Although I was never baptized into the Jehovah's Witness' organization, I have had a life-long relationship with it. I went from believing that this organization was God's arrangement on earth for his pure worship to becoming totally disillusioned with it and its teachings. My reasons for finally breaking my connection with Jehovah's Witnesses is the story that follows:
My parents became Witnesses in the late 1970's. My dad was zealous, even serving as a ministerial servant; but I doubt my mother was ever really in it, though she played the part of a faithful Witness wife and mother. Up until I was age seven, mom and dad were active members of the congregation in Lyndonville, Vermont. Our family had a fair amount of Witness association outside of the Kingdom Hall, sharing meals with others in their homes. In 1983, we hosted construction volunteers who came to help build the new Lyndonville Kingdom Hall. There were a couple of single mothers in the congregation then, and my dad would kindly volunteer his time and expertise to maintain their vehicles. I found meetings to be long and boring, but I had Witness friends and was happy. There was a lot of camaraderie among Witnesses back then.
In December of 1983, our family moved to McIndoe Falls, Vermont. The move did not prove to be helpful for our family spiritually. Our meeting attendance and field service activity became less regular. My mother, in particular, was less supportive of the Witness lifestyle. Then she had a nervous breakdown. These factors probably led to my dad being removed as a ministerial servant. Over several years, my dad became inactive, only attending a few Sunday morning meetings a year and the Memorial of Christ's death.
When I was just out of high school, I made a halfhearted attempt to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I attended meetings on my own and accepted a weekly Bible study for a time. However, I was too scared to join the Theocratic Ministry School and was not interested in going out in the field ministry. And so, things just fizzled out.
My life followed the normal path of a maturing young adult. When I married Robin, I was still thinking about the Witness way of life, but Robin was not a religious person, and was most unhappy about my interest in Jehovah's Witnesses. However, I never completely lost my love of God, and I even sent away for a free copy of the book, What Does the Bible Really Teach?. I have always kept a Bible in my home.
Fast forward to 2012. My mother began an extramarital affair with an old high school beau. This resulted in a bitter divorce between my parents and my mom was disfellowshipped.. The divorce devastated my dad, and his physical health was failing as well. He did, however, become spiritually rejuvenated as a member of the Lancaster, New Hampshire congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. This congregation gave my dad the love and support that he desperately needed, for which I am eternally grateful. My dad passed away in May of 2014.
My dad's death and my parents' divorce devastated me. Dad was my best friend, and I was still furious with mom. I felt that I had lost both of my parents. I needed the comfort of God's promises. My thoughts turned to the Witnesses once again, in spite of Robin's objections. Two events strengthened my resolve to serve Jehovah, come what may.
The first event was a chance encounter with Jehovah's Witnesses in 2015. I was sitting in my car reading the book, Live with Jehovah's Day In Mind, from my dad's Witness library. A couple approached me, noticed the book, and asked if I was a Witness. I said no, and explained that I considered myself a lost cause. They were both very kind and the brother encouraged me to read the account in Matthew of the eleventh-hour worker.
The second event happened because I was reading the August 15, 2015 Watchtower on the jw.org site. Although I had previously thought I could “get on board” when world conditions worsened, this article, “Keep in Expectation”, caught my attention. It said: “Thus, the Scriptures indicate that world conditions during the last days would not become so extreme that people would be forced to believe that the end is near.”
So much for waiting until the last minute! I made up my mind. Within the week, I started going back to the Kingdom Hall. I was not at all sure if Robin would still be living in our home when I returned. Happily, she was.
My progress was slow, but steady. Well into the year 2017, I finally agreed to a weekly Bible study with a fine, fine elder named Wayne. He and his wife Jean were very kind and hospitable. As time went on, Robin and I were invited to other Witnesses' homes for meals and socializing. I thought to myself: Jehovah is giving me another chance, and I was determined to make the most of it.
The Bible study I had with Wayne progressed well. There were, however, a few things that concerned me. To begin with, I noticed that far too much reverence was being given to the “faithful “and discreet slave”, aka the Governing Body. That phrase was mentioned far too often in prayers, talks, and comments. All that I could think of was the angel telling John in the book of Revelation to be careful because he (the angel) was only a fellow slave of God. Coincidentally, this morning I was reading in the KJV 2 Corinthians 12:7 where Paul says, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” I certainly felt that the “faithful and discreet slave” was being “exalted above measure”.
Another change I noticed that differed from past years of my association with the Witnesses was the current emphasis on the need to give financial support to the organization. Their claim that the organization is totally funded by voluntary donations seemed to me to be disingenuous, in view of JW broadcasts' steady stream of reminders about the different ways one could donate. A person criticizing a similar Christian denomination described the hierarchy's expectation of the church membership to 'pray, pay, and obey'. This is an accurate description of what is expected of Jehovah's Witnesses as well.
