The definition of apsotacy acording to the scriptures is a person who rejects Christ or God, and speak out against them., I have never spoken against Christ or God!
Brother Beyond
Indeed and doesn't it make it frustrating to be prejudged and labelled as such without a proper debate about the subject matter in hand.
Your average witness will not even engage in a conversation that is perceived as an attack on their lifestyle choice.
I was going through a lot last year in my personal life and had a conversation with an ex- brother (who is trying to return at the moment) about the organization and Christianity in general. Low and behold, I find out through a friend that I am an apostate and was "having a go at his religion". It has taken several letters on my behalf to even begin to patch up what I thought was a reasonably good relationship.
It is more to do with individuals trying to hold onto their fragile faith which is not open to question or attack. Can you imagine the Apostle Paul turning up to talk to the Greek philosophers only to turn on his heal and walk away with a glib comment like - "apostacy, your ideas do not make any sense to me, therefore I will ignore you instead and label you as my enemy". I don't think so. He would have engaged in meaningful conversation and used respect during his arguments. Not like the average JW who simply puts up a barrier, puts their nose in the air and bangs on about the marvels of the organization.
You have to pity that individual in a way, as they are not allowing their mind to function as God intended. The basis of the Christian faith as I was taught many years ago "is reason through accurate knowledge". Try telling this to a practising witness when you have a series of well constructed argumnents before you. It is interesting to note, that it was a JW who taught me the above statement about the constructs of the faith.