one that is willing to see what it teaches without prejudice. Trying to explain EVERYTHING all at once to someone when they don’t yet have the background is difficult. It is better to take it slow, to stay on topic and to let them know that ALL of their questions and arguments can and will be answered given time, but that a foundation has to be laid first. You have to learn basic truths as the Bible teaches them or else there is nowhere to go, no “place” to build on.
They aren’t brushing aside your questions, they are just trying to give you some time to absorb the ones they have shown you first. Wait awhile and ask them again, but only ones ON the topic you are discussing now. Going all over the map of possible subjects makes it impossible to learn (or teach) anything.
I was a JW for 15 years and an elder. But I left the religion almost four years ago. Here is my letter explaining why. Good luck!
While this is a rather lengthy letter of disassociation that I will be turning in to the local body of elders shortly; it carefully lays out why I no longer believe this is the one sole truth on the earth today. This is not based on having some axe to grind with any particular people or specific experiences (though I have plenty of those too). Instead, my decision to leave is based solely on a reasonable, logical, carefully thought out foundation. One that may have been initiated by our position regarding blood transfusions. But as you can read, one that has since turned into so much more than just that.
All the best, vinny
Dear Brothers,
I am writing to share with you the recent turn of events, which have caused some very significant changes in certain viewpoints that I hold to, and in my life altogether. I truly believe that I have always been a zealous person for Jehovah throughout my entire life in the truth. I have been baptized for over 15 years now, since June of 1990, with another three years of studying before baptism.
My family and I have always been regular at the meetings (as you all well know), regular and active in service, always present at our assemblies and conventions. We’ve always participated in our Kingdom Hall cleaning and maintenance assignments. We auxiliary pioneered often. I have served as an Elder for many years. I served as a magazine assistant and then servant years ago, did the literature for a while, handled the territory for years, as well as a couple years doing the accounts. I never refused a privilege (that I can recall) and like many of you have given more talks than I can remember. I conducted book studies as well as the Theocratic Ministry School during my years as an elder.
My life in, and appreciation for the truth has always been something I valued tremendously. I’ve also made it a point to have a regular family-study with my wife and kids. I always tried to make the studies enjoyable and somewhat entertaining. Whenever they did make mistakes or developed less-spiritual attitudes, I always counseled, encouraged and tried to help them. When they made serious mistakes, in addition to my own corrective and helpful measures, I helped them to see the need to also go forward by going to the elders and getting the necessary discipline and counsel.
Nothing was ever to be hidden. We all regularly participated in the meetings as well. I always invited my family to try to share at least one comment at each meeting if at all possible. I almost always kept up with the day’s text and weekly bible reading schedule too. We socialized extensively, with more sleepovers and get-togethers than can be remembered. We were often one of the last ones to leave the Kingdom Hall after meetings. There have never been any doubts about my love for Jehovah. He has always been very real to me. My relationship with him is now and has always been very special to me!
Recently however, I’ve had some issues come up into my life that have challenged these convictions, my core beliefs and even my explicit trust in the organization itself. I have always simply “trusted” what the faithful slave teaches us even if I did not necessarily understand particular viewpoints. Back in early 1990 for example, when I was going over my baptism questions, I remember not being fully convinced of the society’s position regarding no blood transfusions. During that second set of questions at my house, the elder suggested that I just try to trust the Society’s direction for now (since this was the only serious doubt that I had) and perhaps later on down the road I would begin to see our position on this issue more clearly. Well, I did just what he suggested. If the organization can be right about a paradise earth, condition of the dead, rejection of the Trinity etc etc, I figured it must be right about this issue as well. After all, we do believe this is the only organization Jehovah is truly using today. Trusting it was always easy for me. No questions asked!
Well, while keeping up with the news one day back in November, I noticed there was a very flattering article on the MSNBC News Website front page; the title of the article was “Jehovah’s Roofing Service”. It was about Jehovah’s Witnesses volunteering to put on a new roof for a Hurricane Katrina victim. The article was so encouraging that I e-mailed it to many friends in the truth; something I rarely do if at all. At the bottom of that article however, I noticed people were publicly commenting about the article itself.
After the first day there were perhaps some 30 comments. The next day there were over 100. After a few more days they finally capped the comments off with almost three hundred altogether. Some were critical, (mostly “the Witnesses only help their own” variety) a few were casual and nice, but most were from other Witnesses like us, defending the truth against these so-called “critics”. In fact I too at one point sent in a comment defending the truth, though it was never posted since there were many others similar to it. There was one comment near the end however, that stopped to make me think several times throughout the next few weeks. It actually shook my faith a bit you might say. It presented negative comments about the truth that I had never heard of before. So much so, that I had to look up Watchtower and Awake articles to verify if these statements were in fact true. Well, after a little research, I found out that these comments were indeed true.