These and some other minor matters caught my attention, but I still believed that the Witness teachings were the truth and none of these issues were deal breakers at the time.
As the study continued, however, a statement came up that really bothered me. We were covering the chapter about death where it states that most anointed Christians have already been resurrected to heavenly life and that those who die in our day are instantly resurrected to heavenly life. I had heard this stated in the past, and simply accepted it. I found comfort in this teaching, perhaps because I had recently lost my dad. Suddenly, though, I had a real “light bulb” moment. I realized that this doctrine was not supported by scripture.
I pressed for proof. Wayne showed me 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52, but I was not satisfied. I decided that I needed to dig further. I did. I even wrote to headquarters about this matter, more than once.
A few weeks went by when a second elder named Dan joined us on the study. Wayne had a handout for each of us consisting of three Watchtower articles from the 1970's. Wayne and Dan did their best using these three articles to explain the correctness of this doctrine. It was a very friendly meeting, but I was still not convinced. I am not sure that the Bible was ever opened during this meeting. They suggested that when I had sufficient time I should review these articles some more.
I picked these articles apart. I still believed that there was no basis for the conclusions drawn, and reported my findings to Wayne and Dan. Shortly afterward, Dan told me concisely that he had spoken to a member of the writing committee who said more or less that the explanation was the explanation until the Governing Body says otherwise. I could not believe what I was hearing. Evidently, it no longer mattered what the Bible actually said. Rather, whatever the Governing Body decreed was the way that it was!
I could not let this matter rest. I continued to research extensively and came upon 1 Peter 5:4. Here was the answer that I was looking for in clear, simple English. It says: “And when the chief shepherd has been made manifest, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” Most Bible translations say, “when the chief shepherd appears”. Jesus has not 'appeared' or been 'made manifest'. Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that Jesus returned invisibly in 1914. Something that I do not believe. That is not the same thing as being made manifest.
I continued with my personal Bible study and my attendance at the Kingdom Hall, but the more I compared what was being taught with what I understood the Bible to say, the divide just got deeper and deeper. I wrote another letter. Many letters. Duplicate letters to both the United States branch and the Governing Body. I personally received no reply. However, I knew the branch had received the letters because they contacted the local elders. But I had not received an answer to my sincere Bible questions.
Matters came to a head when I was invited to a meeting with the coordinator of the body of elders and a second elder. The COBE suggested that I review the Watchtower article, "The First Resurrection-Now Under Way!" We had been through this before, and I told them that the article was deeply flawed. The elders told me that they were not there to debate scripture with me. They attacked my character and questioned my motives. They also told me that this was the only response that I was going to get and that the Governing Body was too busy to deal with the likes of me.
I went to Wayne's house the next day to ask about the study, since the two elders of my special meeting had suggested that the study would likely be terminated. Wayne confirmed that he had received that recommendation, so, yes, the study was over. I believe that was hard for him to say, but the Witness hierarchy has done a masterful job of silencing dissent and thoroughly suppressing honest and sincere Bible discussion and reasoning.
And so my association with Jehovah's Witnesses came to an end in the summer of 2018. All of this has liberated me. I now believe that the Christian 'wheat' will come from nearly all Christian denominations. And so will the 'weeds'. It is very, very easy to lose sight of the fact that we are all sinners and to develop a “holier than thou” attitude. I believe that the Jehovah's Witness organization has developed this attitude.
Worse than that, though, is the Watchtower's insistence on promoting 1914 as the year that Jesus became King invisibly.
Jesus himself said as recorded in Luke 21:8: “Look out that you are not misled; for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The due time has approached.' Do not go after them.”
Do you know how many entries there are for this verse in the scriptural index in the Watchtower online library? Exactly one, from the year 1964. It appears that the organization has little interest in Jesus' own words here. What is noteworthy, however, is that in the final paragraph of that single article the author gave some advice that all Christians would be wise to consider. It says, “You do not want to become prey to unscrupulous men who will only use you for the advancement of their own power and position, and without any regard for your eternal welfare and happiness. So check the credentials of those who come on the basis of Christ's name, or who claim to be Christian teachers, and, if they do not prove to be authentic, then by all means obey the Lord's warning: 'Do not go after them.'”
The Lord works in mysterious ways. I was lost for many years and I was also a prisoner for many years. I was confined by the notion that my Christian salvation was directly tied to my being a Jehovah's Witness. It was my belief that the chance encounter with Jehovah's Witnesses years ago in a McDonald's parking lot was an invitation from God to return to him. It was; though not at all in the manner that I thought. I have found my Lord Jesus. I am happy. I have relationships with my sister, brother and mother, all of whom are not Jehovah's Witnesses. I am making new friends. I have a happy marriage. I feel closer to the Lord now more than I ever have at any other time in my life. Life is good.
