This video was hard to do. Its about my former religion and coming out of it and the consequences that follow. I apologise its longer that 4 Minutes but I had to share this story.
Hi Sarah. Thanks for watching. Yeah. I am embarrassed about how hard I judged. I shunned badly. But that’s what I was taught to do. I’m so glad I now no how harmful that is. And also. How wrong and unloving it is. I’ve learnt a lot.
@@4minuteman429 WARNING TO TRUE JEHOVAH'S WITTNESSES DO NOT LEAVE JEHOVAH'S ORGANIZATION :::::::::::::PLEASE READ THIS FIRST Be aware that apostates publish literature that resorts to distortions, half-truths, and outright falsehood. They even picket Witness conventions, trying to trap the unwary. Hence, it would be a dangerous thing to allow our curiosity to move us to feed on such writings or to listen to their abusive speech! While we might not think it a risk for us personally, the hazard remains. Why? For one thing, some of the apostate literature presents falsehoods by means of “smooth talk” and “counterfeit words.” (Romans 16:17, 18; 2 Peter 2:3) What would you expect from the table of demons? And while the apostates may also present certain facts, these are usually taken out of context with the goal of drawing others away from the table of Jehovah. All their writings simply criticize and tear down! Nothing is up building. “Avoid them,” says God’s Word. Other translations render that phrase “turn away from them,” “keep away from them,” and “stay away from them!” There is nothing ambiguous about that inspired counsel. Suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease. You would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning. Well, apostates are “mentally diseased,” and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. (1 Tim. 6:3, 4) Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid contact with them. We know what he means, but are we determined to heed his warning in all respects? Apostates “quietly bring in” corruptive ideas. Like smugglers, they operate in a clandestine manner, subtly introducing apostate views. And just as a clever forger tries to pass phony documents, so apostates use “counterfeit words,” or false arguments, trying to pass their fabricated views as if they were true. They spread “deceptive teachings,” “twisting . . . the Scriptures” to fit their own ideas. ADDED NOTE: It is ridiculous that apostates find support among each other, as if the one giving the support had supernatural powers to save others from death and sickness. You feel that by sharing your bogus experience and twisted ideologies among each other, you will recieve acceptance, comfort, and protection, your delusional feeling will then save each other from eternal non existence. The so called (Ex JW Community) cannot even save themselves from the coming final destruction. In addition, you now carry the guilt of poisoning your own family (Bloodshed) in the spiritual sense, by guiding them to their own destruction, including children whom will also perish by God's wrath. And as an example during Noah's days all those people outside of Noah’s ark, namely, the men, women, children and newborn babies, the Nephilim the hybrid offspring from the marriage of disobedient angels and human daughters of men, all such then living were suddenly executed by God’s direct act and were thus destroyed forever. So as it was written, so shall it be done. It will be with all persons on earth who are not in harmony with God’s kingdom at the fast-approaching battle of Armageddon.
Thank you for your video. I became a JW as a young adult of about 23 years old. I was attracted to their zeal and how organised they were and how they seemed to have an answer for every Biblical question. Being from an evangelical Christian background I didn't 100% accept everything but I got baptised after talking to an elder about this and he said my "heart condition was in the right place" and that I will eventually come to accept everything. He also admitted that he also has questions sometimes and that "new light" usually took care of it. This comforted me a lot. So I proceeded to get baptised and spent 27 years in the Organisation before I began to wake up. As the years went by "new light" came to be interpretation that I already knew from my former years of attending church. The JWs were excited about it but it wasn't "new" to me. However, I realised I couldn't say anything. Their absolute faith in the Governing Body was something I struggled to cultivate but couldn't manage to do. The Big One that I was waiting for never seemed to be coming and that was changing the twist they had on the 2 classes of Christians. The Bible is so clear on how to celebrate the Memorial and who do not deserve to partake, and I found myself becoming more and more uncomfortable about attending the Memorial and not partaking as a Christian. Other issues arose for me which peaked in 2019/2020 that caused me to hop off the fence that I had been sitting on for a long while. The last straws were: First, the Governing Body claiming around late 2019 that the media centre that was being built in New York will be needed in the new system to teach resurrected ones after Armageddon. I took partiparticular offence when the Governing Body member said that although the project will take 6 years we still needed to have a sense of urgency in our preaching work!! The second was in early 2020 during a Christian Life & Ministry meeting a video was shown with Governing Body member talking about how the the circuit assembly and regional/district convention themes and programs were produced. He mentioned that they were approved 4 to 6 years before we actually see them!!. My jaw fell to the floor! Immediately I thought of those programs that constantly urged us to have a sense of urgency or those that came out with "new light" like the so-called "overloverlapping generations" doctrine . I was very disgusted at the idea that the scripts or outlines were prepared years beforehand but they made it seem like the "revelatons" were new when we were at these assemblies and conventions. That's manipulation if nothing else. In the video all the members of the Governing Body were shown sitting around a table discussing one program. I felt so upset at the time that I was expected to accept this without question and I decided from then on that I was going to live my life without the constant fear of the end being just around the corner. This was when I became fully awake without realising that this was what had happened to me.
