Dear Friends,
Some month ago two elders paid me a visit. We had a very good spiritual conversation that strengthened my desire to again become a member of the congregation. My idea with the membership is to get increased spiritual association with the friends so that “an exchange of encourage” can take place. (Romans 1:12)
As the unhappily condition is right now merely the friends have the opportunity to encourage me by their many comments and talks at the congregation meetings. I have not the opportunity to do the same to them because a disfellowshipped person is not allowed to give any comments at the meetings. (You can read in Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7 how the graceful Jehovah God – the One we perfectly must imitate – allowed the evil Satan to give comments at the heavenly public assemblies. [Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 5:1])
Surely a problem for you is how my life has turned out since I left the congregation. To be precise I started to associate with so called apostates and disfellowshipped ones, mainly through Internet. Those dear friends of mine were to me “born for when there is distress” – a Jehovah’s gift to me. (Proverbs 17:17; James 1:17)
If I should break this precious friendship Jehovah mercifully has given me I would actually proved myself being haughty, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, without love of goodness, betrayal, puffed up with pride and just having a form of godly devotion. (See 2 Timothy 3:1-5) A genuine Jehovah’s Witness will never abandon his friends, despite what doctrines or behaviours these friends have.
I am sorry to say that when I recently wrote a similar letter of reinstatement to Bethel in Sweden, and sent a copy of it to my home congregation, no answer has been given to me. The brothers ignore my letters. Therefore I hope you will show me more love and respect than these friends do and give me an answer to my letter of reinstatement. If you like you can write emails to me ([email protected]).
Sincerely, Benny Sikter