Elders. Help
My judicial trial is now over. The elders were not arrogant or mean spirited. Mutual respect was shown by all four of us, but these men were compelled to follow the Watchtower policy playbook, and by those standards of men they had no alternative but to disfellowship me. I do not blame them, and harbor no ill will towards them.
After much prayer I felt that I had to let my light shine, and that the Lord was with me, giving me the words that I should say. I was found guilty of “apostasy” as defined by the Watchtower Organization, and they will be announcing that I am no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Tuesday the 25th of September. I am not devastated, nor downhearted. Quite the contrary, as literally hundreds of people have been expressing their thanks and prayers in my behalf. It is overwhelming and very much a humbling experience for me.
One might ask, “Since Jehovah is the one who forgives sins, why do I need to “call the older men of the congregation?” The Watchtower is correct telling us the “mature older men in the congregation can help remorseful sinners.” But is this always the case? Do most Jehovah’s Witnesses feel like they can gain forgiveness from going to the elders as James 5:14-16 tells us will happen if a sinner confesses to them?