Disfellowshipping versus SHUNNING
The point of this commentary will be to show that the Watchtower Society's shunning doctrine does not adhere to the Bible. Further, an understanding of congregational practices of first-century Christians in the Jewish culture is necessary for a proper understanding of the scriptures on this matter.
The primary scripture for consideration is:
But now I am writing you to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.--1.Cor. 5:11 (NWT)
The text is clear that a person with whom the congregation should not mix company is one who is:
1) "called a brother" (that is, one who professes to be a member of the congregation); and
2) practicing fornication, greed, idolotry, reviling (insulting), habitual drunkeness, and/or extortion (theft).
- Jehovah's Witnesses do not disfellowship greedy persons.
- They often do not disfellowship people who regularly get drunk unless their conduct becomes so outrageous and publicly-known as to bring reproach upon Jehovah's Witnesses.
- They do not disfellowship people for many of the things which they themselves class as "idolatry" (for example: materialism, worshipping an organization, etc.).
- On the other hand, Jehovah's Witnesses do disfellowship and shun people for:
- no longer claiming to be called a brother/sister.
- independent study and discussion of the Bible that brings Watchtower doctrine into question.
- possession of literature written by former members.
- having lunch with a former member, even if the former member professes to be a Christian and was not disfellowshipped for fornication, greed, idolotry, reviling, drunkeness, or extortion.
- attending a service of any other church or religious organization.
- authorizing a blood transfusion, even to save the life of a child.
- numerous other actions not mentioned in scripture, but deemed by the congregation elders to be "unclean conduct," or "conduct unbecoming" of a Jehovah's Witness. "Conduct" in this case covers a broad range of actions not clearly defined by the Society, leaving discernment about what is not acceptable to the discretion of the congregation's elders. As a result, standards by which people may be disfellowshiped are inconsistent throughout this religion which claims "unity" to be one of their identifying characteristics.
My JW DAD has not contacted me for 6 weeks so he must have his arse in his hand over something or the new directive has got to him as we are inactive. My older brother and his 3 kids have not seen me or my kids in over 2.5 years, just because we dont go to the meetings!! Well if this is what they want to do then when they are in need or a family death occurs they can do it all on there own as My family will shun them just like they have us even if it is my dad that dies, we will not be going to anymore of this horse shit. This family was very strong but now is broken and my mom is turning in her grave. I hate all JW'S and the christmas tree and lights/ decorations are going up next weekend!!!!!!!
Hairyhegoat