Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, what's the ONE thing that convinced you it wasn't true?

Question

This is also for mainstream Christians who've taken a close look at JW theology. Don't just quote all the theological differences. Was it a particular book that pointed it out? A talk with a priest, minister, friend? A specific Bible verse you interpreted differently?

HannahJPaul, FIVE thumbs up on your post, and every paragraph you wrote is a logical fallacy. Not to mention that all you did was analyze my question & hijack it.

Answer 1

Dear Kj7gs,

I never became a Watchtower Witness but my mom became a jw before I was born and several of her siblings followed suit. I am so thankful that my dad raised me in a Christian church and did not become a JW.

I do differentiate between Christian and JW BECAUSE when I was growing up my mother very angrily told me that JWs are NOT Christians. Her attitude spoke very loud and clearly to me that she thought they were better than Christians.

Over a two year period in the late 1950 and early 1960s Mom used to tell me that if I did not become a JW by February 3, 1962 I could not be saved because Armageddon was going to happen on that date. As we all know now Armageddon did NOT happen on that date or on any of the specific dates that the Watchtower said it was going to happen.

In the past 15 years I have been reading various Bibles from cover-to-cover throughout the year. Back in 1996 a JW cousin of mine gave me a copy of the NWT and told me that it was better than all of the other Bibles I had. I did not want it but I prayed about it and the Holy Spirit told me that I should look up various verses in it just as I looked up verses in my Bibles. When I did just that I could very easily see that it contained man's words, it definitely was NOT the Word of the Living God. I cannot call that a Bible.

Whenever I read a Bible or looked at the NWT I prayed and asked the LORD to give me understanding. I still remember how amazed I was early in 1997 when I was reading Deuteronomy 18:20-22 where God makes it crystal clear that IF somebody claims to be speaking on His behalf but what they say does NOT happen then it was a FALSE prophet speaking and I should not listen to that one.

That immediately brought to mind what my mother had told me. I picked up the NWT and could not understand why JWs did not leave the organization in droves. It wasn't my pastor or any book that I read. It was God's Word and the Holy Spirit who brought about my understanding.

I have since read books.
I have since heard others speak about the Watchtower.
I have since seen that there were PUBLISHED dates for Armageddon.
I have since heard JWs rattle off the dates when they show up at my doorstep to try to convince me that they know the truth.
I have since prayed that God will rescue the lost souls who are still JWs.
I have since given God thanks that the cousin who gave me the NWT left the organization when her eyes were opened.

I have to give full credit to the TRUTH.

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 2

What confident me that that's the authentic faith is the comparable element that makes human beings think of we are delusional, wacky and a cult. i've got been a witness for over 30 years and my relatives nonetheless thinks i'm loopy. they are catholic, and our variations in perception are like evening and day. we've the braveness to stand up for righteous concepts and not carry on with maximum folk nor bypass with the flow of universal thinking. we've a purpose in lifestyles, a reason at the back of residing, a wish, that maximum folk of human beings interior the international have not, some because of the fact they undeniable do no longer care. We actually have a international brotherhood that doesn't see shade, nationality, nor language. in certainty all of us talk one language: the organic language. After 30+ years, i'm nonetheless confident that that's the properly suited place to be. "subsequently Jesus stated to the twelve: “you do no longer want to bypass additionally, do you?” Simon Peter replied him: “Lord, whom we ought to bypass away to? you have sayings of eternal lifestyles." John 6:sixty seven,sixty 8 Paisley Moon

Answer 3

The watchtower society giving absolute power to the elders without any accountability. They are free to do what they want to people and if you have a grievance about anything they say it is your problem. It is wrong that they are untouchable. Kind of like an umpire in a sports match. If you say anything questionable your cast out or punished

Just like they protect pedophiles because according to their interpretation of the bible you must have two witnesses to prove someone is doing something bad.

Now I am pretty sure child abusers don't usually do it in front of other people so how could that part of the bible apply today?

Answer 4

FYI, the religion of Jehovah's WItnesses is true.

I have not seen anything that proves that it is not.

All that I have seen is pointing to people and what they have done. Religion is not about people, it is about God. Focus on God, not the people and you will see that it is the true religion.

To Will J, the question was about Jehovah's Witnesses, not the Watchtower. Your problem is that you don't know the difference between them.

Answer 5

I found it of interest to note in your question the phrase "mainstream" Christians as well as "theological differences." Also I noticed the phrase "interpreted differently." I found these phrases to be illuminating.

That you, as well as others, label Jehovah's Witnesses as out of the "mainstream" implies that because they are not considered "orthodox" Christians, they are not Christians at all and therefore they are wrong. Your implication is that orthodox has become synonymous with Christian, with acceptable. But some of the real synonyms of orthodox are conventional, traditional, standard, conformist. But I ask, should not God be the one to determine what is orthodox or acceptable? Some of the first century religious leaders felt that Jesus' teachings were unorthodox as well. They even questioned him as to why he overstepped the traditions of the men of former times. Jesus pointedly told them that adroitly (synonym: skillfully, cleverly, nimbly) they set aside the word of God in favor of their traditions. Clearly what they felt was 'mainstream' was rejected by Jesus as unscriptural. And they had no difficulty at all setting aside God's word. Indeed, they were skillfull at it. It is no less so today among those professing to worship the true God. Mark 7:5-9

The phrase 'theological differences' captures interest as well. It is instructive to point out that there are theological differences between members of the same church – indeed, between members sitting on the same pew. Oftentimes, these differences place members poles apart. It is well-established that there are thousands and thousands of professed Christians who reject the "mainstream" doctrine that Jesus is God Almighty. Yet no one questions their Christianity. On the other hand, Jehovah's Christian Witnesses are united in their worship and in their teachings - all of which are well-grounded in God's word the Bible. But professed Christians who contradict each other in the same faith reject Witnesses as non-Christian.

