Below is her response to my answer to her loving, and well-intentioned e-mail. It is an example of how nearly every individual Jehovah’s Witness would respond, and demonstrates the level of anger, and yes, even hatred, toward anyone who dares to say anything “against” the Watchtower, how quick they are to defend it, and the utter disgust toward any ex-member who dares to refuse to acknowledge, obey, respect, and to virtually “bow down” to the Almighty Tower…
“The Angry Re-instated JW” response:
“I do not follow an Organization, I follow what Jehovah says. I do not forsake the gathering of myself with the brothers. I truly missed the brothers and sisters when I was disfellowshipped. I attended the International Convention in Japan, and compared to a few of “you all” that are so misled, Jehovah is moving forward and using the “Organization” to “fully accomplish His ministry.” This is truly where his “spirit” is. My heart went out to you Anne Marie, but now, like Paul, I have a “burning” inside of me that it is against all EX-members like yourself that dishonor Jehovah’s name and disrespect the death of His son. Jehovah does not allow for anyone who is “grieving the holy spirit” as you are. My great-grandfather was of the 144,000. My mother and father are full-time pioneers, and my brother-in-law serves on the Bloodless Surgery Board with me at the hospital where I practice as a Pediatric RN. You and your lies are a disrespect to Jehovah and to my heritage that has worked so hard to serve Jehovah, even through Nazi Germany.
Do not contact me; I have nothing to do with your apostasy. I read what you sent and I laughed and felt sorry for you.”
Anne Marie had previously written:
Hello, Friend!
It was very kind of you to take the time to write to me, and I am glad to hear that you are happy and doing well. I can certainly understand your deep love and loyalty to the Watchtower Organization…I, to, especially loved and still do miss the “whole association of brothers,” but I have chosen instead to follow Jehovah and the Bible, and HIS plan of salvation; not the Watchtower’s plan of salvation…which has everything to do with “the flesh,” such as the idea of HAVING to join an organization in order to be “right” with Jehovah, and having to perform “works” in order to have the “hope” (not the “assurance”) of salvation…
I understand how you feel, dear Friend, I truly do!!
We each have our own path to follow, and you are just where you need to be, if it feels “right” to you, but if you ever wonder about things, if you ever wonder what the Bible really teaches about salvation, or why Jesus said to come to HIM, or why He never said that we had to “go to” any organization, then I want you to know that all the information that you will need to know is available to you!!
Here are some things that Jesus said that I am hoping that you will consider. (These quotes are taken directly from the Watchtower’s own approved version of the Holy Scriptures.)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life…” John 14:6
Did you notice that Jesus said that He was “the truth”? He did not say that any future “organization” was, nor did He warn us that we had to join one.
Did you see that Jesus said that He was “the way”? He did not say that the “way” to be “right” with God involved joining any future religion. And did you note that Jesus said that He was “the life”? I had never noticed that before!
The Watchtower does not have any “life” to give to anyone. We can only get life through Jesus, because He bought us. This is Jehovah’s way; it’s all in His Word.
“Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18: 37
“Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls, for my yoke is kindly and my load is light.” Matt. 11:28-30
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me…to the most distant part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
”He that hears my word and believes Him that has sent me has everlasting life.” John 5:24
“You are searching the searching the scriptures because you think that by means of them you will have everlasting life…and yet you do not want to come to me that you may have life.” John 5:39, 40
“I am the light of the world. He that follows me will by no means walk in darkness, but will possess the light of life.” John 8:12
“If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…therefore, if the son sets you free, you will actually be free.” John 8:31-36
(Please note that Jesus said that FIRST we must “remain in His word” in order to “know the truth”!!)
“You do not believe because you are none of my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:26, 27
(So according to this scripture, whom are we to follow?? Yes, it is Jesus.)
In Galatians, Paul has some interesting things to say that you may want to consider:
(Again, all scriptures quoted are from the Watchtower’s own Bible)
“Some are trying to pervert the good news of the Christ…Even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you another gospel, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1: 7-9
“If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
“Are you now trying to attain your goal through human effort?”
“Does God give His spirit because you observe the law, or because you believed what you heard?” Galatians 3:1-4
“If you are trying to be justified by law, you are alienated from Christ and have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4
I did not mean to overwhelm you, my friend!! But even though the Watchtower Organization changed key words in their translation of the Holy Scriptures (such as “undeserved kindness” for “grace,” and “good news” for “gospel”), the truth can still be found in their Bible…
I will always be here for you, dear friend. And no, I have not “made up my own rules,” but I am now free to allow the Holy Spirit to guide me in my life, and I no longer feel the weight of my sins upon me…Christ truly did die to set us free from all of that.
When we are in the spirit, we no longer feel the need to concentrate on “things of the flesh,” such as the following of “rules,” or believing doctrines of men, and being so focused on “appearances,” or of being concerned of what others may think of us, or of following any man-made organization, trying to EARN our salvation, which was already planned for all of us by Jehovah God a long time ago to be found through His Son, our redeemer and our King, our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is truth, (John 14:6), and freedom in Christ, that I have “found better,” and I have had a peace and a happiness that I cannot explain to you…but I pray that one day you will know this kind of peace and happiness for yourself; the kind that no man can give to you, or ever take away from you as “punishment” for some “sin,” because, as Jesus said at John 10:28, “And I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” And what a comfort that is to me and to all Christians!!
I am so late for a doctor’s appointment, so I apologize if I didn’t answer any of your questions, but please feel free to write me again…and even if you don’t, don’t worry about it!! Jehovah is a God of truth, and the truth is in His word; it’s all there!!
Many blessings to you and yours!!