One of the claims had to do with the Golden Age magazine (now the Awake) years ago saying that vaccinations were not allowed for Jehovah’s Witnesses. The article said that accepting a vaccine was: “a crime, an outrage, and a delusion”. It also said that the smallpox vaccination itself would: “cause syphilis, cancers, leprosy and many other loathsome diseases”. For 21 years the Society did not allow vaccinations for Jehovah’s Witnesses. I had never heard of this before. Even more of an issue for me from this same comment, was that I learned from 1967 to 1980, the Society also forbid Jehovah’s Witnesses from accepting organ transplants. Going so far as calling it “cannibalism”. The consequences for those accepting an organ transplant was disfellowshipping; complete shunning for those that did not follow this decree. After over 12 years, the society did finally reverse this, instead making it a “conscience matter”. My immediate thoughts after learning about these two facts were; I wonder how many people died from following the Society’s direction regarding these two medical procedures? This information bothered me quite a bit.
Since 1945 blood transfusions have been completely unacceptable for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since 1961, disfellowshipping was the consequence. This position against blood transfusions has been well publicized with numerous articles throughout the years in many of the Society’s publications. Transfusing certain “fractions of blood” has just recently become a “conscience matter”, rather than forbidden. Storing our own blood for an operation, as well as donating our own to the world’s blood supply have always been condemned as well. As I have already mentioned here, I have always been uneasy with this particular position by the society that blood transfusions (even as a last resort) are not allowed. However, like I also mentioned above, I have always simply taken the position to “trust the Society” with issues like this that I may not have agreed with nor fully understood. Realizing now however, from this newer information to me that the society has made incorrect stands in the past regarding vaccinations and organ transplants (and since reversed these), has caused an even greater sense of concern in my mind over this issue regarding blood transfusions today. After coming to learn about these things I have since dedicated enormous amounts of time and efforts to come to a better understanding of this position both in the eyes of the Society, as well as from the medical community during the last few months. I have researched and studied and compared notes from too many articles to list here.
I have extensively compared scriptures from several bible translations to try to gain the fullest understanding possible. Because of the fact that people have died, and will continue to do so, it is imperative to me that I fully understand the reasons for our position. Though my children are now fully grown up and can make their own educated decisions, I still actively participate in the door-to-door ministry encouraging others to join us in worshiping Jehovah as his Witnesses. This position of abstaining from blood transfusions could very well affect those that I might happen to bring into the organization or their children. After many months now of continuous soul-searching, prayer, exhaustive research and meditation/reflection of this research, I have come to the firm conclusion that the society’s position to abstain from blood transfusions is in error. Just like it was on vaccinations and organ transplants prior, which have since been reversed. I base this conclusion on many factors, which include:
*** A blood *transfusion* is not the same as eating or drinking blood as has been illustrated with the: “If a doctor told you to abstain from alcohol, but instead of drinking it, you transfused it into your veins…” illustration that the society often uses. If a person was starving to death and was given multiple blood transfusions instead of food, he would still die. A transfusion of blood replaces the volume of blood lost (much like replacing an organ) which is needed to sustain life, nothing more. No nourishment is gained by a blood transfusion, as would be the case when eating or drinking the blood, which is forbidden. This illustration often used by the society does apply with alcohol and other digestible foods, but not for blood. It simply stays in your system indefinitely.
*** The scriptures in both the Hebrew and Greek sections of the bible, which say: “blood must be drained out” and to, “abstain from… blood” were always referring directly to the eating or drinking of animal blood. The blood of the animal that had been killed was to be “poured out” rather than eaten or drank. This token act of faith demonstrated to Jehovah that the life that had been taken belongs to him. The blood of the animal represents the life of that animal. Humans do have the right to take animals for food only because the creator allows us to do so. Pouring out the blood first, acknowledges this arrangement. By including modern day blood transfusions in the current application of these verses however (which is not the same as eating or drinking of animal blood), the society is going beyond what is actually written in its application. In addition, the one supplying the blood for a transfusion has not died at all, which was always the case when an animal was bled. A “living” donor instead provides the needed volume of blood-fluid that has been lost for another “living” individual. And in many cases over the years, as a last resort this has been and can still be a life-saving medical act. In other cases by refusing this particular medical treatment because of our stand against blood transfusions, lives have been and will continue to be lost. Is this what Jehovah wants, and is this premature loss of life really necessary?
