When people are faced with being a victim of a crime or other wrongs, it changes them. It produces in them the need for accountability. Such victims are told to "forgive" by letting go and that the forgiveness is for their own healing, even if the one causing harm has not shown sorrow or regret. Victims need and want accountability, not necessarily vengeance - but something more than letting the bad guy off the hook. There needs to be something to forgive ... because the harm and crimes of the Society continue unabated.
Accountability has been denied to former Jehovah's Witnesses - and this is perhaps one of the reasons we stick together. We have no doubt about the errors and serious harm caused by the Watchtower Society toward its members. The most notable in recent years has been the child abuse issue. Nonetheless, we all have need for accountability from the Watchtower Society. This need is frustrated, because the Society and its leaders are known, unlike most criminals, and yet accountability is elusive. Some have expressed this frustration in a desire for vengeance. But in truth, we really need for the Watchtower Society to awaken to its past and present errors, to apologize and seek forgiveness.
Here are the words from a parallel group:
"Obviously, there are a lot of doctrinal errors in this list. Equally obviously, we would not describe them as errors unless we understood why they were in error. We have worked hard to inform our own members about where we went wrong --- and we say "we" with all honesty, for all the current leaders of the church once believed and taught these erroneous doctrines. We have all criticized other Christians as false, deceived, children of the devil. ... We have much to apologize for. We are profoundly sorry that we verbally persecuted Christians and created dissention and disunity in the body of Christ. We seek forgiveness and reconciliation." WCG
Can you imagine the Watchtower Society leaders making such an apology? It is possible. I highly recommend that you read the full historical text of how the Worldwide Church of God made such a turn over a ten year period. Click here: http://www.wcg.org/lit/aboutus/history.htm It is a short read, and well worth your time.
You will be surprised at the similarities to the Watchtower. The WCG even had a great falling away over the failure of their own 1975 prophecy. In fact, the similarities are so close, that it almost makes me wonder if God used their conversion to help us have some hope. [PS: Neither the Watchtower nor the WCG used each others literature to form their own articles ... it was all truly a strange coincidence ... especially when the Plain Truth and the Watchtower has similar articles in the same month.]
If the Watchtower Society ever showed such contrite humility, I would cry my eyes out. No, I would not rejoin them. But, I would certainly resume fellowship with many friends who remain her members. It would be so completely refreshing and rewarding to see this turn of events for the Society rather than her collapse and further harm to her members.
How would such an event make you feel? Maybe it is something we can pray for - for accountability with healing, for apology and forgiveness. - Jim W.