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JW Aunt Accuses Nephew of Apostasy for Asking Questions

Here is the true story of a JW aunt that disowned her niece and nephew over a charge of Apostasy.  The names have been changed to protect the privacy of the hurt and injured.  We have permission to publish the email correspondence.  This exchange of emails occurred in September of 2013.

First is the CONDEMNING CORRESPONDENCE FROM AUNT KATHY.

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Dear Mike and Julie,

It saddens me to hear the things I am hearing from family members and they are the same thoughts I have had for over a year now, and it has come time for me to get back to you from our last correspondence.  The enclosed article says it better than I can.  Jehovah means what he says.  I won’t EVEN give Satan the satisfaction of conversing with you the subject matter as I know now for a certainty, with all my heart, what has happened to you.  I am so sad.  Your such a lovely family.  Satan must be very proud of himself.  I pray with all my heart that the enclosed article touches your senses, or reasoning on the event that has overtaken your love that you had at first.  WHY?  WHY?  Cause you got weak in the moves from across the country and you were an easy target.  Oh, to be sure you will prosper.  You’ll be happy.  Life couldn’t be better.  Satan is a mimic, he’s been observing Jehovah and his heavenly origination for thousands of years and he knows exactly what to do.  He is good at it.  Apostates focus only on those who serve Jehovah.  As if that’s their only enemy.  Well guess what?    They are right.  THE TRUTH is only through one channel, and all that you have forgotten Jehovah will bless others with it, too bad.  But your CHOICE. I had hoped I was wrong, but the more I see Jehovah’s Organization on the move and its channel of reaching people in over 600 languages, who else could be behind it.  What religion in all the world will bother to print in 600 languages and distributed without charge.  Out of the multitudes of religions, who else is fulfilling Bible prophecy, even the need to write this letter.  Who out there have you disassociated yourself with?

Well, for the loyalty I have for Jehovah, and the brotherhood, I MUST not and WILL not associate with you, NOR, will I stand by and let my grand dtr go without notice and to protect the integrity of Jehovah’s suggestions , I don’t want my great grand dtrs , growing up and being influenced by the same teachings you are teaching your dear sweet children. So therefore copies of this will be forwarded to all family members known by me to be in the brotherhood, so they will know or be aware of the danger they may be exposed too.  (I don’t know why or what I did to change this print)  its not intentional, truly.  I am just not computer literate.  Or I would change it.

Guess what I found it by accident.  Don’t know what I did once again.  But this print is softer, (smile).  Please Mike, Read every word of that article and tell me it wasn’t written to you.  Please, have Julie read it.  Hopefully its not to late.  Jehovah’s love and arm is far reaching.  If your heart is right with HIM, this will have served its purpose.  Either way, I feel it serves its purpose.  Your not dumb Mike, blinded maybe, but not dumb.  Eve was blinded, but Adam was willing to go along for the sake of her, I hope Julie is not following you the same way.  But if she is, she is allowed to make her choice.  I did research on your questions and everything took me to “apostasy”  references.  Subtle questions to put doubt in your mind.  It worked on you.  But, I am smart enough to FOLLOW EVERY WORD as close as I can and listen to what Jehovah has taught me and he says red flag on this, and I am not taking any chances and going any further.  To bad, cause we really love you and Julie, kids, they are story book children.  May you be as happy as you can possibly be and read this over as well as the enclosed article with sincere heart (which I know right now is sincerely wrong).  But then when the pagans offered their children up for sacrifices they were, too,  sincere,  how much more sincere does it get, right,  Possibly I am right.  Jehovah Witnesses do have the truth.  Are you as 100% your right and we are wrong?  What you are doing Mike is apostate, pure and simple even a blind man can tell.

Be well, safe and all that you can be.  You truly do have only one life.

With all the sincerity I can muster up,

Kathy

 

Click below for the Watchtower article that aunt Kathy attached to her email.

Watchtower, 3/15/1986.

 

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BELOW IS THE RESPONSE FROM MIKE, THE NEPHEW.

 

Subject Line:  EXTREMELY UPSET AND HURT

Hi Aunt Kathy,

Thank You for your email although I must say I’m in shock, Julie and I are so upset I can’t even put it into words.  At least you came to us first unlike some who talk behind our backs not bothered to even ask just Judge, although you didn’t meet the requirements of  MATTHEW 18:15.

