Jehonadab

I am a former Jehovah's Witness, from 1973 when I was baptized into their faith, unto 1996 when I had gotten deep into a quagmire and their options to me were that they could either dis-fellowship me or I could allow them to announce that I voluntarily was severing my ties with them.

My exact response to those options, word for word, was, "What does it really matter which?" I knew I was guilty and at the time felt justified by the emotional beating I had just passed through. Of course, I now realize that I was in no way justified. It only seemed so at the time due to my confusion and misguided reasoning. I do not know to this day which option they asserted publicly before the congregation as I was not there to hear it and no one has ever told me which option they used, as I sincerely could not see at the time that it mattered, either way.

The irony is that after my separation from them I came to dig deeper into the scriptures and depend directly on the Bible to teach me rather than depending on their publications to teach me what the Bible says. As a result I now see many things differently than I used to see them. And that of course means they would not accept me back even for my children's or my mother's or my blood brother's and sister's sake. They will not allow membership to any who conflict with their accepted doctrines. Therefore even the social responsibilities of love become tossed to the wind for the sake of their rule of law regarding this.

Do I hate them? No, I yet love them even as Paul did his fleshly Jewish brothers. Far be it from my heart to ever bring harm or anguish to any of them.