Some of your comments are really over the top. Some of you sound like serial killers.
I left the WT as soon as I realized it was not what it purported to be.
I resigned as an elder after being one for 30 years over 5 years before I left. I was an elder because I wanted to help people. It is true that I sat in on judicial cases over the years.
I was a member of a comittee that made a serious mistake when we disfellowshipped one youngster, about 18. I went home and cried all night, called the CO and told him it was wrong. He said to ask the comittee to meet again and fix it. The other brothers refused to meet. I went to the boys home the following evening and apologized to his parents and to him, with tears. I never got over being party to such a harsh decision, a decision that wasn't even close to being helpful or kind.
I told the kid that anytime he wanted to be reinstated to come to me and I would convene a hearing for him and I promised that I would try to influence the others to go along. He never came back.
I never knowingly was harsh or unkind before that or since that occasion. I may have been and not realized it. The judicial process is not the right way to deal with people anyway. There are exceptions. I was on comittees that dealt with pedophiles. Two 'brothers' went to prison from that congregation.
The Bible says, "O You lovers of Jehovah, hate what is bad". Some of the comments made have displayed a deep hatred of the elders rather than the mistaken or bad acts of elders.
I personally think some of you might want to reconsider such a position. Knowing that we all need mercy, Jesus said that "with the same judgment we judge others, we will be judged."
In my years as an elder, I tried to do good toward those that I considered Jehovah's sheep. I am not saying that I never made a mistake, but I am saying that I never knowingly or deliberately was mean.
I am sorry that some elders were so mean and harsh to you. It makes me sad that men abuse their power. While I may repent and apologize for any arrogance or unkindness that I may have manifested, you don't have to forgive me. Jehovah, who is the 'searcher of hearts' knows, and that is enough.
I hate arrogance, whether it is my own, or elders or bodies of elders or CO's or DO's or GB, or whether it is displayed by people here on this DB. Winning the argument is not my goal. I can't hold a candle to the intelligence or ability to express myself as some of you obviously do and have. Humility might dictate that we try to be kinder toward one another though. I kind of thought we were all in this together and we were trying to help one another make sense out of our lives after learning the 'truth about the truth'.
As far as current JW's, elders, CO's and DO's and GB, I agree that if they stick with the WT after they understand what is really happening then they are drinking the cup of the anger of God. But, like the apostle Paul, before his conversion, he really thought that he was doing the right thing in persecuting Christians and his previous conduct was forgiven him.
Romans 14:10--
10
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God;
11 for it is written: "‘As I live,’ says Jehovah, ‘to me every knee will bend down, and every tongue will make open acknowledgment to God.’"
12 So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God.
It is uncomfortable sitting on the other side of the table. It was also two months ago when I faced the Judicial Committee that refused to give me a scriptural basis for the charge of APOSTASY that was brought before me and my wife. But it is over and they have no power over me. While it is true that they have labeled me and have destroyed 45 years of friendships and caused one of my children to disown my wife and I, we feel that the release has been well worth the price.
I hate the WT for what it has done to all of us, some worse than others.
But for that hatred to be leveled against people of all sorts who have themselves left the WT I feel is totally out of place.
Hopefully, your friend,
Brant