I want to say that yourself , Bill & Lisa have no idea why I have chosen to stop associating with Jehovah’s Witnesses.  You’re calling me apostate and yet myself and Julie are the ones being attacked and judged by you, Bill & Lisa.  I have never ever tried to persuade you, Lisa , Bill or Sandy away from being a Jehovah’s witnesses, not once.

Now if you are saying that my asking questions about scriptures makes me an apostate, then I am guilty, but we both know that’s not what Jehovah meant. The issue I see here is my questions unsettles the average Jehovah’s witnesses because the scriptures I show and talk about are not in agreement with the teachings of the watchtower society, but the truth of the matter is only the Bible is inspired and if the teachings of a religion are not in accord with it, I will not follow them.  I follow my God Jehovah and my brother Jesus Christ.

Jehovah’s witnesses are trained to have a mindset that if one leaves the Organization they are leaving God.  I have news for you, you do not own God almighty.  He will show mercy to whomever he pleases ROMANS 9 v 15-16.  His origination is a heavenly one not an earthly one.  It is not an organization we should be following, because Jesus Christ he alone is the way the truth and the life John 14 v 6.

I agree with you that there is only one channel that truth is coming from.  HEBREWS 1 v 2-3 will give you that answer.   I hope me using my father’s word is not unsettling you.  I pray you read the scriptures I am quoting without you first thinking you don’t need to read them because your right and I’m wrong, because that would be being blind to the truth of scripture.

In your email you asked me WHY? WHY?  I will give you a few reasons why I left a religion (NOT GOD). The first thing that really stood out to me was ROMANS 11 especially ROMANS 11 v 25-29.  I would stay up to all hours in the morning reading it over and over again, a lot of the time with my dad on the phone 6,000 miles away.  I looked at the WT explanation of those verses and compared it with the Bible Students, the old light I guess you would call it. and the more I read it and cross referencing it with other scriptures there was no possible way Jehovah’s Witnesses are right.   I could go in to this subject in great detail.  I take my relationship with God very seriously, but you are already convinced in your heart and mind that I am an apostate.  Do you even know how much that hurts ???.

One of my other reasons is I believe the great crowd are a heavenly group, while I see the 144,000 the same way as Jehovah’s witnesses.  In short the 144,000 are the kings and priest while the great crowd represent the Levites who did temple duties and assisted the priest.  Here are my reasons for believing this, the Greek word in revelation 7 v15 for temple is “Naos.”  In the Greek scriptures there are two words for temple “hieron” & “naos.”  Only the Greek word “naos” is used in the book of Revelation and only refers to Gods heavenly sanctuary where only those of priestly decent could enter.  At this point ask yourself how does a non Israelite Great Crowd member enter Gods sanctuary ?  Other scriptures connecting to this subject are EZEKIEL 44 V 10-15,  PSALMS  45 V 13-15,  REVELATION 19 V 1,  REVELATION 19 V 6-9.  When you do a search in the WT library on Ezekiel 44 v 10-15 you will find that there has only been one article on these verses in about 80 years.  EZEKIEL  44 v 13-14 shows a group of Levites who will not become priest, which eliminates them from the 1440,000.  Yet they still serve in Gods sanctuary (NAOS).  Then verse 15 shows a group who never went astray, the 144,000.  Keep in mind Ezekiel’s temple vision is a vision of the millennium temple and its future with two groups in the temple sanctuary.

Now to PSALMS  45 v 13-15 this is a picture of the marriage of the lamb notice that there are two groups the bride and her virgin companions who both enter the temple sanctuary “naos.”  They are both in the same location and yet the WT cannot agree with it — why?  In REVELATION 19 v 6, look who is present at the marriage of the lamb.  It is the Great Crowd; the reason being that they are guests at the wedding — they are bridesmaids.  In the Revelation Grand Climax book, on page 124, paragraph 14, the WT says that the Greek word NAOS coveys the whole of Jehovah’s temple, including the court yard.  Yet, if this were the case then there would not be an issue on my part at all, but it is the Greek word HIERON that conveys the whole of the temple, not naos.  So I ask the question, why is it that a religion who is capable of translating the Bible does not know what these Greek words mean?   If they do know what they mean, why has it not been corrected in the new revised Revelation Grand Climax book?

I believe 100% that the time we live in is for gathering the kings and priest — the bride of Christ.  This did not end in 1935.  The Great Crowd of Jehovah’s Witnesses are said to be the nations from ISAIAH  2.  The problem is when you take all the scriptures together concerning the nations who receive GOD’S blessings, it doesn’t happen until after the battle of Armageddon; not before.  I could show my reasons for believing this, but I think I have said enough at this point.

