Attention all Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses!!!!?

Question

When disfellowshipped or disassociated from the congregation we are cut off from all the others as a safe guard of THEIR spirituallity. Have you ever realized that it is a safeguard for us as well? Not by shocking us back into the religion, but by shocking us into reality. I have never seen things more clear than I have once being away from their control. How about you?!

Answer 1

I'll say. I have to shelter myself from too much contact here on YA, even. it's so disturbing to my psyche for my thoughts to go back there. The recent contact with my husband's family set me back for a long time, too. That was a nightmare and a half.

Oh and my poor husband.. his words to me the other night were "what am I going to do when my father dies?" I told him probably nothing, because the rest of his family wouldn't call him to let him know about it.

you couldn't have said it better.

judge not lest ye be judged, Heiss.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.

Contrary to the misinformation of anti-Witnesses, it is quite possible to become inactive in the JW religion without becoming disfellowshipped. As long as one's lifestyle does not bring reproach upon the congregation, and as long as one does not advocate one's disagreements with the religion, the congregation has no interest in "investigating", exposing, and disfellowshipping an inactive former Jehovah's Witness.

For those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated, a primary goal is to shock the person into recognizing the serious of their wrong so that they rejoin the congregation in pure worship. Since the primary bonds that are broken involve friendship and spiritual fellowship, it is well understood that family bonds remain intact. Parents, siblings, and grown children of disfellowshipped and disassociated ones sometimes choose to limit what they may feel is discouraging or "bad association" but that is a personal decision and is not required by their religion.

Former Witnesses who are disfellowshipped or disassociated are typically treated in accord with the Scriptural pattern explained in these Scriptures:

(1 Corinthians 5:11-13) Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. ...Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

(Titus 3:10) As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition

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

(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.

(2 Thessalonians 3:14) But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed.

(2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.

(Matthew 18:17) If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations

Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. At a minimum, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness required hard work and determination at the time.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm

Answer 3

I believe that God and God alone can call you into truth. I agree with your statement. the more time I get away, the more sound I am in my leaving and the stronger my relationship is with my Lord.


I have been blssed mostly with my relatioship and my peace with God. I have had God bless my marriage, and my career and my finances. Would that happen anyway? I am not sure, I did not leave the Witnesses for blessings materially. I could lose it all tomorrow, and it is my hope, that I will still love my Lord.

Answer 4

Never been one. Should I count my blessings? Or when do you have blessings? You have it more when you were one, or more when you got out? Just wondering; I have been told by other Christians (actually by Catholics) that when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit your blessings become many. I've been told blessings of opportunities and blessings of money. Is that TRUE???

Answer 5

Yes the WTB&TS does have strong deception - it can be mezmerizing without God Almighty for many - if not most X's.

Many xJWs become atheists or strong agnostics so the adversary wins whether a person stays or goes.

Answer 6

I think that they are doing their members a huge favor. I just hope that people would not give up on God. They are not serving the same God as trinitarian Christians.

Answer 7

Exactly what PediC said. I can't tell you how much happier I am now that I am away. When I visit my family, it's like instant stress and it takes a while for me to feel fully "decontaminated" again once I get out of that environment.