@@dancingnature I report vusi as "unwanted spam". You can click beside his posts to access this option. Can you imagine how dumb he will feel someday when he wakes up.... or when Watchtower goes down... whichever comes first?
In 1980, when I began waking up, there was no "Google." No Wiki pages. No RU-vid. No social media. I WAS alone and homeless and helpless as to how the world worked, because of my "bubble" upbringing and low education. What you are doing is radically important for the mental survival of thousands of people thrown away by their families, friends and fellow "witnesses." Keep going. Keep going. Keep going.
Welcome newbie! And though none of us are professional nor have careers, however waking up and the terrifying treatment of their "loving arrangement" of shunning feels as though we are all in a horror film. I remember my parents talking me out of going to my high school graduation. Of course no college. I woke up after my fourth child. My sixth child is a graduate of UCLA and on to Stanford. Jws are a smart and disciplined group. We should be contributing to our 🌎. Looking forward to more videos, love the Australian accent too.
Loved your video, you crack me up. I am so happy for you, that you've finally found happiness and a partner to share your life with. We're all on this tipsy topsy journey together and I applaud you for sharing your experiences with us. It's courageous and helps. ❤️ So many of us can relate! Much love my brother. 😊 ❤️
I recently left officially on 1 May 2023. As a fellow Ozzie well done mate. Soo brave to put yourself out there and leaving the org. Having a child who’s almost 6 made me wake up to the evil teachings and I didn’t want to inflict the abuse onto her. My “friend” would hit her daughter to keep her quiet for the meetings as a young toddler and child. I could see the lack of love.
Thankyou. Yes putting it out there is a little daunting but the more we all do it the higher the chance the general public can actually see the truth of what that organisation is and avoid being deceived. Thankyou.
Well said mate. I submitted my disassociation letter about a month ago. I relate to what you say about not judging people any more. I really feel that.
Hi Carl. I hope you go well. I think the more of us that speak out the better it will be. Perhaps they will stop lying about how they treat people that leave. I hope you have a god network around you. All the best mate.👍🏻
You should do more Watchtower worship videos. Today there is a great demand for information on this subject and the number of views your video has made amply proves it. Today more and more JWs are waking up all over the world and new EXJW channels are born every month in the world. I dismissed the Watchtower Society from my life in April 2019 after more than 30 years of service. Today (February 2023) I can say out loud that I have absolutely no regrets, one thing I regret is not having done it sooner. I kiss you.
Hello Aaron- Im very grateful for your video, for you being open and sincere 😀 My husband and I went trough same daubts and questions as you did. I went through mentall distress: crying, horror jw dreams before We wrote a letter of diss. After 33 yrs in org. We lost ALL friends and one daughter (; Thanksfully the second daughter opened her eyes too 😀 We started to live our lives finally, and its BEAUTIFUL (: IT was so good to hear your story. Thank you Aaron 😊
Thankyou very much for your message. I hope you and your husband are doing well and finding yourselves. And to hear you have some family is really a good thing. Good luck and I wish you all the best.
