Can a JW be disfellowshipped because of "Materialism"?

by JH 26 Replies latest jw friends

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  JH

  Keeping in mind these verses below:

  For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. 8 So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.

  9 However, those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.

  I never heard of a JW being DF'd for having so much and at the same time not caring for the less fortunate in the congregation.
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  littlerockguy

  No, you can be guilty of gluttony, greed and materialism and still be in good standing in the congregation. In fact, you would think it is a prerequisite to be a pillar of the congregation from what all I have seen while in the org.
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  Elsewhere

  A JW can be disfellowshipped for ANYTHING the body of elders doesn't like.
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  Saoirse

  No, you can be guilty of gluttony, greed and materialism and still be in good standing in the congregation.

  I know two elders that would fit that description. They were very wealthy, hired JWs and then treated them like slaves. We had a couple people in our hall that would roll up to the meetings in a Mercedes Benz and designer suits. One thing I have noticed about JWs is that the ones that have it, love to flaunt it.
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  Think

  Don't worry about that. I see JW milionaires in action all the time. They drive lexuses, BMW, live in villas, have yahts, partys ONLY for the rich brothers and they are Wise elders. And they will sell the crap to you how you should be poor, because you should preatch 145 hrs a week , because Armagedon is "Tomorow".

  Hypocrites ??? you be the judge...
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  FairMind

  A JW can be disfellowshipped for ANYTHING the body of elders doesn't like.

  Yep, they’ll find something to frame you with. Once you are labeled as someone who thinks for him or herself and doesn’t bow down to the wishes of the elders you had better watch out.
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  delilah

  Quote," No, you can be guilty of gluttony, greed and materialism and still be in good standing in the congregation. In fact, you would think it is a prerequisite to be a pillar of the congregation from what all I have seen while in the org." end quote. You can add excessive drinking to the list also, unless, of course, you are R&F.
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  Saoirse

  You can add excessive drinking to the list also, unless, of course, you are R&F.

  My brother-in-law is a complete alcoholic. He drinks constantly, has huge parties and gets smashed. We house sat for him one time and found whiskey bottles hidden all over the house. We even found one stashed in the water closet.

  He would never be counseled for it because he is friends with all the right people and DFing him would mean that the JWs would no longer be able to enjoy the big parties at his luxurious home.. Whatever congregation he goes to, he always manages to become best buddies with the elders. Of course, most of his elder friends are alcoholics too.
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  Forscher

  Seems to me that materialism is a prerequisite to becoming an elder in most cases. So why would they DF anyone for it?
  Seriously, most of the elders I've known, even fairly good ones, usually own better homes than the rest and drive better cars. I can always tell an elder's meeting from a meeting for field service when I drive past the local hall because of the Luxury cars and SUVs. I've never heard of a DF'ing for materialism, though in theory a person could be DF'd for it. But then, money and possessions tend to insulate a Dub from negative actions on the part of the leadership just as much among the Witnesses as elsewhere.
  Forscher
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  IMustBreakAway

  What's that song that goes, "The cars in the churchyard are shiny and german, distinctly at odds with the words of the sermon.."