After fading, can you get away with DF'able sins?

by inkling 34 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  inkling

  I ask this because a person I know who had a rather short fade
  is now living a... lets just say a distinctly worldly life, and
  the elders are simply looking the other way.

  They have talked to him, and he said he did indeed do the things
  rumored, and he feels no regret because he doesn't believe in god.

  I am pleasantly shocked that he has not been lynched, as it means
  that we can still be friends without trying to be covert, but how
  weird is this?

  If you slowly fade away, and then a long time after start publicly
  doing things that are disfellowshippable offences, how many elder
  bodies will let it slide once they catch wind?

  How does an elder body decide wether or not to hunt down cold cases?

  [inkling]
• 

  hillbilly

  Depends on your local profile and how motivated the BOE is. I lived with my wife before we married and they never bothered me. But I never really associated with the ex wifes congregation and was drifting out from the time we moved there.

  Jeff
• 

  IP_SEC

  The direction from the WTS is: If the person is still viewed by the congo or community as a JW, go after them. If not its prolly best to leave them alone.

  It depends on how big of a hardon the local brothers have to DF and if they pay much attention to what the society says to do.
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  There is no formula here. Some BOE never let you get away with anything,
  others say "He's no longer living as a JW, let's not bother."

  Sometimes, a C.O. will insist on cleaning house, but not a whole lot.

  I have not gone out and voted or gambled or read COC in front of them, but
  many were surprised that I stated my "doubts" so strongly and they let me
  fade in peace. I doubt they would let it go if someone told on me for
  drunken voting in the gambling hall but you never know.

  Former elders might get a bigger pass if they just stay quiet and they might
  be attacked more aggressively than a non-elder if they don't stay quiet.

  Elderly ones are usually given a pass for having meals with their DF'ed family
  and for not believing anymore, but there are elder bodies that throw the book
  at them.
• 

  inkling

  The direction from the WTS is: If the person is still viewed by the congo or community as a JW, go after them. If not its prolly best to leave them alone.

  See, this is exactly the impression I get, but is this in writing anywhere?

  [inkling]
• 

  Layla33

  I agree with everyone that says it depends. It depends on you, your family, the elders in the congregation and if someone is bringing your name up on a regular basis.

  I tried to fade at 17 and used working as an excuse, but my family (one in particular) pushed the issue to the point where I was forced in a meeting with them, and was at the point where I just wasn't up to lying and living a facade anymore.
• 

  IP_SEC

  See, this is exactly the impression I get, but is this in writing anywhere?

  Pg 99, 100 of "Pay Attention to Yourselves and to all the Flock"
• 

  inkling

  drunken voting in the gambling hall

  Lol, that is a talented consolidation of sins. Not sure what that party would look like....

  Maybe the democratic national convention?

  [inkling]
• 

  tnangel73

  Yes, you can. I was out, inactive, whatever you want to call it for about 6 or 7 years. I can't remember exactly how long. Then the elders suddenly wanted to meet with me. I was pregnant. I never did meet with them. I even asked the elder who was so adament about it why they never did a shepharding call with me way back when. Anyway, I never went to their little meeting. I was busy having my baby shower that day. I was disfellowshipped then. No one in the "world" knew I was a JW. I had made the mistake of going to one meeting that year. The Memorial. I got a registered letter in the mail but I don't think I ever did read it.
• 

  White Dove

  I would guess that it would depend on whether or not they actually want you back or have a grudge against you. In my case, they don't want me back so they don't bother with me. I lit into a sister that came last year to get me to go to the memorial. I really let her have it. No one has been back since.