Thank you so much for your time and creating this video, it was excellent! I’m so happy you’re experiencing real love and enjoying your life experience in this beautiful world❤
Hello brother!!! I was also born in the organization and woke up recently so I know the struggle of leaving family and friends behind. I’m from America 🇺🇸 but will be in QLD for two weeks in the GC area in March and would definitely love to catch up with you!! I see you live 2 hours from where I’ll be staying but I would definitely travel to meet u if you wanted. Hope your good
I once had "bible lessons" - thinking proper bible studies - what a mistake, it was JW propaganda only. I remember at the KH babies in prams being smacked - I ran back to my own church - where the priest answered all my questions, have proper critical thinking bible studies in our parish. Glad you escaped from the cult. You are a survivor.
I live in QLD and have was disfellowshiped 25 years ago after having my son..Ive just found your channel and I'm very grateful. 😀I love your true blue honesty. Thankyou.☺
I remember when I quit the organization. It was a beautiful Saturday morning I was with an elder and I told him about my coming vacation. He mentioned that because I had some privileges in the congregation l should talk to the elders first. One of the residents apparently left the garbage can out from the previous day. I put my literature case in the garbage can and walkaway. He asked where you going brother ? I'm going to I hope for breakfast you want to come. My wife went to the meeting Sunday. They asked her what happened to brother? I don't exactly know but his fishing boat was not in the garage.
Hi Aaron..I hope you're both well... WT knowingly lying in Gods name....which they know they are(& have been)...That's my reason.. Yes,they are leading people to the slaughter.. May more leave quickly( Revelations 18:4) John17:17
IAOSHUA said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - Jn 14:6 “All have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I shall give you rest. - Mt 11:27,28
Awesome video Aaron! Your story is genuine, heartfelt and inspiring. It's a wild ride indeed when you find out TTATT (the truth about the truth)! There are many of us out there, and as a fellow Queenslander, I just want to say 'well done'. You stood for truth, honesty and integrity regardless of the consequences. I am so glad you have been blessed with real happiness and a positive hope for the future. Thank you for having the courage to share your story with us Aaron.
the grey Bible was to confuse, you're right, then you couldn't find anything with the words changed. That year was their downfall... never to recover... presumptuousness is a grave sin
oh Aaron what a nice video! I m so glad you came of of that in the bast way as possible. I don't know if I could hang out with someone always ringing doorbells everywhere all the time. ....you make me wanting to join the Jeovah's witnesses to leave them in record time to be remember forever as the fastest fugitive of all time!! love from me and Stephanie!
I’ve been out for 11 years & I still consider it the best thing I’ve ever done. My kids won’t be raised with doom n gloom hanging over their heads. And we’re all free to pursue our wants n passions, free to make up our own minds. I Can now enjoy a good thunder storm instead of being terrified. I could go on n on. So glad to be freeeeee!
So glad you are happy now and remarried to the right person for you. I had similar experience. Appreciate your honesty and wish you all the very best! 👍👌
Well , I can say to you you're not the first and for sure you will not be the last who is leaving the organization. But I wish you all the best. It will become better and better. I think you are the lucky one. The world is fild with nice people
Click bait puppies worked! 🤣Well played, good sir. That having been said, thank you for sharing your story. I love hearing wake up stories. They are all SO different and yet all SO similar. I am at awe of all you people who saw problems in the religion while in, and even more so of people who voiced what they saw! It's all there, it always was, but most of us managed to be blind. Kudos to you, and WELCOME to your freedom. I've got so much to comment. I should have taken notes during the video, really, lol. Your niece is right - there is pressure to get baptized. It's sneaky, though, because it's part of the culture. To be a fully fledged part of the community, you HAVE to be baptized. It is a rite of passage, of sorts, for sure. Ofc, it doesn't hit everyone the same, and I do believe you when you say you didn't feel pressured into it. I've no reason to doubt you. I also, didn't feel pressured AT THE TIME. Or at least I didn't feel free to feel pressured into it. I got dunked because I was struggling, spiritually, and thought that me not having made the dedication was a part of the problem. Shocker: getting into a pool didn't help. 🤷♀🙄 I am SO happy that you've found happiness now. Hello to the missus! (And the puppies. Because, let's face it: I'm only here for the puppies.😂) Finally, I remember vividly the moment when, after leaving the faith, I realized that I wouldn't have to judge others anymore. A weight lifted off me, almost literally. What does that say about a religion? You leave it and are RELIEVED that you don't HAVE to have an opinion about the people around you. Freedom just to live and let live.