*** We can also learn something about this from Jesus very own example. Jesus was also willing to perform miracles on the Sabbath (something against the mosaic law) in order to save lives, or even just heal the sick. Would not Jesus have made an exception then to a dietary rule in order to save a human life? In Luke 14:5-6, the bible account says: “And he said to them: “Who of YOU, if his son or bull falls into a well, will not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” 6 And they were not able to answer back on these things.” The account in Mathew 12:11 goes even further, it says: “So they (Pharisees) asked him “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?” that they might get an accusation against him. 11 He said to them: “Who will be the man among YOU that has one sheep and, if this falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not get hold of it and lift it out? 12 All considered, of how much more worth is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do a fine thing on the Sabbath.” If Jesus was willing to value the life of an ANIMAL enough to rescue that animal’s life despite this “work” being done on a Sabbath, how much more so then should the life of a human being be given priority over the strict interpretation of the law? Well, we need not really ask since Jesus answered this himself when he said in verse 12, “All considered, of how much more worth is a man than a sheep!”. Yes rescuing a sheep from a pit on the sabbath is the loving and merciful thing to do. Additionally, Jesus performed many other miraculous works on the Sabbath. Yet to work on the Sabbath was to bring the death penalty upon oneself. And in fact, the scriptures actually record this penalty being meted out to a Sabbath violator. (See Exodus 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36. Here we see clear evidence though that Jesus appreciated the principle that love triumphs over law. That when life is at stake, (even an animal’s life), rules can be set aside as circumstances require. LIFE is valuable and precious. Jesus showed this love for life and people over and over. While by contrast the oppressive, rule-keeping religious leaders often missed the entire purpose of the law. By not allowing a blood transfusion to be given, especially in last-resort situations, but rather allowing these ones to die instead, is the proper “respect” for life being shown as Jesus clearly demonstrated? Imagine if this involved allowing one of “our own” to die due to such a strict stand by the society.
*** I’ve also appreciated another example that demonstrates this same “principle” of Jesus’ valuing a person’s life over the written law. It had to do with the woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years. Under the Mosaic Law a running discharge made her “unclean”, and anyone even touching her would also have to wash and be considered unclean until evening. However, she went even further than this by actually touching Jesus garment secretly in hopes of getting healed without anyone knowing. Jesus as we know, perceived that power went out from him and realized what she had done. Others too were watching. Notice though, that rather than condemn this woman for what she did, Jesus instead compassionately tells her: “Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, be in good health from your grievous sickness….” Once again we can see the spirit of the law (and the value of a human life) taking precedence over the supposed letter of the law, which the woman had clearly broken.
*** Acts 15:28-29 (which is the foundation scripture for society’s position against blood transfusions since the Mosaic Law is no longer in force -this too is the society’s view-) reads: 28 “For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!” The society considers this to be an all-encompassing, absolute, eternal command. However, notice that along with abstaining from blood, we also hear the command to abstain from “*things sacrificed to idols*” Now, if you read 1 Corinthians 8:4-8, we can see that Paul there helps the reader to see that the “eating of food sacrificed to idols” was really a conscience matter. Obviously then, the Acts 15:28-29 could not have such a broad, absolute, universal meaning since another part of that same scripture is considered a conscience matter by the apostle Paul in another verse. This decision instead was rendered so that the newer “Gentile” Christians would be conscious not to stumble the more traditional Jewish Christians, many of which were still rooted in Mosaic Law. The decision was acknowledged that they were not under Mosaic Law any longer. However to prevent unnecessarily stumbling of these traditional Jewish Christians, this decree was given. This is also how most bible scholars today understand these verses. The account at Acts 21:20-32 gives further evidence that this decree was given because the older, traditional Jewish Christians were being stumbled, since once again this very same prohibition found at Acts 15:28, 29 is repeated ten years later in Acts 21:25. Notice specifically how verses 24 brings out that this decree was given because the Jewish Christians thought Paul had discarded all Jewish law and customs which were causing these Jewish Christians to be upset and stumbled. Paul’s words quoted above at 1 Cor 8:4-8 once again only adds further evidence that this command was not an eternal, universal law from God since again, he there states that “eating foods sacrificed to idols” (also included in Acts 15:28,29 along with blood) is a personal decision for each individual Christian. The command to abstain from fornication however is an absolute, eternal, universal command, since it is clearly repeated often throughout the Christian Greek scriptures. Not the case at all regarding blood. Nowhere else is this mentioned. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Galatians 5: 19-21 contain many specific warnings for Christians, but blood is not one of them. Nor is it mentioned anywhere else in the Greek scriptures. And even if it were considered a universal, eternal command, which clearly it is not, that decree then would be regarding the EATING of animal blood, and not the receiving of blood fluid from a living human donor to another living human donor.
*** If consuming blood was such a capitol offense, why were Saul’s men not executed when they fell to eating blood along with the meat? (1 Sam. 14:31-35)
*** I also wanted to find out how the most traditional, conservative and orthodox Jews today felt about accepting blood transfusions, since they still object to any traces of blood in their meat and other strict dietary guidelines from the bible by insisting on kosher foods. After researching, I found out that they DO accept blood transfusions, considering these bible commands to be based on the eating and drinking of animal blood; something a blood transfusion is not.
