Prisoners Of The Tower – Free At Last

by EDWARDS, J&M. | Category: Interview | Jan 2008

Were there religious influences in your upbringing?

Jeff: Not especially. We both attended Sunday School, Margaret more so. Generally speaking, I had no real interest in spiritual things, but Margaret has always been interested in the Bible.

Then tell us how your association with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society ('Jehovah's Witnesses') began?

Margaret: It was in 1985 when we were contacted by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Our children were growing up, giving us more time to think – and I remember becoming quite anxious as a result of watching television documentaries on the threat of nuclear war in the world. A JW I met in my local town centre of Tyldesley, England, shared Ecclesiastes 1:4 about how the earth remains forever. That seemed so comforting that I found myself wanting to know more. As an animal lover, I confess I was attracted to the idyllic vision of living in harmony with the animals and all of nature on this earth.

Jeff: Initially, I'd eavesdrop on Margaret's discussions, but soon we were both having home 'Bible studies' together with our JW contact – except I should point out that, although the Bible was used, it was their own translation and used only to support their books. The book used for study was 'Living forever on a Paradise earth'. This was standard practice for all new converts. Living again in a paradise on earth was an appealing idea to both of us in a troubled world, and after 18 months, we were baptized with them in the Northenden Kingdom Hall as a public declaration of our acceptance of JW doctrine.

I understand that began an association that was to last for some 18 years. How would you sum up that period?

Margaret: I can remember wanting to take a full part in the annual 'breaking of the bread' or communion service. But when the bread and wine were passed around in the Kingdom Hall, no-one presumed to be entitled to eat or drink – we were told that this privilege belonged only to those who believed themselves to be included in the 144,000. In the New World Translation (the Witnesses' own version of the Bible), Acts 2:42 talks about 'the taking of meals', and so doesn't encourage everyone sharing in the 'breaking of bread' as a church ordinance.

Jeff: While Margaret loved the life of door-to-door visitation, I had little enthusiasm for completing my quota of hours per month. I preferred giving talks at the study times. After four or five years, I'd lost my initial zeal. I did receive a 'shepherding call' to ask why I hadn't been attending, but I could detect no love. However, I did return, sensing a spiritual emptiness in my life, only to be again disillusioned when changes to doctrine were introduced by the Governing Body without consultation or explanation. The Witnesses had dated the end-time generation as being from the year 1914 when the First World War had erupted. When 'fourscore' years elapsed and the world system had still not ended, I considered the imposed changes in teaching to be like moving the goalposts. Then there was the time that the television programme 'Panorama' exposed certain practices within the Watchtower Society. The Governing Body ordered us not to view it – but we did, and later found the allegations to be true. It was the way the organisation handled the crisis that was deeply disturbing to us.

So doubts and various concerns were creeping into your minds. Did anything else happen to galvanize your decision to leave?

Margaret: Over these years, I'd stayed loyal to them, but my loyalty was tested when three neighbours and three family members all died in a very short space of time. I sensed a lack of support and even warmth from my fellow JWs. During this time Jeff had turned, for three weeks, to smoking to relieve his stress, and for this he was dis-fellowshipped without any counsel being given. Although hurt, I was trying to continue to please God, as I thought then. Yet my loyalty did come to breaking point. I turned to my Bible and started to read Revelation. I only got as far as the first chapter; two verses stood out for me – 8 and 17. I recalled a booklet I'd received two years earlier while visiting the home of someone who'd described himself as a born-again Christian. Contrary to our instructions to destroy such, I'd kept it for some reason, and now read it. It was the first chapter of Revelation that really spoke to me. I saw it was Jesus Christ, the first and the last, who is to come again as the pierced one. When I compared Zechariah 12:1,10 with Revelation 1:7, and Isaiah 44:6 with Revelation 1:17, I saw even from the New World Translation that it was Jehovah (the 'LORD') who was spoken of as being pierced as well as being called 'the first and the last'. As I studied the coming one described in vv.7,8, I realized that Jesus must be the same as Jehovah God the Son.

Jeff: Margaret was ahead of me at that stage. She was reading her Bible incessantly, not just the JW one, but other translations, sometimes until the early hours of the morning. She would pray continually to God to show her the truth of His Word and the correct way and where to worship Him. One day she set out by bus to look for a place of worship where the name of the Lord Jesus would be exalted. At the bus station in the neighbouring town of Leigh, she turned the corner and at once saw a big blue bus with 'Jesus' on the front – the Discovery Bus operated by the Churches of God. She was invited to church functions. I agreed with her that this couldn't be a mere coincidence. From all of this, it really proves to us both that prayer is powerful and, if used the right way, our prayers will be answered. Soon we were attending the Family Service, the Thursday Bible Study and observing the Breaking of the Bread in the Church of God in Leigh. One couple made home visits to us every week for a year. I couldn't get over their readiness to welcome questions. You see, the Witnesses never encouraged us to ask questions. The Bible discussions at Oxford Hall were a revelation. I loved them, and still do, because it's all based on the Bible, not upon any other publication.

Can you recall a definite point when you placed your trust in Jesus Christ as God's Son and your Saviour?

Jeff: Oh yes! I spent – I think it was three weeks – in John chapter 14. Repeatedly, in John's Gospel I was coming across the word 'whosoever' – which was wonderfully liberating after decades of being second class citizens to the 144,000! Then I particularly remember comparing Thomas's reaction to Jesus in resurrection with the Apostle John's rebuke by the angel who told him not to worship a fellow-servant (Rev. 19:10 & 22:9). Jesus had accepted Thomas's worship when he said, ‘"My Lord and my God!"’ whereas no angel could rightfully receive worship as a created spirit being. I now saw I'd previously been taught a lie in terms of the identification of Jesus with Michael, the archangel.

Margaret: For me it was when I saw Christ's deity in Revelation chapter 1. I also understood for the first time the love of God, in that salvation was by grace and not through our works (Eph. 2:8), as the JWs believe. I found out that there is no limiting number applied to the offer of salvation. In John 3:16 I read that 'whoever' believes will not perish, but have eternal life. As a JW, I never realised what the Lord had done for me personally. In my heart I now know He and He alone is my Lord and Saviour.

And what happened next?

Margaret: Although I was very afraid of water, I did want to be baptized. We spent three weeks with church elders attending baptismal classes following the approach given in the book 'Going Forward', but again with everything based on the Bible. God helped us to take the decision to be baptized and added to the Church of God in Leigh. There was a full hall that night in September 2006, and we were very happy. I remember Jeff telling someone, "I can't wait to break bread tomorrow!" And he keeps saying to people that I've never been happier in my life – which is true!

Jeff: I'd have thought Margaret would've been a JW for life ...

Margaret: But now I can't understand why it took so long to see the truth!

EDWARDS, J&M. | Jan 2008
Interview