If you choose to believe I am apostate, then you are free to believe that.  However, let’s get one thing straight.  That’s your opinion not GODS.  GOD and Christ are my judge — no one else.  You can be sure of two things.  When I return with my savior Jesus Christ, I will see you in the kingdom and I will accept your apology with open arms, along with everyone who is condemning us and judging us.  I will love you all as worshipers of the only True God.  I hope it doesn’t take for us to die and come back for this to be realized.  If you ever choose to speak to me in this life, I give you my word I will never discuss spiritual things and make you feel uneasy.  I mean every word I have said in this email sincerely and I pray that you don’t just delete it thinking I am just a man who doesn’t love GOD.

I hope you can see I am a man who truly loves God and tests everything.  Keep in mind 1 CORINTHIANS 2 v 14-15.  I still feel I have more to say because my worry is that after this email I may never see you again until the kingdom.  So I will touch on one more point.  This has to do with the sheep and goats judgment.   In MATTHEW 19 v 27-28 when Jesus sits on his glorious throne it is after the battle of Armageddon in the re creation or new world, not before revelation 20 v 11.  All the scriptures that Jehovah’s Witnesses use to show people dying an everlasting death at Armageddon are referring to the final judgment in the kingdom (second death) MATTHEW 25 v 45-46; 2 THESSOLIONIANS 1 v 6-10; ISAIAH 66 v 24; REVELATION 21 v 7-8.  When you read 2 THESSOLIONANS  please keep in mind who Paul is speaking to the first century Christians, and he is telling them that on judgment day (1000 years), those who persecute the first century Christians will go to everlasting destruction if they do not obey the Gospel.  So before believing this is talking about Armageddon, ask yourself, how can the people who persecuted the first century Christians go to everlasting destruction at Armageddon if they are not brought back to life until the kingdom.

All I can say is test everything never get comfortable being in a religion.  The only security a person can have is being in Christ — He is the way and the truth and the life.  I know at this point you are probably thinking to yourself that Jehovah’s Witnesses must have GODS backing now that they are over 7 million strong and are all united in thought throughout the world.  Every other religion also feels the same way  — Seventh Day Adventist are over 14 million strong.   Do they have a better method of preaching? Catholics are over 1 billion strong.  I am not claiming Seventh Day Adventist are right or even Catholics for that matter.  I think there both wrong.  I think any religion is wrong.  It’s not about being part of a religion.  It’s about being part of the body of Christ.  GODS true sons have not yet been revealed to the world – Romans 8 v 19-23.  I agree GOD’S worshipers should be united in thought, but this does not mean they are robots.  We should have freedom in Christ and if I see a scripture in a slightly different way, then that is my GOD given freedom – Romans 14 v 1-12.  I agree that all Jehovah’s Witnesses think the same and act the same and treat people the same, but that is not very difficult when there is only 10 men doing all the thinking for 7 million people.

We love you Kathy.  We also love Bill & Lisa.  You have disowned us on the grounds of apostasy and yet not once did Bill or Lisa do as Matthew 18 v 15-17 tells us (you will not understand what the love of GOD is until you come away from the slavery of man and their doctrines that constantly change what is truth.

This year the truth will most likely change again at the next convention, and every Jehovah’s Witnesses will welcome it with open arms like it has been divinely given by GOD; without even thinking, well did GOD have it wrong the first time???  It’s guess work at best.  For over 100 years the Bible Students have discerned from scripture that the bride of Christ will be with Christ and return with him at Armageddon. Jehovah’s Witnesses have only just recently received this light.  Why is that?   Why did they go back to the old teachings?  I will stop here.

I am only scratching the surface for my reasons for leaving, but I feel this is enough.  I feel this scripture is appropriate.    Isa 29:13  And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men.  Sending this to you with all our Christian heart.   xoxoxoxo

PS…..Julie would like to say a bit

 

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BELOW IS THE RESPONSE FROM JULIE, THE NIECE.

 

Aunt Kathy,

I’m not sure where to start, but I will say this first.  Mike’s comment are very well put and wise.  I would like to make it clear to you that I will only follow Jesus & Jehovah.  I do not follow Mike, NOR Man.  So I want to make it known this is MY CHOICE.  Mike has mentioned to me a couple of times that if I thought the Witnesses where right, he would want me to stay a JW.  However, I have read the Scriptures for myself and it has become clearer then I have ever thought.  I can honestly say that I was following man for all these years and now I follow only Jesus.  I only wish I could be as wise, disciplined and Respectful as Mike can be and read the Bible with the understanding he has.  You may not believe everything that we do, but we can Back our belief’s up with only the Bible.  Can YOU?