*** Another thing that now clouds the blood transfusion issue altogether for me is the 2000 decree that certain blood “fractions” are now permissible. Many of these are now considered a “conscience matter”. Just a few years ago most of these were forbidden. I have studied this very carefully and thoroughly as well. Some of these “fractions” take far more blood and donors to make them, than accepting the whole blood unaltered takes. Some hemophiliac treatments for example, (which have been long permitted) require the collection and storage of massive quantities of blood (up to 2500 blood donors for a single treatment). These are not just some made-up numbers thrown out here, but can be easily verified. Other more common “fractions” still require many liters of blood, from many different people to donate. It is often just a “concentrated” form of blood. These facts bring up two different, problematic issues in my mind then. For one, how can we say that we as Jehovah’s Witnesses “abstain from blood”, since all of these fractions that Watchtower Society now permits like albumin, EPO, hemoglobin, blood serums, Immunoglobulins, and hemophiliac treatments (clotting factors VIII & IX) clearly tap into the world’s blood supply and can be (and are) used by Jehovah’s Witnesses today? And two, if then, we as Jehovah’s Witnesses can with a clear conscience now USE these fractions that come from the blood supply, why are we then forbidden from donating to this same blood supply that we now are allowed to tap into? And, why are we still not allowed to store our own blood? The pouring of blood “back to the ground” was long ago nailed to the torture stake when Jesus sacrificed his life; hence we are no longer under that Mosaic series of laws. It sure appears to me then, that we no longer abstain from blood, and can and do dip into the worlds blood supply, often in great quantity, yet we are still not allowed to put back into this same supply, nor can we store our own blood.
Another problem with “fractions” (for me) is that certain fractions such as “Albumin” ARE acceptable by the society, but others making up even smaller amounts are not. “Albumin” for example is a blood plasma protein that is produced in the liver and forms a large proportion of all plasma protein. This “authorized” fraction, Albumin, however makes up just 2.2 percent of the whole blood and again IS approved by the society today. White blood cells on the other hand are NOT allowed, not authorized by the society, yet these white blood cells make up less that one percent of whole blood. White blood cells are absolutely needed to fight infections and are often very important for accident and post-surgical patients. Yet again, these white blood cells are not acceptable by the society. Another fraction, Blood “Platelets” are needed to help cause clotting, so people do not bleed to death (especially important with chemotherapy, other cancer treatments and hemophiliacs). Yet platelets are another fraction NOT authorized. Platelets make up only .17 percent of whole blood. That’s not even one quarter of one percent, (a far smaller portion than albumin). Yet these platelets are forbidden by the Society. I have read the literature and fail to see the logic of this “approved” and “disapproved” list with no explanations anywhere. It’s also worth noting that if you add up all of the fractions that ARE acceptable by the society, you come up with a total of 97 percent of what makes up whole blood that is pumping through our veins right now. However, these cannot be taken together as whole blood, but must be instead broken down and taken separately, in minute fractions. It has been compared before to being allowed to eat ham, bread and cheese, as long as they’re kept and eaten separately. Yet not being allowed to eat them together for instance as a ham and cheese sandwich. I just fail to see the reasonableness in this kind of doctrine. “Hemopure” is an acceptable blood-product that Jehovah’s Witnesses are allowed to use. It is made from purified bovine, or in simpler terms, Cow’s Blood. How can we as humans be allowed to use this purified animal blood today, yet not be allowed to use our own blood, or that of another living human donor?
So then, when I add up all of the facts listed above here; that blood transfusions are not the same as eating blood. That the scriptures themselves are always referring to the “eating or drinking” of animal blood that is forbidden (not transfusions). How Paul shows at 1 Corinthians. 8:4-8 that the Acts 15:29 command is not all encompassing command but had a particular purpose. That Saul’s men were not killed after eating blood. How the strictest of Jews today allow blood transfusions. That Jesus clearly demonstrated how life (even that of an animal) was more important than a narrow, strict interpretation of the law, with the “animal that fell into a pit on the Sabbath” illustration he used, and the “Woman with a flow of blood” real-life example. How the one donating blood is a LIVE donor and offering this blood to another person that is also alive and in need. That the Society was wrong before about forbidding vaccinations and organ transplants and then reversed these decisions. Many loyal Witnesses nonetheless died from such stands. And, the Society has now changed its position once again, instead of saying no to all blood, to now say “fractions” of blood are acceptable, even though the particular fractions approved and disapproved seem to have no particular rhyme or reason and we are still not allowed to donate blood nor store their own. Though we can use cow’s blood. It seems fairly easy for me then, to come to the conclusion that I can no longer support the society’s position on blood transfusions today. In fact I believe it was an erroneous decision from the beginning, and has only been made even more confusing and unstable with the latest “fractions” adjustments.
