After sending my disfellowshipped sister-in-law a Valentine's card last week, she sent me an email. Imagine my surprise! After 15 years of being disfellowshipped, she told me that she reinstated one month ago. Then she spent the next two days "encouraging" me to "return to Jehovah." One of the things she asked me was why hadn't I disassociated myself. Here's some of my response:
The reason why I haven't disassociated myself is simple - If someone from the congregation wants to continue associating with me, I don't want them to feel like they are disobeying the rules in order to do so. The word apostate according to the dictionary means someone who has changed their religious beliefs. That is the apostate understanding that I accept. (And according to that, anyone who wasn't raised a witness would also be an apostate, because they've changed their beliefs to become a witness.) Now, I'm not boycotting any kingdom halls with picket signs, nor am I sharing my new thoughts with anyone who is a witness, unless specifically asked by them. It is not my desire to change anyone else's feelings about the organization. I'm not sure how you could question why my choice to leave would be a difficult one. Interestingly, you said that if my new found findings were the truth, then I would not have had to wrestle them. I say, how could it not be?! I left the only religion I've ever know and potentially lost all the friends I've ever had. I wasn't disfellowshipped because of wrongdoing, and I didn't leave because I wanted to pursue any wrongdoing. I left because I accepted my new found findings. I did so with the full understanding of everything that I was going to have to give up. It's the members and/or the organization who put the label apostate on me because I no longer agree with some of the understandings. So, here are my only questions for you to ask yourself. Why did you feel that you left Jehovah when you were disfellowshipped? If he doesn't belong only to the witnesses, why will all non-believers, according to their understanding, be destroyed at Armageddon? You said that you decided to rededicate yourself to Jehovah, so why did it also include being a witness? What way could you have rededicated yourself to Jehovah without being a witness? Please don't feel compelled to answer these questions to me. I just want you to understand that according to the Witnesses, there is no other way - it's their way or out. I had no choice but to leave.
What did you decide, and why?