Making Your Way After Leaving The Watchtower Society

Realize You Have Done Nothing Wrong

Each of our circumstances varied, but many of us left the Watchtower Society with the echoes of harsh words in our heads.  They elders may have proclaimed at our leaving "You are no longer loved by Jehovah!' or "You are now going to be destroyed at Armageddon!"  The following statement was told to me on the last night I ever met with an elder, in 1996: "Satan will now have a hold on you!"  These statements are mere empty words from men who see they no longer have spiritual control over your life via the Watchtower Society.  The actuality of it is, that now free of the Watchtower you CAN get closer to God should you choose to want this.  Whether you still call Him Jehovah, God, Father, Lord He IS still waiting there for you.  The false doctrines and altered gospel of the Jehovah's Witnesses is no longer in your way.  But, it does take time to release the thinking and reasoning as a Jehovah's Witness from our minds.  Be rest assured that leaving the Watchtower Society has NOT delivered you to Satan or the spiritual gallows.  The Watchtower Society does not like it when folks leave, some having seen the real "light" of TRUTH; hence the fallacy in the Watchtower Society.  Be glad that Watchtower affiliation is behind you.  Where you go from here, can provide you with being one of the REAL FAMILY of God, rejoicing in new found assurance that a relationhsip with Jesus is now yours for the taking.

Stand Firm

Now is a time when you will need to stand firm.  If it is indeed your desire to remain free from the Watchtower Society, there may be things you will face.  These include pressure from elders, friends and more so from Jehovah's Witness family... all telling you how wrong you have been and that you should come back and give it a another chance.  It can be difficult, especially with family, but standing firm now in your resolve will benefit you.  These folks may be well sincere, but going back to what you left will not automatically remove the situation or circumstance over which you left.  Should you desire it, a wonderful life of freedom to worship as Jesus set the example for us, now lies before you.  Don't trade that for anything.  Don't permit the Watchtower Society to rob you of it again.

Don't Agonize Over The "Heavy Stuff" Right Away

Upon leaving the Watchtower Society, you may begin wondering and worrying about doctrine, the blood issue, the trinity, eternal salvation, etc.  This is normal and a part of establishing oneself after the Watchtower Society.  Upon being free however, you need not lose sleep or agonize with much anxiety over these things.  If there is anyone who understands how blinded and mislead we were as Jehovah's Witnesses, it is God himself.  He does not expect you to instantly come free of years of deception and then automatically get a grasp on the wholeness and truthfulness of His Word.  That would be like a child ready to start school, and they immediately advance them to senior education... it just wouldn't work.  It took time to become a Jehovah's Witness, to learn and accept all they teach, and it will take time to as I phrase it "de-watchtower" and learn the true and unadulterated Word of God.  Many times it is major accomplishment for former Jehovah's Witnesses just to know and see that they are not evil apostates as the Watchtower Society may declare.  Concentrate now on regaining happiness, peace of mind, and stability.  As you then progress and become more successful in you after-Watchtower life, then the time will come to address doctrine, worship, fellowship, etc.  You will find out how easy it really is to know God.  Take heart in His ability to strengthen and sustain you.

Pray For Help

Sometimes this is hard for former Jehovah's Witnesses to do. Former ones who have contacted this ministry have stated that they felt odd, even unworthy about praying.  "Will God really heare me?" some ask.  Why wouldn't He? He created you, loves you, and He doesn't not hear prayer like Watchtower declares -because we are no longer one of them.  The more I prayed after leaving, and it took a while before I did, the easier it became to do so.  Knowing God was not the lighting-bolt throwing Jehovah that Watchtower presents, assured me of His love and care.  We prayed as Jehovah's Witnesses... now that we are free of them we can still pray, all the more, it means so much more now.  Jesus tells us to cast our burdens on Him and we know HE will never fail us.  No better care is there to receive than that coming from Jesus himself.  Talk to God.  He'll provide the 'hugs' on days when we are feeling overwhelmed, or lonely.  Have you ever felt God hug you?  It feels great!  Talk to Him.  Tell Him you love Him.  He knows your heart.

Focus On The Positive

Just think of what lies before you now!  There will be no more requiring demands that you hand in a tally of field services hours each month, judst to show you are spiritual; God has never placed and never will place such a quota on us.  You will not have to submit to the notion that only a select group of men in an office in Brooklyn can decipher the Bible for you.  God gives us understanding and this is not in bits and pieces called "new light"... our understanding increases as we grow in Him.  Should you wish to share, your doing so wiil now be out of love for others and not because you are required to do so to remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses.  Jesus never dictated to His disciples how much the had to do; just to "follow" Him was his invitation.  You can now have the time to really, find out what it is to be a Christian, a real Christian and not by some psuedo-Charitain adherence to a misguided and lacking following of men.  Should you ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior there will never be another moment in which we feel like we did in the Watchtower Society:  Jesus DOES love you and this unconditionally. 

Know That You Are Not Alone

One very important factor that you will be able to draw support from is that in leaving the Watchtower Society and successfully moving on -you are not alone.  I was absolutely amazed at how many there really are, who have done just so.  They have moved on in life: in worship, education, business, and so forth.  Some have started outreach ministries and websites.  Too, there are many former Jehovah's Witness who now blend in with society that many folks don't even know where they came from.  They have put the past behind.  A spark was ignited in their lives, blessed now by how they CAN have a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Once attained, they cannot help but to share this, having been deprived of it for so long.  We of course pray that you will want this too, that you will want to be close to God.  Jesus has already conquered anything that could possibly befall you.  Know that you are not alone. If anything, God is closer now than ever before.  May He become yours.

WE ARE HERE TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT YOU!