So, what does one do then? I do love the truth, and certainly the friends in the truth. I have no problems at all with any people in the truth and have spent almost half of my life now in the organization. I believe I get along with about everybody. No exaggerating. This is solely a personal position, a conscience matter regarding organizational policies that I can no longer agree with and accept. If a person I brought into the truth allowed one of their own to die because of this stand, that I helped them to take, I would have a difficult time living with myself. Not only can I no longer support this blood position with a clear conscience, but after thoroughly investigating, I believe it is truly wrong. I can also no longer with a clear conscience bring other people into the organization, since blood is a very integral and well-known position of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I cannot see a way around this. Even if the Society were to reverse itself entirely, how would anybody feel about losing a loved one during the last 60 years this has been in force, only to have the policy changed altogether? And what took them so long would be monumental issues in the eyes of many. Imagine how much work would be involved in overhauling all of the literature if this position were reversed. The Bible Topics for Discussion sections for example in the new world translation bibles would have to be changed, and many other things… too many to list here. So I cannot quite see this reversal happening anytime soon if at all. Though others feel a reversal is imminent.
What complicates this entire issue even further for me now, and adds another problem with the organization in my mind, is another entirely separate issue (which I also find greatly disturbing) that will follow my change of position here now. IF I cannot support this doctrine on blood any longer, and if I cannot with a clear conscience have my blood card signed to refuse blood transfusions, I would then be considered as having “disassociated” myself from the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses by this particular stand in and of itself. If another brother or sister were to ask me “why are you no longer going out in the ministry”, or “what has happened to you spiritually”, or things appear to have changed with you etc. etc.; if I were to reply to them by sharing my honest opinions about the organization’s past mistakes, and my opinions disagreeing with the Watchtower Society, I would then be disfellowshipped for Apostasy. This fact in itself does not sit too well with me since I have done nothing wrong here. I still love Jehovah; I love my wife and family. I do not drink, nor practice anything the bible tells me not to. I pay my taxes, try to live honestly and remain a good influence for my family and others. I have not changed as a person at all here. Yet because of a “conscience” issue, and because I can no longer support the society on what I truly believe is a flawed issue, I will be cut-off from my all of my brothers and sisters throughout the organization. This policy too, is just wrong! The Watchtower Society has stated in print several times that it is not infallible; that they DO make mistakes. Yet even though it admits mistakes have been made, it still insists that we as publishers accept whatever it teaches as if it were coming from God himself. Those that do not agree with these teachings and share those opinions (even though nothing else bad or unscriptural has been done) are subsequently disfellowshipped. Your life, as you know it, is ripped apart. To disfellowship another simply because that person might disagree with a particular interpretation of a teaching is not right, just or fair. Past history fully supports the idea that the society has been wrong before and can be wrong now. Organ transplants, vaccinations, end of the world predictions and other doctrinal errors to name just a few. Clearly they were wrong about these issues. Lives have been and are now involved with the current policy on blood transfusions. To be expected to fully support this policy or be expelled is just unreasonable and not in harmony with what we know about Jehovah. To encourage other people we meet in the ministry to “examine their religion”, yet at the same time to forbid us to do the same is nothing short of hypocritical. We are told that we can examine our faith, though this must be done “In-house”. In other words, only through the society’s publications can we examine our religion. Any other sources that are critical are considered apostate and dangerous. I consider this position by the organization to be very similar to my wanting to buy a new Nikon camera for example. Imagine if Nikon told me that I could ONLY use their-own reference material to gain information? Consumer Reports, Popular Photography or any other “Non-Partisan” publication would be completely off limits. And, if I did go to these “outside” sources, and shared any critical opinions/reviews with others, I would no longer be allowed to even buy their camera, plus other people who like Nikon cameras would have to now shun me altogether. How reasonable is this? This is exactly what the society is doing. Those that know me will tell you that whenever I make any type of serious purchase, I do my homework and extensive research. We just recently purchased a high-end scanner; I spent perhaps two months or more comparing scanners, reading reviews, learning as much as I possibly could about this piece of equipment before purchasing. If it is reasonable then to carefully “examine” the purchase of a piece of equipment, and it is reasonable to ask others in our ministry to carefully “examine” their own religion, why is it unreasonable then to carefully “examine” our own religion and means of worshiping God? And, if one does examine his faith and does find problems and then expresses these concerns about what he has learned, how can the “complete removal” of that person be considered anything but completely unfair?