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Comment by CW117 on 2019-08-07 18:53:32
Wow,what a beautiful story, I know for me personally,even though not in as a child,just some of my senior years, I was not really calm when I found out the truth about the truth,some of my experiences in my congregation did not help.I was bitter,angry and grossly disappointed. I have since improved ,but just keep finding more info to stay away from all organized religion.
Comment by Bernardbooks on 2019-08-07 20:48:34
Thank you Sean for sharing your experience. It was very encouraging to read.
Comment by Chet on 2019-08-07 22:10:24
Thanks for posting this, Sean.
It’s funny, but when untruth starts to unravel, it can unravel quite quickly. Not that many years ago, I would have defended Watchtower teachings, even though I was no longer actively associating. Then, it seems like the first loose threads of doubt only opened the way for more investigation and it seemed that every thread I pulled at turned out to unravel even more. I came to realize that I had taken them at their word with regard to all sorts of teachings and once I began to question their veracity it became obvious that my confidence in them was misplaced.
Almost instantly, I came to the conclusion that they had become completely untrustworthy and no longer were interested in anything except perpetuating their game, and living off the contributions of their adherents.
You were fortunate to figure it all out before they took over your life. Way to go!
Comment by Psalmbee on 2019-08-07 23:10:24
Anonymous Wrote,
"The Lord works in mysterious ways. I was lost for many years and I was also a prisoner for many years. I was confined by the notion that my Christian salvation was directly tied to my being a Jehovah’s Witness."
It takes a long time to overcome their mind control once you have been under the influence of it, it's something you can never forget without the power of the Lord Jesus Christ! And even with that he still gives you a constant reminder to be aware of it.
Let this be a lesson and always remember that if you are having thoughts in the back of your mind that you should get back in the ORG, then you are not confident with being in the Body of Christ and don't trust Jesus enough to be your savior. IMO---- (Ps 108:12)
Psalmbee
Comment by messenger on 2019-08-08 09:56:00
Watchtower got all of us to follow it, because some JWs studied with us while we we ignorant; and while sharing some Bible truths with us they eventually had us believe in WT's interpretation of Matthew 24:45.
I used to argue the heck out of certain WT teachings during my early studies with a JW. If it wasn't for the fact I was related to the person, I am pretty sure she would have cancelled my study too. But after many studies and thinking about how some other religions understood (some) Bible points incorrectly, like members taking on the title Father, which Christ said not to do, I finally bought into the idea WT was the only true religion.
Over many years I began to be unsure if I lived in days directly preceding Christ's return. However, that, and realizing that the GB were wrong about some of their teachings didn't stop me from believing WT was the only true religion. WT admitted they were sometimes wrong, and I had been around long enough to see them change their views.
What got me to examine WT was something Anthony Morris III said in a zone talk, which was broadcasted to all congregations in the United States. It must have been around 2012 or soon after that year, but I'm not sure which one. In that talk he said that if a brother is 21 years of age and not a ministerial servant he is not a proper brother for a JW sister to consider as a marriage candidate. Anthony Morris also started his talk by saying he was going to say some things that some in the audience would feel were just his opinions, but that his statements weren't, and that he has them in writing right here, as he held up his notes. However, when making that point he never referenced a scripture or WT article, even though he stayed on the idea for a while, even sharing an anecdote to drive the point home. GB member Samuel Herd, who was a sort of host or MC, congratulated brother Morris for sharing such encouraging information, after the talk was over.
When I heard that I knew it contradicted what WT had previously written, and probably was not in a written publication offered to the congregations. I knew WT had previously written that some of their anointed JW brothers are not appointed servants in their congregations, but that they are nevertheless anointed by God. Even though I knew that about WT's previous views, the idea from brother Morris was so outlandish I started researching WT, which I did on the internet first, and then in books. You see in the six or seven congregations I have been a member usually half the brothers were not appointed servants of WT. If those brothers are consider unfit marriage candidates, then they could not be considered, what is known among JWs as, exemplary Christians. That would mean about half the brothers should not be considered exemplary Christians. That is what made A. Morris' teaching so outlandish to me.
The websites I found and read were JWSurvey, JWfacts, and JWStruggle. JWfacts had good info on WT, but I never commented there because I didn't see comments from others that I can remember. So I didn't spend time there after a few visits. JWStruggle was good, but its comments were old, as the site appeared to be abandoned. JWSurvey publishes a lot of good information also, had commenters, and was actively attended to. After watching some of its videos and reading articles I began to post comments there. The best books I have read about WT are the two from Ray Franz. They document more information about WT than I have seen documented anywhere else. They are very expensive, but worth the money.
