This first post will be a letter from my friend who hasn't spoken to me since I told him nearly a year ago I was no longer a Witness. Name not included. Again sorry its so long. The second post will be my response.
Hey Buddy. I've been wanting to talk to you real bad about some stuff. I haven't because it's just kinda painful. But here it goes. I HAVE to start off by apologizing. I am super super sorry that I wasn't there for you when I should have been, several years ago when you were having a terrible time with your drinking. I never knew you had a problem until the cabin and then I just didn't know how to help. It was a BIG mistake not reaching out to you to help. I honestly didn't know IF you really needed help and how much and figured that if you did, you humble yourself, and ask for it. But I should have been more assertive and checked up on you. Truth is, that I was kinda battling with the same thing in a way. Anyway, I'm VERY SORRY I wasn't there for you like I should have been. I just want to let you know that it kills me that you have changed so much. I know you're still (myname) but your views are getting so abscured. I want to let you know that if I didn't love you the way I do, and as much as I do, I woulnd't bother with this and waste my time. Truth is, you have always been one of my best friends and NO MATTER WHAT, I will always love you like a brother......the punk brother that you are. But I must say a few things. You made a comment to me about how upset you were at your mom for raising you the way she did, as on of Jehovah's people. That hurts me for many reasons. 1st off, you should have enough heart to realize how incredibly hard it would be in this ever declining, screwed up world to raise children on her own. She did what she thought was best for you. Gave you something to hope in, love, brought in to enjoy many friends who strive to be good people and honest citizens. And raised you to be the man you are now. You love your family, treat your wife with love and respect, give all to your kids, etc. because of the person that your mom taught you to be. You made a comment to me that even though you didn't believe in Jehovah anymore, that you were still a good person, loyal to your wife and kids. Well who do you think taught you those wonderful qualities? Worked on them with you for years? Your mom, through the teaching she recieved through the Bible and God's organization. So why be mad at your mom. She NEVER forced you to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. That was your EDUCATED decision. You made a vow, oath, promise, to serve mankind's creator. And the love you have for your amazing wife.....why do you love her SO much? Isn't a lot of it her qualities? Who do you think inbedded those into her? Raised her to be who she is now, that you so much love? Jehovah's people. Those aren't normal traits that you can find in people today. I know that the congregation that you were in before wasn't supportive according to what you've tould me. But you have to be willing to be helped and loose the pride, display humility and meekness in order for someone to help you. Maybe they didn't know if you really needed much help or that you wanted it??? I am one of your best friends and you never talked to me about it. I also told you that some of Tri-Cities and your old congregation there were way different than what I've experienced. They seemed more cold, distracted, some were more about hemselves, etc. That doesn't mean that that's how the whole organization is. It's not. But you have to put yourself out there to see it all and be patient. There is nearly 8,000,000 Jehovah's Witnesses from ALL SORTS of backgrounds. I was raised a Catholic until I started learning Bible Truths when I was 15. I looked into many other possibilities, until I COULDN'T prove this one wrong. Out of the 8,000,000 are ones who have studied DEEP into other religions, man's philosophies, atheism, etc. They have dug DEEP DEEP. Spent decades on in. You have to realize that most of Jehovah's Witnesses were not raised that way. These are people who have experienced many different ways and philosophies of life. After searching EVERY possibility, using soundness of mind and reasoning, and common sense, conclude that there MUST be a creator who is loving. Your searching in the wrong books my friend. Can you logically say that all 8 MILLION of us are THAT stupid? Do you think we or just I, enjoy going to other peoples houses to talk to them about these things? I like tatoos A LOT, smokin weed, would enjoy the challenge of getting rich by spending a lot more time working as a GM at the restaurant and start opening my own, have a big beard, cuss, crazy hair, etc etc....... Give my hard earned money and time repeatedly.Do you think that I would refrain from theses things just because I had some hunch or if just POSSIBLY the things I studied were true? And what about ALL those other ones sacrificing there time and resources? We would be FOOLS! I wouldn't make such sacrifices unless I was 100% sure that this was the Truth. I wouldn't be worth it. NO ONE can and has EVER proven the things in the Bible to be not true. On the contrary, MOST (so far) have been proven and confirmed through archeological findings, other writings, caninicity, etc. And other philosophies have been either proven wrong, or CAN'T BE PROVEN RIGHT. Whereas the opposite is true with the Bible. I love you man and again, I always will. Don't be blind. Realize that millions of other GOOD, PEACEFUL, HARD WORKING, HONEST, GIVING, LOVING people have educated themselves in many other teachings and have all come up with the same proof of things. PLEASE DON'T ABANDON YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR GOD. I love you man.