Thankyou for that comment. I appreciate it and totally understand. Btw sorry for the trickery with the puppies 😉😁. I wish you the best on your journey and Thankyou again for your experience. All this stuff helps I reckon. Well. It helps me. 👍🏻
@@4minuteman429 Never apologize for puppies! 😉 (I knew it wasn't going to be a video ABOUT puppies, I expected just what I got: a cameo of puppies and a better, happy life. 😊) And sharing, hearing others' stories, it helps. For sure. I went 15 years being all alone with this issue. Yes, I was lucky as I had loving people around me to support me, but they didn't know what it was like inside the faith, and I didn't know how to tell them, either. 🤷♀
Great video. Which congregation/ area are you from? I grew up in Brisbane. Your story sounds so much like ours. The beard thing is super weird, my husband was told he wasn't exemplary and we were soft shunned, our daughter (10yrs) was no longer able to read the "Read scriptures" because ONLY baptized people can read the bible in their answers, it was a rule of the watchtower conductor. This really peeved me off! (I was already waking up due to the horrible videos at the conventions) but this was it, for both of us!
I grew up in Kedron. Then I was in warwick from 13-19 then back to brizzy on the south side. Morooka, Shailer Park then Capalaba. Yes I’ve heard such stories. I once had a goaty and read the watchtower as the leading elder in that cong “Capalaba” was quite liberal and I got referred to by the visiting speaker as Satan in the congregation😂. Not to my face ofcourse.Needless to say he complained. And I lost my privileges then too. All over facial hair that god gave us? I’m glad to hear you woke up and I really hope your happy and free.
@@4minuteman429 We were in Warwick 2018 and 2019 also. Too bad we didn't know that we had all woken up. We left in 2017. Who were the WT pedophiles in W ? Do you happen to know Mandy and Les Pont ?
Very nice testimony. I can relate completely. I'm over the pond in NZ and it's nice to see another Christian brother. If you are ever over here stop and visit.
My wife and I may be over that way in August. Just checking flight prices. Looking to start in Auckland then drive south. Not sure yet. But that’s the plan. Would be great to catch up and share our war stories from the org ha ha.
Looking in the rearview mirror while driving is necessary from time to time, but we must first of all look forward to reach our destination safely. So, Aaron, don't worry too much about the past and enjoy your present life by showing gratitude to God and helping others in different ways, and you'll find many new friends in both virtual and real world.
I've recently reached out to Witnesses for Jesus (ex jw) for support. Truly understand my brother. Keep healing and growing. Also luv the beard & swirl 😏. Nothing can separate us from God's love!
As a recent fader after being a fully fledge Jw for 50+ years...leaving the organisation does not mean leaving Jehovah or accepting Jesus as our lord and Savior.. its freeing to be free from lies and mistruths as you mentioned so many things that rang true for me too, research out of what the Jws presented was so scary to do, but how freeing when one takes the fear to do so away.. thank you for sharing and God bless as you go on your new path..
I am not a Jehovah's witnesses but you said you never accept Christ as Savior. Do you know what the most popular verse in the Bible? JHN3V16 God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The book of Hebrew says " without the shedding of blood there's no remission of sins. If you don't accept Christ as Savior, you are lost. Listen to this verse, Roman 10v9 trough 10 if you confess Christ your mouth and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved for with the heart man believe and are justified and with the mouth confession is made into salvation. Did you do that or following religion. The thief on the cross never joined any religion.