Tony Morris' talk is what jared me enough to investigate. The investigation is what caused me to think about WT and the Bible scriptures it taught. But my new insights into the Bible came from God. Like the article's author, I didn't change my biblical insights from reading those internet sources, or the books about WT. They gave me new insights into the WT organization, and I changed my views about the organization partly as a result of what I learned from those sources. But my new beliefs about biblical scriptures came from God, because they came as thoughts, not regurgitated thoughts presented to me by other people, and not from a lot of additional reading on scriptures I already knew.
There are many people who will make it through the great tribulation, come out of it, and be saved, just as Revelation tells us. Then they will be true Christians having washed their robes by accepting Christ. Some of these are in Christian churches now. And even though many will die in the GT, preaching will go on during that time, and some will repent during that time. God has already seen that, and told us. Thus all those saved are not saved before the GT, some are saved during it. Some of those people believe they are Christ's church now. However, not all that consider they are Christ's church are taught by God at this time. Many congregants are taught only by men.
It's not that his church are special people, it's just that they have a special destiny. And God chooses to inform them of that, as he leads them into it. Since God informs them, as long as they follow him, no group of men can lead them in another direction. That's what Holy Spirit leading Christ's members into all the Truth means. It doesn't mean they know every minute detail about what every scripture speaks of. But they know enough about biblical ideas to know that it is God teaching them not man. And God is the one that informs them of that, not an internet source, a book, a radio preacher, or religious organization.
By the GB teaching Christ's church members can only learn the truth about God through them, they are denying the one (Christ) that might have bought some of their members from among mankind as first fruits to God, to be used as Christ's church. They deny that it is Holy Spirit that teaches Christ's church, and because of denying that they deny Christ. Some members of WT are anointed, but I can't see any of the GB members being anointed. And I am skeptical of any members who continue to teach such inaccurate teachings to others as WT does about Matthew 24:45. I believe rather that God, as Christ said, would enlighten them. And though Christ stayed part of his apostate religion, and worshipped there, he was killed for that. That being a model for Christians the same should happen to any anointed JWs that attempt to stay in that religion. Thus Christ's warning that some of us would be put out, even if we stayed.Reply by Sheryl Bogolin on 2019-08-09 10:16:23
Really enjoyed your comments Messenger. Especially the last paragraph. JW's have been taught that they have the monopoly on the word "Christian". Even though THEY (the rank and file) are taught to NOT partake of the bread and wine symbolizing Christ's sacrifice for ALL OF US. John 6:53 says, "So Jesus said to them: 'Most truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves.'" NWT
Reply by messenger on 2019-08-10 14:28:52
Thanks Sheryl, and sure, go ahead and partake, even if you don't feel comfortable doing so at your Kingdom Hall because of possible judgmental opinions by local JWs. Do it somewhere else if you wish to. Christ knows when you do.
But let me also correct something I said in my last paragraph above when I wrote:
"And though Christ stayed part of his apostate religion, and worshipped there, he was killed for that. That being a model for Christians the same should happen to any anointed JWs that attempt to stay in that religion. Thus Christ’s warning that some of us would be put out, even if we stayed."
I believe I went too far. My belief is that it does probably happen that a lot of Christ's truly anointed are put out of their Kingdom Halls, if they remain JWs, but there is no way I could know it happens to all of them. My best guess is that it does NOT happen to all anointed Christians who stay with the WT organization.
And I repeat, there is the historic biblical truth that our master, Christ, worshipped right alongside apostate leaders who were running his own apostate religion.
At the same time, I believe it extremely important that anointed Christians do not teach policies and beliefs taught by WT that are harmful. And I believe one of those harmful beliefs is WT's version of Matthew 24:45, since it divides Christ's church, defining some members as apostate so-called Christians, who are really following Satan, instead of Christ. Since that is not true the teaching could be classified as a beating by the evil slave to some of Christ's servants.
*In this particular comment I do not define anointed JWs as those who are recognized that way by other JWs; I refer instead to ones that are recognized that way by Christ.
Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2019-08-08 10:53:03
Hi Sean. Thanks for your open experience. I Corinthians 15 51,52 are intriguing verses. I understand the WT explanation, although I may not agree. Could you be so kind as to explain to me what it was that became your "light bulb" moment What question did you raise in your letter ? I do not wish to guess, as I really cannot work out how this became so clear to you.
Best wishes and to all reading these excellent articles and comments.
Comment by jamesbrown on 2019-08-08 23:14:13
Hi Sean
You have encouraged me from the way you reasoned from the bible and quoting the scriptures that you mentioned i will remember them and PLEASE dont stop from commenting on this site.
May Gods Holy spirit continue to make you grow
Comment by LaRhonda T. on 2019-08-09 22:15:16
Beautiful testimony! Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Comment by katrina on 2019-08-10 06:42:49
Thank you Sean what a journey, those critical thinking skills you used helped you to see the bible's truth over mans so encouraging, pleased you are free of the traditions of men and have a happy life knowing Christ.