Will I still have a family?

Del

Hi everyone Just like some advice, be it good or bad. My immediate family (father, mother and sister) are all JWs. I managed to resist and have been living as a 'baaaaaad' person for years now. However, they have always talked to me and spent some time with me. Now I'm going through a separation and will be divorced in a few months. My question is, once I'm divorced, will the WTs expect them to not associate with me anymore? Thanks :)

Crumpet

If you were never baptised then you have nothing to worry about. It is only if you are baptised and then commit a disfellowshipping offence such as non scriptural divorce that they must shun you. If you are unbaptised then you can have a dozen wives, be a recreational serial killer and molest children and they will still associate with you. Rational huh?

Best of luck with the divorce.

mouthy

Yep Crumpets right

sass_my_frass

Hi; sorry about your divorce :(

Yep, you get to keep your family though. As much as you can call them family, right?

blondie

Actually, just an unscriptural divorce is not enough to be DF'd (I can't discount some energetic individual elders though). But, But, But, if you remarry or move in with someone of the opposite sex or they can "prove" you are having sex with someone, you can be DF'd and then they aren't supposed to talk to you. This is assuming that you were baptized as a JW.

***Proclaimers book (1993) chap. 13 p. 177 Recognized by Our Conduct ***

While the Scriptures do not direct that everyone obtaining a divorce be expelled from the congregation, those who also commit adultery and are unrepentant are disfellowshipped by the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

*** w88 11/1 p. 27 par. 8 Has God Called You to Peace? ***

If Christian mates have separated, then, they should give reconciliation very serious, prayerful thought. Moreover, they should not ignore the fact that sexual impulses may pose a danger. How is God likely to view them if their failure to become reconciled should result in a fall into immorality? Illustrating this danger is the experience of a certain baptized woman. After a divorce, she began dating a worldly man, soon became pregnant, and was disfellowshipped.

*** w56 10/1 p. 597 par. 39 Marriage Obligations and Divorce ***

It cannot excommunicate any member just for divorcing on unscriptural grounds, but if that member remarries before the death or immorality of the divorced mate, the congregation would disfellowship this member for adulterous remarriage.

***

w56 10/1 p. 597 par. 40 Marriage Obligations and Divorce ***

Likewise, if a Christian married a worldly person that was divorced on unscriptural grounds, that Christian is committing fornication and should be disfellowshiped.

Blondie

sammielee24

and in light of everything that Blondie just posted, my advice is LIE, LIE, and tell more LIES if you get asked anything. They have no business asking and no business knowing a lot of the stuff they tell people they NEED to know. The whole issue of scriptural divorce is ridiculous and like their shunning policy, the only purpose it serves is to keep people married regardless of wether or not it is not in the best interests of anyone. It again, forces people to remain in the organization by fear of disfellowshipping. sammieswife.

fullofdoubtnow

Hi Del, and welcome.

You were very sensible not to get baptised. You can get your divorce and keep your family.

Del

Thanks everyone, much appreciated :) Although, it still seems they're distancing themselves further from me...oz well, all I can do is let them know my door is always open no matter the circumstances and if my prayers are ever answered that they see the 'light' and get out of the org (makes me think of 'borgs'!) I will be there for them... Yes Sass_my_frass, I get what you say "As much as you can call them family, right?" ...even though I've never been baptised and therefore never dissassociated or d'fd I'm still treated as an outsider...I take it you have similar experience? (excuse my ignorance of your circumstances) Thanks again all, you're an inspiration.

Will I still have a family?

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