This position also has nothing to do with my own son being disfellowshipped, though some I am sure will choose to believe otherwise. I will however add this information about this personal ordeal that brings to light another problem; After receiving a very emotional phone call from my disfellowshipped son thousands of miles away in September 2004, I was told by one of our elders that it was, “wrong for me to have accepted that phone call”. Instead he said I should have told him to “locate the elders in his territory” and that “we need to tighten up things around here in our congregation”. This was the most insensitive counsel that I have ever heard in my years in the truth. His mother had recently committed suicide just a couple of years before, he had just turned 18, was own his own for the first time in his life, disfellowshipped, was 5000 miles from home and felt extremely lonely, sad and despondent. Sure, I could have “turned down” that call all right. Who in his right frame of mind though would have done such a thing to their own son or daughter, in such a time of need? Then, nine months later, after discussing it with the rest of my family, we agreed to allow him to return to living in our house, from Maui. (This decision was due to his very deep depression, suicidal tendencies, a drug dependency problem, and having the ACL torn out in his knee…all at the same time). We agreed to allow him back home to get the help needed to get back on his feet, under very strict circumstances I might add (as the watchtower allows) which included his going to meetings, bringing no leaven into the home, turning his life back around by serving Jehovah, (which he did for six months by the way). I was then told by this same elder that my decision to allow him home was “cutting the hand of Jehovah short, and another big mistake”, and because of this erroneous decision on my part, I as his father “might be the one destroyed at Armageddon”. This same elder then took me off the watchtower reader’s list for the first time in my eight years living on this island. (I had no problem with this, but felt I should at least be told about it) When I inquired as to whether it was just a coincidence or by design that I was missing from that list, he told me that it was by “choice” and that there would be “more where that came from”. While this “list” of unreasonable responses about my helping my own son after his being disfellowshipped may seem completely unfair and far less than loving, the brother himself truly believed what he was doing was the correct thing. I will also add that there was very little personal resentment on either of our parts. He sincerely believed he was just doing what the society wanted. One of the things I cannot understand then, is how we as Jehovah’s Witnesses can spend enormous amounts of time assisting other people in our ministry -people that are often depressed, fighting addictions, language issues, living at times as we know very ungodly lives-, to do better and we ultimately give these ones the help and assistance needed so they can serve God in an acceptable manner. However, if one of our very OWN people or family members has been disfellowshipped, and happens to fall into a similar dangerous pattern (one that often begs for loving assistance now more than ever) we have minimal provisions at all to help these ones of our own to get back onto their feet. They in fact must be “cut off” and completely shunned by all at a time when many will actually need help the most. The example of my son above illustrates this well. For someone to lose their mother at such a young age (15) via a gun in her mouth, and then spiral into a course of rebellion is not that uncommon. But to completely have to cut that person off, without any assistance whatsoever from the congregation, when help is MOST needed at this time, is contrary to what the scriptures teach us about Jehovah. He continued to ask the Israelites to come back to him over and over. Even assisting these former rebels to gain his favor once again. Now, because this same individual (my son) now moves out of my home, I too, as his father, am expected to cut off all ties and association with him. Even keeping business dealings to a minimum. There are downtimes in our lives when we need help and support and love, rather than just blindly cutting these ones off indefinitely. Where is the balance, the love and the help in such a policy as this today? Even if these disfellowshipped ones did turn their course of life around, and did become married, faithful, honest etc. By not agreeing to go back to the meetings for six months (minimum) or sometimes much longer in this shunned state, and then to go back in front of a judicial committee for judging whether they have truly repented, these people would remain disfellowshipped for the rest of their lives.
This letter here and my changes in position toward the organization itself are not based on this situation with my son, or any other “personal” problems. It is solely because of my making a reasonable, logical and careful examination about certain policies that we as Jehovah’s Witnesses often blindly accept without questions. This change is not based on any personal problems or, my wanting to leave the organization. In fact leaving is the LAST thing I have even wanted to do. I have always valued the organization. After an exhaustive examination, that has taken many months to go through. And after coming to learn many things I did not know before when I was younger and much more nave than now. There are four specific issues that have changed my opinions about and support for the Watchtower Society today.
1 – For the many reasons clearly stated above, I am thoroughly convinced the position to abstain from blood transfusions is wrong. Lives, in my honest opinion, are needlessly lost because of this dangerously flawed doctrine. Allowing certain blood “fractions” since the year 2000 only complicates and muddies this position even further. Being allowed to USE some fractions from the world blood supply, but not being able to donate towards this same supply, nor store my own blood for medical use, only adds the additional element of hypocrisy to this stand that Jehovah’s Witnesses are known the world over for taking. The lack of reasons why some fractions are allowed and other (though smaller) fractions are not allowed adds further to the quandary the society has found itself in today. This stand usually does not give a good witness nor leave a positive impression on people’s minds at all.
2 – The Society has a lengthy history of other doctrinal mistakes and medical blunders such as not allowing vaccinations and organ transplants in the not so distant past. These mandates were wrong when they first came off the presses and they were wrong many years later when finally reversed. To attribute these flip-flops to “the light getting brighter” is just irresponsible. Jehovah does not change his mind like this. He is a “God of truth”… “Who cannot lie”. Imperfect men in positions of oversight have made these doctrinal decisions, which have caused lives to be cut short without justifiable reasons. There were no apologies made either. This poor historical record of mistakes only makes the current blood transfusion policy even more suspect. Implicit trust in an organization that has a track record of mistakes and errors like this is simply foolish, dangerous and irresponsible. Especially when we must force these policies on younger, inexperienced, helpless ones. To be forced into “practice sessions” with our young people so they can make a better stand against blood transfusions does not sound right either.
