Does 2 John 10-11 encourage shunning ex JW's?

TimothyT

I was reading John's second letter before in my NLT bible and i came accross the scriptures used to back up the act of shunning former JW's. In my bible it reads totaly contrary to the way the JW's say, so i decided to get out the old NWT bible which gives exactly the same ideas. Here are some of my thoughts:

I think its interesting that John restates the need for true Christian love in v5 and v6 before he starts speaking about the main reason for his letter.

V7 gives us the context. John is warning against deceivers, who dont believe that Jesus is God's son and the saviour of mankind. The original greek word for deciever (planos) clearly refers to someone who is actively teaching that Jesus isn't God's son. It doesnt seem to mean those who passivly dont believe in Jesus. Hey, each to their own. :)

V9 logicaly continues, those pushing ahead of Jesus and not remaining in his teaching (i assume that being that he is the messiah) does not have God. V10 then says that to such ones we should not say a greeting to them. Again the greek word used (chairo) refers to wishing the person prosperity. I suppose John simply did not want Christians to encourage or wish such ones well in their task to decieve others, whilst at the same time showing love to them as reminded in v5 and v6.

I dont know if my thoughts are correct here, but if so, i see no real basis for the JW's practice of shunning former believers. In many cases, ex JW's certainly arent out to actively deceive others and therefore should not be so unlovingly shunned.

Can anyone correct me if im wrong. This is quite an interesting and important set of scriptures in the bible.

Timmy xxx

cantleave

You are not wrong.

I was disfellowshipped for not believing the GB were chosen by Jesus. By rejecting them I was rejecting Jesus. Result: Instant loss of life long "friends" and family.

CULT

Awen

You pretty much nailed it Timothy. What the WTS is trying to do is twist the scriptures to say that anyone who doesn't teach WT teachings aren't to be welcomed. The truth is many ex-JW's do in fact teach about Christ, more so than the WTS itself does. But because the WTS has set itself up as God's "sole channel" of communication, many people will listen to what the GB has to say rather than what the real honest-hearted Christians have to say. This reminds me of a WT a few years back when it came out that the FDS supposedly only exists in Brooklyn. JW's aren't to listen to what any of the other anointed have to say on spiritual matters because they aren't being actively used by God in the same way the GB is, which of course is a blatant lie. The FDS exists all over the world and for the most part opposes what the WTS says hence alluding to the twisted shunning practice of the GB. The GB fear losing their power and so exhort all JW's to shun anyone who doesn't promote WT teachings (who are mostly ex-JW's and so called "apostates").

nugget

Shunning is a control mechanism to prevent people who have woken up to the lie communicating with people still held captive by it. It is used to create fear so that people in the organisation will not leave for fear of rejection. It has nothing to do with scriptural admonition. I made it clear to the elders that I believed in God and Jesus but could not worship men, and was difellowshipped.

wobble

Interesting facts, Cantleave and Nugget, so if you are not prepared to be involved in the idolatrous worship of the Governing Body, you will be DF'd and then shunned.

If the Elders really believed that it was true that Jesus selected the GB, and that you should worship them (not that they would ever consider what they do as worship, but putting the G.B before and above Jesus is just that, worship), if they really believed it they would attempt to prove it to you, and to me.

They do not believe, I have challenged a number of JW's, mostly Elders, to prove this, none has, therefore, as you rightly say, they are only interested in damage control, not saving your sorry ass, as our friends in the U.S might say.

How like the leaders of Judaism in the time of Christ, concerned only for their "Position and place".

Mary

You're right Timothy. The council at 2 John specifically is referring to those who were actively and opening stating that Jesus was not the Messiah. Today in Dub-dumb-land, those words are twisted and applied to anyone who commits the following offenses:

Questioning anything the Governing Body says;
Celebrating your child's birthday
Celebrating any 'worldly' holidays such as Easter, Christmas, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Valentines Day, etc. etc.
Going to another church
smoking
speaking to others who may be disfellowshipped;
a host of other offenses dreamed up by Crooklyn.

Ironically, Witnesses do not apply those words with atheists, Muslims, Jews or anyone else who does not believe Jesus was the Messiah. They will work and speak with all of these people, yet they shun their own flesh and blood who may believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Makes absolutely no sense, but of course, since when does that make any difference in this cult?

Vanderhoven7

Tim, I'm encouraged by what I see the Holy Spirit of God is doing in your life.

TimothyT

Crooklyn... HAHAHAHA!!! Great points everybody. Gives me a lot to think about in considering how absurd these people are.

Ok... lets be honest then... the scripture is right, the governing body are wrong, and their only real interest is power. I think that about sums it up doesnt it. Anyone who was interested in real TRUTH, would look at the context of these scriptures and work out what John is realy saying.

As Billy the ex Bethelite would put it, its the Governing Bodys clear, deliberate and unloving missaplication of scripture that would lead to HIM, disfellowshipping THEM. Good riddance!!! Lets just hope that there are natural loving JWs still in the org who actualy TRY to understand such scriptures and principles. I know several who shun me now, and i pity them for being as misguided sheep.

Timmy xxx

TimothyT

Thanks Vanderhoven. I thank you for this. You helped me to answer some important scriptural questions not so long ago, and i valued your help then as much as i do now. Please keep in touch. :D

punkofnice

I read this following snippet as blatantly saying Jesus said 'Love' but the WBT$ says Jesus is a fool because you must HATE!!

"Jesus encouraged his followers to love their enemies, but God's Word also says to "hate what is bad." When a person persists in a way of badness after knowing what is right, when the bad becomes so ingrained that it is an inseparable part of his make-up, then in order to hate what is bad a Christian must hate the person with whom the badness is inseparably linked." Watchtower 1961 Jul 15 p.420

Does 2 John 10-11 encourage shunning ex JW's?

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