My name Is John ...
Brief Background
44 years old...been a witness my whole life...currently ministerial servant.
My journey here began with Covid... I have never questioned the organization... or looked into any matters into the org in the past. And like many here....I have been deeply researching many things...and I'm sure this is all to Jehovah or Jesus credit. I have though for the last 14 years heavily researched vaccines and medications. I never even thought of these things in the past.... until I had kids. I only wanted the best for my children and after much research we started refusing vaccines...until my last child we decided not to vaccinate at all. So when this vaccine was in the works...there was already no way I was going to take it. And really long story short...because I don't want this story to be too long...I knew this vaccine was going to be dangerous from the beginning. It was even in the manufacturers info to watch out for Heart attacks, myocarditis, strokes, and many others. So before it was made available, I tried warning many... my family, friends, my wife's family. But the fear the media put out was too much to overcome... But the shocking thing to me and I'm sure many others here...was the GB's stance on the matter. Every month when the updates would come out....I would get more and more discouraged, both me and my wife. And I believe it was the update Bro. Splane came out with ...of its not what the GB knows..."it's what does Jehovah know". and "how could Jehovah let all the brothers in bethel get the vaccine if it was dangerous". These videos and decisions were the beginning of me really questioning many things. Especially when the printed material was saying "its everyone's personal decision" and yet the videos were strongly insinuating to take the vaccine. And then I heard the Elders and pioneers were required to get it...this really made no sense.
So this made me start to research a lot more... not only about masks and vaccines...these things I already knew didn't work....But i got more into the scriptures....
I prayed fervently to Jehovah that I was making the right decisions...
I read so many scriptures about not trusting man....or princes ...but to trust in Jehovah. And these all made sense to me....how could it be right to trust man(science) ...that they know better than Jehovah about his creation...and how the body works...and that they can make it work better. I read the full account in Romans 14...about not passing judgment on differing opinions... and yet the brothers in my hall were shunning me and giving me less parts ...because they knew my stance on vaccines, and I was still doing things with my family through all of Covid... Even though they said "each family head was responsible for they're own family".
I read the scripture at Revelation 18:23... "
No light of a lamp will ever shine in you again, and no voice of a bridegroom and of a bride will ever be heard in you again; for your merchants were the top-ranking men of the earth, and by your spiritistic practices+ all the nations were misled" where it talks about all nations being misled by spirtistic practices...or by pharmekia...which can be druggery or poisoning. and many other scriptures... but all I thought was ....how could the GB not know this...or think about these things...
And I will say....full disclosure ...I am a Conspiracy Theorist... which I really don't think is a bad thing.... it has been made to be negative in an effort to squash truth. Not that all conspiracies are true ... but I have no problem believing that the government in Satan's system would lie to us. And I do believe that if Jesus was on the earth today...or Noah...Or Jonah...Or Jacob...Moses... the list goes on. Everyone would label them as a conspiracy theorist today...Or crazy...
So when the GB mentioned conspiracy theories... and it was either them or a talk that also talked bad about critical thinking. And there also two types of Critical thinking...One that is negative thinking ....and one that the Bible tells us to be "Critical Thinkers" ...."to use our power of perception" our "thinking ability" and to pray for wisdom. This was another red flag for me...
A scripture though ...that Really got me thinking is at
Matthew 24:5 "for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many."
This was one of the first things Jesus told his apostles about the last days... It may seem like nothing at first .... til you know the meaning of the Word "Christ"
It means Annointed one. And then I realized that we are following "annointed ones". Annointed ones that have said that they are neither inspired or infallible.
I also read the Acct in Matthew 23:10 where it tells us
"Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ"
And even though the GB doesn't claim to be our Leaders... they take that role...its expected that we all Obey... whatever it is that they say... So its as if they “
The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses" as vs 2 says.
And I really feel as though the words of 2 Cor. 11:3 apply
"But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent seduced Eve by its cunning,+ your minds might be corrupted away from the sincerity and the chastity* that are due the Christ."
I feel as though it's a major problem that we talk more about the GB and the Organization....then Jesus. We are told "not to boast in men". I don't like that we just don't do as the bible says and "baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" Period ..." not spirit directed organization".
Do we put to much emphasis on our works....and not enough on Gods grace...because theres nothing we could do to earn salvation...it was a Gift....paid by the blood and sacrifice of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Should we be partaking of the emblems....there's more evidence in the bible that tell us to do that....none that says not too... am I denying the Christ and disrespecting him by merely just passing the bread and wine? This is a Major question....
Also...Shunning... we are taught so many different ways to show Love...and the psychological trauma and callousness of this practice is nothing like we learned the Christ to be...
I have many others ... but as of right now....I am seeking Truth.... and really "The Truth" is really only One thing. And its not we have known our whole lives or for many years as "the Truth" It's at John 14:6
"Jesus said to him: “I am the way+ and the truth+ and the life.+ No one comes to the Father except through me."
As far as where I'm at right now... I'm being patient with my decisions. So many that I have seen that just leave... end up losing their complete faith in God... The scriptures talk about this as well. So i'm doing what Jesus says to do as Matthew 23: 3
"Therefore, all the things they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but they do not practice what they say.+
I'm also trying to be peaceable with all men... and it really is sad... If you say anything about the organization and where were headed... you're labelled as an Apostate and banished from all of your friends and family.... So I'm treading lightly with this because I really do believe there are many Good people in the organization that Jehovah loves and that they themselves are trying to faithfully serve him... IF this all comes crumbling down at some point...they will be so confused...
What are everyone's else's thoughts on some of these things... Hopefully I haven't offended anyone... I only have many question and am seeking Truth and Love for God and my neighbors.... I mean no Ill will on anyone and only pray for God's guidance in all that I do.... Thank you for taking the time to read this...
Your Brother in Christ...