@vintage6346 I know exactly what she said,but I told her she should dig deeper and help other escaped, because its a dangerous cult making people rejecting Christ in communion, rejecting Christ is rejecting salvation, rejecting communion is rejecting the better convenant Christ came to offer
I feel your pain. It hurts when one is shunned by there own blood. For the crime of not agreeing. It really hurts when you find out your most trusted don’t really want truth. They want security. Wishing you the best on your journey called life.👍🏻
I feel that I should know you or your family, but I don't. I grew up in the Redcliffe area. Were you anywhere near there? I woke up some years ago, similar process to yourself. Franz's book and Lloyd Evans buried my confidence in the org. Stayed in, until my good mate punched an elder in the Kingdom Hall. I shouted out, "This is what happens when the shepherds abuse the sheep." Before judging him, think of Jesus chasing people around in the temple with a whip, twice. Or Nehemiah pulling out the hair of the Israelite men with foreign wives, punching them. Anyway, my mate got d'fed for that, I got d'fed for supporting him (actually I got d'fed for telling 2 witnesses about how the elders has counterfeited a letter from the GB to my mate. The corruption of the elders is not supposed to be passed around. But the elders only took action because of that incident in the hall). Good video. Hope to meet you one day.
Hi Rik. I grew up in Kedron on the North side. Not far from Redcliffe. Your story sounds interesting . Punching and Elder😮. That would have been a site. Ever thought of making a video?
@@4minuteman429 About 16 of us left the congregation after that. Several of us were pioneers. We were thinking of making a video where a few of us give our reaction to the elders making up a false letter from the GB. I tell you, that brother who gave the punch needs to get a gold medal for patience. I would have laid out the elders long before he did. Or as my father, a presiding overseer used to say, "I'd like to meet him in a dark Kingdom hall car park. Why dark? So there would be no witnesses to what Ididtohim." We may get around to the video. Set up a channel like yours. My mate is writing a book about his life. From being a missionary to getting d'fed for hitting an elder.
@@4minuteman429 I was serving where the need is greater in Asia. I am sure you would know the family of the brother who did the punching, they are well known in the northside area. However, I don't want to publicize the ex-brother's name without his approval. The congregation we were in was an English congregation in Asia, which now has become a group because so many people left. I have returned to Qld and am living on the northside.
@@4minuteman429 The Australian brother (puncher) was kicked out in 2017. I stopped going to meetings after that incident, but Bro. Lett came to the city I was in and released the new NWT in the local language. I presented him with a poster asking him to do something about the handling of rampant child abuse in the congregations. I think this motivated the elders to kick me out in 2018.
Great video. Your sincere say it as it was, down to earth manner, typical of us Aussies was a great contribution to the exJW content available and I'm sure will be helpful. Great advise, "stick with it, it gets better" why on earth would you go back? Paradise can be right, here right now not a delusion that will never come, the "real" imaginary life, why give up the only one that we know for sure we have.
The prophets talked to apostates, the apostles talked to apostates, Jesus talked to apostates regularly. God himself made an agreement with the king of apostates, regarding Job. Truth fears nothing, liars fear truth.
I salute you man ! It's one of the hardest things and only for truth seekers. People who don't care for truth can not fully wake up. Was this in SE qld? Are you still there?
why did you marry at 20 years old? There abouts. I know WT pushes young marriages. Or was it even worse, a teenager when you married? You didn't mention kids, do you have kids? I'm so happy you have found a loving, suitable partner in life, even that's possible after WT.
There is an “evil slave” in charge. (Matt 24:48-51) He “beats the other slaves” and gets some to follow. (Luke 12:45-48) Upon seeIng this, Jesus orders us to leave and head for the mountains. (Matt 24:15) He says “let the reader use discernment” not listen to a “faithful slave.” Jehovah provided this warning for you, show appreciation, and just wait on him.
That’s a tough question. I never felt special. Definitely felt like the odd one out a lot. And to be honest. I thought and I assume others do, that standing out like that, standing up to belief systems, flag salutes etc that I was doing what god wanted. And I suppose it is a sort of badge. Like a martyr sort of. Yes I think you do feel like the chosen ones when your in. That’s what your taught. Only you as a jw can be confident your saved. Thanks for the question Sam.
