Torn,
It saddens me that you've been deceived by the "Watchman" website. But that was logically to happen since you're still under the illusion that God operates through an "organization." The owner of that site has a huge imagination concerning prophecy, just as the WT Society always has. It's indeed sad to see otherwise reasonable persons fall for such unfounded and trivial speculations instead of heeding Jesus' clear warning against false prophets.
Since God sent Jesus into the world, he has no "watchman" or "watchman class." "God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things." (Heb 1:1, 2, NW) Jesus said that he is the way to the Father. (Jn 14:6) Any man or organization that steps between Jesus and a professed Christian is attempting to take the place of God's Son. The "Watchman" website doesn't point to Jesus. Instead, the owner in dreamy-eyed fashion points to a reformed and re-invigorated Watchtower Society. How sad it is to see you put your trust "in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation." (Ps 118:8; 146.3, NASB)
Contrary to the illusion you continue to accept, Christ has never pronounced approval upon the WT Society over all other churches. Ever since the Society began thinking in those terms, it has seriously been in violation of Bible teachings such as the following: "Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." (Ro 14:4, NASB) "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." (1 Co 10:12, NASB) Despite such warnings, the Society continues without authorization from either God or Christ to brazenly condemn all others who make a sincere attempt at living according to Christ's teachings. The Society has taken Jesus' place in the minds of the people it teaches. And it has built that position upon a sandy foundation.
I don't personally judge and condemn the members of the WT Society or others who believe that only JWs have God's truth. If I did, I would be just like them. Still, Jesus' warning serves to protect those who choose not to be misled: "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter." (Mt 7:19-21, NASB) How disastrous that some people confuse the will of the WT Society with the will of God!
While I cannot and do not wish to judge you, Torn, I could not publicly claim to be a JW as you do. Neither could I conscientiously do what the owner of the "Watchman" website does. A genuine JW accepts the so-called "anointed ones" as God's channel. He may not in good conscience challenge what he has many times acknowledged as "God's true prophet-like organization." It isn't sincerely honest for him to say he is still a JW when he begins to believe and teach contrary to the "faithful and discreet slave class" of basic WT theology. It amounts to living a lie. In fact, it's living as a brazen hypocrite before the eyes of God. It is a contradiction to expect that a person living in such a way can have God's blessing and be a source of truth that leads to salvation.
I am content and happy in the knowledge I now have about God, Christ and the Christian church. I feel my prayers are being answered beyond compare. I have found genuine truth seekers among people who attend church and people who do not. I feel many of Jehovah's Witnesses are also searching for the truth, just as I was when I belonged to their organization. And I believe God did not choose to open my eyes to where the truth may be found until he first led me to see clearly that he just doesn't work through any organization that was founded and developed by sinful men.
My greatest spiritual blessings have come since I publicly renounced the WT Society as an instrument in the hands of God and Christ. I thank you for the opportunity you've given me to refine even more clearly in my own mind that I've taken the right stand. I pray that God will bless you in accordance with your sincere desire to know the truth that sets men free from the type of spiritual bondage to men that I experienced for most of my life.
Frank
