‘Apostacitis’ is a term denoting a condition with which the Watchtower Society has become thoroughly infected, particularly since the year 1981 when sincere Christians who merely resigned from the organization over principled differences in belief became viewed the same as unrepentant wrongdoers (1 Cor. 5:11) and as those rejecting the good news about the Christ (2 John 9-11).
There was a time when news of one becoming an apostate was so rare among Witnesses that it sent shockwaves throughout the organization. However, since the mass expulsion of exemplary Christians from Bethel who dared to express sincere questions in private discussions, including Ray Franz, Edward Dunlap and Rene and Elsie Vazquez, the term apostate is tossed about so casually among Witnesses that it is downright alarming!
A certain devout JW, whom we’ll call David, once heard a rumor that his older brother, a longtime elder, was “practically an apostate.” About that time, the older brother’s family moved their publisher cards to another congregation where they continue as approved Witnesses to this day. With greater frequency David began to hear other Witnesses casually relating tales of former acquaintances becoming apostate, and he couldn’t help but wonder what was going on. Suddenly, David found himself in danger of being labeled an apostate by his local elders simply because he expressed a point of view in an assigned talk on the Ministry School which has been championed in Watchtower publications from 1983 down to today. In fact, it was after the particular point of view was confirmed in a letter from the US Branch office that David’s local elders informed him that he would be considered an apostate if he continued to express the viewpoint to others in the congregation. That’s right! The elders rejected the letter from the Branch! What’s more, the particular viewpoint David had expressed was not even a doctrinal matter!
David reasoned that if he could be labeled an apostate so easily, how many others had been unjustly judged to be apostates in the past. He ultimately thought of Raymond Franz, and it was then that he purchased and read Crisis of Conscience. David was stunned to learn how closely Franz’s experience mirrored his own. It was then that David determined to quietly fade away from the organization, even though his wife and the greater number of both of their families remain active. It wasn’t long until David found this discussion board, and he delights to read posts by others who have become soured on the organization but not on God, on Christ, or on God’s Word.
David says he feels like a 60-year old child who has just learned that there really is no Santa Claus.