I’m trying so hard to be as nice as Mike was in his comments, but really, I’m just so upset that I think you need to hear how upset I am.  If only you could Feel the pain and betrayal that I feel with all of this. Your letter left a very bad taste in my mouth.  You are a lovely women Kathy.  Don’t get me wrong, but your words are as sharp as a Sword and makes me think real hard who I want close to my family.  For me, I want people who are loving, caring, encouraging, inspiring, nonjudgmental, respectful & patient.  I did NOT see these qualities in your letter.  All I saw was Judgmental, Condemning, Non Loving, and Disrespect.   I am very upset with it all and let alone it being family members to hurt us like this. Especially when you bring Becky and Her Girls into this, as they are the closest things I have in the family.  Becky is not only my Cousin, she is my sister and my best friend and I love her so very much and would miss her Dearly if she chooses to disown me.

I have NEVER talked bad about JWs and I will NEVER discourage them in anyway.  I want them to love Jehovah and Jesus as much as you and I.  But how can you talk down to us like we left GOD and make us feel like we have Leprosy or we’re deceased and not worthily of your association.  Please, PLEASE, tell me when did Jesus ever take someone that loved GOD very much with all their heart, and He Disowned them?  Or when did he Treat his brothers like pigs, and not associate with them and made people turn their backs on them?  Jesus NEVER did, NEVER!!!!  He was Loving, Caring, Encouraging, Inspiring, Non Judgmental, Respectful & Patient.

Sorry if you thought your letter was “Helping” or “loving” Quite the opposite more like a slap in the face or spit in my eye.   Please tell me why do you treat us so horribly if you portray yourselves to be Jehovah’s “Only Loving” People?  We love GOD just as must as you do.  You can’t put GOD in a box and hide him away form the rest.  What gives you that right? Calling my husband that awful, Disgusting word “Apostate” really takes the cake Kathy.  So Please, tell me again how you can Now read hearts???  Or that you can now see how much or how little We Love GOD?  Really??   Shame on you Kathy.  You should Really know better.  However, saying all that, I still want you to know We love you.  We would NEVER treat you like you are treating us.

In my eyes you are not being a loving Christian.  That goes for all JW’s and formal Family members.  You are not following how Jesus told us to be like. You are following man and what man has told you to think and act like, Not Jesus.  You can “Advise” all the JW’s you want, but at the end of the day my love and concern is with Jehovah GOD and my Christian brother Jesus Christ.  To my Family or formal Family I should say (and the JW’s) they will make their own decisions individually.  If Becky chooses to disown me, then I will respect her and her choices and will wait for her on the other side with open arms.  That goes for all of YOU.  One day in the future we will all SEE the truth and if “GOD” sees favor in us; we will all live in a perfect world together.  I do Pray for you Kathy, just as much as you say you do for me.  I pray that GOD does not judge you as you do judge others, and that he softens your heart and gives you a sense of peace for GOD’S people.  Sending this letter with all My Christian Love and My Last,  GoodByes –  Farewell ,

Julie   xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

29 comments to JW Aunt Accuses Nephew of Apostasy for Asking Questions

  • Perhaps it is time for a new angle?

    Maybe JWs are the final apostasy in a 2000 year old plus prophecy (Dan11:32a), to go down in a global-crisis development which “heals” into “world peace” (1Thess5:1-3) into a world government (which would trigger the Christ arrival into Rev14; Dan12:11 timeframe) (Rev13:3; Rev17:8) which WT apostasy ridden JWs have not said a thing about, but ride as UN NGO instead, as led by their GB “man of lawlessness”?

    In such a scenario the JW “we win, you lose” “end of the world” would fail year over year quite miserably.

    Perhaps a final ministry would have to emerge in the global-crisis-to-recovery process, you know, to expose JW apostasy like JWs exposed Christendom’s apostasy” which they also devolved back into? Anyone ever thought of that angle? (Dan8:13-14)

  • Ted R.

