Disfellowshipped Relatives & The Scriptures & Manmade Rules

minimus

I think the STUPIDEST rule regarding disfellowshipped ones has to be regarding if a relative lives in the home of a JW or not. Where in the Bible does it say that you can talk and not shun a df'd person if they live in your home but if they don't live there, you have to avoid them and treat them as dead?

The Organization decides if a df'd person could live within the home. If an elder allowed his child to come back home while in a df'd state, he'd be considered not exemplary and would get removed BUT if the same child was already living there, he might not be forced to kick his child out of the home.

If the df'd relative was healthy then they should not live in the "faithful" Witness' home but if the same person was ill, they could possibly stay in that home.

Does any of this make any sense to you?

straightshooter

That is what happened to me. My daughter got df and the rest of the elder body wanted me to kick her out. Though she was 18, she had no job or way to sustain herself. Since I would not kick her out, they removed me as an elder. Then they threatened me with being df for keeping a df daughter home. I then faded away from the congregation.

minimus

Straightshooter, isn't it unbelievable how they force this issue? Publicly, they'll say they were not involved, it was a personal decision!

palmtree67

Yes, it's not "mandatory" or a "rule" that you kick a disfellowshipped person out of your home, but when the consequences of allowing the person to stay, are that you will be punished......well, then it is "mandatory" and it is a "rule".

This is how alot of things seem to be handled. Yes, it's up to you, but if there are consequences, then it's not really up to you, is it?

minimus

See blood transfusions.

palmtree67

Exactly.

mouthy

I love you straightshooter for being a good Dad

Chalam

I love you straightshooter for being a good Dad

God loves you for being a good dad too!

In fact He loves those who aren't good dads (not because they are bad dads, just that He is a good Dad).

All the best,

Stephen

no more kool aid

My father was DF'ed when I was 14. He was an elder that fell from grace and was not begging for forgiveness (the kind they really hate). The elders cornered me right away and warned what a threat he was to my spirituality. My mom got remarried and they both drilled it in me that if I spoke to him, I was really turning my back on Jehovah, "if he doesn't love Jehovah, how can he love you?" yada yada. If I ever thought of seeing him, I was told they would change the locks and my only choice would be to stay with him, which means I would die at Armageddon. This really messes with a child's mind. From an adult perspective, I realize I should have never lost contact with my Dad because a bunch of people told me that's what the rules were.

palmtree67

kool aid,

Oh, that's so sad!

That's exactly what my daughter is being told right now, too. It's incredibly difficult for her right now. From your experience, what do you think your dad could've done to make it easier for you?

My daughter is 16 and doesn't have a problem defying everyone in order to see me. But it's really distressing to her to listen to the bad-mouthing of me.

Disfellowshipped Relatives & The Scriptures & Manmade Rules

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