Dear Mankkell,
Great question! I thought I would take the time to post on this important topic. I don't post that much here.
Since leaving the The Watchtower Organization I have found Christ and "the truth". I found the true religion and I'm much closer to God and Christ than I ever was in the false religion of the Watchtower (aka Jehovah's witnesses).
I am not bitter.
I am grateful that God led me out of Satans Organization and into a better spiritual place.
I am filled with joy and happy about my salvation.
I am at peace and content that I need not search for something in a sea of false religions.
I love going to church to pray. I love getting involved in the ministry and preaching.
I enjoy helping the homeless and serving the needs of those that don't have as much.
Your question is poised in such a way that it might seem that in a secular sense we need to improve because we leave The Watchtower Corporation. This is irrelevent. There are Watchtower members (Jw's) that move up and down with good times and bad times, and it is the same with those outside that corporation/religion. Some that leave get on with life much better and others stumble into things they would not as a former Watchtower members. The point is not how great our life is now but how are we preparing for our future with God.
In my secular life I have almost completed my degree and that is something that will help me in this life until retirement if the Lord allows.
You asked about family and how it affects each of us here.
For me it has been positive. By my preaching efforts my sister is now baptized Roman Catholic, a faith I find much closer to the truth than the Watchtower Corporation. My daughter sees me going to church regularly and helping people and changing more than when I was a Watchtower member. I pray she may come to Christ as well. She has vowed never to return to the Church of Jehovahs witnesses (kingdom hall) again. Not by a word from me, but by my life actions.
My mom and dad know I go to a Christian church and I hope that someday my efforts will stir them to accept Christ and Christianity as well. So, yes things are very positive for me after leaving, but mostly in a spiritual sense and family sense as well.
Your post also seems to suggest that if we hurt our family by leaving what good is that. You must realize that Watchtower members are guilty of cutting off family members that have never been a part of their religion. About half of my family growing up, I never knew. They were just secular non church going folks. We didn't associate because they were not of the "in crowd" kind of mentality.
Essentially I have learned to love more. I learned not to judge and not to be afraid of God. Mostly we become Holy by way of loving people. God is love. Let us imitate that.
Even if we leave the Watchtower and some family members shun us it is THEM not showing love. We must love them back regardless. This is Holy. This is good. I pray that someday my brother and my father and mother will step toward Christ and remove themselves from Babylon the great and the Wathtower soon.
Lord have mercy
Peace to you
Maksym