    Jw’s feel the way they do because they are sincerely trying to put Jehovah first in their lives and have been convinced that the Watchtower is Gods Organization. If they are truly honest with themselves deep down, most really don’t agree with the shunning and would gladly give it up if the organization would allow it. The problem here is that they are afraid that if they don’t follow the dictates of the organization, they are being disloyal to Jehovah and will lose their lives at Armageddon. They are also afraid of being shunned themselves. It’s sad that honest sincere people have allowed themselves to be governed by fear, rather than a true personal relationship with Jesus, our King and exemplar. How anyone can read the Bible and the Gospel accounts and come to the conclusion that shunning family members is approved by God is beyond me. I never could accept that, which is one of the big reasons I am finally leaving the organization after 48 years. They argue that it “shocks” them into “repentance”. But think about it, if a person goes back to the organization because they don’t want to be shunned by there family and friends, is this truly repentance based on faith in God? True repentance is based on love of God and faith in his promises. To put on a show of repentance by attending meetings and saying the right things so that you can be reinstated is not a proper motive. The only way a person who commits a wrong can be restored is by his developing a true faith and understanding of Gods will and developing a hatred for the wrong. A parent or close friend needs to be able to reach out to that person, assuming the person wants help, and help restore his faith. How can a parent help a child who errs and commits a wrong or gets involved in bad practices help that child if the child is being shunned? They need help, love and understanding, not ostracism. Agreed there may be times we have to resort to tough love if the situation warrants it, but that should be left up to the parents or family and not dogmatically dictated by doctrine! My son was disfellowshipped almost 20 years ago for smoking and immorality. He is married now, has a family, no long smokes, and is a good person, but according to doctrine I cannot associate with him unless it is for “absolutely necessary family business.” I DON’T THINKS SO! I now freely associate with my son and I don’t care who knows it! At this point I am still not disfellowshipped and because of my wife I am trying to avoid that as long as possible. I am now a Bible Student and my relationship with Christ is now greater than it has ever been. Please, if you are a parent, don’t let the organization take away your relationship with your children. It is not what Christ wants or Jehovah wants. Read the scriptures and you will see that the Bible clearly shows that Jehovah wants mercy and not sacrifice! Don’t sacrifice your child because of a false dogmatic stand by the organization.

    • greg (Bible Student)

      Hi Ted.

      I concur completely. Terror tactics do not make the world a better place. The Inquisition didn’t bring benefits to mankind. What is forgotten whenever we try to IMPOSE shame on someone is that for shame to be useful, it must be natural and come from within, not be unnatural, fabricated, or imposed upon someone from outside themselves. The imposed kind of shame only leads to other problems as one seeks the immediate, short-term, temporary approval of others, rather than the lasting approval of themselves. Though we might want someone to do act differently than they presently are, it’s of at least equal, if not greater importance to hold concern over what we’d like that person’s REASONS to be for acting differently. Terror tactics will never create the proper kind of conditions for a person to have the “right reason” for acting differently. Terror is a distraction away from what’s really worth learning. I am convinced of the truth in the words of Stuart Brown who said, “Play is the optimum state for learning.” A person can only truly engage in play when they are feeling safe, open, loved. In an environment of hostility, threat, or defensiveness, there’s little likelihood a person will be playful, and therefore, not much of value is likely to be learned. Wondering what’s worth learning is the beginning of learning. A person doesn’t have much room to wonder what’s worth learning when they are busy trying to protect themselves from threat, harm, or retaliation.

      -greg

    • Just stay sweet and good

      Fear is something that is instilled in us by persons of authority when were two years old and rightly so. Two years olds think they own the world. If they have no fear they will do themselves mortal damage. As we mature we find the ultimate authority is our grand creator Jehovah ALMIGHTY . PROVERBS 1:7 The only successful way to deal with latent
      two years olds is to gently/loveingly remind them who’s universe this is. You cannot play fast and loose with the Soverign of the Universe without doing mortal damage to yourself.

      The tribunal of the USA believed this when they executed known Nazis at the Nurenburg trails. When the generals got up for their defenses they confidently said: “We were just obeying orders”. Was the USA impressed with their excuse? No, they still
      executed them. On what basis? Crimes Against Humanity Romans 2:13-15 Our little lives are important to us individually, yes, but until we see how we have been maneuvered into a position of truly being a soldier of Christ we will continue to have inner emotional conflict. Ounce we see we have finally been given the courage that Stephen had to tell it like it is (Acts 7) we will no more be slipping around trying to hide our faith but will then be a footstep follower of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus and let our light shine. Matt 5:15,15 is a command not an option for Christians

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