3 – The number of times the Society has predicted the “end of the world” is surprisingly large. I never knew just how often this was the case. The end of the system was predicted, in writing, in these years: 1874, 1875, 1881, 1888, 1914, 1915, 1918, (could occur in 1920), 1925, (“resurrection of Princes” in 1929), 1932, 1940, (“any day now” in 1942), (“why not now” in 1951), 1975, and before the generation that was born in 1914 dies, which was dropped in 1996 after it was clearly another false prediction. Every one of these predictions, in writing, has proved false. People sold homes, gave up opportunities to start families, secure employment, gave up opportunities for an education and instead spread a message of doom that was simply untrue with each prediction made. All of these failed. We really are known the world over for these continuous false “end of the world” prophecies. When looking up information from secular (non-apostate, such as encyclopedia) sources, each authority said basically the same thing; that Jehovah’s Witnesses are known the world over for our “many end of the world proclamations”, that did not come true. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 pointedly states this: “However, the prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded him to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. 21 And in case you should say in your heart: “How shall we know the word that Jehovah has not spoken?” 22 when the prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah and the word does not occur or come true, that is the word that Jehovah did not speak. With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him.’”
4 – Despite the numerous errors in doctrine, medical mistakes, end of the world false predictions and unscriptural blood transfusion bans that fill its pages of history, the society still demands full support of its policies and doctrines today. Notice this comment from a 5/1/72 WT (page 272): “That they [Jehovah's Witness] must adhere absolutely to the decisions and scriptural understandings of the Society because God has given it this authority over his people.” If this is God’s true and only channel, how then can they be so wrong, so often, on doctrine, medical issues, end of the world predictions, and yet still demand complete obedience from its members or face risk of complete shunning? If any baptized Witness *expresses* his thoughts (even if only as opinions) that are contrary to what is taught in the Society’s publications right now, they will be disfellowshipped for disrupting unity. Squashed like a bug. This “squelching mechanism” that I like to call it keeps an unhealthy fear in its rank and file members to stay in line. Losing all contact with friends and family is just too much to bear for many. Life as you know it is gone. In addition, we are also told time and again not to even consider looking at outside sources. All of this “outside material” is called “apostate literature.” The term “Apostate” applies based on one simple criterion; is it critical of the organization? Most sources critical of the organization are not apostate. They are secular; and they are often simply stating the facts about this organization. Facts, that the society does not want its members to know anything about. Our examining the society can ONLY be done, we are told, if it is done within the organization. So, by not being allowed to examine our own faith through outside sources, and by having the ever-present threat of disfellowshipping hovering over us if we were to speak critically of the organization, most Jehovah’s Witnesses do not even know about these many issues that I have just posted above. As a nearly 20 year member, I too never knew many of these things (because we are told not to) until I finally decided to examine based on the unusual circumstances mentioned above about seeing an article on a national news website that allowed critical comments about the organization after the article. Comments that shook my faith so much I decided to investigate things further. Comments that I was not supposed to look at not even think about because they are called “Apostate”.
Additionally, I have other (though perhaps less serious) issues that raise doubts in my mind as well. For example, many of the brothers are far more concerned about their “positions” than they are with the genuine well being of the PEOPLE in the congregations. Over and over I have seen this clearly demonstrated. It is sad to watch.
Nowhere is it more obvious that when the circuit overseer visits twice each year. The manner in which many people change for these visits regarding their comments, showing up for service, finally arriving on time and being friendlier is remarkably transparent at times. Also, having to count our time each month and then turn in that time to the headquarters just seems to take away from the value of really wanting to talk to others. Service can at times just be about getting in our double-digit numbers rather than about truly helping people.
The real meaning of witnessing can be lost. I know of many others that feel this way as well. There just seems at times to be so many rules if one wants to remain in good standing. Brothers cannot grow any type of beards. Cannot even work on military or church buildings if self-employed. We’re not talking about worshiping there, but even performing a service in these places is forbidden.
We cannot even go into another church for a funeral or wedding of another friend, family member or relative. Our children are not allowed to play any organized sports or join other clubs in or out of school. We are “not encouraged” to get pschycological help for those that really need it. Sisters have to wear dresses at all meetings, service, assemblies etc. I realize many of these are minor to some, but they just illustrate the point that we are governed, as an organization by a set of many rules and regulations that are not all scriptural. This list can just go on and on.
Any ONE of these many issues that are listed above could raise serious doubts in my mind about whether this religion is in fact the one and only truth. However, when I add up ALL these issues together (and many more things not even listed here), I cannot help but come to the inescapable conclusion in my mind, that this is not the sole truth on the earth today. That this is not the one single organization used by God that I had always believed it to be.
This has been and will continue to be one of the most difficult things I have ever had to realize and accept. I do love the friends and have no ill feelings or animosity towards a single one. Not even one. This decision is not about people in this organization. I have many friends and have enjoyed my associations with all of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is instead about the “policies”, the doctrinal policies that my conscience will no longer allow me to be a part of. Yes, I still see positive things being accomplished by this organization and have tried to balance it all out before making any definitive decisions. So I am not one-sided when it comes to evaluating the organization and my own subsequent position on what to do.