I remember when the annual conventions came around and you would look around and see "who is still here, still a believer", I would think that these are all the smartest, most faithful and resilient people. It puffs you up with pride and a feeling of superiority over those that left or didn't know the "truth"
Hey Aaron, hope you’re well. Didn’t we have a few zoom bible discussions/sessions together ? LV, Walter or was it Wilson’s setup? Shit, if we didn’t, my mind is absolutely failing me😅
@@4minuteman429 What a relief. I thought I might have been mixing you up with somebody else. Nice testimonies by the way. I was only in briefly and never had do deal with family shunning although I did go through the reverse shunning to a point. Once my family found out that I was in this religion, I think I was sort of softly shunned and termed as the indoctrinated one because of not participating all of a sudden in Xmas, birthdays and the like. My mother always asked me if I was giving them money lol
@@4minuteman429Please show me that in the Bible, and which people are preaching the gospel of the kingdom around the world to all nations as Jesus christ said???????Mathew 4:23, 24:14, 28:19-20,Mark 13:10, if not only only only the Jehovah's witnesses.
@@vusimngomezulu2500: No. YOU don’t have to be a JW. (Mark 9:38-41) 38 ¶ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he FOLLOWETH NOT US: and we forbad him, because he FOLLOWETH NOT US. 39 ¶ But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink IN MY NAME, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his REWARD.
6:11 national anthem, not a problem refuse the nationalist crap for the right reasons , even as a young child . In Australia the school do the national anthem thingy once week . I accompanied my children every time . I gave the school my reason to object to this .
Hi Monique. I not sure if I made my point clear. My point wasn’t the reasons why we didn’t stand. My point was I did refuse. I refused many things that made me stand out from everyone else. Which then made me a target. Which meant I had to stand up even more. So now that I find unacceptable behaviour by the Jehovah’s witnesses I stand up. Even though they try and crush you with shunning. And they punish anyone who questions. I still stand up for truth.
People don't leave JWs. Either they get kicked out for unrepentant immoral behaviour or they slow down and become inactive as preachers. People left their various religions and qualified to become JWs because of the TRUTH. How many TRUTH can there be?
You are 100% incorrect in saying that. I’m sorry. I still preach gods kingdom and pray daily. I have fallen short in the past that’s for sure. And still do actually. But thankfully I have Jesus as my judge. I didn’t get kicked out I left as I saw many things inconsistent with the bibles message. And I have friends that have left being a witness and their way of life is faultless. I do notice though you say that people”qualify” to become a witness. Interesting words. True words. But the bibles message is that it’s a free gift. All you need is repentance and belief in Christ. Not 130 questions to “qualify” for baptism to an organisation. Worth thinking about.
@@4minuteman429 : It is quite obvious that one's knowledge of JWs has been from devious websites. See what happens to the MANY so-called Christians who claim that they believe in Jesus but are not engaged in doing God's will. Matthew 7:21-23. We might ask the question. How did one become a JW in the first place? Perhaps, filled a form, gave a donation or bribe, or just self appointed oneself? Or perhaps used deception? An answer would help us know that one is not a charlatan.
To answer your question (btw it’s in the video) but to answer. I was born in. You cannot join by filling out a form, bribing or donating. You get baptised. I have family that did not get baptised and stopped going and that is a little loop hole that enables them to still be communicated with. It would seem you know nothing of the working of Jehovahs Witnesses which leads to the question of why are you commenting? Very strange. If you actually research you will find my experience is duplicated all over the world. And you are correct. There is only one truth. And that is there is no salvation other than through Jesus Christ. In my opinion there is no religion in earth that is not corrupt in some way. Jehovahs Witnesses are easily proven incorrect.
@@4minuteman429 : Just as I thought. One was never a JW. Yet claim one left an organization one wasn't even a member of. It may be possible that one grew up in a JW environment. Or, like other claimants, this could be a scam video to get subscribers. There is no shortage of gullible people to rope in.
@@tongakhan230you should be very careful making accusations you cannot back up. Ask anyone in the Brisbane Australia area about Aaron Butterworth. The butterworth family is pretty big and you’ll find out that what is being said is real. I feel sorry for you. I understand there is a lot of dishonesty in the world. And it seems you are very sceptical. But not all people lie. With that aside. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness I encourage you to research the religion. Try and prove my accusations wrong. You might find out the truth. And it will set You free. Good luck to you. And best wishes.