Finally, there is the phrase "'specific Bible verse interpreted differently.' It should be noted that according to scripture, interpretation belongs to God. (2 Peter 1:20; Genesis 40:8). Moreover, if a person wraps his belief around a 'specific Bible verse' and this to the exclusion of all other scriptures dealing with that subject matter, then, patently, what he believes is a reflection – not of God's word the Bible – but rather, of his own ideas and maybe the ideas of others as well.

In the end, it may be that ex-Jehovah's Witnesses have left for varied reasons. And that is their right. But if someone like Judas can reject the Messiah whom he knew intimately, by whom he was taught personally, and for selfish reasons at that, how much more so can persons today – 2,000 years removed - reject the very word of God that Jesus himself taught – for selfish reasons as well. It is as the apostle John said: They went out from among us, but they were not of our sort. 1 John 2:19.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 6

you havent had any answers, because those who have left still know deep in their hearts it is the truth, and they are bitter and unhappy with thier life now, but are still determined to try the free will thing.... it's very sad.
I have friends who are no longer jehovahs witnesses, most of them left because they wanted more "freedom" and to not be different from other youths. yes... they cry and admit it is the truth and that they have not found the happiness and freedom they expected in the world, but still dont come back because they feel guilty for leaving... sad thing is they would be welcomed with open arms, and Jehovah God is forgiving of those seeking forgiveness

Answer 7

ONE thing? There is oh so much wrong. From the pagan origins while claiming to be pagan-free, to the false prophesies, to claiming to be the "mouthpiece of God" that was in error and continues to receive new light, to the dual classes of salvation, to the ignorance to the reality of hell, to the fact that they are denied blood transfusions, but are allowed just about ALL parts of blood separately, to the belief that Jesus is an incarnation of Michael the Archangel, to the way JWs need to get permission from Elders to pretty much breathe, to the fact that this "religion" is in actuality a business - a publishing company that in fact rolls in about $1 billion a year....etc. etc. etc.

Honestly, I don't think I can pick just one. It just sickens me. My heart hurts for the poor misled people that love God so much that they go door to door telling what they believe is the truth, just so the folks in Brooklyn can make a quick buck.

My advice to all current JWs is get a hold of old watchtowers and start comparing them both with previous and current beliefs, and with the bible. You will be amazed by some of the things in there, that you apparently agreed to when you were baptized into the organization - without even knowing it.

In fact here is the definition of NEW LIGHT given by CT Russell the "faithful and discreet slave" in the Feb 1881 Watchtower, it certainly doesn't sound like the manner in which the society reveals new light today:

If we were following a man undoubtedly it would be different with us; undoubtedly one human idea would contradict another and that which was light one or two or six years ago would be regarded as darkness now: But with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning, and so it is with truth; any knowledge or light coming from God must be like its author. A new view of truth never can contradict a former truth. "New light" never extinguishes older "light," but adds to it. If you were lighting up a building containing seven gas jets you would not extinguish one every time you lighted another, but would add one light to another and they would be in harmony and thus give increase of light: So is it with the light of truth; the true increase is by adding to, not by substituting one for another.Our pathway has been one of increase of light in harmony with former light.

Answer 8

An individual Jehovah's Witness makes his dedication and aligns himself with the faith based on the totality of his understanding of God's Word and the totality of his observations regarding this Christian Congregation.

(Zechariah 8:23) Jehovah of armies has said, ‘It will be in those days that ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will actually take hold of the skirt of a man who is a Jew, saying: “We will go with you people, for we have heard that God is with you people.”’”


Like the apostle Peter, many or most Witnesses recognize the overwhelming evidence that Jehovah's Witnesses are unique among Christians in regard to purity of worship (rejection of paganisms such as Easter and the trinity), glorification of God's name (see Matt 6:9,10), global preaching work by every active adherent (see Matt 28:19,20), and remarkable stewardship of Christ's "belongings" on earth. Similarly, these individuals recognize that Jehovah's Witnesses have been uniquely blessed in the face of Nazism, Stalinism, Orthodoxism, and more than 70 U.S. Supreme Court cases with those who have 'framed mischief by law' (Ps 94:20, KJV).

(John 6:67-69) Jesus said to the twelve: “You do not want to go also, do you?” Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life; and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”


To reiterate, Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the totality of "the truth", and do not obsess over some detail which may be put forth by troublemakers.

(Romans 16:17) Keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.

(2 Corinthians 4:4-6) The god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers

(Philippians 2:14-15) In among a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you are shining as illuminators in the world

(1 Timothy 6:3-5) If any man teaches other doctrine and does not assent to healthful words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor to the teaching that accords with godly devotion, he is puffed up with pride, not understanding anything, but being mentally diseased over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20030301/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/article_03.htm

Answer 9

Jo is kidding for sure. I posted a similar question and received a number of replies.

I am convinced that the Watchtower is wrong due to its false prophecies (which can be documented) for starters.

Answer 10

The same thing conviced Judas to betray Christ, he thought Jesus was so opressive, he wanted more free.

Or maybe the same Satan thought "i want to be the leader, my will is the command"