I might compare this quandary I am in to something like driving a fancy sports car; there might be some truly “good” things it can do. Lots of power, great handling, maybe even a real beauty on the outside. But if you also knew it had these so-called “problems”; perhaps the brakes are known to just go out, or the gas tank explodes when hit from behind or has a lousy track record in terms of reliability, it would still be irresponsible in my sincere opinion to just disregard or “look the other way” when it comes to the apparent flaws that are obvious here… even though there is a measure of good too.
The vehicle that I have chosen to use to worship God (this organization) is very flawed in my honest opinion. So much so, that I no longer find it acceptable to use to worship God. I am not trying to use some type of magnifying glass to intensify the negatives with the society in general or with regards to the blood transfusion position in particular. I am also not influenced by any so-called “apostate” propaganda. What I have written above here is entirely my own. How I personally feel, from my own evaluations, as carefully as I know how. These issues are real, and in my mind they are all very significant problems.
Because I am willing to share this research and information with those that may wish to ask why I no longer can support the organization today (as I’d hope others would do for me), I would soon be disfellowshipped from the organization by my local congregation. Disfellowshipped for simply sharing information that the organization does not want its members to find out on their own. Disfellowshipped for offering unbiased, reasonable, logical and well-researched opinions that are not supported by the Watchtower Society.
I am therefore left with no other alternative that I can think of, but to disassociate myself from the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It would hopefully be fair and reasonable to expect to be able to just go out into my own new direction while respecting each other’s beliefs along the way. But instead, I will have to be treated as an outcast. Considered as one in the same light now as an unrepentant thief, murderer, drunkard, adulterer etc. Completely shunned, simply for disagreeing with the Watchtower Society’s doctrine. Doctrine that has been proven to be wrong many times before.
If anyone has another suggestion or idea that I have not already mentioned, or that might help, I am still open and willing to consider these as well. But I have already looked at all things as conscientiously and thoroughly as I am capable of doing for several months now. I sincerely appreciate those of you taking the time to of read all of this. At least you will know why I will no longer be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I wish everybody in the organization only good things. I have very fond memories too.
My very best to each and every one of you,
VKT
Post Script:
It has been over two weeks now since writing this letter. I have had the opportunity to speak with many different brothers from this island and the mainland about my concerns over these issues mentioned above. Obviously with people that do care a lot, there is no denying that. However, it must also be mentioned that despite their caring, not one of these people (including many very experienced ones) could successfully deal with these issues that I have printed above. None really even tried! Instead the same theme was spoken throughout all these many conversations; “Wait on Jehovah” or, “The light gets brighter”. Also, I heard the “Jehovah can bring back those that died” kind of comments. There was also much worse said than this from fanatical brothers, but I’ll just skip those.
These statements do absolutely nothing to help me in dealing with these very specific issues. They are in fact irresponsible, insensitive and quite honestly illogical responses to these problems. These are not loving comments at all. It’s just too easy to say that Jehovah will “fix” what the Society has broken. The “NO BLOOD” position has been in effect for 60 years now. How much longer should anybody wait? I have investigated this even further since writing this letter. The evidence is overwhelming; that this policy among Jehovah’s Witnesses (enforced via disfellowshipping and now through automatic disassociation) is an erroneous, unscriptural and un-loving application. People have died unnecessarily. People continue to die today. This policy is still nonetheless forced on all of Jehovah’s Witnesses today. I cannot, with a clean conscience then, continue to support this unfair doctrine personally. I cannot continue to bring people into the organization that will push this on them either. When such ones suggest I wait on Jehovah, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say “Let’s just wait on the Society”? No, I will not wait on the society while more continue to lose their lives needlessly. It would be irresponsible to take such a position today.
Because of my simple “disagreement” with this policy now, the elders that visited me showed that this alone would constitute “Apostasy”. Not spreading it, and not having a transfusion, but by simply “believing” it is wrong. This was based on the definition of apostasy in the reasoning book exclusively. This is of course absolutely not true. I am not disagreeing with what the bible teaches (as they claim) I am instead simply disagreeing with how the Watchtower Society interprets this scripture and thus forces all to comply with its interpretation, or risk judicial proceedings and disfellowshipping. The same Watchtower Society that was clearly wrong about Vaccinations in the past, Organ transplants as well as many end of the world predictions. These brothers have now given me three options; either recant my position altogether (and still be reproved at the very least), or be disfellowshipped, or to disassociate myself from the organization altogether. What an unfair set of choices. Needless to say, this is just another reason why I fail to believe this is the lone TRUE Christian congregation on the earth today, in addition to the many reasons listed above. I officially choose the third option. I therefore officially resign my membership from the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I wish you all much success and happiness.
Thanks for your time, attention and many years of fellowship.